OSLO, NORWAY – 24 August 2023 – Zwipe AS ("Zwipe" or "the company") today announces its results for the first half of 2023.
Significant events H1 2023
H1 2023 operational review
In May, Kuwait International Bank (KIB) announced the first commercial launch of biometric payment cards based on Zwipe Pay technology to their VISA Infinite customers in Kuwait. On the back of this launch, KIB is now considering making the biometric card more widely available to cardholders across their customer base. The announcement generated extensive interest in the region from our partners to either initiate or accelerate the launch of biometric payment card programs for other issuers. Later in May, MEPS, in partnership with Mastercard, announced the second commercial launch of BPCs from Zwipe. The MEPS announcement is significant as it will enable a wide range of regional banks to launch BPCs more rapidly.
During the first half, Zwipe also signed eight new partnerships with SCMs and perso bureaus in the APAC region. Early in the third quarter, Zwipe also signed a partnership agreement with a major Japanese SCM, a first for Zwipe in this very important market in terms of both payment transaction volume and value, and a second agreement with a partner in Taiwan. These new agreements and partnerships represent expanded geographic scope for Zwipe, and Zwipe is working closely with our partners to bring biometric payment cards to issuers in these large and dynamic new markets.
Zwipe also released the market’s first available mobile enrolment solution, including a Software Development Kit (“SDK”) with reference apps for iOS and Android available in the respective Apple and Google official app stores. Mobile enrolment solutions are deemed very important by issuers considering launches of BPCs. Zwipe also refreshed our payment scheme certifications and released Zwipe Pay version 1.1, based on the updated standards from Mastercard and Visa.
On the Zwipe Access side, Zwipe initiated several proofs of concept in our target verticals in the USA and Europe. Of particular importance was the announcement that our partner Civix is performing a PoC at Richmond International Airport in conjunction with Safe Skies Alliance. In total, more than ten PoCs are underway and progressing and approximately ten more PoCs are also already in the pipeline for the second half of this year. During the first half, we also signed multiple important go-to-market partners including industry leaders Cardlogix and OLOID and roughly doubled our number of GTM partners. In total, twelve partners have signed or are in the process of signing distribution agreements. The initiation of PoCs and signing of important GTM partners makes us confident we will see commercial deployments of the Zwipe Access solution in H2 2023.
Fundraising and restructuring
In March 2023, Zwipe successfully completed a rights issue raising approximately 100.1 mNOK in capital. While the fundraising should enable Zwipe’s transition toward commercialization, we are cognizant that market adoption of biometric cards through 2023 has been slower than anticipated, impacting not only Zwipe but also Zwipe's partners and competitors. As a consequence, we announced a restructuring of the company in June – bringing down costs substantially to reflect the current realities, but not affecting our ability to serve our customers and partners. These initiatives are expected to reduce the group’s operating costs in 2023 by approximately NOK 14 million compared to 2022 and lower the cost base by approximately NOK 35 million on an annual basis. Once executed, the improvements are expected to have full impact from the fourth quarter of 2023.
The main message from the restructuring announcement is that the development of both the Zwipe Pay and Zwipe Access products has largely been completed. In the context of R&D having been largely completed, the focus of the fundraising and the restructuring has been to accelerate Zwipe’s path towards commercialization.
H2 2022 financial review
Zwipe reported total revenues of 1.7 mNOK during H1 2023, up 113% from 0.8 mNOK in H1 2022, while total operating expenses increased by 9.0 mNOK to 57.5 mNOK in H1 2023 from 48.4 mNOK in H1 2022. The above resulted in net income for H1 2023 of -55.9 mNOK, 8.5 mNOK lower than -47.4 mNOK in H1 2022.
Total net cash flow for H1 2023, including cash flow from financing and investing activities, was 25.5 mNOK compared to -42.6 mNOK in H1 2022, as Zwipe successfully completed a rights issue raising 100.1 mNOK in gross proceeds in H1 2023. Cash flow from operations and investments, before financing and facilitation, decreased by -10.8 mNOK to -59.3 mNOK from -48.6 mNOK in H1 2022. The underlying average monthly operating cash flow in the H1 2023 was -9.9 mNOK compared to -8.1 mNOK in the same period last year. The monthly net burn rate is expected to decrease by roughly 30% in the second half of 2023 compared to the first half as a result of the June restructuring announcement.
On 30 June 2023, cash and cash equivalents were 76.0 mNOK, compared to 50.5 mNOK at end 2022 and 109.7 mNOK on 30 June 2022. The development in cash balance since year-end 2022 is mainly a result of the negative operational cash flow of 59.3 mNOK plus proceeds from the rights issue in H1 2023. Total assets stood at 98.4 mNOK and total equity as of 30 June 2023 was 85.4 mNOK, giving an equity ratio of 87%.
Going forward
Zwipe continues to make progress with its first Zwipe Pay commercial launches and multiple Zwipe Access PoCs being executed. But in the context of delayed volume ramp-up in biometric payment cards, the biometric access control market still being established, and a leaner organization, our focus will be on thoughtfully deploying funds to keep Zwipe on the path to real commercialization of our solutions.
Results presentation
CEO Robert Puskaric and CFO Danielle Glenn will present the H1 2024 results by webcast today, Thursday August 24th, at 10:00 CEST.
Webcast details
Date: 24 August 2023
Time: 10:00 CET
Format: Webcast and Q&A
Language: English
Link: https://app.webinar.net/gpBdkyWMaZP
Participants will be required to register to view the webcast and participate in the Q&A, and are strongly encouraged to submit their questions prior to the webcast on the registration page below or by sending questions to ir@zwipe.com.
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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 24 August 2023.
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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 http://www.zwipe.com.
For more information, please contact:
Danielle Glenn, CFO and Head of IR
ir@zwipe.com
OSLO, NORWAY – 18 August 2023 – Zwipe AS will publish its H1 2023 financial report on 24 August 2023 at 08:00 CET. On the same day at 10:00 CET, the Company will host a webcast to present the update. After the presentation, the webcast will be opened up for questions from the audience.
Participants are strongly encouraged to submit their questions prior to the webcast on the registration page below or by sending questions to ir@zwipe.com. Participants will be required to register to listen to the webcast and participate in the Q&A.
Webcast details
Date: 24 August 2023
Time: 10:00 CET
Format: Webcast and Q&A
Language: English
Link: https://app.webinar.net/gpBdkyWMaZP
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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 http://www.zwipe.com.
For more information, please contact:
Danielle Glenn, CFO and Head of IR
ir@zwipe.com
OSLO, NORWAY and SUNNYVALE, CA – 18 JULY 2023 – OLOID Inc., a leading provider of physical identity and access technology, has selected biometric cards pioneer Zwipe as its technology partner in pursuing opportunities for biometric access cards across the many markets they serve.
OLOID is a multi-technology identity and access management endeavor with well-known investors like Dell, Honeywell, Okta and others investing in their future. OLOID intends to add Zwipe Access to its expanding global product portfolio.
With market-disrupting technology like the Zwipe Access “biometricsystem-on-card” platform, OLOID will be able to deliver a highly advanced and secure biometric card solution in conjunction with their own physical access, time clock and other IAM offerings.
According to Mohit Garg, Co-Founder and CEO of OLOID, “While the security industry has made significant advances in providing password-less technologies for cognitive workers, the login experience for frontline workers continues to be far from frictionless. Biometric access cards provide a massive opportunity to address the needs of this under served segment of users who do not work on company provided computers and smartphones but require freedom from user names and passwords related challenges to access workplace applications on kiosks and shared terminals.”
Speaking about the partnership, RobertPuskaric, President and CEO of Zwipe, says, “We are happy to partner with OLOID, a software-centric company that offers unique identity and access management solutions. We believe that our Zwipe Access biometric card is a fantastic fit for their global portfolio and a solid match for their retrofit readers.”
About OLOID
OLOID is a leading provider of physical identity and access technology committed to enabling secure and privacy-forward authentication for the modern workplace. OLOID's objective is to establish a unified identity framework that connects and manages workplace identity and access by integrating with HR, IT and various systems of records, thus enabling a unified digital identity across the organization. Headquarteredin Sunnyvale, CA, OLOID is backed by renowned investors including Dell Technology Capital, Honeywell Ventures, Okta Ventures, Unusual Ventures, Emergent Ventures, and WestWave Capital.
To kow more, visit https://www.oloid.ai/
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 technology for payment, physical and logical access control as well as 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 – 10 July 2023 - Reference is made to the stock exchange announcement published by Zwipe AS (the "Company" or "Zwipe") on 28 June 2023 and the notice dated 28 June 2023 of an extraordinary general meeting in the Company to be held on 10 July 2023 (the "EGM").
All the items on the agenda were addressed and approved. Attached are the minutes of the EGM. The attendants of the EGM represented 25.07% of the votes in the company.
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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 http://www.zwipe.com.
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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 15:00 on 10 July 2023.
For more information, please contact
Danielle Glenn
CFO and Head of IR, Zwipe AS
E-mail: ir@zwipe.com
TAIPEI, TAIWAN and OSLO, NORWAY – 04 July 2023 - Beautiful Card Corporation (BCC), a prominent Taiwanese card manufacturer with global deliveries, has been granted approval from Mastercard to deploy biometric payment cards using Zwipe Pay.
Speaking on this development, Shellen Hsu, Global VP – Sales & Business Development, BCC, says, “We are extremely delighted to obtain approval that enables the deployment of our biometric cards globally. With the growing awareness of biometric payments in the APAC region and beyond, this is crucial as we are witnessing a strong interest in our core markets to launch biometric payment cards based on the Zwipe Pay platform.”
Issuers and consumers will have access to biometric payment cards built on Zwipe Pay technology operating seamlessly across Mastercard's global network, addressing consumers’ demand for increased security and convenience through biometric authentication. Consumers will also benefit from more convenient, safe and secure ways to pay.
According to Patrice Meilland, Chief Strategy, Product and Marketing Officer, Zwipe, “This marks a significant step for BCC in the biometric payment market as issuers will have the opportunity to create differentiation, accelerate customer acquisition, uplift loyalty, and create new revenue streams. With this progress, we look forward to further strengthen our long-standing partnership with BCC and we will continue to develop together our business and technical relationship in the upcoming years.”
About BCC
With 31 years of experience in the smart card industry, BCC is a leading smart card manufacturer globally. Headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, BCC is a Taiwanese-owned, GSMA SAS-certified, VISA, Mastercard and JCB-certified company with a global strength and local support. It is a neco-sustainable material provider that has compliance with RoHS, REACH, HF, CP65, ETSI, etc.
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& secure. We are pioneering next-generation biometric card technology for both payment and physical & logical access control and ID 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, please visit www.zwipe.com
OSLO, NORWAY – 28 June 2023 - The Board of Directors of Zwipe AS (the "Company") call for an Extraordinary General Meeting (the "EGM") to be held on 10 July 2023 at 10:00 CEST. The EGM will be held as a digital meeting on Microsoft Teams.
Please find attached the notice of the EGM. The notice and Zwipe's Annual Report for 2022 are available on the Company's website, https://www.zwipe.com/investors.
Shareholders who wish to attend the EGM in person or by proxy or vote in advance are encouraged to register this electronically by following the link on the Company’s website https://www.zwipe.com/investors/general-meetings or via VPS Investor Services, by sending a signed version of the form attached to the notice by e-mail to genf@dnb.no, or by ordinary mail to: DNB Bank ASA, Registrars Department, Postboks 1600 Sentrum, NO-0021 Oslo. Notification of attendance, proxy or advance votes must be registered online or received by DNB Bank ASA, Registrars Department by 16:00 hours CEST on 7 July 2023.
In order to be invited to the meeting, Zwipe's administration will need to have the shareholder's email address in advance. Shareholders must after having registered their attendance also register their email address by sending an email to ir@zwipe.com prior to 16:00 hours CEST on 7 July 2023.
The Board of Directors (the "Board") has proposed the following agenda:
Proposed decisions from the Board:
Matter no. 4: Election of a new member to the Board
The Company's nomination committee (the "Nomination Committee") has proposed that the Board is supplemented by Robert Jansson. Subject to the EGM's approval, the Board for the period from the EGM and until the Company's annual general meeting in 2025 will comprise:
A mini-CV for Robert Jansson has been included as an attachment to the notice.
Matter no 5: Remuneration to the new member of the Board
The Nomination Committee proposes that Robert Jansson receives a remuneration of NOK 130,000 for the period until the Company's annual general meeting in 2024.
Matter no. 6: Approval that the Board may make amendments to the Company's RSU incentive program
On 11 May 2023, the Company's annual general meeting (the "AGM") adopted a resolution on a new incentive scheme directed towards the Company's leading employees and other key personnel in the form of so-called restricted share units (hereinafter the "RSU plan" and "RSUs"). The main rationale behind the RSU plan is to create long-term ownership, being expected to stimulate an increased interest in the business and performance development.
In the notice to the AGM, it was stated that the vesting period for the RSUs will be four years from grant. Following the AGM, the Board has however further assessed the various aspects of the RSU plan as previously presented, hereunder the terms of vesting. In this regard, the Board on 28 June 2023, assessed it as beneficial to amend the conditions of the vesting schedule under the RSU plan. The Board has therefore resolved that the current arrangement with 100% vesting at the expiry of the four-year period is replaced with an annual vesting schedule, with 1/3 vesting at the end of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th year from grant, meaning no vesting after the 1st year. It is assumed that the EGM should approve such change.
The Board has not at this point in time found reason to make any other amendments to the RSU plan or its scope but has proposed that the EGM grants a general authorization to the Board to make changes to the RSU plan, however not including changes of terms with a direct impact on the maximum dilution potentially caused by the RSU plan such as the maximum number of RSUs under the plan and that one vested RSU gives the right to acquire one share in the Company.
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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 12.00 CEST on 28 June 2023.
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For more information, please contact:
Danielle Glenn, CFO and Head of IR: ir@zwipe.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 https://www.zwipe.com/.
OSLO, NORWAY – 21 June 2023 – Zwipe AS today announces a streamlining to accelerate its path toward profitability in the medium term. Excluding one-off fundraising costs incurred in 2023, these initiatives are expected to reduce the group’s operating costs in 2023 by approximately NOK 14 million compared to 2022 and lower the cost base by approximately NOK 35 million on an annual basis. The initiatives will commence immediately, and planned improvements are expected to have full impact from the fourth quarter of 2023. 15 employees will leave the company as a consequence.
