RNS Number:4645P
London Forfaiting Company PLC
05 September 2003


To:  The Directors
     
     London Forfaiting Company Plc

     International House

     1 St. Katherine's Way

     London E1W 1XA

                                                 5 September 2003


Dear Sirs


 1. Notification concerning interests in shares

     1. This notification is sent by FIMBank (UK) Limited, on behalf of itself
        and the persons set out in paragraphs 1.2.1 to 1.2.5 below, for the
        purposes stated in paragraph 1.2 below.

     2. The persons set out below (the "Interested Persons") hereby give notice
        to London Forfaiting Company Plc ("LFC") pursuant to, and for the
        express purpose of discharging the disclosure obligations stipulated by,
        the provisions of sections 198 to 202 of the Companies Act 1985 (the
        "Act"), of the matters referred to in paragraph 3 below arising out of
        the transaction referred to in paragraph 2.2 below.

         1. FIMBank (UK) Limited ("FIMBank UK");

         2. First International Merchant Bank p.l.c ("FIMBank plc");

         3. Global Financial Holdings NV ("GFH");

         4. Kuwaiti Interests for Financial Investments ("KIFI"); and

         5. Kuwaiti Interests for Development Holding KSC ("KIDH").


     3. The registered addresses of each of the Interested Persons are as
        follows:

         1. FIMBank (UK) Limited

            134 Wigmore Street,

            London W1U 3SE


         2. First International Merchant Bank plc

            7th Floor,

            The Plaza Commercial Centre,

            Bisazza Street,

            Sliema, SLM15

            Malta


         3. Global Financial Holdings NV

            Caracasbaaiweg 199,

            Curacao,

            Netherlands,

            Antilles


         4. Kuwaiti Interests for Financial Investments

            Chamber of Commerce Building,

            3rd Floor,

            P.O. Box 719 Al Safat,

            Zip Code 13008

            Kuwait


         5. Kuwaiti Interests for Development Holding KSC

    The Kuwait Chamber of Commerce Building

    3rd Floor

    Al-Shuahada Street

    Sharq Commercial Area

    9 Kuwait


 2. The Transaction


     1. For your information, FIMBank UK is a wholly owned subsidiary of FIMBank
        plc. GFH owns a 33.91 per cent. shareholding in FIMBank plc, and is a
        wholly-owned subsidiary of KIFI. KIFI is a family investment company and
        is owned as to 99.4 per cent by KIDH.

     2. On 22 July 2003, WestLB Panmure Limited ("WestLB") made an offer (the
        "Offer") on behalf of FIMBank UK to acquire the entire issued and to be
        issued share capital of LFC. The Offer was declared unconditional in all
        respects on 28 August 2003.

 3. Levels of shareholdings

     1. By virtue of (i) acceptances of the Offer and (ii) purchases by FIMBank
        UK of ordinary shares of 40 pence each comprised in the relevant share
        capital of LFC ("LFC Shares"), as at 4 September 2003 each of the
        Interested Persons are interested in 80,761,982 LFC Shares, representing
        77.1 per cent. of the issued LFC Shares. None of the LFC Shares in which
        any of the Interested Persons is interested is by virtue of section 208
        (5) of the Act.


     2. As at 4 September 2003, these LFC shares were registered as follows:-

         1. the 73,413,034 LFC Shares assented to the Offer remain registered in
            the names of the shareholders who have accepted the Offer;

         2. 2,225,000 of the LFC Shares purchased by FIMBank UK were registered
            in its name; and

         3. 5,123,948 LFC Shares purchased by FIMBank UK will, pending
            settlement, be registered in its name.


Yours faithfully

FIMBank (UK) Limited


First International Merchant Bank plc

Global Financial Holdings NV

Kuwaiti Interests for Financial Investments

Kuwaiti Interests for Development Holdings KSC



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