Technology
LightPath Technologies Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial Results
Published
1 year agoon
By
ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — LightPath Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: LPTH) (“LightPath,” the “Company,” or “we”), a leading provider of next-generation optics and imaging systems for both defense and commercial applications, today announced financial results for its fiscal 2025 second quarter ended December 31, 2024.
Financial Summary:
Three Months Ended December 31,
$ in millions
2024
2023
% Change
Revenue
$7.4
$7.3
1.5 %
Gross Profit
$1.9
$2.2
-11.0 %
Operating Expenses
$4.4
$4.0
11.7 %
Net Income (Loss)
($2.6)
($1.7)
52.4 %
EBITDA* (non-GAAP)
($1.5)
($0.5)
228.9 %
Second Quarter Fiscal 2025 & Subsequent Highlights:
Announced the acquisition of G5 Infrared (“G5”), a leading high-end infrared camera systems manufacturer, part of LightPath’s strategic vision to become a leading vertically integrated infrared (“IR”) imaging solutions provider, and financing related to the transactionBegan sustained delivery of infrared assemblies to a European defense customer for active-duty use in First-Person View (“FPV”) drone applicationsLaunched new optical gas imaging (“OGI”) cameras, including:OGI cameras for ammonia and sulfur hexafluoride (“SF6”) detection at industrial and manufacturing facilitiesOGI cameras for detecting fugitive gas emissions for Oil & Gas applications, launched at the CH4 Connections ConferenceAwarded Phase 2 funding in U.S. Defense Department partnership to qualify additional BlackDiamond glasses as germanium substitutesParticipated in leading investor conferences including the LD Micro Main Event, the 27th Annual Needham Growth Conference and the Sequire Investor Summit Puerto Rico
Management Commentary
Sam Rubin, President and Chief Executive Officer of LightPath, said: “The second quarter of fiscal 2025 was highlighted by the acquisition of G5 Infrared, marking a significant step forward as part of our evolution towards becoming a leading vertically integrated, global solutions provider for infrared imaging technologies for defense and commercial applications. G5 achieved preliminary unaudited calendar year 2024 revenues of more than $15 million and we believe there is significant room for near-term growth on the back of multiple programs of record and that we will benefit from G5’s higher-average selling price (“ASP”) and high-margin cooled infrared camera offering.
“G5 provides a highly incremental offering to LightPath, providing a broad range of cooled infrared camera solutions and assemblies, ranging from high performance mid wave zoom thermal imaging camera systems to thin film deposition services on a variety of infrared substrates, all of which are complimentary to our line of uncooled infrared cameras, infrared optics and infrared materials. The company has a significant pipeline of new business opportunities, with multiple program awards expected to begin production in the next two years. We believe that this will drive a robust growth profile and margins that will aid us as we pursue our long-term goal of 15% EBITDA margins at the corporate level. We expect to add significant value beyond the immediately accretive revenue stream and believe the acquisition will continue to drive future growth with its higher ASPs, incremental products and notable operational synergies – such as integrating their offerings with our proprietary BlackDiamond™ glass and in-house optics manufacturing capabilities.
“In the European market, during the quarter we received an initial development contract from a new European defense customer for the use of BlackDiamond glass in optical systems. We also began sustained delivery of infrared lens assemblies per the terms of the October 2024 Letter of Intent from a European defense customer for active duty use in FPV drone applications. This order highlights two exciting opportunities for LightPath, making the most of our European Defense license acquired last year, which positions us to supply products to one of the largest defense markets in the world. The order also highlights the growing use of drones and unmanned aerial vehicles for a variety of defense applications, giving our proprietary BlackDiamond™ chalcogenide-based glass materials an opportunity to become an important material for thermal cameras in these vehicles.
“We continued to expand our product portfolio and market potential with the launch of our OGI camera platform, a specialized technology utilizing IR cameras to detect and visualize emissions. Our first variation for oil and gas applications is useful for detecting methane, volatile organic compounds, hydrocarbons, and other industrial gases that can be harmful to the environment or human health. A second version was launched to detect fugitive ammonia and SF6 emissions for industrial and manufacturing applications. Not only are these cameras cost effective, highly sensitive, and operational without proprietary software, but they are also built with a non-germanium lens. This feature is becoming increasingly important to customers looking for insulation from the geopolitical supply chain issues plaguing competing Germanium based solutions – such as China’s recent ban on the export of Germanium to the United States. On December 4, 2024, China announced further restrictions on export of Germanium to the U.S. altogether, as well as for dual-use applications in other countries as well. LightPath has been preparing for this day with the introduction of our BlackDiamond materials, qualification of those materials through our partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense – Defense Logistics Agency, and working with customers to redesign their systems to replace Germanium optics. Since China’s announcement we have seen a growing interest and demand in our BlackDiamond materials and are encouraged to see customers begin the process to switch over to those materials.