Following decisions taken at the end of the first quarter to freeze new hiring and reduce planned expenditures in 2023, the company has now completed an internal review aiming to optimize global operations and reduce overall costs. In this effort to ensure long-term, sustainable growth, Zwipe has identified cost-saving initiatives including reductions of staff, lessening of R&D-related activities, restructuring of offices and subsidiaries, reduced external marketing activities, and general reductions in other operating expenditures.
As previously communicated, the development of both the Zwipe Pay and Zwipe Access products has largely been completed. Zwipe Pay has been fully certified by both Visa and Mastercard, mobile enrollment solutions have been finalized, and Zwipe Pay is fully ready for commercial deployment. Similarly, Zwipe Access has now been validated for integration into the HID and Legic access control systems and the product is ready for commercial deployment. As the company’s focus naturally shifts from R&D to commercialization, less development and technical support resources are needed.
On the commercial side for Zwipe Pay, while broader market adoption of biometric payment cards has been slower than we and others in the industry anticipated, Zwipe continues to believe that the market is very close to an inflection point. Zwipe has achieved several significant milestones recently with the first bank issuers announcing commercial launches, and we anticipate this will accelerate in the second half of 2023. Zwipe Access has very strong momentum with several proofs of concept recently having been launched and substantially more in the pipeline. As a consequence of this streamlining, resources within the company will thus be allocated more towards commercialization efforts: executing more Zwipe Pay pilots and initial launches, getting more signed SCMs mass production ready, signing more distribution partners for Zwipe Access, and executing integrations of Zwipe Access with end customers.
Owing to the already completed development efforts carried out for Zwipe Pay and Zwipe Access, this streamlining plan is not expected to affect Zwipe’s ability to serve its customers and partners. The company remains committed to a best-in-class customer experience and providing value-added services and expertise across the payment card and access control value chains.
"This streamlining plan allows us to focus on our commercial objectives for both Zwipe Pay and Zwipe Access while also reducing our overhead costs, ensuring that we are organized in an efficient and agile manner, giving us more financial flexibility, and positioning the company for profitable growth. While it is very difficult to let some of our valued and highly regarded employees go, we believe this decision is necessary as we position ourselves for sustainable growth in the medium and long term" says Robert Puskaric, CEO of Zwipe AS.
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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 21 June 2023.
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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 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.
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For more information, please contact:
Danielle Glenn, CFO and Head of IR
ir@zwipe.com
OSLO, NORWAY AND AMMAN, JORDAN – 20 June 2023 – Middle East Payment Services (MEPS) announces the commercial launch of biometric payment cards based on the Zwipe Pay solution, using Mastercard’s Biometric Card technology.
MEPS is a leading regional player in card issuance, payment processing and merchant acquiring services in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and a principal member of major international issuing and acquiring schemes.
As a result of a deep collaboration, Zwipe and MEPS have tested and successfully piloted the new cards based on the Zwipe Pay platform for biometric payment cards, and approved by Mastercard. These pilots, conducted over the last months, led to this major milestone, making it possible for several banks and issuers to launch the cards swiftly.
According to Ali Jabbar, CEO at MEPS, “MEPS is ready to provide banks and issuers in Jordan and the region with the first worldwide Mastercard Zwipe biometric card, a testament to the innovation we continuously strive to bring to our region.”
Speaking on this partnership, Cynthia El Khoury, Country Business Development Lead, Levant and Iraq at Mastercard, said, “Mastercard has long pioneered biometrics as a secure way to verify identity. We are delighted to leverage our advanced Biometric Card technology to help MEPS and Zwipe maintain the highest levels of security and privacy with the aim of protecting consumers in the region and enhancing their peace of mind.”
Ramzi Saboury, General Manager for the Middle East and Africa Region at Zwipe, said: “This milestone achieved by MEPS is a breakthrough in the biometric cards arena, paving the way for many banks to launch Zwipe Pay-based cards. We are proud and honored that the latest generation of biometric cards based on Zwipe’s solution is commercially launching in Jordan in collaboration with Mastercard, taking the lead globally with this initiative.”
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About MEPS
Middle East Payment Services (MEPS), founded in 2009, is a Principal Issuer and Acquirer of Visa, MasterCard, and UnionPay, with presence in Jordan, Iraq, and Palestine. The company offers financial institutions, merchants, and corporations, a complete range of secure payment solutions in card issuance / hosting, payment processing, alternative payments, ecommerce acquiring, point-of-sale (POS) acquiring, ATM driving and management, and customized value-added services adhering to PCI Data Security Standards (PCI DSS). MEPS is owned by 10 Jordanian and regional banks.
About Mastercard (NYSE: MA)
Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart, and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments, and businesses realize their greatest potential. Our decency quotient, or DQ, drives our culture and everything we do inside and outside of our company. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.
To know more, click here: www.mastercard.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 www.zwipe.com
OSLO, NORWAY and KUWAIT CITY, KUWAIT – 23 May 2023 – Kuwait International Bank (KIB) takes the lead worldwide as the first commercial launch of biometric payment cards based on Zwipe’s platform. This innovative card will be offered to the elite VIP clients of the bank under the Visa Infinite Black product.
