TIDMGOG
RNS Number : 5711R
Go-Ahead Group PLC
08 November 2021
The Go-Ahead Group plc 4 Matthew Parker Street,
London, SW1H 9NP
Telephone 020 7799 8999
PRESS RELEASE
8 November 2021
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION
THE GO-AHEAD GROUP PLC
( " GO-AHEAD" OR " THE GROUP")
ANNOUNCEMENT OF EXPECTED FY21 RESULTS DATE AND UPDATE ON CURRENT
TRADING
The Go-Ahead Group today announces the expected date for
publication of the Group ' s financial results for the year ended 3
July 2021 and an update on trading for the first four months of the
current financial year.
As announced on 22 July 2021, Christian Schreyer took over the
role of Group Chief Executive on 5 November 2021.
Expected date for the Group ' s full year results for the year
ended 3 July 2021 and Annual General Meeting
The Group plans to announce its results for the year ended 3
July 2021 on 16 December 2021, with the annual report and accounts
expected to be published before the end of December 2021.
The Group ' s Annual General Meeting ("AGM") is scheduled to
take place on 21 December 2021 and a formal notice convening the
meeting will be published in due course.
Given the delay to the publication of the Group's annual report
and accounts, certain resolutions relating to the annual report and
accounts, the directors' remuneration report and the directors'
remuneration policy will not form part of the business at the AGM.
The Group intends to convene a separate shareholder meeting to take
place in February 2022 where resolutions on these matters will be
tabled. Further details of this meeting will be provided in due
course.
Results for year ended 3 July 2021
As previously indicated, the Group ' s financial results for the
year ended 3 July 2021 (including the expected provisions related
to the London and Southeastern Railway Ltd (LSER) matters under
discussion with the DfT but excluding any potential financial
penalty) remain in line with the Board ' s expectations.
Discussions with DfT regarding LSER
Discussions with the DfT regarding LSER, which transferred to
the Operator of Last Resort on 18 October 2021, and the associated
independent review are ongoing and a further update will be
provided with the Group ' s full year results.
Current trading and outlook for the year ending 2 July 2022
Regional bus
In the first four months of the year, passenger volumes have
steadily increased with between 70% and 80% of typical pre-pandemic
journeys now being made on the Group 's regional bus services.
As expected, the Coronavirus Bus Service Support Grant (CBSSG)
was replaced on 1 September 2021 with the Bus Recovery Grant (BRG),
which provides GBP226m of funding for regional bus services in
England until March 2022, while operators transition to a more
commercial model. Our local management teams are working in close
collaboration with their local authorities to produce Bus Service
Improvement Plans focused on providing high-quality, reliable and
value-for-money bus services which support climate change targets
in our towns and cities. These plans will form the basis of
Enhanced Partnerships in the majority of our bus markets.
Whilst passenger volumes have increased over the first four
months, we have seen a slight slowing in the recovery in recent
weeks in line with the rest of the industry. Accordingly, there
remains some uncertainty as to the speed and extent of recovery in
the current year which, assuming the BRG ceases in March 2022,
could impact the full year performance of the division.
Longer term, we remain confident that the division will deliver
attractive margins and returns given its strong local market
positions and networks.
London & International bus
During the first four months of the current financial year, the
division has continued to perform well and over 95% of expected
full year revenue has already been secured. The division ' s full
year performance is expected to be in line with management ' s
expectations.
Rail
GTR continues to perform well, with good levels of customer
satisfaction. Discussions with the DfT regarding a potential
directly awarded National Rail Contract continue ahead of the
scheduled end date of the Emergency Recovery Measures Agreement
(ERMA) on 31 March 2022.
Our German rail improvement plans in Baden-Württemberg continue
to progress as expected, and contract mobilisation in Bavaria is
well-advanced. We are now moving into the more intensive phase of
mobilisation with the first of the two contracts due to commence
next month.
In Norway, passenger volumes remain suppressed at around 60% of
expected levels. While Government support continues, the level of
funding provided in the first quarter of the 2022 financial year
reduced to cover 70% of losses. Funding arrangements for the
remainder of the financial year have not yet been agreed.
The Rail division overall is expected to operate at around
breakeven for the current financial year.
Longer term outlook
The Group ' s priority over the coming months is helping
passengers return to our services. A flexible, reliable and
customer-focused public transport network is vital to the UK's
economic recovery and in achieving the Government ' s ambitious
climate change targets.
The Group has an important purpose, a resilient business model
and remains in a strong financial position as we emerge from the
pandemic.
The person responsible for arranging the release of this
announcement on behalf of the Group is Carolyn Ferguson, Company
Secretary.
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Media - Andrew Clark, Go-Ahead 07977 343 846
Investors Relations - Holly Gillis, Citigate
Dewe Rogerson 07940 797 560
GO-AHEAD
Go-Ahead is a leading public transport operator, connecting
communities through bus and rail services. Our purpose is to be the
local partner taking care of journeys that enhance the lives and
wellbeing of our communities across the world. We employ more than
27,000 people across our bus and rail businesses in the UK,
Singapore, Ireland, Norway and Germany. In addition to the
travelling public, our customers include governments and local
authorities. We are committed to tackling climate change, poor air
quality and social isolation.
BUS
Go-Ahead is one of the UK's largest bus operators. We run a
fleet of more than 6,000 buses across England and run a quarter of
London's buses for Transport for London. Outside London, we serve
high-density commuter markets in the North East, Greater
Manchester, East Yorkshire, Oxfordshire, East Anglia, the South
East and the South West of England. We also operate a bus contract
in Singapore and two bus contracts in Ireland.
RAIL
We operate rail franchises in the UK, Germany and Norway. In the
UK, we run the country's largest passenger franchise, GTR
(Southern, Gatwick Express, Great Northern and Thameslink). This is
managed through our 65 per cent owned subsidiary Govia, which is 35
per cent owned by Keolis UK. In Germany and Norway, our contracts
are run exclusively by Go-Ahead.
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END
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