Yesterday they bought in 450,000 shares maybe it's over half a million t'morrow
Electric buses sem to be having a problem at the moment
" A First Bus spokesperson said: “We can confirm we have identified a structural failure in 30 of our buses and all affected vehicles have been taken off service until it can be resolved.
“We are working closely with the manufacturer Alexander Dennis to resolve this issue as quickly as possible. " |
It's good to see they were back buying their own shares on Friday - even if it was only a modest 78,821 usually they buy over 300,000 per day on a full trading day.
Let's see what tomorrow's figure is. |
So the question is just who WAS prepared to pay 174 pence for just less than 3.5 million shares ,,, what do they see that "Joe Public" doesn't yet see excluding Navigo
This share has zero shorting |
Trades 320 and 321
Two massive buys at an unbelievable 174.80 when the spread was 165.40---165.80 each for a cool 1,282,00 that's over 2.5 million . From memory the latest First Group buy back was for 50 million
NOW
trades 334 and 335
and presumably the same buyer on trades 334 and 335 has once again bought at 174.80 a "lowly" 431,408 for each transaction |
I got in at an unbelievable 137 as I mentioned " the CHARITY bargain" on here at the time |
Chooochooo - she is starting to fly... I am in at 150 and happy to be... great business |
In just over 2 weeks this share is currently up 20% plus the Dividend - still time for latecomers to hitch a ride ? |
 FirstGroup buys bus operator RATP Dev Transit London for GBP90 million
December 10, 2024 at 05:06 am EST
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(Alliance News) - FirstGroup PLC on Tuesday said it will buy RATP Dev Transit London Ltd and its subsidiaries at an enterprise value of GBP90 million.
The Aberdeen, Scotland-based public transport provider will buy the company from Paris-based RATP Developpement SA. It said the move will allow it to enter the London bus market and further diversify its revenue.
RATP London has around a 12% market share of bus operations in the UK capital, including a fleet of around 1,000 buses and 90 Transport for London route contracts, with a weighted remaining contract life of 3.3 years. It has around 3,700 employees, over 80% of whom are drivers.
FirstGroup said RATP London had revenue of GBP271 million in the 2023 calendar year. It has around GBP100 million of physical assets, including GBP50 million of freehold property.
The acquisition will be financed with GBP45 million from existing cash reserves, FirstGroup said, plus the assumption of RATP London's asset backed vehicle finances leases, worth approximately GBP45 million.
FirstGroup said it expects the acquisition to be broadly earnings neutral in financial 2025 and 2026. It anticipates annual revenue to grow to between GBP300 million and GBP350 million over the next five years.
It said it has also identified potential cost cuts to enhance profitability, and expects the business to be operating cash positive from financial 2027 onwards. The current management team are expected to be retained.
Chief Executive Officer Graham Sutherland said: "This is a significant acquisition for the group that will diversify our portfolio and materially grow our earnings in the medium term. It allows us to enter the London bus market at scale and will also bolster our credentials as we participate in future franchising opportunities across the UK."
The acquisition is subject to French government approval, in its capacity as the ultimate owner of RATP, the operator of the Paris metro and of regional transport in the the Ile-de-France. It also requires TfL consent to the change of control.
FirstGroup said it anticipates completion in the first half of 2025.
Shares in FirstGroup were up 4.9% to 161.70 pence in London on Tuesday morning.
By Michael Hennessey, Alliance News reporter
Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com
Copyright 2024 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
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© Alliance News |
Nice couple of deals of late .... Interesting |
and I was amazed at the price PH allowed me to buy at (XD soon) .. underneath the spread with the results imminent and since the results FGP have been on another daily buy back spree --- Target 50 million buy back.
They were doing buy backs the other year when the price was much higher
all bus shares have wheels nowadays !! |
There is a determined effort to force the price down today led by "PH" !! |
FirstGroup to enter "new regions" as buys Cheshire-based Lakeside
October 25, 2024 at 03:56 am EDT
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(Alliance News) - FirstGroup PLC said it has acquired a Cheshire-based provider of school, B2B and B2C private transport hire services.
