Standard Bank Group Limited - The Proposed Formation Of A Joint Venture With

Standard Bank Group Limited - The Proposed Formation Of A Joint Venture With    
Credit Suisse Regarding An Institutional Agency Stock Broker In South Africa    
Standard Bank Group Limited                                                     
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)                                  
(Registration number 1969/017128/06)                                            
Share code: SBK                                                                 
Namibian Share Code: SNB                                                        
ISIN: ZAE000057378                                                              
("Standard Bank")                                                               
THE PROPOSED FORMATION OF A JOINT VENTURE WITH CREDIT SUISSE REGARDING AN       
INSTITUTIONAL AGENCY STOCK BROKER IN SOUTH AFRICA                               
Standard Bank is pleased to announce that it has entered into a memorandum of   
understanding with Credit Suisse to jointly develop a South African             
institutional agency stock broker, to be named Credit Suisse Standard           
Securities.                                                                     
The joint venture will incorporate the current institutional agency stockbroking
business of Standard Bank (currently operating through Andisa Securities        
(Proprietary) Limited) and in addition will have access to and be able to offer 
its clients, inter alia, Credit Suisse"s global research portfolio and equity   
distribution platform. Standard Bank and Credit Suisse plan to co-operate on    
major equity capital markets transactions in the future.                        
The equity on-line share trading and private client businesses of the Standard  
Bank group will remain separate from the proposed joint venture but will benefit
from the resources and products of the proposed joint venture.                  
David Munro, Deputy Chief Executive, Standard Bank, Corporate and Investment    
Banking, said, "We are very excited at the opportunity to enter into a joint    
venture with Credit Suisse,a leading global equity and emerging markets house.  
This will substantially extend the service that we are able to offer our clients
in terms of research and distribution."                                         
Michael Philipp, Chief Executive Officer of Credit Suisse in the Europe, Middle 
East and Africa region said, "We are very pleased to launch Credit Suisse       
Standard Securities, which demonstrates our commitment to South Africa. Credit  
Suisse"s leading global emerging market franchise will be further strengthened  
by our relationship with Standard Bank and provide a platform for further growth
in South Africa."                                                               
Both parties will provide the necessary support to ensure the proposed joint    
venture realises its growth potential.                                          
The parties to the proposed joint venture are committed to black economic       
empowerment and will ensure the proposed joint venture"s compliance with the    
Financial Sector Charter and other legislation relevant to black economic       
empowerment.                                                                    
The proposed joint venture will be subject, inter alia, to the approval of all  
applicable regulatory authorities.                                              
Johannesburg                                                                    
23 March 2006                                                                   
Investment bank                                                                 
Standard Bank                                                                   
Legal adviser to Standard Bank                                                  
Cliffe Dekker                                                                   
Legal adviser to Credit Suisse                                                  
Bowman Gilfillan Attorneys                                                      
For further information, please contact:                                        
Standard Bank Media Relations                                                   
Erik Larsen                                                                     
Telephone:011 636 7520                                                          
E-mail:erik.larsen@standardbank.co.za                                           
Credit Suisse Media Relations, London                                           
Telephone:+44 207 888 8911                                                      
Date: 23/03/2006 09:46:03 AM Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za                     
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