Sagem
and Gemplus sign cooperation agreement aiming to strengthen offer of secure
identity applications
Paris, February 4, 2003 -Gemplus, leading provider of smart card solutions
and Sagem, leader in biometrics based identity applications, today announced
their signing of a cooperation agreement with a view for both companies to jointly
pursue development and activities in the field of biometrics and smart card
technology for secure identity solutions. Sagem provides advanced biometrics
technology and system integration technology and expertise, while Gemplus delivers
smart cards technology, as well as the related software & services required
for identity programs.
Smart card-based biometric recognition inside the identity segment is expected
to experience rapid growth in the future. This cooperation agreement will enable
Gemplus and Sagem to benefit fully from the proven complementarily of each other’s
technologies, and their combined know-how and experience in the field of secure
identity projects. The cooperation derives from a recent joint national identity
customer win in the Sultanate of Oman, where 1,5 million biometrics enabled
smart cards are to be issued to the local population by the end of 2003.
About Sagem
Groupe SAGEM is an internationally based high-technology group, and a leader
among French groups in the field of telecommunications, among European groups
in electronics for defence and security, and a world leader in fingerprint-based
biometrics. SAGEM has operations in more than 20 countries.
For more information, please consult the SAGEM web site:
www.sagem.com.
About Gemplus
GEMPLUS: the world's leading provider of smart card solutions
Gemplus helps its clients offer an exceptional range of portable, personalized
solutions that bring security and convenience to people's lives. These include
mobile Internet access, inter-operable banking facilities, e-commerce and a
wealth of other applications.
Gemplus is the only completely dedicated, truly global player in the Smart Card
industry, with the largest R&D team, unrivalled experience, and an outstanding
track record of technological innovation.
In 2001, Gemplus was the worldwide smart card leader in both revenues and total
smart card shipments (source: Gartner-Dataquest and Frost & Sullivan). Gemplus
was also awarded Frost & Sullivan's 2002 Market Value Award for its exceptional
performance.
Gemplus trades its shares on Euronext Paris S.A. First Market and on the NASDAQ
Stock Market as GEMP in the form of ADSs. Its revenue in 2001 was 1 billion
Euros.
Gemplus: Beyond Smart
www.gemplus.com
Information Presse Gemplus:
Marielle Bricman
Corporate PR Manager
Tel : + 33 4 42 36 55 96
E-mail: marielle.bricman@gemplus.com
Informations Presse Sagem:
Hervé PHILIPPE
Directeur Financier
Tel. +33 1 40 70 62 57
Fax. +33 1 53 23 20 47
E-mail: herve.philippe@sagem.com
Press Information Gemplus:
Euro Rscg Corporate
Estelle Griffe
Tél: 33 (0) 1 41 34 48 65
Mob : 33 (0) 6 23 75 09 23
Email : estelle.griffe@eurorscg.fr
Carine Senft
Tél : 33 (0) 1 41 34 42 23
Mob : 33 (0) 6 20 98 34 09
Email : carine.senft@eurorscg.fr
Forward-Looking Information The estimated results
in this announcement constitute "forward-looking" information within the meaning
of the United States securities laws. The matters discussed in this press release
also involve risks and uncertainties described from time to time in Gemplus's
filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In
particular, see "Risk Factors”, “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements”
and "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risks" in the most
recent Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2001 and the
most recent Reports on Form 6-K relating to quarterly periods, which are on
file with the SEC. These documents contain and identify important factors that
could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contained herein.
©2003 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.
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