St. Paul, Minn.-based 3M Corporation has announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Mercury Online Solutions Inc., of Bainbridge Island. Mercury Online is a provider of hardware and software technologies and network management services for digital signage and interactive kiosk networks. Terms of the sale were not disclosed, and the it is expected to close this month, subject to the customary closing conditions.

“Mercury Online Solutions Inc.’s industry leadership, along with the quantity, variety and geographic diversity of the present digital signage opportunities, indicate that the industry has outgrown its founders,” said John Eisenhauer, president and founder, Mercury Online. “3M’s global reach and commitment to innovation will drive a dramatic and positive evolution within the industry based on synergies in our skills, processes, values and vision.”

Digital signage networks enable centrally controlled delivery of digital content to vast networks of display screens and interactive kiosks. The trend toward in-store digital signage networks is accelerating driven by the desire to improve shopping experiences and influence purchase decisions by providing relevant information and promotional messaging nearer to the product shelf where purchase decisions are made.

Mercury Online is a pioneer in the digital signage network industry, and recognized as a premier provider of highly reliable, large-scale digital signage network solutions, including dynamic signage and interactive kiosks that build brands and create competitive advantages for businesses and organizations of every size. The firm employs approximately 30 people.

3M’s acquisition of Mercury Online accelerates the corporate giant’s entry into the rapidly growing digital signage network marketplace. “The addition of Mercury Online Solutions Inc.’s digital signage networks is a natural extension of 3M’s existing graphics business and allows us to use our global services platform,” said Robert Doughty, division vice president, 3M Commercial Graphics Division.

Customers worldwide know 3M’s brands, which include Scotch, Post-it, Scotchgard, Thinsulate, Scotch-Brite, Filtrete, Command and Vikuiti. Serving customers in more than 200 countries, 3M has more than 67,000 employees.