ImageWare Forms Strategic Alliance with Sagem S.A.
SAN DIEGO, CA, July 31, 2001 - ImageWare Systems, Inc. (AMEX:IW) said today that it entered into a Value Added Re-seller (VAR) agreement with Sagem S.A. to distribute ImageWare's C.R.I.M.E.S.® software systems.
Sagem is a French conglomerate with annual revenues in excess of US$3.5 billion and a worldwide leader in providing automated fingerprint identification systems (AFIS) to law enforcement and civil agencies. C.R.I.M.E.S. is a suite of modular software products used by law enforcement agencies to aid in the investigation of crime, store digital images and manage criminal history records.
The two-year agreement provides Sagem with non-exclusive rights to distribute C.R.I.M.E.S. worldwide, except in the United States and Canada. Sagem will purchase the software and resell the products to existing and potential customers.
"This agreement is extremely exciting for two reasons," said Jim Miller, ImageWare chairman and chief executive officer. "First, we believe it further validates the seriousness with which the law enforcement and technology industries view our leading-edge solutions, and second, it provides ImageWare with a major opportunity to participate in larger contract awards. Sagem has an outstanding track record of successfully marketing innovative law enforcement and security products. We have worked with Sagem before and are privileged to have an opportunity to once again join forces with one of the world's leading technology companies."
About Sagem
Sagem is a high-technology company based in Paris, France. The company is a market leader in the field of fingerprint biometrics, the second largest French company in the field of telecommunications and the third largest European company in electronics for defense and security. Sagem maintains a presence in more than twenty countries.
About ImageWare Systems, Inc.
ImageWare Systems, Inc. (AMEX:IW), is a leading developer and provider of identity management solutions, providing biometric, secure credential, law enforcement and digital imaging technologies. Scalable for worldwide deployment, the Company's biometric product line includes a multi-biometric engine that is hardware and algorithm independent, enabling the enrollment and management of unlimited population sizes. ImageWare's identification products are used to manage and issue secure credentials including national IDs, passports, driver licenses, smart cards and access control credentials. ImageWare's digital booking products provide law enforcement with integrated mug shot, fingerprint Livescan and investigative capabilities. The Company also provides comprehensive digital workflow solutions for the professional photography industry. ImageWare is headquartered in San Diego, with offices in Washington DC and Canada. For more information visit www.iwsinc.com.
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This news release may contain forward-looking statements made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. While these statements are meant to convey to the public the company's progress, business opportunities and growth prospects, readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements represent management's opinion. While management believes such representation to be true and accurate based on the information available to the company, actual results may differ materially from those described. The company's operations and business prospects are always subject to risks and uncertainties. Important facts that may cause actual results to differ are set forth in the company’s periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
