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OSLO, NORWAY – 07 January 2021 - The board of directors of Zwipe AS call for an Extraordinary General Meeting to be held on 28 January 2021 at 10:00 CET.  

Please find enclosed the notice of the Extraordinary General Meeting.  

Following the capital increase in September and November, the nomination committee and the board of directors (the "Board") in Zwipe have assessed the need for changes to the nomination committee, so that the new nomination committee may assess the need for changes to the board of directors prior to the annual general meeting in 2021. 

As part of its work on proposing new candidates for election to the nomination committee, the nomination committee, consisting of Paal Raaholt, Magnus Berner and Jörgen Lantto, has been in contact with several key persons related to Zwipe. The nomination committee has been in contact with shareholders, in particular the new major shareholder Vasastaden, as well as previous major shareholder (and now second largest shareholder) Lars Windfeldt. The nomination committee has also been in contact with the Board and the company's management, prior to presenting their proposal to the Board.  

Resulting from these contacts, the nomination committee proposes that a new nomination committee is elected, consisting of Niclas Eriksson (Vasastaden), Lars Windfeldt and Jörgen Lantto. 

“On behalf of the Board of Directors of Zwipe, I welcome the fact that our new major shareholder Vasastaden, a renowned Swedish institutional investor, wishes to take an active role as member of Zwipe’s nomination committee through its Chairman, Niclas Eriksson. I also welcome that Lars Windfeldt, who has been a major shareholder for Zwipe since 2011, wishes to join the nomination committee as its Chairman. The fact that our two largest shareholders wish to invest their time and energy into supporting the company, besides their capital investments, is very encouraging” said Jörgen Lantto, chairman of the Board of Zwipe. 

As a result of this, the Board decided to call for an Extraordinary General Meeting, and proposed the following agenda: 

  1. Opening of the general meeting by the chair of the Board. Registration of meeting shareholders  

  1. Election of a meeting chairperson and person to co-sign the minutes together with the chairperson  

  1. Approval of the notice and the agenda  

  1. Election of members to the nomination committee 

Proposed decisions from the Board (extracts only, please see the attachments to the notice for the full proposals)  

Matter no. 4: Election of members to the nomination committee 

In accordance with the proposal from the nomination committee and the support from the board of directors, the Board propose the following new nomination committee is elected:  

  • Niclas Eriksson 

  • Lars Windfeldt 

  • Jörgen Lantto 

Further it is proposed that Lars Windfeldt is appointed as the chair of the nomination committee.  

Notice of attendance, in person or by proxy, shall be given no later than 27 January 2021 at 16:00 CET. Shareholders are encouraged to register via the following link here.  

Alternatively, the attached form may be sent by e-mail to genf@dnb.no, or regular post to DNB Bank ASA, Verdipapirservice, NO-0021 Oslo.  

### 

About Zwipe 

Zwipe is pioneering the next generation contactless payments experience, providing biometric payment cards components and wearables technology that enable consumers to authorize transactions with their fingerprints without compromising their privacy. Together with an ecosystem of partners including global brands within digital security and financial services, Zwipe is "Making Convenience Safe & Secure" for banks, merchants and consumers. Zwipe's solutions address the hygiene and data theft pitfalls inherent in traditional authentication methods. Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with a global presence, Zwipe is leading the next great shift in payments from contactless to contact free. To learn more, visit www.zwipe.com

For more information, please contact:  

Lars Kristian Solheim, CFO 

+47 991 661 35 

lars.kristian@zwipe.com

This is information that Zwipe AS is obligated to make public pursuant to the 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, at 16:30 CET on 7 January 2021. 

Season's Greetings from André Løvestam, CEO of Zwipe

 

OSLO, NORWAY - 23 DECEMBER 2020 - Zwipe is enjoying strong traction in the payments industry with solid operational and commercial progress this fall and early winter.   

Leading stakeholders in the global payments industry are engaging with Zwipe because of our full dedication to biometric payment solutions, and our leading technology platform, Zwipe Pay ONE. To support our global efforts, we have recruited seasoned experts, both commercial and technical, from leading companies to accelerate our mission of bringing the next generation contactless payment solutions globally. 

