Fichet-Bauche to form alliance with Com One to open up security to the world of internet

Fichet-Bauche to form alliance with Com One to open up security to the world of internet Fichet-Bauche, Gunnebo's French subsidiary and a leader in the field of security technologies, is to form a joint company with the French listed Com One Worldwide Communication. Com One is a leading designer in the field of telecommunications products, transmissions, digital video and the Internet-based products. This new company will allow Fichet-Bauche and Com One to offer Internet-based digital video-security solutions and wireless technologies. Fichet-Bauche and Com One will each own 50% of the new company. As part of the Gunnebo Group's expansion strategy within the field of electronic security systems, a co-operation agreement has been signed with the well-known French company, Com One. On its set-up in 1987, Com One first specialised in modem design. It has since progressively diversified into the fields of radio, video-security, and multimedia. With its headquarters in Cestas, near Bordeaux, Com One has become a force to be reckoned with in the areas of sound and video data compression and transfer on all communication networks, in particular on the IP (Internet Protocol) network. The new company, which combines Internet-based digital video-security solutions and high throughput rate transmission technologies, will increase both companies' competitiveness on the rapidly growing market of security image transmission. Thanks to its capacity for innovation in the banking and industrial security markets and its remote surveillance capabilities, Fichet-Bauche is able to introduce this new joint venture to a broader market and offer its clients higher efficiency and profitability in its network security systems. Com One has developed new transmission standards and technologies through the deployment of its research and development in the area of radio transmissions (Bluetooth); it has expertise in the transmission algorithms used on high throughput rate networks and their organisation on the Internet, which will give the new company's clients access to technically advanced solutions. The combination of Com One's telecommunications skills, Fichet-Bauche's experience in electronic security, and the European sales channels provided by the subsidiaries of the Swedish Gunnebo Group will prove a force to reckon with on the European market. Fichet-Bauche's sound reputation with its banking customers and Com One's know-how will allow the new company to position itself in the Internet security system market, where it will offer professional high security solutions (hypersecure protocols) and launch an Internet-based video- security concept also outside the banking. This association is the result of several years of collaboration. Since 1997, Fichet-Bauche has distributed the Viewcom line of products developed by Com One. These integrate perfectly well into the global electronic security systems (in particular the Arcana system) designed by Fichet- Bauche. This collaboration has also recently led to joint projects within the banking sector. In 1999, Fichet-Bauche had sales of MFRF 1 200 and 1 900 employees. Com One's had sales of MFRF 270 (62% in exports) and 100 employees. GUNNEBO AB Information For further information please contact: Bjarne Holmqvist, President and CEO, tel. +46-(0)31-83 68 00 or +46- (0)708-40 03 70 or Christian Selosse, President Fichet-Bauche, tel. +33-(0) 1 34 65 65 34. Gunnebo is one of Europe's largest manufacturers of security and safety products for intrusion protection. The Group's turnover is some SEK 5 billion (euro 600 million) with 4 500 employees. ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/04/26/20000426BIT00590/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/04/26/20000426BIT00590/bit0002.pdf