KIB is a public quoted bank operating since 1973 with around 20 branches across the country. The bank is amongst the fastest growing in Kuwait and always striving to make available for its clients the innovative financial solutions that best serve their needs.
As part of this collaboration, Zwipe will deliver its Zwipe Pay solution for biometric payment cards, approved by VISA. This is the result of many years of developments and pilots conducted across several geographies in the past years. The cards will be produced by Inkript, one of the partners of Zwipe in the region.
According to Deema Al Mulaifi, Assistant General Manager of Operations at KIB, “KIB prides itself as a progressive Islamic bank that continues to offer its customers a unique banking experience enhanced by additional convenience and security. We are pleased to announce that our Black Banking segment customers can now enjoy innovative technology through the new biometric card, which is designed to provide convenience and ease of access with a high level of security against fraud attempts. The ability to continue delivering on-demand, tailored and innovative products and services to our customers is a unique mark that distinguishes KIB from others.”
“The Biometric Card feature has the potential to provide our customers with a new method that adds value to their lifestyle as they can request the Visa Infinite card and activate the fingerprint to make POS transactions with great ease. In addition to this secure and simple payment solution, which is in line with the Bank’s new authentication system, the Bank’s Black Banking segment customers enjoy a range of other premium banking benefits and exclusive rewards,” added Al Mulaifi.
Speaking on this partnership, Shashank Singh, Vice President and General Manager for Kuwait and Qatar at VISA said, “Visa is committed to developing and investing in emerging capabilities such as biometrics for the benefit of consumers. That’s why we’re delighted to partner with Kuwait International Bank and Zwipe in bringing this innovative biometric card to consumers in Kuwait who can now enjoy a seamless, secure payment experience.”
Ramzi Saboury, General Manager for the MEA Region at Zwipe said, “We are proud and hounored that the latest generation of biometric cards based on Zwipe’s solution is commercially launched in Kuwait by KIB, taking the lead globally with this initiative. We appreciate the trust in Zwipe Pay that KIB has demonstrated by reaching this milestone. Visa also has been a key player and partner all the way, until the launch today. Zwipe Pay is providing best user experience from enrolment to payment, ensuring high level of security while protecting biometric data privacy.”
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About KIB
Incorporated in 1973 and originally known as Kuwait Real Estate Bank, KIB made the transition to its current Islamic operating model in 2007. In 2018, KIB embarked on a new phase of its journey full of innovation and development. As part of its new strategic direction, the bank focuses on offering a next-level customer experience under the slogan: “Bank for Life”. Through a network of branches spread across the State of Kuwait, KIB offers a broad range of banking products and services, as well as innovative digital banking solutions in line with international best standards.
About Visa
Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement.
To learn more, visit visamiddleeast.com/blog and follow @VisaCEMEA
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 – 23 October 2023 – During the third quarter, Zwipe continued to demonstrate progress and saw strong interest from partners in bringing biometric payment and access control cards to markets globally.
Significant events during the period
Significant events after the period
Operational review
The overall adoption of biometric payment cards remains slower than expected, but Zwipe continues to position itself well for the moment biometric payment cards become more mainstream. Globally, Zwipe and its partners now have ongoing dialogues with more than 50 potential issuers of BPCs.
In the first three quarters of 2023, Zwipe expanded its partnerships in APAC such that we have a presence in 10 countries in the region. During the third quarter, Zwipe received its first small order from our Japanese SCM for a demo kit for testing and demonstration to Issuer end customers, with at least one such intended Issuer being a major global bank. In Europe, neobanks and fintechs – particularly in the UK and France – continue to show interest in BPCs, and Zwipe believes that the first launches in Europe will come from these newer players rather than more traditional banks. Zwipe and our main European SCM partner are actively working on more than ten potential BPC projects with UK fintechs, and also plan a joint development campaign aimed at the French fintech ecosystem in the fourth quarter. In the Middle East and Africa (“MEA”), Kuwait International Bank (“KIB”) and Middle East Payment Services (“MEPS”) were responsible for the first commercial launches of Zwipe BPCs during the second quarter. KIB reports high satisfaction internally and with their high net worth Visa Infinite clients to whom the initial launch was targeted, and discussions are ongoing about introducing BPCs to wider segments of their customer base in fairly short order.
In Zwipe Access, we are making substantial inroads in establishing the market for biometric access control cards in high-security verticals, with a high volume of PoCs – some with well-known global companies – now progressing, many important go-to-market partnerships signed or in progress, and product starter kits delivered to more than ten well-known, global enterprise partners whose end customers include data centers, healthcare facilities, airports, government agencies and critical infrastructure operators. Substantial third quarter activity points to real demand in the market for biometric access control solutions, and a real desire from our partners to bring Zwipe Access to their customers.
