Trading Statement

Trading Statement 

    LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 2, 2003--

Northgate plc ('Northgate', the 'Company'), the UK's leading light
commercial vehicle hire company, will today be holding briefings with
analysts and investors ahead of its close period before final results.

Trading in January and February 2003 was quieter as a result of the
general economic and political uncertainty. However, business has
subsequently returned to normal levels and the Board anticipates that
the outcome for the full year to 30 April 2003 will be in line with
its previous expectations.

FUALSA, the Spanish van rental company, in which Northgate acquired an
initial 40% stake in July 2002, has traded marginally ahead of the
Board's expectations.

The Group's preliminary results for the year to 30 April 2003 will be
announced on 2 July 2003.

For further enquiries:

Northgate plc                    Tel: [phone]

Steve Smith, Chief Executive Officer
Gerard Murray, Finance Director

Hogarth Partnership Limited      Tel: [phone]

Andrew Jaques
Tom Leatherbarrow

   Short Name: northgate plc
   Category Code: TST
   Sequence Number: 00004472
   Time of Receipt (offset from UTC): 20030501T172125+0100