Defence Document Posted

Esporta PLC
14 June 2002



                    Esporta PLC Statement re Offer Rejection



                            DEFENCE DOCUMENT POSTED



The Board of Esporta plc ('Esporta') is today sending a document to Shareholders
advising them to reject the nil premium Offer from Duke Street Capital Leisure
Investments Limited ('Duke Street').



The Offer is a 3.0 per cent. discount to the Esporta share price of 82.5 pence
on 13 June 2002.



The Offer is focused on the past and does not reward Esporta Shareholders for:


-     NEW MANAGEMENT'S ACTIONS WHICH HAVE DELIVERED STRONG TOP LINE GROWTH
      In the first five months of 2002, total revenue increased 26 per cent., 
      like-for-like revenue increased 7 per cent., like-for-like membership 
      income increased 11 per cent.,  and like-for-like adult membership 
      increased 8 per cent.


-     GBP5 MILLION OF ANNUALISED COST SAVINGS AND REVENUE ENHANCEMENTS


-     SUBSTANTIAL FUTURE PROFIT FROM 2001 CLUB OPENINGS
      As membership levels of the 12 clubs opened in 2001 increase in line with 
      the usual maturity profile, these clubs will become profitable.


-     STRONG AND PROVEN UK BUSINESS

      In the first five months of 2002, operating profit for comparable clubs, 
      being those clubs opened before 2001, increased by more than 20 per cent.


-     STRONG PIPELINE OF POTENTIAL NEW CLUBS
      Esporta has 29 sites at various stages being reviewed.  The Company has a 
      new strategy in place to accelerate the profitability of new openings, 
      allowing them to reach break-even in six months.


-     NEW FOCUSED EUROPEAN STRATEGY
      Esporta is announcing a new European strategy to focus on the attractive 
      Spanish market.  The core estate retained will be four Spanish clubs 
      expected to reach a return on capital employed in excess of 20 per cent.  
      This will create a sound platform for future expansion.





Commenting on the Offer, John Grieves, Chairman of Esporta, said:



'Duke Street's Offer is focused on the past.  Esporta's Shareholders own a
business with highly attractive growth prospects, which is worth materially more
than 80 pence a share.  The Board will examine any and every opportunity to
maximise shareholder value and will be completely open-minded as to the course
of action that is in the best interests of Shareholders.  Rejecting an 80 pence
offer is in the best interests of Shareholders.'



There will be a meeting for analysts at 9.30am this morning at The Lincoln
Centre, 18 Lincoln's Inn Fields, WC2.



ENQUIRIES:


ESPORTA
Maurice Kelly, Chief Executive                       020 7404 5959
                                                    (0118 912 3503 after today)

Michael Ball, Finance Director                       020 7404 5959
                                                    (0118 912 3504 after today)

LAZARD (Financial Adviser to Esporta)
Nicholas Shott                                       020 7588 2721
Jean-Eudes Renier

CAZENOVE (Broker to Esporta)
Michael Wentworth-Stanley                            020 7588 2828
Roger Lambert

BRUNSWICK
William Cullum                                       020 7404 5959



The Directors of Esporta accept responsibility for the information contained in
this announcement and, to the best of their knowledge and belief (having taken
all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case), the information contained
in this announcement is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything
likely to affect the import of such information.



Lazard Brothers & Co., Limited ('Lazard') is acting for Esporta and no one else
in connection with the Offer by Duke Street and will not be responsible to
anyone other than Esporta for providing the protections afforded to clients of
Lazard nor for providing advice in relation to this matter.



Cazenove & Co Ltd ('Cazenove') is acting for Esporta and no one else in
connection with the Offer by Duke Street and will not be responsible to anyone
other than Esporta for providing the protections afforded to clients of Cazenove
nor for providing advice in relation to this matter.



Words and expressions defined in the document being posted to Esporta
Shareholders today have the same meaning where used in this announcement unless
the context otherwise requires.





                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange