AGM Statement

Unite Group PLC
09 May 2003

Date:                     9 May 2003
On behalf of:             The UNITE Group plc
Embargoed until:          0935 hrs



The UNITE Group plc
Chairman's AGM Statement


Trading Highlights


  • Overall Group performance in line with the Board's expectations for the
    first quarter of 2003
  • Continued buoyancy of student accommodation market
  • Reservations for the academic year 2003/2004 stand at 76% (May 2002: 71%)
  • 6,300 new beds scheduled for completion in 2003





At today's Annual General Meeting, Geoffrey Maddrell, Chairman of UNITE, will
make the following statement on trading and on current occupancy levels across
the Group:



'As indicated at the time of the preliminary results in March, the student
accommodation market remains strong. Figures released by UCAS on 25th April show
that applications for full time undergraduate courses in UK have risen by 3.6%
compared with the same point last year. We are particularly encouraged by the
fact that applications have risen by more than 10% at a number of universities,
including some of UNITE's target towns, such as Manchester, Portsmouth, Dundee,
Northumbria, Newcastle and Liverpool.



'UNITE is on track to meet its occupancy targets in 2003. 76% of the 21,079
rooms available are already reserved for the academic year 2003/04.



'The Board is confident that UNITE will secure its target of 8,500 new beds and
deliver 6,300 beds scheduled for completion in 2003.



'With our leading market position and visible pipeline of growth, we are well
placed to benefit this year from increased demand in our key target towns.  All
our core divisions are performing well and we look to the future with optimism.'






Enquiries:



The UNITE Group plc
Nicholas Porter, Chief Executive Officer               Tel: [phone]
Simon Bernstein, Chief Financial Officer


Redleaf Communications Ltd                             Tel: [phone]
Emma Kane/Katharine Sharkey                            Mob: [phone]








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