SAR - Charter PLC

Guinness Peat Group PLC
20 February 2003


Letter to Charter plc

Disclosure of Interest in Shares Pursuant to Rule 3 of the Substantial 
Acquisitions Rules of the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers

Guinness Peat Group plc and its subsidiary companies ("the Group") hereby notify 
Charter plc ("Charter") that following the market purchase of 4,239,047 of 
Ordinary 2 pence shares ("Shares") on 19 February 2003, the Group's interest in 
the Shares of Charter now amounts to 17,434,864 representing 18.52% of the 
issued share capital.

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.

Letter from Guinness Peat Group plc


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange