WOOLWORTHS - NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS

WOOLWORTHS HOLDINGS LIMITED ("WOOLWORTHS") ANNOUNCED ITS RESULTS FOR THE SIX
MONTHS ENDED 31 DECEMBER 1998 ON 18 FEBRUARY 1999.  SUBSEQUENT TO THE

PUBLICATION OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT, A REDUCTION IN THE CORPORATE TAX RATE FROM 35%
TO 30% WAS ANNOUNCED.  WOOLWORTHS' MAJOR SHAREHOLDER, WOOLTRU LIMITED, TODAY
ANNOUNCES ITS RESULTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 1998, IN WHICH IT
REFLECTS EARNINGS FOR WOOLWORTHS BASED ON THE LOWER COMPANY TAX RATE.

WOOLWORTHS WISHES TO INFORM ITS SHAREHOLDERS OF THE EFFECT ON EARNINGS OF THE
LOWER TAX RATE AS FOLLOWS:

                                            SIX MONTHS ENDED

                                            31 DECEMBER

                                            1998     1997     %

                                            RM       RM       CHANGE
NET PROFIT ATTRIBUTABLE TO ORDINARY

SHAREHOLDERS - AS REPORTED                  129.2    131.6    -1.8%
ADJUSTMENT DUE TO LOWER TAX RATE
(30% VS 35%):

CURRENT TAX CHARGE                          10.4     -

DEFERRED TAX OPENING BALANCE                3.8      -
NET PROFIT ATTRIBUTABLE TO ORDINARY

SHAREHOLDERS - ADJUSTED                     143.4     131.6    9.0%

EARNINGS PER SHARE - AS REPORTED (CENTS)    15.3      17.5     -12.6%

EARNINGS PER SHARE - ADJUSTED (CENTS)       17.0      17.5     -2.9%

HEADLINE EARNINGS - AS REPORTED             137.9     131.1    5.2%

HEADLINE EARNINGS - ADJUSTED                152.1     131.1    16.0%
HEADLINE EARNINGS PER SHARE - AS REPORTED

(CENTS)                                     16.3      17.4     -6.3%
HEADLINE EARNINGS PER SHARE - ADJUSTED

(CENTS)                                     18.0      17.4     3.4%