Agreement to acquire York Pullman Bus Company

FIRSTGROUP PLC

agreement to acquire york pullman bus company

• Agreement to acquire York Pullman Bus Company Ltd, a high-performing operator of coaches and buses, providing contracted and private hire services in areas across North Yorkshire from several depot locations
• The Acquisition will enhance the First Bus operational footprint in the North Yorkshire region and provide profitable growth opportunities in adjacent services markets
• Completion of the Acquisition is expected in the next few weeks subject to customary regulatory review

FirstGroup plc (the ‘Group’) is pleased to announce that it has signed an agreement to acquire York Pullman Bus Company Ltd (‘York Pullman’), a high-performing business comprising five well-established coach services brands (the ‘Acquisition’).

York Pullman has a strong presence in regional and adjacent services operations in York and surrounding towns in North Yorkshire. The Acquisition plays strongly into the Group’s strategy, providing profitable growth opportunities in adjacent services contracted and commercial markets, with the ability to develop this into other locations across the UK.

York Pullman provides home-to-school and college contracted services and private hire operations including rail replacement services, and operates a small number of local bus routes on behalf of several local authorities, complementary to the operations of First Bus in York. It has a mixed fleet of more than 130 vehicles with varying passenger capacity which has enabled it to build a broad range of customers. For the year ended 31 December 2022, York Pullman reported revenues of c.£10m and EBIT of c.£2m. 

Tom James, Managing Director of York Pullman, will remain with the company as Managing Director and continue to run it on a standalone basis, as well as contributing to the development of the First Bus coach services growth strategy, with synergy benefits and support from the First Bus executive team.

Following the completion of the Acquisition the Group anticipates that its FY 2024 year-end adjusted net cash position will be £60-70m, with c.£30m of the ongoing share buyback programme still to be completed.

Graham Sutherland, FirstGroup Chief Executive Officer said:

“A key pillar of our strategy is to grow and diversify our portfolio. The acquisition of York Pullman, a long- established, high-performing business fits well with our strategy as it will both enhance the First Bus operational footprint in North Yorkshire and expand our adjacent services business, where we are looking to grow our presence.”

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 £4.8 billion in revenue and around 30,000 employees, we transported more than 1.8m passengers a day in 2022/23. 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 the second largest regional bus operator in the UK, serving two-thirds of the country’s 15 largest conurbations with a fleet of more than 4,500 buses, and carrying more than a million passengers a day. 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 more than 3,500 locomotives and rail carriages through three management fee-based train operating companies (Avanti West Coast, GWR, 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. In February 2023 FirstGroup was named as one of the world’s cleanest 200 public companies for the fourth consecutive year by sustainable business media group Corporate Knights in partnership with US not-for-profit organisation, As You Sow. 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.