DigitalGlobe plans merger with GeoEye

LONGMONT – DigitalGlobe Inc., a Longmont-based provider of high-resolution satellite imagery, announced Monday its board of directors has reached a definitive merger agreement with competitor GeoEye Inc. in a stock and cash transaction valued at approximately $900 million.

The deal gives DigitalGlobe leadership of the new company and ends merger talks that began in February when GeoEye attempted to acquire DigitalGlobe in an unsolicited hostile takeover.

The combined company will retain the DigitalGlobe name and New York Stock Exchange symbol DGI, and be headquartered in Longmont, according to an early-morning press release from the companies. GeoEye is based in Herndon, Virginia. Jeffery…