SCAP becomes a distributor for Zwipe and creates the first starter pack in French for Zwipe Access, the biometric Access control card.
OSLO, NORWAY and VAULX EN VELIN, March 27, 2024 – Zwipe A.S., a company listed on the stock exchanges of Oslo and Stockholm, a pioneer and world leader in the development of biometric technology on cards for identification, access control and payment, has teamed up with SCAP, the leading distributor of access control cards and readers in France, focusing on providing advanced security RFID solutions, to introduce the innovative "biometric system-on-card" to SCAP's customers in France.
SCAP's customer base spans across the entire security industry in France, including physical and logical access system manufacturers, installers, integrators as well as corporations in various industries, including airports, transportation, healthcare, data centers, critical infrastructure, manufacturing, government, and education.
As a testimony of SCAP commitment and to fulfil immediate demand from early adopters, SCAP has placed its first purchase order to Zwipe already and launched the first Zwipe Access starter pack in French language.
Zwipe Access utilizes state-of-the-art biometric capture and matching technology to securely store the cardholder’s encrypted fingerprint template directly within the card’s smart chip during issuance. This integration seamlessly aligns with the requirements of SCAP’s customers, allowing them to integrate biometric verification swiftly, securely, and cost-effectively into their existing security infrastructure.
According to Pierre Yves Dudal, president of SCAP, “In today’s highly secure EU requirements for working environment, having easy access to the latest access technologies is critical for all strategic or sensitive sites. The biometric card provided by Zwipe brings breakthrough ID card technologies to existing identification systems for the next generation of physical and logical access.”
“We are happy to partner with SCAP, a leading advanced security solution distributor. We look forward to developing and strengthening the relationship with the French security market thanks to our local expertise and support, as well as supporting SCAP to deliver best- in-class customization and logistic for access control solutions integration partners globally,”, says Robert Puskaric, President and CEO of Zwipe.
About SCAP
For over two decades, SCAP has been a trusted authority in identification and security solutions. SCAP's extensive experience in RFID cards and readers and close collaboration with the security installers have allowed SCAP to rigorously test and refine SCAP's product range.
SCAP specializes in a wide array of RFID technologies, from the basic Prox 125 kHz and EM/TEMIC to the more sophisticated 13.56 MHz, MIFARE DESfire® EV3, HID iCLASS, SEOS, and beyond. In addition to standard formats, SCAP offers customized encoding options. SCAP's badges come also in combination with the appropriate RFID readers. SCAP is member of SELEPSO Group.
For more information, visit www.scap.name
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: www.zwipe.com
OSLO, NORWAY – 26 March 2024 – Zwipe AS ("Zwipe" or "the company") has today released its Annual Report 2023, including the Board of Directors report and financial statements. The report and annual accounts were approved by the Board of Directors after the close of business on 25th of March 2024. The 2023 Annual Report is attached to this release and available at https://www.zwipe.com/investors/reports.
OSLO, NORWAY – 22 February 2024 – Zwipe AS ("Zwipe" or "the company") today announces its results for the first half of 2023.
Highlights H2 2023
Significant events after the period
H2 2023 operational review
Commenting on the second half of 2023, Zwipe CEO Robert Puskaric says, “Despite our many go-to-market partnerships around the globe and 50+ dialogues with issuers, market adoption of biometric payment cards in 2023 simply did not happen as Zwipe or anyone else in the industry expected. Issuers continue to be slow-moving meaning that commercial orders from our SCM customers and revenues for Zwipe Pay were far lower than anticipated at the start of the year.”
Progress in Zwipe Access has been much more positive, with Puskaric continuing, “Much more optimistically, we have seen considerable interest in biometric access control technology throughout 2023. Across the USA and Europe, we have more than 35 Zwipe Access go-to-market partnerships, and these partners are currently carrying out more than 65 proofs of concept.” These proofs of concept (“PoCs”) of Zwipe Access technology include end-user enterprises including Fortune 100 companies, Top 3 cloud service providers, healthcare facilities, airports, data centers, government agencies, and critical infrastructure operators. These PoCs are expected to translate into commercial orders and meaningful revenue in the short term, with an additional, powerful growth catalyst deriving from the EU NIS2 Directive on cybersecurity requirements in critical infrastructure sectors.
In the USA, Zwipe Access completed a critical operational test and evaluation by National Safe Skies Alliance, Inc. (Safe Skies) at Richmond International Airport (RIC) early in 2024. The Safe Skies team’s report offers a positive assessment of Zwipe Access technology in airports and is expected to motivate airports across the Americas to evaluate Zwipe Access technology. Zwipe continues to make positive progress with our key GTM partners including Schneider Electric, MC Dean, Matrix Systems and NCS in the Americas and in AWT, Assa Abloy, Certego and others in Europe.
Fundraising and new strategic direction
The negative developments in Zwipe Pay and positive developments in Zwipe Access during the second half led to our January 2024 announcement of a new strategic direction for Zwipe, which will see the company focus our resources almost exclusively on commercialization of Zwipe Access where the near-term commercial opportunity is clear.
Just before the January 2024 announcement, Zwipe completed a rights issue in December 2023 raising NOK 35 million in gross capital, with additional capital possible from an exercise of warrants in December 2024. Funds raised in addition to cash on hand will now be directed primarily to accelerating Zwipe Access commercialization, with substantially less required to support additional technology development or supply chain purchases associated with Zwipe Pay. When combined with the June 2023 restructuring, Zwipe expects operational costs to be more than NOK 40 million lower than in 2023. Total cash flow over the coming two years is also expected to be more than NOK 40 million better than if Zwipe had continued to focus on both business lines, giving Zwipe longer runway and greater financial flexibility. These decisive actions alongside funds raised from the rights issue should put Zwipe on a path towards cashflow breakeven, which we hope to reach in 2025.
