THE BIDVEST GROUP LIMITED - OFFER TO BIDVEST PLC ("Bidplc") MINORITIES

THE BIDVEST GROUP LIMITED - OFFER TO BIDVEST PLC ("Bidplc") MINORITIES          
The Bidvest Group Limited                                                       
Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa                                    
Registration number 1946/021180/06                                              
Share code: BVT                                                                 
ISIN: ZAE000050449                                                              
("Bidvest" or "the Company")                                                    
OFFER TO BIDVEST PLC ("Bidplc") MINORITIES                                      
Shareholders" attention is drawn to the announcement issued today on the        
recommended cash offer made by Bid Foodservice Products Division (IOM) Limited  
("BFPD") for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Bidplc ("the   
offer") set out below.                                                          
"6 August 2004                                                                  
Bid Foodservice Products Division (IOM) Limited ("BFPD")                        
Recommended Cash Offer                                                          
for Bidvest plc ("Bidplc")                                                      
POSTING OF COMPULSORY ACQUISITION NOTICE AND DELISTING                          
Following the announcement and the receipt of valid acceptances in respect of   
more than nine-tenths in value of Bidplc Shares affected by the Offer on 5 April
2004, BFPD declared its offer for the entire issued and to be issued share      
capital of Bidplc (the "Offer") unconditional in all respects.                  
Since four months have elapsed, Bidplc has today sent to non-assenting Bidplc   
Shareholders notices implementing the procedures set out in section 154 of the  
Isle of Man Companies Act 1931 to acquire compulsorily those Bidplc Shares which
have not been assented to the Offer.                                            
As at 3.00 p.m. (London time) on 5 August 2004, valid acceptances of the Offer  
had been received in respect of a total of 199,617,582 Bidplc Shares            
representing, in aggregate, approximately 99.58 per cent. of the current issued 
share capital of Bidplc.                                                        
The Offer will remain open for acceptance until further notice and remains      
subject to the terms set out in the Offer Document.                             
Applications will be made today to the ASX and Luxembourg Stock Exchange for the
cancellation of the listing of the Bidplc Shares on the ASX and the Luxembourg  
Stock Exchange, respectively.  The ASX and Luxembourg Stock Exchange will       
suspend trading 5 business days after receiving the relevant application and    
will cancel the listing of the Bidplc Shares after a further 3 business days.   
It is expected that trading will be suspended at close of trading on 13 August  
2004 and that the cancellations will take effect at close of trading on 18      
August 2004."                                                                   
Sandton                                                                         
6 August 2004                                                                   
ENQUIRIES:                                                                      
Bidvest                                                                         
Brian Joffe (Chief Executive)                                                   
Tel:  + 27 (0) 11 772 8704                                                      
David Cleasby (Investor Relations)                                              
Tel: +27 (0) 11 772 8706                                                        
Investec Bank Limited                        HSBC Bank plc                      
Edward Nathan & Friedland (Pty) Ltd          Deutsche Securities SA (Pty) Ltd   
HSBC Bank plc, which is regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial        
Services Authority, is acting exclusively for Bidvest and BFPD and no one else  
in connection with the Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than   
Bidvest and BFPD for providing the protections afforded to customers of HSBC    
Bank plc or for providing advice in relation to the Offer or any other matter   
referred to in this announcement.                                               
Date: 06/08/2004 09:59:06 AM Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za                     
Produced by the JSE SENS Department