Interim Results

Esporta PLC
11 August 2000



                         ESPORTA plc
     INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS TO 30 JUNE 2000

Esporta plc, one of the UK's leading operators of health and fitness
clubs, announces its interim results for the six months to 30 June
2000.

Financial Highlights

*  Turnover up 25% to £38.5m (H1 1999: £30.9m before
   exceptional income)
*  EBITDA up 48% to £9.9m (H1 1999: £6.7m before
   exceptional items)
*  Operating Profit margins increased to 14% (H1 1999 11%
   before exceptional items)
*  Profit before tax up 73% to £4.5m (H1 1999: £2.6m)
*  Earnings per share up 93% to 2.12p (H1 1999: 1.10p)
*  Interim dividend of 0.45p per share

Operational Highlights

*  Membership numbers up 22% to 126,000
*  New openings to total seven by year end - seven more
   contracted for 2001
*  Still on target for 46 clubs by end 2002
*  Eden concept launched to segment premium end of the
   market

John Grieves, Chairman, said:
'The business made good progress over the last six months in
establishing the infrastructure and culture that we believe will
differentiate Esporta in the UK marketplace. Revenues in the last
month have continued the trends seen in the first half, and we have
seen an improvement in both membership recruitment and retention.

'The majority of our new members are joining a health club for the
first time which confirms our view that there is considerable
unfulfilled demand for our premium product. We believe that the
proportion of the population using health clubs and the amount they
are prepared to spend will continue to increase over the longer
term.'

Enquiries:

Esporta plc                         Brunswick Group Limited
Graham Coles, Chief Executive       Kathy Hannaford
Mark Beadle, Finance Director       William Cullum
0207 404 5959 today                 0207 404 5959
0118 912 3503 thereafter


Chairman's Statement

I am pleased to present Esporta's first interim report following its
listing on The London Stock Exchange on 1 February 2000.  The
business made good progress over the six months to 30 June 2000, and
this has continued into the second half.

Results

Turnover for the first half was £38.5m (1999: £30.9m excluding
exceptional income of £1.9m), representing an increase of 25%.

Revenues for clubs opened in 1999 and prior years have grown by 5%
in the first six months of the year.  Revenues for clubs opened in
1999 grew by 23% on a comparable basis.  Oxford, Edinburgh and
Northampton which opened in 2000 are performing well.

Operating profit rose by 62% to £5.5m (1999: £3.4m excluding
exceptional profits).  The interest charge of £1m (1999: £2.3m) was
significantly down on last year due to the capitalisation of inter-
company debt as part of the restructuring of First Leisure
Corporation PLC and the formation of Esporta plc.

Pre-tax profits were up 73% at £4.5m, with earnings per share,
following a moderate increase in the tax rate to 22% (1999: 19%), up
93% to 2.12p on an FRS 14 basis.

Our balance sheet remains strong, with net assets of £125.6m, net
borrowings of £30.9m against committed facilities of £100m and
gearing of 25%.

The Board has declared a dividend in respect of the first six months
of 0.45p per share to be paid on 11 October 2000 to shareholders on
the register on 15 September 2000.

Members

Total membership of our clubs at 30 June 2000 stood at 126,000, an
increase of 22% year on year.  Of these 94,000 were adults (June
1999: 77,000).

Our clubs have a relaxed, comfortable and child-friendly atmosphere
and their membership reflects this.  Some 75% of our adult members
have joined as couples or in families.  Their average age is 34 and
55% of them are women.

The majority of our new members are joining a health club for the
first time and this confirms our view that there is considerable
unfulfilled demand for our premium product. We believe that the
proportion of the population using health clubs, and the amount that
they are prepared to spend, will continue to increase over the
longer term.

New Developments

We opened three new Esporta clubs during the period.  Our first Eden
club opened at the beginning of this month in Chislehurst, taking
our overall estate to 26 clubs. Eden represents an opportunity to
attract those who seek a luxurious, tranquil and child-free
environment.

