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International SOS Acquires SMI, a French Medical Supply Chain Company

Dépèche transmise le 25 janvier 2011 par Business Wire

International SOS Acquires SMI, a French Medical Supply Chain Company

PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--International SOS, the world's leading international healthcare, medical and security assistance, and concierge services company, announces the acquisition of SMI (Service Médical International), the France-based manufacturer and distributor of medical supplies to the aviation, maritime, and oil industries as well as to various NGOs and international organizations.

“Bringing SMI into the International SOS group of companies allows us to develop a global medical kit and pharmaceuticals distribution capability and further enhances our ability to provide clients with fully integrated medical supply chain, staffing and medical and security assistance services worldwide”

“Bringing SMI into the International SOS group of companies allows us to develop a global medical kit and pharmaceuticals distribution capability and further enhances our ability to provide clients with fully integrated medical supply chain, staffing and medical and security assistance services worldwide,” says Arnaud Vaissié, Chairman and CEO, International SOS.

SMI’s healthcare solutions and European-based medical kit manufacturing capabilities will be integrated into MedAire, an International SOS company, which annually distributes more than 17,000 new and refurbished medical kits from its U.S.-based operations. This will further boost MedAire’s global expertise as the leading medical kit assembler for the aviation and maritime industry. The distribution will also be available to all International SOS clients particularly for the oil, mining and government sectors, and NGOs and multinational organizations.

“With distribution centers in both Europe and North America, we are now uniquely positioned to deliver the highest quality products to crewmembers attending to medical events on board thousands of ships and planes around the globe,” says Grant Jeffery, CEO, MedAire.

SMI will continue to operate as the France-based, wholly owned subsidiary of International SOS. Jean-Michel Lichtenberger, MD, Founder and CEO of SMI, will serve in a consulting capacity.

“When effective medical facilities are far away, employers need to protect the health of their personnel, nationally and internationally,” says Lichtenberger. “For the past 25 years, SMI’s solutions have increased the healthcare standards in high-risk areas, and I’m very pleased that we’ll continue this mission under the umbrella of International SOS group.”

About International SOS and MedAire

International SOS (www.internationalsos.com) is the world's leading international healthcare, medical assistance, and security services company. Operating in over 70 countries, International SOS provides integrated medical, clinical, security, and customer care solutions to organizations with international operations.

MedAire (www.medaire.com), an International SOS company, provides aviation and maritime clients with fully integrated life-saving medical and security services. The company delivers 24/7 access to emergency care doctors any time of day; crew medical training developed and delivered by medical professionals; and an array of industry-compliant, custom medical kits and equipment.

About SMI

Headquartered in France, SMI (www.smihealth.com) has been working with the aviation, oil and gas industries as well as with international organizations such as the WHO and the UN for more than 25 years. With a strong expertise built to distribute in the Middle East, African and Asian markets, the company offers modular and adaptive first aid kits, health solutions to prevent and treat transmissible and infectious diseases and procurement solutions. Its Malaria Curative Kit is a leading product in the oil and gas industry.