Acceleration in partnerships and issuer engagements  
Our collaboration with TietoEVRY, a leader in payment services in the Nordics and Baltics, has already proven highly effective in accelerating commercialisation of Zwipe Pay ONE. Within weeks of our go-to-market agreement we jointly secured the first pilot on Zwipe Pay ONE with OP, the largest Financial Services Group in Finland. The bank aims to bring biometric payment cards to the market after the pilot. At the same time, many more dialogues with banks are ongoing, boding well for further commercialization in Europe and beyond. 

Consolidating our global delivery footprint 
We continued to leverage and expand our strong global partner network. In the last six weeks alone, we consolidated our position in the Middle East significantly, cementing and finalising our technology and go-to-market partnerships with three leading players in card payments, areeba, Inkript and VeriTech. Our partners have already started to put biometric payments on the agenda of leading issuers in the Middle East. We are also gaining momentum in other fast-moving regions. During the year, we also announced five new smart card manufacturing customers (in Asia, LATAM and Europe) and some first small orders.  

Continuous progress equals de-risking  
Monday 21 December, Zwipe and Idemia announced that the next generation biometric card secure chip they are co-investing in, has obtained the ICCN security certificate from EMVCo, as planned. Zwipe has worldwide exclusive rights to this disruptive single-chip biometric technology which, combined with our comprehensive biometric system on card offering and our deep technical and ecosystem expertise, is what makes Zwipe the natural “One Stop Shop” for all smart card manufacturers aiming to meet the soaring demand for a more convenient, truly contact free payment experience. The ICCN certification is one important step further in de-risking our solution towards the long awaited launch in 2021. 

Looking ahead  
In 2020 we have experienced increased interest in biometric payment cards with commercial activities picking up and first rollouts finally commencing on certified biometric card platforms. We look forward to more such rollouts during 2021 as the now mobilized ecosystem gains pace.  

Market studies from the Nordics, the UK and the United States show strong demand from consumers for safer and more secure contact-free payments. A vast majority of consumers want their next payment cards to be biometric, and 1 in 2 is even prepared to pay a meaningful fee to the issuers for all the benefits that next generation cards deliver. We seem to face a broad, mass market demand, rather than a niche market demand only. Consequently, the long-term potential of the market for biometric payment cards (BPCs) seems to be much larger than previously anticipated. The recent ABI Research report on BPCs pointed to the likely long-term scenario that biometric payment cards will eventually take over from today’s contactless cards. In fact, I believe that biometrics will be as ubiquitous in payment cards towards the end of this decade as it is in mobile phones today. 

We announced the first commitment for a pilot on Zwipe Pay ONE in 2020 and expect many more to come, laying the foundations for the first commercial deployments in 2021. While COVID-19 did cause some delays across some parts of our ecosystem, we also experienced an unprecedented acceleration in our engagements with issuers and card manufacturers in H2 2020. We are confident that our continuous progress and strategic go-to-market partnerships, as well as our technological leadership in biometric payment, are laying the foundation for a long journey of value creation for our customers, our shareholders and for society at large. We remain focused on securing important commercial wins going forward.   

I would like to take the opportunity to thank each valued member of my outstanding team at Zwipe for their relentless efforts and to thank our customers, partners and shareholders for their immense faith in Zwipe.  

On behalf of everyone at Zwipe, I wish you all safe and happy holidays. See you all in 2021!   

  

Here is an overview of our recent major announcements:

 

        # # #

 

About Zwipe 

Zwipe is pioneering the next generation contactless payments experience, providing biometric payment cards components and wearables technology that enable consumers to authorize transactions with their fingerprints without compromising their privacy. Together with an ecosystem of partners including global brands within digital security and financial services, Zwipe is "Making Convenience Safe & Secure" for banks, merchants and consumers. Zwipe's solutions address the hygiene and data theft pitfalls inherent in traditional authentication methods. Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with a global presence, Zwipe is leading the next great shift in payments from contactless to contact free. To learn more, visit www.zwipe.com

For further information please contact: André Løvestam, CEO, +47 991 66 135  info@zwipe.com

OSLO, NORWAY AND COURBEVOIE, FRANCE – 21 December 2020 - IDEMIA, the global leader in Augmented Identity, has obtained, as planned, the ICCN security certificate from EMVCo, for the next generation biometric card secure chip, for which ZWIPE has secured worldwide distribution rights[1].This is a major step forward in delivering on our joint vision of an affordable biometric card for all.

