result of rights issue due tomorrow will their sp sink or swim....... gurgle,gurgle!

Neither, just treading water.

Nice jump today, start of a rerating or maybe some good news in the wind? Anyway 120p looks likely in the near term with possibly 180p as a longer term target imho. I am back in profit and looking to add on any pullback, might happen tomorrow after today's rise. H

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/markets/article-2387280/MARKET-REPORT-FirstGroup-track-deal.html

Rumors of a unidentified possible bidder, explains the rise yesterday. SP could collapse back down if no basis for rumor comes to light. Any thoughts whether to buy or not? H

Trading Statement 23 Jan.

Investec Buy 133.05 130.50 127.00 160.00 Upgrades

Looking promising.

Director Declaration

JOHN MCFARLANE, CHAIRMAN, TO RECEIVE ALL FEES IN SHARES


As announced on 6 December 2013, John McFarlane became Chairman of FirstGroup
plc on 1 January 2014.

John will receive an annual fee of £250,000 in respect of his role as Chairman
and has elected to receive all of that fee in FirstGroup shares, underlining
his confidence in the long-term prospects of the Company and aligning himself
closely with the interests of shareholders.

He has committed to hold those shares for as long as he remains Chairman or
otherwise a Director of the Company.

Interim Management Statement

Summary

• Overall trading in line with management's expectations, with good performance
in four divisions offset by slower progress in First Student

• First Student - recovery plan helping to mitigate tough market conditions,
medium term targets unchanged

• Continued strong performance in First Transit

• Greyhound - focus on cost management ensures margin performance remains on
course. Successful expansion of Greyhound Express continues

• UK Bus - transformation plan is on track, with positive signs from local
market growth initiatives

• UK Rail - continues to deliver solid passenger revenue and volume growth
across all our franchises


more...

Statement re Shortlist for East Coast franchise

FirstGroup has been shortlisted for the InterCity East Coast franchise
competition by the Department for Transport.

Commenting, Vernon Barker, FirstGroup's Managing Director, UK Rail said:

"We are delighted to have been shortlisted for the InterCity East Coast
franchise competition.

"We have extensive experience of intercity services and have a strong track
record in delivering passenger growth as well as capacity and infrastructure
upgrades on the long distance franchises we run - First Great Western, First
ScotRail and First TransPennine Express. We look forward to reviewing the
contract details and submitting an innovative, compelling, and value for money
bid which meets the needs of taxpayers as well as customers and businesses
along the East Coast route."

RNS directors under pressure should be some action here soon.

Final Results

Group overview:

* Overall trading in line with expectations for the year, excluding the £14m
operating profit impact of unprecedented weather conditions on First
Student and Greyhound in the fourth quarter

* Adjusted operating profit increased by 5.5%, reflecting improved underlying
operating performances in four divisions, partially offset by slower
progress in First Student and the extreme weather

* Adjusted EPS fell 31.8% due to the dilutive effect of the rights issue
completed in June 2013

* Statutory operating profit and EPS substantially improved

* Net cash flow broadly flat for the year (excluding the proceeds of the
rights issue), in line with expectations

* Balance sheet strengthened, net debt: EBITDA ratio reduced to 2.2 times
from 3.4 times last year and new £800m five-year revolving credit facility
signed

* Disciplined investment programme underway, with gross capital expenditure
increasing by 15% in the period

* ROCE increased to 8.2% (2013: 7.0%) in line with expectations. Medium term
10-12% ROCE target and other financial targets maintained

* Dividend - taking together the current stage of the turnaround programmes
and our commitment to our capital programme, the Board has decided to
refrain from reinstating a dividend at this point

* Board changes - including the appointment of three new non-executive
directors with effect from 24 June 2014

Directorate Change

Plop!

Trading Statement

Statement re ScotRail franchise

StockMarketWire.com
FirstGroup is 'dis-satisfied' after failing to secure any of the rail franchises that have come up for tender in the first round.

This follows the Department for Transport's announcement today that the group had failed to win the new InterCity East Coast franchise.

