This year Oberthur Technologies Division Card Systems has taken over the business, skills, market and sites of the XponCard group.

This Stockholm-based Swedish company, with its 580 employees, is the leading player on the Scandinavia bank card market.

 

This acquisition makes Oberthur Technologies world number two on the card market.

Oberthur Technologies 2007 Results
2007: A NEW SET OF RECORDS
Strong growth in sales: +14% over 2006 +120% of operating income, at 9.1% of sales for 2007 H2 2007 operating income at 10.5% of sales.



American Express licenses Oberthur Technologies to produce clear cards

American Express has signed an agreement with Oberthur Technologies to give Oberthur a license to manufacture produce clear payment cards for other card issuers.

Under the patents, Oberthur Technologies is now licensed to produce payment cards that are truly clear and transparent, using the same patented technology incorporated in American Express' own card products, including Blue and Blue Cash.
Frederic Chevreton, corporate vice president of payment product line at Oberthur Technologies, said: "This licensing agreement with American Express for such state-of-the-art card technology is an important step forward in our ability to provide innovative products to banks."


This press release is not and must not be, directly or indirectly, distributed or made public in Australia, Canada, Japan, South Africa or the United States of America. The Offer is not being made to persons in those jurisdictions or elsewhere where their participation requires further offer documents, filings or other measures in addition to those required by Swedish law. This is a translation of the original Swedish language press release. In the event of a dispute, the original Swedish language press release shall prevail.


PRESS RELEASE
7 March 2008

Oberthur publishes the offer document regarding the cash offer to the shareholders of XPonCard.
On 19 February 2008, Oberthur Technologies S.A. (”Oberthur”) announced a recommended cash offer (the “Offer”) to the shareholders in XPonCard Group AB (publ) (”XPonCard”) to acquire all shares in XPonCard.
Today, Oberthur publishes the offer document in relation to the Offer. The offer document and the related acceptance form are available in Swedish at www.oberthur.com and www.danskebank.se.

Oberthur Technologies S.A. Board of directors
For further information, please contact:
Oberthur Technologies: Jean-Michel Guichot Chief Financial Officer Phone: +33 1 47 64 64 08 E-Mail: jm.guichot@oberthur.com

Stéphanie Cau Investor relations Phone: +33 1 47 85 56 57 E-mail: s.cau@oberthurcs.com

Oberthur Technologies S.A. makes recommended cash offer of SEK 157 per share in XPonCard Group AB (publ) Oberthur Technologies S.A. (“Oberthur”) hereby announces a recommended public cash offer to the shareholders in XPonCard Group AB (publ) (“XPonCard”) to acquire all shares in XPonCard (the “Offer”). XPonCard’s shares are listed on OMX Nordic Exchange Stockholm.

The Mobile World Congress will take place at the Fira de Barcelona from February 11th to 14th, 2008. Oberthur Technologies will show its most innovative technologies and display key solutions on stand 8B68 and at the Poble Espanyol. This annual trade show is the biggest and most important in the mobile communication industry and allows us to meet our key customers, improve and rationalize the global industrial process in the interest of even greater efficiency, and showcase our technological innovations and strategic projects to build the future together. The mobile sector is moving fast, and so are the expectations of end users. In 2007, more than 2.6 billion SIM cards were sold worldwide. Our objective is to continue growing by providing innovative technologies and excellence of services to our customers. Recognized as a global player, Oberthur Technologies is committed to delivering products and services which offer value to operators, and proposes a range of solutions based on leading-edge products and services. Oberthur Technologies is at the cutting edge of the industry, being nominated and winning Sesame Awards for its technological innovation: in 2007 the company won two Sesames, for FlyBuy Duo and Cardblade.

Dear shareholders, It is my great pleasure to announce that all of François - Charles Oberthur Fiduciaire and Oberthur Card Systems' operational activities have been grouped together within a single entity called Oberthur Technologies. Oberthur Technologies will henceforth encompass all our core skills, and facilitate the perfect integration of our activities. This new organization will enable us to mobilize our resources in order to satisfy our customers' requirements, maximize our synergies and thereby increase the Group's efficiency. For our shareholders, this operation is a guarantee of our future growth. You may rest assured that all our teams are totally committed to making this new stage in our Group's journey a successful one. Jean-Pierre SAVARE


Oberthur Card Systems announced that the acquisition of 100% of I’M Technologies has been finalized for a purchase price of S$ 34 M (around €17 M). I’M Technologies has been de-listed from the Singaporean stock exchange. As part of the transaction, the key managers of I’M Technologies have joined Oberthur Card Systems. The two companies have identified significant synergies which should have a net impact on the operating margin in the Telecom segment and further reinforce their positions in the Asian market.

Oberthur Card Systems has received the EAL+4 certification for its native electronic passport, ID-OneTM ePass. With this mandatory certification, European Union members now have a commercial source of electronic passports which meet Basic Access Control requirements. In addition, this electronic passport chip is certified with Active authentication, feature that offers a higher security. This e-passport – which is already ICAO compliant – is a prestigious addition to Oberthur Card Systems’ ID-One product line. This strengthens the group’s position in the ID market with a comprehensive and aggressive roadmap for the e-passport market worldwide.

Exclusively at 3GSM 2007, Oberthur Card Systems launches the SIMphonIC™ WebSIM offer. Based on Smart Card Web Server technology, this application enables the deployment of multimedia services on the most advanced (U)SIM cards. This SIM card-embedded solution combines easy and user-friendly access to web services, rich multimedia content and the possibility to store useful data - bookmarks, logins and passwords. WebSIM offers the flexibility to remotely manage web pages post-issuance. Operators will use the WebSIM solution to change content, distribute advertisements and address specific content to dedicated and identified subscribers.

Read the press releases written during the 3GSM 2007:

• Oberthur Card Systems selects Celltick’s mobile marketing solution as part of its sim offering.
• Oberthur Card Systems and Sicap Team up to reduce configuration costs for mobile operators.
• 3 Italia digital mobile tv service uses Oberthur Card Systems’ DVB-H technology.
• Oberthur Card Systems’ high speed protocol and high capacity card USIM: GigantIC™ developments in line with new USB standard protocol.
• Telefónica Móviles España & Oberthur Card Systems to replace tickets by contactless phones.
• Oberthur Card Systems launches its mobile tv offer: SimphonIC™ TV.
• Award for the Oberthur Card Systems’ based mobile banking solution of Orange Romania and Raiffeisen Bank.
• Oberthur Card Systems and Bridgeport Networks announce commercial availability of MobileSTICK fixed mobile convergence solution.
• More than 1 million national service cards issued by Oberthur Card Systems in 2006 in Italy.
• Atlantique Telecom has selected Oberthur Card Systems’ evoluSIM hosting offer for a massive rebranding campaign.
• Oberthur Card Systems and Abaxia team up to offer mobile phone customization through GIGAntIC™.

http://www.oberthurcs.com