Lapsing of Increased Offer

Guinness Peat Group PLC 05 February 2008 Not for release, publication or distribution, in whole or in part, in, into or from the US, Canada or Australia or any jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of the laws of such jurisdiction. 05 February 2008 Increased Cash Offer by Strand Partners Limited on behalf of GPG Acquisitions No. 5 Limited (a wholly owned subsidiary of Guinness Peat Group plc) for the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of NEWBURY RACECOURSE PLC Lapsing of the Increased Offer GPG Acquisitions announces that its Increased Offer for Newbury Racecourse has lapsed. As at 1.00 p.m. on 5 February 2008, being the final closing date of the Increased Offer, valid acceptances of the Increased Offer had been received in respect of a total of 168,978 Newbury Racecourse Shares, representing approximately 5.55 per cent. of the existing issued share capital of Newbury Racecourse. In addition to these acceptances, as at the date of this announcement GPG is the registered holder of 633,018 Newbury Racecourse Shares, representing approximately 20.79 per cent. of the existing issued share capital of Newbury Racecourse. Consequently, as at the closing date of the Increased Offer GPG holds or has received valid acceptances of the Increased Offer in respect of 801,996 Newbury Racecourse Shares in aggregate, representing approximately 26.34 per cent. of the existing issued share capital of Newbury Racecourse. As the Increased Offer has now lapsed, Newbury Racecourse Shareholders have ceased to be bound by any such acceptances. Save as disclosed in this announcement, neither GPG Acquisitions nor any person acting, or deemed to be acting, in concert with GPG Acquisitions has an interest in or a right to subscribe for Newbury Racecourse Shares or any short positions (whether conditional or absolute and whether in the money or otherwise), including any short positions under a derivative, any agreement to sell or any delivery obligation or right to require another person to purchase or take delivery, in respect of Newbury Racecourse Shares or has borrowed or lent any Newbury Racecourse Shares during the Offer Period. Enquiries: GPG Acquisitions No. 5 Limited Tel: (020) 7484 3370 Blake Nixon, Director Strand Partners Limited Tel: (020) 7409 3494 Simon Raggett Citigate Dewe Rogerson Tel: (020) 7638 9571 Kevin Smith Strand Partners Limited, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority, is acting exclusively for GPG Acquisitions and no one else in connection with the Increased Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than GPG Acquisitions for providing the protections afforded to customers of Strand Partners, or for providing advice in relation to the Increased Offer or in relation to the contents of this announcement or any transaction or arrangement referred to herein. This announcement does not constitute, or form part of, an offer to sell or purchase or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of an offer to sell, purchase or subscribe for any securities, pursuant to the Increased Offer or otherwise. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange