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                                                                    Exhibit 99.1
MULTI-COLOR
Corporation                                         Contact: Dawn H. Bertsche
                                                             Vice President/CFO
                                                             513/345-1108


                Multi-Color to Enter New Markets with Acquisition


         CINCINNATI, Ohio, December 17, 1999 - Multi-Color Corporation (NASDAQ:
LABL) today announced it has purchased the assets of Buriot International, a
Batavia, Ohio, label printing company. The terms of the acquisition were not
disclosed.

         Buriot International was created two and a half years ago as a
specialized printer of high-end pressure sensitive labels as well as in-mold
labels (IML) for consumer product containers.

         "With this acquisition, we obtain state-of-the-art offset and
flexographic printing technology that complements our industry-leading gravure
printing capabilities. This opens a whole new vista for our company," said Frank
Gerace, Multi-Color President and Chief Executive Officer.

         "This makes Multi-Color a `one-stop-shop' - the total solution - for
consumer product manufacturers' label requirements. We will expand our product
offerings to include pressure sensitive labels for our current customers and
other consumer packaging manufacturers."

         Multi-Color has specialized in manufacturing gravure-printed IML labels
for blow-molded consumer product containers, including liquid detergents, fruit
juices and anti-freeze. The dynamics of brand management cause label
requirements to move between IML labels and pressure sensitive labels.
Multi-Color estimates the U.S. market for pressure sensitive labels is more than
$6 billion annually.

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         "Our focus will be on the high end of the pressure-sensitive label
market with emphasis on the health and beauty aids segments - those labels that
are complex and demanding in design and application," Gerace said. "This is
where our ability to deliver a consistent, high-quality product will really make
a difference for consumer product manufacturers.

         "We are projecting that the acquisition will begin making a significant
contribution to our revenues and net income in our next fiscal year, which
begins in April 2000.

         The Batavia plant currently employs 25 administrative, sales and
operations people. "Multi-Color Corporation expects all current employees to
remain employed at the facility."

         The plant, located in an eastern Cincinnati suburb, has a 40-inch
Komori offset press and an 18-inch Comco flexo press. Both presses are equipped
with interstation ultraviolet (UV) drying equipment. The flexo press is also
equipped for hot foil stamping and rotary screen capabilities, an important
feature for manufacturing health and beauty product labels.

         Multi-Color and Buriot International entered into a joint sales and
marketing agreement on IML labels in October 1998. "Our acquisition of the plant
is a natural progression in our commitment to the future growth of our company,"
Gerace said.

         Multi-Color also announced today that Thomas J. Vogt has joined
Multi-Color as vice president for specialty labels. Vogt will focus on
developing the new markets for Multi-Color labels.

         Vogt has spent nearly 30 years in printing, finishing and substrates.
Most recently, he was vice president for sales for Gar Doc, Inc., a Milford, NH,
printer. From

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1984 to 1993, he was president of National Label Systems, a Cincinnati, OH,
label-manufacturing company. He was also founder and head of ImageMatrix Inc., a
producer of computer-generated corporate slide presentations, and Vogt Color
Service, Inc. Vogt is a graduate of Xavier University in Cincinnati with a
bachelor's degree in business administration and management.

         Multi-Color is the leading manufacturer of in-mold labels (IML) in
North America for branded consumer products from fruit juices and health and
beauty products, to liquid detergents and anti-freeze. The IML label is applied
to a plastic container during the blow-molding process. The Company's shares are
traded over-the-counter under the NASDAQ National Market System symbol LABL.

         Forward-looking statements in this release including, without
limitations, statements relating to the Company's plans, strategies, objectives,
expectations, intentions and adequacy of resources, are made pursuant to the
safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties
and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements
of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance
or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These
factors include, among others, the following: general economic and business
conditions; the ability to integrate acquisitions; the success of its
significant customers; competition; acceptance of new product offerings; changes
in business strategy or plans; quality of management; availability, terms and
development of capital; availability of raw materials; business abilities and
judgment of personnel; changes in, or the failure to comply with, government
regulations, and other factors. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly
update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.

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