|
GemVentures, Gemplus' investment fund, becomes Netsize shareholder
7 February 2001, Through this partnership, Netsize, a specialist in the delivery of BtoB mobile Internet messages, takes a giant step forward in the emerging 3G market. Gemplus, world leader of smart card based solutions and applications, will complete its BtoB offer by leveraging the SMS Network of Netsize.
The agreement consolidates the existing industrial co-operation between both companies and allows them to develop best-of-breed innovative mobile solutions for GPRS and UMTS technologies.
Netsize’s technical expertise and business approach, coupled with Gemplus’s technological potential, enables the emergence of complete solutions dedicated to entreprises and to telecommunication operators. These will initially be based on SMS and will evolve to multimedia messaging (EMS, Enhanced Messaging Services and MMS, Multimedia Messaging Services).
This partnership follows prior investment from two anglo-american funds, Pharos and Lansdowne (Summer 2000).
Netsize provides a SMS based messaging solution in a BtoB infrastructure. Netsize solutions enable a connection between a corporate information system (AS/400, Windows NT, Unix...) and cellular mobile devices. Netsize offers a complete SMS solution and is currently developing 3G messaging technology (EMS, MMS).
Netsize CEO Stanislas Chesnais, stresses that « GemVentures’ investment in Netsize is part of our joint effort to link the strategic development of both companies. Our agreement is more economical and technological than financial: it is a real industrial partnership. »
« A high level management team, rapid growth and strong synergies with our activities are key factors behind the partnership and our financial investment », adds Jean-François Schreiber, Investment Manager.
Gemplus’ confidence in Netsize, which goes well beyond a mere financial participation, is embodied in the level of cooperation between both companies. Furthermore Netsize benefits from Gemplus’ global presence and local expertise with clients including the majority of telecommunication operators.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
About Gemplus
GEMPLUS: the world's leading smart card solutions provider
Since its creation in 1988, Gemplus International S.A.(Euronext: Sicovam 5768 and NASDAQ:GEMP) has driven the global marketing and deployment of smart card-based applications for telecommunications, financial services and e-business security.
Gemplus is instrumental throughout the value chain - chip design, card management systems, software development, and consulting - delivering integrated custom-made solutions for the security, personalization and privacy management needs of clients and partners worldwide.
Gemplus technology has played a defining role in the development of wireless telephony since the introduction of SIM cards into the GSM standard in 1990. For more than a decade, Gemplus has pioneered applications that enable network operators around the world to answer the changing needs of their customers. Gemplus was first to market with a 3G card and supplies a product range compliant with new and emerging transmission standards - 2.5G, 3G.
In 2000, revenue was 1.205 BE, up 57% from the previous year's 767ME. Net income was 99 ME. Gemplus employs more than 7800 people in 37 countries worldwide.
Since 11 December 2000, Gemplus shares have been trading on Euronext Paris S.A. First Market and on Nasdaq in the form of ADSs.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
About GemVentures
Set up in Spring 2000 with an initial funding of $75 million, GemVentures - Gemplus' Venture Capital fund - is aiming to enable the development of innovative technology, applications and services for tomorrow's smart card world by investing across Europe, the USA and Asia in promising and ambitious smart-card related businesses. Investments, from $2 million to $5 million, primarily focus on GSM, Internet transactions and then on opportunistic emerging markets such as loyalty, identity or access control. Thanks to Gemplus' extensive network, GemVentures is fuelled by an important qualified deal-flow and can therefore accurately assess investment opportunities through its valuable technical and marketing expertise. Within six months of its set up, the strategic initiative achieved stake holdings in seven major companies.
Unlike classic venture funds, GemVentures' asset is to offer its GemVentures Partners more than money... Actually, the fund is very actively involved with all of its portfolio companies. In addition to financial backing, the companies chosen by GemVentures can benefit from technical support in the form of access to the latest technology, products, applications and solutions developed by Gemplus. Management assistance, co-marketing operations and above all, higher visibility among the sales forces, partners and Gemplus customers, also contribute to a real partnership. Made-to-measure for developments in the growing smart card world, GemVentures brings partners the advantage of personalized assistance.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
About Netsize
Netsize, no. 1 mobility operator, intends to establish itself as the world leader in "mobile internet" message delivery thanks to its international network. Netsize delivers the message, independent of place or time to any wireless device: mobile telephone, PDA, smartphone, or embedded terminal. A precursor in the deployment of SMS networks, Netsize places the "message", a universal language, at the heart of its technology. All the solutions proposed are open and designed to adapt to different communications channels, such as SMS, multimedia messaging or radio broadcast.
The Netsize SMS Online hosting service enables a company's information systems (AS/400, Windows NT, Unix, etc.) to connect to fleets of mobile terminals equipped with cellular communications technology. With Netsize SMS Online, companies can instantly and simultaneously reach a large number of mobile terminals by SMS messages (mobile telephones, PDA's, smartphones, embedded terminals). Netsize now also offers a range of packaged software solutions, the SMS Netsize Packs, ready to use and integrate in a corporate environment, enabling mobile telephones to become virtual mobile offices.
Netsize, which has already opened subsidiaries in Spain, England, Sweden and Portugal will extend its network and presence globally.
For more information, www.netsize.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contacts
Netsize - Press contacts
Netsize : Alexandra Toth - Tel : 01 53 05 58 89 - atoth@netsize.com
Gemplus - Press contacts
Gemplus: Séverine Percetti - Tel: 04 42 36 67 67 - severine.percetti@gemplus.com
GemVentures: Delphine Vitalis - Tel: 04 42 36 46 07- delphine.vitalis@gemplus.com
©2001 Gemplus All rights reserved. Gemplus,
the Gemplus logo and GemSense are trademarks and service marks of Gemplus
S.A. and are registered in certain countries. All other trademarks and
service marks, whether registered or not in specific countries, are the
property of their respective owners.
|
|
