In a bid to broaden its market reach, Atex Group Ltd. acquired rival Unisys Corp. unit Unisys Media.

Unisys has its editorial, wire service management and digital asset management software installed in more than 225 newspapers in 15 countries. Its flagship software, Hermes 11, was released last fall.

 

U.S. newspapers using Unisys’ editorial software include The News Tribune in Tacoma, Wash., and Times Shamrock Communications papers in Pennsylvania and Virginia.

“(The acquisition) will strengthen our market penetration, especially in those parts of the world where, to date, we have not been as strong as we would have wished,” said Atex Group Chief Executive Officer John Hawkins. “Both companies share almost identical product road maps and this deal will enable us to accelerate development of solutions for the benefit of all our publisher partners.”

Atex said it has raised more than $50 million to fund the transaction and to support the combined companies, and said it will look at further acquisitions that fit its strategy “to be the No. 1 global vendor to the media industry.”

Including the employees that will transfer from Unisys, the enlarged Atex will employ nearly 500 people, the company said.

“We did not take this decision lightly,” said James Glenn, president of Unisys Global Communications & Media. “The synergy between the organizations, SOA technologies, skills and shared vision of the people will make this agreement beneficial for all concerned.”