Government ID, Smart Cards, Identification and Authentication

VASCO announces acquisition of authentication storage specialist Logico

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

VASCO, producer of user authentication products, has purchased an Austrian company experienced in smart card-based authentication, Logico, whose customers include those in the healthcare, manufacturing industry and government markets. The move will help VASCO expand and strengthen its position in the smart card-enabled password and PKI market.


Acquisition Expands and Strengthens VASCO’s Connected Smart Card Reader Offerings; Adds Substantial Depth to Engineering Capability

OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill., and BRUSSELS, Belgium–VASCO Data Security International, Inc. (www.vasco.com), the global number one vendor of strong user authentication products to the financial sector, announced its acquisition of Logico Smart Card Solutions of Vienna, Austria, an authentication storage specialist with extensive experience in smart card based authentication (www.logico.com ). VASCO acquired all of the stock of Logico, in exchange for cash consideration totalling Euro 1.14 million (approximately $1.5 million). The acquisition was financed completely with VASCO’s cash and is expected to be slightly dilutive in fiscal 2006.

Logico is an established, privately-owned company with customers in the healthcare, manufacturing industry and government markets and a significant technical expertise in the smart card related password security and PKI markets. Logico generated revenues of approximately Euro 0.8 million in 2005.

With the acquisition of Logico, VASCO expands and strengthens its product line and position in the smart card enabled password and PKI market for large, medium and small sized companies. Logico’s authentication product line is in perfect synergy with VASCO’s strong authentication strategy. With the addition of Logico’s technical expertise, VASCO expects to be able to further accelerate its evolution towards the “Full Option, All-Terrain Authentication Company”.

“Logico adds substantially to VASCO’s quickly growing authentication offerings,” said Jan Valcke, VASCO’s President and COO. “During our January Press and Investor Meeting in New York, we announced our new product strategy, turning VASCO into the “full option, all-terrain Authentication Company. With Logico, we are well armed to tackle the smart card enabled PKI/Certificates and password based authentication markets. In addition, Logico brings us a number of highly experienced developers, which allows us to accelerate the development of VASCO’s authentication strategy with regards to smart card based authentication and PKI software.”

“The opportunities in the authentication market are huge,” said Ken Hunt, VASCO’s Founder, Chairman and CEO. “At the end of 2004, VASCO implemented a make-or-buy strategy to expand its leadership position. The acquisition of Logico fits perfectly in this strategy. In the first place there is a great synergy between VASCO’s existing product range and Logico’s technologies. Secondly, we further expand our team of developers. Thirdly, with Logico we have a strong presence in the German speaking countries, a strategically important market for VASCO.”

“The authentication market is booming worldwide,” said Wolfgang Kallny, CEO of Logico. “Therefore, Logico has looked for a strong, global partner. VASCO, as worldwide leader in the authentication sphere, was an ideal candidate. I am convinced that the combination of the experience, market vision, R&D capacity and extended product range of both companies will allow them to be successful all over the world.”

About VASCO: VASCO designs, develops, markets and supports patented user authentication products for financial world, remote access, e-business and e-commerce. VASCO’s user authentication software is delivered via its Digipass hardware and software security products. With approx. 25 million Digipass products sold and delivered, including the units sold by AOS Hagenuk prior to our acquisition, VASCO has established itself as a world-leader for strong User Authentication with over 470 international financial institutions and approximately 2,600 blue-chip corporations and governments located in more than 100 countries. [end] 

VASCO Data Security International Inc. launched a version of MYDIGIPASS.COM for consumers to authenticate and securely log in to Web sites and Web applications.

The product adds strong user authentication to tens of thousands of online B2B and B2C Web-based applications. Using a soft- or hardware client device, such as DIGIPAS, dormant embedded DIGIPASS, DIGIPASS+ devices and smart card enabled national ID cards, MYDIGIPASS.COM can secure consumer online accounts. With MYDIGIPASS.COM, consumers only have to log in once to access all activated sites.

read more »

GoldKey Security Corporation has released GoldKey Tokens with Built-In Flash, a line of form factor authentication tokens that come with a hardware-encrypted secure flash drive along with a smart card and two-factor authentication.

read more »

The Trüb Group has released the second generation of its CombOS Dual Interface OS for contactless and contact-based EMV compliant smart cards based on new specs from MasterCard and Visa.

read more »

SafeNet announced that it has acquired Cryptocard, a privately held provider of cloud based authentication solutions. Financial terms were not disclosed.

With the acquisition of Cryptocard, SafeNet adds to its authentication portfolio. Cryptocard’s platform will provide an opportunity for mobile and telecom service providers, as well as IT system integrators and service providers, to introduce Auth-as-a-Service to their end users.

read more »

VASCO Data Security International Inc. announced that its Brazilian distributor TechMag has decided to secure its server infrastructure with VASCO’s DIGIPASS technology. TechMag has implemented the DIGIPASS GO 3 and DIGIPASS for Mobile 3.0 platforms to its commercial department to provide this authentication.

read more »

Motiv, an IT security specialist and reseller of authentication products by SecurEnvoy, has replaced its own hardware tokens with SecurEnvoy’s SecurAccess SMS and soft token two-factor authentication system.

read more »