Trading statement in respect of the year yo June 2012 FirstRand Limited (Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa) (Registration No: 1966/010753/06) ISIN: ZAE000066304 JSE Share Code: FSR NSX Share Code: FST (“FirstRand or “the Group”) TRADING STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF THE YEAR TO JUNE 2012 INTRODUCTION In terms of paragraph 3.4(b) of the Listings Requirements of the JSE Limited, an issuer is required to publish a trading statement as soon as it becomes apparent that earnings per share for the next period to be reported on are expected, with a reasonable degree of certainty, to differ by at least 20% from those of the previous corresponding period. NORMALISED EARNINGS As previously communicated to shareholders, FirstRand considers diluted normalised earnings per share from continuing operations to most accurately represent operational performance and this is expected for the twelve months to June 2012 to increase by between 22% and 27% from 179.4 cents in the comparative period. HEADLINE EARNINGS Headline earnings are expected to increase by between 24% and 29% from 183.1 cents per share in the comparative period. NON RECURRING PRIOR PERIOD EVENTS As a result of the unbundling of the Momentum Group, which was effective 30 November 2010, a significant non-recurring gain arose as a dividend in specie to FirstRand shareholders at fair value in terms of IFRIC 17: Distributions of Non-Cash Assets to Owners. This once-off gain was disclosed in the Group’s income statement for the twelve months to June 2011. As this gain does not arise from the performance of the Group’s continuing operations, it does not recur in the income statement for the year ended 30 June 2012. Consequently if this item is excluded, earnings per share for the year ended 30 June 2012 will not differ by more than 20% from the previous comparative period. Shareholders are advised that the financial information on which this trading statement is based has not been reviewed and reported on by the Group’s external auditors. FirstRand’s results for the year to June 2012 will be released on SENS on or about Tuesday 11th September 2012. Sandton 4 September 2012 Sponsor RAND MERCHANT BANK (a division of FirstRand Bank Limited) Date: 04/09/2012 09:00:00 Produced by the JSE SENS Department. The SENS service is an information dissemination service administered by the JSE Limited ('JSE'). The JSE does not, whether expressly, tacitly or implicitly, represent, warrant or in any way guarantee the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information published on SENS. The JSE, their officers, employees and agents accept no liability for (or in respect of) any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind or nature, howsoever arising, from the use of SENS or the use of, or reliance on, information disseminated through SENS.