NCH Ncipher

Thales today announces that its acquisition of nCipher PLC (NCH.L), purchased for �50.7 million in cash, became effective on Friday 10 October. nCipher is a leading supplier of encryption products for organizations that need to protect sensitive data. nCipher is delivering solutions in the fields of key management and cryptographic hardware. nCipher operates a network of partners and offices in the UK, Europe, the Asia Pacific region and the USA, with customers including government, financial institutions and enterprises. The acquisition develops further Thales's information and communications systems security business by combining the complementary expertise of the two companies in order to broaden Thales's encryption products portfolio and expand our Professional Services offering. It will also add nCipher's network of regional offices to Thales's international network, thereby creating a wider distribution base. Alex Dorrian, CEO Thales UK and EVP, USA, Canada and Australia, says: �Following the successful acquisition of nCipher, we are now set to start the integration of the two businesses. We are looking forward to welcoming the nCipher employees into the Thales family and to strengthening Thales�s leadership in the information and communication security market.� Olivier Houssin, EVP Security & Services & EVP Security Solutions & Services, says: �The nCipher acquisition will enhance the combined group�s reputation as one of the most technologically advanced players in the information and communication systems security market. By integrating nCipher, Thales will have the industry�s most complete information security portfolio securing mission critical data. Notes to editors Thales is one of the world leaders in the provision of information and communication systems, security solutions for government, defence, critical infrastructure operators, enterprises and the finance industry. Thales�s unique position in the market is due to its end-to-end security offering spanning the entire value chain in the security domain. Offers�range from consulting, architecture design, security and encryption product development, evaluation and certification preparation,�to through-life management services. Thales has 40 years of unrivalled track record in protecting information from �Sensitive But Unclassified� up to �TOP SECRET� and a comprehensive portfolio of security products and services, which includes network security products, application security products and secured telephony products. In the financial world, Thales secures value bearing transactions, data preparation for card and PIN issuing, and provides advanced user and message authentication solutions supported by secure identity management and token issuing. Thales�s new complete broad product portfolio of security appliances & associated software for securing mission critical data includes: application security (Data security and key management, payment security and authentication and Identity), network security (Layer 2 and Layer 3 IP encryption) and secured telephony (Voice Over IP, GSM/3G). nCipher currently has offices in the United Kingdom (Cambridge), the USA (Stoneham, MA and Milpitas, CA), the Asia Pacific Region (Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo), France and Germany. About Thales Thales is a leading international electronics and systems group, addressing Defence, Aerospace and Security markets worldwide. Thales's leading-edge technology is supported by 22,000 R&D engineers who offer a capability unmatched in Europe to develop and deploy field-proven mission-critical information systems. To this end, the group's civil and military businesses develop in parallel and share a common base of technologies to serve a single objective: the security of people, property and nations. The group builds its growth on its unique multi-domestic strategy based on trusted partnerships with national customers and market players, while leveraging its global expertise to support local technology and industrial development. Thales employs 68 000 people in 50 countries with revenues in 2007 of � 12.3 billion