Public Access

A global leader in public access security

Nagra Public Access is the Group's second activity sector. It offers security technologies for physical access applications with solutions designed to manage the access of people and vehicles to facilities and sites.

The Kudelski Group also holds a strong position in this sector, with solutions for car parks, ski resorts, amusement parks, stadiums and sites such as university campuses, hospitals and corporations.

In the field of public access as well as in the television sector, digital convergence is extending further the range of possibilities and driving the evolution of consumer habits. To address this situation, the Group is developing increasingly global and integrated solutions allowing operators to manage interaction with the end-user - which is also becoming more frequent - in a coordinated and simplified way.

The growth strategy of the Nagra Public Access entity, which began to bear fruit more than two years ago, is primarily focused on two areas: geographic expansion, particularly outside of Europe, and the development of new solutions.

Strong growth

The evolution of public access solutions towards an integrated management concept is reflected in a growing range of products and an increased demand for service and consulting activities. Nagra Public Access achieved a 10.8% growth at constant currency in 2008 and now accounts for 23% of the Group's consolidated revenues.In addition to organic growth, the company is also developing through acquisitions and partnership contracts. During the past year, several investments were made including:

acquisition of French company SkiBadge, provider of automated ski ticket vending equipment;
collaboration agreement with the American company RTP LLC (formerly known as Resort Technology Partners), a leading provider of integrated point- of-sale software and internet solutions to the resort, recreation and entertainment industries. This agreement was complemented in late 2008 by taking a 25% stake in the capital of this company;
acquisition of a 49% stake in Hinditron, distribution partner in India for parking management systems;
acquisition of Belgian company Orcus, providing access control solutions for the parking industry.

In addition, the Group sold its 25% stake in Digital Elektronik, continuing however, its collaboration with this production partner. This sale is in line with the Nagra Public Access strategy to focus on its expertise in research and development rather than on production aspects.

Public Access accounts for 23% of the Group's revenues

Increasingly global presence

Global expansion requires constant strengthening of the sales network. The Nagra Public Access distribution network was particularly extended in North America and Asia in 2008. Additionally, in order to strengthen relationships with operators and to develop strategic markets more actively, new subsidiaries were set up in the US (Denver), Canada (Vancouver), India (Mumbai), the Middle East (Dubai), Spain (Madrid), France (La Ciotat) and Belgium (Brussels), and the existing subsidiary in Japan was strengthened. A joint venture was established in India between SkiData and its distributor Hinditron, following the successful entry into this market in 2007.

Additionally, the division is developing more and more intensively in emerging markets especially in South America and Central Asia.