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 Westpac Banking Corporation (and associated companies) ("Westpac") that on 6 March 2013 Westpac's holding in GPG reduced to 57,535,297 shares being 3.8% of the Company's total voting rights.

Chris Healy

Company Secretary

Guinness Peat Group plc

Tel: +44 20 7484 3370

12 March 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