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FirstGroup PLC

  • Sunday, 5 January, 2025
    FirstGroup to add bus and open access rail routes amid Labour nationalisation

    UK’s largest train operator under pressure to diversify due to government plans

    Commuters disembark from a Great Western Railway train, operated by FirstGroup, at London’s Paddington station
  • Monday, 27 November, 2023
    FirstGroup says Labour poses ‘risk’ to rail business

    Chief warns opposition party’s plan to renationalise railways is potential threat to bus and train operator

    Two passengers walk along a platform next to a Great Western Railway train at Penzance station
  • Thursday, 8 June, 2023
    Lex
    FirstGroup: new controller drives improvement Premium content

    Bus travel recovery and public transport push to cut emissions aid bus and train operator’s bounceback

    The carriage of First Great Western train service, operated by FirstGroup
  • Thursday, 8 June, 2023
    FirstGroup shares rally on buoyant bus and rail boost results

    Bus and train operator’s adjusted profits more than double despite a key government rail contract loss

    A commuter passes a First Great Western train, operated by FirstGroup
  • Thursday, 11 May, 2023
    First TransPennine Express
    TransPennine Express stripped of contract after months of poor service

    UK train operator will move into government hands after one in six services were cancelled in March

    A TransPennine Express train at Leeds train station
  • Monday, 20 March, 2023
    Avanti West Coast
    UK rail operator Avanti West Coast granted 6-month contract extension

    Intercity group wins second temporary renewal as government hails ‘very significant’ improvement

    Avanti West Coast
  • Friday, 10 March, 2023
    FirstGroup raises full-year profit expectations as travel recovers

    UK transport company says bus passenger numbers rose to 83% of 2020 levels

    A hydrogen-powered double-decker FirstGroup bus
  • Thursday, 27 October, 2022
    Rail
    North of England mayors urge ministers to fix intercity rail service

    Passenger complaints against Transpennine Express double in last quarter triggering calls for urgent intervention

    A TransPennine Express train at Leeds station
  • Friday, 7 October, 2022
    Rail
    Avanti granted stop-gap extension to UK’s west coast rail franchise

    Troubled train operator angered passengers and politicians with slashed services

    An Avanti train
  • Friday, 2 September, 2022
    Rail
    Boss of rail operator to step down after chaos on UK’s West Coast line

    Avanti managing director Phil Whittingham will leave the company on September 15

    An Avanti West Coast train at Lime St station in Liverpool
  • Thursday, 9 June, 2022
    FirstGroup rejects £1.23bn offer from private equity bidder

    UK’s biggest train operator says proposal from I Squared Capital ‘significantly undervalues’ business

    Passengers disembarking from a Great Western train
  • Thursday, 26 May, 2022
    FirstGroup evaluates PE offer valuing shares at up to £1.23bn

    Aberdeen-based bus and train operator’s stock rises 8% after unsolicited bid from I Squared Capital

    A Great Western train at London’s Paddington station
  • Wednesday, 27 October, 2021
    City Bulletin
    FirstGroup squeezes out activist via a share sale Premium content

    Profits rise at Deutsche Bank and Santander while Microsoft and Google report revenue surge

  • Thursday, 21 October, 2021
    Transport
    Greyhound acquired by fast-growing German start-up

    FlixMobility agrees deal with FirstGroup as it seeks to be America’s number one coach travel provider

    Greyhound buses
  • Tuesday, 27 July, 2021
    Helen Thomas
    First’s new boss will face challenges closer to home

    Activist investor Coast had called for change of CEO as bus and train company focuses on UK

    US school buses
  • Tuesday, 27 July, 2021
    FirstGroup chief to step down after battle with activist investor

    Matthew Gregory to depart after Coast Capital’s objections to sale of company’s US bus businesses and call for new leadership

    American yellow school buses
  • Thursday, 27 May, 2021
    FirstGroup survives rebellion as investors back US bus sale

    Largest shareholders said £3.3bn disposal to private equity undervalued business

  • Monday, 24 May, 2021
    Lex
    FirstGroup/Coast: activist should not brake US bus sale Premium content

    Timing is more important than Coast admits

    A FirstGroup school bus
  • Sunday, 23 May, 2021
    FirstGroup’s biggest shareholder escalates attack on board

    Coast Capital threatens legal action over sale of transport operator’s US bus business

    Buses owned by First Group’s US operations parked in San Francisco, California
  • Wednesday, 12 May, 2021
    FirstGroup’s biggest shareholder attacks company for bungling US sale

    Coast Capital said transport operator’s deal undervalued bus business and ‘stinks to the heavens’

    FirstGroup’s buses
  • Friday, 23 April, 2021
    Lex
    FirstGroup: US disposals are the start of a long journey Premium content

    Shareholders need to keep a tight grip on this ride; dividends remain a distant prospect

  • Friday, 23 April, 2021
    FirstGroup sells US bus operations to EQT for £3.3bn

    Swedish private equity fund to run thousands of yellow school buses

    First Student has a fleet of 42,000 buses
  • Thursday, 10 December, 2020
    Losses narrow at FirstGroup as demand in US rises

    British transport company remains in talks to sell North American business to pay down debt

  • Monday, 16 November, 2020
    LexCoronavirus
    Debt covenants: surfing the waivers Premium content

    Vulnerable companies should not expect a return to business as usual

  • Tuesday, 15 September, 2020
    FirstGroup predicts swing back into profit

    Forecast comes as passengers slowly return and state support bolsters the business

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