Exhibit 99.1

Biometric Authentication Technology Provider BIO-key Reports

2018 Revenue of $4M Reflecting New Revenue Recognition Standards;

Initiates 2019 Revenue Guidance of $11M - $14M

Wall, NJ, April 1, 2019 - BIO-key International, Inc. (Nasdaq: BKYI), an innovative provider of biometric authentication and security solutions, today reported results for its fourth quarter (Q4'18) and full year ended December 31, 2018 and provided initial 2019 financial guidance. BIO-key will host a conference call tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. EDT (details below) to review its results and 2019 outlook.

2018 Highlights:

BIO-key CEO Michael DePasquale commented, “We have closed out 2018 with our most significant software license deployments to date which included a $5M Q4 '2018 license deployment. However, our 2018 financial statements include revenue of only approximately $1.1M of the $5M as under new GAAP revenue recognition standards, this contract is being recorded to revenue as payments are received. We expect to record the approximate $4M balance due under this license as revenue in 2019. On a positive note, the deferral of revenue recognition until payments are received will allow for more predictable, consistent quarterly performance.

“Importantly, 2018 marked a significant year of progress for BIO-key both in terms of new business productivity and developing predictable and recurring revenue opportunities for our core biometric software technology for 2019 and beyond. Case in point, our recurring service revenue contributed to 88% of total service revenues in 2018 compared to 41% of total service revenues in 2017. This was a result of a large three-year maintenance contract, and several new orders from smaller customers. In addition, we received multiple contract awards for our ID Director for Windows from highly visible customers in law enforcement, financial services and manufacturing around the world. These customers were looking to either secure the online activity of remote users and shared workstations or incorporate workflow efficiencies, such as replacing cumbersome passwords with ‘frictionless’ biometric authentication, while also adding enhanced tracking and reporting capabilities to their security infrastructure.

2019 Financial Guidance

“Based on revenue and cash flow from contracts in place, combined with favorable prospects from our business development efforts, we believe BIO-key is well positioned to deliver sustainable, top and bottom line improvements in 2019 and thereafter. As a result, BIO-key is initiating 2019 full-year revenue guidance of $11 to $14M, representing significant growth over the past two years combined. Within this revenue guidance range, we expect BIO-key will achieve positive cash flow and net income for the full year period.”

Mr. DePasquale concluded, “Our strategy remains to position BIO-key as a preferred provider of secure biometric authentication solutions across a growing base of use cases. We made solid progress in this regard over the past few years, and we are confident in our growth prospects for 2019 and beyond. This view is supported by clear and growing global need for enhanced authentication solutions and the clear value, security and user efficiency our solutions provide across various devices and enterprise and mobile networks.”

BIO-key’s 2018 results reflect the implementation of the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s new revenue recognition standards in Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. During Q4 2018, BIO-key executed a $5 million order, which includes two annual extensions for an additional $7 million for its biometric authentication platform from a Chinese based company focused on the technology and financial services industries in Asia. However, pursuant to the new revenue recognition standards, BIO-key recorded $1.1 million of the $5 million license sale deployed in 2018. BIO-key’s revenue recognition under the contract is being driven by the receipt of monthly cash payments of $555,000 which commenced in early 2019. Going forward, BIO-key will record revenue on a quarterly basis as those additional payments are received under the contract.

Q4 2018 Results

Q4'18 total revenue decreased to $1.7M from $3.1M in Q4'17, reflecting the recognition of just $1.1M in revenue from over $5M in software licenses shipped in the Q4’18 period. Gross margin decreased to 41% in Q4'18 from 72% in Q4'17, due primarily to lower software revenue and an increase of $270,000 of non-cash software license rights amortization expense.

Operating expenses in Q4'18 decreased by $0.3M, but were offset by a $0.7M write-down of an aged receivable for a net increase of 21% to $2M in Q4'18 compared to $1.7M in Q4'17.

BIO-key's Q4'18 net loss was $1.4M, or $0.10 per basic share after preferred dividends, compared to a net income of $0.5M, or $0.04 per diluted share after preferred dividends, in Q4'17.

FY 2018 Results

Full year 2018 revenue declined 36% to $4.0M versus $6.3M in 2017, reflecting the recognition of $1.1M in revenue from over $5M in software licenses shipped in Q4 2018 versus $2.5M in Q4 2017. Hardware revenue, including readers and locks, also declined to $1.3M in 2018 compared to $1.9M in 2017. Gross margin declined to (3%) compared to 49% in 2017, principally due to lower recorded revenue in 2018 and increased non-cash software license rights amortization expense of $1.1M.

Operating expenses declined to $6.7M in 2018 compared to $7.3M in 2017, reflecting decreases of $0.3M and $0.2M in selling, general and administrative expenses and R&D expenses, respectively, offset by a $0.7M write-down of an aged receivable in 2018. Full Year 2017 operating expenses included $531K of non-recurring fees and costs related to the up listing of BIO-key's shares to the Nasdaq Capital Market.

BIO-key’s 2018 net loss was ($6.9M), or ($0.73) per basic share after preferred dividends, compared to a net loss of ($4.3M), or ($0.76) per basic share after preferred dividends, in 2017. Per share results in 2018 and 2017 are based on a weighted average of 11.6 million and 6.6 million basic shares outstanding, respectively.

BIO-key had net working capital of $3.0 million as of December 31, 2018 and $4.7 million at December 31, 2017. Net working capital included approximately $1.9 million of cash and cash equivalents plus accounts receivable at December 31, 2018 versus $3.2 million at December 31, 2017.

Conference Call and Webcast Replay

Date/Time: Tuesday, April 2, 2019 at 10 am ET


Dial-In number: 1-877-418-5460 U.S. or 412-717-9594 (Intl.)


Webcast Replay: BKYI Q4 and FY 2018 Webcast & Replay – Available for 30 days


Call Replay: 1-877-344-7529 U.S. or 412-317-0088; Int’l code 10129884#

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 protect our intellectual property; changes in business conditions; changes in our sales strategy and product development plans; changes in the marketplace; continued services of our executive management team; competition in the biometric technology industry; market acceptance of biometric products generally and our products under development; our ability to expand into the Asian market; delays in the development of products and statements of assumption underlying any of the foregoing, as well as other factors set forth under the caption see "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and 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. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to disclose any revision to these forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Investor & Media Contacts

William Jones, Tanya Kamatu

Catalyst IR

212-924-9800

bkyi@catalyst-ir.com

BIO-key International, Inc. and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

BIO-key International, Inc. and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

BIO-key International, Inc. and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

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