Letter to Freeport Plc

Guinness Peat Group PLC
09 July 2007





Re Freeport plc


The following is the text of a letter which is being sent today by Guinness Peat
Group plc ("GPG") to Freeport plc ("Freeport") in connection with GPG's purchase
of shares in Freeport.

"Disclosure of Interest in Shares pursuant to Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code 
("the Code")

Guinness Peat Group plc and its subsidiary companies ("the Group") hereby notify
Freeport plc ("Freeport") that, following the market acquisition of 50,000
Ordinary shares of Freeport ("Shares") on 6 July 2007 at £3.43 per Share, the
Group's direct interest now amounts to 7,530,781 Shares representing 19.9% of
the issued share capital of Freeport.

The Group has no interest in options or derivatives in the shares of Freeport.
Therefore, following the above transaction, in accordance with its disclosure
obligations under Rule 8.3 of the Code, the Group has a long interest in
relevant securities (as defined in the Code) in aggregate totalling 19.9% of the
issued shares of Freeport.

The Group has an interest by virtue of being a Rule 8.3 shareholder of 
Freeport."




Richard Russell 
Company Secretary 
Guinness Peat Group plc 
Tel: [phone]

9 July 2007




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