AMERICAN EXPRESS LICENSES OBERTHUR TECHNOLOGIES TO MANUFACTURE CLEAR CARDS
PARIS, February 25, 2008 -- American Express and Oberthur Technologies have entered into an agreement to give Oberthur Technologies a license to produce clear payment cards for other card issuers.
American Express is the owner of numerous patents covering clear and translucent payment cards and the processes and procedures necessary for producing them. 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 CashTM.
The payment market is showing an increasing interest for innovative plastic features that bring new opportunities for banks to both retain existing customers and attract new ones. In this scope, the licensing agreement with American Express is a major step for Oberthur Technologies to strengthen its value-added offer to banks.
"For Oberthur Technologies, personalization of a card's material, design and form factor is becoming a key way of differentiation. 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," said Frédéric Chevreton, Corporate Vice President, Payment Product Line at Oberthur Technologies.
About American Express
American Express is a leading global payments, network and travel company founded in 1850. For more information, visit www.americanexpress.com. For specific information about obtaining a license from American Express to manufacture clear card products, please contact FairField Resources at 203-326-4951.
About Oberthur Technologies
With sales of 733.4million Euros in 2007, Oberthur Technologies is a world leader in the field of secure technologies. Innovation and high quality services ensure Oberthur Technologies' strong positioning in its main target markets:
- Smart cards: One of the world's leading providers of security and identification based on smart card technology and associated services, such as personalization, for the mobile, payment, identity, digital TV and transport markets.
- Secure printing: The world's third largest private security printer, specializing in high security for the production and management of banknotes, passports and other identity documents in more than fifty countries.
- Cash protection: World leader in the emerging market of equipments for smart cash transportation and ATM protection.
Close to its customers, Oberthur Technologies benefits from an industrial and commercial presence across all five continents. Oberthur Technologies is listed on the Eurolist section B stock exchange.
Web site: www.oberthur.com
