NEXT Biometrics Group ASA interim report as at 31 December 2017

* Revenue of NOK 24.7 million vs NOK 25.4 million in Q3-17
* Achieved target of positive gross margin by January 2018
* Demonstrated first ISO compliant Smart Card with flexible fingerprint sensor with Tactilis
* Smart Card biometric subassembly project progressing according to plan
* Launched latest generation of peripheral fingerprint readers, the Oyster II

OSLO, Norway, March 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NEXT Biometrics said its Gross Margins continue strong trend of improvements from negative 4% in Q4-17 to positive in January and expect gross margin at 20% in the month of February 2018.

NEXT CEO Ritu Favre commented: “In Q4 we continued to develop a range of products featuring our proprietary, large and cost-efficient rigid and flexible fingerprint sensors with a focus on driving profitable growth within our targeted markets of Smart Cards, Government ID, Access Control and Notebooks. We have developed the first ISO compliant Smart Card with a flexible sensor together with one of our eco-system partners, we have a roadmap in place to enhance our leading sensor technology and we have proven our mass production capabilities, all of which position us at the forefront of the security, user experience and cost critical emerging, high volume segments of the biometrics market.”

PRESENTATION OF FOURTH QUARTER RESULTS AND CAPITAL MARKETS DAY

Speakers include NEXT CEO Ritu Favre, CFO Knut Stålen, CTO Matias Troccoli and Senior Vice President of Sales, Radek Matyasek. Marc Muller, director of Technology at electronic design and manufacturing company Tactilis will also participate. The NEXT executive team will be available to answer questions after the presentations. The presentation material is available at NEXT Biometrics' website.

Investors and media are invited to attend the event, held at the Høyres Hus, Stortingsgaten 20, 0161 Oslo. Registration begins at 9:30, with the event concluding at approximately 13:30. To register for the event, please visit www.nextbiometrics.com.

Get our Q4'17 Report (www.nextbiometrics.com) and Q4'17 CMD Presentation

For those unable to attend in person, the presentations will also be webcast. Q4'17 &_CMD Webcast.

ABOUT NEXT Biometrics:
NEXT provides advanced fingerprint sensor technology that delivers uncompromised security and accuracy for the best possible user experience in the smart card, government ID, access control and notebook markets. The company’s patented NEXT Active Thermal™ principle allows the development of large, high quality fingerprint sensors in both rigid and flexible formats. NEXT Biometrics Group ASA (www.nextbiometrics.com) is headquartered in Oslo, with sales, support and development operations in Seattle, Silicon Valley, Taipei, Prague and Shanghai.

Investor contacts:
Suzanne Schmidt (IR), suzanne.schmidt@nextbiometrics.com
Knut Stålen (CFO), knut.stalen@nextbiometrics.com

Media contact:
Tom Beermann, tom.beermann@NEXTbiometrics.com, 408-807-9475
Brian Dobson, BD@DobsonPR.com, 203-613-2222