De La Rue plc

Activist fund Crystal Amber more than doubled its stake in De La Rue Plc, days after the banknote and printer warned of "significant doubt" that it can continue as a going concern and said it would scrap its dividend to tackle mounting debt.

* De La Rue issues going concern warning, scraps dividend (Adds company news items, updates to closing prices)

Banknote printer De La Rue <DLAR.L> warned on Tuesday of "significant doubt" that it can continue as a going concern and said it would scrap its dividend to tackle mounting debt, sending its shares to their lowest in two decades.

British banknote printer De La Rue <DLAR.L>, whose roots stretch back nearly 200 years, on Tuesday warned its future was in doubt, wiping almost a quarter off the company's value.

De La Rue's <DLAR.L> second-biggest shareholder, activist fund Crystal Amber, said on Tuesday it was "not alarmed" by the company's weak first-half results and would buy more shares of the British banknotes and passport printer.

De La Rue's second-biggest shareholder, activist fund Crystal Amber, said on Tuesday it was "not alarmed" by the company's weak first-half results and would buy more shares of the British banknotes and passport printer.

British banknote printer De La Rue , whose roots stretch back nearly 200 years, on Tuesday warned its future was in doubt, wiping almost a quarter off the company's value.

London's main index edged lower on Tuesday as a near 7% slide in catering firm Compass Group offset gains in miners that were driven by hopes of a resolution to the U.S.-China trade dispute.

De La Rue Plc said on Tuesday it plans to suspend dividend payment and review its business to cut costs, as its banknotes printing unit struggles with depressed margins amid stiff competition and growing popularity of digital payments.

* Shares plunge to 21-year low (Adds shares, background, analyst comments)

UK stocks inched lower on Wednesday led by a fall in the shares of retailer Next following its results, while Prime Minister Boris Johnson won approval from parliament on Tuesday for an early ballot aimed at breaking the Brexit deadlock.

Passport maker De La Rue warned on Wednesday its annual profit would be significantly lower than market expectations, as its new top boss, a turnaround specialist, leads a review of the business.

De La Rue <DLAR.L> has appointed turnaround specialist Clive Vacher as chief executive as the banknote and passport maker contends with a series of setbacks.

Banknote and passport printer De La Rue Plc on Monday named Clive Vacher as chief executive officer to replace Martin Sutherland, whose departure was announced in May after the company warned of a profit downturn for the year.

Banknote and passport printer De La Rue on Monday named software firm Micro Focus' Kevin Loosemore as chairman designate and said he will replace Philip Rogerson, who will retire after more than seven years in the role on Oct. 1.

Banknote and passport printer De La Rue on Monday appointed Micro Focus's Kevin Loosemore as chairman designate with immediate effect to replace Philip Rogerson, who will retire after more than seven years in the role.

The UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has opened a criminal investigation into passport and banknote printer De La Rue over "suspected corruption" in its business in South Sudan, sending its shares plunging to 16-year lows.

De La Rue said on Tuesday 171 jobs were at risk at its Gateshead plant, more than a year after the banknote and passport printer lost a 400 million pound ($509.08 million) contract to make UK passports in the traditional blue colour.

The Bank of England said on Tuesday it had awarded an eight-year contract to produce the polymer for a new plastic 50-pound banknote and future five and 10-pound notes to printers De La Rue of Britain and Australia's CCL Secure.