Credit Lyonnais signs 1.9 MEUR contract with Gunnebo subsidiary Fichet Securite Physique


STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Dec. 04, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- The prominent French high-street bank Credit Lyonnais has signed a 1,9 MEUR (MSEK 17) contract with Gunnebo's French subsidiary, Fichet Securite Physique, covering the purchase and installation of automatic cash handling products.

Since 2001, Credit Lyonnais has been implementing a long-term plan to equip all of its 1,850 branches with automatic cash handling systems. This has involved working closely with Gunnebo's French company, Fichet Securite Physique. The investment is mainly intended for the bank's business customers.

"Fichet supply machines that are more reliable and easier for our customers to use," says Philippe Moreau, who has responsibility for banking automation at Credit Lyonnais. "This is a key aspect of our long- term automation strategy."

Credit Lyonnais's wide-ranging automation programme has two purposes: to improve security for its personnel and to give business customers better service. The latest order, which is worth more than 1,9 MEUR, includes automated deposit boxes, coin rolling machines and electronic devices for special transfers (e.g. in foreign currencies).

"We're budgeting with a pay-off time on the investment of between four and six years," says Moreau. "And then we're only counting productivity gains and the new business generated by the automation process. The real benefits that improved security entails are harder to calculate."

Banking automation is one of the fastest growing business areas at Gunnebo Physical Security, which includes Fichet Securite Physique. "We see very attractive growth potential in this business area and have developed and launched several new products in recent years," says Torbjorn Browall, president of Gunnebo Physical Security.


GUNNEBO AB (publ) Information
For further information, please contact:
Torbjorn Browall, Divisional President, Gunnebo Physical Security
+46 31 749 90 50, +46 705 92 56 04 (mobile)

Janerik Dimming, Senior Vice President Group Communications
+46 31 83 68 03, +46 705 83 68 03 (mobile)
janerik.dimming@gunnebo.se

Gunnebo is today an international fast growing security group with 110 companies located in 32 countries. The Group has sales to a further hundred markets via agents and distributors. Turnover amounts to some MEUR 760. Gunnebo's security products mainly include fire and burglar re sistant safes, security products for banks and cash handling, electronic security systems, fire protection, entrance control and access control, alarm centres and indoor and outdoor perimeter protection. Gunnebo has at its disposal some of the world's leading brand names in security: Chubb Safes, Fichet-Bauche, Rosengrens, Ritzenthaler, Garny and Leicher.

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