In North America, Schneider Electric Co. has completed tests and validation and confirmed good results. We are now negotiating an OEM agreement to include Zwipe Access cards in Schneider’s product offering, which they intend to market globally through their extensive network of companies and partners. Our partner MC Dean is currently conducting in-depth testing and validation of Zwipe Access cards on behalf of a Top 3 global cloud services and data centers provider, as well as other Fortune 100 global customers and government agencies. Berkshire Hathaway Energy Group (BHE) is currently testing Zwipe’s biometric access control cards for compatibility, with the goal of replacing the legacy install base and extending the use of Zwipe biometric cards to new sites. Elsewhere in the USA, the announced proof-of-concept at Richmond International Airport has been extended to allow more testing and validation under the most extreme security and environmental conditions. We anticipate that the final report and recommendations to the aviation industry by the National Safe Skies Alliance will be published in the fourth quarter.
In Sweden, AWT, a Zwipe partner and major player in the Nordics, has received an initial small order from a global Top 100 tech company for an initial soft launch at their headquarter location. This is expected to be the foundation for further scaling up, with gradual expansion to most of their global workforce by the end of 2025. Certego, a major system integrator of access security and monitoring solutions has begun discussions to provide Zwipe’s biometric access control cards to over 100 government agencies.
Commercial priorities for 2023 remain unchanged, with the company focusing on accelerating commercialization while carefully deploying funds and maximizing cash runway.
Financial review
Zwipe reported total revenue of 0.3 mNOK during Q3 2023 versus revenue of 0.8 mNOK in Q3 2022. Cash flow from operations was -27.1 mNOK in Q3 2023 versus -24.2 mNOK in Q3 2022, equating to an average monthly operating cash flow in Q3 2023 of -9.0 mNOK versus 8.1 mNOK in the same period last year. As a result of the restructuring announced in June, changes in the organization's operational cost base are starting to show, and the full impact of these changes is expected to show from Q4 2023. Cash and cash equivalents stood at 48.3 mNOK at the end of Q3 2023 compared to 85.8 mNOK at the end of Q3 2022, and 50.5 mNOK at the end of 2022.
Operational update presentation
CEO Robert Puskaric and CFO Danielle Glenn will do a short presentation on the operational update today, Monday October 23rd, at 10:00 CET.
Audiocast details
Date: 23 October 2023
Time: 10:00 CET
Format: Audiocast and Q&A
Language: English
Link: https://app.webinar.net/GnOpyeAy2Yr
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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 07:30 on 23 October 2023.
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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 http://www.zwipe.com.
For more information, please contact:
Danielle Glenn, CFO and Head of IR
OSLO, NORWAY – 16 October 2023 – Zwipe AS will publish its Q3 2023 operational update on 23 October 2023 at 08:00 CET. On the same day at 10:00 CET, the Company will host an audiocast to present the update. After the presentation, the webcast will be opened up for questions from the audience.
Participants are strongly encouraged to submit their questions prior to the webcast on the registration page below or by sending questions to ir@zwipe.com. Participants will be required to register to listen to the audiocast and participate in the Q&A.
Webcast details
Date: 23 October 2023
Time: 10:00 CET
Format: Audiocast and Q&A
Language: English
Link: https://app.webinar.net/GnOpyeAy2Yr
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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 http://www.zwipe.com.
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For more information, please contact:
Danielle Glenn, CFO and Head of IR
ir@zwipe.com
OSLO, NORWAY and AND DOVER, MA - 9 October, 2023 – Zwipe, the global leader in biometric payment and access cards, has partnered with Schneider Electric's Security Solutions Group, specializing in the integration of access control, video surveillance, intrusion detection, and other security technology sub-systems, to offer the revolutionary "biometric system-on-card" solution to Schneider Electric's global customer base. Schneider Electric's clientele spans diverse sectors, including airports, transportation, healthcare, data centers, critical infrastructure, manufacturing, government, and education.
Zwipe Access leverages cutting-edge 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 Schneider Electric's customers' needs, enabling them to swiftly, securely, and cost-effectively incorporate biometric verification into their existing security infrastructure. Zwipe's compatibility with virtually all access control manufacturers ensures effortless integration with Schneider Electric's Continum, Security Expert, and a wide array of other access control system providers.
With Zwipe Access, cardholders can easily verify their identity by presenting their personalized card to the reader. The battery-less card draws power from the reader's RF field, and the biometric verification triggers the access control system to grant or deny access. This secure process ensures that no biometric data is shared with anyone, thus simplifying compliance with data and privacy regulations. Zwipe Access cards offer rapid, convenient multi-factor authentication, eliminating the need to replace existing physical or logical access control readers.
Lee Guill, Director of Schneider Electric Security Solutions Group, emphasized, "Reducing risk for our customers by deploying solutions that only allow authorized individuals to enter their premises is at the core of Schneider Electric. Zwipe Access is the ideal fit to provide strong multifactor authentication through biometrics at a fraction of the cost of alternative technologies. We are confident in offering our customers this amazing card solution, which also addresses today's hygiene concerns, as only the card owner ever touches it, unlike biometric readers where multiple users touch the same devices daily."
