Offer Update

Guinness Peat Group PLC
23 April 2002


For immediate release


Not for release, publication or distribution in whole or in part, in or into the
                   United States, Canada, Australia or Japan

                                                                  23 April, 2002

                            Guinness Peat Group plc

                                      and

                     J O Hambro Capital Management Limited


        Mandatory Cash Offer for Nationwide Accident Repair Services plc


                                  Offer Update


Strand Partners, on behalf of Guinness Peat Group plc ('GPG') and J O Hambro
Capital Management Limited ('JOHCM') in relation to the offer announced on 21
March 2002 to acquire the issued share capital of Nationwide Accident Repair
Services plc ('Nationwide') not already held by them (the 'Offer'), today
announces that the Offerors have acquired through the market 329,900 Nationwide
Shares at 90 pence per Nationwide Share, representing 1.25 per cent. of
Nationwide's issued share capital.


In addition to the share acquisitions announced yesterday, the purchases
increase the number of Nationwide Shares held by the Offerors to 12,156,363,
representing 45.98 per cent. of Nationwide's issued share capital.  A further
63,115 Nationwide Shares, representing 0.23 per cent. of  Nationwide's issued
share capital, had been validly accepted under the terms of the Offer as at 22
April 2002 (being the last business day prior to the publication of this
announcement).


Definitions used in the Offer Document have the same meanings when used in this
announcement, unless the context requires otherwise.


Enquiries:

Guinness Peat Group                                    Tel: [phone]
(Representing the Offerors)
Blake Nixon                                            UK Executive Director

Strand Partners Limited                                Tel: [phone]
(Financial Adviser to GPG and JOHCM)
Simon Raggett                                          Director
Warren Pearce                                          Manager

Weber Shandwick Square Mile -                          Tel: [phone]
(Financial PR Adviser to GPG and JOHCM)
Kevin Smith/Josh Royston


Strand Partners, which is authorised in the United Kingdom by The Financial
Services Authority, is acting for GPG and JOHCM and no one else in connection
with the Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than GPG and JOHCM
for providing the protections afforded to customers of Strand Partners, nor for
giving advice in relation to the Offer.


The Offer is not being made, directly or indirectly, in or into, and may not be
accepted in or from, the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan. Accordingly,
copies of this announcement are not being, and must not be, mailed or otherwise
distributed or sent in or into or from the United States, Canada, Australia or
Japan.


Strand Partners has approved the contents of this announcement solely for the
purpose of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.  The
principal place of business of Strand Partners is 110 Park Street, London, W1K
6NX.


The GPG Directors and the JOHCM Directors accept responsibility for the
information contained in this announcement save that the only responsibility
accepted by them in respect of such information as relates to Nationwide (which
has been compiled from public records) has been to ensure that such information
has been correctly and fairly reproduced and presented. Subject as aforesaid, to
the best of the knowledge and belief of the GPG Directors and the JOHCM
Directors (who have taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case),
such information is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything
likely to affect the import of such information.


This announcement does not constitute, or form part of, an offer or an
invitation to purchase any securities.



END


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