American Banknote (ABnote) Acquires Arthur Blank & Company

American Banknote Corporation, parent of the ABnote Group,
announced today that it has acquired Arthur Blank & Company of Boston,
Massachusetts, for an undisclosed amount of cash and stock.

The acquisition of Arthur Blank & Co., one of North America's
oldest and largest plastic card companies, nearly doubles ABnote's
U.S. operations, and provides the world-wide ABnote Group access to
Arthur Blank's rich set of capabilities, high volume capacity and
intellectual property. In addition, ABnote announced that Stuart and
Eric Blank, long recognized as major leaders in the industry, will
assume responsibility for ABnote's entire North American plastic card
operations, including the ongoing management of Arthur Blank's
existing operations.

"We are more than thrilled to be able to acquire a company of the
quality, experience and reputation of Arthur Blank," stated Steven
Singer, Chairman and Chief Executive of American Banknote Corporation.
"Our complimentary businesses will provide both companies' global
customers with a broader product mix, terrific synergies and
unparalleled disaster recovery capabilities."

According to Stuart Blank, President of Arthur Blank and, now,
President of ABnote's combined North American Cards Division, "Arthur
Blank is a great company. But as part of American Banknote, we're
going to be exceptional." Mr. Blank added, "The ABnote Group is one of
the world's largest secure document, systems, and fulfillment
companies. They have a remarkable history, and they give us immediate
entree into a range of new markets and customers, both in the U.S. and
abroad."

About American Banknote Corporation

American Banknote Corporation is a holding company and the parent
of the ABnote Group, which operates through its subsidiary companies:
American Banknote S.A. in Brazil, Transtex S.A. in Argentina, Leigh
Mardon in Australia, ABnote NZ in New Zealand, CPS Technologies in
France, ABnote Europe, s.r.o. in the Czech Republic, and American Bank
Note Company in the United States. ABnote, which traces its founding
to 1795 and American patriot Paul Revere, is a global supplier of
secure documents, services and systems. For more information on
American Banknote, visit www.americanbanknote.com. For more
information on all of Arthur Blank's card products, visit
www.arthurblank.com.