PRESS RELEASES 1st half-year 2005


(04/07/2002)
09/05/2005

SAGEM Monetel to participate in the launch of Thailand’s e-purse

04/05/2005

SAGEM provides Europe-wide multi-biometric visas in pilot test

18/03/2005

Snecma and Sagem merge, changing name to SAFRAN

16/03/2005

SAGEM joins Smart Payment Alliance

11/03/2005

The SAGEM myX6-2 : Striking in sound and image

09/03/2005

Sagem-Snecma merger - Successful public share offer

16/02/2005

GROUPE SAGEM: ANNUAL RESULTS 2004

15/02/2005

SAGEM’s myC3-2: seductive and compact

14/02/2005

SAGEM’s myX1-2 and myX2-2: a new striking combo in the GSM range

25/01/2005

SAGEM chosen for the UK police's latest fingerprint and palmprint identification system

10/01/2005

SAGEM: 12.3 % increase in 2004 revenue

 
 
 
 

 

SAGEM Monetel to participate in the launch of Thailand’s e-purse


Paris, May 9th 2005– SAGEM Monetel will participate in the launch of Thailand's electronic purse, scheduled for the beginning of September 2005. Based on the latest technological innovations in electronic payment, the system will use contact or contactless smart cards that will interface with the SAGEM Monetel EFT Smart payment terminal.

This new payment terminal processes electronic transactions in less than four seconds when in contactless mode. Payments will be made in “Touch and Pay” mode. The e-purse – known as Smart Purse – will be used by at least five million card holders on 40 000 terminals in 2 or 3 years. Fast food outlets, bookshops, theatres, concert halls and train stations are the first in line to be equipped with this new payment mode.

For Thai Smart Card – the company developing the overall solution – Smart Purse is more than just a simple e-purse. A lot of value-added services can be integrated, such as loyalty programmes, analysis of consumer behaviour for promotional campaigns, e-vouchers, e-ticketing and MTAs (Money Transfer Applications, to be launched in May 2005).

“Smart Purse is an innovative solution that brings new services and conveniences to the retailers and consumers. This is why we are so optimistic for the development of such a solution. We are very confident in our choice of a partner like SAGEM Monetel, with their powerful and secure terminals,” said Mr. Chalermchai Chatchaiganan of Thai Smart Card.

Jean-Paul Jainsky, Managing Director of SAGEM's Security Division , added: “We are very happy to provide Thai Smart Card with powerful and secure terminals that will ensure an efficient payment process. They support multiple applications and can offer a large range of services. Based on Telium technology, they are open-ended, and as such can process magnetic, contact and contactless smart cards.”

About SAGEM

Groupe SAGEM is an international high-technology group. Major league player in the world, and number one of the French mobile telephones market, SAGEM is Europe's first actor in fax machines and provider of global solutions and multi-service networks. Third largest European group in the defence and security electronics market, world leader in fingerprint biometrics as well as major actor in avionics and on-board information systems for aircraft, SAGEM maintains a presence in more than 20 countries world-wide.
Initiated in October 2004, SAGEM's friendly exchange offer for the aeronautics equipment manufacturer SNECMA was announced a success on March 8, 2005.
The coming together of these two corporate heavyweights is expected to lead to the creation of a worldwide leader in high technology named SAFRAN. A shareholders' vote at the May 11, 2005, General Assembly will finalize the merger.

About SAGEM Monetel

A subsidiary of SAGEM Group, SAGEM Monetel is specialised in electronic payment solutions that integrate cutting-edge technologies such as GSM, GPRS, biometrics, secured transmission, etc.
For additional information, please consult
www.sagem-monetel.com.


Press Information
Hervé PHILIPPE
Executive VP, Chief Financial Officer
Tel. +33 1 40 70 62 57
Fax. +33 1 53 23 20 47
herve.philippe@sagem.com

 

SAGEM provides Europe-wide multi-biometric visas in pilot test

Paris, May 4th 2005– Following a consultation (made public in August 2004) of an ad hoc group of member states, SAGEM was chosen to integrate a pilot test of Europe-wide multi-biometric visas. Known as Biodev, the trial is scheduled to begin in the first half of 2005 and will last one year. SAGEM will equip several consulates abroad as well as European border posts.