Robert Puskaric, President and CEO of Zwipe, added, "The future of secure, convenient access control is here today with Zwipe Access. Our unique solution enables fast and clean biometric identity verification while eliminating the risks associated with lost or stolen access cards. We welcome this partnership with Schneider Electric and look forward to helping them put true multifactor biometric authentication in the hands of their customers."
About Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric is a French multinational company specializing in digital automation and energy management. It addresses homes, buildings, data centers, infrastructure, and industries by combining energy technologies, real-time automation, software, and services.
For more information, please visit http://www.se.com.
About Zwipe
Zwipe believes the inherent uniqueness of every person is the key to a safer future. We work passionately across networks of international organizations, industries, and cultures to make convenience safe and secure. We pioneer next-generation biometric card technology for payment, physical and logical access control, as well as 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, please visit http://www.zwipe.com/.
OSLO, NORWAY and HOUSTON, TX, USA – 5 October 2023 – Zwipe, the global leader in cutting-edge biometric payment and access card technology, has teamed up with NCS, a prominent integrator of low-voltage technology solutions specializing in physical security, access control and video surveillance. This strategic partnership marks a significant step toward making biometric system-on-card (BSoC) solutions accessible to customers across Texas. NCS serves various industries, including manufacturing, transportation, healthcare, government and education.
Zwipe Access leverages state-of-the-art biometric capture and matching technology to securely store a cardholder's encrypted fingerprint template directly within the card's smart chip during issuance. This innovation perfectly aligns with the needs of NCS’ clients seeking rapid, secure, and cost-effective integration of biometric verification into their existing access systems.
With Zwipe Access, cardholders authenticate their identity by simply holding the personalized card up to the reader. The card draws power from the reader's radiofrequency (RF) field, verifying the biometric data and triggering the access control system to grant or deny access. This robust, secure process ensures that no biometric data is shared with any external entities, satisfying stringent data privacy and compliance requirements.
Zwipe Access cards offer lightning-fast and convenient multi-factor authentication for organizations without replacing existing physical or logical access control readers.
Mike Keadle, Director of Estimating at NCS, emphasizes the commitment to security technology solutions, stating, "Our goal is to provide security technology solutions that unequivocally verify the identities of individuals entering and moving within our customers' facilities. Zwipe Access is an excellent solution to enhance our security technology offerings for physical access control, incorporating multifactor authentication through biometrics at a fraction of the cost of alternative technologies. We are confident in offering this exceptional card solution, which also addresses today's hygiene concerns, as only the card owner ever comes into contact with it, unlike biometric readers shared among multiple users."
Robert Puskaric, President and CEO of Zwipe, enthusiastically describes the partnership's potential, asserting, “The future of secure and convenient access control is available today through Zwipe Access. Our innovative solution facilitates swift and hygienic biometric identity verification while mitigating the risks associated with lost or stolen access cards. We warmly welcome this collaboration with NCS and eagerly anticipate enabling them to provide genuine multifactor biometric authentication to their valued customers.”
About NCS
NCS was founded in 1981 in Houston, TX, as a technology-driven, single-source solution provider for all our client’s audio-visual, cabling infrastructure, design-consulting, networking, and security needs. Since then, we have grown to more than 300 employees across six Texas locations. We have expanded our services to inbuilding wireless systems to deliver public safety and cellular communications and network-powered lighting systems.
For more information, visit www.ncs-tx.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 technology for payment, physical and 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 and CALIFORNIA, USA – 04 October 2023 – Zwipe has become a Subscriber to EMVCo, a global technical body that facilitates the worldwide interoperability and acceptance of secure payment transactions by managing and evolving EMV®* Specifications and related testing processes.
Through this participation, Zwipe will be engaging with EMVCo and industry stakeholders to contribute to EMVCo’s ‘Biometric on Card’ work, which is exploring the development of performance and security requirements as well as approval and evaluation frameworks for biometric payment cards. Zwipe will provide its deep technical expertise, field return experience and learnings on biometric payment cards, as a widely recognized pioneer in this domain for many years.
Speaking on this development, Oliver Manahan, Director of Engagement and Operations at EMVCo, said, “We’re delighted that Zwipe has decided to become an EMVCo Subscriber. We look forward to their participation in EMVCo’s work and the opportunity to benefit from their industry expertise.”
EMVCo is exploring the development of dedicated performance and security requirements for biometric payment cards, together with supporting approval and evaluation processes, to help balance convenience and security while considering the unique challenges.
“We welcome this EMVCo initiative, which will greatly simplify market introduction of biometric payment cards by the issuers, banks and fintechs, and further accelerate market adoption of this convenient and secure payment product”, said Patrice Meilland, Chief Strategy, Product and Marketing Officer at Zwipe.
About EMVCo
EMVCo creates and manages EMV Specifications and programmes that enable seamless and secure card-based payments for businesses and consumers worldwide.
