17 Aug Bruker acquires French X-ray software company
Madison, Wis. – The X-ray development firm Bruker AXS announced on Tuesday it will acquire SOCABIM SAS; a Paris, France firm that produces X-ray materials research and analysis software. The deal is expected to close early in the first quarter of 2006.
The transaction, which was finalized on Aug. 13 according to Bruker’s 8-K form just filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, states that Bruker will acquire all shares of SOCABIM’s capital stock for 7.05 million euros, or $8,742,000 with current exchange rates, to be paid in a mix of cash and stock of Bruker BioScience, Bruker AXS’s parent company.
Michael Willett, investor relations officer for Bruker BioScience, said that Bruker chose to make the deal based on the successful partnership between the two companies. SOCABIM has worked with Bruker AXS since 1977, developing software specifically adapted for Bruker systems and whose source code they kept ownership of.
“We’ve already been working very closely with this firm and distributing their software, so this is more of an opportunity to bring them into the family,” Willett said.
Bruker will combine SOCABIM with its French subsidiary Bruker AXS SA, to create a new company near Paris. SOCABIM’s co-founders Julien Nusinovici and Pierre Caussin will be the senior managers of the merged company, which is expected to retain all of SOCABIM’s current employees.
Willett predicted that the merger will not have a major affect on the way Bruker’s Madison office does business, though having SOCABIM’s software more integrated with Bruker’s procedures will likely drive new technology developments.
“Having this addition is certainly likely to lead some additional businesses … it makes it easier to sell additional software packages,” Willett said.
• Read the previous WTN stories on Bruker:
Bruker AXS names new leadership
Bruker X-ray technology wins award