£1M Aquisition of InterClear from Universal Group

De La Rue PLC
20 March 2000


DE LA RUE PLC AND UNIVERSE GROUP PLC

DE LA RUE TO ACQUIRE UK DIGITAL CERTIFICATION AUTHORITY - INTERCLEAR

- Provision of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) electronic security services 
  will allow customers access to a secure, authenticated infrastructure for 
  e-business.

De La Rue, the cash to secure transactions Group, has today announced that it
has agreed to acquire the digital certification business of InterClear Service
Limited, a UK based company owned by Universe Group plc, for a consideration
of approximately £1m.   Completion is expected on or before 7 April 2000.

InterClear is a commercial digital Certification Authority founded in 1997. 
Using a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) solution the business enables the
secure management of digital certificates, which act like 'electronic
passports' ensuring user authentication, data integrity and confidentiality
and message non-repudiation in electronic transactions.  PKI services are
becoming an integral part of an increasing number of e-business applications
including business to business exchanges, online banking, secure email and
enterprise security.

The business is at an early stage of development with current sales comprising
fees for the build and operation of pilot-scale projects.

To leverage the benefit of being part of De La Rue, greater emphasis will be
given to the areas of government applications, financial and, in the longer
term, digital brand protection.  The business will also be focused on the
higher end niches, with customers in similar segments to De La Rue's existing
customer base.  There will be costs associated with developing the business
(estimated at £2.5m in the first year).  It is anticipated that it will take
at least two years before the main benefits of the acquisition show through in
increased profits for the division.

Commenting Christopher Chadwick, Managing Director of De La Rue's new Services
and Solutions division, said:

'The acquisition of InterClear represents a small but significant step in the
development of electronic security services for our customers.  It is a
natural extension of De La Rue's existing operations from the physical to the
virtual world.  We have a unique heritage in secure transactions and De La Rue
is a trusted brand with secure processes and global reach, gained particularly
from working with the world's banks and governments.

'The focus of digital security is very much around physical security, process
security, secure distribution and importantly the management of identity
information - all core competencies at De La Rue. This, combined with
InterClear's unique understanding of digital security services and PKI
solutions means that we will be offering a powerful proposition to
organisations who wish to do business securely over the internet.'

For further information please contact:

De La Rue plc

Paul Hollingworth       Finance Director              01256 605307
Mark Fearon             Head of Corporate Affairs     01256 605303
James Garthwaite        Brunswick                     0171 404 5959

Universe Group plc

Ray Mackie              Chairman                      0171 486 9074
Charles Ryland          Buchanan Communications       0171 466 5000


Notes to editors:

Electronic security services will form a key part of De La Rue's offering in
the new Services and Solutions division which will commence trading on 1 April
2000. The Company announced the formation of the new division at its interim
results on 23 November 1999. The three core business areas that the new
division would develop were; related services to core customers; brand
protection services and electronic security services.