H2 2023 financial review
Zwipe reported total revenues of NOK 1.2 million during H2 2023, lower than the NOK 3.1 million reported in H2 2022 and the NOK 1.7 million reported in H1 2023. Total operating expenses totalled NOK 44.6 million in H2 2023, down NOK 15.1 million compared to H2 2022, and down NOK 12.9 million compared to the first half of 2023. The above resulted in net income for H2 2023 of NOK -43.9 million, substantially better than NOK -57.1 million reported in H2 2022 and NOK -56.1 million in H1 2023.
Total net cash flow for H2 2023, including cash flow from financing and investing activities, was NOK -33.7 million compared to NOK -59.3 million in H2 2022.
On 31 December 2023, cash and cash equivalents were NOK 42.2 million, compared to NOK 50.5 million on 31 December 2022 and NOK 76.0 million on 30 June 2023. With the remaining outstanding funds from the rights issue of NOK 24.4 million received in early January 2024, the effective “turn of year” cash position was NOK 66.6 million.
Going forward
Zwipe’s priorities for 2024 all involve accelerating Zwipe Access commercialization and maximizing Zwipe’s financial flexibility:
Results presentation
CEO Robert Puskaric and CFO Hugo Petit will present the H2 2023 results by webcast today, February 22nd, at 13:00 CEST.
Webcast details:
Date: 22 February, 13.00 CET
Format: webcast and Q&A
Language: English
Link: https://app.webinar.net/bEArXRLNvJG
Participants will be required to register to view the webcast and participate in the Q&A, and are encouraged to submit their questions before the webcast to ir@zwipe.com.
###
This information is subject to the disclosure requirements in the Market Abuse Regulation (EU 596/2014) and the Norwegian Securities Trading Act section 5-12, and is information that Zwipe AS is obligated to make public pursuant to the continuing obligations of companies admitted to trading on Euronext Growth Oslo (Euronext Growth Oslo Rule Book – Part II) and on Nasdaq First North Growth Market. Certified Adviser on Nasdaq First North is FNCA Sweden AB, info@fnca.se. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out below, at 08:00 on 22 February 2024.
###
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 http://www.zwipe.com.
For more information, please contact:
ir@zwipe.com
Zwipe AS will publish its H2 2023 financial report on 22 February 2024 at 08.00 CET. On the same day at 13.00 CET, the company will host a webcast to present the report. After the presentation, the webcast will be opened up fr questions from the audience.
Participants will be required to register to listen to the webcast and participate in the Q&A.
Webcast details:
Date: 22 February, 13.00 CET
Format: webcast and Q&A
Language: English
Link:
https://app.webinar.net/bEArXRLNvJG
For more information contact:
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, USA and OSLO, NORWAY – 25th January 2024 - Safe Skies’ evaluation report entitled SSDA—23-032 Zwipe Access Biometric Smart Card was published in November 2023. This report is available to qualified airport personnel at US commercial-service airports via the Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN) or by contacting anna.hamilton@sskies.org with their request.
Safe Skies, an independent third-party, non-profit organization funded by the Federal Aviation Administration, conducts thorough testing of security systems’ detection capabilities, reliability, and maintainability under active airport operational and environmental conditions. Safe Skies performs its evaluations under an ISO 9001:2015-approved Quality Management System.
“We are very pleased with the results of the evaluation,” said Tim Walsh, President of Tadera. “The Zwipe Access system is a highly secure and user-friendly solution that meets the needs of airports. We are confident that this product will be a valuable addition to our portfolio and will help airports enhance their security posture.”
“We are excited to partner with Tadera to bring this innovative biometric access card system to the market,” said Robert Puskaric, CEO of Zwipe. “The encouraging evaluation results instill confidence in our vision that the Zwipe Access system strengthens security at airports worldwide.
For further information, please contact:
Tim Walsh, timothy.walsh@TADERA.com; 504-754-0048 for TADERA
Marcel Williams,marcel.williams@Zwipe.com; 954-649-6222 for Zwipe
About ASSIST
Safe Skies’ Airport Security System Integrated Support Testing (ASSIST) Program is a collaborative effort between US commercial-service airports, the Transportation Security Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration, Airports Council International-North America, American Association of Airport Executives, and Airport Consultants Council. Safe Skies created the ASSIST Program to fulfill its core purpose of helping airport operators meet their security responsibilities using a transparent process for identifying, selecting, and executing projects that are designed to create a more efficient and effective airport security system.
About TADERA
TADERA's commitment to the airport sector spans over 40 years, culminating in our transformation into TADERA from Civix CI. Our mission is to enhance the safety, security, and financial stability of airports, ensuring world-class facilities for passengers and cargo transport. The name TADERA reflects our dedication to facilitating Transportation, Aviation, and Destinations in the next era of air travel. We provide software and integrated technology solutions that elevate the safety and financial performance of airports. TADERA serves the Federal Aviation Administration, state aeronautics departments, and more than 100 airports worldwide.
Learn more about us at
www.tadera.com.
About Zwipe
Zwipe believes in the inherent uniqueness of every individual, paving the way for a safer future. We passionately collaborate across international networks, industries, and cultures to make convenience both secure and safe. At Zwipe, we pioneer next-generation biometric card and wearables technology for payment, physical and logical access control, and identification solutions. We promise our customers and partners deep insights and frictionless solutions, ensuring a seamless user experience with our innovative biometric products and services. With our headquarters in Oslo, Norway, and a global presence, we are shaping the future of security.