In a context where global demand for contactless payments is booming, biometric cards are best placed to ensure secure, hygienic and convenient payments. The exclusive partnership and distribution agreement between IDEMIA and ZWIPE aims to promote biometric card as the reference for tomorrow’s contactless payments.

The ICCN[2] security certificate is a key milestone towards the next generation biometric card and confirms IDEMIA's outstanding expertise in the field of payments and biometrics. Our biometric payment chip complies with the most demanding performance and security criteria for a safe and convenient payment experience.

Ready-to-roll-out in the second half of 2021, the new generation biometric cards, FCODE Gen2 for IDEMIA, and the ZWIPE Pay ONE technology platform for ZWIPE, will deliver state-of-the art performance and security, as per market and schemes requirements. IDEMIA leverages its unique combination of payment, biometrics technologies and expertise to drive adoption, and accelerate market growth together with ZWIPE.

With this new generation of biometric cards, we want to shape the future of payment and to offer an unparalleled and affordable technological experience, accessible to all. We are proud that IDEMIA's cutting-edge technology can deliver a new, more secure user experience to the market. Our ambition is to make biometric card a reality and more than ever, we are on the right track”, said Amanda Gourbault, IDEMIA’s Executive Vice-President Financial Institutions.

“The ICCN security certificate from EMVCo is an important step towards offering ZWIPE Pay ONE to our global customer network. This disruptive biometric technology platform, combined with our deep technical and market expertise, is what makes ZWIPE the natural One Stop Shop for all smart card manufacturers aiming to meet the soaring demand from issuers and consumers for a more convenient, truly contact free payment experience”, said André Løvestam, CEO of ZWIPE.

 

                                                                                                           -END-

About ZWIPE

Zwipe is pioneering the next generation contactless payments experience, providing biometric payment cards components and wearables technology that enable consumers to authorize transactions with their fingerprints without compromising their privacy. Together with an ecosystem of partners including global brands within digital security and financial services, Zwipe is "Making Convenience Safe & Secure" for banks, merchants and consumers. Zwipe's solutions address the hygiene and data theft pitfalls inherent in traditional authentication methods. Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with a global presence, Zwipe is leading the next great shift in payments from contactless to contact free.

To learn more, visit www.zwipe.com / Follow @zwipe on Twitter

For further information, please contact André Løvestam, CEO, +47 991 66 135 / ir@zwipe.com
 

About IDEMIA
IDEMIA, the global leader in Augmented Identity, provides a trusted environment enabling citizens and consumers alike to perform their daily critical activities (such as pay, connect and travel), in the physical as well as digital space.

Securing our identity has become mission critical in the world we live in today. By standing for Augmented Identity, an identity that ensures privacy and trust and guarantees secure, authenticated and verifiable transactions, we reinvent the way we think, produce, use and protect one of our greatest assets – our identity – whether for individuals or for objects, whenever and wherever security matters. We provide Augmented Identity for international clients from Financial, Telecom, Identity, Public Security and IoT sectors. With close to 15,000 employees around the world, IDEMIA serves clients in 180 countries.

For more information, visit www.idemia.com / Follow @IDEMIAGroup on Twitter

Press contact: Hanna Sebbah, idemia@havas.com /+33 (0) 6 63 73 30 30


[1] IDEMIA and ZWIPE partner to offer a disruptive biometric payments card platform, September 2019

[1]IDEMIA, ZWIPE and IDEX achieve key milestone towards next generation biometric card platform, April 2020

[2] ICCN: Integrated Circuit Certificate Number, a unique number that identifies the EMVCo compliance certificate for an IC

OSLO, NORWAY – 08 December 2020 – Zwipe, a leading biometric fintech company, is pleased to confirm that it has appointed John Goodale, formerly Senior Vice President, Sales Operations at TSYS International, as its new Chief Sales Officer, Andy Saines, formerly Sales Director at Giesecke + Devrient, as VP Key Accounts and Anders Bigseth, formerly PR Lead at Huawei Norway, as VP Marketing and Communications.  

