Gemalto deal passes US antitrust laws

10 March 2006

Axalto and Gemplus International have cleared another hurdle along their proposed merger path. The US Department of Justice raised no objection to the deal, which will lead to the creation of Gemalto – the world’s biggest smart card vendor.

The companies filed their Premerger Notification and Report Form on 6 February with the Antitrust Division of the US Department of Justice and the Bureau of Competition of the Federal Trade Commission. The required waiting period (under the US Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976) ended on 8 March.

The companies said they are now concentrating efforts to obtain remaining approvals and to satisfy any outstanding conditions.

The merger has already been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies and the required shareholders resolutions relating to the transaction have been approved by a vast majority of the shareholders.