July 1 2008.

MUNICH, Germany

The Management Board of Giesecke & Devrient GmbH, Munich, today decided to cease delivering banknote paper to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe with immediate effect. The company has taken this step in response to an official request from the German government and calls for international sanctions by the European Union and United Nations.

"Our decision is a reaction to the political tension in Zimbabwe, which is mounting significantly rather than easing as expected, and takes account of the critical evaluation by the international community, German government and general public," explains Dr. Karsten Ottenberg, Chairman of the Management Board and CEO of Giesecke & Devrient GmbH.

In delivering banknotes and banknote paper, Giesecke & Devrient is subject to strict rules defined by the World Bank. The company continues to rely on the political and moral assessment provided by international trade regulators.

Giesecke & Devrient is a technology leader in the field of smart cards, providing smart card-based solutions for telecommunications, electronic payment, healthcare, ID, transportation, and IT security (PKI). G&D is also a leading producer of banknotes and security documents and is dominant in the field of currency automation. Based in Munich, Germany, the G&D Group maintains subsidiaries and joint ventures around the world.

June 2008.

Verdict Against eBay in Counterfeit Suit in France

A growing number of U.S. and European court cases regarding the sale of counterfeit luxury products has brought attention to the very real problem consumers face when purchasing online. A verdict handed down by a French court on Wednesday June 4th ruled that eBay sold counterfeit items and is therefore liable for damages to French luxury group Hermes. This is the first verdict in a series of lawsuits brought against eBay by such iconic brands as Christian Dior Couture, Louis Vuitton and Tiffany & Co. Whilst the damages awarded against eBay were not enormous they nevertheless set a precedent that could encourage other brands to take similar action.

Portero.com, one of the only online auction marketplaces that authenticates branded luxury products, estimates that as much as $15 billion, or ten percent of the branded luxury goods sold globally, are counterfeit. "Every luxury brand has an obligation to protect consumers against counterfeits of its merchandise, and consumers should make every effort to ensure that the branded luxury goods they purchase online or through any other distribution channel are legitimate," says Milton Pedraza of the Luxury Institute.

"Portero's authentication model is a necessity in order to protect both consumers and manufacturers from being victimized by counterfeit merchandise."

Unlike eBay and many other online sites, Portero.com sets the standard in the online marketplace for the authentication of the branded luxury products featured on its site. In addition, Portero provides consumers with objective condition assessments for the goods featured, as well as unique and constantly changing brands, edited merchandise and dedicated customer support specialists.

Says Portero Founder and CEO Michael Sheldon, "Since I founded Portero in 2004, we have implemented the most stringent authentication standards in the online marketplace. I believe the tremendous success we have achieved to date, and the fact that we have tripled our sales in the last 12 months, result from our unwavering commitment to these standards and the trust consumers place in Portero."

PARIS 31st January 2008.

(Thomson Financial) - Four consortia are in the running for a contract to supply France's biometric passports after the process was launched in October, La Tribune reported without naming its source.

Capgemini has teamed up with Sopra, Gemalto and Oberthur. Atos Origin is working with Safran's Sagem Defense Securite. Thales and Accenture are working together and Bull has teamed up with Belgium's Zeltes.

A decision is expected later this month, the paper said.

16th January 2008.
BemroseBooth on the market?

Appleton announced on January 16th that it will explore options to sell BemroseBooth, a wholly-owned subsidiary that Appleton acquired in December 2003.

BemroseBooth provides business critical products with security features and specialised print management services to the transactional services industry, secure logistics and promotional products markets.

The Company employs more than 600 people at operations in Derby, Hull and Teesside, United Kingdom, and achieved net sales of approximately $113 million in fiscal 2006 accounting for approximately 10% of Appleton’s net sales in fiscal 2006.

Appleton’s chief executive officer, Mark Richards, said that Appleton intends to focus on its core businesses and will explore the sale of BemroseBooth because it no longer complements Appleton’s long-term strategic direction.

Appleton has retained international financial advisers, William Blair & Company, to assist with the process of the sale. Appleton is also currently evaluating the impact that a potential sale of BemroseBooth will have on Appleton’s financial statements - such impact could be material in nature. Appleton said that it can offer no assurances that a transaction will occur or, if one is undertaken, its terms or timing.

The Company says that it will provide no additional public comment about the progress or developments of this process unless its board of directors enters into a definitive sales agreement with a potential buyer.

BemroseBooth produces security-printed vouchers and payment cards, mass transit and car parking tickets, variable data labelling, high-integrity mailing and printed calendars. The company also offers print management services, such as creative design, product sourcing and stock and logistics management, through a network of external suppliers.

Appleton creates product solutions through its development and use of coating formulations and applications, encapsulation technology and secure and specialised print services. Appleton produces carbonless, thermal, security and performance packaging products.

Headquartered in Appleton, Wisconsin, U.S.A., the Company has manufacturing operations in Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and the United Kingdom and employs approximately 3,100 people and is 100 percent employee owned.

Leicester, United Kingdom 16th August 2007.

Product & Image Security and Package Print & Converting International magazines have been acquired by Leicester based WillisPlimmer Publishing from EPI International who are to concentrate its efforts on building its exhibition business.
Both magazines have a ten year history of providing timely comment on innovation and progress in the world of security printing and packaging.

The new Company has been created by Trevor Willis and Jeremy Plimmer and will continue to provide a platform for technology transfer information, comment and facts in these important market sectors.

Jeremy Plimmer is Editor of Product & Image Security Magazine and also Secretary of Product & Image Security Foundation. He has edited this publication since its inception in February 1997.

Trevor Willis is the Commercial Director . Both partners have a long history of working in the printing industry. They met when they were both employed at Kenrick & Jefferson, an International UK based security printer that was later acquired by BemroseBooth which is now part of Appleton.

Over the last few years Trevor has been working in the USA for the Wisconsin based Appleton Papers where he was responsible for product and market development in Brand protection and later within the International Division .Trevor will contribute editorially as well as commercially to the enterprise. He returned to the UK recently and this has provided an ideal opportunity for both partners to work together again.

Willis commented “ I am delighted to have the opportunity to work in with such established and informative journals such as these .We hope to develop the products to cover an even wider range of topics in future especially as counterfeit prevention is becoming more important in todays society”

The new Company will be based in Leicestershire in the UK and will be exhibiting at this year’s LabelExpo in Brussels next month.