EskoArtwork Sold to U.S. Manufacturer Danaher

GENT, BELGIUM—Danish investment group Axcel has come to terms with U.S. industrial company Danaher for the acquisition of 100 percent of the shares in EskoArtwork for a purchase price of about $470 million.

The closing of the transaction is subject to customary approvals and is expected to take place in the first half of 2011. Upon closing, the business will become a part of Danaher's Product Identification platform.

EskoArtwork is a global supplier of integrated solutions for packaging, sign and display finishing, commercial printing and professional publishing. It provides software for artwork creation, pre-production, automation, quality assurance and collaboration targeted at brand owners, retailers, designers and packaging manufacturers.

Danaher is a diversified technology leader that designs, manufactures and markets products and services to professional, medical, industrial and commercial customers.