Our new clubs continue to open on time and within budget.   Six
further sites are under construction with Enfield, Friern Barnet and
Lichfield due to open before the end of the year, and Wolverhampton,
Repton Park (near Chigwell) and Chiswick Park due to open in the
first half of 2001.  There are four further sites conditionally
contracted and scheduled to open in 2001.

We believe that the availability of sites for new health clubs will
enable us to meet our target of doubling the size of the estate over
the three-year period to the end of 2002.

Board Changes

Mark Beadle joined the Board as Finance Director at the beginning of
April.  Mark started his career with Price Waterhouse in London, and
spent four years as European Finance Director for Planet Hollywood
before joining us.

As announced in July, Patrick Henchoz, our Managing Director, will
be leaving the Company at the end of the year to travel with his
family.  He leaves Esporta well-positioned to continue its rapid
growth, and we wish him well.

Douglas Waddell, currently UK Operations Director at Queens Moat
Houses plc, will join the Board at the beginning of November as
Operations Director.

Douglas has spent 15 years in general and operational management at
Queens Moat Houses.  Prior to his current position he was
responsible for developing and managing their health and fitness
clubs.  We are extremely pleased to have secured Douglas's services
and are confident that with his energy, experience in the service
sector, and the support of our strong operational management team,
he will continue the progress we have made to date.

Current Trading

Revenues in the first few weeks of the second half have continued
the trends seen in the first half.  Sales in clubs opened in 1998
and prior years have grown by 5% on a comparable basis.  Good
progress was made in July on both membership recruitment and
membership retention.

Prospects

The Health and Fitness market is showing very rapid growth, and we
believe that this growth is set to continue.  We are confident that
our organic development programme, supported by our financial
capacity and our management strengths, will enable the full
potential benefits of this market growth to be realised.

Our business is focused on improving membership loyalty and
increasing spend per head, a focus which is reflected in incentive
schemes for all of our staff.  We have reinforced our commitment to
service with a strict operating standards programme which was
implemented during the period to promote consistent delivery of our
product.

Conclusion

I am pleased with all that Esporta has achieved since flotation -
our sales and profits continue to grow, the returns on our older
units are maturing in line with expectations and our new units are
performing well.  We have made significant progress in establishing
the infrastructure and culture that we believe will differentiate
Esporta in the UK marketplace.

Our objective is to provide premium facilities and service to our
members, enjoyable and fulfilling jobs for our staff and strong
returns for our shareholders.  We look to the future with
confidence.


John Grieves
Chairman
11 August 2000

Consolidated profit and loss account (unaudited)

                              6       Before   Exceptional     6 months
                         months  Exceptional         items           to
                             to        items    30.06.1999  30.06.1999
                     30.06.2000   30.06.1999
               Note          £m            £m            £m          £m
______________  ____  __________   ___________   ___________  __________
Turnover                   38.5          30.9          1.9         32.8
Cost of sales            (30.0)        (24.2)        (0.4)       (24.6)
______________ ____  __________   ___________   ___________  __________
Gross profit                8.5           6.7           1.5         8.2
Administrative                                                         
expenses                  (3.0)        (3.3)             -        (3.3)
                                                                       