Mr. Goodale joins Zwipe in January 2021 after spending nearly two decades at TSYS, one of the world’s largest payments processors, serving in a variety of senior business development roles where his business acumen, coupled with his technical knowledge, has enabled him to develop compelling sales propositions and win new business across a broad portfolio of financial products  and services all over the world. Mr. Goodale will lead Zwipe’s engagement and conversion efforts with smart card manufacturers, while also supporting engagement with issuers and selected go-to-market partners to further strengthen Zwipe’s position in the global biometric payments market.  

Mr. Saines joins Zwipe from January 2021 from Giesecke + Devrient Mobile Security, one of the world’s largest card manufacturers, where he served for nearly five years as UK Sales Director. Before that, he spent 18 years at Entrust Datacard, of which the last 5 years were as EMEA Sales Director.  He brings with him extensive smart card industry experience and deep knowledge of card issuance solutions. As VP of Key Accounts, Mr. Saines will be responsible for driving deeper relations and business with strategic accounts.  

Mr. Bigseth joined Zwipe as of 1 December 2020 with an award-winning background in public relations and communications, serving in a variety of senior communication positions at DNB, Teller (formerly Visa Norway), Telia and most recently Huawei, where he led public relations efforts in Norway. As VP Marketing and Communications, Mr. Bigseth will utilize his extensive communications experience and media network to further Zwipe’s strong position within the fast-growing segment of next generation contactless payments.  

“The biometric payments marketplace is evolving quickly, and we see a strong increase in the demand for Zwipe’s products and services globally. I am delighted that we have been able to attract such qualified and talented new team members from such prominent companies. This is a testament to our strong position and future outlook,” said André Løvestam, CEO of Zwipe. 

                                                                                                        ### 

OSLO, NORWAY and KUWAIT CITY, KUWAIT – 03 December 2020  Biometric fintech company Zwipe and VeriTech, the leading payment and banking technology solutions provider in Kuwait, have partnered to address the growing demand for biometric payment solutions in Kuwait and across the Middle East.

VeriTech is the market leading provider of EMV payment card personalization, self-service kiosks, POS and Mobile NFC and Host Card Emulation to banks in Kuwait. Its vision is to be acknowledged as the trusted banking and payment distributor of leading next generation payment solutions across EMEA, whilst exceeding its partners and stakeholders’ expectations.

Speaking on the partnership Shakeel Khokhar, CEO of VeriTech, said “Kuwait has been a test bed and early adopter of innovative payment offerings for many years. Having seen firsthand other solutions in the market, we are excited to embrace Zwipe Pay ONE as our preferred biometric payment card product,” adding “the urgency with which issuers are demanding more contact-free payment alternatives is really driving interest and investment in this area with some of the largest banks in the region who we count as customers.”

Through this partnership, Zwipe will provide key components for the Zwipe Pay ONE biometric payments platform and take lead on providing advisory services directly to banks and card issuers focusing on user experience in close collaboration with VeriTech.

“This partnership is another big step forward for Zwipe in driving our continued expansion in the Middle East where we have a strong network of technology partners in place. Working closely with VeriTech, we will be harnessing both companies’ unique technology, product and market assets, including VeriTech’s close relationships with leading banks in Kuwait, to offer innovative biometric payment solutions” said André Løvestam, CEO of Zwipe.           

###

OSLO, NORWAY– 23 November  2020 Biometric fintech company Zwipe confirms that its  Zwipe Pay ONE platform will be incorporated in the recently announced market pilot with TietoEVRY and OP Financial Group. OP is Finland’s largest financial services group offering banking, non-life insurance and wealth management services for over four million customers. TietoEVRY is the leading provider of software and digital banking services and a leader in card payment services in Nordic & Baltic region. Subject to a successful pilot, OP will consider launching biometric payment cards.

See announcement from TietoEVRY here

Based on a disruptive single silicon payment platform, Zwipe Pay ONE is a first-of-its-kind solution delivering superior energy efficiency and excellent biometric performance at highly competitive prices.

###

This is information that Zwipe AS is obliged 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. Certified Adviser on Nasdaq First North is FNCA Sweden AB, info@fnca.se, +46 (0) 8528 00 399. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 09:20 CET on 23 November 2020.

