OSLO, NORWAY – 26 February 2020 – Zwipe AS today publishes its annual report 2019. Please find the report attached.
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This is information that Zwipe AS is obliged to make public pursuant to the continuing obligations of companies admitted to trading on Merkur Market, Nasdaq First North Growth Market and the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency on the contact person set out below 08:00 CET on 26 February 2020
OSLO, NORWAY – 24 January 2020, 13:00- Zwipe AS has applied for admission to trading of the shares of Zwipe on Nasdaq First North Growth Market (First North), Stockholm. The application has today been approved by First North, subject to applicable distribution requirements (sw: spridningskrav) being satisfied. Based on share transfer commitments made at this time, Zwipe expects to fulfil such requirements.
Trading in Zwipe’s shares on First North will commence on 28 January 2020 under the ticker “ZWIPE”. The listing of Zwipe’s shares on Merkur market at Oslo Børs will be maintained until further notice. Zwipe does not intend to publish any further information prior to listing on First North.
André Løvestam, CEO of Zwipe, says “The listing on Nasdaq First North marks a milestone for Zwipe, one year after we listed on Merkur Market. We are excited that Zwipe will be trading in Stockholm, close to the majority of our shareholders. First North is a dynamic marketplace, and I am confident that the listing will benefit our shareholders and support Zwipe in its progress toward large-scale deployment of biometric payment authentication solutions."
Market making agreement
Zwipe and Erik Penser Bank AB (Erik Penser) have signed a market making agreement that meets the requirements of market making operations by First North. The market making agreement aims at supporting orderly trading conditions and a minimum threshold of liquidity for Zwipe’s shares on First North. Market making pursuant to the agreement will commence on 28 January 2020, the first day of trading in Zwipe’s shares on First North.
Supplementary document
In connection with the listing, Zwipe has published a supplementary document, available at www.zwipe.com.
Advisors
White & Case (SE) and Simonsen Vogt Wiig (NO) are legal advisors for Zwipe in connection with the listing on First North.
Zwipe’s Certified Adviser is FNCA, who may be contacted at tel +46 8 528 003 99 and email info@fnca.se
This is information that Zwipe AS is obliged to make public pursuant to the continuing obligations of companies admitted to trading on Merkur Market and the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact persons set out below, at 13:00 CET on 24 January 2020
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For further information please contact:
André Løvestam, CEO ir@zwipe.com +47 909 43 660
OSLO, NORWAY – 23 January 2020 - As communicated on 14 January 2020, Nasdaq First North Growth Market (First North) has confirmed that Zwipe AS fulfils the requirements for listing, subject to customary conditions. Today, 23 January 2020, Zwipe publishes a supplementary document to the prospectus in accordance with First North rules for application.
The supplementary document is available at www.zwipe.com. The supplementary document should be read together with the prospectus dated 4 December 2019 and prepared in connection with the Zwipe’s rights issue. The prospectus is also available at www.zwipe.com. The supplementary document is not a prospectus, has not been approved by any supervisory authority and does not contain any offering of shares or any other offering of financial instruments in Zwipe in Sweden or in any other jurisdiction.
First day of trading on First North in Stockholm is planned for Tuesday 28 January 2020, subject to final approval by First North and other customary conditions being met.
This information is made public in accordance with the continuing obligations of companies admitted to trading on Merkur Market and the First North rules for application.
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OSLO, NORWAY– 14 JANUARY 2020 – Biometric technology company Zwipe AS (Zwipe) today announces that it expects to list its shares for trading on Nasdaq First North Growth Market (First North) in Stockholm, under the ticker “ZWIPE". The first day of trading is planned for Tuesday 28 January 2020. First North has assessed Zwipe and confirmed that Zwipe fulfils requirements for listing, subject to customary conditions, including distribution requirements and final formal approval from First North. Zwipe will not issue new shares in connection with the Firth North listing.
Currently Zwipe is listed on Merkur Market at Oslo Børs under the ticker "ZWIPE-ME". Following the listing at First North, Zwipe will be dual-listed and traded on both markets until further notice. The ISIN number of Zwipe at both exchanges is NO0010721277.
Swedish and international shareholders who wish to transfer their shares for trading on First North are advised to contact their respective broker/nominee account manager for more information on the transfer. Such transfer means that Zwipe shares must be made available for trading through Euroclear Sweden (the Swedish central securities depository). Zwipe intends to facilitate transfer to Euroclear Sweden for its international investors during dedicated periods of time.
Norwegian shareholders and other shareholders wishing to continue trading their shares at Merkur Market at Oslo Børs do not need to take any action at this time.
André Løvestam, CEO of Zwipe says” I am excited that Nasdaq First North has confirmed that Zwipe fulfils the listing requirements, subject to customary conditions being met, and that I can announce the expected listing at First North in Stockholm on January 28, thereby enabling a market for trading closer to a number of our shareholders. Nasdaq First North is a dynamic and growing market, and we are very pleased to welcome our shareholders to trading at First North in addition to Merkur Market."