______________ ____  __________   ___________   ___________  __________
Operating                                                              
profit                      5.5           3.4           1.5         4.9
______________ ____  __________   ___________   ___________  __________
EBITDA                      9.9           6.7           1.5         8.2
Depreciation              (4.4)        (3.3)             -        (3.3)
______________ ____  __________   ___________   ___________  __________
Operating                                                              
profit                      5.5           3.4           1.5         4.9
______________ ____  __________   ___________   ___________  __________
Net interest                                                           
payable and                                                            
similar                                                                
charges                   (1.0)                                   (2.3)
______________ ____  __________   ___________   ___________  __________
Profit on                                                              
ordinary                                                               
activities                                                             
before                                                                 
taxation                    4.5                                     2.6
Tax on profit                                                          
on ordinary                                                            
activities        4      (1.0)                                    (0.5)
______________ ____  __________   ___________   ___________  __________
Profit on                                                              
ordinary                                                               
activities                                                             
after                                                                  
taxation                    3.5                                     2.1
Equity                                                                 
minority                                                               
interests                     -                                   (0.3)
______________ ____  __________   ___________   ___________  __________
Profit for the                                                         
financial                   3.5                                     1.8
period
Dividends                (1.9)                                        -
Retained                                                               
profit for                                                             
the financial                                                          
period                      1.6                                     1.8
______________ ____  __________   ___________   ___________  __________
Basic and                                                              
diluted                                                                
earnings per                                                           
ordinary                                                               
share                                                                  
(FRS 14)          6       2.12p                                   1.10p
Basic and                                                              
diluted                                                                
headline                                                               
earnings per                                                           
ordinary                                                               
share (IIMR)      6       2.12p                                   1.10p
Basic and                                                              
diluted                                                                
headline                                                               
earnings per                                                           
ordinary                                                               
share before                                                           
exceptional                                                            
items             6       2.12p                                   0.46p
______________ ____  __________   ___________   ___________  __________
                                                                       

                              6       Before   Exceptional      Year to
                         months  Exceptional         items   31.12.1999
                             to        items    31.12.1999
                     30.06.2000   31.12.1999
               Note          £m            £m            £m          £m
______________  ____  __________   ___________   ___________  __________
Turnover                   38.5         64.0            3.9        67.9
Cost of sales            (30.0)       (48.6)          (1.9)      (50.5)
______________ ____  __________   ___________   ___________  __________
Gross profit                8.5          15.4           2.0        17.4
Administrative                                                         
expenses                  (3.0)         (6.4)        (1.0)        (7.4)
                                                                       
______________ ____  __________   ___________   ___________  __________
Operating                                                              
profit                      5.5           9.0           1.0        10.0
______________ ____  __________   ___________   ___________  __________
EBITDA                      9.9          16.1           2.1        18.2
Depreciation              (4.4)        (7.1)          (1.1)       (8.2)
______________ ____  __________   ___________   ___________  __________
Operating                                                              
profit                      5.5           9.0           1.0        10.0
______________ ____  __________   ___________   ___________  __________
Net interest                                                           
payable and                                                            
similar                                                                
charges                   (1.0)                                   (3.8)
______________ ____  __________   ___________   ___________  __________
Profit on                                                              
ordinary                                                               
activities                                                             
before                                                                 
taxation                    4.5                                     6.2
Tax on profit                                                          
on ordinary                                                            
activities        4       (1.0)                                   (1.2)
______________ ____  __________   ___________   ___________  __________
Profit on                                                              
ordinary                                                               
activities                                                             
after                                                                  
taxation                    3.5                                     5.0
Equity                                                                 
minority                                                               
interests                     -                                   (0.3)
______________ ____  __________   ___________   ___________  __________
Profit for the                                                         
financial                                                              
period                      3.5                                     4.7
Dividends                (1.9)                                        -
Retained                                                               
profit for                                                             
the financial                                                          
period                      1.6                                     4.7
______________ ____  __________   ___________   ___________  __________
Basic and                                                              
diluted                                                                
earnings per                                                           
ordinary                                                               
share                                                                  
(FRS 14)          6       2.12p                                   2.83p
Basic and                                                              
diluted                                                                
headline                                                               
earnings per                                                           
ordinary                                                               
share (IIMR)      6       2.12p                                   3.49p
Basic and                                                              
diluted                                                                
headline                                                               
earnings per                                                           
ordinary                                                               
share                                                                  
before                                                                 
 exceptional      6       2.12p                                   2.63p
 items
______________ ____  __________   ___________   ___________  __________
                                                                       

Note:  EBITDA - Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and
amortisation.