“As we move into calendar year 2025, we look forward to integrating G5 into the LightPath family and benefiting from its strong pipeline of new business opportunities in the government and defense sectors. We also expect to move forward with key defense programs, including our bid to produce a design of a major missile program for the U.S. Army with Lockheed Martin. We are now starting to deliver flightworthy hardware for implementation into Lockheed Martin’s initial live test units for this program, from which we believe the U.S. Army could make a decision as early as later this year. Taken together, we believe 2025 will build additional momentum toward our vision of becoming a vertically integrated, next-generation optics and imaging solutions provider,” concluded Rubin.
Second Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial Results
Revenue for the second quarter of fiscal 2025 increased 1.5% to $7.4 million, as compared to $7.3 million in the same quarter of the prior fiscal year. Revenue was split amongst the Company’s product groups in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 as follows:
Product Group Revenue
($ in millions)**
Second Quarter of
Fiscal 2025
Second Quarter of
Fiscal 2024
% Change
Infrared (“IR”) Components
$3.1
$3.6
-13 %
Visible Components
$2.8
$2.7
3 %
Assemblies & Modules
$0.9
$1.0
-13 %
Engineering Services
$0.7
$0.1
797 %
** Numbers may not foot due to rounding
Gross profit decreased 11% to $1.9 million, or 26% of total revenues, in the second quarter of 2025, as compared to $2.2 million, or 30% of total revenues, in the same quarter of the prior fiscal year. The decrease in gross margin as a percentage of revenue is primarily due to differences in the product mix, coupled with some manufacturing yield issues in infrared components.
Operating expenses increased 12% to $4.4 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2025, as compared to $4.0 million in the same quarter of the prior fiscal year. The increase was primarily due to higher legal and consulting fees related to business development initiatives, including expenses associated with the G5 acquisition announced today, as well as increased sales and marketing spend to promote new products and an increase in materials spend for internally funded new product development projects.
Net loss in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 totaled $2.6 million, or $0.07 per basic and diluted share, as compared to $1.7 million, or $0.05 per basic and diluted share, in the same quarter of the prior fiscal year. The increase in net loss was primarily attributable to lower gross profit coupled with increased SG&A and new product development costs, as well as higher interest expense.
EBITDA* loss for the second quarter of fiscal 2025 was $1.5 million, compared to a loss of $0.5 million for the same period of the prior fiscal year. The decrease in EBITDA in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 was primarily attributable to lower gross profit coupled with increased SG&A, including legal and consulting expenses related to business development initiatives, and new product development costs.
G5 Acquisition & Second Quarter Fiscal 2025 Earnings Call
Management will host an investor conference call at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time today, Thursday, February 13, 2025, to discuss the Company’s second quarter fiscal 2025 financial results, provide a corporate update, and conclude with Q&A from telephone participants. To participate, please use the following information:
Date: Thursday, February 13, 2025
Time: 5:00 p.m. Eastern time
U.S. Dial-in: 1-877-425-9470
International Dial-in: 1-201-389-0878
Conference ID: 13749940
Webcast: LPTH Q2 FY2025 Earnings Conference Call
Please join at least five minutes before the start of the call to ensure timely participation.
A playback of the call will be available through Thursday, February 27, 2025. To listen, please call 1-844-512-2921 within the United States and Canada or 1-412-317-6671 when calling internationally, using replay pin number 13749940. A webcast replay will also be available using the webcast link above.
About LightPath Technologies
LightPath Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: LPTH) is a leading provider of next-generation optics and imaging systems for both defense and commercial applications. As a vertically integrated solutions provider with in-house engineering design support, LightPath’s family of custom solutions range from proprietary BlackDiamond™ chalcogenide-based glass materials – sold under exclusive license from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory – to complete infrared optical systems and thermal imaging assemblies. The Company’s primary manufacturing footprint is located in Orlando, Florida with additional facilities in Texas, Latvia and China. To learn more, please visit www.lightpath.com.
*Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
To provide investors with additional information regarding financial results, this press release includes references to EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure. The Company calculates EBITDA by adjusting net income to exclude net interest expense, income tax expense or benefit, depreciation, and amortization.
A “non-GAAP financial measure” is generally defined as a numerical measure of a company’s historical or future performance that excludes or includes amounts, or is subject to adjustments, so as to be different from the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. The Company’s management believes that this non-GAAP financial measure, when considered together with the GAAP financial measure, provide information that is useful to investors in understanding period-over-period operating results separate and apart from items that may, or could, have a disproportionately positive or negative impact on results in any particular period. Management also believes that this non-GAAP financial measure enhances the ability of investors to analyze underlying business operations and understand performance. In addition, management may utilize these non-GAAP financial measures as guides in forecasting, budgeting, and planning. Non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures presented in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures with the most directly comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP is presented in the table below.
