SMG/NRB - SUSPENSION OF THE LISTING OF SHARES AND DEBENTURES

SMG HOLDINGS LIMITED
(REGISTRATION NUMBER 87/03019/06)
("SMG")
NRB HOLDINGS LIMITED
(REGISTRATION NUMBER 70/01022/06)
("NRB")
SUSPENSION OF THE LISTING OF SHARES AND DEBENTURES

SHAREHOLDERS OF SMG AND SHAREHOLDERS AND DEBENTURE HOLDERS OF NRBH ARE ADVISED
THAT NEW REPUBLIC BANK LIMITED ("NRB"), A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF NRBH, HAS
BEEN PLACED UNDER CURATORSHIP BY THE REGISTRAR OF BANK.

THE APPLICATION BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF NRB TO THE REGISTRAR OF BANKS FOR
THE APPOINTMENT OF A CURATOR IS THE RESULT OF THE WITHDRAWAL OF DEPOSITS FROM
THE BANK IN THE WAKE OF ADVERSE PUBLICITY OVER THE LAST FOURTEEN DAYS.  THIS
PUBLICITY WAS LARGELY BASED ON ERRONEOUS INFORMATION BUT HAS, NEVERTHELESS,
AFFECTED THE BANK'S ABILITY TO OPERATE NORMAAFFECTED THE BANK'S ABILITY TO OPERATE NORMASHAREHOLDERS AND DEBENTURE HOLDERS ARE ACCORDINGLY ADVISED THAT THE LISTINGS OF
THE SHARES OF SMG AND THE SHARES AND DEBENTURES OF NRBH HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED.
JOHANNESBURG
29 JANUARY 1999