Consolidated cash flow statement (unaudited)

                                                                 
                             6 months    6 months to      Year to
                                  to     30.06.1999   31.12.1999
                          30.06.2000
                     Note          £m             £m           £m
___________________  ____  __________   ____________ ____________
Net cash inflow                                                  
from operating                                                  
activities             7         5.5           10.1         23.0
___________________  ____  __________   ____________ ____________
Return on                                                        
investments and
servicing of
finance
Interest received                  0.5           0.3          0.7
Interest paid                    (2.0)         (2.7)        (4.8)
___________________  ____   __________   __________  ____________
                                                 
                                 (1.5)        (2.4)         (4.1)
___________________  ____   __________  ____________ _____________
                                                                 
Taxation                        (0.2)         (0.3)         (1.3)
                                                                 
Capital expenditure                                              
Purchase of                                                      
tangible fixed                                                  
assets                        (12.4)         (16.7)       (31.6)
Sale of tangible                                                 
fixed assets                     0.7              -            -
___________________  ____  __________   ____________  ___________
                                                               _
                               (11.7)         (16.7)       (31.6)
___________________  ____  __________   ____________ ____________
                                                                 
Equity dividends                                                 
paid                           (1.2)              -            -
___________________  ____  __________   ____________ ____________
Net cash outflow                                                 
before financing                (9.1)         (9.3)       (14.0)
                                                                 
Financing                                                        
New loans                           -           34.9         38.3
Repayment of loans              (4.3)              -            -
Repayment of inter-                                              
company loans                      -         (21.6)       (21.6)
___________________  ____  __________   ____________ ____________
                                (4.3)           13.3         16.7
___________________  ____  __________   ____________ ____________
(Decrease)/increase                                              
in cash in the                                                  
period                 8      (13.4)            4.0          2.7
__________________   ___    ________      _________  ___________

Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net debt

                                                                 
                             6 months    6 months to      Year to
                                  to     30.06.1999   31.12.1999
                          30.06.2000
                     Note          £m             £m           £m
___________________  ____   __________  ____________ ____________
(Decrease)/increase                                              
in cash in the                                                  
period                         (13.4)          4.0           2.7
Cash                                                            
outflow/(inflow)                                               
from increase in                                               
debt                              4.3       (13.3)       (16.7)
___________________  ____  __________   ____________ ____________
Movement in net                                                 
debt resulting                                                 
from cash flows                 (9.1)        (9.3)       (14.0)
                                                                 
Net debt at                                                     
beginning of                                                   
period                         (21.8)        (7.8)        (7.8)
___________________  ____  __________   ____________ ____________
Net debt at end of                                              
period                 8       (30.9)       (17.1)       (21.8)
___________________  ____  __________   ____________ ____________
                                                                 


Consolidated balance sheet (unaudited)

                                                                 
                            30.06.2000    30.06.1999   31.12.1999
                                    £m            £m           £m
___________________   ___  ___________  ____________ ____________
Fixed assets                                                     
Tangible assets                  173.5         155.1        166.2
___________________   ___  ___________  ____________ ____________
                                 173.5         155.1        166.2
Current assets                                                   
Stocks                             0.6           0.4          0.6
Debtors                            5.4           3.6          5.8
Cash at bank and in                                              
hand                              7.6          17.8         16.5
___________________   ___  ___________  ____________ ____________
                                  13.6          21.8         22.9
Creditors: amounts                                               
falling due within                                              
one year                       (26.1)        (18.3)       (25.9)
___________________   ___  ___________  ____________ ____________
Net current                                                     
(liabilities)/asset                                             
s                              (12.5)           3.5        (3.0)
Debtors: amounts                                                 
falling due after                                               
one year                          0.9             -          1.5
___________________   ___  ___________  ____________ ____________
Total assets less                                                
current liabilities                                             
                                161.9         158.6        164.7
Creditors: amounts                                               
falling due after                                               
more than one year             (36.3)        (37.5)       (40.7)
___________________   ___  ___________  ____________ ____________
Net assets                       125.6         121.1        124.0
___________________   ___  ___________  ____________ ____________
Capital and reserves                                             
Called up share                                                  
capital                          41.5          41.5         41.5
Merger reserve                    70.0          70.0         70.0
Profit and loss                                                  
account                          14.1           9.6         12.5
___________________   ___  ___________  ____________ ____________
Equity Shareholders'                                             
funds                                                           
                                125.6         121.1        124.0
___________________   ___  ___________  ____________ ____________