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For more information please contact:
André Løvestam, CEO; +47 909 43 660; ir@zwipe.com
This information is made public in accordance with the continuing obligation of companies admitted to trading on Merkur Market
On 4 December 2019 Zwipe AS announced its approved and published prospectus regarding rights issue.
Reference is made to the announcement made by Zwipe AS (the Company) on 10 November 2019 of the preferential rights issue of up to NOK 74.5 million by issuing up to 10,635,525 new shares in the Company, and the announcement of the approval by the extraordinary general meeting in the Company of the preferential rights issue on 2 December 2019.
The prospectus containing complete information regarding the rights issue and information about the Company was approved by the Financial Supervisory Authority of Norway (NFSA) as competent authority under the EU Prospectus Regulation on 4 December 2019. It is published on Zwipe AS' website https://zwipe.com/investors and on the manager Erik Penser Bank AB (publ)'s website https://www.penser.se/corporate-finance/#pagaende-uppdrag.
The prospectus has been border-crossed to Sweden through notification from the NFSA to Finansinspektionen in Sweden meaning that the subscription period under the rights issue started as planned in Norway and Sweden on Thursday 5 December 2019 at 09:00 CET.
Further recent announcements regarding the rights issue, appointment of new CFO and insider transactions are available on Zwipe’s web site www.zwipe.com
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OSLO, NORWAY– 21 November 2019 – Biometric technology company Zwipe is pleased to unveil the Zwipe Experience at Trustech 2019, one of the leading global events dedicated to payments, identification and security.
The Zwipe Experience is a comprehensive mix of products and advisory services developed specifically to assist Zwipe’s customers, smart card manufacturers and issuers, to move from concept to mass market. The package features technical manufacturing support, issuer integration services and piloting support.
“We are leveraging the learning we have built over the last two years, having the most widely piloted technology platform in the biometric payment marketplace, to support our customers above and beyond delivering prelaminates, components and biometric inlays,” Zwipe CEO André Løvestam said, adding “focusing on user experience, we are confident that having the most dynamic service platform in addition to the most cost competitive technology offering will further strengthen our role in this market.”
Zwipe will be showcasing elements of the Zwipe Experience at the Multos Consortium exhibition, stand RIV C020.
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OSLO, NORWAY– 18 November 2019 – The Board of Directors of Zwipe AS has today resolved to approve management’s proposal for a streamlining program, enabled by the strategic collaboration agreement with Idemia. The program will focus the company’s activities, reduce staff and operational expenses, and enable underlying annual savings in excess of NOK 40 million.
The program is expected to be fully implemented in November 2019 and related one-off costs will be included in the Q4 results. The effects are expected to be realized from first quarter of 2020.
CEO André Løvestam comments: ”The product roadmap streamlining that we are now launching has been made possible thanks to the strategic collaboration with Idemia on a disruptive technology platform. We believe this innovation is a game changer and a catalyst for growth in the industry.
The new platform will integrate and simplify component design, drastically reducing costs of the product itself and the manufacturing process. As a result, a complete biometric payment card cost of below USD 10 is becoming realistic, providing an accelerated path to mass volumes while giving Zwipe a long-term cost leadership position.
Zwipe’s streamlined roadmap enables simplifying and focusing the company, while maintaining competent capacity to support our customers. In combination with the announced 90% guaranteed rights issue, we see a clear path toward commercializing our technology, with the required capital resources to get to that point.”
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OSLO, NORWAY– 10 November 2019 – The Board of Directors of Zwipe AS has today resolved to call for an extraordinary general meeting in the company on 2 December 2019 to resolve a rights issue of up to approximately gross NOK 74 million. The call for the extraordinary general meeting is attached to this notice.
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The Board of Directors of Zwipe AS, org. nr 994 553 607, has on November 10, 2019, subject to the approval by an Extraordinary General Meeting, decided to carry out a preferential rights issue of up to MNOK 74 by issuing up to 10 635 525 shares, implying an increase of the Company’s share capital of up to NOK 1 063 553.
90 percent of the Rights Issue, amounting to MNOK 67, is already covered through subscription commitments and underwriting commitments from current shareholders and new investors.
Background and purpose
During 2019 Zwipe has made significant technological, commercial and organizational progress. Most notably, Zwipe entered a strategic collaboration with Idemia on a disruptive technology platform for biometric payments. Furthermore, Zwipe successfully completed the prototyping of its in-house Z5 energy harvesting and power management chip, extended its network of card manufacturer clients, delivered according to its first received order for its second generation inlay technology, and was engaged by G+D Mobile Security to provide product design and prototyping for a wearable biometric payment device to be piloted by a leading bank.
The preferential rights issue is carried out in order to secure working capital toward commercialization and scale-up of Zwipe’s technology platform. The commercialization efforts will be accompanied by a targeted program to focus and streamline the company’s resources.
