Biometric Solutions Provider BIO-key Expands Asia Presence, Adding Hong Kong Based Financial Executive Fabian Shin to its Board


Wall, N.J., Nov. 20, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --  BIO-key International, Inc. (NASDAQ:BKYI), an innovative provider of biometric software and hardware systems and consumer products offering strong, convenient security and user access, today announced the appointment of Hong Kong-based Mr. Fabian Shin to BIO-key’s Board of Directors. Mr. Shin’s appointment expands the global presence of BIO-key’s board to four internationally-based directors, while increasing the board to nine members.

Mr. Shin has over 25 years of experience in advising companies as an investment banker, financial consultant and independent director. He is currently an independent non-executive director of several Hong Kong-listed companies including: iron ore mining company Newton Resources Ltd. (1231.HK), apparel company Pak Tak Int’l Ltd. (2668.HK), computer peripheral manufacturer and financial services provider Huabang Financial Holdings Ltd. (3638.HK), supermarket operator China Shun Ke Long Holdings Ltd (947.HK) and plastic and metal household product designer and manufacturer Lisi Group (Holdings) (526.HK). During his investment banking career, Mr. Shin was Deputy Chief Executive Officer at CMB International Capital Limited and head of investment banking at a unit of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China.

Tom Gilley, BIO-key Director and Chair of the Board’s nomination committee, commented, “Given Asia’s importance in BIO-key’s future revenue, partnering and product sourcing opportunities, the Board saw the need to expand our presence, experience and base of relationships in the region by adding another accomplished executive based in Hong Kong. Fabian’s business and financial experience, network of relationships and record of accomplishment made him an ideal candidate to join our Board.

“We now have three Directors in Asia, one in Europe and five in the U.S. We are confident Fabian’s experience, network of relationships and skill set will immediately add value to BIO-key and enhance our Asia Pacific visibility and presence,” stated Mike DePasquale BIO-key Chairman and CEO.

Mr. Shin said, “I am honored to join BIO-key's Board at this exciting point in its transformation and growth. I already see a range of potential opportunities to pursue on BIO-key’s behalf in Asia and look forward to working with the Board and management to advance its business in the region.”

Mr. Shin started his career in the audit department of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, later joining Victory City International Holding Ltd. (539.HK) as a group financial controller and company secretary. Mr. Shin is a graduate of the University of Birmingham in England. He is a member of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators and the Hong Kong Institute of Company Secretaries. 

About BIO-key International, Inc. (www.bio-key.com)
BIO-key is revolutionizing authentication with biometric solutions that enable convenient and secure access to information and high-stakes transactions. We offer alternatives to passwords, PINs, tokens, and cards to make it easy for enterprises and consumers to secure their devices as well as information in the cloud. Our premium finger scanning devices, including SideSwipe, SideTouch, EcoID and SidePass, offer market-leading quality, performance and price. BIO-key is now bringing the power and ease of use of biometric technology to its just-launched TouchLock line of biometric and Bluetooth enabled padlocks – thereby providing, even more, ways to BIO-key your world.

BIO-key Safe Harbor Statement
All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical facts are  "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). The words "estimate," "project," "intends," "expects," "anticipates," "believes" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management pursuant to the "safe-harbor" provisions of the Act. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those included within or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, our history of losses and limited revenue, our ability to develop new products and evolve existing ones, market acceptance of biometric solutions generally and our specific offerings, our ability to expand into the Asian market, the impact on our business of the past financial crisis in the global capital markets, and our ability to attract and retain key personnel.  For a more complete description of these and other risk factors that may affect the future performance of BIO-key International, Inc., see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company undertakes no obligation to disclose any revision to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date made.

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Investor & Media Contacts
William Jones, Tanya Kamatu
Catalyst Global
212-924-9800
bkyi@catalyst-ir.com