IBM has announced it has signed an agreement to acquire Initiate Systems for an undisclosed sum.
Initiate is best known for providing applications that manage patient information in pharmacies and hospitals, including tools to make sure that systems share a consistent view of information and to manage and share records between healthcare facilities.
In the UK, the company provides foundational linking and matching technology for the national children’s services database, ContactPoint.
Bill Conroy, president and chief executive officer of Initiate, said in a statement: “Our clients will be the ones who benefit most from this acquisition. They will continue to get the software and expertise they depend on, plus the incalculable advantage they will gain through IBM’s global reach and its capabilities in enterprise software, hardware and services.”
IBM said that it plans to integrate Initiate into its Cognos and InfoSphere enterprise platforms, and said that the deal will help improve the company’s business analytics and consulting services.
Arvind Krishna, general manager of information management, IBM, said: “With the addition of Initiate’s software and its industry expertise, IBM will offer clients a comprehensive solution for delivering the information they need to improve the well-being of patients at a lower cost.
“Similarly, our government clients will now have even more capabilities for gathering and making use of information to serve citizens in a timely and efficient manner.”
The companies said that the deal is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory clearance but is expected to be finalised by the end of March 2010. After the contract is signed IBM intends to integrate Initiate with its information management business.
Links: IBM