6 October 2023 

De La Rue plc

Pre-close trading update

De La Rue plc (LSE: DLAR) ("De La Rue", the "Group" or the "Company") today announces a trading update for the financial year ending 30 March 2024.

For H1 FY24, which ended 30 September 2023, the Company expects adjusted operating profit to be marginally ahead of previous guidance* given at the time of our full year results announcement on 29 June and reconfirmed at our AGM in September. Net debt is expected to be improved versus previous guidance, in the low £80m range.

For the full year FY24, the Board's expectations for adjusted operating profit remain unchanged, reinforced by the half year position. Net debt for full year FY24 is now expected to be marginally better than previous guidance, in the mid £90m range.

The Company's interim results for the period to 30 September 2023 will be announced on 19 December 2023.

* Guidance was that full year adjusted operating profit for the Group would be in the low £20m range for the full year and broadly break even for the first half year.  Net debt would rise to around £100m at both half and full year.

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About De La Rue

Established 210 years ago, De La Rue is synonymous with reliability, innovation, creativity, and transformation. De La Rue is trusted by governments, central banks, and international brands, providing digital and physical solutions that protect their supply chains and cash cycles from counterfeiting and illicit trade. 

With operations in five continents, customers in 140 countries and solutions that include advanced track and trace software, security document design, banknotes, brand protection labels, tax stamps, security features and passport bio-data pages, De La Rue brings unparalleled knowledge and expertise to its partnerships and projects. 

Our core focus areas are: 

-       Authentication: leveraging advanced digital software solutions and security labels to protect revenues and reputations from the impacts of illicit trade, counterfeiting, and identity theft.  

-       Currency: designing and manufacturing highly secure banknote and banknote components that are optimised for security, manufacturability, cash cycle efficacy and public engagement. 

The security and trust derived from our solutions pave the way for robust economies and flourishing societies. This is underpinned by a significant Environmental, Social, and Governance commitment that is evidenced by accolades such as the ISO 14001 certification and a consistent ranking in the top tier of the Financial Times European Climate Leaders list. 

De La Rue's shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange (LSE:DLAR). De La Rue plc's LEI code is 213800DH741LZWIJXP78.

For further information please visit www.delarue.com

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements

Certain statements contained in this document relate to the future and constitute 'forward-looking statements'. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. In some case, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "believes", "estimates", "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "plans", "may", "will", "could", "shall", "risk", "aims", "predicts", "continues", "assumes", "positioned" or "should" or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology. They appear in a number of places throughout this document and include statements regarding the intentions, beliefs or current expectations of the Directors, De La Rue or the Group concerning, amongst other things, the results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies and dividend policy of De La Rue and the industry in which it operates.

By their nature, forward-looking statements are not guarantees or predictions of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, many of which are beyond the Group's control, and which may cause the Group's actual results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, dividend policy and the development of the industry and business sectors in which the Group operates to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements contained in this document. In addition, even if the Group's actual results of operations, financial condition and the development of the business sectors in which it operates are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this document, those results or developments may not be indicative of results or developments in subsequent periods.

Past performance cannot be relied upon as a guide to future performance and should not be taken as a representation or assurance that trends or activities underlying past performance will continue in the future. Accordingly, readers of this documents are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

Other than as required by English law, none of the Company, its Directors, officers, advisers or any other person gives any representation, assurance or guarantee that the occurrence of the events expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements in this document will actually occur, in part or in whole. Additionally, statements of the intentions of the Board and/or Directors reflect the present intentions of the Board and/or Directors, respectively, as at the date of this document, and may be subject to change as the composition of the Company's Board of Directors alters, or as circumstances require.

The forward-looking statements contained in this document speak only as at the date of this document. Except as required by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority, the London Stock Exchange or applicable law (including as may be required by the UK Listing Rules and/or the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules), De La Rue expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in this document to reflect any change in the Group's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.