Major Interest in Shares

Guinness Peat Group PLC 07 May 2008 Guinness Peat Group plc Notification of Major Interest in Shares Guinness Peat Group plc ("the Company") announces that it has been informed by Franklin Resources Inc. ("Franklin") that, due to "a change in management relationships", Franklin no longer has a notifiable interest in the ordinary shares and consequent voting rights in the Company. Richard Russell Company Secretary Guinness Peat Group plc Tel: +44 207 484 3370 7 May 2008 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange