RNS Number:2981I
Deep-Sea Leisure PLC
05 March 2003

News Release

5 March 2003

                              Deep Sea Leisure PLC

            Preliminary Results for the period ended 31 October 2002

Deep Sea Leisure PLC, the leisure company which runs two aquariums in the UK
featuring marine life, announces its final results for the period ended 31
October 2002.

Highlights

  * Year end changed from 28 February to 31 October. The preliminary results,
    therefore, cover an eight month period from 28 February - 31 October 2002

  * Pre-tax profit in the eight month period was #1,138,000, before
    exceptional costs of #252,000, on turnover of #4.54m compared with an
    (unaudited) profit for the equivalent eight month period in 2001, of
    #878,000 on turnover of #4.64m

  * Enhanced operational systems and strengthened management team have
    resulted in improved margins

  * AIM listing retained following acquisition of a majority interest in Deep
    Sea Leisure by Net-Ein, part of the Aspro Group, the operator of water
    parks, animal parks and aquariums in Europe, completed in August 2002

  * Continued focus on increasing per capita spend and investment in new
    attractions

For further information please contact:-

Richard Golding, Chairman
Deep Sea Leisure plc                              0034 91 562 5010
Stuart Earley, Managing Director
Deep Sea Leisure plc                              0151 357 8804
Roland Cross, Director

Broadgate                                         020 7726 6111



Chairman's Statement


These results are for the eight month period ended 31 October 2002, reflecting
the change of year end following the acquisition by Net-Ein of a majority
interest in the Company. The Company has retained its quotation on the AIM
market and announced its interim results for the six months ended 31 August 2002
in December 2002.


For the eight month period ended 31 October 2002, the Company made a pre-tax
profit, before exceptional items, of #1.138 million on turnover of #4.544
million.


For reference only, and to allow a degree of comparability using the unaudited
figures, the 8 month figures for the equivalent period for 2001 were a pre tax
profit, before exceptional items, of #0.878 million on turnover of #4.646
million.


The exceptional items referred to above amounted to #0.252 million and consisted
of advisers' fees incurred by the Company during Net-Ein's acquisition of a
majority interest in Deep Sea Leisure. Pre-tax profit, after exceptional items,
was #0.886 million.


As previously reported, the strengthened management team, including the arrival
of Stuart Earley as Managing Director, has concentrated on improving the
operational performance of the Company. The strategy has focused on increasing
the per capita spend per visitor whilst avoiding chasing visitor numbers through
financial incentives. Over the year this strategy has delivered an increased
spend, with the effect that pre tax profit, before exceptional items, has
increased by #0.260 million, compared to the unaudited figures for the
equivalent period in 2001, despite a drop in overall visitor numbers.


The Board will continue to seek further improvement in the trading performance
achieved during the current financial year. New revenue streams are currently
being explored and will be rolled out in the coming year. Financial controls and
management reporting systems have been enhanced, in particular providing
valuable data for the management to seek to improve margins.


Operational performance during the eight month period has been encouraging.
Overall per capita spend has increased by 10% (from #6.84 to #7.55) which,
combined with a reduction in costs, has delivered a good result for the
financial period. Notwithstanding this improvement, the Board has sought to
identify how to further enhance the organic growth of the business, for example,
the Company's marketing activities have been overhauled with a number of new
cost effective marketing initiatives already in place for the 2003 season. A
number of other schemes are being considered or are due for implementation
shortly which should improve the customer experience and increase customer
loyalty. The approach being adopted should enable us to better meet our
customers' needs which, in turn, should help us to achieve better overall
returns.


As stated in the Company's interim results, the financial results of Deep Sea
Leisure are now incorporated into those of the Aspro Group. The Board considered
it appropriate to undertake a thorough review of operational and accounting
matters, resulting in a revision to the accounting treatment of the #3 million
European Regional Development Grant which assisted the construction of Blue
Planet. The net impact on the financial results of this change in policy is
detailed in note 17 of the accounts.


The current financial year ending 31 October 2003 has started positively. The
Board intends to invest in the cost effective development of new attractions at
Blue Planet and Deep Sea World that will increase the overall appeal of the two
aquariums and help deliver enhanced financial performance. At Blue Planet, one
of the largest and most attractive otter enclosures in the UK has been created.
Deep Sea World is benefiting from new outdoor attractions which improve the
customer experience and generate additional income.


In the current difficult economic environment, the strong cashflow of the
Company, together with the expertise and resources of the Aspro Group, means
that Deep Sea Leisure is well placed to take advantage of opportunities that may
arise in the UK leisure sector.