EMV Specifications support technologies including EMV Chip Contact, EMV Chip Contactless, Mobile, QR Code, Secure Remote Commerce (SRC), 3-D Secure (3DS) and Payment Tokenisation and are widely used by the payments industry to develop products and services that deliver trusted and convenient in-store, online and remote card-based payments.
As a global technical body, EMVCo is collectively owned by American Express, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, UnionPay and Visa. Hundreds of payments stakeholders, including merchants, banks and technology providers, participate as EMVCo Associates and Subscribers to develop, evolve and enhance flexible EMV Specifications that support innovation and address marketplace needs. All EMV Specifications are available royalty free on the EMVCo website.
*EMV® is a registered trademark in the U.S. and other countries and an unregistered trademark elsewhere. The EMV trademark is owned by EMVCo, LLC.
To learn more, please visit www.emvco.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 & secure. We are pioneering next-generation biometric card technology for both payment and physical & logical access control and ID 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, please visit www.zwipe.com
OSLO, NORWAY – 25 September 2023 – Zwipe announces today that Tanya Juul Kjær, member of the Board of Directors, has resigned with immediate effect due to time constraints involving her myriad other professional commitments. Ms. Kjær has been a member of Zwipe’s Board of Directors since May 2019 and will not be immediately replaced.
Jörgen Lantto, Chairman of the Board of Directors comments, “We have appreciated Tanya’s contributions to further developing the company over the last two plus years as well as her valuable strategic insights, and wish her all the best for the future.”
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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 08:00 on 25 September 2023.
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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 technology for payment and access control 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:
Danielle Glenn, CFO and Head of IR
ir@zwipe.com
OSLO, NORWAY – 11 September 2023 – Zwipe announces today that Eric Mercer, COO of Zwipe AS and CEO of Zwipe America, will leave the company as a result of the June streamlining announcement and closure of the Zwipe America subsidiary. He has accepted a new position as Director of Finance with a US-based company.
Mr. Mercer has been with Zwipe for 5.5 years and has been very important in leading Zwipe to where it stands today. He has worn various hats over the years: managing our global operations, quality and supply chain management, acting as program manager for Zwipe Pay and Zwipe Access, leading Zwipe America when it was a large team, developing personnel, and managing key partnerships across the value chain.
Robert Puskaric, CEO of Zwipe AS comments “Zwipe has taken major steps over the past years with the development and certification of Zwipe Pay, the creation of Zwipe Access as a separate business line, establishment of go-to-market partnerships and listing on Euronext Growth Oslo and Nasdaq First North Stockholm. We would like to thank Eric for his contributions to all Zwipe has achieved and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”
Mr. Mercer will remain with the company through 29 September 2023.
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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 technology for payment and access control 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:
Danielle Glenn, CFO and Head of IR
ir@zwipe.com
OSLO, NORWAY – 8 September 2023 – Eric Mercer, COO of Zwipe AS, has today sold a total of 25,500 shares in Zwipe AS. After this transaction, Eric Mercer holds no remaining shares in Zwipe AS.
20,000 shares were sold on Euronext Growth Oslo at a price of 2.1035 NOK and 5,500 shares were sold on Nasdaq First North Growth Market at a price of 2.19 SEK.
Attached are copies of the forms submitted to the Norwegian FSA, Finanstilsynet, reporting the transactions as listed above.
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This information is subject to the disclosure requirements in article 19 of the Regulation EU 596/2014 (the EU Market Abuse Regulation) and section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out below, at 18:40 on 8 September 2023.
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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 technology for payment and access control 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:
Danielle Glenn, CFO and Head of IR
ir@zwipe.com
OSLO, NORWAY and STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN – 4 SEPTEMBER 2023 – AWT, one of the prominent security companies in Sweden focusing on providing advanced security solutions has partnered with Zwipe as its technology partner in pursuing the global market opportunities for biometric access cards.
With Zwipe Access, AWT will be able to deliver highly advanced and secure biometric card products that are also user-friendly. As a part of the agreement, AWT will be able to offer a flexible and secure premium security solution with biometric access cards with Zwipe.
According to Per Lindstrand, CEO of AWT, “In today’s highly secure working environment, having modern capabilities or access to newer door technologies is critical. The biometric solution provided by Zwipe combines breakthrough technologies and is the ideal platform for the next generation of highly secure access and ID cards.”
“We are happy to partner with AWT, a leading advanced security solution provider. We look forward to strengthening this relationship for supplying biometrics-enabled cards to our integration partners for access control solutions and their customers in airport, data center, critical infrastructure and other secure facilities globally,” says Robert Puskaric, President and CEO of Zwipe.
About AWT
Access World Technic (AWT), founded in 1993, is a high-quality security company focused on centralized premium security solutions that use access control, video surveillance and intrusion detection to secure, protect and monitor facilities such as offices, data centers, warehouses and other large production facilities.
For more information, visit www.awt.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 www.zwipe.com
