From Libya to China, banknote printer De La Rue's 200-year history

(Reuters) - 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.

From printing cash during World War Two to developing the world's first cash machine, here are some of the milestones in the company's history:

OCTOBER 2019

London-listed De La Rue cut its profit forecast for the second time in five months days after appointing turnaround specialist Clive Vacher as CEO.

JULY 2019

UK Serious Fraud Office opened a criminal investigation over "suspected corruption" in South Sudan, where De La Rue had won a contract to print the country's currency.

MAY 2019

De La Rue warned of a profit downturn this year and said its CEO Martin Sutherland would step down, triggering a 29% fall in shares.

MAY 2018

Activist investor Crystal Amber said the company was "highly vulnerable" to a takeover.

MARCH 2018

Company lost a contract to make new blue British passports after Brexit to Franco-Dutch firm Gemalto.

NOVEMBER 2011

Company won a contract to supply currency to newly independent South Sudan.

SEPTEMBER 2011

Britain's air force delivered 40 tonnes of Libyan dinars, printed by the company, to the country's new rulers following the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi.

JAN 2011

France's Oberthur Technologies walked away from a bid for the company.

2009

De La Rue won a 10-year contract to produce the UK passport and the Bank of England renewed the contract to print sterling.

2003

De La Rue won the main contract to produce banknotes for Iraq after Saddam Hussein's death.

Company signed a seven-year contract to supply sterling for the Bank of England, taking over the bank's manufacturing operation

1967

Jointly developed and installed the world's first ATM outside Barclays Bank in Enfield, UK.

1957

Marketed banknote counting machine.

1947

Listed in London.

1939

During World War Two, De La Rue printed currency for some occupied countries, which was hidden in a quarry until the end of the war.

1934

China places its first order for currency.

1862

Supplied to the Confederate States the only American stamp to be produced abroad: the Five Cents Blue.

1860

Printed its first paper money - the Mauritius 5 pound, 1 pound and 10 shilling notes.

1821

Founder Thomas de la Rue set up in London, making straw hats before producing stationery, playing cards, railway tickets and stamps over next decades.

1813

Founder launched his first commercial venture, Le Miroir Politique newspaper in Guernsey.

($1 = 0.7794 pounds)

(Reporting by Tanishaa Nadkar in Bengaluru. Editing by Josephine Mason and Jane Merriman)