LIGHTPATH TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Regulation G Disclosure
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended December 31,
Three Months Ended December 31,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Net loss
$ (2,611,997)
$ (1,713,663)
$ (4,234,742)
$ (3,056,039)
Depreciation and
amortization
904,040
1,129,444
1,893,602
1,943,000
Income tax provision
44,525
76,058
60,161
115,604
Interest expense
169,053
53,788
318,413
111,399
EBITDA
$ (1,494,379)
$ (454,373)
$ (1,962,566)
$ (886,036)
% of revenue
-20 %
-6 %
-12 %
-6 %
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes statements that constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “forecast,” “guidance,” “plan,” “estimate,” “will,” “would,” “project,” “maintain,” “intend,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “prospect,” “strategy,” “future,” “likely,” “may,” “should,” “believe,” “continue,” “opportunity,” “potential,” and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time the statements are made and/or management’s good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, the impact of varying demand for the Company products; the ability of the Company to obtain needed raw materials and components from its suppliers; actions governments, businesses, and individuals take in response to the pandemic, including restrictions on onsite commercial interactions; general economic uncertainty in key global markets and a worsening of global economic conditions or low levels of economic growth; geopolitical tensions, the Russian-Ukraine conflict, and the Hamas/ Israel war; the effects of steps that the Company could take to reduce operating costs; the inability of the Company to sustain profitable sales growth, convert inventory to cash, or reduce its costs to maintain competitive prices for its products; circumstances or developments that may make the Company unable to implement or realize the anticipated benefits, or that may increase the costs, of its current and planned business initiatives; and those factors detailed by LightPath Technologies, Inc. in its public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on 10-Q. Should one or more of these risks, uncertainties, or facts materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by the forward-looking statements contained herein. Accordingly, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Except as required under the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, we do not have any intention or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
LIGHTPATH TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(unaudited)
December 31,
June 30,
Assets
2024
2024
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
3,201,066
$
3,480,268
Trade accounts receivable, net of allowance of $20,172 and $25,676
5,279,634
4,928,931
Inventories, net
6,428,439
6,551,059
Prepaid expenses and deposits
649,270
445,900
Other current assets
89,891
131,177
Total current assets
15,648,300
15,537,335
Property and equipment, net
14,054,829
15,210,612
Operating lease right-of-use assets
6,218,147
6,741,549
Intangible assets, net
2,960,252
3,650,739
Goodwill
6,764,127
6,764,127
Deferred tax assets, net
123,000
123,000
Other assets
59,536
59,602
Total assets
$
45,828,191
$
48,086,964
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
$
3,114,382
$
3,231,713
Accrued liabilities
1,448,584
1,911,867
Accrued payroll and benefits
1,445,924
1,446,452
Operating lease liabilities, current
997,957
1,059,998
Loans payable, current portion
3,017,443
209,170
Finance lease obligation, current portion
203,739
177,148
Total current liabilities
10,228,029
8,036,348
Deferred tax liabilities, net
323,402
326,197
Accrued liabilities, noncurrent
315,480
611,619
Finance lease obligation, less current portion
496,025
528,753
Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent
7,539,488
8,058,502
Loans payable, less current portion
222,829
325,880
Total liabilities
19,125,253
17,887,299
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock: Series D, $.01 par value, voting; 500,000 shares authorized;
none issued and outstanding
—
—
Common stock: Class A, $.01 par value, voting; 94,500,000 shares
authorized; 39,890,834 and 39,254,643 shares issued and outstanding
398,908
392,546
Additional paid-in capital
246,051,852
245,140,758
Accumulated other comprehensive income
330,495
509,936
Accumulated deficit
(220,078,317)
(215,843,575)
Total stockholders’ equity
26,702,938
30,199,665
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
45,828,191
$
48,086,964
LIGHTPATH TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended
Six Months Ended
December 31,
December 31,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Revenue, net
$
7,424,829
$
7,315,637
$
15,825,210
$
15,392,885
Cost of sales
5,493,998
5,147,316
11,049,950
10,892,858
Gross profit
1,930,831
2,168,321
4,775,260
4,500,027
