AuthenTec and Marubun Sign Distribution Agreement.

MELBOURNE, Fla. & TOKYO -- AuthenTec (NASDAQ:AUTH), the world's leading provider of fingerprint sensors and solutions, and Marubun Corporation, one of the oldest and largest semiconductor distributors in Japan, announced today that they have signed an agreement for Marubun to represent AuthenTec in Japan. AuthenTec has now shipped more than 7 million fingerprint sensors for integration into cell phones and over 12 million sensors for PC security applications. Driving much of this demand has been key PC and cell phone customers in Japan.

Through this distribution agreement, Marubun will offer products within AuthenTec's silicon-based fingerprint sensor portfolio, the largest in the industry today. Marubun will provide technical and logistical support to AuthenTec customers in Japan.

"AuthenTec is recognized as the global leader in providing fingerprint sensors and solutions to the largest cell phone and PC makers in Japan, and we look forward to playing a key role in supporting the growing demand for their products," said Hiroshi Horiuchi, Senior Vice President of Marubun Corporation. "AuthenTec's broad portfolio complements Marubun's total semiconductor offering to customers in Japan, regarded as a center of innovation for today's consumer electronics."

"Marubun has strong industry relationships and provides direct customer support to the leading OEMs in Japan as well as their ODM partners throughout Asia," said Kengo Kobayashi, AuthenTec's Managing Director for Japan. "We believe this agreement, with one of the most respected representative and distributor firms in the world, adds strength to our global supply chain and enables us to achieve our growth plans in the region at a faster pace."

Marubun provides total solutions in the semiconductor business from marketing to technology support and delivery. Marubun was the first company to successfully introduce integrated circuits to the Japanese market, playing a major role in the effective start of Japan's electronics industry. The company offers a broad product lineup, design and development support, global procurement, and distribution to the world's leading consumer electronics companies.

About AuthenTec

With more than 20 million sensors in use worldwide, AuthenTec is the world leader in providing fingerprint authentication sensors and solutions to the high-volume PC, wireless device, and access control markets. AuthenTec's award-winning sensors take full advantage of The Power of Touch[R] by utilizing the Company's patented TruePrint[R] technology to deliver the most convenient, reliable and cost-effective means available for enabling touch-powered features that extend beyond user authentication. The Company's customers include: Acer, ASUSTeK, Fujitsu, HP, Hitachi, HTC, Lenovo, LG Electronics, Samsung, and Toshiba, among others.

About Marubun

Marubun Corp. is a leading Japanese independent semiconductor distributor that sells leading domestic and foreign electronics products such as semiconductors, primarily integrated circuits, and electronic application devices. Marubun handles products from companies such as Texas Instruments, NXP, Seiko Epson, and Freescale. In 1998, Marubun created a partnership with the world's leading semiconductor distributor, Arrow Electronics of the U.S., to establish Marubun/Arrow. The company seeks to provide global service support for customers seeking to transfer their production operations overseas. For more details on Marubun, visit: http://www.marubun.co.jp/en/