Following the expiration on March 8, 2006 of the waiting period under the U.S. Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, subsequent to the filing of a Premerger Notification and Report Form on February 6th, 2006 with the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and the Bureau of Competition of the Federal Trade Commission, Axalto and Gemplus have now satisfied their obligations under the US antitrust laws in respect of the proposed transaction. This step constitutes satisfaction of another condition to the contemplated combination of Axalto and Gemplus. The companies are now concentrating efforts to obtain the remaining approvals and to satisfy the remaining conditions for the transaction concerned. The transaction was previously 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. esaby@axalto.com remi.calvet@gemplus.com www.gemalto.com