VISG Viisage Technology (MM)

Viisage (Nasdaq: VISG), a leading provider of advanced technology identity solutions, today announced that ABN AMRO, one of the world's largest international banks, has selected the Viisage iA-thenticate(R) automated document authentication solution to facilitate in compliance with pending regulations regarding identity assurance. The solution represents the largest commercial deployment of this technology and provides a showcase for other commercial enterprises worldwide on the effective use of identity solutions. Viisage's Netherlands business partner, Securitech B.V., managed the deployment process. The Viisage solution was selected by ABN AMRO following extensive competitive testing. This product verifies the authenticity of identity documents during the new account application process, utilizing automatic document authentication from the Viisage iA-thenticate hardware, software and data base system. The solution scans identity documents such as driver licenses or passports and determines if the documents are authentic or if tampering has occurred. This first step in identifying fake documents helps to prevent fraudulent accounts from being opened and enrollment of individuals with fake credentials, thereby improving the integrity of the new account process . The information from authentic documents that pass the screening is automatically gathered from the ID's and entered into ABN AMRO's operating system, reducing the time it takes to create a new account. The solution shared among all the branches is interoperable, allowing for seamless consolidated quarterly reporting on new accounts from each of the branches into the Dutch Central Bank. "We saw the opportunity to use Viisage's technology to propel us forward in the effort to ensure the integrity of our systems. This includes thoroughly validating the identity documents presented by applicants," said Henk van Zanten, Senior Advisor Security Department for ABN AMRO Bank. "We are very pleased with the results we have experienced working with Viisage so far." ABN AMRO, with more than 98,000 employees worldwide in more than 60 countries, is a global leader in the reduction of identity fraud in the financial services industry and drives new technologies that support compliance rules. This includes the requirement to maintain complete documentation for potential customers opening new accounts. Automating this process electronically helps to ensure the integrity of applicants and their financial business, ultimately helping to protect banking customers and investors from loss. ABN AMRO will implement the Viisage solution across more than 650 branches throughout the Netherlands, and plans to expand its current deployment throughout all of its branches globally. "ABN AMRO, like many financial institutions today, face the challenge of increased accountability and compliance requirements," said Bernard Bailey, president and CEO of Viisage. "We are proud to be its partner in this initiative, and this contract represents a critical expansion into new commercial markets where confronting the growing problems of identity theft and fraud is critical to enable any company to effectively conduct their operations." About Viisage Viisage (NASDAQ: VISG) delivers advanced technology identity solutions for governments, law enforcement agencies and businesses concerned with enhancing security, reducing identity theft, and protecting personal privacy. Viisage solutions include secure credentials such as passports and drivers' licenses, biometric technologies for uniquely linking individuals to those credentials, and credential authentication technologies to ensure the documents are valid before individuals are allowed to cross borders, gain access to finances, or granted other privileges. With over 3,000 installations worldwide, Viisage's identity solutions stand out as a result of the Company's industry-leading technology and unique understanding of customer needs. Viisage's product suite includes FaceTOOLS(R) SDK, Viisage PROOF(TM), FaceEXPLORER(R), iA-thenticate(R) BorderGuard(R), FacePASS(TM) and FaceFINDER(R). This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this document and those made from time to time by Viisage through its senior management are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to the future events or financial performance discussed in this release, based on management's beliefs and assumptions and information currently available. When used, the words "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "project", "should", "expect", "plan", "assume" and similar expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements concerning future plans or results are necessarily only estimates and actual results could differ materially from expectations. Certain factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, among other things, the size and timing of contract awards, performance on contracts, performance of acquired companies, availability and cost of key components, unanticipated results from audits of the financial results of the Company and acquired companies, changing interpretations of generally accepted accounting principles, outcomes of government reviews, developments with respect to litigation to which we are a party, potential fluctuations in quarterly results, dependence on large contracts and a limited number of customers, lengthy sales and implementation cycles, market acceptance of new or enhanced products and services, proprietary technology and changing competitive conditions, system performance, management of growth, dependence on key personnel, ability to obtain project financing, general economic and political conditions and other factors affecting spending by customers, the unpredictable nature of working with government agencies and other risks, uncertainties and factors including those described from time to time in Viisage's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation, Viisage's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Viisage expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.