CEO André Løvestam commented “This rights issue is planned to extend Zwipe’s financial runway all the way to scale-up of biometric cards, and I am pleased that we have achieved a 90% guaranteed subscription. We now see a clear path toward finalizing and commercializing our technology, with the required capital resources to get to that point.
Zwipe is streamlining its product roadmap and pursuing cost saving opportunities that will reduce the current burn-rate. This has been made possible on the back of the strategic collaboration with Idemia, the global leader in Augmented Identity and one of the world’s largest payment card manufacturers, on a disruptive technology platform that we together with our partner Idemia believe is a game changer and a catalyst for growth in the industry. The new platform will integrate and simplify component design, drastically reducing costs of the product itself and the manufacturing process. As a result, a complete biometric payment card cost of below USD 10 is becoming realistic, providing an accelerated path to mass volumes while giving Zwipe a long-term cost leadership position.”
Summary of Rights Issue
The subscription price is NOK 7.00 per share. The Company’s shareholders have preferential rights to subscribe to the new shares in relation to the number of shares currently held. For each recorded share the shareholder obtains one (1) subscription right. Three (3) subscription rights entitle to subscription of two (2) newly issued shares.
The Record Date for participation in the Rights Issue is planned for December 4, 2019. The subscription period is expected to run from December 5 up to and including December 19, 2019. The Board of Directors shall have the right to extend the subscription period if deemed beneficial. In the event that not all shares have been subscribed for in the Rights Issue, the Board of Directors, within the maximum scope of the Rights Issue, resolve on the allocation of shares subscribed for without subscription rights.
The Company has obtained subscription commitments and undertaking commitments from a number of current shareholders and external investors. The subscription commitments from existing shareholders, and external investors who will receive subscription rights from major shareholders who cannot participate, amount to 16.1 percent of the Rights Issue. Underwriting commitments amount to an additional 73.9 percent of the Rights Issue. In total, the subscription commitments and underwriting commitments from current shareholders and new investors amount to MNOK 67.0, corresponding to 90.0 percent of the Rights Issue.
Timetable for the Rights Issue
The below timetable for the Rights Issue is preliminary and may be adjusted:
Prospectus
Complete information regarding the Rights Issue and information about the Company will be included in the prospectus that is expected to be published on or about December 4, 2019.
Extraordinary General Meeting
To obtain approval to carry out the Rights Issue, the Board of Directors has decided to call for an extraordinary general meeting. The extraordinary general meeting is to be held on December 2, 2019 at 11:30 at the office of Simonsen Vogt Wiig Advokatfirma, Filipstad Brygge 1, Oslo. The notice of the meeting will be published today through a separate press release.
For further information please contact:
André Løvestam, CEO: andre@zwipe.com +47 93 43 69 52
Lars Myren, Interim CFO: lars@zwipe.com +47 90 94 36 60
Advisors
In connection with the Rights Issue, Zwipe has appointed Erik Penser Bank AB (publ) as book runner, and Advokatfirmaet Simonsen Vogt Wiig AS as legal advisor.
For more information, please visit www.zwipe.com
Important information
The information in this press release does not constitute an offer to sell, acquire, subscribe for or otherwise trade in shares or other securities issued by Zwipe AS. No offer will be made in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful or where this would require registration, publication of a prospectus or similar action. Invitation to interested parties to subscribe for shares in Zwipe AS will only be made through the prospectus that Zwipe AS will publish.
There will be no public offer of shares in the United States. The new shares have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”), or under the securities law of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States and may not be reoffered, resold, pledged or otherwise transferred, directly or indirectly, except (a) outside the United States in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 of Regulation S, as applicable or (b) pursuant to Rule 144A under the U.S. Securities Act by executing and delivering a separate U.S. investor representation letter to the manager. A person in the United States or who is a “U.S. Person” (within the meaning of Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act), may not apply for Offer Shares or otherwise take steps in order to subscribe for or purchase Offer Shares unless the subscriber has confirmed to the manager that it is a "qualified institutional buyer" ("QIB") as defined in Rule 144A under the U.S. Securities Act, acquiring the Offer Shares for investments purposes for its own account or for one or more accounts of another/other QIB(s), where it has investment discretion over such accounts in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements under the U.S. Securities Act by executing and delivering a U.S. investor representation letter to the manager. The Offer Shares are “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the U.S. Securities Act and may not be deposited into any unrestricted depositary receipt facility in the United States, unless at the time of deposit the Offer Shares are no longer "restricted securities".
The information in this press release may not be released, published, reproduced or distributed in or to the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Singapore, South Africa or New Zealand or any other country or jurisdiction where such action is not permitted or where such action is subject to legal restrictions or would require further registration or other measures than what is required by Norwegian and / or Swedish law. Measures contrary to this instruction may constitute a breach of applicable securities legislation.
