REG-FirstGroup Plc: Acquisition of Anderson Travel

FirstgroupAnnouncement

21/10/2024 07:15

FIRSTGROUP PLC

Acquisition of Anderson Travel

 
* FirstGroup has acquired Anderson Travel, a highly experienced coach operator
providing contracted school, private hire, mini coach and tour services in and
around London 
* The operator has c.40 coaches of varying sizes with bases in central London
and Heathrow 
* The acquisition will extend First Bus' operational footprint and forms part
of the Group's strategy of targeted acquisitions to grow its share of the UK
adjacent services market
FirstGroup plc (the `Group') is pleased to announce that it has acquired
Anderson Travel, a central London based coach company comprising three trading
entities, Anderson Travel Limited, Anderson Tours Limited and London Mini
Coaches Limited.  

Anderson Travel currently operates c.40 coaches of varying sizes in and around
London from a depot near Tower Bridge in central London and a new, smaller
depot near Heathrow airport. Operations include school and other private hire
contracts in London, contracted mini coach operations around Heathrow airport,
a day trip excursion programme aimed at international visitors run out of
London daily, and a private group tour offering. For the year ended 30 June
2023, Anderson Travel reported revenues of £7.3m and EBIT of £1.0m.  

Mark Anderson, the founder and majority owner of Anderson Travel, will
continue to lead the day to day operations of the business as it is integrated
into First Bus. 

Graham Sutherland, FirstGroup Chief Executive Officer said:

"The acquisition of Anderson Travel, an experienced and profitable coach
company, builds on our recent strategic acquisitions in the B2B and B2C coach
market. We will continue to identify and assess opportunities to diversify and
grow as we increase our share of the adjacent services market in the UK, where
we see considerable opportunity for stable, long-term and value accretive
growth."

 

The Group expects to report its results for the 26 weeks to 28 September 2024
on 14 November 2024.

 

 

 Contacts at FirstGroup: Marianna Bowes, Head of Investor Relations Stuart Butchers, Head of Corporate Communications corporate.comms@firstgroup.co.uk Tel: +44 (0) 20 7725 3354  Contacts at Brunswick: Andrew Porter / Simone Selzer Tel: +44 (0) 20 7404 5959  

 

 Contacts at Panmure Liberum: Nicholas How / John Fishley Tel: +44 (0) 20 3100 2000  Contacts at RBC Europe Limited: James Agnew / Jack Wood Tel: +44 (0) 20 7653 4000  

 

 

Notes

Legal Entity Identifier (LEI): 549300DEJZCPWA4HKM93. Classification as per DTR
6 Annex 1R: 3.1.

 

About FirstGroup

FirstGroup plc (LSE: FGP.L) is a leading private sector provider of public
transport services. With £4.7 billion in revenue and around 30,000 employees,
we transported almost 2m passengers a day in FY 2024. We create solutions that
reduce complexity, making travel smoother and life easier. Our businesses are
at the heart of our communities and the essential services we provide are
critical to delivering wider economic, social and environmental goals. Each of
our divisions is a leader in its field: First Bus is one of the largest
regional bus operators in the UK, serving more than 20% of the population in
the UK with a fleet of around c.4,800 buses, and carrying more than a million
passengers a day. First Rail is one of the UK's largest rail operators, with
many years of experience running long-distance, commuter, regional and sleeper
rail services. We operate a fleet of c.3,700 locomotives and rail carriages
through three DfT contracted train operating companies: WCP (incorporating
Avanti West Coast and West Coast Partnership Development), GWR and SWR) and
two open access routes (Hull Trains and Lumo). We are formally committed to
operating a zero-emission First Bus fleet by 2035, and First Rail will help
support the UK Government's goal to remove all diesel-only trains from service
by 2040. During FY 2024 FirstGroup was named as one of the world's cleanest
200 public companies for the fifth consecutive year and achieved Industry
Top-Rated status for the first time with Sustainalytics. We provide easy and
convenient mobility, improving quality of life by connecting people and
communities. Visit our website at www.firstgroupplc.com and follow us
@firstgroupplc on X.



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