OSLO, NORWAY – 19 November 2020- The share capital increase of 1,000,000 new shares in Zwipe AS, as resolved by the board of the company on 28 October 2020, has today been registered in the Norwegian Register of Business Enterprises. The new share capital is NOK 3,290,657.60, and the new number of shares and votes is 32,906,576.

###

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, at 10:00 CET on 19 November 2020.

OSLO, NORWAY – 29 October 2020 – 

Reference is made to the stock exchange announcement from Zwipe AS dated 28 October 2020 regarding the final results of the subsequent offering, and the allocations of offer shares that were made to primary insiders.

  • Primary Insider Concito AS, owned by Pål Eivind Vegard, board member of Zwipe, was allocated 32,650 Offer Shares in the Subsequent Offering, which is 173 more shares than announced 28 October. Following this transaction, Pål Eivind Vegard owns 568,260 shares in the Company through Concito AS
  • Primary Insider Feat Invest AB, a company where board member of Zwipe, Johan Biehl, is a board member, was allocated 18,292 Offer Shares in the Subsequent Offering, which is 12 more shares than announced 28 October. Following this transaction, Feat Invest AB owns 319,792 shares in the Company.

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act

###

About Zwipe

Zwipe is pioneering the next generation contactless payments experience, providing biometric payment cards and wearables that enable consumers to authorize transactions with their fingerprints without compromising their privacy. Together with an ecosystem of partners including global brands within digital security and financial services, Zwipe is "Making Convenience Safe & Secure" for banks, merchants and consumers. Zwipe's solutions address the hygiene and data theft pitfalls inherent in traditional authentication methods. Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with a global presence, Zwipe is leading the next great shift in payments from contactless to contact free. To learn more, visit www.zwipe.com

For further information please contact: Lars Kristian Solheim, CFO, +47 991 66 135  ir@zwipe.com

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN OR THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.

OSLO, NORWAY – 28 October 2020 – 

Reference is made to the stock exchange announcement from Zwipe AS ("Zwipe" or the "Company") dated 27 October 2020 with the preliminary results of the subsequent offering of up to one million new shares (the "Subsequent Offering"), each with a nominal value of NOK 0.10 and at a subscription price of NOK 15.00 (the "Offer Shares").

The subscription period for the Subsequent Offering expired on 27 October 2020 at 16:30 hours (CET). By the end of the subscription period, the Company had received valid subscriptions for 4,073,802 Offer Shares.

The board of directors of Zwipe has today resolved the allocation related to the Subsequent Offering in accordance with the allocation criteria presented in the prospectus dated 19 October 2020. A total of 740,736 Offer Shares were allocated based on subscription rights and a total of 259,264 Offer Shares were allocated based on over-subscriptions of 1,829, 982 new shares made by holders of subscription rights. No Offer Shares were allocated to subscriptions of 1,503,084 new shares made by investors without subscription rights.

Furthermore and in order to complete the Subsequent Offering, the board of directors has resolved the capital increase pertaining thereto, and hereunder resolved to increase the share capital with NOK 100,000 through issuing 1,000,000 new shares each with a nominal value of NOK 0.10 and at a subscription price of NOK 15 per share, giving gross proceeds of NOK 15 million. The resolution was made by the board of directors on basis of the authorization granted by the general meeting on 29 September 2020.

The following primary insiders or close associates of primary insiders have been allocated Offer Shares in the Share Issue.

  • Primary Insider Concito AS, owned by Pål Eivind Vegard, board member of Zwipe, was allocated 32,477 Offer Shares in the Subsequent Offering. Following this transaction, Pål Eivind Vegard owns 568,087 shares in the Company through Concito AS
  • Primary Insider Feat Invest AB, a company where board member of Zwipe, Johan Biehl, is a board member, was allocated 18,280 Offer Shares in the Subsequent Offering. Following this transaction, Feat Invest AB owns 319,780 shares in the Company
  • Primary Insider Johan Biehl, board member of Zwipe, was allocated 12,169 Offer Shares in the Subsequent Offering. Following this transaction, Johan Biehl owns 212,883 shares in the Company
  • Primary Insider Dennis Jones, board member of Zwipe, was allocated 2,728 Offer Shares in the Subsequent Offering. Following this transaction, Dennis Jones owns 65,228 shares in the Company
  • Primary Insider Diderik Schonheyder, board member of Zwipe, was allocated 302 Offer Shares in the Subsequent Offering. Following this transaction, Diderik Schonheyder owns 5,302 shares in the Company

