JUNE 9--Mercury Computer Systems Inc. (Chelmsford, MA; www.mc.com) has signed an agreement to purchase SOHARD AG for approximately 19M euros. Based in Fuerth, Germany, SOHARD AG develops advanced software solutions for medical imaging systems, hardware and firmware for commercial embedded systems, and software intelligence applications via professional services. The acquisition, which is subject to certain closing conditions, is expected to close in the third quarter of calendar 2005.

SOHARD AG produces a Web-based image distribution picture archiving and communications systems (PACS) solution that allows users to transfer, visualize, and edit medical image data throughout the hospital enterprise. SOHARD AG has more than 950 Web-based PACS installations and more than 50,000 users of its software applications worldwide.

"The acquisition of SOHARD AG will broaden our end-to-end medical OEM solution portfolio from scanner control, reconstruction, acceleration, and advanced 3-D visualization, through image distribution and archive software," said Jay Bertelli, president and chief executive officer, Mercury Computer Systems. "The combination is expected to enable Mercury to establish a leadership position in the high-growth, OEM web-based PACS solutions and imaging scanner markets. Moreover, it will enable our customers to take advantage of faster and higher-quality image reconstruction, processing, and distribution solutions, as well as shortened time to market."

For more information on SOHARD AG's advanced software solutions, visit www.sohard.de and www.radin.de.

Thu Jun 09 09:43:00 CDT 2005