SAGEM is supplying the enrolment stations and the multi-biometric technology (facial and fingerprint recognition) necessary to create and personalize the travel documents. The personalization of the contactless chips complies with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) standards, which will soon be applied to future secure passports. In particular, the technology protects against identity theft and fraud.

In addition, SAGEM is installing a temporary database for visa applicants and a search engine, both indispensable for fighting identity fraud and preventing multiple requests. The test is a precursor to the biometric visa information system, which may well be installed throughout the EU’s Schengen area. Furthermore, the pilot system will help determine the impact of new control and work procedures on travelers, consular staff and border police.

The pilot test will also allow authorities to verify whether or not documents issued and personalized with different equipment by clients and suppliers in five European countries are interoperable.

This new success confirms SAGEM’s expertise in multi-biometric technology, contactless smart cards and securing computer systems. Biodev also shows that the group can bring together numerous partners to experiment with and commercialize solutions that are innovative and interoperable on a large scale.

About SAGEM
Groupe SAGEM is an international high-technology group. Major league player in the world, and number one of the French mobile telephones market, SAGEM is Europe’s first actor in fax machines and provider of global solutions and multi-service networks. Third largest European group in the defence and security electronics market, world leader in fingerprint biometrics as well as major actor in avionics and on-board information systems for aircraft, SAGEM maintains a presence in more than 20 countries world-wide.
Initiated in October 2004, SAGEM’s friendly exchange offer for the aeronautics equipment manufacturer SNECMA was announced a success on March 9, 2005.
The coming together of these two corporate heavyweights is expected to lead to the creation of a worldwide leader in high technology named SAFRAN. A shareholders’ vote at the May 11, 2005, General Assembly will finalize the merger.



Press Information
Hervé PHILIPPE
Executive VP, Chief Financial Officer
Tel. +33 1 40 70 62 57
Fax. +33 1 53 23 20 47
herve.philippe@sagem.com

 

 

Snecma and Sagem merge, changing name to SAFRAN


Paris, 18 March 2005– SAGEM SA Supervisory Board met today under the Chairmanship of Mario COLAIACOVO and noted the success of the public offer initiated by SAGEM over SNECMA shares. The number of SNECMA shares involved represents more than 83% of the capital and 94.4% of the shares which could be tendered.


SAFRAN is the new name proposed by the Supervisory Board to the General Meeting of shareholders, which will be convened on 11 May 2005 to approve the merger between Sagem and Snecma.
The name SAFRAN has been chosen following a process of reflection, creation and validation.
The employees of both Snecma and Sagem played an active role in the entire process. The new name was selected from among a total of 4,250 names submitted, including 1,750 proposed by employees.
The new name SAFRAN was chosen for the broad range of meanings it evokes for the new group. First, it's the French word for the rudder blade on a boat, thus encompassing the ideas of direction, goal, heading, movement and strategy. These connotations seem particularly apt for a holding company whose mission is to guide the group. At the same time, the subsidiaries in the group will retain their names, to ensure continued support for the marketing of their respective product lines.
SAFRAN is also of course the name of one of the spices ("saffron") that inspired the beginning of international trade, opening channels between East and West.
Furthermore, it is remarkably compatible with international usage, since it has the same root in virtually all countries, with just the spelling changing slightly.

SAFRAN will have a workforce of nearly 55,000 people and a high growth potential in all its activities. The new management along with all employees are eager to create a large international high technology group. Everybody is already working to develop it.


During the meeting, the Chairman has welcomed the new Supervisory Board members, who had been appointed after the General Meeting of shareholders last December 20, and who took up their duties after the success of SAGEM’s public offer over SNECMA shares.

As from today, the Supervisory Board members are:

- Mr Mario COLAIACOVO, Chairman
- Mrs Anne LAUVERGEON, Deputy Chairman, and Mr François de COMBRET, Mr Armand DUPUY, Mr Jean-Marc FORNERI, Mr Yves GUENA, Mr Philippe JOST (French State’s official), Mr Xavier LAGARDE, Mr Jean-Yves LECLERQ (French State’s official), Mr Shemaya LEVY, Mr Michel LUCAS, Mr Pierre MORAILLON (French State’s official), Mr Dominique PARIS, Mr Jean-Bernard PENE (French State’s official), Mr Jean RANNOU, Mr Michel TOUSSAN, Mr Bernard VATIER, Mr Michel WACHENHEIM (French State’s official).
Mr Georges CHODRON de COURCEL and Mr Patrice DURAND are the censors.