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative
3,356,063
2,858,457
6,626,646
5,519,625
New product development
764,396
607,747
1,240,837
1,247,636
Amortization of intangible assets
294,711
485,446
690,487
766,717
Loss on disposal of property and equipment
—
—
78,437
—
Total operating expenses
4,415,170
3,951,650
8,636,407
7,533,978
Operating loss
(2,484,339)
(1,783,329)
(3,861,147)
(3,033,951)
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net
(169,053)
(53,788)
(318,413)
(111,399)
Other income, net
85,920
199,512
4,979
204,915
Total other expense, net
(83,133)
145,724
(313,434)
93,516
Loss before income taxes
(2,567,472)
(1,637,605)
(4,174,581)
(2,940,435)
Income tax provision
44,525
76,058
60,161
115,604
Net loss
$
(2,611,997)
$
(1,713,663)
$
(4,234,742)
$
(3,056,039)
Foreign currency translation adjustment
(451,035)
259,973
(179,441)
134,765
Comprehensive loss
$
(3,063,032)
$
(1,453,690)
$
(4,414,183)
$
(2,921,274)
Loss per common share (basic)
$
(0.07)
$
(0.05)
$
(0.11)
$
(0.08)
Number of shares used in per share calculation
(basic)
39,728,933
37,501,683
39,645,206
37,466,714
Loss per common share (diluted)
$
(0.07)
$
(0.05)
$
(0.11)
$
(0.08)
Number of shares used in per share calculation
(diluted)
39,728,933
37,501,683
39,645,206
37,466,714
LIGHTPATH TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
(unaudited)
Accumulated
Class A
Additional
Other
Total
Common Stock
Paid-in
Comphrehensive
Accumulated
Stockholders’
Shares
Amount
Capital
Income
Deficit
Equity
Balances at
June 30, 2024
39,254,643
$
392,546
$
245,140,758
$
509,936
$
(215,843,575)
$
30,199,665
Issuance of
common stock
for:
Employee
Stock Purchase
Plan
8,232
82
10,290
—
—
10,372
Exercise of
Stock Options,
RSUs & RSAs,
net
70,309
703
(703)
—
—
—
Issuance of
common stock
for acquisition
of Visimid
279,553
2,796
318,562
—
—
321,358
Stock-based
compensation
on stock
options, RSUs
& RSAs
—
—
264,475
—
—
264,475
Foreign
currency
translation
adjustment
—
—
—
271,594
—
271,594
Net loss
—
—
—
—
(1,622,745)
(1,622,745)
Balances at
September 30,
2024
39,612,737
$
396,127
$
245,733,382
$
781,530
$
(217,466,320)
$
29,444,719
Issuance of
common stock
for:
Exercise of
Stock Options,
RSUs & RSAs,
net
229,097
2,291
(2,291)
—
—
—
Shares issued as
compensation
49,000
490
89,180
—
—
89,670
Stock-based
compensation
on stock
options, RSUs
& RSAs
—
—
231,581
—
—
231,581
Foreign
currency
translation
adjustment
—
—
—
(451,035)
—
(451,035)
Net loss
—
—
—
—
(2,611,997)
(2,611,997)
Balances at
December 31,
2024
39,890,834
$
398,908
$
246,051,852
$
330,495
$
(220,078,317)
$
26,702,938
Balances at
June 30, 2023
37,344,739
$
373,447
$
242,808,771
$
606,536
$
(207,836,229)
$
35,952,525
Issuance of
common stock
for:
Employee
Stock Purchase
Plan
14,607
146
19,573
—
—
19,719
Exercise of
Stock Options,
RSUs & RSAs,
net
14,482
145
(145)
—
—
—
Issuance of
common stock
for acquisition
of Visimid
81,610
816
149,184
—
—
150,000
Stock-based
compensation
on stock
options, RSUs
& RSAs
—
—
240,075
—
—
240,075
Foreign
currency
translation
adjustment
—
—
—
(125,208)
—
(125,208)
Net loss
—
—
—
—
(1,342,376)
(1,342,376)
Balances at
September 30,
2023
37,455,438
$
374,554
$
243,217,458
$
481,328
$
(209,178,605)
$
34,894,735
Issuance of
common stock
for:
Exercise of
Stock Options,
RSUs & RSAs,
net
93,940
940
(940)
—
—
—
Stock-based
compensation
on stock
options, RSUs
& RSAs
—
—
258,691
—
—
258,691
Foreign
currency
translation
adjustment
—
—
—
259,973
—
259,973
Net loss
—
—
—
—
(1,713,663)
(1,713,663)
Balances at
December 31,
2023
37,549,378
$
375,494
$
243,475,209
$
741,301
$
(210,892,268)
$
33,699,736
LIGHTPATH TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(unaudited)
Six Months Ended
December 31,
2024
2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss
$
(4,234,742)
$
(3,056,039)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by operating
activities:
Depreciation and amortization
1,893,602
1,943,000
Interest from amortization of loan issuance costs
120,833
—
Loss on disposal of property and equipment
78,437
—
Stock-based compensation on stock options, RSUs & RSAs, net
506,020
551,853
Provision for credit losses
—
(2,236)
Change in operating lease assets and liabilities
(57,653)
80,355
Inventory write-offs to allowance
135,625
73,569
Deferred taxes
(2,795)
9,395
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade accounts receivable
(350,703)
1,717,283
Other current assets
41,286
(191,381)
Inventories
(13,005)
54,461
Prepaid expenses and deposits
(123,598)
94,619
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
(430,923)
(424,310)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
(2,437,616)
850,569
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment
(160,155)
(1,484,401)
Proceeds from sale of equipment
10,648
—
Proceeds from sale-leaseback of equipment
—
364,710
Acquisition of Visimid, net of cash acquired
—
(722,141)
Net cash used in investing activities
(149,507)
