FIRSTRAND LIMITED - CANCELLATION OF SURPLUS BANKING LICENCE

FIRSTRAND LIMITED - CANCELLATION OF SURPLUS BANKING LICENCE                     
FirstRand Limited                                                               
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)                                  
(Registration number: 1966/010753/06)                                           
Share Code: FSR  ISIN: ZAE000014973                                             
("FirstRand")                                                                   
Cancellation of surplus banking licence                                         
FirstRand was created in 1998 as a result of the merger of the                  
financial services interests of Anglo American plc (and its                     
associate De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited) with those of                    
RMB Holdings Limited.  Pursuant to the merger, the majority of                  
the businesses and operations of Rand Merchant Bank Limited                     
were transferred into a division of FirstRand Bank Limited,                     
which has traded and will continue to trade as Rand Merchant                    
Bank, a division of FirstRand Bank Limited.                                     
As FirstRand holds a number of banking licences that are                        
surplus to its requirements, the Registrar of Banks has                         
requested FirstRand to reduce such number.                                      
Accordingly, the board of directors of FirstRand wishes to                      
advise shareholders that it has changed the name of Rand                        
Merchant Bank Limited to RMB Asset Finance Bank Limited                         
("RMBAF") and will, in consultation with the South African                      
Reserve Bank and the Registrar of Banks, take the steps                         
necessary to give effect to the deregistration of RMBAF as a                    
bank.                                                                           
The cancellation of the banking licence of RMBAF will have no                   
impact on Rand Merchant Bank, a division of FirstRand Bank                      
Limited, or on FirstRand shareholders and RMBAF will continue                   
to operate as a finance company.                                                
21 July 2003                                                                    
Sandton                                                                         
RAND MERCHANT BANK                                                              
A division of FirstRand Bank Limited                                            
CORPORATE FINANCE                                                               
Sponsor                                                                         
Date: 22/07/2003 08:30:04 AM Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za                     
Produced by the JSE SENS Department