OSLO, NORWAY – 31 January 2021 – Zwipe AS, a biometric fintech pioneering the development of next generation biometric solutions in payments and access control, has appointed Danielle Glenn as its new CFO and Head of IR effective from 1 May 2022.
Ms. Glenn (44) will join Zwipe from her current position as CFO of Arctic Bioscience AS, a Norwegian biotech company. While at Arctic Bioscience, Ms. Glenn managed the company’s capital markets activities including its MNOK 300 IPO on Euronext Growth Market in Oslo in February 2021. In addition to her responsibilities as CFO, she was also responsible for Investor Relations and heavily involved in setting the company’s overall strategic, commercial, operating and investment plans. At Zwipe, she will help lead the company through its next phase of international commercialization as the company approaches mass volume rollout of biometric cards withing payments and access control.
“Zwipe is continually expanding the commercial and strategic opportunities for its unique biometric technology. Danielle’s background as a CFO operating at the intersection of finance, commercial operations, technology and investor relations in fast-growing companies as well as her deep experience from international capital markets will provide us with the financial skill set we need to increase long-term stakeholder value in the coming years,” says André Løvestam, CEO of Zwipe.
Prior to joining Arctic Bioscience, Ms. Glenn worked in several management roles with start-up and scale-up companies in Norway upon moving to Oslo in 2016. She spent the majority of her career in London and New York, working at Goldman Sachs, Caxton Associates and Bywater Capital as a global macro hedge fund manager and Chief Investment Officer. Ms. Glenn graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University with a BA in History and Science.
“I am impressed by the innovation Zwipe is demonstrating in the fintech space, honoured by the confidence management and the Board has placed in me, and excited to help build upon Zwipe’s strong commercial and technological momentum. I very much look forward to joining a Norwegian company with global ambitions and an impressive international team,” says Ms. Glenn.
Ms. Glenn will take over from Lars Kristian Solheim who has decided to pursue other opportunities. Mr. Solheim has been the CFO since March 2020 and continues as CFO of the company through April 2022.
“On behalf of the whole management team and Board, I would like to thank Lars Kristian for his hard work and unquestionable dedication. He has acted as CFO during an important and transformative stage in our growth story, providing valuable contributions and wise counsel. I wish him the very best in all his future endeavours,” says Mr. Løvestam, CEO of Zwipe.
For further information, please contact:
André Løvestam
CEO of Zwipe AS
Phone: +47 934 36 952
Email: andre@zwipe.com
This is information that Zwipe AS is obligated to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation on Euronext Growth Oslo and on Nasdaq First North Growth Market Stockholm. Certified Adviser on Nasdaq First North is FNCA Sweden AB, info@fnca.se, +46 (0) 8528 00 399. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 13:30 CET on 31 January 2022.
About Zwipe
Zwipe believes the inherent uniqueness of every person is the key to a safer future. The company works across networks of international organizations, industries and cultures to make convenience safe and secure. Zwipe is pioneering next-generation biometric card and wearables technology for payments, physical & logical access control, and identification solutions. The company promises customers and partners deep insight and frictionless solutions, ensuring a seamless user experience with our innovative biometric products and services. Zwipe is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with a global presence.
OSLO, NORWAY – 20 January 2022 – Primary insider André Løvestam, CEO of Zwipe AS (the "Company"), has today exercised 384,000 stock options, each giving the right to acquire one share in the Company at a strike price of NOK 10.00. The stock options have been allocated to André Løvestam under the Company's stock option incentive program. After completion of the transaction, André Løvestam will, through Energetic AS and privately, own 1,300,000 shares and hold 306,000 options, each giving the right to acquire one share in the Company.
Attached is a copy of the form submitted to the Norwegian FSA, Finanstilsynet, reporting the transaction as listed above:
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About Zwipe
Zwipe is pioneering the next generation contactless payments experience, providing biometric payment cards components and wearables technology that enable consumers to authorize transactions with their fingerprints without compromising their privacy. Together with an ecosystem of partners including global brands within digital security and financial services, Zwipe is "Making Convenience Safe & Secure" for banks, merchants and consumers. Zwipe's solutions address the hygiene and data theft pitfalls inherent in traditional authentication methods. Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with a global presence, Zwipe is leading the next great shift in payments from contactless to contact free. To learn more, visit www.zwipe.com
For more information, please contact:
Lars Kristian Solheim, CFO
+47 991 661 35
lars.kristian@zwipe.com
This is information that Zwipe AS is obligated to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation on Euronext Growth Oslo and on Nasdaq First North Growth Market Stockholm. Certified Adviser on Nasdaq First North is FNCA Sweden AB, info@fnca.se, +46 (0) 8528 00 399. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 12:45 CET on 20 January 2022.
OSLO, NORWAY and PARIS, FRANCE – 19 January 2022 – Biometric fintech company Zwipe and K2 sas, an affiliate of Cards Systems Group (CSG) and a leading provider of payment card personalization solutions in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) have partnered to address the growing demand for biometric payment solutions in the region. Together with CSG, the parties will bring the next generation payment cards to the MEA region and France.
