MUNICH, Germany, July 1 /PRNewswire/ -- 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.

About Giesecke & Devrient:

Giesecke & Devrient (G&D) 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. In fiscal 2007, the Group employed close to 9,000 people and generated revenue of almost EUR1.5 billion.

For more information, visit our website at http://www.gi-de.com.

Contact: Barbara Kogler, Group Vice President Corporate Communications Phone: +49-89-4119-3025, Fax: -1208 E-Mail: barbara.koegler@gi-de.com Heiko Witzke, Head of Media Relations Phone: +49 89-4119-2422, Fax: -1208 E-Mail: heiko.witzke@gi-de.com Giesecke & Devrient GmbH Prinzregentenstrasse 159, 81607 Munich, Germany http://www.gi-de.com/press

Contact: Barbara Kogler, Group Vice President Corporate Communications, Phone: +49-89-4119-3025, Fax: -1208, E-Mail: barbara.koegler@gi-de.com. Heiko Witzke, Head of Media Relations, Phone: +49 89-4119-2422, Fax: -1208, E-Mail: heiko.witzke@gi-de.com. Giesecke & Devrient GmbH, Prinzregentenstrasse 159, 81607 Munich, Germany, http://www.gi-de.com/press