RNS Number:1542Q
Alpha Airports Group PLC
25 September 2003


                         ALPHA Airports Group Plc

                 Results for the Six Months ended 31 July 2003


Unaudited                                                    25 September 2003

Highlights


   *First half performance in line with expectations reflecting the adverse
    impact of the Iraq war and the SARS virus on the long-haul aviation industry
    during this period.

   *Sales revenues up 1.0% to #213.7m (2002/3: #211.6m), reflecting strong
    Retail growth of 8.2% offsetting Flight Services decline of 4.1%.

   *EBITDA* down 9.3% to #14.6m (2002/3: #16.1m) due principally to reduced
    profits from long-haul scheduled Flight Services business at Heathrow,
    Amsterdam and Jordan. Operating profit for the first half was #8.4m (2002/3:
    #9.7m).

   *Adjusted earnings per share down 3.4% to 3.40p per share (2002/3: 3.52p
    per share). Earnings per share down 31.1% to 2.46p (2002/03: 3.57p) due
    principally to last year's #1.9m profit on disposal of discontinued
    business.

   *Interim dividend unchanged at 1.0p per share (2002/3: 1.0p per share)

   *Strong balance sheet with net cash of #5.6m held at 31 July 2003 (31 July
    2002: net debt of #2.1m).

   *Recent contract wins and improving trading conditions give the Board
    confidence for the second half.


* EBITDA represents operating profit before depreciation on tangible assets and
amortisation of goodwill as shown in the Group profit and loss account. EBITDA
is presented as the directors consider it is a financial measure used widely by
analysts, investors and other interested parties in the industry.



Commenting on the Interim Results, Kevin Abbott, Chief Executive said:


"Despite a challenging aviation market, continued progress has been made in all
our businesses building strong cost-effective foundations for future growth.
With a great team, exciting new service offerings, a sound balance sheet and a
recovering aviation market, ALPHA is well positioned to deliver future earnings
growth."



Enquiries:


ALPHA Airports Group Plc

Kevin Abbott, Chief Executive          )  Tel: 020 7554 1400 (25 September 2003)
Heather McRae, Finance Director        )  Tel: 020 8580 3200 (thereafter)


Gavin Anderson & Company
Laura Hickman                             Tel: 020 7554 1400
Amelia Hine


www.alpha-group.com


Overview


Overall, first half sales have shown a modest 1% growth to #213.7m (2002/3:
#211.6m) reflecting an encouraging sales performance in excess of 8% in our
Retail business predominantly from continued growth in UK short-haul passenger
numbers at the regional airports, and customer penetration improvements in the
new "pink" ALPHA shops. The airline industry experienced a further global
downturn because of the Iraq war and SARS and although the impact of this on our
business is limited to a few locations where long-haul scheduled services are
provided, it did have the effect of reducing sales in Flight Services by 4%.


Operating profit of #8.4m in the first half, a reduction of #1.3m or 13% on the
first half of 2002/3 reflects the impact of the reduced traffic on our long-haul
scheduled business at Heathrow, Amsterdam and Jordan and the increase in UK
staff costs for national insurance and pensions.


The Group has invested in the business in the first half of 2003/4 with #6.3m
(2002/3: #3.9m) incurred predominantly on retail and retail catering outlets
following the award of new concession contracts last year.


The Board has maintained the interim dividend at 1.0 pence per share (2002: 1.0
pence) reflecting the first half result. This dividend will be payable on 7
November 2003 to shareholders on the register as at 10 October 2003.


Flight Services


In our major UK Flight Catering business, sales declined 13.6% to #67.7m (2002/
3: #78.4m) due to a combination of reduced long-haul scheduled airline activity
(as a consequence of the Iraq war and SARS), the full impact of domestic
back-catering by British Airways and reduced free-meal provision by the UK
charter airlines generating in total an 11.6% reduction in meal volumes. Our
Inflight Retail business has achieved an excellent 20% sales growth due to the
continued expansion of the UK low-cost airlines' onboard sales programmes.