Learn more at
www.zwipe.com.
OSLO, NORWAY – 16 January 2024 – Zwipe AS today announces a company restructuring and new strategic direction, increasing its focus on Zwipe Access and accelerating the commercialization of its biometric authentication technology in the access control market. As a result of the change in strategic focus, the company has initiated a restructuring process that is expected to reduce operational costs, particularly related to Zwipe Pay. On a directly comparable basis excluding one-off costs, the Group expects to reduce operating costs in 2024 by approximately NOK 40 million compared to 2023, combining the effects of Zwipe’s new strategy and the streamlining plan previously announced on 21 June 2023.
“Zwipe has seen considerable traction and progress in the access control market in 2023, with more than 30 partnerships signed or in progress in the USA and Europe. The market is in its early stages but we believe biometric cards can represent a substantial share of the nearly 500 million smart access cards expected to be shipped annually in coming years. Our value proposition is clear, with partners and end-users alike recognizing the substantial benefits of biometric access control technology in terms of security, convenience, and GDPR compliance,” says Zwipe CEO Robert Puskaric.
In addition, in recent months compliance with the EU NIS2 Directive on cybersecurity requirements in critical infrastructure sectors – required by October 2024 and which Zwipe Access provides – has emerged as a critical catalyst for end customers, encouraging them to consider the adoption of biometric access control solutions.
Zwipe has more than 60 proofs of concept in progress with end users, including a Top 3 global cloud service provider, a well-known Swedish consumer technology company, Berkshire Hathaway Energy Group, Fortune 100 companies, and entities including government agencies, airports, critical infrastructure operators, data centers, and healthcare facilities.
“Our new strategic direction will mean laser focus on the singular objective to rapidly achieve commercial success with Zwipe Access, while operating in as lean a manner as possible to maximize our financial flexibility,” says Puskaric.
Zwipe has historically focused primarily on the development and application of its biometric authentication technology in the payments market. Over the last two years, Zwipe completed the development of Zwipe Pay including mobile enrollment solutions, achieved full certification of the technology by both Visa and Mastercard, and spent significant time lining up the biometric payment card (“BPC”) value chain players to launch quickly once banks decided to move forward with biometric payment cards. However, neither market adoption nor the pace of commercial launches has materialized in the manner Zwipe or other players had expected, particularly towards the end of 2023.
“The decision to focus on Zwipe Access is a natural outcome of the traction seen in 2023. However, all the effort that went into developing and certifying Zwipe Pay is what laid the foundation for success with Zwipe Access. Our Access partners and end customers tell us they gain confidence using technology subjected to the rigorous testing required for certification in the payments market,” states Puskaric. Zwipe will continue to serve and fulfill purchase orders from Zwipe Pay customers that have already been certified.
Cost reduction initiatives will begin immediately, with full impact from the middle of the second quarter of 2024. On a net basis, five employees will leave Zwipe, with departures linked to Zwipe Pay, while the Zwipe Access sales team will increase slightly as the company ramps up commercialization efforts here.
Total cash flow over the coming two years is anticipated to be more than NOK 40 million better than if Zwipe had continued to focus on both payments and access control, giving Zwipe significantly longer runway and greater financial flexibility.
“While it is heartbreaking to let highly valued employees go and transition away from Zwipe Pay, we fully believe this is the right course of action for our shareholders. Zwipe Access is a higher margin business with visible commercial inroads, and our objective is for Zwipe to approach breakeven in H2 2025 as a result of higher margins, lower operational costs, and lower supply chain costs,” says CEO Robert Puskaric.
The recently completed rights issue, which includes a possible exercise of warrants in December 2024, should enable this path to profitability.
The Company will host a webcast today, 16 January at 15:00 CET, about our new strategic focus. After the presentation, the webcast will be opened up for questions from the audience.
Webcast details
Date: 16 January 2024
Time: 15:00 CET
Format: Webcast and Q&A
Language: English
Link: https://app.webinar.net/4bmE8YkDrNQ
For further information, please contact:
Robert Puskaric, CEO
###
This information is subject to the disclosure requirements in the Market Abuse Regulation (EU 596/2014) and the Norwegian Securities Trading Act section 5-12, and is information that Zwipe AS is obligated to make public pursuant to the continuing obligations of companies admitted to trading on Euronext Growth Oslo (Euronext Growth Oslo Rule Book – Part II) and on Nasdaq First North Growth Market. Certified Adviser on Nasdaq First North is FNCA Sweden AB, info@fnca.se. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out below, at 08:00 on 16 January 2024.
###
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 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 http://www.zwipe.com.
OSLO, NORWAY – 5 January 2024 – Zwipe has appointed Hugo Petit as interim CFO with Zwipe’s current CFO and Head of IR, Danielle Glenn, deciding to leave the company to join a capital markets advisory and consulting firm
Ms. Glenn has been responsible for Zwipe’s capital markets activities, including the two rights issues in 2023. She has also been instrumental in designing Zwipe’s overall strategic, operating, and investment plans and in restructuring the company to maximize financial flexibility and liquidity. Mr. Petit will join Zwipe as soon as possible, bringing over 20 years of experience as a CFO.
“I am excited to work with Hugo, who has a great deal of experience keeping organizations lean and streamlined while adapting to fast-evolving markets,” says Zwipe CEO Robert Puskaric.