The Company will on 29 October distribute allocation letters with payment information to all subscribers who have been allocated Offer Shares. The due date for payment is on or about 30 October 2020. Delivery of the Offer Shares is expected to take place on or about 6 November 2020, through the facilities of VPS and Euroclear. Trading in the Offer Shares on Merkur Market or Nasdaq First North Growth Market (as the case may be) is expected to commence on or about 6 November 2020. Arctic Securities AS acts as manager in the Subsequent Offering. Simonsen Vogt Wiig AS acts as Norwegian legal counsel to Zwipe and White & Case acts as Swedish legal counsel to Zwipe.

Zwipe AS is obliged to make this information public pursuant to the Continuing obligations of companies admitted to trading on Merkur Market and Nasdaq First North Growth Market. Certified Adviser on Nasdaq First North is FNCA Sweden AB, info@fnca.se, +46 (0) 8 528 00 399. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 16:50 CET on 28 October 2020. 

###

This release is issued for information purposes only, and this document is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of offers to purchase or subscribe for shares. Copies of this document may not be sent to jurisdictions, or distributed in or sent from jurisdictions, in which this is barred or prohibited by law. The information contained herein shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation would be unlawful absent registration, or an exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of any jurisdiction. This document is not for publication or distribution in, directly or indirectly, Australia, Canada, Japan, the United States or any other jurisdiction in which such release, publication or distribution would be unlawful, and it does not constitute an offer or invitation to subscribe for or purchase any securities in such countries or in any other jurisdiction. In particular, the document and the information contained herein should not be distributed or otherwise transmitted into the United States or to publications with a general circulation in the United States of America. This document is not an offer for sale of securities in the United States. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The Company does not intend to register any part of the offering in the United States or to conduct a public offering in the United States of the shares to which this document relates. The Managers are acting for the Company in connection with the Private Placement and no one else and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to their respective clients or for providing advice in relation to the Private Placement or any transaction or arrangement referred to in this press release. This announcement and any materials distributed in connection with this announcement may contain certain forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they reflect Zwipe's current expectations and assumptions as to future events and circumstances that may not prove accurate. A number of material factors could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. This information is subject to a duty of disclosure pursuant to Section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

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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

  • Zwipe successfully completes rights issue raising approximately 100.1 million NOK in new capital.
  • Zwipe and Kuwait International Bank (“KIB”) announce the first commercial launch of biometric payment cards to KIB’s Visa Infinite clients.
  • Middle East Payment Services (“MEPS”) announces the commercial launch of biometric payment cards from Zwipe in partnership with Mastercard.
  • Beautiful Card Corporation (“BCC”) granted approval from Mastercard to deploy biometric payment cards using Zwipe Pay.
  • Zwipe signs new partnerships with Antworks Money, Wahyukartu, TBHP, and Unicard to deliver biometric payment cards (“BPCs”) in India, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the MEA region respectively.
  • Civix and Zwipe Initiate Proof-of-Concept with Safe Skies at Richmond International Airport.
  • Zwipe signs new partnerships with CardLogix, OLOID, and a large German partner to deliver biometric access cards.

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.

######

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, NORWAY04 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:

  1. Opening of the general meeting by the chair. Registration of meeting shareholders.
  2. Election of a meeting chairperson and person to co-sign the minutes together with the chairperson.
  3. Approval of the notice and the agenda.
  4. Election of a new member to the Board.
  5. Remuneration to the new member of the Board.
  6. Approval that the Board may make amendments to the Company's RSU incentive program.

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:

  • Jörgen Lantto, Chair of the Board
  • Dennis Jones
  • Tanya Juul Kjaer
  • Christina Örn
  • David Chew  
  • Robert Jansson

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.

###

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.

###

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

Media Inquiries

Patrice Meilland,
,
Chief Commercial Officer