FirstGroup Chief Executive Officer Graham Sutherland said: "The acquisition of Lakeside, a profitable business with excellent growth potential, builds on our recent acquisitions in First Bus. The addition to our portfolio will not only grow our position in adjacent services, but it will also allow us to enter new regions which is key to the overall First Bus strategy."
The transport firm said the buy of Lakeside Group boosts its "coaching business and offers the potential to increase our presence in the West Midlands". Lakeside has a fleet of 145 buses and coaches. Its stable includes the Lakeside Coaches, Merediths Coaches and AT Brown Coaches brands.
"The majority of Lakeside's revenue is derived from school and private hire contracts, with the remaining revenue coming from tours, a small local bus operation (under contract to Shropshire County Council) and B2B operations. The business has grown significantly over recent years, both organically and inorganically, and has retained strong levels of profitability," FirstGroup said.
Lakeside achieved revenue of GBP12.5 million and adjusted earnings before interest and tax of GBP2.5 million in the year to March 31. FirstGroup did not disclose the sum of the acquisition.
FirstGroup added: "Neal Hall, the managing director of Lakeside, will continue to manage the business on a day-to-day basis going forward. Gareth Davies, the owner of Lakeside, will continue to lead the business and will join First Bus to support the ongoing development of its wider coaching strategy.
"The acquisitions we have made in recent years, in line with our stated strategy to grow and diversify the First Bus portfolio, now represent combined annualised revenues of GBP100 million and Ebit of GBP13 million and we continue to evaluate a pipeline of organic and inorganic growth opportunities."
FirstGroup shares were 0.2% lower at 137.00 pence each in London on Friday morning.
By Eric Cunha, Alliance News news editor
Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com
Copyright 2024 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved. |
FirstGroup buys London coach operator Anderson Travel
October 21, 2024 at 04:12 am EDT
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(Alliance News) - FirstGroup PLC on Monday said it has bought Anderson Travel for an undisclosed price, aimed at expanding its coach services in and around London.
The Aberdeen-based public transport provider said Anderson Travel provides contracted school, private hire, mini coach and tour services around the UK's capital city.
The acquisition includes Anderson Travel Ltd, Anderson Tours Ltd and London Mini Coaches Ltd.
Anderson operators around 40 coaches in and around London from a depot near Tower Bridge and a new smaller depot near Heathrow Airport.
In the financial year that ended June 30, 2023, Anderson Travel reported earnings before interest and tax of GBP1.0 million on revenue of GBP7.3 million.
FirstGroup Chief Executive Officer Graham Sutherland 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 company aims to release its results for the six months that ended September 28 on November 14.
FirstGroup shares were 0.7% higher at 140.20 pence each on Monday morning in London.
By Tom Budszus, Alliance News slot editor
Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com |
Looks like its bottomed to me especially with the Director buying 150 quids worth .. |
RNS yesterday , 8.3 of the takeover code.
Can't seem to find it now ......sorry. |
Where did you see that about vanguard? |
Looks like the Vanguard Group increasing their position , with a view to a takeover maybe ? |
Up 8% today.
WTF is happening? |
Firstbus will be losing its Oldham depot to Stagecoachbus at the end of the month. |
What price target do people realistically have |
These have been one f my best performers this year.
New electrification deal with Hitachi today |
Down she goes...
TransPennine Express has lost its contract to run its service following customer complaints of poor service and cancelled trains.
The government has announced it will now run the rail service, which covers the North of England and parts of Scotland.
There had been calls for its contract to be removed after poor levels of service over the past year.
Around one in six of its services were cancelled in March.
This was the highest rate in the UK.
The Department for Transport said that TransPennine's contract would not be renewed on 28 May.
It will now be run by an "Operator of Last Resort" which means a business will step in on behalf of the government to take over the management of the service.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: "After months of commuters and Northern businesses bearing the brunt of continuous cancellations, I've made the decision to bring Transpennine Express into Operator of Last Resort."
Transpennine - which is run by the company FirstGroup - has stood out for the number of trains it has cancelled the night before they are due to run, because of staff shortages. |
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