PARIS, Sept. 5, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- Aurora, the leading publisher and integrator of Open Source and Linux solutions for businesses, has been acquired by the SYSTRAN Group (Reuters:SYTN.LN; Euronext Paris:7729), the worldwide leader of automatic translation technologies and applications. This industrial combination will allow both companies to accelerate their development efforts due to mutual synergies related to multilingual content management and Knowledge Management for businesses.
Aurora will continue with its current engineering and services activities specializing in Open Source and Linux for businesses. Aurora will provide integration for and technical support services to SYSTRAN's worldwide customers, expanding its expertise to multilingual content management for Internet and Intranet applications.
"Aurora is a highly recognized integrator and IT services provider in the Linux and Open Source arena in France. Aurora will allow us to include a full range of turnkey, multilingual services in our professional solutions offering to resellers, integrators and partner software publishers," commented Dimitris Sabatakakis, Chairman and CEO of SYSTRAN.
SYSTRAN's automatic translation technology is developed in Linux. This will enable SYSTRAN to exploit Aurora's expertise and capabilities for integrating its applications into Corporate and Administration Portals and Intranet Services.
"Engineering for the Internet and Intranet fields accounts for 90% of our sales. By joining SYSTRAN, Aurora carries on its development, acquires new clients and maintains its position with software publishing in integrating multilingualism, which is an essential component of content management. In addition, SYSTRAN's international presence will expand our horizon and opportunities," said Jean-Noel de Galzain, AURORA's Chairman & CEO.
About Aurora
Integrator of applications for the Internet and Intranet, Aurora is a Linux and Open Source expert. It implements those technologies to provide businesses with global solutions for multilingual content management and knowledge management projects. Headquartered in Boulogne-Billancourt (92) France, Aurora has recorded 0.8 M Euro as sales in 2000 and 0.7 M Euro during the first semester of 2001.
About SYSTRAN
SYSTRAN is the worldwide leader in automatic translation technologies and applications for more than 30 years, as it developed customized products and services for the European Commission, the U.S. government and corporations.
SYSTRAN's technology can be interfaced at all levels of Internet infrastructures. It allows for broader communication with more than 35 language pairs and 21 specialty domains. Technology is developed in Linux and is available for sale in all Unix flavors and Windows platforms.
In 2000, SYSTRAN's sales amounted to Euro 9.3 million, for an operating margin of 12.2% and a net profit of Euro 0.94 million.
SYSTRAN is headquartered in the Paris area (France) with subsidiaries in California and Luxembourg.
SYSTRAN (Reuters: SYTN.LN; Euroclear Paris code: 7729) is listed on Euronext Paris, Nouveau March.