“I would like to thank Danielle for her significant contributions to Zwipe in a difficult environment. She has been a dynamic and integral part of the management team, providing valuable strategic input and handling her myriad cross-departmental responsibilities with efficiency and diligence. The Board and I wish her all the best in her new role,” continues Puskaric.
The company has agreed with Ms. Glenn that she will leave Zwipe at the end of January 2024 but stay on as long as needed thereafter in a consulting capacity to ensure the smooth handover of responsibilities and transition to the new CFO.
For further information, please contact:
Robert Puskaric, CEO
###
This is information that Zwipe AS is obligated to make public pursuant to the continuing obligations of companies admitted to trading on Euronext Growth Oslo (Euronext Growth Oslo Rule Book – Part II) and on Nasdaq First North Growth Market. Certified Adviser on Nasdaq First North is FNCA Sweden AB, info@fnca.se. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out below, at 14:05 on 5 January 2024.
###
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 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 http://www.zwipe.com.
THIS PRESS RELEASE MAY NOT BE MADE PUBLIC, PUBLISHED OR DISTRIBUTED, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO AUSTRALIA, HONG KONG, JAPAN, CANADA, NEW ZEALAND, SWITZERLAND, SINGAPORE, SOUTH AFRICA, THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH ACTIONS, WHOLLY OR IN PART, WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. THIS PRESS RELEASE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO BUY SECURITIES IN ZWIPE AS. SEE ALSO THE SECTION "IMPORTANT INFORMATION" BELOW IN THIS DOCUMENT.
OSLO, NORWAY – 3 January 2024 – Reference is made to the stock exchange announcement published by Zwipe AS (the "Company") on 14 December 2023 regarding the final allocation of a rights issue of units, each consisting of one new share in the Company, each with a nominal value of NOK 0.10 and one warrant of series T01 (the "Warrants"), with preferential rights for existing shareholders raising gross proceeds of approximately NOK 35 million (the "Rights Issue").
The Rights Issue resulted in the issuance of 64,823,988 Warrants, of which 40,889,612 Warrants were allocated to subscribers in the Rights Issue and 13,480,092 Warrants were allocated to the top guarantor in connection with the Convertible Loan (as defined below). All 64,823,988 Warrants will be listed and tradable on Euronext Growth Oslo for a period commencing today, 3 January 2024 and ending at 16:30 (CET) on 9 December 2024. In addition, the Warrants will be listed on Nasdaq First North Growth Market Sweden for a period commencing today, 3 January 2024 and ending at 16:30 (CET) on or about 10 December 2024. The 10,454,284 Warrants not allocated to subscribers in the Rights Issue or in connection with the Convertible Loan (as defined below) will not be used and will be returned to the Company.
Two (2) Warrants entitle to the subscription of one (1) new share in the Company. The subscription price upon exercise of the Warrants shall for subscription of one share in the Company be 70% of the ten-day VWAP (Volume Weighted Average Price) of the Company's shares on Euronext Growth Oslo the last ten (10) trading days prior to commencement of the Exercise Period, but never lower than NOK 0.10 per share and never higher than 1.20 per share. Consequently, if all Warrants are exercised, the Company expects to raise an additional amount of minimum NOK 3,241,199.40 and maximum NOK 38,894,392.80.
Holders of Warrants may either sell their Warrants or use them to subscribe for shares in the Company, in both cases within the deadlines stated above. As such, the Warrants may have a financial value for the holders, depending on the prevailing market price for the shares in the Company. If the Warrants are not sold or exercised within the respective deadlines, the Warrants will lapse with no compensation to the holders.
For more information pertaining to the Warrants, please see the prospectus prepared in connection with the Rights Issue (the "Prospectus"), which is available on the Company's website www.zwipe.com and on the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority's website, www.fi.se.
Pre-commitment and bottom guarantee commitments:
In connection with the Rights Issue, the Company received subscription commitments from a number of existing shareholders totaling approximately NOK 8.8 million, corresponding to approximately 25 percent of the Rights Issue. No compensation is paid for these subscription commitments.
In addition, Zwipe received so-called bottom guarantee commitments of approximately NOK 15.8 million. Through the bottom guarantees together with the subscription commitments, approximately 70 percent of the issue proceeds in the Rights issue was secured. For the so-called bottom guarantees, a compensation of thirteen (13) percent of the guaranteed amount is paid. The subscription commitments and bottom guarantee commitments were not secured by bank guarantee, escrow funds, pledging or similar arrangements. Detailed information regarding the parties that have entered into subscription commitments and guarantee undertakings can be found in the Prospectus.
Top guarantee commitment and new issue of the Convertible Loan and Warrants pursuant to the top guarantee commitment:
Zwipe received a so-called top guarantee of approximately NOK 10.5 million. The top guarantee was fulfilled by the top guarantor subscribing for a convertible loan in the Company of NOK 10,514,472 (the "Convertible Loan"). Through the top guarantee, together with the subscription commitments and the bottom guarantee commitments, 100 percent of the issue proceeds in the Rights Issue was secured. For the so-called top guarantee, a compensation of fifteen (15) percent of the guaranteed amount is paid. The top guarantee commitment was not secured by bank guarantee, escrow funds, pledging or similar arrangements. The subscription amount has been paid to the Company.
The top guarantor also had the right and obligation to subscribe for Warrants free of charge in relation to the subscription price for the Convertible Loan. The number of Warrants the top guarantor was entitled to subscribe for amounted to the maximum number of Units in the Rights Issue less the aggregate number of Units subscribed for by existing shareholders in the Company and Units subscribed for under the bottom guarantee commitments, multiplied by 0.78. Based on these principles, the top guarantor was allocated 13,480,092 Warrants.