The Supervisory Board has confirmed the appointment of the Executive Board’s new members:

- Mr Jean-Paul BECHAT, Chairman,
- Mr Grégoire OLIVIER,
- Mr Yves IMBERT.

In order to implement as soon as possible the merger between both Groups, the General Meeting of Shareholders will be convened on 11 May 2005 at 9.00 a.m at the following address : “la Maison de la Chimie (75007 Paris)” to approve this friendly transaction.
Items on the agenda are:
- To authorize the contribution-split of SAGEM operational activities in order to build the new Group’s organisation around four branches: Defense-Security, Aerospace Equipment, Propulsion
and Communications,
- To ratify the Headquarters transfer to the following address: 2 boulevard Martial Valin – 75015 Paris,
- To approve the Corporate name’s change into SAFRAN.


Press information:

SAGEM
Hervé PHILIPPE
Tel. +33 1 40 70 62 57
E-mail :
herve.philippe@sagem.com
SNECMA
Jocelyne TERRIEN
Tel. +33 1 40 60 80 28
E-mail :
jocelyne.terrien@snecma.fr

 

SAGEM joins Smart Payment Alliance

Paris, 16 March, 2005– SAGEM announces that it has joined Smart Payment Alliance, a new industry-wide association gathering the leading smart card manufacturers in the world, Axalto, Gemplus International S.A., Giesecke & Devrient, and Oberthur Card Systems.

Created in January 2005, this non-profit association is dedicated to promote and facilitate the usage of chip-based cards to make payments. Its main objective is to accelerate the transition from traditional magnetic stripe cards to chip-based cards by:

  • Promoting the benefits of smart cards for financial institutions
  • Ensuring optimal interoperability between all system components, for both payment and value-added applications
  • Establishing representation on standardization committees and within payment associations
  • Describing use cases for value-added applications and, whenever necessary, establishing joint industry specifications for them

The strategy of the Alliance is to position itself as a partner of EMVCo and to bolster Visa and MasterCard actions on EMV specifications and their implementation.

Aiming to establish consistent specifications, the Alliance members will be involved in very focused workgroups. Meeting regularly, they will carry out projects to advance interoperability as well as develop additional smart payment solutions, which would be difficult to achieve without the concentration of such industrial knowledge.

“Joining Smart Payment Alliance will enable us to participate to promoting chip-based payment cards, but also to establish international specifications, thus improving both quality and security” declares Jean-Paul Jainsky, Managing Director of SAGEM’s Security Division.

Marc Birkner, chairman of the board of Smart Payment Alliance, adds: “the success of the Smart Payment Alliance relies on a large base of experience in the chip card field. Therefore we welcome new entrants willing to contribute to the objectives”.


Groupe SAGEM is an international high-technology group. Major league player in the world, and number one of the French mobile telephones market, SAGEM is Europe’s first actor in fax machines and provider of global solutions and multi-service networks. Third largest European group in the defence and security electronics market, world leader in fingerprint biometrics as well as major actor in avionics and on-board information systems for aircraft, SAGEM maintains a presence in more than 20 countries world-wide.

Press Information
Hervé PHILIPPE
Executive VP, Chief Financial Officer
Tel. +33 1 40 70 62 57
Fax. +33 1 53 23 20 47
herve.philippe@sagem.com

 

The SAGEM myX6-2 : Striking in sound and image


Leisure, style and innovation have inspired this new music player camera-phone signed : SAGEM

Hanover, March 11th, 2005 – SAGEM continues to innovate and unveils today in Hanover its brand-new camera-phone handset equipped with the latest functionalities in terms of music, photo, video and games : the myX6-2.

For those who are looking for more than just a phone, the SAGEM myX6-2 is the ideal Multimedia mobility companion. Tri-band, the myX6-2 will be able to follow its owner all around the world.

