Chairman's AGM Statement

Unite Group PLC
05 May 2005

Date:                            5 May 2005
On behalf of:                    The UNITE Group plc
Embargoed until:                 0930 hrs


The UNITE Group plc
Chairman's AGM Statement


Trading Highlights



  • First quarter performance was in line with the Board's expectations.
  • As announced in March UNITE entered into a £350million joint venture with
    GIC Real Estate Pte Ltd to develop and operate student accommodation in the
    capital cities of London, Edinburgh, Dublin and Belfast.
  • Reservations to current date for forthcoming academic year, 70%.
  • Higher education applications up 8% (source UCAS).


At today's Annual General Meeting, Geoffrey Maddrell, Chairman of UNITE, will
make the following statement on trading and market conditions:


'The Group's performance in the first quarter was in line with the Board's
expectations, with a notable success being the securing of a £350million joint
venture with GIC Real Estate Pte Ltd to develop and operate student
accommodation in the capital cities of London, Edinburgh, Dublin and Belfast.
This venture is performing in line with plan and is a significant step for UNITE
in delivering our financing strategy.


We are operating in a buoyant and increasingly recognised market and Higher
Education applications remain strong. Figures released by UCAS on 28th April
show that applications for full-time undergraduate courses in the UK have
increased by 8% compared with the same point last year.  Applications from
overseas also continue to increase with UCAS figures suggesting the number of
applicants has increased by 7.5% on the same point last year.


Reservation performance across UNITE's portfolio is again strong.  As at 30
April 2005, reservations for the forthcoming academic year had been received for
70% of the portfolio (2004:70%).  From September 2005 UNITE will be operating
30,996 bed spaces across 29 cities (2004: 26,319).


Looking forward, we have a secure pipeline of future development opportunities
with 4,677 confirmed for delivery later this year and the capital required to
fund the build-out programme. The Board has every confidence that UNITE will
make good progress against its strategy to deliver shareholder value through
sustainable growth in its portfolio and build upon its position as the UK's
largest student accommodation provider.'


Enquiries:


The UNITE Group plc
Nicholas Porter, Chief Executive Officer               Tel: [phone]
Mark Allan, Group Finance Director


Redleaf Communications Ltd                             Tel: [phone]
Emma Kane/Wendy Timmons                                Mob: [phone]


Notes to Editors


UCAS published their latest 2005 figures for entry into Higher Education on 28th
April 2005 and the full report can be found on their website www.ucas.ac.uk


GIC RE is the real estate investment arm of Government of Singapore Investment
Corporation (GIC) that manages the foreign reserves of Singapore.


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange