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Firstgroup - M&A Summary and Business Overview

TransportationCompany

Firstgroup M&A Summary

Firstgroup has acquired 4 companies, including 1 in the last 5 years. It has also divested 5 assets.

Firstgroup’s largest acquisition to date was in 2007, when it acquired Laidlaw International for $2.9B. It’s largest disclosed sale occurred in 2021, when it sold First Student to EQT for $4.6B. Firstgroup has acquired in 3 different US states, and 2 countries. The Company’s most targeted sectors include transportation (100%).

Firstgroup Business Overview

Where is Firstgroup headquartered?

Firstgroup is headquartered in London, United Kingdom.

What is Firstgroup’s revenue?

Firstgroup disclosed revenue of 4,258M GBP for 2024 and 3,862M GBP for 2023.

How many employees does Firstgroup have?

Firstgroup has 30,995 employees.

What sector is Firstgroup in?

Firstgroup is a transportation company.

When was Firstgroup founded?

Firstgroup was founded in 1986.

M&A Summary

  • M&A Total Activity9
    • M&A Buy Activity4
    • M&A Sell Activity5
  • Total Sectors Invested 1
  • Total Countries Invested 2
  • M&A Buy/Sell Connections 6
  • M&A Advisors 3

Firstgroup

Firstgroup plc

The Point 8th floor 37 North Wharf Road,
London, W2 1AF
United Kingdom,
+44 12 20 7291 0505
www.firstgroupplc.com

Firstgroup is a transport operator in the UK and North America, providing solutions for an increasingly congested world keeping people moving and communities prospering. Company operate five divisions which draw on common skills and expertise, but which are varied by geography, customer base and a mix of contract and passenger revenue. FirstGroup was incorporated in 1986 and is headquartered in London, United Kingdom.


M&A Summary

Buy vs Sell

Year ≤ '20 '21 '22 '23 '24 '25 T
Buy (0.2/yr) # 3 1 - - - - 4
vol $2.9B $2.9B
Sell (0.4/yr) # 3 2 - - - - 5
vol $95M $4.6B $4.7B
  9

Most Recent M&A

Company Date Value Type
Greyhound Lines, Inc. 2021-10-21 46M USD Divestiture
Dallas, Texas · www.greyhound.com
First Student, Inc. 2021-04-23 4.6B USD Divestiture
Cincinnati, Ohio · www.firststudentinc.com
Mid States School Bus, Inc. 2021-03-18 - Add-on Acquisition
Wayne, Nebraska · www.midstatesschoolbus.com
FirstGroup - London Bus Business 2013-04-09 89M GBP Divestiture
, United Kingdom
First Group - Bus Operations 2013-01-24 2M GBP Divestiture
Worcestershire, United Kingdom
Firstgroup - North Devon Bus Operations 2012-03-12 4M GBP Divestiture
, United Kingdom
Transport St. Leonard 2012-01-09 - Add-on Acquisition
Montreal, Quebec
Laidlaw International, Inc. 2007-02-09 2.9B GBP Add-on Acquisition
Naperville, Illinois
Coach USA Transit Division 2003-05-22 23M USD Divestiture
, United States
View All >>

M&A by Sector

Sector Buy # Value Sell # Value
Transportation 4 (100%) 2.9B (100%) 5 (100%) 4.7B (100%)
Total 4 $2.9B 5 $4.7B

By Geo

State/Country Buy Value Sell Value
United States 3 2.9B 2 4.6B
  Nebraska 1 - - -
  Illinois 1 2.9B - -
  Texas - - 1 46M
  Ohio - - 1 4.6B
United Kingdom - - 3 95M
Canada 1 - - -
  Quebec 1 - - -
Domestic - - 3 (60%) 95M (2%)
Cross-border 4 (100%) 2.9B (100%) 2 (40%) 4.6B (98%)
Total 4 $2.9B 5 $4.7B

Top M&A Advisors

Financial Deals
Tricorn Partners LLP
 1
UBS Investment Bank
 1
J.P. Morgan Securities
 1

Deal Values

buy # Total
> $1B 1 $2.9B
< $100M 1 $23M
TOTAL $2.9B
Largest Laidlaw International, Inc.
$2.9B (2007-02-09)
sell # Total
> $1B 1 $4.6B
< $100M 4 $141M
TOTAL $4.7B
Largest First Student, Inc.
$4.6B (2021-04-23)

M&A Connections

Deals
Acquired from
Strategic(s)
25%
1 (25%)
Divested to
Investor(s)
20%
1 (20%)
Strategic(s)
80%
4 (80%)

Company Summary

SECTOR

Transportation

Revenue

4,258   11% 2024
3,862   32% 2023
2,929   108% 2022
1,413   81% 2021
7,386   7% 2020
6,933   9% 2019
6,398   14% 2018
5,653   2017
(millions of GBP) Show More Show Less

Employees

30,995

Established

1986

Public

London Stock Exchange: FGP

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