The SAGEM myX6-2 allows an easy download of full music-tracks. As per its 10MB. of internal memory, this model also integrates a micro SD card player in order to extend its storage capacity potentially reaching up to 256MB. Therefore allowing the user to manage his music collection that constantly follows him directly on his handset. Other than its great ergonomics, its digital player renders a high-quality sound and its compatibility with a stereo kit gives an outstanding rendering, truthful to the original soundtrack.

As per its photo capabilities, the myX6-2 matches those of a digital camera thanks to its embedded 1.3 Mega-pixel sensor and its 8 position progressive digital zoom. The SAGEM myX6-2 also offers the possibility to record video sequences allowing the user to capture unique moments to remember with high emotional rendering.

Its large 256k-colour screen places it at the top of its category, with a remarkable comfort of use: it is therefore possible to watch not only photos but also videos in full screen format, as well as staying informed in real time. Its access to Multimedia Services becomes even more satisfactory: Multimedia Messaging Services (MMS), photo or video download, game and application download compatible with the JAVA™ standard, WAP 2.0, etc…

“This new mobile phone has found its place very naturally in our product range and illustrates our desire to provide products equipped with the most requested functionnalities by our customers in terms of highly advanced products with very attractive prices. The design and capabilities of the myX6-2 take into account this positioning: it is important to be able not only to seduce and re-assure but also to underline the high technology level offered by the product” declared Thierry Buffenoir, Managing Director of SAGEM’s Mobile Phones Division.

In short, this new model by SAGEM allows a complete freedom to call, communicate, remain informed and entertain. This freedom is furthermore reinforced by its Bluetooth connectivity which ensures hands-free comfort use as well as a large choice of accessories in option : stereo ear-kit, car kit, USB data cable, car charger, pedestrian Bluetooth kit and interchangeable covers.

Compact (110x47x19mm) and light-weight (104g), the SAGEM myX6-2 was designed to adapt itself to the users’ lifestyle. Its fluid lines answer our needs in terms of beauty and simplicity: sophisticates whilst remaining sober in its forms, the myX6-2 should seduced even the most demanding users.


About SAGEM
Groupe SAGEM is an international high-technology group. Major league player in the world, and number one of the French mobile telephones market, SAGEM is Europe’s first actor in fax machines and provider of global solutions and multi-service networks. Third largest European group in the defence and security electronics market, world leader in fingerprint biometrics as well as major actor in avionics and on-board information systems for aircraft, SAGEM maintains a presence in more than 20 countries world-wide.


Press Information
Hervé PHILIPPE
Executive VP, Chief Financial Officer
Tel. +33 1 40 70 62 57
Fax. +33 1 53 23 20 47
herve.philippe@sagem.com

 

Sagem-Snecma merger - Successful public share offer

Paris, March 9, 2005 – The planned merger between SAGEM and SNECMA has just taken a decisive step with the official publication of the results of SAGEM’s public offer for SNECMA shares. This offer was a major success, since the number of SNECMA shares involved represents more than 83% of the capital and 94.4% of the shares which could be tendered.

The SAGEM Executive Board met today, expressing its satisfaction with the success of the offer. In application of the decision by the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders last December 20, the Board proceeded to issue 187,774,170 new shares in payment for the SNECMA shares tendered to the offer.

The share capital of SAGEM SA now comprises 365,274,170 shares and 73,054,834 Euro. The new shares will be delivered on March 17, and the advance dividend payment of 0.10 Euro per share will be paid on March 18.

The corporate management teams of SAGEM and SNECMA are both delighted with the success of this public share offer, which allows to proceed with the merger between SNECMA and SAGEM and therefore to create a large international high technology group. This merger will reach achievement within the next few weeks with the legal merger of both companies.

