Trading Statement

Northgate PLC
03 May 2005


                                                                      3 May 2005

                                 Northgate plc


Pre Close Trading Statement



Northgate plc ('Northgate', the 'Company' or the 'Group'), the UK's leading
light commercial vehicle hire company, today announces an update on trading
ahead of its close period before final results.

Update on trading

Northgate's UK rental business has traded well with utilisation maintained at
90% and fleet growth for the year in line with the Board's expectations. The
network of hire companies trades through 36 primary and 40 branch locations.
Three more branches are due to open early in the new financial year and over a
similar period, four hire companies will relocate their primary locations to
larger premises in order to increase their capacity. The residual market has
remained stable during the second half of the financial year and as a result
profits on vehicle disposals will be in line with expectations.

Fualsa, the Group's Spanish rental business, continues to deliver an excellent
performance. Fleet growth for the second half of the financial year is similar
to that achieved in the first half. The network has been expanded to 15
locations following the opening of Alicante in April 2005. Three additional
locations are anticipated to open early in the new financial year.

The Group is starting to benefit from the refinancing exercise that was
completed in January 2005 and which resulted in new facilities of £565m covering
one, three and five year terms.

Consequently the outcome for the Group for the full year is expected to be in
line with current market expectations. The Group's preliminary results for the
year to 30 April 2005 will be announced on 5 July 2005.

ENDS

For further enquiries:

Northgate plc                                        Tel: [phone]
Steve Smith, Chief Executive Officer
Gerard Murray, Finance Director

Hogarth Partnership Limited                          Tel: [phone]
Andrew Jaques
Barnaby Fry

Notes to Editors:
Northgate rents light commercial vehicles and sells a range of fleet products to
businesses via a network of hire companies. Their NORFLEX product gives
businesses access to a flexible method to acquire as many commercial vehicles as
they require.

Further information regarding Northgate can be found on the Company's website:
www.northgateplc.com.




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