Sagem Security - News April 2009

Paris, April 24, 2009

SAFRAN announced today that it has acquired 81% of GE Homeland Protection, a wholly owned affiliate of the General Electric Company (NYSE:GE). GE Homeland Protection is a leader in tomography-based detection systems for hazardous or illicit substances in baggage. Through this acquisition Sagem Sécurité, a wholly owned subsidiary of SAFRAN becomes a leading global player in airport security solutions.

SAFRAN is carrying out this acquisition in partnership with General Electric, which retains a 19% stake in the company and a seat on the Board of Directors. Through this new partnership, the Homeland Protection business will continue to benefit from the advanced technologies developed by GE Healthcare and from the expertise of the GE research center.

SAFRAN is acquiring an 81% stake in GE Homeland Protection for $580 million.

Homeland Protection provides equipment and services to protect airports, ports, borders and critical infrastructures, for Government, military and commercial customers. It is a leader in tomography-based technology for detection of hazardous or illicit substances in checked baggage, with the largest worldwide installed base of approximately 1,600 machines. The business also provides services for its installed base, which generate approximately 60% of total revenues. Homeland Protection’s latest product, the CTX 9800, certified by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in March 2009, offers the highest resolution and the highest throughput system in the industry. Homeland Protection is also a leading provider of Trace equipment.

GE Homeland Protection has approximately 780 employees, including 150 in Research & Development, located in the U.S., Europe and Asia, and posted sales of about $260 million in 2008. It has posted sales in 2009 in line with growth objectives for the year.

By acquiring GE Homeland Protection, SAFRAN also acquires leading-edge technology to support its development in an industry characterized by:

• Recurring revenue generated by service of the installed base.
• Growth: the explosives and narcotics detection market, today estimated at approximately $2.4 billion, is headed for strong short and medium-term growth. The U.S. stimulus package includes a budget of approximately $700 million for checked baggage infrastructure and equipment, while new regulations in Europe require Standard 3 (tomography-like) detection equipment to be purchased from 2012 with complete replacement to Standard 3 equipment by 2018.

Combining Homeland Protection’s detection capabilities with Sagem Sécurité’s (SAFRAN Group) identity solutions will enable SAFRAN to provide a differentiated, seamless and integrated offering to customers.

Jean-Paul Herteman, CEO of SAFRAN, said: “Following our 2008 acquisitions of SDU-Identification (a Dutch manufacturer of secure passports and ID documents) and Motorola’s biometrics business (Printrak brand), adding GE Homeland Protection will significantly bolster our Group’s third core business. This makes SAFRAN a pivotal player in the security market, a business that will generate 20% of the Group’s total revenues in the medium term, with double-digit profit perspectives and reducing exposure to aerospace cycles. Furthermore, this transaction is the latest step in our long-standing relationship of mutual trust and partnership with GE that reaches back some 35 years.”

Jean-Paul Jainsky, Chairman and CEO of Sagem Sécurité, added: “There is growing demand from both governments and private industry for cutting-edge security solutions, based on long-term projects anchored in advanced, very-high-reliability technologies. From this standpoint, the SAFRAN Group is in a perfect position to meet today’s most demanding public security requirements.”

Dennis Cooke, President and CEO of GE Homeland Protection said: “This is a great move for our Homeland Protection business. Our business has a strong leadership team, dedicated and talented employees, innovative technology, a large installed base and a strong brand. This move aligns Homeland Protection with a business that is committed to globalization and further investment in new detection technologies and new products for the Homeland Security space.”

The transaction is expected to be finalized by mid 2009, pending customary regulatory approvals.