From 1 November 2003, UK Flight Services has been awarded the national flight
catering contract for Monarch Airlines, a leading UK independent charter
airline, which will generate a significant increase in future sales particularly
for our Gatwick and Manchester charter kitchens. We are also launching ALPHA
D'Lish from November in Brussels with Virgin Express, a leading European
low-cost airline; this innovative, high-quality, internet pre-order meal choice
is an added value complement to our current Inflight Retail pay-as-you-go
trolley service programme.


As expected our International Flight Services' activities in Amsterdam and
Jordan had a challenging first half, with significant sales and profit declines
experienced due to a combination of the Iraq crisis and the SARS virus, with a
resultant negative impact on long-haul scheduled flight schedules at these
kitchens. With a strong sales recovery evident since June, and the award of the
Japan Airlines account at Amsterdam from October, second half sales and profits
should recover to previous levels. In Australia, our first international
scheduled airline customer has been secured, with catering services provided
from our newly refurbished Sydney and Brisbane kitchens.



Retail


With continued strong 9% passenger growth at our UK regional airports, driven by
the low-cost airlines, like-for-like ALPHA Airport Shopping sales grew by 19%.
The new ALPHA 'pink' branded shops - giving travellers the reassurance that
'Everyone Can Buy' at great value prices - were the key drivers of this growth,
with traveller penetration rates into the new shops up nearly 9%. Despite fewer
long-haul travellers at Heathrow, our newly redesigned World News and Glorious
Britain shops and formats performed excellently, with sales up over 12%.


In terms of new developments, our Retail Catering division grew strongly with
the establishment of new restaurants and bars at Dublin and Birmingham airports,
albeit incurring initial start-up costs. With the planned Winter redevelopment
of Newcastle International Airport, ALPHA has agreed a programme of withdrawal
from our catering contract and our loss-making retail contract.


Internationally, ALPHA enjoyed continued strong recovery in Sri Lanka with US
dollar sales up 20% in line with the continued, strong tourist recovery. In the
USA, US dollar sales grew 11% on broadly flat tourist departures. However, the
weakness of the US dollar against sterling has had the effect of reducing the
apparent growth and success of our International Retail businesses.


Outlook


We started 2003/4 with considerable uncertainty as to the timing, length and
thus the impact that the Iraq War would have on our business. This has not been
as severe as we feared; we are confident of an ongoing second half recovery to
deliver activity levels across the Group similar to last year's outturn.



Group Profit and Loss Account
Unaudited
                                                   Six months ended      Year ended

