Issue of Debt in New Zealand

Guinness Peat Group PLC
08 September 2003

                            GUINNESS PEAT GROUP PLC

            ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE LONDON & AUSTRALIAN STOCK EXCHANGES

            Offer of Capital Notes in New Zealand by GPG Finance plc

The following is the text of an announcement made today on the New Zealand Stock
Exchange by GPG Finance plc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Guinness Peat Group
plc.

"The directors of GPG Finance plc advise that the offer of Capital Notes by GPG
Finance under the Offer Document dated 28 July 2003 (the "Capital Notes") closed
on 4 September 2003. As previously announced, the NZ$200 million of Capital
Notes offered in the Firm Pool were fully subscribed.  The directors have
accepted an additional NZ$15 million of subscriptions for Capital Notes offered
under the Public Pool. The directors of GPG Finance and Guinness Peat Group plc
("GPG") are delighted with the success of the offering.

All of the Capital Notes were issued for cash and have issue dates from 30 July
2003 to 5 September 2003.  The Capital Notes have a total principal amount of
NZ$215 million and there are in excess of 6,800 initial investors in the Capital
Notes.

The interest rate payable on the Capital Notes was fixed on 5 September 2003 at
8.7% per annum.

The proceeds of the Capital Note issue will augment existing funds and provide
the GPG Group with added capacity to act quickly and decisively when required,
but it is not anticipated that these funds will be fully invested at any one
time.

The offer of Capital Notes was authorised by resolutions of the directors of GPG
Finance and GPG on 25 July 2003.

Trading of the Capital Notes on NZX's debt market is expected to commence on 10
September 2003.  The ISIN for the Capital Notes is NZGFND0002S4 and they will
have a trading code of GFN020.

JBWere (NZ) Limited was the Lead Manager and Organising Broker."


Richard Russell
Company Secretary
Guinness Peat Group plc
London

Tel:  [phone]

8 September 2003




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