GE builds Japanese distribution with NEC deal

GE Medical Systems has signed an agreement with NEC Medical Systems of Tokyo to acquire NEC’s Japanese distribution organization. The deal calls for a joint marketing and distribution network to be established for the firms’ products and services, with GE holding a majority stake in the network. With the agreement, GE adds to its $1 billion operation in Japan, according to executives at GE Medical Systems Asia. GE’s Asia-Pacific division manages 10 joint ventures, and has 150 offices and more than 3500 employees.

Under the terms of the deal, NEC’s Japanese sales offices and its 350 salespeople will be transferred to the joint operation. The network will furnish Asian healthcare facilities with monitoring systems for adult, fetal, and neonatal patients, ECG units, and clinical information systems from GE Marquette Medical Systems. Patient monitors, cardiovascular products, and cerebral nerve diagnostic equipment will come from NEC. GE Marquette products will also continue to be distributed in Japan through existing channels, the company said.