                                                  31 July    31 July        31 Jan
                                                     2003       2002          2003
                                         Notes         #m         #m            #m
----------------------------------        ----     ------      -----         -----
Turnover                                     2      213.7      211.6         419.3
Cost of sales                                      (141.1)    (138.8)       (267.1)
----------------------------------        ----     ------      -----         -----
Gross profit                                         72.6       72.8         152.2
Administration expenses                             (64.2)     (63.1)       (132.3)
----------------------------------        ----     ------      -----         -----
                                                   ------      -----         -----
EBITDA                                               14.6       16.1          33.1
Depreciation on tangible assets                      (4.7)      (5.0)        (10.3)
Amortisation of goodwill                             (1.5)      (1.4)         (2.9)
                                                   ------      -----         -----
Operating profit                                      8.4        9.7          19.9
                                                   ------      -----         -----
----------------------------------        ----     ------      -----         -----
Operating profit
                                                   ------      -----         -----
- Continuing                                          8.4        9.5          19.6
- Discontinued                                          -        0.2           0.3
                                                   ------      -----         -----
Operating profit                                      8.4        9.7          19.9
                                                   ------      -----         -----
Share of operating profit of associates               0.2          -           0.2
(including goodwill amortisation of
#0.1m ((Six months ended July 2002:#0.1
m) (Year ended Jan 2003:#0.1m))
Profit on disposal of discontinued           4          -        1.9           2.1
operations                                ----     ------      -----         -----
----------------------------------
Profit on ordinary activities before         2        8.6       11.6          22.2
interest
Interest receivable                                   0.1        0.2           0.4
Interest payable                                     (0.8)      (1.1)         (1.9)
----------------------------------        ----     ------      -----         -----
Profit on ordinary activities before         2        7.9       10.7          20.7
taxation
Taxation on profit on ordinary                       (3.1)      (3.8)         (7.2)
activities                                ----     ------      -----         -----
----------------------------------
Profit on ordinary activities after                   4.8        6.9          13.5
taxation
Minority interests (equity)                          (0.6)      (0.8)         (1.7)
----------------------------------        ----     ------      -----         -----
Profit for the financial period                       4.2        6.1          11.8
Equity dividends                             3       (1.7)      (1.7)         (6.2)
----------------------------------        ----     ------      -----         -----
Retained profit for the financial                     2.5        4.4           5.6
period                                    ----     ------      -----         -----
----------------------------------
Earnings per share                           5       2.46p      3.57p         6.91p
Diluted earnings per share                   5       2.45p      3.54p         6.87p
Adjusted earnings per share                  5       3.40p      3.52p         7.50p
All turnover was derived from continuing operations.
Statement of total recognised gains and losses
-----------------------------------               -------      -----         -----
Profit for the financial period                       4.2        6.1          11.8
Currency translation differences on foreign           0.6       (0.4)         (0.5)
currency net assets and certain loans             -------      -----         -----
-----------------------------------
Total gains and losses recognised since last          4.8        5.7          11.3
Annual Report                                     -------      -----         -----
-----------------------------------
There are no differences between the reported results for the current and prior
periods and the results for those periods on an historical cost basis.

Group Balance Sheet
Unaudited
                                                  31 July    31 July    31 Jan
                                                     2003       2002      2003
                                         Notes         #m         #m        #m
--------------------------               -----    -------  ---------  --------
Fixed assets
Intangible assets                                    12.2       13.8      13.0
Tangible assets                                      55.7       55.6      53.5
Investments                                  8        4.4        3.8       3.7
--------------------------               -----    -------  ---------  --------
                                                     72.3       73.2      70.2
--------------------------               -----    -------  ---------  --------
Current assets
Stocks                                               24.9       22.8      20.2
Debtors                                              33.3       35.1      25.7
Cash at bank and in hand                             13.3       15.0       6.4
--------------------------               -----    -------  ---------  --------
                                                     71.5       72.9      52.3
--------------------------               -----    -------  ---------  --------
Creditors: amounts falling due within
one year
Bank and other borrowings                            (7.7)     (17.1)     (6.7)
Other creditors                                     (75.3)     (70.5)    (57.5)
--------------------------               -----    -------  ---------  --------
                                                    (83.0)     (87.6)    (64.2)
--------------------------               -----    -------  ---------  --------
Net current liabilities                             (11.5)     (14.7)    (11.9)
--------------------------               -----    -------  ---------  --------
Total assets less current liabilities                60.8       58.5      58.3
--------------------------               -----    -------  ---------  --------
Provisions for liabilities and charges               (5.9)      (9.4)     (7.5)
--------------------------               -----    -------  ---------  --------
Total net assets                                     54.9       49.1      50.8
--------------------------               -----    -------  ---------  --------

Capital and reserves
Called up share capital                              17.1       17.1      17.1
Share premium account                                42.5       42.5      42.5
Capital redemption reserve                            0.4        0.4       0.4
Profit and loss account                              (6.4)     (11.8)    (10.1)
--------------------------               -----    -------  ---------  --------
Shareholders' funds                          6       53.6       48.2      49.9
Minority interests (equity)                           1.3        0.9       0.9
--------------------------               -----    -------  ---------  --------
Total equity                                         54.9       49.1      50.8
--------------------------               -----    -------  ---------  --------




Group Cash Flow Statement
Unaudited
                                       Six months      Six months           Year
                                            ended           ended          ended
                                     31 July 2003    31 July 2002    31 Jan 2003
                            Notes              #m              #m             #m
 --------------------------   -----        --------        --------        -------

Net cash inflow from          7.1            21.5            11.4           23.5
operating activities

Net cash outflow from
returns on investments
and
servicing of finance                         (0.9)           (1.6)          (3.0)
Taxation paid                                (3.5)           (3.1)          (6.7)
Net capital expenditure                      (6.3)           (3.9)          (6.8)
Purchase of own shares                          -            (0.5)          (0.5)
Acquisition of associates     8.1            (0.7)              -              -
Disposal of businesses          4               -             1.5            1.3
Equity dividends paid                        (4.4)           (4.4)          (6.1)
--------------------------   -----        --------        --------        -------
Net cash inflow/(outflow)                     5.7            (0.6)           1.7
before financing              
--------------------------   -----        --------        --------        -------

Financing
Issue of shares                                 -             0.3            0.3
Unsecured loan less than 1                    1.0            (6.0)         (17.1)
year                          -----        --------        --------        -------
--------------------------
Net cash inflow/(outflow)                     1.0            (5.7)         (16.8)
from financing                
--------------------------    -----        --------        --------        -------
--------------------------    -----        --------        --------        -------
Increase/(decrease) in        7.2             6.7            (6.3)         (15.1)
cash                          
--------------------------    -----        --------        --------        -------


Notes to the Financial Information

1.  Basis of accounting

The consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared under the
historical cost convention and in accordance with applicable accounting and
financial reporting standards. The accounting policies are the same as those set
out in the financial statements of the Group for the year ended 31 January 2003.

The interim financial statements are unaudited but have been reviewed by the
auditors. The comparative figures for the year ended 31 January 2003 have been
extracted from the Group's  financial statements which have been delivered to
the Registrar of Companies.  The auditors' report on those statements was
unqualified and did not include a statement under Section 237(2) or (3) of the
Companies Act 1985.

2. Segmental analysis
                                        Six months           Six months               Year
                                             ended                ended              ended
                                      31 July 2003         31 July 2002        31 Jan 2003
                                                #m                   #m                 #m
 -----------------------------             ---------             --------           --------
(a) Turnover
Business sector analysis
Flight Services                              119.0                124.1              245.4
Retail                                        94.7                 87.5              173.9
-----------------------------              ---------             --------           --------
Total turnover                               213.7                211.6              419.3
-----------------------------              ---------             --------           --------

Geographical analysis
United Kingdom                               181.0                181.2              355.5
Rest of the world                             32.7                 30.4               63.8
-----------------------------              ---------             --------           --------
Total turnover                               213.7                211.6              419.3
-----------------------------              ---------             --------           --------


Notes to the Financial Information
continued

2. Segmental analysis (continued)
                                     Six months      Six months           Year
                                          ended           ended          ended
                                   31 July 2003    31 July 2002    31 Jan 2003
                                             #m              #m             #m
    -----------------------------       ---------        --------       --------
(b) Profit before taxation
Business sector analysis
Flight Services
- continuing operations *                   6.3             7.8           15.7
- discontinued operations **                  -             0.2            0.3
- goodwill amortisation                    (0.6)           (0.5)          (1.1)
- share of operating profit of              0.2               -            0.2
associates (including goodwill
amortisation)
- profit on disposal of                       -             1.9            1.9
discontinued operations                 ---------        --------       --------
-----------------------------
                                            5.9             9.4           17.0
-----------------------------           ---------        --------       --------
Retail Services
- continuing operations *                   3.6             3.1            6.8
- goodwill amortisation                    (0.9)           (0.9)          (1.8)
-----------------------------           ---------        --------       --------
                                            2.7             2.2            5.0
-----------------------------           ---------        --------       --------
                                            8.6            11.6           22.0
Corporate exceptional item -                  -               -            0.2
discontinued operation                  ---------        --------       --------
-----------------------------
                                            8.6            11.6           22.2
Net interest                               (0.7)           (0.9)          (1.5)
-----------------------------           ---------        --------       --------
Profit on ordinary activities               7.9            10.7           20.7
before taxation                         ---------        --------       --------
-----------------------------

