SBK - Standard Bank - Voluntary trading statement in respect of the year ended

SBK - Standard Bank - Voluntary trading statement in respect of the year ended  
31 December 2008                                                                
Standard Bank Group Limited                                                     
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)                                  
(Registration number 1969/017128/06)                                            
South African Share Code: SBK                                                   
Namibian Share Code: SNB                                                        
ISIN: ZAE000109815                                                              
("Standard Bank" or "the group")                                                
Voluntary trading statement in respect of the year ended 31 December 2008       
Standard Bank`s results for the year ended 31 December 2008 will be released on 
5 March 2009. Given the prevailing volatility of financial markets and in order 
to keep investors informed in these unusual circumstances, a voluntary trading  
statement is provided below.                                                    
In October 2008, Standard Bank provided the market with financial results for   
the 9 months ended 30 September 2008. Despite the fourth quarter being extremely
challenging the results for the year are nevertheless expected to be broadly in 
line with what was anticipated at that stage. The group expects that normalised 
headline earnings for the year ended 31 December 2008 will be between 5% and 10%
higher than the previous corresponding period.                                  
Headline earnings per share and diluted headline earnings per share on a        
normalised and IFRS basis for the year ended 31 December 2008 are likely to be  
between 0% and 5% lower than the previous corresponding period, as a result of  
the additional shares issued to Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited 
in March 2008. Basic earnings per share, calculated on a normalised and IFRS    
basis is likely to range between 8% and 12% lower than the previous             
corresponding period.                                                           
Normalised earnings reflect the legal and economic substance of the group`s     
Black Ownership Initiative and deemed treasury shares held for the benefit of   
Liberty Life policyholders.                                                     
The information contained in this announcement has not been reviewed or audited 
by the company`s external auditors either in terms of paragraph                 
3.4(b)(vi)(1)(aa) or 3.4(b)(vi)(1)(bb) of the JSE Listings Requirements.        
Johannesburg                                                                    
20 February 2009                                                                
Independent sponsor                                                             
Deutsche Securities (SA) (Proprietary) Limited                                  
Joint sponsor                                                                   
Standard Bank                                                                   
Date: 20/02/2009 07:25:16 Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za                     
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