24 NOVEMBER 2008

NORTHERN INVESTORS COMPANY PLC

SALE OF STAINTON METAL COMPANY LIMITED

Northern Investors Company PLC ('Northern Investors') announces the sale of its investment in street lighting column manufacturer Stainton Metal Company Limited ('Stainton') to Valmont Industries, Inc for initial proceeds of £2.2 million in cash. This represents an uplift of £0.3 million (equivalent to 1.5p per ordinary share) over the carrying value of the investment as shown in the company's unaudited half-yearly financial statements as at 30 September 2008.

Northern Investors invested £1.1 million in the institutional buy-out of Stainton in October 2001, alongside investments by other venture capital funds managed by NVM Private Equity, and has received total capital and income payments of £2.9 million from the holding. This represents an internal rate of return (IRR) of 17% per annum over the seven year period of the investment and a money multiple of 2.6 times.

Enquiries:

Alastair Conn/Christopher Mellor, NVM Private Equity Limited - 0191 244 6000