FirstGroup chief executive Tim O'Toole said: "Our bid for the East Coast franchise was ambitious yet realistic. Had it been selected, it would have created a world class railway for passengers and value for taxpayers with a balanced level of risk and returns for shareholders.

"As one of the UK's most experienced operators, we remain committed to the rail market but we are dissatisfied not to have secured any of the franchises that have come up for tender in this first round.

"Whilst we will retain a disciplined approach to bidding, we will continue to examine and assess the feedback from this and previous rail bids to help shape our approach to future competitions.

"We are shortlisted to run the next TransPennine Express franchise, and are negotiating with the DfT to extend our current operation of that route to February 2016. We are also negotiating with the DfT for a direct award to operate First Great Western, our largest franchise, through to at least March 2019.

"There are 12 franchise competitions still to take place and we remain focused on reaching our desired position in rail by the end of the process, which is to achieve earnings on a par with the previous franchising cycle at an acceptable level of risk and return."

"World class railway"!!!!

On the Western they are for ever tarting up the carriages, and no doubt for the sake of economy the trains are too often unheated - as travellers in the colder spells are only too well aware.................

Presumably the one pays for the other.........

StockMarketWire.com
FirstGroup says overall trading is in line with management's expectations, and its transformation plans continue to make progress.

* First Student: recovery plan on track, with improved pricing achieved in recent bid season and cost efficiencies * First Transit: revenue expectations benefitting from organic growth on existing contracts * Greyhound: demand adversely affected by sharply lower fuel prices over the key holiday period * UK Bus: continued volume growth and progress with cost savings, with increases in yield starting to contribute * UK Rail: robust volume and revenue growth, with financial performance towards the top end of our expectations

Chief executive Tim O'Toole said: "Overall trading for the group is in line with our expectations. Our First Student and UK Bus transformation plans are on track and both divisions are delivering the expected improvements in financial performance.

"Demand for Greyhound services over the important holiday period was adversely affected by the significant and rapid reduction in fuel prices, which makes car travel more affordable and competitive with our services. This was offset by good performances in First Transit and our UK Rail operations, which are both achieving growth towards the top of our expectations with robust margins.

"Overall we are on course to meet our full year expectations for the Group, and we are confident that our multi-year plans will deliver improved cash generation and create sustainable value over the medium term."

StockMarketWire.com
FirstGroup's transPennine rail franchise has been extended for a further year.

The group says this deal means that the First TransPennine Express franchise will operate beyond its current end date of 31 March 2015 to 1 April 2016.

This date is coterminous with the Government's anticipated start for the new TransPennine Express franchise.

The group is shortlisted and looks forward to submitting a bid later in the year to deliver significant improvements for customers and value for money for taxpayers.

FirstGroup says today's award secures continuity of rail services for passengers over the next year and during this period First TransPennine Express will continue to progress areas which passengers have identified as important such as the installation of free Wi-Fi to key stations across the route and an enhanced programme of customer service training.

Chief executive Tim O'Toole said: "We have an excellent track record at First TransPennine Express, which provides vital connections between key cities in the North of England and Scotland. Since the franchise began, our experienced team have worked hard to introduce brand new trains, refurbished stations, increased frequency and improved journey times. As a result the service is more popular than ever, now carrying 26 million passengers a year compared to 13 million in 2004.

"Today's agreement with the Department for Transport provides continuity and consistency for First TransPennine Express passengers over the next year, as we focus on continuing to deliver great customer service and introducing improvements ahead of submitting our bid for the new franchise later in the spring."

StockMarketWire.com
FirstGroup's underlying revenue increased by 4.1% in the year to the end of March but reported revenue decreased due to rail franchise changes and non-recurrence of revenues from UK Bus operations.

Overall trading for the group was in line with management's expectations.

Reported group revenue decreased by 9.9% in the year to £6,050.7m (2014: £6,717.4m), principally reflecting UK Rail franchise changes, non-recurring revenues from UK Bus operations sold or closed in the prior year and foreign exchange translation.

Excluding these items, revenue increased by 4.1%.

Adjusted group margin increased to 5.0% (2014: 4.0%). The US dollar margin of our largest division First Student improved by 1.0%, reflecting the successful outcome of the first year of our new contract bidding strategy and no repeat of the exceptionally severe winter weather conditions in the prior year.