(1,841,832)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from sale of common stock from Employee Stock Purchase Plan
10,372
19,719
Deferred payment for acquisition of Visimid
(125,000)
—
Loan issuance costs
(300,000)
—
Borrowings on loans payable
3,000,000
142,853
Payments on loans payable
(106,486)
(407,510)
Repayment of finance lease obligations
(89,705)
(58,785)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
2,389,181
(303,723)
Effect of exchange rate on cash and cash equivalents
(81,260)
32,698
Change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
(279,202)
(1,262,288)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period
3,480,268
7,144,490
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period
$
3,201,066
$
5,882,202
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid in cash
$
40,838
$
110,774
Income taxes paid
$
61,427
$
114,953
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing & financing activities:
Purchase of equipment through finance lease arrangements
$
93,048
$
61,654
Issuance of common stock for acquisition of Visimid
$
321,358
$
150,000
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VANCOUVER, BC, May 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ – BTQ Technologies Corp. (“BTQ” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: BTQ) (CBOE CA: BTQ), a global quantum technology company focused on securing mission-critical networks, today announced that it it has been selected as the core PQC security technology provider through its Quantum Secure Stablecoin Settlement Network (“QSSN”) in a proof-of-concept with its Korean strategic partner, Finger Inc. (“Finger”), and iM Bank, a leading Korean commercial bank, for South Korea’s first bank-led Korean won stablecoin infrastructure incorporating post-quantum cryptography (“PQC”).
The proof-of-concept represents more than a technical pilot. It marks an important step in bringing next-generation quantum security into banking infrastructure within Korea’s regulated financial system. In addition to providing QSSN as the core PQC security framework, BTQ is contributing consulting and strategic coordination across the three-way partnership, helping align the project’s security architecture, implementation approach, and long-term post-quantum migration objectives.
“Post-quantum migration requires more than a cryptographic upgrade. It requires coordination across infrastructure, implementation, and institutional stakeholders,” said Olivier Roussy Newton, Chief Executive Officer of BTQ Technologies. “In this initiative, BTQ is providing both strategic advisory support and QSSN as the post-quantum security architecture, while helping lead coordination across the three-way partnership. We believe this proof-of-concept demonstrates how financial institutions can begin integrating quantum-resilient protections into digital money systems in a practical and operationally viable way.”
South Korea’s First Bank-Led PQC Stablecoin Infrastructure Initiative
BTQ is working alongside iM Bank and Finger on a three-way initiative to validate the issuance and distribution infrastructure for a Korean won stablecoin. In addition to supplying QSSN as the PQC security layer, BTQ is providing consulting support and helping to guide coordination across the partnership as the parties evaluate how to integrate post-quantum protections into bank-led digital asset infrastructure.
The proof-of-concept will validate several key components, including real-time reconciliation between bank reserves and blockchain-issued supply, a global-standard smart contract architecture, connectivity to global infrastructure for overseas distribution, and the integration of a PQC-based dual-signature security structure. By applying BTQ’s PQC signature architecture alongside the existing ECDSA cryptographic framework, the system is designed to preserve operational continuity for financial institutions while proactively addressing future quantum computing threats.
Built on Kaia Mainnet
A notable feature of the proof-of-concept is that it will be implemented on the Kaia mainnet, one of Korea’s leading Layer 1 blockchain networks. Kaia was created through the merger of Klaytn, the blockchain originally developed by Kakao, and Finschia, the blockchain associated with LINE. Kakao and LINE sit at the center of two of the largest messaging and digital platform ecosystems in Korea and Japan, respectively, making Kaia a significant piece of regional digital infrastructure.
Klaytn previously participated in the Bank of Korea’s CBDC pilot ecosystem, and the Bank of Korea has continued to advance CBDC testing through initiatives such as Project Hangang.
By combining BTQ’s PQC technology with blockchain infrastructure tied to the Kakao and LINE ecosystems, the proof-of-concept is intended to establish a model that aligns institutional-grade security, blockchain scalability, and evolving regulatory requirements for digital money infrastructure.