Reconciliation of movement in Shareholders' funds

                             6 months    6 months to      Year to
                                  to     30.06.1999   31.12.1999
                          30.06.2000
                                   £m             £m           £m
__________________________ __________    ___________ ____________
Profit for the financial          1.6            1.8          4.7
period
Acquisition of minority             -           14.9         14.9
interests
__________________________ __________    ___________ ____________
Net movement in                                                  
Shareholders' funds              1.6           16.7         19.6
Opening Shareholders'                                            
funds                          124.0          104.4        104.4
__________________________ __________    __________  ____________
Closing Shareholders'                                            
funds                          125.6          121.1        124.0
__________________________ __________    __________  ____________
                                                                 

Notes
(forming part of the financial statements)

1.  Principal accounting policies
    
    The interim report has been prepared using accounting policies
    consistent with those adopted by the Group in its pro forma
    financial statements for the year ended 31 December 1999.
    
2.  Segmental information
    
    Throughout the period the Esporta Group operated solely within
    the health & fitness market in the UK.
    
3.  Exceptional items
    
    Turnover and operating profit for the six months to 30 June
    1999 included £1.9m and £1.5m respectively reported as
    exceptional, principally relating to membership and joining
    fee income for certain clubs which, as a result of the legal
    structure of those clubs, was exempt from VAT.  Customs and
    Excise introduced legislation, from 1 January 2000, which has
    rendered such income subject to VAT. The Directors believed
    that the resulting VAT charge could not be passed on to club
    members and therefore that this element of income was not
    sustainable.
    
4.  Tax on profit on ordinary activities
    
    The taxation charge for the six months to 30 June 2000 is
    based on an estimate of the Group's effective rate of taxation
    for the current year of 22%.  The effective rate of taxation
    for the year to 31 December 1999, after adjusting for the
    effect of exceptional items, was 10%.
    
    The difference compared to the mainstream corporation tax rate
    of 30% is principally due to capital allowances in excess of
    depreciation.  This timing difference is not expected to
    reverse in the foreseeable future and therefore no provision
    has been made for deferred taxation.
    
5.  Dividend
    
    A first interim dividend of  0.7p per share was paid to
    shareholders on 21 April 2000.  A second interim dividend of
    0.45p per share will be paid on 11 October 2000 to
    shareholders on the register at close of business on 15
    September 2000.
    
6.  Earnings per ordinary share
    
    The calculation of basic earnings per share is based on profit
    after tax and minority interests divided by the weighted
    average number of shares in issue.
    
    Headline earnings per ordinary share, as based on the
    recommendations of the Institute of Investment Management and
    Research (IIMR), is stated below.
    
    Headline earnings per share excluding exceptional items is
    presented in order to give a better indication of the
    underlying performance of the Group.  This measure is
    calculated by using earnings before exceptional items and
    adjusting for the tax effect of these transactions or charges.