Geographical Analysis
United Kingdom
- continuing operations                     6.5             6.6           13.3
-----------------------------           ---------        --------       --------
                                            6.5             6.6           13.3
-----------------------------           ---------        --------       --------
Rest of the World
- continuing operations *                   3.4             4.3            9.2
- discontinued operations **                  -             0.2            0.3
- goodwill amortisation                    (1.5)           (1.4)          (2.9)
- share of operating profit of              0.2               -            0.2
associates (including goodwill
amortisation)
- profit on disposal of                       -             1.9            1.9
discontinued operations                 ---------        --------       --------
-----------------------------
                                            2.1             5.0            8.7
-----------------------------           ---------        --------       --------
                                            8.6            11.6           22.0
Corporate exceptional item -                  -               -            0.2
discontinued operation                  ---------        --------       --------
-----------------------------
                                            8.6            11.6           22.2
Net interest                               (0.7)           (0.9)          (1.5)
-----------------------------           ---------        --------       --------
Profit on ordinary activities               7.9            10.7           20.7
before taxation
* before goodwill amortisation
** before goodwill amortisation (and exceptional items in the six months ended
31 July 2002 and in the year ended 31 January 2003).



Notes to the Financial Information
continued

  3.  Dividends

An interim dividend of 1.0 pence (2002: 1.0 pence) per ordinary share will be paid on 7 November
2003 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 10 October 2003.

  4.  Exceptional items

There were no exceptional items in the half year ended 31 July 2003.

The results for the half year ended 31 July 2002 included exceptional profits of #1.9m comprising a
profit of #1.1m on the disposal of the Group's investment in Inflight Sales Group (Asia) Limited
and a #0.8m profit from the disposal of the Group's In-Flight Retail Canada operations.

The results for the year ended 31 January 2003 included exceptional items of #2.1m comprising those
which arose in the half year ended 31 July 2002 as described above, plus #0.2m from the release of
a provision in respect of a discontinued operation which was no longer required.

  5.  Earnings per share
                                             -------------           -------------
                                        Profit for the period        Earnings per share

                                             -------------           -------------
                                     31 July    31 July    31 Jan    31 July    31 July    31 Jan
                                        2003       2002      2003       2003       2002      2003
                                          #m         #m        #m      Pence      Pence     Pence
 ----  ------------  --------------      -----      -----     -----     ------      -----    ------

Profit for the financial period and      4.2        6.1      11.8       2.46       3.57      6.91
earnings per share
Adjustment for profit on disposal of
discontinued operations                    -       (1.9)     (2.1)         -      (1.11)    (1.23)
Adjustment for goodwill                  1.6        1.5       3.0       0.94       0.88      1.76
amortisation
Taxation relating to these items           -        0.3       0.1          -       0.18      0.06
-------------------------                -----      -----     -----     ------      -----    ------
Adjusted profit and adjusted             5.8        6.0      12.8       3.40       3.52      7.50
earnings per share

The weighted average number of shares in issue during the six months ended 31
July 2003 were 170,588,388 (31 July 2002: 170,869,042 and 31 January 2003:
170,722,782).

Earnings per share are calculated by dividing the profit for the financial
period by the weighted average number of shares in issue during the period. An
additional measure of earnings per share, namely an adjusted earnings per share,
is computed after adjusting for goodwill amortisation and exceptional items,
adjusted for any tax effect.

