Chairman's Statement

De La Rue PLC
19 July 2000


DE LA RUE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT RE CURRENT TRADING/BOARD CHANGES

At the Annual General Meeting of De La Rue plc, today, the Chairman said:

'A detailed comment on group trading and outlook was contained in the Chief
Executive's statement in the annual report published in May.  Therefore I have
little to add to the update contained in the annual report except to say that
I am pleased to report that, as expected, sales and operating profits from
continuing operations for the first quarter are ahead of the same period last
year.  Within Cash Systems, orders for Branch Cash Systems' new Twin Safe II
teller cash reycler (acquired as part of the Ascom acquisition) have been
ahead of expectations with orders for over 350 units received to date. Most of
the Twin Safe II sales will come through in the second half.  One area of
weakness has been in Cash Processing where sales of large sorters have been
slower than anticipated.

Camelot were expecting an announcement at the end of June, on the results of
the tender for the new licence to run the lottery for the period 2001 - 2008,
however, this decision has now been deferred towards the end of August and an
update  will be given at that time.

At the conclusion of this annual general meeting, Lord Wright and Brian
Birkenhead will retire as non executive directors.  On your behalf I would
like to thank them for their contribution to De La Rue over the past nine
years in the case of Lord Wright and six years for Brian Birkenhead.  Nicholas
Brookes, Chairman of the Remuneration Committee will replace Lord Wright as
senior independent non executive director and Keith Hodgkinson will replace
Brian Birkenhead as Chairman of the Audit Committee.'

Enquiries:  
P R Hollingworth, Finance Director                       01256 605321
Mark Fearon, Head of Corporate Affairs                   01256 605303
                                                         07711 875070 (mobile)