                    6 months to     6 months to        Year to
                    30.06.2000      30.06.1999     31.12.1999
                  Profit    EPS  Profit     EPS  Profit    EPS
                      £m  pence      £m   pence      £m  pence
_______________   ______  _____  ______   _____  ______  _____
Basic earnings                                               
per ordinary                                                 
share (FRS 14)      3.5   2.12     1.8    1.10     4.7   2.83
Add back: asset                                              
impairments           -      -       -       -     1.1   0.66
_______________   ______  _____  ______   _____  ______  _____
Headline                                                     
earnings per                                                 
ordinary share                                               
(IIMR)              3.5   2.12     1.8    1.10     5.8   3.49
Deduct:                                                      
Profit from                                                  
other                                                        
exceptional                                                  
items                  -     -    (1.5) (0.92)   (2.1) (1.26)
Tax effect of                                                
other                                                        
exceptional                                                  
items                  -     -     0.5    0.28     0.7   0.40
_______________   ______  _____  ______   _____  ______  _____
Headline                                                     
earnings per                                                 
ordinary share                                               
excluding                                                    
exceptional                                                  
items               3.5   2.12     0.8    0.46     4.4   2.63
===============  ======  =====  ======   =====  ======  =====

7.  Reconciliation of operating profit to net cash inflow from
    operating activities


                            6 months   6 months to     Year to
                                 to    30.06.1999  31.12.1999
                         30.06.2000
                                  £m            £m          £m
______________________    __________   ___________  __________
Operating profit                 5.5           4.9        10.0
Depreciation and other                                        
amounts written off                                          
fixed assets                    4.4           3.3         8.2
Increase in stocks                  -            -      (0.2)
Increase/(decrease) in                                       
debtors                          1.6          2.0      (1.5)
(Decrease)/increase in                                       
creditors                      (6.0)        (0.1)        6.5
________________________  __________   ___________  __________
Net cash inflow from                                          
operating activities            5.5          10.1        23.0
________________________  __________   ___________  __________
                                                              

8.  Analysis of movement in net debt


                                   At   Cash flow           At
                          01.01.2000               30.06.2000
                                   £m          £m           £m
_______________________    __________   _________  ___________
Cash at bank and in                                           
hand                            16.5       (8.9)          7.6
Overdrafts                          -       (4.5)        (4.5)
_______________________    __________   _________  ___________
Funds/(debt) due within                                       
one year                        16.5      (13.4)          3.1
Debt due after one year        (38.3)        4.3        (34.0)
_______________________    __________   _________  ___________
Net debt                       (21.8)      (9.1)        (30.9)

_______________________    __________   _________  ___________


9.   Borrowing facilities
     
     Prior to the reconstruction of First Leisure Corporation
     PLC on 30 January 2000 the subsidiaries of Esporta plc
     operated using the credit facilities of First Leisure
     Corporation PLC.  Since this date, the Group has had
     unsecured overdraft facilities of £10m and unsecured
     revolving credit facilities of £100m.  Interest is payable
     on amounts drawn down under these facilities at rates which
     vary with LIBOR.  The unsecured revolving credit facility
     is repayable in November 2003.
     
     As at 30 June 2000 £34.0m of the revolving credit facility
     was drawn down.
     
10.  Basis of preparation
     
     Esporta plc was formed as a result of the reconstruction of
     First Leisure Corporation PLC. The comparative half year
     figures provided in this announcement are those of First
     Leisure's Health and Fitness Division prepared on the same
     basis as the full year numbers shown in the 1999 pro forma
     financial statements.
     
     The interim figures to 30 June 2000 and 30 June 1999 are
     unaudited.  The results for both periods have been formally
     reviewed and reported upon by our auditors. The financial
     information for the year ended 31 December 1999 has been
     extracted from the unaudited pro forma financial statements
     for that year.

11.  Interim report and financial statements
     
     Copies of the 2000 interim report, which will be posted to
     shareholders in the week commencing 21 August 2000, may be
     obtained from the registered office at Trinity Court, Molly
     Millars Lane, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG41 2PY.  A
     presentation of the results will be made to analysts on 11
     August 2000.  Copies of the slides from the presentation are
     available from the Company's registered office.