Notification of Major Interests in Shares

GUINNESS PEAT GROUP PLC

("GPG" or the "Company")

NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES

GPG announces it has been notified by Salt Funds Management Ltd ("Salt") that on 30 August 2013 Salt's interest in GPG reduced to 54,599,146 shares being 3.88% of the Company's total voting rights.

Salt advised that the names of the shareholders whom they represent are as follows:

1. Guardian Nominees No. 2 Ltd - Westpac NZ Shares 2002 Wholesale Trust

(38,608,428 shares)

2. BTNZ Unit Trusts Nominees Ltd (15,990,718 shares)

Chris Healy

Company Secretary

Guinness Peat Group plc

Tel: +44 20 7484 3370

2 September 2013

Enquiry details are:

New Zealand and Australian media: Geoff Senescall on: +64 9 309 5659

UK media: Kevin Smith on: +44 20 7282 1054