ASSA ABLOY Acquires Manufacturer Of RFID Inlays

ASSA ABLOY has acquired Aontec Teoranta, one of the largest suppliers of RFID inlays* for electronic passports.

Aontec designs and manufactures RFID inlays mainly to European passport printers and security integrators. The operations are conducted in high-security premises in Ireland and employ approximately 140 persons.

"Aontec brings many benefits to our business in identification technologies (ITG) and the rest of Global Technologies Division in expanding the customer base, providing a valuable 2nd secure site to our operations and adding complimentary manufacturing technologies for RFID inlays", commented Johan Molin, President and CEO of ASSA ABLOY.

Sales in 2007 are expected to reach EUR 15 M. The acquisition is expected to be accretive to the Group's net income in 2007. The company will be consolidated as of July 2007.

About ASSA ABLOY
ASSA ABLOY is the world's leading manufacturer and supplier of door opening solutions, meeting tough end-user demands for safety, security and convenience. With over 150 companies operating in more than 40 countries and over 10 percent of the world market, the Group is the strongest global player in the lock industry. ASSA ABLOY is represented in all major regions, on both mature and emerging markets, with leading positions in much of Europe and North America and in Australia.

In the rapidly growing electromechanical security sector, the Group has a leading position in fields such as access control, identification technology, automatic doors and hotel security.

Since ASSA ABLOY was founded in 1994, the Group has grown from a regional company to an international group with over 30,000 employees and sales of over SEK 31 billion. As the world's leading lock group, ASSA ABLOY offers a more complete range of door opening solutions than any other company on the market.

For more info please see www.assaabloy.com

About ASSA ABLOY Identification Technologies (ITG)
Assa Abloy Identification Technologies (ITG) is a leader within the ID management and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) markets. The company develops, manufactures and markets RFID components, products, and services typically deployed within national ID and e-passport programs, corporate access control, supply chain management, animal tagging, financial transactions, transport and various industrial or manufacturing solutions. ASSA ABLOY ITG is a merger of ACG Identification Technologies, OMNIKEY, Sokymat and VisionCard and Novacard do Brasil.

Assa Abloy ITG has over 900 employees and 25 sales offices in all continents. The company's headquarters are located in Walluf, Germany. ITG is part of the Global Technologies Division of the ASSA ABLOY Group.

Source: rfidglobal