FSR - FirstRand Limited - Announcement relating to the termination of

FSR - FirstRand Limited - Announcement relating to the termination of           
discussions between Firstrand and Sterling Bank Plc                             
FirstRand Limited                                                               
(Registration number: 1966/010753/06)                                           
Share code: FSR                                                                 
ISIN: ZAE000066304                                                              
("FirstRand" or "the Company")                                                  
ANNOUNCEMENT RELATING TO THE TERMINATION OF DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN FIRSTRAND AND   
STERLING BANK PLC                                                               
FirstRand shareholders ("Shareholders") are referred to the announcement dated  
14 April 2011 regarding discussions between FirstRand and Sterling Bank plc     
("Sterling").                                                                   
FirstRand would like to advise Shareholders that FirstRand and Sterling ("the   
Parties") have agreed to terminate discussions regarding the acquisition by     
FirstRand of a majority shareholding in Sterling as the Parties have been       
unable to agree mutually acceptable terms.                                      
FirstRand continues to believe that Nigeria is a key market for FirstRand`s     
African expansion given the strong underlying growth prospects in the Nigerian  
financial services sector and will continue to evaluate options regarding the   
Company`s entry into Nigeria.                                                   
3 June 2011                                                                     
Merchant Bank and Sponsor to FirstRand                                          
RAND MERCHANT BANK (A division of FirstRand Bank Limited)                       
Legal Advisors to FirstRand                                                     
NORTON ROSE AFRICA LEGAL and UDO UDOMA & BELO-OSAGIE                            
Date: 03/06/2011 12:39:01 Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za                     
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