####
This is information that Zwipe AS is obligated to make public pursuant to the continuing obligations of companies admitted to trading on Euronext Growth Oslo (Euronext Growth Oslo Rule Book - Part II) and on Nasdaq First North Growth Market. Certified Adviser on Nasdaq First North is FNCA Sweden AB, info@fnca.se. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out below, at 07:57 on 3 January 2024.
####
For further information contact:
Danielle Glenn, CFO and Head of IR, Zwipe
E-mail: ir@zwipe.com
####
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Publication, release or distribution of this press release may in certain jurisdictions be subject to legal restrictions and persons in the jurisdictions where this press release has been made public or distributed should be informed of and follow such legal restrictions. The recipient of this press release is responsible for using this press release and the information herein in accordance with applicable rules in each jurisdiction. This press release does not constitute an offer or solicitation to buy or subscribe for any securities in Zwipe in any jurisdiction, either from Zwipe or from anyone else.
This press release is not a prospectus according to the definition in Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (the "Prospectus Regulation") and has not been approved by any regulatory authority in any jurisdiction. A prospectus will be prepared by the Company and published on the Company's website after the prospectus has been reviewed and approved by the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (Sw. Finansinspektionen).
This press release does not constitute an offer or solicitation to buy or subscribe for securities in the United States. The securities mentioned herein may not be sold in the United States without registration, or without an exemption from registration, under the U.S. Securities Act from 1933 ("Securities Act"), and may not be offered or sold within the United States without being registered, covered by an exemption from, or part of a transaction that is not subject to the registration requirements according to the Securities Act. There is no intention to register any securities mentioned herein in the United States or to issue a public offering of such securities in the United States. The information in this press release may not be released, published, copied, reproduced or distributed, directly or indirectly, wholly or in part, in or to Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, Switzerland, Singapore, South Africa, the United States or any other jurisdiction where the release, publication or distribution of this information would violate current rules or where such an action is subject to legal restrictions or would require additional registration or other measures beyond those that follow from Swedish and Norwegian law. Actions in contravention of this instruction may constitute a violation of applicable securities legislation.
Offers to the public will be permitted in Sweden and Norway from and including the date of approval of the prospectus by the competent authority in Sweden and the competent authority in Norway has been notified in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation, through to and including the end of the subscription period in the Rights Issue.
Forward-looking statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements related to the Company's intentions, estimates or expectations with regard to the Company's future results, financial position, liquidity, development, outlook, estimated growth, strategies and opportunities as well as the markets in which the Company is active. Forward-looking statements are statements that do not refer to historical facts and can be identified by the use of terms such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "estimates," "will," "may," "implies," "should," "could" and, in each case, their negative, or comparable terminology. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on various assumptions, which in several cases are based on further assumptions. Although the Company believes that the assumptions reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, there is no guarantee that they will occur or that they are correct. Since these assumptions are based on assumptions or estimates and involve risks and uncertainties, actual results or outcomes, for many different reasons, may differ materially from those what is stated in the forward-looking statements. Due to such risks, uncertainties, eventualities and other significant factors, actual events may differ materially from the expectations that expressly or implicitly are contained in this press release through the forward-looking statements. The Company does not guarantee that the assumptions which serve as a basis for the forward-looking statements in this press release are correct, and each reader of the press release should not rely on the forward-looking statements in this press release. The information, opinions and forward-looking statements that expressly or implicitly are stated herein are provided only as of the date of this press release and may change. Neither the Company nor any other party will review, update, confirm or publicly announce any revision of any forward-looking statement to reflect events that occur or circumstances that arise with respect to the contents of this press release, beyond what is required by law or Euronext Growth Oslo or Nasdaq First North Growth Market's rules for issuers.
OSLO, NORWAY – 2 January 2024 – Reference is made to the stock exchange announcement published by Zwipe AS (the "Company") on 14 December 2023 regarding the final allocation of a rights issue of units, each consisting of one new share in the Company, each with a nominal value of NOK 0.10 and one warrant of series T01, with preferential rights for existing shareholders raising gross proceeds of approximately NOK 35 million (the "Rights Issue").
The share capital pertaining to the Rights Issue has now been registered with the Norwegian Register of Business Enterprises (Nw.: Foretaksregisteret). The Company's new share capital is NOK 9,930,334.40, divided into 99,303,344 shares, each with a nominal value of NOK 0.10.
####
This is information that Zwipe AS is obligated to make public pursuant to the continuing obligations of companies admitted to trading on Euronext Growth Oslo (Euronext Growth Oslo Rule Book – Part II) and on Nasdaq First North Growth Market. Certified Adviser on Nasdaq First North is FNCA Sweden AB, info@fnca.se. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out below, at 11:30 on 2 January 2024.
####
For further information contact:
Danielle Glenn, CFO and Head of IR, Zwipe
E-mail: ir@zwipe.com
OSLO, NORWAY– 6 JULY 2020 – It has been a busy and momentous last few months in the world of biometric payments. I am pleased to see how our partners and customers are strengthening their capacity to deliver next generation contactless payment solutions powered by biometric payments platforms from Zwipe. We observe first-hand an increasing awareness and interest from banks, local card schemes and even retailers that are sharing the view that biometric payments provide significant value to consumers.
What is happening in the marketplace?
