Oberthur Card Systems Appoints New CEO

Business Wire, May 3, 2002

Business Editors

PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 3, 2002

As of Monday, May 6, 2002, Pierre Barberis will join Oberthur Card Systems as chief executive officer. He replaces Thomas Savare who becomes vice president of strategy and development for the Francois-Charles Oberthur Group.

Since 1991, Barberis has served as chairman of the board of VEV -- a role in which he will continue -- and managed several software companies. From 1979 he held senior positions with Trigano SA, Credit du Nord and Group Axa. Barberis joined Credit Lyonnais in 1966 and became vice president of organization and IT at the bank in 1974. Prior to Credit Lyonnais, he worked at the French financial institution Caisse des Depots et Consignations.

Born in 1942, Barberis graduated from the Ecole Polytechnique and the Institut des Actuaires. He is married with two children.

About Oberthur Card Systems

Oberthur Card Systems, listed on the Euronext Stock Exchange (Euroclear code 12413), ranks among the three worldwide leaders in the smart card industry and is the world's #1 card provider for Visa and MasterCard.

The company markets an extensive range of products and services from conception to the final product, including software development, personalized card issuance and end-to-end project management.

Its strategy is to be positioned as the leader in terms of innovation and services within the payment, mobile communications and security/identification sectors.

Oberthur Card Systems has an industrial and commercial presence in 21 countries across the five continents. In 2001, its revenues increased by 7.3% to reach 484.1 million euros.

Internet web site: http://www.oberthurcs.com/