CSG is an international service and integrated solution provider for card management systems. Founded in 2008, it operates in over 20 countries to offer turnkey card payment and issuance solutions. The group works with major banks, personalization bureaus and card manufacturers to ensure their delivery readiness and provide the latest technology and security standards set by Mastercard, Visa and regulators. Currently CSG’s solutions are utilized by 100 customers and over 10 million payment cards annually.
Speaking on the partnership, Bassam Al Khatib, Chief Executive Officer of K2, said: “Our collaboration with Zwipe will be a catalyst in accelerating the deployment of biometric payment cards across the MEA region and France, markets well-known to us. It is time for banks to embrace next generation contactless cards using the cutting-edge biometric technology that Zwipe brings to the payment marketplace and end users. We will leverage our large network of existing bank clients to conduct multiple pilots, starting already in H1 2022, followed by commercial launches”.
Zwipe will provide K2 and CSG with technical support and services for the implementation of Zwipe Pay biometric cards including value added services for issuers. These cards will be manufactured and delivered by Zwipe’s certified smart card manufacturers in the region.
“K2 and CSG are very important additions in our fast-growing delivery ecosystem and will be a key enabler for our accelerated growth in the MEA region and France. The Group is also a highly respected brand in delivering card personalization solutions and trusted by leading banks in the entire region. I am confident that this partnership will lead to multiple commercial launches of Biometric Payment Cards,” said Ramzi Saboury, General Manager at Zwipe for MENA region.
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About K2 / Cards Systems Group
A team of EMV specialists that joined forces in 2009 to establish an aggressive and farsighted organization. K2, an affiliate of the group, was created in 2017 to find solutions ahead of time through anticipating problems that businesses might encounter in today’s dynamic market. The group serves hundreds of satisfied clients from eleven different countries spreading over four continents. CSG aspire to be the partner of choice for the card business in the Middle East and Africa region.
To learn more, visit www.k2ss.fr, cardsysa2z.com
Zwipe believes the inherent uniqueness of every person is the key to a safer future. We work with great passion across networks of international organizations, industries, and cultures to make convenience safe and secure. We are pioneering next-generation biometric card and wearables technology for payment and physical & logical access control and identification solutions. We promise our customers and partners deep insight and frictionless solutions, ensuring a seamless user experience with our innovative biometric products and services. Zwipe is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with a global presence.
To learn more, visit zwipe.com
For further information please contact: André Løvestam, CEO, +47 991 6135 info@zwipe.com
OSLO, NORWAY and MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – 31st December 2021 – Biometric fintech company Zwipe and Forzacard, the leading domestic card manufacturer in Mexico, have agreed to develop and launch biometric cards powered by Zwipe and bring these innovations to banks and organizations looking for the latest solutions based on biometric card-authentication in Central and North America.
Forzacard is a Mexico-City based 100% Mexican company, founded in 1991, delivering more than 25 million payment cards per year across multiple countries. The company has extensive operations in Central and North America and is part of Forzaform Group, one of the oldest and most respected industrial groups in the secure printing industry. Forzacard offers a wide range of payment products and services and is a Visa, MasterCard and Carnet certified manufacturer.
“Partnering with Zwipe to develop the next generation contactless experience aligns strongly with our mission of continuous innovation. Biometric capabilities uniquely combine convenience with security and safety, uplifting the card payment experience to completely new levels. Integrating Zwipe Pay ONE into our smart card program will be key to competing and securing future business in this fast-emerging segment.” says Mauricio Benavides President of Forzaform.
Starting with biometric payment cards, Zwipe will deliver the Zwipe Pay ONE technology platform, technical guidance, and market support services as part of the agreement.
Speaking on the partnership, André Løvestam, CEO at Zwipe says “Mexico is leading the way in the adoption of biometric payment cards in Central and North America. Partnering with Forzacard in Mexico will enable us to respond to a strong and growing demand for biometric payment cards from banks and payment service providers in that region.”
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About Forzacard
Forzacard has always been at the forefront of bringing payment innovations to banks in Mexico since its inception in 1991 and part of ForzaForm S.A. de C.V., a 100% Mexican Corporation of world class. The company’s growth is driven by its wide variety of products and processed materials alongside extensive R&D and continuous investments in emerging technologies, always guaranteeing highest levels of quality and security.
About Zwipe
Zwipe is pioneering the next generation contactless payments experience, providing biometric payment cards components and wearables technology that enable consumers to authorize transactions with their fingerprints without compromising their privacy. Together with an ecosystem of partners including global brands within digital security and financial services, Zwipe is "Making Convenience Safe & Secure" for banks, merchants and consumers. Zwipe's solutions address the hygiene and data theft pitfalls inherent in traditional authentication methods. Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with a global presence, Zwipe is leading the next great shift in payments from contactless to contact free.