Several “1st generation” biometric payment card platforms are now making their way towards the first small-scale commercial launches in 2020. These recent developments clearly signal that this technology will see commercial break-through, representing not only a means for banks to offer “peace of mind” to cardholders and achieve top-of-wallet effects, but also to realize a new source of revenue and value creation.
For fully understandable reasons, the payments ecosystem is by and large conservative, cost conscious and risk averse. This is why the biometric payments market has been long in the making.
Things are now changing, however. At an accelerating pace. Observing how the engagement and proactivity of our partners and the ecosystem are currently growing, I see clear indications that momentum is building, with awareness and interest increasing everywhere.
The team at Zwipe and myself are very excited by this progress.
Here is an overview of our recent major announcements:
It is all coming together
On the supply side, technology advancement, radical cost reduction and scalable production readiness are factors that make biometric payment a feasible proposition. On the demand side, COVID-19 has triggered growing demand and awareness for safe and hygienic payments in the entire society, with transaction limits raised in more than 40 countries worldwide to avoid unnecessary PIN entry and contactless payment rapidly growing everywhere. This builds on the already strong consumer interest for biometric payments before COVID-19, driven by the demand for convenience, security and the “coolness factor” derived from innovative solutions.
Our Zwipe Pay ONE platform is progressing as planned to deliver superior energy efficiency and excellent biometric performance at significantly lowered manufacturing cost thanks to advanced, single-chip innovation. Our confidence that this will be a very compelling proposition has grown further based on the series of recent awards given by smart card manufacturers for Zwipe Pay ONE to power their upcoming biometric payment cards.
Zwipe has pioneered biometric payment card technology and we now see commercial opportunities and engagements developing across the payment ecosystems. We see growing interest from smart card manufacturers, banks, payment schemes and retailers to see how Zwipe can help them to address consumer needs and concerns over contactless payments.
What Zwipe does goes far beyond the technology, it is about helping every stakeholder maximize the value that biometric payments can bring to society. As communicated in our PR on 2 June, we are complementing our collaboration with our direct customers, the smart card manufacturers, by actively stepping up our engagements with banks and neo-banks, as well as new players in card issuance, such as retailers and tech companies. I feel confident that this will accelerate our route to success while creating value for our customers, shareholders, and consumers.
I would like to take the opportunity to thank each member of my great team at Zwipe for their relentless efforts in Making Convenience Safe and Secure. On behalf of everyone at Zwipe, I wish all our customers, partners, shareholders and avid followers a safe and happy summer.
###
BOLOGNA, ITALY and OSLO, NORWAY– 1 July 2020 – Biometric fintech company Zwipe and Publicenter, Italy’s largest domestic smart card manufacturer, are pleased to announce the launch of a collaboration aimed at bringing the next generation contactless experience, powered by biometric payment cards and wearables to financial institutions and consumers across Europe.
Publicenter is a VISA and Mastercard certified smart card manufacturer, with over forty years of experience in card production and personalization. It delivers payment, loyalty and gift cards to major banking and retail customers in Italy and Europe.
“We have seen firsthand the potential of biometric payment cards and successful market trials in Italy, run on the Zwipe platform. With many of our customers asking for this product, we are confident that the partnership with Zwipe will be the most cost effective and time efficient route for us to offer this solution at scale” says CEO of Publicenter, Sandro Mucelli.
In Italy, 50% of all POS transactions processed were already contactless* pre-COVID 2019, and, as a result of increased transaction limits and an elevated focus on safety, this has grown since. With businesses beginning to open again, Publicenter plans to engage with customers to promote the value-add of biometric payment solutions.
“We are excited to work with Publicenter who have strong engagements with banks and retailers across Europe, including in our own home region of the Nordics. Working together, we will identify new commercial opportunities for both companies and implement a successful roll-out of Zwipe Pay ONE,” says André Løvestam, CEO of Zwipe.
*) Source: Europe; Spaargids.be; July 2018; Numbers concern payments processed by MasterCard
###
About Publicenter
Publicenter has over forty years’ experience in high quality and cost-effective smart card production and personalization, being one of the leading card manufacturers in Europe. Main products are financial smart cards, loyalty/gift cards, and ID cards. Headquartered in Bologna, Italy, Publicenter is a Visa and Mastercard certified vendor for over 15 years. To learn more, visit www.publicenter.it
For more information contact: Sandro Mucelli, CEO, info@publicenter.it
OSLO, NORWAY – 29 June 2020 – Biometric fintech pioneer Zwipe and Thomas Greg and Sons do Brasil (TGS), one the largest smart card manufacturers in Latin America, are pleased to announce the extension of their exclusive partnership.
As part of uplifting the collaboration, TGS is commencing small scale manufacturing of biometric payment cards based on Zwipe’s platform, embracing the road to Zwipe Pay ONE and aiming to gradually ramp up production to address the ongoing market demand for safer and more secure contactless payments.
Since announcing the partnership in April 2019, the two companies have been working closely to fine-tune the technical aspects of the solution and evaluate the market appetite for biometric payments.
“We are now seeing increasing interest in biometric payment cards in our region, especially as consumers become much more familiar with contactless payments and demand safer and more hygienic payment alternatives in store. We have worked closely to adapt our manufacturing processes to integrate Zwipe’s biometric solution in our card production and we are excited to take this partnership to the next level,” says Mr. Hernani Finazzi, CEO of TGS.
“Latin America is a fast-emerging region when it comes to payment card usage. We are extremely glad TGS is taking a key step to embrace the Zwipe platform and bring our collaboration to a new level. We look forward to jointly addressing the needs of banks and consumers in Latin America going forward,” says André Løvestam, CEO of Zwipe.
