BUSINESS WATCH

Biometric Technology Today • January 20016

German signature expertsto merge their operationsGerman signature verification specialist Softprois to merge with the Identification Systemsdivision of synfis, also based in Germany.

The new company, which retains the Softproname, will combine the strong position whichsynfis has in the German market, with theinternational market position held by Softpro.(Approximately 80% of Softpro’s revenue isgenerated outside of Germany.)

The companies have guaranteed to theircustomers that all existing product lines willcontinue for at least several years. The SignPlusSystem from Softpro is used in more than 150financial institutions, while synfis’ InfoSignsystem is installed in over 300 Germancommercial and savings banks, the companiesclaim.

The merger is scheduled to go ahead in 2001.

Contact: Joerg-M Lenz at Softpro,Tel: +49 7031 66 06 0, Fax: +49 7031 66 06 66,email: jle@softpro.de

Keyware snaps up ABLEBelgian-based Keyware continued on itsaggressive acquisition warpath acquiringABLE, a provider of Internet communicationssecurity servers. ABLE’S flagship product,UNI-Box, essentially enables secureconnections between local area networks andthe internet.

Keyware said it will integrate its layeredbiometric verification (LBV) products onto theUNI-Box platform immediately. Thisdevelopment will allow users to manageauthentication on a network, telephone systemand building entry systems, as well being ableto support multiple authentication methods,such as biometrics, passwords, smart cards and PKI.

Contact: Elizabeth Marshall at Keyware,Tel: +1 781 933 1311, email: emarshall@keyware.com

Lernout & Hauspie battles onBelgium voice recognition technology companyLernout & Hauspie has won its battle withBelgian courts to gain protection from creditorsuntil 30 June (Btt Nov/Dec ’00, p2).

The company, which also produces speakerverification software, had run into trouble withcreditors after it discovered a shortfall believedto be in the region of US$100 million in itsKorean subsidiary. L&H expects to continuemaking losses until 2002 and has confirmed itplans to cut approximately 30% of its global workforce in a bid to relaunch thegroup.

Part of this corporate shake up includesshutting its Korean operation and scaling back ofits activities in Singapore. Total job cuts areexpected to reach 1,200 from its total workforceof 5,800.

Contact: Ron Schuermans at Lernout & Hauspie,Tel: +32 57 22 8888, email: ron.schuermans@lhs.be

Image Metrics receives£510,000 in venture capitalUK-based software company Image Metrics hasreceived £510,000 (US$751,000) funding fromventure capitalists Axiomlab.

Unlike most other facial recognition softwaresuppliers, Image Metrics claims its software canbe used for many alternative applications, such aslow bandwidth facial coding, face tracking andanimation, surveillance, vehicle recognition andpornographic image searching.

Axiomlab has taken a 16% stake in the supplierin return for the investment.

Contact: Gareth Edwards at Image Metrics,Tel: +44 161 475 1746, Fax: +44 161 475 0623

Cross Match Technologiesacquires The Phoenix GroupCross Match Technologies, a US provider of livescan finger and hand identification scanners,will purchase The Phoenix Group, a biometricsoftware developer.

The Phoenix Group’s main specialty is softwarefor identification, comparison and verification offingerprints and palm prints. In addition, thecompany has developed an AFIS system, AFIXTracker, which it sells directly to law enforcementagencies.

The deal is expected to be completed duringthe first quarter of 2001.

Contact: Wayne De Leo at Cross Match Technologies,Tel: +1 561 622 1650, Fax: +1561 622 9938

Merger news

Acquisition

Company update

Investment

Acquisition

C o m p a n yn e w s

• Diebold, a provider of self-service delivery systems, hasreached a lease finance agreementfor 1,400 Cash ManagementMachines with Innoventry, aprovider of automated financialtransaction kiosks. The cashmachines use facial recognitiontechnology to identify non-banked customers, eliminatingthe need for a cash card and PIN.The deal is worth approximatelyUS$60 million to Diebold, whilethe deal frees up capital forInnoventry to invest in otherareas of its business. Once thelease expires Innoventry caneither purchase the units, renewthe lease or return the terminals.

• US electronic componentsdistributor Arrow Electronics hasannounced that it will distributefingerprint sensors fromAuthenTec throughout Northand South America and Mexicoin response to rising customerinterest. The distributor will offerAuthenTec’s EntrePad andFingerLoc sensor families,specifically for the PC andpersonal electronic devicemarkets. Arrow will initially offerthe devices through 50 branches.

• Ethentica, a provider of finger-print authentication products andservices, has signed an agreementwith Lockheed Martin Infor-mation Systems to be a preferredsystems integrator in the federaland state government markets.Ethentica hopes the deal willspeed up the adoption of itstechnology among Lockheed’sgovernment customers.

• ID Technologies Corporation,a North Carolina StateUniversity-based company, hasissued a prepaid license to BobBarker Company, a prisonindustry supplier. TheUS$300,000 license is for a cardthat allows fingerprintidentification without anyexternal devices. IDTechnologies will also receive a10% royalty and a 15%manufacturing surcharge.