Pre Close Period Update

RNS Number:8299J
Airbath Group PLC
09 April 2003

9 April 2003



                               Airbath Group plc
                           ("Airbath" or the "Group")

                        Pre Close Period Trading Update


This update is issued in advance of the Company's announcement of the
preliminary results for the year ended 31 March.


At the time of the announcement of the interim results on 19 December 2002, the
Chairman stated that: "Trading in the third quarter, as indicated, has been
affected by some short term problems and the seasonal increase in sales has been
slower than anticipated.  Therefore we remain cautious about our immediate sales
outlook".


The challenging trading conditions referred to in December have continued into
the fourth quarter in Aquabeau and particularly Brampton Housewares.



Aquabeau's sales have not increased as anticipated, in part due to the change of
some of Appollo's suppliers in the third quarter, and this is likely to result
in a small drop in full year profits compared with last year.  However, Aquabeau
remains profitable with good operating margins.  We remain committed to our
strategy of focusing on our niche and more profitable product ranges and to the
marketing of Airbath(R) products through our now established "Centres of
Excellence". We believe that there are numerous opportunities for profitable
growth in most of the markets served by Aquabeau.  The Appollo(R) range of
assisted bathing products is directed at a growing market of both institutional
and private clients.  The moving water segment of the market is growing
significantly and this is served by both our Airbath(R) range of products as
well as our small but increasing range of whirlpools.



Brampton Housewares has continued to suffer in an increasingly tough market and
we expect that profits for this company will be considerably behind those for
the same period last year.  We have been monitoring the bathwares marketplace
since the announcement of the merger of two of our major customers and are
currently reviewing the situation.  We intend to announce the outcome of this
review at the same time as our preliminary results.



We anticipate that these difficulties will result in Group profits before tax
and exceptional items for the full year being up to one third below current
market expectations.  Exceptional costs associated with reorganisation and
redundancy in both companies will total up to #400,000 before accounting for the
successful recovery from Aquarius Group plc of a #250,000 claim arising from the
demerger agreement settled by a combination of cancelling preference shares and
waiving accrued dividends.  In light of the anticipated outcome for the
financial year, the Board has decided that it will not be appropriate to pay the
preference or ordinary dividends.



Following the considerable operational changes that took place within the
business last year, Glenn Powers has relinquished his role as Operations
Director and replaces Phillip Bennett, who has resigned as a non-executive
Director.  Clive Gilham will remain as Executive Chairman supported by Mike
Dunn, Finance Director.  Full details of the Board are given at the end of this
announcement.



Commenting, Clive Gilham, Executive Chairman said: "The Group has undergone
considerable change over the last 18 months and has overcome many short term
problems during that time.  We believe that there are many opportunities for
growth, especially for our Airbath(R) and Appollo(R) product range, and we
remain committed to the further development of the Group."





For further information:



Airbath Group plc
Clive Gilham, Executive Chairman - 01422 349401



Binns & Co PR
Keeley Clarke / Sophie Morton - 0113 242 1171



Brown, Shipley & Co. Limited
Philip Johnson - 0161 214 6540



Airbath Group plc Board comprises:
Clive Gilham         - Executive Chairman
Mike Dunn            - Finance Director
Alan Bottomley       - Non-executive Director
John Parkinson       - Non-executive Director
Glenn Powers         - Non-executive Director




Editor's Notes:



Airbath Group is a specialist designer and manufacturer of baths and bathwares,
with four well-established brands:



Aquabeau

*    Airbath(R), which is one of the UK market leading brand of spa baths.

*    Aquarius Bathrooms, which is the brand applied to standard baths and shower trays for the
     mid-priced sector of the market.
*    Appollo(R), which is the assisted bathing brand applicable to a range of products designed
     specifically for elderly, infirm and physically less able users. These include baths with powered
     seats, walk-in baths and wheelchair accessible shower trays


Brampton Housewares

*    Brampton Housewares, which manufactures, assembles and distributes ranges of bathroom products
     that are sold by DIY chains, supermarkets, catalogue stores and other retail outlets throughout
     the UK and Europe.



Website: www.airbathgroup.co.uk



About the Airbath(R) system:



The Airbath(R) system is a patented system invented by the founder of Airbath
International which involves warm air being pumped through hundreds of tiny
holes in the base of the bath. The Airbath(R) offers a very different bathing
experience from those offered by other moving water systems, in particular
whirlpool baths. There are a number of features that set the Airbath(R) apart
from competing products:


*      Unlike whirlpool baths, which typically have a small number of nozzles through which water is pumped
       into the bath, each Airbath(R) has between 185 and 385 air jets to provide an "all over" massage
       effect;
*      The Airbath(R) pumps warm humid air through the water (using its patented warm air injection system),
       unlike some rival products which pump cold air causing bath water to cool faster;
*      The Airbath(R) is inherently more hygienic than whirlpool baths as there is no danger of water from
       the last bath standing in the pipes between baths. Airbaths(R) are therefore particularly suited for
       hotels or other locations where usage may be infrequent.  Unlike whirlpool baths, which will only work
       if the water is deep enough to cover the nozzles (which are often fitted to the sides of the bath), an
       Airbath(R) will work with only a very small amount of water covering the bottom of the bath. This
       makes Airbaths(R) well suited for bathing young children.





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

TSTILMITMMBMBJJ