Axalto

Axalto was a smart-card technology company created from the Smart Card and Terminal Department of SchlumbergerSema. During its short period as an independent company, it supplied microprocessor cards and point-of-sale terminals to customers across telecommunications, public telephony, finance, retail, transport, entertainment, healthcare, identification, information technology, and public-sector markets. The business originated within Schlumberger, whose smart-card and terminal activities were associated with its acquisition of Sema Group and the subsequent creation of SchlumbergerSema. When Schlumberger sold SchlumbergerSema's information-technology services business to Atos Origin, the smart-card and terminal activities were separated rather than transferred with the services operation. This carve-out became Axalto, which entered the public markets through an initial public offering in 2004. Axalto's principal capabilities centered on secure microprocessor cards and related transaction infrastructure. Its products served mobile-network operators and other telecommunications providers, while its terminal activities supported electronic payments and retail transactions. The company's market scope also extended to public telephony, transit, identity programs, healthcare applications, entertainment services, and government or enterprise information systems. This breadth reflected the expanding use of embedded security and digital identity technologies in the mid-2000s. At its independent peak, Axalto employed more than 4,500 people in 60 countries and was described by Gartner in 2005 as one of the world's leading microprocessor-card suppliers. It also ranked as a major supplier of point-of-sale terminals. The company reported sales above $992 million for 2005; that figure belongs to the 2005 reporting period and should not be treated as a current financial measure. Axalto announced a merger plan with Gemplus International on December 7, 2005. The European Commission approved the transaction on May 19, 2006, and the combination was completed on June 2, 2006, creating Gemalto. Axalto therefore ceased to exist as an independent brand and corporate entity. Later information about the combined business is generally covered under Gemalto, which was subsequently acquired by Thales.

Axalto's roots lay in the smart-card and terminal activities developed within Schlumberger. After Schlumberger acquired Sema Group, these activities were associated with the broader SchlumbergerSema organization. SchlumbergerSema combined information-technology services with specialized secure-card and transaction-terminal operations, but the two activities were later separated during a corporate divestment. Schlumberger sold the information-technology services business of SchlumbergerSema to Atos Origin. The Smart Card and Terminal Department was carved out from that transaction and established as Axalto, giving the business an independent corporate identity. Axalto subsequently carried out an initial public offering in 2004 and became fully listed on Euronext. As an independent company, Axalto focused on microprocessor cards, secure transaction technologies, and point-of-sale terminals. Its customer and application base covered mobile and fixed telecommunications, public telephony, financial services, retail, transportation, entertainment, healthcare, personal identification, information technology, and public administration. The company operated internationally, with more than 4,500 employees across 60 countries during its independent period. The mid-2000s expansion of mobile communications, electronic payments, digital identity, and automated transactions created a market environment favorable to Axalto's portfolio. The company was identified by Gartner in 2005 as one of the leading global suppliers of microprocessor cards and was also a significant provider of point-of-sale terminals. Axalto reported sales exceeding $992 million in 2005, its final full year before the merger with Gemplus. On December 7, 2005, Axalto announced a plan to merge with Gemplus International, another major smart-card company and its principal competitor. The proposed combination required regulatory review. The European Commission approved the transaction on May 19, 2006. The merger was completed on June 2, 2006, creating Gemalto. Axalto consequently became part of the new group rather than continuing as a standalone listed company. The later corporate history of the combined business belongs to Gemalto and, after Gemalto's subsequent acquisition, to Thales.

• 2006

  European Commission approves merger

  [1]Axaltoen.wikipedia.org

  European Union competition authorities approved the Axalto-Gemplus transaction on May 19.

• 2006

  Gemalto is formed

  [1]Axaltoen.wikipedia.org

  The Axalto-Gemplus merger was completed on June 2, ending Axalto's independent corporate existence.

• 2005

  Axalto reports sales above $992 million

  [1]Axaltoen.wikipedia.org

  The company recorded sales exceeding $992 million for the 2005 reporting year and employed more than 4,500 people in 60 countries during this period.

• 2005

  Merger plan with Gemplus announced

  [1]Axaltoen.wikipedia.org

  Axalto announced on December 7 that it planned to combine with Gemplus International.

• 2004

  Axalto completes initial public offering

  [1]Axaltoen.wikipedia.org

  Following its separation from SchlumbergerSema's information-technology services business, Axalto became an independently listed company through an initial public offering.

• Smart-card and terminal activities originate within Schlumberger

  [1]Axaltoen.wikipedia.org

  Axalto's business originated as the Smart Card and Terminal Department of Schlumberger and was later associated with SchlumbergerSema.

A global provider of secure microprocessor cards and transaction terminals, positioned at the intersection of telecommunications, payments, digital identity, and connected public or enterprise services.

• Secure card technology

  Microprocessor smart cards

  Axalto's core offering was a range of microprocessor-based smart cards used to store, process, and protect data in telecommunications, financial, identity, transport, healthcare, and public-sector applications. These cards formed the technological center of the company's business and were a major reason it was recognized as a leading global supplier during the mid-2000s.

• Telecommunications hardware

  Telecommunications cards

  Axalto supplied secure cards for telecommunications and public-telephony environments. The business served the communications sector as part of its broader portfolio of microprocessor-card products, supporting the authentication and service-access requirements of network operators and public communications providers.

• Payment hardware

  Point-of-sale terminals

  Point-of-sale terminals were Axalto's principal hardware offering beyond smart cards. The terminals supported electronic payment and retail transaction environments and contributed to the company's position as a major supplier in the payment-terminal market during its independent period.

• 2005

  Decision to merge with Gemplus InternationalM&A

  Background

  Axalto operated in the concentrated global smart-card market alongside Gemplus International, a principal competitor. On December 7, 2005, Axalto announced a plan to combine the two companies.

  Action taken

  Axalto pursued the merger, subject to regulatory approval, with the intended result of creating a larger combined smart-card technology company.

  Aftermath

  The European Commission approved the transaction on May 19, 2006, and the merger was completed on June 2, 2006, creating Gemalto and ending Axalto's standalone operations.

  Source

1. 1Axaltoen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Archived Axalto official websiteweb.archive.org