Richard Golding

Chairman



Profit and loss account
for the eight months ended 31st October 2002




                                                                    8 Months to              12 Months to
                                                                     31 October               28 February
                                                                           2002                      2002               
                                                                           #000                      #000               
                                                                                                 Restated *
Turnover                                                                  4,544                     6,029

Cost of sales                                                             (635)                     (862)
                                                                          _______                  _______

Gross profit                                                              3,909                     5,167

Administrative expenses                                                   (2,566)                  (3,913)
Costs incurred during takeover                                            (252)                       -
                                                                          _______                  _______

Operating profit                                                          1,091                     1,254

Interest payable and similar charges                                      (205)                     (514)
                                                                          _______                  _______
Profit on ordinary activities before taxation
                                                                           886                       740
                                                                          
Tax on profit on ordinary activities                                      (347)                     (248)
                                                                          _______                  _______
Profit retained for the financial year for equity
shareholders                                                              539                        492

Earnings per ordinary share                                               2.81p                    2.56p

Earnings per ordinary share before exceptional items                      4.11p                    2.56p







Balance sheet
at 31 October 2002


                                                                                               
                                                                31 October 2002                 28 February 2002
                                                        #000            #000            #000            #000

                                                                                        * restated
    Fixed assets                                                      
    Tangible assets                                                   17,910                          18,251

    Current assets
    Stocks                                              379                             365
                                                       
    Debtors                                             112                             64
                                                        
    Cash at bank and in hand                            386                             62

                                                        ______                          ______

                                                        877                             491

    Creditors: amounts falling due within               (1,963)                         (2,202)
    one year

                                                        ______                          ______
                                                                        
    Net current liabilities                                             (1,086)                         (1,711)

                                                                        ______                          ______

                                                                                                        16,540
    Total assets less current liabilities                               16,824


    Creditors: amounts falling due after                                                                
    more than one year                                                  (3,938)                         (4,447)
                                                                        
    Accruals and deferred income                                        (2,931)                         (3,023)
                                                                        
    Provision for liabilities and charges                               (1,405)                         (1,059)

                                                                        ______                          ______

                                                                        8,550                           8,011
    Net assets



    Capital and reserves
                                                                         
    Called up share capital                                              960                             960

    Share premium account                                               5,902                           5,902

    Capital redemption reserve                                          1,003                           1,003

    Profit and loss account                                             685                             146
                                                                        ______                          ______

    Shareholders' funds - equity                                        8,550                           8,011




Cash flow statement
for the period ended 31st October 2002

Reconciliation of operating profit to net cash inflow from operating                8 Months to 31    12 Months to 28
activities                                                                          October 2002      February 2002
                                                                                    #000              #000

                                                                                    
    Operating profit                                                                1,091            1,254
                                                                                    
    Depreciation charges                                                            522              832
                                                                                    
    (Increase)/decrease in stocks                                                   (14)             1
                                                                                    
    Increase in debtors                                                             (48)             (25)
                                                                                   
    Decrease increase in creditors                                                  (262)            (757)
                                                                                    
    Grant released                                                                  (92)             (149)
                                                                                    _____            _____

                                                                                  
    Net cash inflow from operating activities                                       1,197            1,156



    Cash flow statement
                                                                                    
    Net cash inflow from operating activities                                       1,197            1,156
                                                                                    
    Returns on investments and servicing of finance                                 (205)            (514)
                                                                                  
    Capital expenditure                                                             (181)            (157)
                                                                                    ______           ______

                                                                                    811              485
    Cash inflow before financing
                                                                                    
    Financing                                                                       (487)            (1,720)

                                                                                    ______           ______

                                                                                    324              (1,235)
    Increase/(decrease) in cash




    Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net debt (note 21)
                                                                                    
    Increase/decrease in cash                                                       324              (1,235)
                                                                                    
    Cash inflow from movement in net debt                                           487              1,720
                                                                                    ______           ______

                                                                                  
    Change in net debt resulting from cash flows                                    811              485
                                                                                     ______           ______

                                                                                   
    Movement in net debt in the year                                                811              485
                                                                                     
    Net debt at beginning of year                                                   (5,546)          (6,031)

                                                                                    ______           ______

                                                                                    
    Net debt at end of year                                                         (4,735)          (5,546)




Notes


 1. The board is not recommending a payment of a final dividend.


 2. The financial information set out on the previous pages does not constitute
    the Company's Statutory Accounts for the period ended 31 October 2002 or
    year ended 28 February 2002 but is derived from these accounts. Statutory
    Accounts for the previous financial year ended 28 February 2002 have been
    delivered to the Registrar of Companies and those for the financial period
    ended 31 October 2002 will be delivered following the Company's Annual
    General Meeting which will be held at The Blue Planet Aquarium, Cheshire
    Oaks, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, CH65 9LF on Wednesday 23 April 2003 at 12.00
    noon. The Auditors have reported on those accounts: the reports were
    unqualified and did not contain any statements under section 237(2) or (3)
    of the Companies Act 1985.


 3. Copies of the annual report and accounts will be posted to shareholders on 7
    March 2003 and will be available for inspection at The Blue Planet Aquarium,
    Cheshire Oaks, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, CH65 9LF from the same date.


 4. Prior year adjustment. The financial results of Deep Sea Leisure are now
    incorporated into those of the Aspro Group. Accordingly and following the
    appointment of new auditors to the company, the Board considered it
    appropriate to undertake a thorough review of operational and accounting
    matters. As part of this review, the board has considered the
    appropriateness of its accounting policies, in particular, the accounting
    treatment of the European Regional Development Grant which amounted to #3m
    and assisted the construction of Blue Planet. Previous treatment was to
    release the grant to profit and loss over the economic life of the grant
    which was deemed to expire in March 2003. The Board however now consider
    that an alternative treatment, releasing the grant over the useful economic
    life of the assets would be more appropriate. The Board considered this
    matter carefully as any change in accounting treatment would have a
    significant effect on both the balance sheet and future profits. The
    accounts reflect this change of policy with the grant being released partly
    over 20 and also over 50 years.



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