LaserCard and Gemalto Sign Agreement for New Phase of Saudi Arabia National ID Card Program

LaserCard, a provider of secure ID solutions, announced the execution of a Card Supply Agreement with Gemalto for the supply of chip-ready optical memory cards for issuance as Saudi Arabian National ID Cards.


The agreement, valued at approximately US$6 million, marks the start of a new phase of the program where card issuance is expected to migrate from the regions of Saudi Arabia to a new centralized personalization facility in the Kingdom's capital city, Riyadh. Gemalto previously supplied and installed the centralized card personalization system in Riyadh and is responsible for processing the optical cards to embed a Gemalto supplied contact chip.


"We are pleased to team with the world's leading supplier of smart cards on this key Saudi national security program,” said Bob DeVincenzi, President and CEO of LaserCard. “The combination of LaserCard's optical memory and Gemalto's contact chip solution makes the Saudi card one of the most secure credentials in the world.”


The agreement calls for purchase order releases for shipments beginning immediately and continuing through December 2009. LaserCard anticipates combined deliveries this calendar year of $11.2 million of Saudi Arabian National ID Cards for this and a previously announced contract.


About LaserCard
LaserCard, together with its subsidiaries, is a provider of secure ID solutions to governments and commercial clients worldwide. It develops, manufactures, and integrates LaserCard optical memory cards, encoders, peripherals, smart and specialty cards, biometrics, and modular software. The Company's cards and systems are used in various applications, including citizen identification, border security, government service delivery and facility access.


For more information, please visit www.lasercard.com.