The UK Bus margin also improved by 1.0% as a result of continued progress in our turnaround programme. During the second half of the year Greyhound margins deteriorated due to the adverse effect on customer demand from sharply lower fuel prices, closing the year at 6.9% (2014: 7.4%).

UK Rail profitability improved significantly, reflecting good passenger revenue growth and First Great Western moving to normal commercial terms part way through last year. Group adjusted operating profit increased by 13.3% to £303.6m (2014: £268.0m).

Adjusted profit attributable to ordinary shareholders increased by 48.2% to £117.5m (2014: £79.3m), due to higher adjusted operating profit and lower net finance costs.

Adjusted EPS increased by a lower percentage to 9.8p (2014: 7.5p), due to the increased weighted average number of shares in issue following the rights issue completed in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA increased 7.7% to £624.4m (2014: £579.8m). Statutory operating profit was £ 245.8m (2014: £232.2m), reflecting the higher adjusted operating profit partly offset by the gain on disposal of London operations in UK Bus last year.

The net debt:EBITDA ratio was 2.25 times (2014: 2.25 times), in part reflecting the UK Rail end of franchise cash outflows in the year and foreign exchange translation. ROCE was 7.8%, or 8.5% (2014: 8.2%) at constant exchange rates.

Chief executive Tim O'Toole said: "Overall trading for the year is in line with our expectations and our transformation plan is beginning to deliver improving financial performance, though clearly much hard work remains ahead of us.

"The pricing improvements we made in the 2014 bid season together with further cost savings mean we have made solid margin progress in First Student for the year, and we are also encouraged by the results achieved at this stage in the 2015 bid season. In UK Bus we continue to deliver passenger volume growth, positive yield and further cost efficiencies from our locally focused turnaround actions. Greyhound has flexed mileage, timetables and pricing in response to the rapid reduction in passenger demand from lower fuel prices, and is on track with the yield management upgrade programme. Our First Transit and UK Rail businesses maintained good growth momentum and margins.

"We intend to deliver further progress from our multi-year transformation plans in our 2015/16 financial year. We currently anticipate strong progression in our non-rail businesses, driven mainly by the ongoing turnarounds of First Student and UK Bus, to largely offset the substantially lower contribution from UK Rail as a result of the end of the First ScotRail and First Capital Connect franchises.

"We were awarded a contract to operate First Great Western for up to four and a half more years, and will continue to work closely with the Department for Transport and Network Rail to deliver the £7.5bn Great Western Mainline modernisation programme to at least March 2019. We have also signed an agreement to run First TransPennine Express through to 1 April 2016, and recently submitted our bid to operate the franchise beyond that date.

"Wolfhart Hauser joined the Board of FirstGroup in May and will become Chairman following our AGM in July. Wolfhart's track record of sustained value creation and his experience and counsel will be invaluable as we continue to drive forward the transformation of the Group.

"Our improved financial performance this year demonstrates that our multi-year transformation programme is making progress, though we must maintain the momentum of change to meet our medium term financial targets. Accordingly we will continue to work hard to deliver the considerable potential of the Group and return to a consistent profile of cash generation and sustainable value creation."

StockMarketWire.com
FirstGroup, a leading transport operator in the UK and North America, has reported that overall trading for the Group during the first half was in line with our expectations in the first half of its financial year to 30 September 2015.

In its different sectors it commented:
** First Student: second year of enhanced contract pricing strategy delivered as planned; cost efficiency plans on track.

** First Transit: further contract awards in rest of business offset by reduced Canadian oil sands activity.

** Greyhound: yield management project on track; flexing cost base to help mitigate reduced demand from cheaper fuel.

** UK Bus: commercial revenue growth and cost efficiencies from transformation partially offset by lower concession revenues.

** UK Rail: strong passenger revenue growth and financial performance.

Chief executive, Tim O'Toole, said: "We continue to progress our transformation plans which will drive sustainable improvements in the financial performance and cash generation of the Group, despite a more challenging trading environment in some of our markets in the period."