CoStar to acquire Vexcel aerial imagery business for about $730 million

CoStar Group announced on 27 October 2026 a definitive agreement to buy Vexcel Group, operator of a survey-grade aerial imagery programme and maker of the UltraCam aerial cameras, for roughly $730 million in cash.

Vexcel captures more than 60 million images a year across over 45 countries and 320 major metros. It flies at 7.5 to 15 cm resolution, refreshes major US metros up to three times a year and surveys disaster zones within 24 hours. Revenue exceeded $140 million over the last twelve months, up more than 30%, with an adjusted EBITDA margin near 20%.

CoStar plans to apply AI to extract hundreds of property data fields from the imagery. Vexcel will keep its brand and leadership under CEO Erik Jorgensen. Closing is expected in the first quarter of 2027, subject to regulatory approvals.

Why it matters: A major real estate data company is taking ownership of a leading supplier of aerial cameras and imagery. Survey firms and mapping agencies using UltraCam and UltraMap will watch whether product support and data licensing change after closing.