Cat to Acquire Aussie RPMGlobal in a 728M Deal. Here the Details

Merging Iron and Intelligence

Founded in Brisbane in 1977, RPMGlobal has become one of the mining industry’s most trusted software and advisory providers. Its products, including AMT, XECUTE, and HAULSIM, are used globally to plan, model, and optimise complex mining operations.

Caterpillar’s own MineStar platform already leads in fleet management, autonomous haulage, and equipment health monitoring. Yet, RPMGlobal brings a missing layer: the strategic planning and simulation capabilities that precede on-site operations. Together, they can connect the dots from mine design to real-world execution, allowing customers to simulate a pit, optimise haul routes, and deploy autonomous trucks, all within one integrated framework.

“RPMGlobal’s culture and agile approach align perfectly with Caterpillar’s focus on solving customer needs,”

said Denise Johnson, Group President of Caterpillar Resource Industries.

For both companies, the synergies are clear: RPMGlobal’s software intelligence enhances Caterpillar’s physical dominance in mining equipment, forming a powerful digital–mechanical continuum.

The Agreement in Detail

Signed on October 13, 2025, the acquisition will be executed through a Scheme of Arrangement under Australian law. Caterpillar will acquire all RPMGlobal shares for A$5.00 per share in cash, representing a premium of over 30% compared with recent trading prices. J.P. Morgan acted as Caterpillar’s exclusive financial adviser on the transaction.

With about 221 million shares on issue and 3.2 million options, the deal values RPMGlobal’s equity at just over A$1.1 billion. Once complete, RPMGlobal will be delisted from the ASX, and its operations will be integrated into Caterpillar’s Resource Industries division.

The Scheme Implementation Deed outlines several regulatory and procedural steps before closing, including:

• Approval by RPMGlobal shareholders and the Federal Court of Australia
• Clearances from the ACCC and Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB)
• Verification by an Independent Expert’s Report confirming the offer is fair and reasonable
• No emergence of a superior competing proposal

To protect both parties, the agreement also includes a US$10 million break fee payable to Caterpillar if RPMGlobal’s board changes its recommendation or accepts a competing bid. A reverse break fee applies should Caterpillar fail to fulfil its funding obligations.

The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2026, pending regulatory approvals.

Why This Deal Matters

This acquisition marks a major step in Caterpillar’s long-term plan to dominate the digital mining value chain. By owning the software that plans and manages mine operations, Caterpillar can now offer customers a complete technology suite that spans from mine design and scheduling to fleet execution and performance analytics.

In a sector under increasing pressure to improve efficiency and sustainability, the integration of RPMGlobal’s planning intelligence with Caterpillar’s autonomous systems promises a powerful advantage. The ability to simulate mine layouts, predict haulage efficiency, and integrate those insights into autonomous operations could significantly reduce fuel use and improve safety across mining sites.

Competitors are moving in a similar direction. Komatsu continues to expand its Modular Mining Systems unit, while Sandvik made headlines with its 2022 acquisition of Deswik, another Australian software leader. With RPMGlobal, Caterpillar positions itself ahead in the race toward fully digitalised and autonomous mining operations.

Integration and Industry Outlook

Bringing together a software innovator and an equipment manufacturer is no small feat. RPMGlobal’s open-platform philosophy and software development agility will need to mesh with Caterpillar’s scale and industrial processes. Maintaining independence for RPMGlobal’s solutions, many of which serve mixed OEM fleets, will be essential to preserving its broad customer base.

Analysts expect regulators to approve the transaction, given the highly fragmented nature of the mining software market. Once integrated, RPMGlobal’s platforms will likely be rebranded and linked with Caterpillar’s MineStar™ suite, forming a single, cloud-based environment for mine management.

The result could be a digital ecosystem capable of connecting geological data, scheduling, equipment operations, and predictive maintenance into one continuous feedback loop. For mining companies, that means fewer inefficiencies, stronger ESG reporting, and reduced operating costs.

How and When to Move a Piece of Equipment

Upon completion, Caterpillar’s acquisition of RPMGlobal will symbolize the convergence of two worlds: mechanical engineering and digital intelligence. It solidifies Caterpillar’s evolution into a comprehensive mining technology provider and positions the company at the forefront of the next industrial revolution.

As mining companies embrace automation and sustainability, the demand for integrated digital solutions is only accelerating. With this acquisition, Caterpillar ensures that it won’t just supply the trucks and excavators that move the earth, it will also provide the algorithms that decide how and when to move it.

Source: Caterpillar Inc press office
RPMGlobal Holdings Limited, Scheme Implementation Deed (October 2025)

Editorial note:
All content and data were verified and edited by HeavyQuip’s editorial team before publication.