For more information contact: André Løvestam, CEO, +47 991 66 135, info@zwipe.com
OSLO, NORWAY and BEIRUT, LEBANON – 27 DECEMBER 2021 – Zwipe is pleased to announce that a medium sized bank in Levant has confirmed a pilot of biometric payment cards enabled with Zwipe Pay ONE in the first half of 2022. The bank is one of the leading brands in the wealth management segment serving thousands of high net-worth and affluent consumers. Zwipe’s single silicon biometric payment card platform has triggered a lot of interest across many markets in the Middle East where banks are well known to use modern digital platforms to deliver world-class user experience and security.
The bank will be supported with the pilot by one of Zwipe’s well-established strategic partners in the region, areeba, that was also amongst the first in the region to recognize the great potential of biometric payments when it launched pilots with many leading banks in the region in 2018. areeba is a well-recognized innovator in the region, pursuing a strategy of driving digital transformation and service excellence through modern technologies.
Speaking on this development, Maher Mikati, CEO at areeba said, “We are always seeking to make use of the latest technologies available to make life more convenient and safer for our esteemed clients. With biometric payments we will significantly enhance user experience and security of our card payment products. We are pleased to pilot the latest generation of biometric cards with Zwipe and this leading bank in wealth management and private banking in the region.”
Ramzi Saboury, General Manager of Zwipe in MENA Region said: “We are very proud that, just weeks after deciding to issue biometric payment cards for their customers in Lebanon and Iraq respectively, areeba is ready to issue biometric payment cards as a service to other issuers in collaboration with Zwipe. We are confident that the pilot will show how biometric payment cards can help the bank to attract new customers, uplift customer loyalty and ensure excellent returns from their payment portfolio. Zwipe will be supporting the bank through all stages of the pilot journey, ensuring smooth pilots with strong end user focus.”
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About areeba
areeba is an electronic payment technology company licensed by Visa and MasterCard and has an agreement with American Express & Discover. Established in 2017, areeba adopts the latest technologies and provides solutions and payment services to banks, governments and merchants to suit their aspirations and needs.
areeba offers services tailored to global requirements, from card issuance and management, non-contact payment solutions, contactless and mobile payment. It also provides merchants and governments with the latest e-commerce platform and point-of-sale machines that adopt the highest standards and safety systems. areeba operates a wide range of loyalty programs, including collecting points and miles, cashback programs, and providing consultancy services for the planning, design and development of electronic products and payment solutions.
For more information, visit www.areeba.com, or @areebalebanon on LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram. areeba media contact: Nouchka El Hage, +961-1-954325 - NHage@areeba.com
About Zwipe
Zwipe believes the inherent uniqueness of every person is the key to a safer future. We work with great passion across networks of international organizations, industries and cultures to make convenience safe and secure. We are pioneering next-generation biometric card and wearables technology for payment and physical & logical access control and identification solutions. We promise our customers and partners deep insight and frictionless solutions, ensuring a seamless user experience with our innovative biometric products and services. Zwipe is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with a global presence.
To learn more, visit zwipe.com. For further information please contact: André Løvestam, CEO, +47 991 66 135, info@zwipe.com
OSLO, NORWAY, HYDERABAD and PUNE, INDIA - 27 DECEMBER 2021 – Zwipe, KL HI-TECH and Easy Pay can confirm that they will pilot biometric payment cards in India, aiming for commercial launches by summer 2022. Easy Pay is one of the fastest growing payment brands in India whose services are used by over 2 million retail stores and millions of consumers. Zwipe is a fintech pioneering the development of next generation biometric payment solutions.
Founded in 2014, Easy Pay has grown rapidly to become a leading payment brand for merchants and consumers in India. “Paisa Nikal” is an AADHAR Enabled Payment Service (AEPS) which has been ideated and executed by Easy Pay allowing hassle-free and safe transactions for millions of users. In 2020, it processed payment transactions worth USD 8.4 billion (expected to reach USD 12 billion in 2021). Easy Pay has now decided to issue next generation biometric payment cards in collaboration with Zwipe and KL HI-TECH, Zwipe’s manufacturing partner in India.
Speaking on this development, Nilay Patel, Founder & CEO of Easy Pay said, “We are very pleased to bring the next generation contactless cards to India, enabling world-class security, safety and experience for our customers. We see many use cases for biometrics beyond payments, for example access cards for use in hotel chains, as well as high-end real-estate and smart city projects where we have long term contracts and a demanding client base. Following internal tests and external pilots we aim for commercial launches of biometric payment cards during summer of 2022.”
Besides the core biometric card technology, Zwipe will also support Easy Pay through all stages of the pilot ensuring that end users’ experiences and feedback are systematically captured and impact on business case thoroughly assessed.
André Løvestam, CEO of Zwipe said, “We are proud to confirm our first pilot in India, one of the world’s largest and fastest growing payment markets. Easy Pay has been a pioneer in driving innovative payment services and biometrics will enable them to further drive differentiation based on security, safety, and user experience. We are delighted that our card manufacturing partner, KL HI-TECH, is part of this exciting journey which we very much look forward to pursuing together”.
