Samsung Medison acquires French AI firm Sonio for $93 million

Sonio's logo [SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS]

Samsung Medison, a medical equipment subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, is acquiring the French fetal ultrasound AI software company Sonio for 126.5 billion won ($92.7 million) through a stock purchase.

The acquisition was announced through electronic disclosure on Wednesday, where Samsung Medison reported it had signed an agreement to purchase 100 percent of Sonio's shares.

Samsung Medison said it expects a significant reduction in the time required for diagnosing patients' illnesses and an elevation in its quality through a technological partnership with Sonio. It also said the acquisition will help the company secure a high-quality global talent pool.

Sonio, founded in 2020 with the vision of enhancing the health of pregnant women and babies, specializes in IT solutions and AI assistant features that assist doctors in evaluating and documenting ultrasound exams.

One of its technologies, Sonio Detect, which ensures high-quality images for fetal ultrasound images using machine learning technology, obtained approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last year.

Samsung Electronics, which owns 68 percent of the medical equipment subsidiary, said Sonio will remain an independent company, continuing its "commercial growth independently while its products and services will remain compatible with all ultrasound device makers."

“We have great respect and admiration for what the Sonio team has built in the area of maternal care. Through the acquisition of Sonio, Samsung Medison will continue to deliver upon our promise to improve the quality of people’s lives with technology,” said Kim Yong-kwan, Samsung Medison CEO in a release Wednesday.

“Collaboration with Sonio will bring together best-in-class ultrasound AI technology and reporting capabilities to bring a paradigm shift in the prenatal ultrasound exam.”

Samsung Medison reported 86.4 billion won in operating profit last year, 3.6 percent more than the previous year.

BY JIN EUN-SOO [jin.eunsoo@joongang.co.kr]