###
About Thomas Greg & Sons do Brasil
The group Thomas Greg & Sons established in Brazil in 2000 to serve the Brazilian security printing market. In its 20 years of operation, the company has consolidated as one of the largest companies in the segments of Security Prints, Solutions, Smart Cards, Identification Systems and Traceability. Currently, the group is present in thirteen countries, with more than 10,000 employees. In Brazil, it has a branch in eleven states providing the national driver's license, identity card with automated biometric identification system, vehicle ownership document, traceability stamps, diplomas, electoral system, smart cards, among others.
To learn more, visit www.thomasgreg.com.br
Media Contact for Thomas Greg & Sons do Brasil: Hernani Finazzi, CEO +55 11 2666 8821, vendas@thomasgreg.com.br
OSLO, NORWAY– 18 JUNE 2020 – Biometric fintech company Zwipe and Watchdata Technologies, a pioneer in digital authentication and transaction security, have partnered to develop and launch next generation contactless payment cards and wearables and bring these innovations to banks in multiple regions.
Watchdata Technologies is a Beijing based Chinese company, with Singapore as its international headquarters. It is serving 80 million banking customers in over 70 countries, the company has extensive operations in China, France, Russia, Brazil, India, Indonesia, South Korea and Mexico. Watchdata offers a wide range of payment products and services and is a VISA, Mastercard, China UnionPay 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 card payments’ 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 Nicole Guo, Product Manager of Watchdata.
Zwipe will deliver key components and technical guidance as part of the agreement starting with biometric card payments.
Speaking on the partnership André Løvestam, CEO at Zwipe says “In China faster checkout in retail is cited as the number 1 priority for consumers. We are proud to partner with Watchdata, a fast-moving, innovative and global organization representing significant volume potential in many countries globally for the Zwipe Pay ONE platform. Together, we will develop and roll-out the next generation contactless experience through cards and wearables, addressing the security, safety and privacy needs of consumers worldwide.”
###
About Watchdata Technologies
Watchdata Technologies is a recognized pioneer in digital authentication and transaction security. Founded in Beijing in 1994, Watchdata now have international headquarters in Singapore, 8 regional offices, and serve customers in over 70 countries. Watchdata customers include mobile network operators, financial institutions, transport operators, governments and leading business enterprises. Solutions from Watchdata provide daily convenience and security to over 1 billion mobile subscribers, 80 million e-banking customers and 50 million commuters. To learn more, visit www.watchdata.com
OSLO, NORWAY – 8 June 2020 – Zwipe is pleased to announce a new milestone in its ongoing collaboration with Toppan Forms Card Technologies Limited (TFCT), a leading smart card manufacturer based in Hong Kong.
TFCT has placed an order that brings the recently announced partnership to begin small scale manufacturing of biometric payment cards. This is a key milestone as part of the setup project and necessary developments in preparing for high-volume market roll-out of Zwipe Pay ONE.
“We have allocated time and space in our manufacturing facilities for producing biometric payment cards powered by Zwipe’s technology. We are excited to move ahead with Zwipe in this important project to develop the biometric payments market” says Mr. Joseph Hui, Deputy Managing Director of Toppan Forms Card Technologies Limited.
“The APAC payments market has one of the highest growth rates in the world. We are pleased that TFCT, a payment solutions leader in this region, has decided to step up cooperation to integrate our platform in their payment cards. We look forward to working closely with TFCT to deliver safer and more secure contactless payments with the disruptive Zwipe Pay ONE platform” says André Løvestam, CEO of Zwipe.
###
OSLO, NORWAY– 02 June 2020 – Zwipe AS announces that Bishwajit Choudhary has accepted the position of Executive Vice President Strategy & Channels at Zwipe, commencing 2 June 2020. He will lead Zwipe’s engagement efforts towards banks, global and domestic card schemes, selected retailers and other important payments ecosystem stakeholders.
Based in Oslo, Mr. Choudhary brings two decades of experience from Nets where he led many new business initiatives within Digital-ID, electronic signatures and mobile authentication for international clients. As the Group SVP (Strategy) he led Nets' market intelligence and strategy execution and played a key role in many commercial initiatives, notably open-banking data analytics, customer advisory, strategic alliances and fintech partnerships. Prior to joining Zwipe, he was Chief Commercial Officer at UserTribe, a global leader in delivering deep customer insights in 100+ countries based on live experience data.
“With increasing activity in payment cards and wearables in general, and biometrics in particular, and with Zwipe poised to take a technology and cost leadership position in this high potential market, timing is right for Zwipe to complement our growing engagements with our direct customers, the smart card manufacturers, by embarking on a “pull strategy”. This means that we will step up our engagements with banks and neo-banks, as well as new players in card issuance, such as retailers and tech companies. With deep insights in the payments industry, Bishwajit will add a valuable breadth in our payments expertise and lead our strategy and channel development,” said André Løvestam, CEO of Zwipe.
###
OSLO, NORWAY– 19 May 2020 –
Financial Calendar 2020 – 2021
Interim Report January-June 2020 August 27, 2020
Financial Year 2020 Annual Report February 25, 2021
Annual General Meeting May 19, 2021
Interim Report January-June 2021 August 26, 2021
###
OSLO, NORWAY– 14 May 2020 – The Annual General Meeting in Zwipe AS (Company) was held today. All proposed resolutions were approved unanimously in accordance with the call for the meeting. The minutes of Annual General Meeting are included as an attachment. The complete proposal, which was approved by the Annual General Meeting, is available on www.zwipe.com for further reference. The attendants of the AGM represented 11,2% of the votes in the company.
