REG-FirstGroup PLC: AGM Trading Statement

FirstgroupAnnouncement

27/07/2022 07:15

FIRSTGROUP PLC
2022 AGM TRADING STATEMENT

FirstGroup plc (FirstGroup or the Group) will be holding its Annual General
Meeting (AGM) at 14:30 today. The Chair of the AGM will make the following
comment on recent trading at the meeting:

"The Group’s overall trading performance for the financial year-to-date has
been in line with the expectations we outlined at our full year results in
June. While some uncertainty remains around the pace of recovery in light of
the pandemic and the broader macroeconomic backdrop, we expect the Group to
make significant further progress in the current financial year.

"In the last financial year we have delivered on our commitment to transform
FirstGroup through consistent execution. We have simplified and refocused the
Group through the sale of the North American businesses, unlocked substantial
value for shareholders, strengthened the balance sheet and accelerated our
sustainability progress, all while continuing to play our part in connecting
people and communities.

"With leading positions in bus and rail, FirstGroup is now a resilient and
robust platform from which to develop and maximise the opportunities that
exist for growth. The Group has a clear purpose and role to play at the heart
of our communities. It is cash-generative, well-capitalised, and able to
invest in a low carbon future while supporting progressive dividends to
shareholders."

As previously announced, Non-Executive Directors Warwick Brady and Julia Steyn
have decided not to seek re-election at today's AGM and will therefore step
down from the Board at the end of the meeting today. The Group thanks them for
the significant contributions they have each made to the Board and the
company.

 Contacts at FirstGroup:              Contacts at Brunswick PR:        
 Investor relations: Faisal Tabbah    Andrew Porter / Simone Selzer    
 Media: Stuart Butchers               Tel: +44 (0) 20 7404 5959        
 corporate.comms@firstgroup.co.uk                                      
 Tel: +44 (0) 20 7725 3354                                             

Forward-looking statements
Certain statements included or incorporated by reference within this document
may constitute ‘forward-looking statements’ with respect to the business,
strategy and plans of the Group and our current goals, assumptions and
expectations relating to our future financial condition, performance and
results. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown
risks, assumptions, uncertainties and other factors that cause actual results,
performance or achievements of the Group to be materially different from any
future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. No statement in this document should be construed
as a profit forecast for any period. Shareholders are cautioned not to place
undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Except as required by the UK
Listing Rules and applicable law, the Group does not undertake any obligation
to update or change any forward-looking statements to reflect events occurring
after the date of this document.

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

FirstGroup plc (LSE: FGP.L) is a leading private sector provider of public
transport services. With £4.6 billion in revenue and more than 30,000
employees, our UK divisions transported nearly 1.5m passengers a day in the
last financial year. First Bus is the second largest regional bus operator in
the UK, serving two-thirds of the UK’s 15 largest conurbations with a fleet
of c.4,900 buses. First Rail is the UK’s largest rail operator, with many
years of experience running long-distance, commuter, regional and sleeper rail
services. We operate a fleet of c.3,800 rail vehicles through four management
fee-based train operating companies (Avanti, GWR, SWR, TPE) and two open
access routes (Hull Trains and Lumo). 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. We are formally
committed to operating a zero-emission First Bus fleet by 2035 and to cease
purchasing further diesel buses after 2022; and First Rail will help support
the UK Government’s goal to remove all diesel-only trains from service by
2040. In 2022 FirstGroup was named as one of the world's cleanest 200 public
companies for the third consecutive year by sustainable business media group
Corporate Knights in partnership with US not-for-profit organisation, As You
Sow. Visit our website at www.firstgroupplc.com and follow us @firstgroupplc
on Twitter.



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