Notification of Shareholding

30 Dec 2008 14:28

For immediate release: 30 December 2008

Northern Petroleum Plc ("Northern" or "the Company") Notification of Shareholding

TR-1: NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES

1. Identity of the issuer or the underlying issuer of existing shares to which voting rights are attached:

Northern Petroleum Plc

2. Reason for the notification (please place an X inside the appropriate bracket/s):

An acquisition or disposal of voting rights: ( X )

An acquisition or disposal of financial instruments which may result in the acquisition of shares already issued to which voting rights are attached: ( )

An event changing the breakdown of voting rights: ( )

Other (please specify): ( )

3. Full name of person(s) subject to the notification obligation:

The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc

4. Full name of shareholder(s) (if different from 3.):

ABN AMRO Bank N.V

5. Date of the transaction (and date on which the threshold is crossed or reached if different):

29/12/08

6. Date on which issuer notified:

30/12/08

7. Threshold(s) that is/are crossed or reached:

8%8. Notified details:¢â‚¬¦¢â‚¬¦¢â‚¬¦¢â‚¬¦¢â‚¬¦..

A: Voting rights attached to shares

Class/type of shares if Situation previous to the Triggering transaction possible using the ISIN CODE Number of shares Number of voting Rights GB00B0D47T64 5,700,000 5,700,000

Resulting situation after the triggering transaction

Class/type of Number of shares Number of voting rights % of voting rightsshares if possible using the ISIN CODE Direct Direct Indirect Direct Indirect GB00B0D47T64 5,550,000 5,550,000 0 7.80 0.00

B: Financial Instruments

Resulting situation after the triggering transaction

Type of Expiration Date Exercise/ Number of voting % of voting financial Conversion Period rights that may be rights instrument / Date acquired if the instrument is exercised/ converted. Total (A+B)Number of voting % of voting rights rights 7.80 5,550,000

9. Chain of controlled undertakings through which the voting rights and/or the financial instruments are effectively held, if applicable:

The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc

RFS Holdings N.V.ABN AMRO Holding N.V.ABN AMRO Bank N.V.Proxy Voting:10. Name of the proxy holder:¢â‚¬¦¢â‚¬¦¢â‚¬¦¢â‚¬¦¢â‚¬¦..

11. Number of voting rights proxy holder will cease to hold:

¢â‚¬¦¢â‚¬¦¢â‚¬¦¢â‚¬¦¢â‚¬¦..

12. Date on which proxy holder will cease to hold voting rights:

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13. Additional information:

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14. Contact name:

Chris Foss, Finance Director

15. Contact telephone number:

020 7469 2900 ---ENDS--- Notes to Editors:

Further information on Northern is available at www.northpet.com.