News & Events

VeriSign® Elects STAR Group Limited CEO Michelle Guthrie to Board of Directors

Michelle Guthrie Brings Global Media and Content Distribution Experience to VeriSign Board of Directors

Mountain View, CA – December 19, 2005 -VeriSign, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRSN), the leading provider of intelligent infrastructure services for the Internet and telecommunications networks, today announced the appointment of Michelle Guthrie, Chief Executive Officer of STAR Group Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of News Corporation, to its Board of Directors. STAR is a leading media and entertainment company in Asia. STAR broadcasts over 50 television services in eight languages to more than 300 million viewers across 53 Asian countries. With over a decade of experience in the pay television industry, Ms. Guthrie brings to VeriSign her wide-ranging knowledge of media, technology, law and business development.

“Consumer demand for real-time information and entertainment over mobile and broadband networks is increasing exponentially on a global basis,” said Stratton Sclavos, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of VeriSign. “Michelle’s track record in building successful content and distribution relationships in both Europe and Asia will be an invaluable asset in VeriSign’s long range strategy to build and operate the world’s premier digital content utility.”

Ms. Guthrie joined STAR in June 2000. She was appointed Senior Vice President, Business Development in January 2001 and was promoted to Executive Vice President for Regional Distribution and Business Development in June 2003, in charge of the operations of diverse markets across the South East Asian region, as well as identifying growth opportunities and cementing new partnerships for the company. Ms. Guthrie was appointed Chief Executive Officer of STAR in November 2003.

“As personalization and consumption of communications increase the demand for intelligent infrastructure services, VeriSign’s role is enhanced,” said Ms. Guthrie. “VeriSign sits in such a unique position in so many markets fundamental to digital communications, content and commerce,” said Ms. Guthrie. “I look forward to adding my voice to the VeriSign Board and continuing the corporation’s exciting journey.”

Ms. Guthrie has ten years of experience in the pay television industry, notably at FOXTEL in Australia and BSkyB in the U.K. As part of senior management and Director of Legal and Business Affairs at FOXTEL, Ms. Guthrie was responsible for all legal and business development operations for FOXTEL, including negotiating with channel providers, establishing new channels and evaluating new business opportunities.

Before joining News Corporation in 1994, Ms. Guthrie was a lawyer at Allen, Allen & Hemsley in Sydney and Singapore, where she focused on the media and technology sector.

In addition, Ms. Guthrie is a member of the Board of Directors of joint venture companies Phoenix Satellite Television and China Network Systems.

About VeriSign  
VeriSign, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRSN), operates intelligent infrastructure services that enable and protect billions of interactions every day across the world’s voice and data networks. Additional news and information about the company is available at www.verisign.com and at www.verisign.com.au.

For more information, contact: 
VeriSign Media Relations: Brian O’Shaughnessy, boshaughnessy@verisign.com, 650-426-5270 
VeriSign Investor Relations: Tom McCallum, tmccallum@verisign.com, 650-426-3744

Statements in this announcement other than historical data and information constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause VeriSign's actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, the uncertainty of future revenue and profitability and potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results due to such factors as increasing competition and pricing pressure from competing services offered at prices below our prices and market acceptance of our existing services; the inability of VeriSign to successfully develop and market new services and the uncertainty of whether new services as provided by VeriSign will achieve market acceptance or result in any revenues; risks related to potential security breaches; and the risks that acquired businesses will not be integrated successfully and unanticipated costs of such integration. More information about potential factors that could affect the company's business and financial results is included in VeriSign's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. VeriSign undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release.  VeriSign is a registered trademark of VeriSign, Inc. Other names used in this announcement may be trademarks of their respective owners.

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