Identity, Security, Payments, Biometrics, Smart Cards and Authentication News

Oberthur reports strong second quarter sales

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

France-based Oberthur Technologies has reported 2008 second quarter sales of 217.2 million euros ($345.8 million U.S.), up 20% year-on-year at current rates. Organic growth reached 12.3% at constant rates versus 2007 second quarter results.

During the second quarter this year, the company’s Card Systems posted a sharp growth in sales, up 30% to 186.7 million euros ($297.2 million U.S.) for a 36% increase. This performance was boosted by the integration of XponCard, a Swedish company it acquired earlier this year.


Sales rose 13% at current rates and 20% at constant rates, to 162.9 million euros ($259.3 million U.S.). This reflects a combination of sustained demand in the SIM and ID markets in all regions of the world. Deliveries represented 149 million microprocessor cards, a 66% increase in volumes compared to second quarter 2007 returns.

Mobile sales came to 86 million euros ($139.9 million U.S.), a 45% increase. Excluding XPonCard, Oberthur’s mobile sales were up 28% to 76 million euros $120.9 million U.S.). In the SIM card sub-segment, volumes rose 76% over second quarter 2007 results and sales reached 70 million euros ($111.4 million U.S.). [end] 

Banca Monte Paschi Belgio, the Belgian branch of this banking group, has opted to implement Oberthur Technologies’ end-to-end smart authentication product.

Certified by MasterCard, the solution includes smart display cards, an authentication server and an access control server that will secure e-commerce services and provide a unique and innovative payment solution to Banca Monte Paschi Belgio customers.

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Global private equity firm Advent International completed the acquisition of the Card Systems and Identity divisions of Oberthur Technologies, after workers’ council consultation and market authorities’ approval of the transaction.

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Oberthur Technologies and AuthenTec, a provider of mobile and network security solutions, have teamed up to create SIM-based designs that will make NFC mobile payments via smart phones faster and more secure.

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Oberthur Technologies announced that the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) selected it to deliver secure and anti-counterfeiting electronic driving licenses to Bangladeshis. Oberthur emerged as the winning bidder with Evolis and TigerIT.

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This year Oberthur Technologies is on track to deliver more than two million smart cards to the U.S. government in 2011, making it the leading supplier of FIPS 201-compliant Personal Identity Verification (PIV) cards for the fifth year running.

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Payment terminal provider VeriFone Systems is riding out the European debt crisis with positive numbers for the fourth quarter, all while rapidly rolling out payment terminal installations in Latin America, reports American Banker.

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