A Diagnostics & Imaging Week

Merge Healthcare (Milwaukee), a medical imaging solutions provider, reported that it has reacquired its operations in China. Earlier in 2008, Merge pursued the divestment of all of its international operations, including China.

The sale of Cedara Software Shanghai Co. Ltd. (ShanghaiCo) to Inqgen Technology Ltd., initiated by former Merge executives in March 2008 but not finalized, has been terminated by mutual agreement of the parties. "As we have discussed on our two prior earnings calls, we believe in the growth of our core business on an international scale and therefore terminated the planned divesture of our European operations in June," said CEO Justin Dearborn. "Now with the reacquisition of our China operations, we feel that we are well positioned to execute on our global strategy."

He added, "If it is not today, China will soon be the largest market in the world for our products. We feel it is critical to have sales, marketing, customer support and an engineering presence in China to be successful."

Inqgen has participated fully in the transfer to date, working with employees of ShanghaiCo on the communication of transition plans.

Zhong Wang, director of Asia business operations for Merge OEM, will immediately assume management of the Shanghai operations.

"Merge has had success in the recent past in bringing the Cedara toolkits and technologies to the Chinese medical imaging market," said Wang. "I look forward to renewing and expanding these efforts for increased growth and providing a local presence once again."

Merge Healthcare's solutions serve radiology practices, outpatient imaging centers, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and device manufacturers worldwide.