Rule 8.3- Simon Group PLC

Guinness Peat Group PLC
02 August 2005



Simon Group plc

The following is the text of a Disclosure sent on 2 August to the Company 
Secretary of Simon Group plc.

"Disclosure of Interest in Shares Pursuant to Rule 8.3 of the City Code on 
Takeovers and Mergers.

Guinness Peat Group plc and its subsidiary companies ("the Group") hereby notify 
Simon Group plc ("Simon Group") that on 1 August 2005 the Group sold 4,000,000 
Ordinary 25 pence shares of Simon Group ("Shares") at a price of £0.55. As a 
result of this sale, the Group's interest in the Shares now amounts to 1,227,228 
Shares which is less than 1% of the issued share capital of Simon Group.

The Group had an interest by virtue of being a Rule 8.3 shareholder of Simon 
Group. No member of the Group is party to any agreement or arrangement relating 
to the exercise of any rights conferred by holding the Shares subject to this 
notification."


Richard Russell 
Company Secretary


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