Press information:

SAGEM
Hervé PHILIPPE
Executive VP, Chief Financial Officer
Tel. +33 1 40 70 62 57
Fax. +33 1 53 23 20 47
E-mail :
herve.philippe@sagem.com
SNECMA
Jocelyne TERRIEN
Media Relations Manager
Tel. +33 1 40 60 80 28
Fax. +33 1 40 60 80 26
E-mail :
jocelyne.terrien@snecma.fr

 

GROUPE SAGEM: ANNUAL RESULTS 2004

February 16th, 2005

Press release (pdf file)

February 17th, 2005

2004 Accounts Presentation - Outlook (pdf file - 7947 Kb)

Merger between SAGEM and SNECMA (pdf file - 190 Kb)

Press Information
Hervé PHILIPPE
Executive VP, Chief Financial Officer
Tel. +33 1 40 70 62 57
Fax. +33 1 53 23 20 47
herve.philippe@sagem.com

 

SAGEM’s myC3-2: seductive and compact

The new myC3-2 to enrich SAGEM’s Clamshell collection

Cannes, February 15th, 2005– SAGEM today presents its myC3-2: a large colour screen clamshell with Multimedia Messaging (MMS) capabilities over GPRS support.

SAGEM’s very compact myC3-2 is an attractive clamshell handset with a global volume of around 70cm3. As it opens, the handset unveils not only an ergonomic and user-friendly keypad, but also a mirror-like window. Its elegant design and blue back-light make it a sophisticated and attractive object.
When closed, the myC3-2 outer LCD screen displays numerous and useful information such as a clock or caller identification.

Its large amount of embedded features, comfortable keypad and large 65,536-colour screen allow a pleasant browsing experience through the menus and via its WAP services. This new SAGEM clamshell incorporates all the necessary and user-friendly features including Hi-Fi and/or polyphonic ring tone melodies as well as colour wallpapers also downloadable via a data cable or through WAP.

"SAGEM’s myC3-2 is a compact handset that should appeal to a variety of end-users in search for customisable mobile communication tools to meet their needs” declared Thierry Buffenoir, Managing Director of SAGEM’s Mobile Phones Division.

SAGEM is also launching the myC3-2j which supports the latest and more powerful version of JAVA™: the MIDP2.0, allowing the end-user to access a large choice of downloadable applications and games.

About SAGEM
Groupe SAGEM is an international high-technology group. Major league player in the world, and number one of the French mobile telephones market, SAGEM is Europe’s first actor in fax machines and provider of global solutions and multi-service networks. Third largest European group in the defence and security electronics market, world leader in fingerprint biometrics as well as major actor in avionics and on-board information systems for aircraft, SAGEM maintains a presence in more than 20 countries world-wide.


Press Information
Hervé PHILIPPE
Executive VP, Chief Financial Officer
Tel. +33 1 40 70 62 57
Fax. +33 1 53 23 20 47
herve.philippe@sagem.com

 

SAGEM’s myX1-2 and myX2-2: a new striking combo in the GSM range

Cannes, February 14th, 2005– SAGEM unveils two new entry range products: the myX1-2 and myX2-2 targeting mainly the voice centric segment.

As SAGEM’s coverage and presence continues to grow throughout the world and many users still look for accessible and easy to use products, SAGEM continues to enrich its range with products such as these two innovative and attractive handsets.

The SAGEM myX1-2 offers the essential set of features for the end-user: covers customisation, HiFi ring tones but also phone book and built-in hands-free mode. Furthermore, the traditional black and white screen is completely revolutionised thanks to an astonishing colour wall paper embedded in the display.
The SAGEM myX1-2 is available with different designs and its pendant the myX1-2w embeds WAP browsing features.

As for the SAGEM myX2-2, based on a 4,096-colour screen, it includes all the necessary and user-friendly features amongst which full customisation of covers, HiFi ring tones, colour wall paper, etc. Ease of WAP browsing is enhanced by its large and comfortable keypad.
The SAGEM myX2-2m version also integrates Multimedia Messaging Services (MMS) over GPRS.

"In the scope of its collection, SAGEM is as implicated with integrating new multimedia technologies into its high-range handsets as to renewing its entry-range offering. The large range of products meets not only the diversity driven by the different markets concerned but also the mobile phones usage themselves.” declared Thierry Buffenoir, Managing Director of SAGEM’s Mobile Phones Division.

These products are available in 900/1800Mhz and 850/1900MHz versions in order to answer the emerging markets needs, such as Latin America, Asia or Africa but also for replacement offers of more mature markets.


About SAGEM
Groupe SAGEM is an international high-technology group. Major league player in the world, and number one of the French mobile telephones market, SAGEM is Europe’s first actor in fax machines and provider of global solutions and multi-service networks. Third largest European group in the defence and security electronics market, world leader in fingerprint biometrics as well as major actor in avionics and on-board information systems for aircraft, SAGEM maintains a presence in more than 20 countries world-wide.


Press Information
Hervé PHILIPPE
Executive VP, Chief Financial Officer
Tel. +33 1 40 70 62 57
Fax. +33 1 53 23 20 47
herve.philippe@sagem.com

 

SAGEM chosen for the UK police's latest fingerprint and palmprint identification system

Paris, January 25th, 2005– SAGEM just signed an eight-year contract with Northrop Grumman Information Technology to provide advanced biometric identification technology which will be used to upgrade a computer system linking more than fifty police forces and agencies in the United Kingdom.

SAGEM will deliver this advanced biometric technology to help Northrop Grumman IT integrate and enhance the current Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) of England and Wales as well as the AFIS used by Scotland's police forces. Current services have allowed police forces to search their local fingerprints and crime scene marks against their own national databases. The new system, called IDENT1, will enable these fingerprints and marks to be searched against a combined database of more than six million ten-print records and more than one million marks (latents) in minutes.

One of the first new developments under IDENT1 and a major contribution of SAGEM will be the establishment of a national palm-print searching service. This service will enable forces, which already routinely collect palm prints from people that they arrest, to run national searches similar to fingerprint searches. National palm-print searching can have a considerable impact on crime investigation and detection as nearly twenty percent of all marks obtained from crime scenes in the United Kingdom are from palms.

Further developments will include mobile fingerprint checking, facial imaging and video identification.

"The U.K. has set the standard for identification technology in the police service, enabling the fingerprint bureau to complete complex national searches and comparisons. This contract award will enable us to continue the good work and to provide the police service with further national identification services they need to help fight the modern, sophisticated and mobile criminal", said Dr. Fred Preston, director of Identification for the U.K. Police Information Technology Organization (PITO), after awarding the contract to Northrop Grumman.

Jean-Paul Jainsky, Managing Director of the Security Division of Sagem commented "We see this agreement as an excellent relationship for both companies and we are convinced that the unique and well established expertise of Sagem in the design and deployment of very large biometric identification systems will provide a dramatic acceleration to the upgrading of the United Kingdom’s police forces. With this additional success, SAGEM reinforces its position as the world leader in the provision of large scale biometric solutions, a rapidly growing market.”


Groupe SAGEM is an international high-technology group. Major league player in the world, and number one of the French mobile telephones market, SAGEM is Europe’s first actor in fax machines and provider of global solutions and multi-service networks. Third largest European group in the defence and security electronics market, world leader in fingerprint biometrics as well as major actor in avionics and on-board information systems for aircraft, SAGEM maintains a presence in more than 20 countries world-wide.


Press Information
Hervé PHILIPPE
Executive VP, Chief Financial Officer
Tel. +33 1 40 70 62 57
Fax. +33 1 53 23 20 47
herve.philippe@sagem.com

 

SAGEM: 12.3 % increase in 2004 revenue

Paris, January 10th, 2005– The provisional consolidated revenue of Groupe SAGEM amounted to
€m 3,570 which represents a 12.3 % increase compared to the financial year 2003.


Breakdown by branch:

€m
Financial year 2004
Financial year 2003
Difference
Communications branch
2,409
2,097
+ 14.9 %
Defense and Security branch
1,161
1,083
+ 7.2 %

The results of the financial year 2004 will be published on February 16th, after closing of the Stock Exchange.

Groupe SAGEM is an international high-technology group. Major league player in the world, and number one of the French mobile telephones market, SAGEM is Europe’s first actor in fax machines and provider of global solutions and multi-service networks. Third largest European group in the defence and security electronics market, world leader in fingerprint biometrics as well as major actor in avionics and on-board information systems for aircraft, SAGEM maintains a presence in more than 20 countries world-wide.


Press Information
Hervé PHILIPPE
Executive VP, Chief Financial Officer
Tel. +33 1 40 70 62 57
Fax. +33 1 53 23 20 47
herve.philippe@sagem.com