London W1-based De La Rue Plc feels quietly satisfied with its achievements in the year ended March 31 1991, having completed its programme of disposals, cost reduction and efficiency improvement. The turnover of the group’s continuing businesses increased by 11.4% to UKP370m – pre-tax profits leaped 53% to UKP59m. In terms of revenues, De La Rue now has three divisions of similar size – Currency, Security Print, and Payment Systems. Sales in the currency division remained flat, after a good year in 1989-90, but a 10% increase in security print sales was recorded, as well as a 30% growth in payment systems. Orders for all three divisions are said to be strong. A large proportion of the company’s sales are made overseas – only 14% of revenues are now derived from the UK – which is the reason that De La Rue has been relatively unaffected by the UK recession, and by exchange rates.
