SonoSite acquiring Visualsonics for $71M

Quote: Company is a Leader in the $350M Pre-Clinical Imaging Research MarketAcquisition Stages Move of Ultra High-Frequency Ultrasound into Clinical MedicineConference Call Webcast Live Today at 1:30 pm Pacific/4:30 pm EasternBOTHELL, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SonoSite, Inc. (NASDAQ: SONO), the world leader and specialist in bedside and point-of-care ultrasound, today announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire privately held Visualsonics, a Toronto-based company focused on ultra high-frequency micro-ultrasound technology. The aggregate transaction value will be approximately $71 million net of cash and debt.“Our intention is to integrate Visualsonics’ micro-ultrasound technology with SonoSite’s miniaturization competency and user design to deliver ultra high-frequency micro-ultrasound into clinical medicine.”Visualsonics is the technology leader in real-time ultra high-frequency micro-ultrasound that presently serves the rapidly growing pre-clinical research market. Founded in 1999 by Stuart Foster, Ph.D., at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, Visualsonics’ micro-ultrasound technology uses five times the center frequency range currently used in conventional ultrasound systems (40MHz versus 8MHz) and enables the visualization of superficial anatomy on small living animals with microscopic detail, discerning features as small as 40 microns (versus conventional ultrasound, which visualize 200 microns). Visualsonics’ technology has the potential to pave the way for a new era of extreme high-resolution ultrasound imaging of superficial anatomy in clinical medicine.“Visualsonics has developed potentially game changing ultrasound technology that breaks conventional barriers for visualizing superficial soft tissue,” said Kevin M. Goodwin, SonoSite President and CEO. “Our intention is to integrate Visualsonics’ micro-ultrasound technology with SonoSite’s miniaturizati...
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