Diluted earnings per share of 2.45p (2002: 3.54p) has been calculated by
reference to the profit for the financial period of #4.2m (2002: #6.1m) and the
weighted average number of shares in issue during the period of 170,588,388
(2002: 170,869,042), as adjusted for potentially dilutive ordinary shares of
552,224 (2002: 1,275,019).




Notes to the Financial Information
continued
                                                    
6.  Reconciliation of movements in shareholders' funds

                                            Six months    Six months      Year
                                                 ended         ended     ended
                                               31 July       31 July    31 Jan
                                                  2003          2002      2003
                                                    #m            #m        #m
----------------------------------              --------       -------   -------
Profit for the financial period                    4.2           6.1      11.8
Dividends                                         (1.7)         (1.7)     (6.2)
-------------------------------                 --------       -------   -------
Retained profit for the financial period           2.5           4.4       5.6
Currency translation differences on                0.6          (0.4)     (0.5)
foreign currency net assets and certain
loans
Goodwill charged to the profit and loss            0.6           0.6       1.2
account previously written off directly to
reserves
Issue of shares                                      -           0.3       0.3
-------------------------------                 --------       -------   -------
Net increase in shareholders' funds                3.7           4.9       6.6
Opening shareholders' funds                       49.9          43.3      43.3
-------------------------------                 --------       -------   -------
Closing shareholders' funds                       53.6          48.2      49.9
-------------------------------                 --------       -------   -------

 7.    Notes to the cash flow statement

 7.1   Reconciliation of operating profit
       to net cash inflow from
       operating activities
                                            Six months    Six months      Year
                                                 ended         ended     ended
                                               31 July       31 July    31 Jan
                                                  2003          2002      2003
                                                    #m            #m        #m
----------------------------------              --------       -------   -------
Operating profit                                   8.4           9.7      19.9
Depreciation                                       4.7           5.0      10.3
Goodwill amortisation                              1.5           1.4       2.9
Long term incentive plan amortisation              0.1             -       0.1
charge
(Increase) in stocks                              (4.6)         (4.2)     (1.8)
(Increase) in debtors                             (7.6)        (10.8)     (2.0)
Increase/(decrease) in creditors                  19.0          10.3      (5.9)
-------------------------------                 --------       -------   -------
Net cash inflow from operating                    21.5          11.4      23.5
activities                                      --------       -------   -------
-------------------------------




Notes to the Financial Information
continued

   7.    Notes to the cash flow statement
         (continued)

   7.2   Reconciliation of net debt                  Six months    Six months      Year
                                                          ended         ended     ended
                                                        31 July       31 July    31 Jan
                                                           2003          2002      2003
                                                             #m            #m        #m
---------------------------------                       --------      --------   -------
Increase/(decrease) in cash                                 6.7          (6.3)    (14.4)
Increase in overdrafts in the period                          -             -      (0.7)
(Increase)/decrease in debt financing                      (1.0)          6.0      17.1
-------------------------------                         --------      --------   -------
Change in net debt from cash flows                          5.7          (0.3)      2.0
Translation differences                                     0.2          (0.5)     (1.0)
-------------------------------                          --------      --------   -------
Movements in net debt in period                             5.9          (0.8)      1.0
Opening net (debt)                                         (0.3)         (1.3)     (1.3)
-------------------------------                          --------      --------   -------
Closing net cash/(debt)                                     5.6          (2.1)     (0.3)
                                                                                   
-------------------------------                          --------      --------   -------

     8.  Investments

At 31 July 2003, investments of #4.4m comprise:
                                                      31 July         31 July    31 Jan
                                                         2003            2002      2003
                                                           #m              #m        #m
-------------------------------                       --------        --------   -------
Investments in associated undertakings                    4.1             3.3       3.3
Interest in own shares                                    0.3             0.5       0.4
-------------------------------                      --------        --------   -------
                                                          4.4             3.8       3.7
-------------------------------                      --------        --------   -------

 8.1   Associated undertakings

The increase in investments in associates during the half year includes the purchase in
March 2003 of a 20% shareholding in Calibre Airline Services Limited (an information
technology company) for #0.6m and a capital contribution to Airchef 2000 Srl of #0.1m.

