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] 

Oberthur Technologies has signed a contract with Société Générale, one of Europe’s largest banks, for the deployment of NFC services in France this year.

As per the agreement, Oberthur will provide Société Générale with its trusted service manager (TSM) solution, enabling the bank to issue its payment application to customers using NFC-enabled phones.

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Oberthur Technologies announced that it will integrate Interop Technologies’ CDMA Over-the-Air provisioning platform into its broader Over-the-Air management solution in order to serve CDMA wireless network operators worldwide.

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Oberthur Technologies partnered with Ingecom to integrate a high-frequency chip and antenna into a SIM card, enabling mobile phone users to communicate with a receiver located up to 15-meters away.

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Romanian bank BRD, a unit of Société Générale, has selected Oberthur Technologies to supply multi-application payment cards. These cards have payment scheme applications, as well as the ability to host transport, access control, PKI or biometric apps.

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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 has announced that its EMV sector has experienced large growth leading up to the transition to EMV in the U.S, shipping more than 2.5 million EMV cards to U.S. banks and credit unions in 2011.

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