Trading Statement

Northgate PLC
11 November 2004


11 November 2004
                                 Northgate plc


                          PRE-CLOSE TRADING STATEMENT

                     AND APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN DESIGNATE

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 interim results, and the appointment of its new
Chairman (designate).

Update on trading

The Group's financial performance for the six months to 31 October 2004 has been
very satisfactory. The UK Rental business has traded well with continued fleet
growth and utilisation at 90 per cent. FUALSA, the Group's Spanish van rental
business, has traded slightly ahead of the Board's expectations with very
satisfactory fleet growth and improving fleet utilisation.

The Directors are confident about the Group's prospects for the remainder of the
year.

The Directors expect that the interim results will be announced in mid-January
2005.


Appointment of Chairman (designate)

Further to the announcement by Michael Waring of his wish to stand down as
Chairman of the Company by no later than the 2005 AGM, Northgate is pleased to
announce that Martin Ballinger has agreed to join the Board of the Company as a
Non-executive Director with immediate effect. It is the Board's intention that
Mr Ballinger will be appointed as Chairman of the Board following the
announcement of the Group's interim results, at which point Mr Waring, having
served the Company as either CEO or Chairman since 1985, will resign from the
Board.

Mr Ballinger, aged 60, who has been Chief Executive of the Go-Ahead Group plc
since 1982 and led the group to its listing on the London Stock Exchange in
1994, is due to retire from that position in December 2004.

There are no disclosures required in respect of Mr Ballinger pursuant to Rule
16.4 of the Listing Rules of the Financial Services Authority.

                                      ENDS


For further enquiries:
Northgate plc Tel: [phone]
Steve Smith, Chief Executive Officer
Gerard Murray, Finance Director
Ron Williams, Deputy Chairman Tel: [phone]


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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