Empresas y finanzas

Hitachi Acquires Majority Interest in M-Tech Information Technology, Inc., a Leading Provider of Identity Management Software and Services



    Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE:HIT)(TOKYO:6501)("Hitachi") today announced
    that it has acquired a majority ownership interest in M-Tech
    Information Technology, Inc. ("M-Tech"), a leading provider of
    identity management software and services. The transaction adds
    M-Tech´s identity management software and services to Hitachi´s
    information security solutions portfolio.

    Effective April 2, 2008, M-Tech´s name has been changed to Hitachi
    ID Systems, Inc. ("Hitachi ID").

    With stricter regulations requiring stronger internal controls and
    more effective privacy protection in corporations and government
    agencies alike, organizations are expanding their investment in
    information security. According to a February 2008 Forrester Research
    report (1), the identity and access management (IAM) market is
    expected to grow from nearly $2.6 billion in 2006 to more than $12.3
    billion in 2014.

    "Hitachi is increasingly focusing on its software and solution
    businesses in systems management and information security to introduce
    solutions aimed at the achievement of a broad and secure information
    society," said Masato Saito, Executive General Manager, Information &
    Telecommunications Systems Group (ITSG), Hitachi, Ltd. "Hitachi has
    developed and commercialized advanced IT security technologies such as
    finger vein biometric authentication, which is already used for ATM
    authentication in about 80 percent of Japanese financial institutions
    that have adopted biometric authentication technologies for this
    purpose. Hitachi believes that M-Tech´s identity management technology
    will be an integral component of Hitachi´s information security
    solution offering."

    As a leading identity management software and services provider,
    M-Tech enables its customers to strengthen their network security,
    lower operating costs and improve user productivity. Customers achieve
    these results by implementing automation and self-service processes to
    more effectively manage user passwords and access rights. M-Tech´s
    identity management products, including its P-Synch password
    management software and ID-Synch user provisioning software, have been
    deployed by around 700 organizations worldwide.

    Hitachi ID intends to build on M-Tech´s leadership in the identity
    management marketplace, and grow M-Tech´s business globally by
    leveraging Hitachi´s brand and market channels and by developing new
    opportunities in collaboration with other Hitachi Group companies
    worldwide. These opportunities may include joint offerings and other
    initiatives with Hitachi´s biometric, RFID, smart card and other
    security-related technologies.

    "M-Tech is a leader in the identity management software market. We
    welcome the addition of M-Tech to the Hitachi family and to the
    information security solutions portfolio that Hitachi proudly offers
    our clients." stated Mitsuo Yamaguchi, Vice President and Executive
    Officer, Information & Telecommunication Systems Group (ITSG) of
    Hitachi, Ltd.

    "We are pleased to join the information technology group of
    Hitachi, Ltd. The combination of M-Tech´s leading identity management
    software and Hitachi´s global reach and authentication technology are
    sure to benefit our customers," said Gideon Shoham, CEO of M-Tech, now
    Hitachi ID. "We look forward to delivering the most advanced identity
    management software and services to the global marketplace, as part of
    the Hitachi group."

    (1): Forrester Research: Identity Management Forecast: 2007 to
    2014; February 6, 2008; by Andras Cser and Jonathan Penn

    ABOUT HITACHI

    Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE:HIT)(TOKYO:6501), headquartered in Tokyo,
    Japan, is a leading global electronics company with approximately
    384,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2006 (ended March 31, 2007)
    consolidated revenues totaled 10,247 billion yen ($86.8 billion). The
    company offers a wide range of systems, products and services in
    market sectors including information systems, electronic devices,
    power and industrial systems, consumer products, materials and
    financial services. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the
    company´s website at http://www.hitachi.com.