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About Easy Pay
Easy Pay is an emerging Payment Solutions Company which is creating its own niche in the Fintech Industry. Formed by highly professional and technological advanced team members and backed by strong corporate ethics. The team works in bridging solutions mainly in the area of payments and bio-metrics. It is India’s upcoming payment domain that facilitates all kinds of payments for everyone and everywhere under one umbrella.
Paisa Nikal is an AADHAR Enabled Payment Service (AEPS) which is ideated & executed by Easy Pay which allows quick, hassle-free & safe transactions. This futuristic model is designed to empower retailers for making digital transactions fast & automated. We're offering comfort & convenience to both the retailers and consumers. Moreover, it even extends electronic payment services to large social strata of customers that do not have the means to pay electronically. It even manages payments for multiple institutional clients and provides them with innovative solutions for business expansion.
This unique business model allows facilitating payments with multiple modes such as cash, card, cheque, net-banking, e-wallet & etc. With much pride & enthusiasm, we're vigorously contributing to the #DigitalIndia Campaign!
Website: www.easypay.in
About Zwipe
Zwipe believes the inherent uniqueness of every person is the key to a safer future. We work with great passion across networks of international organizations, industries & cultures to make convenience safe & secure. We are pioneering next-generation biometric card and wearables technology for both payment and physical & logical access control and identification solutions. We promise our customers and partners deep insight and frictionless solutions, ensuring a seamless user experience with our innovative biometric products and services. Zwipe is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with a global presence.
To learn more, visit zwipe.com For further information please contact: André Løvestam, CEO, +47 991 66 135, info@zwipe.com
About KL HI-TECH
KL HI-TECH Secure Print Limited (KLHT) is a leading provider of secure print products and printing solutions. Commencing its operations in 1988, KLHT has played a pioneering role in enabling secure payment transactions, banking services and facilitating tele communications in India through its secure print products. At its sprawling state-of-the-art highly secure manufacturing facility located in Hyderabad, the company operates using stringent global standards that are required to manufacture a range of security printing products. The company is certified by Visa, Mastercard & RuPay (National Payments Corporation of India). As per the Nilson Report (2020) KL HI-TECH is the 2nd largest banking card manufacturer in India and 31st largest banking card manufacturer in the world.
KLHT’s business ideology revolves around the prime objective of providing comprehensive, fool-proof security in critical secure print products. KLHT plays a pivotal role by manufacturing products for Banks and Financial Institutions, Central and State Governments, Educational Boards and Institutions, Telecom Sector, Nationwide Election Commissions and Transport Sector.
Exporting to over 52 countries across the Globe, KLHT aims to become one of the leading suppliers of secure print products globally, whilst also pioneering innovation and change to the way payments are made in India and across the globe.
For further information please contact Kartik Shekar, VP – Projects, kartik@klhitech.com, +91 8008 188 466
OSLO, NORWAY – 22 December 2021 – Zwipe has received a commercial order worth MNOK 0.6 for Zwipe Pay ONE. This is the first Zwipe Pay ONE order from this card manufacturer and will be delivered in Q1 2022.
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About Zwipe
Zwipe believes the inherent uniqueness of every person is the key to a safer future. We work with great passion across networks of international organizations, industries and cultures to make convenience safe and secure. We are pioneering next-generation biometric card and wearables technology for payment and physical & logical access control and identification solutions. We promise our customers and partners deep insight and frictionless solutions, ensuring a seamless user experience with our innovative biometric products and services. Zwipe is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with a global presence.
To learn more, visit zwipe.com
For further information please contact: André Løvestam, CEO, +47 991 66 135 info@zwipe.com
OSLO, NORWAY - 22 December 2021
With our eyes set on the long-awaited commercial breakthrough for Zwipe which now seems highly likely to happen in 2022, we have spent the last four years undergoing a transformation which has laid the foundation for Zwipe’s long-term success:
Each step on this journey, and each new partner and customer in our ecosystem, contributes to increasing the value creation potential and reducing the risk for Zwipe and its stakeholders. We have indeed come a long way in that regard.
A transformative year
Even on this backdrop, 2021 has been a transformative year for Zwipe:
Adding to our confidence in our future outlook is the universal evidence from numerous consumer surveys from diverse markets around the world that cardholders worldwide will benefit greatly from the touch-less and PIN-free experience with world-class security that is made possible by biometric payment and access control cards. Consumers’ strong trust in and demand for biometrics has been consistent with the findings from our industry peers and other analyst reports.
We also demonstrated Zwipe Pay ONE sample cards from several of our clients, showcased all the Zwipe Pay ONE components, and demonstrated live transactions with Zwipe Pay ONE enabled biometric cards, along with a range of innovative enrolment solutions, at TRUSTECH 2021 in Paris.
