Coats Group Plc Regulatory News (COA)

Guinness Peat Group plc

("GPG" or the "Company")

Update on Share Buyback

Further to its announcement dated 5 February 2013 GPG is providing further clarification as to the status of the share buyback and the subsequent cancellation of its ordinary shares as at 28 February 2013.

No.of shares

Shares in issue as at 31 January 2013 1,534,804,738

Shares issued pursuant to the exercise of share options in February 2013 Nil

Shares cancelled in February 2013 (21,499,452)

___________

Shares in issue as at 28 February 2013 1,513,305,286

Shareholders and market participants should note that the Company's total voting rights announcements are made in accordance with the UK Disclosure and Transparency Rule ("DTRs") regarding the Company's total issued voting share capital. Such announcements are only required to be made at the intervals specified under the DTRs and relate to the total number of the Company's voting shares in issue. Until any share purchases effected by the Company have settled, and the relevant shares cancelled, there is no effect on the Company's total issued voting share capital and any such change to the Company's total issued voting share capital would only fall to be disclosed at the next interval specified under the DTRs.

As at 28 February 2013, 10,291,324 shares had been purchased by the Company but had not yet been cancelled.

Chris Healy

Company Secretary

Guinness Peat Group plc

Tel: +44 20 7484 3370

4 March 2013

Enquiry details are:

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

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