QSSN as the Security Layer
The PQC security foundation for the initiative is BTQ’s Quantum Secure Stablecoin Settlement Network, or QSSN, a quantum-secure network architecture designed for stablecoin, tokenized deposit, payment, and digital asset infrastructure. QSSN is designed to protect critical issuer functions, including stablecoin issuance, burning, transfer authority, upgrade control, and administrative permissions, by integrating PQC-based signatures while maintaining existing user experience and operational workflows.
BTQ has previously announced that QSSN was highlighted in the U.S. Post-Quantum Financial Infrastructure Framework (“PQFIF”) as a model architecture for post-quantum digital money infrastructure. The Company has also positioned QSSN as a standards-oriented initiative advanced through QuINSA and aligned with emerging post-quantum financial infrastructure requirements.
Addressing the Harvest-Now, Decrypt-Later Risk
The timing of the proof-of-concept reflects the growing urgency surrounding the “Harvest-Now, Decrypt-Later” risk, in which attackers may collect encrypted financial data today and decrypt it later once sufficiently advanced quantum capabilities emerge. Global institutions are already accelerating post-quantum migration. The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (“NIST”) has finalized its first set of post-quantum cryptography standards, including ML-DSA, ML-KEM, and SLH-DSA, while major technology companies and financial institutions continue to define their own post-quantum transition timelines.
BTQ’s QSSN addresses this challenge through a dual-signature design that allows existing ECDSA-based infrastructure to operate in parallel with NIST-aligned PQC signatures such as ML-DSA. This approach enables banks and payment infrastructure providers to begin a phased transition toward quantum-safe security without disrupting existing systems.
Expanding BTQ’s Korean Ecosystem
BTQ continues to expand its Korean ecosystem across digital assets, payments, banking infrastructure, and hardware-based security. In October 2025, BTQ announced that Finger had joined Danal as an early participant in BTQ’s QSSN pilot program, with the initiative expected to progress from proof-of-concept toward commercialization under QuINSA-aligned guidelines and broader industry frameworks such as PQFIF.
The commencement of the iM Bank proof-of-concept represents an important commercial signal for BTQ, indicating that demand for post-quantum migration among Korean financial institutions is beginning to move from policy discussion toward infrastructure-level implementation. As Korea advances both quantum technology policy and stablecoin-related regulatory discussions, BTQ believes QSSN is well positioned at the intersection of regulated finance, digital asset infrastructure, and post-quantum security.
About iM Bank
iM Bank is a South Korean commercial bank and a subsidiary of DGB Financial Group. Headquartered in Daegu, iM Bank presents itself as a financial companion for customers and traces its roots to Daegu Bank, which was established in 1967 as Korea’s first regional bank. For more information, please visit https://www.imbank.co.kr/
About Finger Inc. Group
Finger supplies and develops financial IT solutions to provide optimized money management strategies for employees and corporate customers. Providing “Smartphone Financial Services”, “Corporate Cash Management Services” for businesses, “Private Wealth Management Services” for private consumers.
Since the year 2000, Finger has accumulated a number of awards and patents regarding its businesses. Based on its Mobile Enterprise Application Platform(MEAP) Orchestra and its funds management system using screen-scrapping technologies, Finger was the first company in Korea to deliver a smartphone banking banking-service. For more information, please visit http://www.finger.co.kr/
About BTQ
BTQ Technologies Corp. (Nasdaq: BTQ | Cboe CA: BTQ) is a quantum technology company focused on accelerating the transition from classical networks to the quantum internet. Backed by a broad patent portfolio and deep technical expertise, BTQ is advancing a full-stack, neutral-atom quantum computing platform spanning hardware, middleware, and post-quantum security solutions for finance, telecommunications, logistics, life sciences, and defense.
Connect with BTQ: Website | LinkedIn | X/Twitter
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Olivier Roussy Newton
CEO, Chairman
Neither Cboe Canada nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward Looking Information
Certain statements herein contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements or information include but are not limited to statements or information with respect to the business plans of the Company, including with respect to its research partnerships, and anticipated markets in which the Company may be listing its common shares. Forward-looking statements or information often can be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate”, “intend”, “expect”, “plan” or “may” and the variations of these words are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information.
The Company has made numerous assumptions including among other things, assumptions about general business and economic conditions, the development of post-quantum algorithms and quantum vulnerabilities, and the quantum computing industry generally. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive.
Although management of the Company believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements or information herein will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements and information are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks which may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results, expressed or implied, by such forward-looking statements or information. These factors include risks relating to: the availability of financing for the Company; business and economic conditions in the post-quantum and encryption computing industries generally; the speculative nature of the Company’s research and development programs; the supply and demand for labour and technological post-quantum and encryption technology; unanticipated events related to regulatory and licensing matters and environmental matters; changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets; changes in laws (including regulations respecting blockchains); risks related to the direct and indirect impact of COVID-19 including, but not limited to, its impact on general economic conditions, the ability to obtain financing as required, and causing potential delays to research and development activities; and other risk factors as detailed from time to time. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
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SOURCE BTQ Technologies Corp.
