Hexagon acquires company within geospatial imagery

Hexagon has entered into an agreement to acquire the business of the Australian software company Earth Resource Mapping Ltd (ER Mapper).

ER Mapper supplies "Image Web Server" (IWS), a specialized, high performance server application for the enterprise environment. Designed for managing and distributing very large image datasets, IWS provides users access to imagery at unparalleled speed. ER Mapper is also a world-class provider of geospatial imagery processing solutions to prepare, manage, compress and deploy imagery and the company is a leader in the development of image compression techniques. ER Mapper provides enterprise-level customization and integration services, consultancy, commercial off-the-shelf software products and software development kits to clients in more than 120 countries around the world.

ER Mapper sales in 2007 are estimated to 8 million AUD. Growth in recent years has ranged from 15 to 20 per cent. The company is headquartered in Perth, Australia and employs approximately 50 people worldwide.

"The acquisition of ER Mapper is a vital piece in Hexagon's growth strategy and commitment to the geospatial market. ER Mapper complements Hexagon's software range and will add additional intellectual property to our group in compression technologies and image web serving technologies of geospatial imagery. ER Mapper will also give us additional market access into industries such as mineral exploration, oil and gas exploration, telecommunications and utilities", says Ola Rollén, CEO and President of Hexagon AB.

ER Mapper will be consolidated as of 1 July 2007 and will immediately contribute to Hexagon's earnings.