Regulatory News:
Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 - GTO), the world leader in digital
security, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of O3SIS
from its founders and funds managed by Duke Forest. The terms of the
transaction were not disclosed.
The personal data of each mobile phone subscriber has become a key
social feature of the subscription model. Such data, that includes
personal contact, photos, mail and other multimedia content has created
and reinforced an emotional bond between the end-user and its phone. It
is also a real asset for the mobile network operator in its drive to
develop its relationship with its subscribers. Personal Data Management
is one of the most successful mobile services currently deployed in the
wireless ecosystem.
O3SIS AG is a leading provider of carrier grade Personal Data Management
solutions to Mobile Network Operators. With more than one billion
personal data records managed and more than 300 devices supported,
including popular devices such as the iPhone, the G-Phone and
Blackberries, O3SIS' software suite allows consumers on the move to
access and share any kind of personal data - contacts, email, multimedia
content - wherever its location in the mobile equipment or in the cloud.
O3SIS also provides the ?push email? technology used to notify and
transfer email to any mobile subscriber's device regardless of the
storage place. O3SIS, which is based near Cologne, Germany, counts over
20 blue-chip customers including tier-one operators, retailers and large
enterprise customers.
Commenting on the transaction, Oliver Piou, Gemalto Chief Executive
Officer noted ?With more than 70 references, Gemalto is already the
leading provider of phonebook backup solutions to mobile operators
around the world. With this combination, we expand Gemalto's offering in
our rapidly growing software and solutions business, bringing our
customers the first fully integrated personal data management solution
across mobile and fixed line networks?.
Dirk Dörre, co-founder and CEO of O3SIS added ?We have worked
successfully in the past with Gemalto on an OEM basis, integrating our
handset capability with Gemalto's knowledge of the SIM. As part of
Gemalto, we really look forward to leveraging Gemalto's commercial
presence around the globe to accelerate the growth of the business?.
O3SIS, which employs approximately 60 people, will be fully integrated
into the Gemalto Mobile Communications segment over the coming months,
and will be forming the core of Gemalto's personal data management offer
to mobile network operators. By combining O3SIS' handset synchronisation
to Gemalto's SIM card and USB dongle-based software solutions, as well
as its infrastructure for operated services, Gemalto will be able to
deploy a superior and highly differentiated turn-key offer to mobile
network operators. Under the operator's brand, this multi-faceted range
of services will enable end-users to share, store or back up personal
data such as their phonebook, calendar, photos, or other multimedia data
from either fixed or mobile devices and to leverage this data through
value-added communication solutions such as push email and mobile
instant messaging.
Philippe Schuit, Managing Partner at Duke Forest Capital and member of
the O3SIS Supervisory Board commented ?We are very pleased with this
outcome. At Duke Forest we specialize in boosting the growth of
technology companies, focusing on sales, go-to-market and governance.
Over the years we have taken an active role in coaching the management
in positioning the company for growth. We are satisfied to see that
O3SIS was able to build a robust, carrier-class, highly-scalable
personal data management and synchronization platform allowing data to
be updated real-time over-the-air. O3SIS' blue chip customer list is
testimony to the quality of the product and the management team, and
this transaction demonstrates Duke Forest's ability to create strategic
value and realise a successful outcome in a challenging environment?.
About Gemalto
Gemalto (Euronext NL 0000400653 GTO) is the world leader in digital
security with 2008 annual revenues of €1.68 billion, and 10,000
employees operating out of 75 offices, research and service centers in
40 countries.
Gemalto is at the heart of our evolving digital society. The freedom to
communicate, travel, shop, bank, entertain, and work?anytime,
anywhere?has become an integral part of what people want and expect, in
ways that are convenient, enjoyable and secure.
Gemalto delivers on the growing demands of billions of people worldwide
for mobile connectivity, identity and data protection, credit card
safety, health and transportation services, e-government and national
security. We do this by supplying to governments, wireless operators,
banks and enterprises a wide range of secure personal devices, such as
subscriber identification modules (SIM) in mobile phones, smart banking
cards, smart card access badges, electronic passports, and USB tokens
for online identity protection. To complete the solution we also provide
software, systems and services to help our customers achieve their goals.
As the use of Gemalto's software and secure devices increases with the
number of people interacting in the digital and wireless world, the
company is poised to thrive over the coming years.
For more information please visit www.gemalto.com.
About Duke Forest Capital
DUKE FOREST is an independent investment firm managing growth capital
and providing operational expertise to small and medium sized technology
companies that operate in growth sectors and are located in North-West
Europe. DUKE FOREST complementary team of professionals put their
strategic and analytical expertise, operational experience and
transactional know how at work for portfolio companies and funds,
through hands-on management advice and pro-active execution support. The
overall focus centres on ?special situations? where Duke Forest develops
solutions for growth, expansion and/or buyout opportunities.
Furthermore, DUKE FOREST provides advisory services as well as fund and
portfolio management services to institutional and corporate investors,
organizes and manages secondary transactions and spins- or carves-out
business positions.
DUKE FOREST manages and advises several investment funds that currently
hold approx. 30 technology companies.
For more information, please visit www.dukeforest.com
Gemalto
Investor Relations
Vincent Biraud
M.:
+33(0) 6 08 48 33 23
vincent.biraud@gemalto.com
or
Emlyn
Korengold
TBWA Corporate
T. : +33 (0) 6 08 21 93
74
emlyn.korengold@tbwa-corporate.com
or
Corporate
Communication
Rémi Calvet
M.: +33(0) 6 22 72 81
58
remi.calvet@gemalto.com