Technology
Zimmer Biomet to Present at the BofA Securities 2026 Health Care Conference
Published
16 hours agoon
May 6, 2026By
WARSAW, Ind., May 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. (NYSE and SIX: ZBH), a global medical technology leader, today announced that members of the Zimmer Biomet management team will participate in the Bank of America Securities Health Care Conference on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, with a fireside chat at 8:40 a.m. PT (11:40 a.m. ET).
A live audio webcast can be accessed via Zimmer Biomet’s Investor Relations website at https://investor.zimmerbiomet.com. It will be available for replay following the fireside chat.
About Zimmer Biomet
Zimmer Biomet is a global medical technology leader with a comprehensive portfolio designed to maximize mobility and improve health. We seamlessly transform the patient experience through our innovative products and suite of integrated digital and robotic technologies that leverage data, data analytics and artificial intelligence.
With 90+ years of trusted leadership and proven expertise, Zimmer Biomet is positioned to deliver the highest quality solutions to patients and providers. Our legacy continues to come to life today through our progressive culture of evolution and innovation.
For more information about our product portfolio, our operations in 25+ countries and sales in 100+ countries or about joining our team, visit www.zimmerbiomet.com or follow on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/zimmerbiomet or X at www.x.com/zimmerbiomet.
Contacts:
Media
Investors
Troy Kirkpatrick
David DeMartino
614-284-1926
646-531-6115
troy.kirkpatrick@zimmerbiomet.com
david.demartino@zimmerbiomet.com
Kirsten Fallon
Zach Weiner
781-779-5561
908-591-6955
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zimmer-biomet-to-present-at-the-bofa-securities-2026-health-care-conference-302763299.html
SOURCE Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.
Technology
NextLadder Ventures Announces Co-Founder Leadership Team, Investment Focus Areas For Over $1 Billion Initiative Empowering Americans with Personalized, Tech-Enabled Support Tools
Published
16 hours agoon
May 6, 2026By
New senior hires from Google and The Collaborative Fund to lead product strategy and venture investing
Fund unveils first investment focus areas to catalyze new ‘Navigation Technology’ market, equipping Americans with cutting-edge tools to achieve economic security, opportunity and empowerment
ST. LOUIS, May 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — NextLadder Ventures, a new fund backed by more than $1 billion in capital, today announced its priority investment areas for building a new market for “Navigation Technology” (NavTech) — tools that provide Americans with personalized solutions to navigate life’s challenges and achieve greater economic mobility — and announced its co-founding team, including two new senior hires.
The fund’s active focus areas are based on extensive research identifying the key experiences and high-stakes decision points that have an outsized impact on American families’ economic mobility. Launched investment areas include financial health, career navigation, and benefits and social services access, with further exploration underway around housing, legal aid, justice and re-entry, and mental and physical health.
The organization is also today welcoming two senior leaders: Lauren Loktev is joining NextLadder as Managing Director of Investments and Brigitte Hoyer Gosselink as Managing Director of Product. Loktev was most recently a partner at the Collaborative Fund, where she backed several breakout companies in early child development, education, and sustainability. Gosselink comes to NextLadder from Google, where she led the company’s AI and social impact portfolio. They join a growing team which has deep expertise at the intersection of economic mobility, technology, public policy, and philanthropy.
NextLadder’s Focus Areas for Investment
Today, the fund is kicking off a plan to deploy $1 billion over the next seven years to accelerate the design, development, and deployment of accessible NavTech tools that aim to help families more successfully navigate the major life experiences that determine whether they get ahead or fall behind. As NextLadder’s inaugural frontier AI lab partner, Anthropic is supporting the build-out of the organization’s AI-native capabilities and is offering technical assistance to NextLadder’s portfolio organizations.
As an increasing proportion of Americans across income levels find themselves overextended and overwhelmed, NavTech tools are designed to help individuals and families understand their options, connect to information and resources, and take action to recover from a setback or take advantage of an opportunity and reclaim their economic futures.
“Life is getting harder, and too many Americans are stuck facing some of the most complex and consequential moments of their lives without much support,” said Ryan Rippel, CEO of NextLadder Ventures. “Every day, millions in this country face fork-in-the-road decisions that have major implications on whether they climb up the economic ladder or fall farther behind. AI has understandably intensified many Americans’ anxieties about their jobs and their security in the economy. But these technologies are now also making it possible to deliver highly personalized, affordable tools to meet the needs of tens of millions of Americans in a way that has never been practically achievable or financially viable before. With NavTech tools, built for the reality of families’ everyday experiences, we can empower Americans to overcome setbacks, navigate life’s toughest financial decisions, and build more secure futures.”
NavTech tools, built with the needs of individuals, families, and trusted community partners at the center of their design, have the potential to ease burdens most acutely faced by 90 million Americans who live in households that have difficulty in paying for usual home expenses, and turbocharge the capacity of the 1.6 million community workers in non-profit or local, state, and federal government roles who serve them. This growing category of digital technologies includes tools that help families access opportunities such as personalized financial advice and legal aid, get connected with available resources and programs, and manage unexpected hurdles like losing a job or facing an eviction – while freeing social workers and service providers to spend more time on people and less time on red tape and paperwork.
The fund’s active investment areas include:
Financial Health: Developing highly personalized, AI-powered financial health tools that can provide tailored, sustained counsel to help users build savings and protect and recover from financial shocks;
Career Navigation: Building tools to support career navigation, manage and support career transitions, and help workers, case managers, and employers identify pathways to living wage work — all designed to help people successfully find the right jobs for them.
Benefits & Social Services Access: Helping eligible Americans seamlessly identify and enroll in all the benefits and social services available to them, particularly those that support career navigation and transitions, help them navigate critical life moments, and achieve stability toward economic opportunity.
NextLadder is exploring additional focus areas, including housing, legal aid, justice and re-entry, caregiving, and mental and physical health. More on the organization’s vision of these focus areas is available HERE.
In addition to backing direct NavTech solutions, NextLadder is investing in the developers, partners, and standards required to build a durable, self-sustaining market. Across all focus areas, the fund is prioritizing efforts to ensure NavTech tools are reliable, protect users’ privacy, and are trusted by the families who depend on them.
NextLadder’s Co-Founder Leadership Team
NextLadder’s five co-founders will be CEO Ryan Rippel, Chief Strategy and Operations Officer Rhett Dornbach-Bender, Chief of Staff Callie Schwartz, and the two new senior hires: Managing Director of Investments Lauren Loktev and Managing Director of Product Brigitte Hoyer Gosselink, rounding out the fund’s expertise in investing, technology, and impact.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Lauren and Brigitte to the NextLadder team,” said Rippel. “Brigitte has spent her career proving that when applied purposefully, AI and technology can deliver meaningful benefits for communities, and she’ll set the bar for what NavTech tools can deliver for American families today and in the years to come. And with her deep experience backing mission-driven founders, Lauren is the perfect leader to build our venture practice from the ground up and accelerate the growth of the NavTech field. With this team in place, we’re positioned to make NavTech tools easier to build, fund, and access so they reach the people who need them most.”
Loktev brings 15 years of venture capital experience investing at the intersection of for-profit and for-good. Most recently at Collaborative Fund, she backed several companies to significant scale and launched Collab+Sesame, a first-of-its-kind thematic seed fund in partnership with Sesame Workshop focused on early childhood education. At NextLadder, she will build and lead the fund’s venture practice, sourcing and scaling investments in the founders building the next generation of NavTech tools.
“We have a once in a generation opportunity to help steer AI solutions toward those who need them most,” said Loktev. “Many amazing, accomplished founders see this too, and they are on a mission to build scalable, transformative businesses in the critical verticals that help people navigate life-changing moments. I couldn’t be more excited to join NextLadder and to support the most inspiring leaders building this market from the ground up. Thanks to our unique, long-term mandate, we can be creative and flexible in investing across stage and check size to partner with the entrepreneurs and leaders we believe will change the world.”
Prior to her role at NextLadder, Gosselink spent over a decade at Google in several roles including Director of AI and Social Impact, directing more than $500 million in funding for organizations applying AI to address challenges including crisis response, education, and economic opportunity. At NextLadder, she will lead AI and product strategy across the fund’s portfolio, backing solutions and setting market-wide standards for how NavTech tools are designed, evaluated, and improved over time.
“If we collectively harness the AI transformation strategically and purposefully, we can transform the way Americans are empowered to access greater economic mobility,” said Gosselink. “We believe that people-centered products, combined with shifts in the market and the services available to families, can fundamentally reshape how millions of Americans navigate critical moments and achieve prosperity on their own terms.”
To request interviews from the NextLadder Ventures leadership team, contact media@nextladder.com.
About NextLadder Ventures
NextLadder Ventures is a time-bound venture with one goal: empower millions of Americans to reach their potential by 2040. Backed by over $1 billion in capital, the organization invests in breakthrough technologies that remove barriers to economic success and put people in control of their futures. NextLadder Ventures is trailblazing a new market for tech-enabled Navigation Technology tools that help people access the resources they need to navigate pivotal moments — offering flexible, risk-tolerant capital to entrepreneurs building these transformative tools today, while creating a pipeline of tech, talent, and capital for the long run.
SOURCE NextLadder Ventures
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