Coats Group Plc Regulatory News (COA)

GUINNESS PEAT GROUP plc

("GPG" or the "Company")

COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENT

SCRIP DIVIDEND ALTERNATIVE

GPG announces that on Monday 24 October 2011 it allotted 18,739,966 Ordinary shares of 5p each ("Shares") in respect of its Scrip Dividend Alternative to shareholders on the UK, Australian and New Zealand share registers. Following this allotment, GPG's issued Shares and consequent voting rights total 1,622,676,844.

GPG has applied for admission of the Shares to the Official List of the UK Listing Authority ("UKLA") and for admission to trading on the London Stock Exchange's ("LSE") main market for listed securities. Application has also been made for quotation of the shares on the Australian Securities Exchange ("ASX") in CDI form. The Shares will be automatically quoted on the main board equity security market of NZX Limited ("NZSX") as from issue.

It is expected that listing of the Shares by the UKLA and admission to trading on the LSE will take place on 25 October 2011. Trading on the NZSX is also expected to commence on 25 October 2011. Trading on the ASX is expected to commence on 26 October 2011.

Enquiry details are:

New Zealand and Australian media: Geoff Senescall on: +64 9 309 5659

UK media: Kevin Smith on: +44 20 7282 1054

Chris Healy

Company Secretary

Guinness Peat Group plc

Tel: +44 20 7484 3370

24 October 2011