Cerner announced the acquisition of French healthcare IT company Axya Systemes yesterday. Many analysts have noted that European health IT markets have remained difficult for outside companies to penetrate. The buy gives Cerner instant credibility in the French market, perhaps enough to win contracts in both France and Germany. Axya provides financial, administrative and clinical IT solutions for hospitals throughout France, Switzerland and Morocco. Terms were not disclosed. The company will be re-branded as Cerner France. Paris-based Axya was privately-held, operated by Anne-Veronique Dufresnoy and David Kalfon, both of whom will remain on the company's management team. With major modernization drives underway by the French and other European governments, the deal looks like a very savvy one. Release