IN Groupe and IDEMIA in exclusive talks over acquisition of IDEMIA Smart Identity

IN Groupe and IDEMIA have entered into exclusive negotiations regarding the acquisition of IDEMIA Smart Identity, a leading provider of secure identity solutions. This potential acquisition would position IN Groupe as a global leader in advanced physical and digital identity services. The deal is seen as a major step forward for IN Groupe, which has been strategically expanding its presence in the identity sector.

Agnès Diallo, CEO of IN Groupe, stated: “We are looking forward to joining forces with IDEMIA Smart Identity to create a new global leading player for advanced and secure identity solutions. This is a unique and transformative milestone for IN Groupe. It is fully aligned with our strategy to consolidate our position in physical and digital identity at a global scale to better serve our clients. IDEMIA Smart Identity’s teams, technologies and solutions, perfectly complement our own capabilities and I firmly believe that coming together would strongly benefit our customers. It would also positively impact the market as a whole, with the emergence of a new player with unrivalled ability to operate at scale internationally, upholding European values for privacy and security in a sector that is critical for the future of society at large. We would be thrilled to welcome to IN Groupe IDEMIA Smart Identity’s talented teams and to embark together on the exciting journey ahead.”

Strong synergy between IN Groupe and IDEMIA Smart Identity

With combined revenues exceeding €1 billion, the new group formed by IN Groupe and IDEMIA Smart Identity would have the critical scale needed to lead the identity solutions industry. IN Groupe, which generates 60% of its revenue from international markets, would gain a stronger foothold in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and Asia through IDEMIA Smart Identity’s established global network.

The acquisition would provide IN Groupe with enhanced access to key elements in the physical and digital identity value chain, such as chip design and advanced software, both of which are crucial in creating secure identity documents. At a time when internal security and cybersecurity are becoming increasingly important, the merger of IN Groupe and IDEMIA Smart Identity is expected to create a strong, trusted partner for governments and businesses alike. Their solutions will follow the European security and data protection model, an essential feature for the future of digital identity.

The partnership between the two companies would create a formidable player able to operate at scale across international markets and offer a wide range of secure identity solutions. This collaboration would place the new entity in a unique position to address the growing demand for secure identity services in both the government and private sectors.

Aligning with IN Groupe’s strategic goals

This acquisition aligns with IN Groupe’s long-term growth strategy, marked by a series of successful acquisitions over the past decade. It also addresses three key challenges facing the identity market: the increasing demand for secure identity solutions from governments and private entities, the growing trend towards digital identity solutions, and the rising influence of European standards prioritising privacy and security.

Pierre Barrial, CEO of IDEMIA Group, stated: “IDEMIA Group continues its solid development trajectory while implementing its ambitious strategy. We are reaching a decisive milestone with this project to sell IDEMIA Smart Identity, one of the leading providers of secure identity solutions, to create a market-leading player. With €2.5 billion in revenue, 12,500 employees, and 4,000 customers with its Secure Transactions and Public Security divisions, IDEMIA Group would embark on a new chapter in its history and remain focused on delivering mission-critical solutions powered by biometrics and cryptography addressing specific market segments, and accelerating its future growth.”

Antoine Grenier, CEO of IDEMIA Smart Identity, stated: “We are delighted at the prospect of joining IN Groupe, a company whose experience and industry expertise are globally recognised. The acquisition of IDEMIA Smart Identity by IN Groupe would expedite the growth trajectory we are on. I am proud that IDEMIA Smart Identity, a long-standing pioneer in physical and digital identity solutions, could bring these capabilities to IN Groupe. Together we would accelerate our development and unlock new opportunities to expand our national and international footprint, as well as enhance our expertise and better serve our clients.”