Figure 1: Zwipe Pay ONE based cards from Masria Digital Payments (Egypt). KL Hi-Tech (India), Tag Systems (Andorra), Toppan Forms (Hong Kong), Inkript (Lebanon) and Beautiful Cards Corporation (Taiwan).
Figure 2: Left-hand photos are the front and back of a transparent demo card based on Zwipe Pay ONE. Middle photos are the ZPO passive inlay and the ZPO enrolment sleeve, while the right-hand photos are ZPO module on reel (contact plate with single silicon secure element mounted on the back) and the IDX3405 sensor on 35mm tape.
Closing in on pilots and certification
Like most other companies engaged in multinational development projects, Zwipe has felt the effects of COVID-19 through added complexity, extended lead times and delays. I have been impressed by the grit and determination of my team and our technology partners, systematically overcoming the hurdles as they come.
Having said that, we have made good progress with many issuers that signed up for pilots through 2021. This ranges from running internal tests of biometric cards at issuers to helping their engagements with schemes and supporting them with guidance in preparing the issuing backend to process biometric payments. And feedback from customers has been great; “Paying has been super easy and fast”. That’s exactly what you want to hear from the field!
Next milestone is the submission of Zwipe Pay ONE based reference cards for certification by both VISA and Mastercard. Zwipe’s technology partner, Idemia, announced in November 2021, that it had obtained full certification from both schemes for its F.CODE biometric payment card. These certifications (Letters of Approval) represent full validation of the core components in our Zwipe Pay ONE platform, notably the shared single silicon biometric secure element, where Idemia and Zwipe have co-invested since 2019, and the IDX3405 fingerprint sensor from Idex Biometrics.
The Zwipers
Last, and most importantly, I want to express my deep gratitude to the exceptional Team of Zwipers around the world whose passion and grit continued to create so much value for our customers, partners, and shareholders through this challenging pandemic which has taken its toll on everyone. The purpose of our efforts is to give everyone the power of access by being themselves no matter where they are or who they are.
My sincere thanks also go out to all our customers, partners, and shareholders for sharing our mission and supporting our journey.
I wish each one of you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!
OSLO, NORWAY and BAGHDAD, IRAQ – 22 December 2021 - Zwipe and International Network for Cards and Digital Payment Services (INC) are pleased to confirm that they will pilot Biometric Payment Cards in Iraq. This will be the first biometric payment card pilot in the country. As one of the fastest growing cards and payments companies in Iraq, INC will be offering issuance of white label biometric cards as a service for banks and other payment companies.
In collaboration with Zwipe, INC will incorporate biometric payment cards in its portfolio and offer it as a standard payment product to its client banks in the Iraqi market, with the first client being INC’s own NEO Visa cards which will be introduced as the first biometric plastic cards in Iraq.
This development was made possible through INC’s strategic partner Nymcard which confirmed in September 2021 its collaboration with the Norwegian technology company Zwipe to bring biometric payment cards to the MENA region.
Speaking on this development, Zaid Fawzi, CEO and Founder of INC, said: “We are proud to step up our collaboration with Zwipe and bring the next generation contactless experience to Iraq. Our partnership with Zwipe has greatly strengthened INC’s mission to deliver payment solutions with state-of-the-art security and world-class user experience. Our pilot in Iraq with the NEO Visa cards will be the first step in bringing this fantastic product to other players in the market.”
General Manager for MENA region at Zwipe, Ramzi Saboury said: “Our partnership with NymCard and its subsidiaries in the region such as INC will greatly accelerate the deployment of next generation contactless cards. I am happy to launch this pilot project with INC in Iraq - a large market with huge growth potential. It is worth mentioning that the Central Bank of Iraq has already endorsed our initiative to bring biometric payment cards to Iraq and is encouraging all Iraqi banks to be part of this exciting innovation.”
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About INC
The International Network for Cards and digital payment services (INC) is an Iraqi registered company and holds a license as Issuer and Processor to practice business in electronic payments from the Central Bank of Iraq No. (7) according to Law No. (56) issued in 2004. Through its NEO brand, INC has released a state of the art mobile app featuring a digital wallet, and enabled online card payments to its customers via the first virtual Visa card in Iraq, in addition to other card programs such as NEO Visa Gift and NEO Visa Travel, available as physical plastic cards with the aim to increase financial inclusion in the Iraqi market.
About Zwipe
Zwipe believes the inherent uniqueness of every person is the key to a safer future. We work with great passion across networks of international organizations, industries & cultures to make convenience safe & secure. We are pioneering next-generation biometric card and wearables technology for both payment and physical & logical access control and identification solutions. We promise our customers and partners deep insight and frictionless solutions, ensuring a seamless user experience with our innovative biometric products and services. Zwipe is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with a global presence.
To learn more, visit zwipe.com
For further information please contact: André Løvestam, CEO, +47 991 66 135, info@zwipe.com
