KARLSRUHE and HERZOGENRATH, GERMANY-Bruker AXS GmbH, developer and manufacture of analytical X-ray systems and solutions for material analysis, has signed an agreement to acquire all of the equity of Surface Imaging Systems GmbH (S.I.S.). The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2008.

S.I.S. is located in Herzogenrath, near Aachen, Germany, and develops, manufactures and distributes atomic force and scanning probe microscopy systems (AFM/SPM) for applications in materials research, including semiconductors, data storage, electronic materials, solar cells, polymers and catalysts. AFM/SPM is a method for ultra-high spatial resolution surface imaging and the characterization of surfaces down to atomic dimensions.