Lexmark to buy Kansas company

Shawnee-based Perceptive Software will be acquired by Lexmark International in a cash deal valued at $280 million.

Perceptive Software, an enterprise content management software developer, announced this morning that it has reached a definitive agreement to be acquired by Lexmark, based in Lexington, Ky.

Spokesman Paul Arnhold said Perceptive's headquarters will remain in Shawnee and it will operate as a separate, stand-alone software business within Lexmark.

Perceptive employs 536 workers, with 509 in Shawnee. Arnhold said the company expects to continue expanding its work force.

Lexmark has specialized in "paper-based workflow solutions" such as printing and imaging products. It is acquiring Perceptive to broaden its services to customers.

Perceptive last year had sales of about $84 million. Lexmark reported 2009 sales of about $4 billion.

Scott Coons, Perceptive's president and chief executive, will become a Lexmark vice president and continue as Perceptive's CEO, reporting to Paul Curlander, Lexmark chairman and CEO.

The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter this year.

This story was originally published May 21, 2010 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Lexmark to buy Kansas company."