S&P Global to Buy Fintech Firm Kensho for $550M ThinkAdvisor

S&P Global plans to buy machine-learning, analytics and artificial intelligence provider Kensho Technologies for about $550 million to boost its emerging fintech capabilities. The news comes just two weeks after the data, ratings and benchmarks provider said it was acquiring Panjiva, a fintech firm that uses technology to mine large, unstructured datasets tied to the global supply chain. "In just a short amount of time, Kensho's intuitive platforms, sophisticated algorithms, and machine-learning capabilities have established a wide following throughout Wall Street and the technology world," said S&P Global President & CEO Douglas Peterson, in a statement. "Via this acquisition, S&P Global is demonstrating a strong commitment to not just participating in the fintech evolution, but leading it," Peterson explained. S&P Global, which issues ratings, benchmarks and other data to capital and commodity markets, launched a Fintech Venture Investment program and also invested in several fintech companies last year: Kensho, Algomi of London and Ursa Space Systems, an alternative data technology company.