IGP Intercede Group Plc

RNS Number:8937U
Intercede Group PLC
30 November 2005


                              Intercede Group plc



Thales provides secured PKI based authentication and messaging solution to the
Cairo and Alexandria Stock Exchange with help from Intercede's MyID

Intercede's MyID to unite Thales Authentication System components helping the
Cairo and Alexandria Stock Exchange comply with Egyptian digital signature laws.

Lutterworth, England, December 1, 2005 - Intercede are pleased to announce that
Thales e-Security have been awarded their first contract under the OEM agreement
that Intercede and Thales e-Security signed in April 2004. Thales e-Security
recently announced that it is providing Misr* Clearing, Settlement and Central
Depository (MSCSD) with a new security system designed to meet new Egyptian laws
regarding the use of digital signatures for electronic trading. The solution
that Thales is providing consists of a Digital Signature Solution, a Portable
Signature Solution and the Authentication System. At the heart of the
Authentication System lies the SafeSign Management Server, powered by
Intercede's MyID smart card and identity management system.

The full Thales press release is attached.

About Intercede
Intercede Group plc is a leading developer and supplier of smart card and
identity management software listed on the London Stock Exchange (IGP LN)
(IGP.L). The Group's MyID software manages the secure registration, issuance and
lifecycle of digital identities for a wide range of uses. This requires the
integration of multiple technologies and products from many different vendors,
including smart cards, biometrics, digital certificates and Open Platform
applets.

Intercede's customers cover a range of industries and include Athena Smartcard
Solutions, Department of Transport Ireland, Fujitsu, Lloyds TSB, the UK National
Health Service (NHS), the Metropolitan Police, PinkRoccade, Royal Bank of
Scotland, Ubizen and various US and UK Government agencies and departments. For
more information, visit www.intercede.com.

Intercede and MyID are registered trademarks or trademarks in the UK and/or 
other countries. All other products and services mentioned are trademarks of 
their respective companies.


Enquiries:

Intercede Group plc
Tel. +44 (0) 1455 558111
Richard Parris - Chairman & Chief Executive
Andrew Walker - Finance Director






Thales provides secured PKI based authentication and messaging solution to the
Cairo and Alexandria Stock Exchange

Paris, 15 November 2005

Thales today announced that it has been chosen to provide the security solution
for online pre and post trade operations on the Cairo and Alexandria Stock
Exchange in Egypt.

Due for completion by the end of this year, Thales is providing Misr* Clearing,
Settlement and Central Depository (MCSD) with both the authentication
infrastructure for the exchange as well as security consulting. MCSD performs
central clearing and settlement operations for stocks traded on the Cairo and
Alexandria Stock Exchange. This solution will position Egypt as one of the most
advanced and secure electronic trading systems in the world. In addition, MCSD
has also been chosen to provide clearing and settlement for ARABEX, the
forthcoming Pan-Arabian stock exchange. Thales' solution provides a platform for
digital signature based stock trading across the Arab world.

The new security system is being designed to meet the new Egyptian laws
regarding the use of digital signatures for electronic trading. This legislation
provides for Government-approved and licensed certificate authorities that will
be able to offer digital X509 Certificate services to customers for strong
authentication and digital signature based transactions. In embracing the
opportunities digital signatures provide, MCSD will be offering two levels of
security depending on the type of user. Both solutions will use a smart card and
reader.

   *Digital Signature Solution: This will be used by the broker organisations
    having online access to the exchange system; the banks which act as
    custodians, managing shares for high value and corporate customers, and 140
    MCSD employees. Digital Signature security provides non-repudiation of
    trading transactions, which can be expanded to multiple markets, including
    the Arab Exchange.

   *Portable Signature Solution: Mobile users, and those sharing internet
    terminals, can take advantage of the state-of-the-art security solution to
    trade electronically using a highly portable secure electronic signature
    device. Proven in global high-value payment systems, the Thales' Personal
    Security Module provides a stand-alone reader to generate a transaction
    confirmation code with the user's smart card, minimising interoperability
    issues and support costs.

The authentication system being implemented to provide security for electronic
transactions is Thales' SafeSign end-to-end authentication solution. This
consists of the SafeSign Management Server which will provide user and token
lifecycle management; the SafeSign Authentication Server which is capable of
authenticating any transaction regardless of channel (e.g. phone, internet,
letter, etc.); and finally the SafeSign Crypto Module which is a hardware
security module providing a centralised key management function for the secure
storage and use of cryptographic keys. Thales is also providing the smart cards
and readers for digital signature and portable solutions.

When operational, the system will allow brokers and the banks to receive trading
instructions by letter or by phone and then log on and strongly authenticate
themselves using their smart card. They will be able to digitally sign trading
instructions on behalf of clients. Similarly, investors will be able to send
electronic instructions to their brokers using their SafeSign Personal Security
Module. The solution will verify the transaction confirmation code and pass the
verified instruction on to the broker. SafeSign allows MCSD to automate all
transactions with Brokers and Custodians, including those documents that require
official, written signatures. It will also enable MCSD to achieve fast and
efficient resolution of any disputes.

James Kilazoglou, Managing Director of Thales security business in the UK said:
"As a security system for a stock exchange trading system, MCSD's will be one of
the most advanced in the world. It will give Egypt a world-class infrastructure
based on global best practice. Thales' SafeSign enables MCSD to provide proof of
the authenticity and integrity of all transactions, vital for a national stock
trading system, whilst ensuring the highest levels of flexibility and
future-proofing through its ability to authenticate any transaction from any
channel regardless of the PKI or security token deployed. In addition, by
applying Thales' proven security risk management methodologies, we have helped
MCSD to build the policies, practices and procedures necessary to deliver the
appropriate mitigation of security. This has been achieved whilst also
demonstrating compliance with the international security guidelines as defined
in the ISO 17799 standard."

Mohamed Abdel Salam, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of MCSD, said: "Robust
security is essential to provide confidence for trading and, while we are
excited by the potential that digital signatures will bring, we are also adamant
that the security infrastructure to provide this is extremely strong. At the
same, a pivotal reason for MCSD's success is the fact that we have always
adopted the most advanced and beneficial technology. With the new PKI platform
and SafeSign we get the best of both worlds, robust security and a system that
provides significant benefits to both our business and our customers. Thales UK
has been able to deliver an enhanced and pioneering security solution that fully
meets our requirements."

About Thales

Thales is a leading international electronics and systems group, serving
defence, aerospace, s ecurity and services markets worldwide. The Group employs
60,000 people throughout the world and generated revenues of 10.3 billion euros
in 2004.

Operating in three main markets covering e-security, card payment and network
security, Thales' e-Security activities address the business, government and
finance industries' need for cryptographic security products and solutions. Over
half of the world's banks, together with the majority of the busiest exchanges,
currently use Thales technology. For more than 20 years the company has been at
the forefront of security and payment technology, co-operating and contributing
to set the industry standards used for financial transactions and e-commerce
globally. Thales e-Security activities offer a wide range of security solutions
to protect Government and Defence critical information infrastructures, thereby
positioning the company as a leading worldwide supplier of certified network
security products.

Thales' Security Systems business line designs, delivers and integrates
high-technology solutions to protect critical infrastructures for local
authorities and corporate and government customers worldwide. These solutions
cover all aspects of security, including site and event security, security
operation and crisis management centres, secure identification solutions,
information system security and environmental security. The company's
comprehensive services offering ranges from security consulting, architecture
definition and complex systems integration to complete turnkey solutions
including the design, installation, operation and maintenance of security
systems.

* Misr is the Arabic name for Egypt




                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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