 8.2   Interest in own shares

The shares purchased in July 2002 for the Long-Term Incentive Plan for the Chief
Executive are being amortised over the qualifying period at a rate of #0.2m per annum.
   
 9.  Approval of Interim Financial Information

The interim financial information was approved by a committee of the Board of Directors
on 25 September 2003.

Independent review report to ALPHA Airports Group Plc

Introduction

We have been instructed by the Company to review the financial information
which comprises the group profit and loss account, the group balance sheet, the
group cash flow statement and the statement of total recognised gains and
losses and the related notes. We have read the other information contained in
the interim report and considered whether it contains any apparent
misstatements or material inconsistencies with the financial information.

Directors' responsibilities

The interim report, including the financial information contained therein, is
the responsibility of, and has been approved by the directors. The directors
are responsible for preparing the interim report in accordance with the Listing
Rules of the Financial Services Authority which require that the accounting
policies and presentation applied to the interim figures should be consistent
with those applied in preparing the preceding annual accounts except where any
changes, and the reasons for them, are disclosed.

Review work performed

We conducted our review in accordance with guidance contained in Bulletin 1999/
4 issued by the Auditing Practices Board for use in the United Kingdom. A
review consists principally of making enquiries of Group management and
applying analytical procedures to the financial information and underlying
financial data and, based thereon, assessing whether the accounting policies
and presentation have been consistently applied unless otherwise disclosed. A
review excludes audit procedures such as tests of controls and verification of
assets, liabilities and transactions. It is substantially less in scope than an
audit performed in accordance with United Kingdom Auditing Standards and
therefore provides a lower level of assurance than an audit. Accordingly we do
not express an audit opinion on the financial information. This report,
including the conclusion, has been prepared for and only for the Company for
the purpose of the Listing Rules of the Financial Services Authority and for no
other purpose. We do not, in producing this report, accept or assume
responsibility for any other purpose or to any other person to whom this report
is shown or into whose hands it may come save where expressly agreed by our
prior consent in writing.

Review conclusion

On the basis of our review we are not aware of any material modifications that
should be made to the financial information as presented for the six months
ended 31 July 2003.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chartered Accountants
Harman House
1 George Street
Uxbridge
Middlesex UB8 1QQ
25 September 2003


Financial Calendar                       Addresses

25 September 2003                        Secretary
Announcement of interim results          H McRae

8 October 2003                           Registered Office
Ex- dividend date                        Europa House, 804 Bath Rd,
                                         Cranford, Middx, TW5 9US
10 October 2003                          Telephone 020 8580 3200
Dividend record date                     Facsimile 020 8580 3201
                                         Registered in England
7 November 2003                          Company Number 2854090
Interim dividend payment date
                                         Registrars
March 2004                               Lloyds TSB Registrars
Preliminary announcement of full year    The Causeway, Worthing,
results                                  West Sussex, BN99 6DA
                                         Telephone 01903 502541
May 2004                                 
Posting of Annual Report to
shareholders
                                         Solicitors
June 2004                                Berwin Leighton Paisner
Annual General Meeting                   Adelaide House
                                         London Bridge
June 2004                                London EC4R 9HA
Final dividend payable
                                         Auditors
                                         PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
                                         Chartered Accountants & Registered
                                         Auditors
                                         Harman House
                                         1 George Street
                                         Uxbridge
                                         Middlesex UB8 1QQ

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                                         Close Brothers Corporate Finance
                                         Limited
                                         10 Crown Place
                                         London EC2A 4FT

                                         Principal Bankers
                                         National Westminister Bank plc
                                         City of London Office
                                         PO Box 12258
                                         1 Princes Street
                                         London EC4R 9HA

                                         Website
                                         www.alpha-group.com










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

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