The following matters were reviewed and confirmed:
Approval of the annual report and financial statements for 2019:
The board’s proposal for the annual report and the financial statements for 2019 for the Company and the group were unanimously approved.
Election of members to the Board of Directors:
The following persons were unanimously elected to comprise the new Board of the Directors:
Remuneration to the members of the Board of Directors and the members of the Nomination Committee
Remuneration to the Board for the period from the AGM in 2020 until the AGM in 2021 were unanimously approved as follows:
Chairman of the Board: NOK 260.000,-
Members of the Board: NOK 130.000,-
As remuneration, it was unanimously approved that members of the Nomination committee each receive a total of NOK 40.000 for each year in the term they have served (two years). Jörgen Lantto is covered by the board member remuneration and will hence not receive remuneration for his seat on the nomination committee.
Board authorizations and instructions to the Board regarding use of the authorization to issue shares to increase the Company's equity
The Board proposed that two new authorizations for the Board on capital increases are issued, (i) to fulfil the Company's incentive program and (ii) to cater for strengthening of the Company's equity.
i. Authorization for capital increase to fulfill the Company's incentive program
The Annual General Meeting resolved that the Board is hereby granted authorization to increase the share capital of Zwipe AS (the Company), on one or several occasions, with up to NOK 216 946.70 (2,169,647new shares), equivalent to 8.5% of the registered share capital at the time of this resolution. The authorization shall remain in force until the end of the annual general meeting 2021, however not beyond 30 June 2021. The pre-emptive right of the shareholders to subscribe may be set aside.
ii. Authorization for capital increase to strengthen the Company's equity (extract, please see the attachment to the notice for the complete proposal)
The Annual General Meeting resolved that the General Meeting granted a new authorization to the Board to issue shares corresponding to up to 25% of the share capital, and the new authorization shall be restricted to issue of shares to strengthen the Company's equity to the extent the Board considers this to be in the Company's best interest at the given time.
The authorization may be used to issue shares to strengthen the Company's equity to the extent the Board considers this to be in the Company's best interest at the given time. The authorization shall remain in force until the end of the annual general meeting 2021, however not beyond 30 June 2021. The pre-emptive right of the shareholders to subscribe may be set aside.
###
This is information that Zwipe AS is obligated to make public pursuant to the continuing obligations of companies admitted to trading on Oslo Børs Merkur Market and on Nasdaq First North Growth Market. 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 below, on May 14, 2020 at 23:15 CET
OSLO, NORWAY – 7 MAY 2020 –
Q1 2020 Highlights
Developments after the period
CEO Comment
André Løvestam, Chief Executive Officer at Zwipe, said:
“Q1 2020 has been an intense quarter for Zwipe.
We started the year by listing on the Nasdaq First North Growth Market on January 28th, and have seen considerable interest in Zwipe across the Swedish investment community.
This quarter has also been marked by unprecedented global uncertainty tied to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. With the aim to protect our employees from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Zwipe quickly adapted with various protective measures such as remote work and travel bans. We have been able to continue operating remotely, with little to no impact being seen across our operations. Our commercial team has ramped up activity and been able to engage more frequently and openly as a result of the entire industry transitioning to videoconferencing as opposed to travel-intensive face-to-face meetings.
We observe an extensive focus on and interest in the improved hygiene and safety of biometric payment solutions; the awareness of biometric advantages is significantly higher than pre-Corona. This elevated focus on safety has significantly increased the growth of contactless transactions, and transaction caps have been raised all over the world1. Hygiene may become an accelerator and game-changer for biometric payments. A biometric payment card effectively eliminates the need to ever touch the payment terminal keypad – regular cards require PIN above the transaction limit, after a set number of transactions, and when the cumulative value of transactions has reached its limit.
We are seeing growing momentum across the payment ecosystem with increasing investment in supporting biometric payment card deployment. Zwipe is now working closely with partners across the value chain in developing a highly competitive offering in terms of energy efficiency and biometric performance at industry-leading manufacturing costs; Zwipe Pay ONE. This next generation contactless technology will achieve a radically lower total manufacturing cost per card, which we believe will be key to accelerate the volume market take-off. Therefore, we are proud and satisfied that the Zwipe Pay ONE project and the collaboration with Idemia and Idex is on track, as announced in April. The first samples of the new single chip have been manufactured and successfully powered-on. This development is very positive as our customers wish to get access to Zwipe Pay ONE as early as possible to be able to serve card issuers with the market’s most cost-effective biometric payment cards.
Recent certification industry announcements bring further confidence to the trajectory of biometric payment card rollout. Certification of payment products is a rigorous and capital-intensive process for card manufacturers and a strong signal of intent to capitalize on the next natural step for payment cards, following the introduction of dual-interface payment cards in 2007.
I am also satisfied with the very good progress in the wearable project announced with G+D in September, as this project is also on track.
Looking ahead, we are committed to supporting our customers to elevate their product portfolios by making it easy to integrate biometric payment solutions. Key to this work is technical deliverables and sharing the expertise we have built from having the most widely piloted solution to position, educate and market biometric payment cards to banks and issuers. We are doing everything in our power to build and maintain strong relationships with our industry-leading partners that will create sustainable long-term commercial opportunities for themselves and Zwipe going forward.”
Financial Update
###
This is information that Zwipe AS is obligated to make public pursuant to the continuing obligations of companies admitted to trading on Oslo Børs Merkur Market, Nasdaq First North Growth Market and the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out below, on May 7, 2020 at 08:30 CEST
