Pre-close trading update

29 April 2014

Stagecoach Group plc

Pre-close trading update

Stagecoach Group plc ("the Group") is today publishing a trading update in advance of a series of meetings with analysts.

Financial performance

The overall profitability of the Group has remained satisfactory, and there has been no significant change to our expected adjusted earnings per share for the year ending 30 April 2014.

Like-for-like revenue growth for the financial year to date in each of the Group's main businesses is provided below.

UK Bus (regional operations) - forty eight weeks ended 30 March 2014 4.8%

UK Bus (London) - forty eight weeks ended 30 March 2014 4.6%

UK Rail - forty eight weeks ended 30 March 2014 4.5%

North America - eleven months ended 31 March 2014 4.1%

(including Megabus.com)

Virgin Rail Group - forty eight weeks ended 30 March 2014 5.9%

UK Bus (regional operations)

Our UK Bus (regional operations) division has performed well during the period, with both passenger volumes and revenue growing year-on-year. Like-for-like passenger volume growth for the forty-eight week period was 1.5%. An increase in our commercial revenue has contributed most to overall revenue growth, with concessionary, tendered and school revenue also continuing to grow.

Looking ahead, we do not expect significant short-term growth in concessionary and tendered revenue as local authorities look to minimise concessionary reimbursement amounts and bus tenders in light of their budget constraints. This is exemplified by the Welsh Government's planned cuts in concessionary reimbursement rates for bus operators in Wales. Our focus is therefore to seek to continue to deliver good growth in commercial revenue to offset inflationary cost pressures.

UK Bus (London)

Our UK Bus (London) division has performed strongly in the period, as we continue to benefit from the new contracts won last year. From 1 October 2013, the business no longer receives Bus Service Operators' Grant (a rebate of fuel duty) but this is offset by a corresponding uplift in the contract prices paid to the business by Transport for London. Excluding this uplift in contract prices, revenue has increased by 1.6%.

UK Rail

The financial performance of our rail businesses is in line with expectations, with revenue growth improving as extreme weather in the south-west of England has subsided in recent weeks.

We are pleased that South West Trains and Network Rail have entered into a new agreement that extends the duration of their alliance and will build on the successes that the Alliance has achieved over the last two years. The new agreement contemplates that the single, joint Alliance management team will continue to have responsibility for both train and infrastructure operations for the next five years to April 2019.

We continue to discuss with the Department for Transport ("DfT") the planned extensions to our South West Trains and East Midlands Trains franchises. We also look forward to hearing the results of the tenders for the Docklands Light Railway and Thameslink franchises for which we have submitted bids.

We are continuing to work on our bid with Virgin for the InterCity East Coast rail franchise, but now anticipate around £2m of the bid costs that we previously expected to be incurred in the year ending 30 April 2014 to be deferred until next year.

As previously reported, South West Trains and East Midlands Trains face further substantial increases in the amounts they are due to pay to the DfT as franchise premia amounts in the year ahead . We remain focussed on growing revenue and controlling costs to offset these increased premia payments, to the extent possible.

North America

Trading in the North America division has been satisfactory, despite the prolonged period of adverse weather across the US. Megabus.com in North America is the fastest-growing part of the Group, increasing revenue by 16.5% in the eleven months ended 31 March 2014. This reflects further growth in existing services, as well as the contribution from our Texas and California networks launched during the year ended 30 April 2013. We are pleased to announce the expansion of our megabus.com network with our new Florida hub being launched in May 2014.

Virgin Rail Group

Virgin Rail Group ("VRG") continues to earn a fee equivalent to 1% of revenue from the West Coast rail franchise with the DfT taking the risk that revenue and/or costs differ from those expected. VRG and the DfT are discussing revised commercial terms that could see VRG take greater revenue and cost risk for the period from a date to be agreed through to April 2017 for a commensurate financial return.

Twin America

We have made progress in resolving the previously reported litigation regarding Twin America.

The US Department of Justice and the New York Attorney General (together, "the Government plaintiffs") initiated litigation against Twin America and its joint venture partners ("the Defendants", which include two Stagecoach US subsidiaries) in 2012. The litigation alleges that the formation of the Twin America joint venture in 2009 was anti-competitive. Separately, private plaintiffs brought a claim based on the same allegations on behalf of a proposed class of customers.

The Defendants have not admitted any liability but have agreed a cash settlement of US$19m (c. £11m) with the private plaintiffs to fully resolve the private litigation. That settlement will be submitted to the court for preliminary approval. Assuming the court grants its preliminary approval, final court approval is anticipated in approximately nine to 12 months following a period for class notification and claims administration.

The Government action remains pending at this time. Until the Government action concludes, the total financial cost of the various actions cannot be determined. The allocation and funding of any financial settlements amongst the various Defendants is currently being discussed.

The Group currently anticipates recording exceptional pre-tax costs of around US$15m (c.£9m) in its consolidated financial statements for the year ending 30 April 2014 in respect of its share of financial costs connected with the litigation. The ultimate cost to the Group may differ from this as it remains dependent on the outcome of the Government action.

Trading remains challenging for Twin America as a result of an increasingly competitive New York sightseeing market, among other factors, and we anticipate that our share of profit from Twin America will further reduce in the year ending 30 April 2015.

Exceptional items

The Group's treatment of gains and losses arising on property disposals has been to classify these as exceptional items. Having reviewed our approach in this area, recognising the regular occurrence of such items historically and the benefits of comparability across the sector, we will generally include these items in our measure of pre-exceptional results in the financial statements for the year ending 30 April 2014 and thereafter.

We expect that property losses in our UK Bus (regional operations) division will amount to no more than £2m in the current year, and that gains and losses in other parts of the Group will be insignificant.

Financial position

The Group maintains a strong financial position with investment grade credit ratings and appropriate headroom under its debt facilities. Consolidated net debt as at 31 March 2014 was at a similar level to that reported as at 31 October 2013 and is after taking account of the previously announced acquisition of Norfolk Green and continued investment in the Group's vehicle fleet.

Outlook

Although we face a number of challenges to growing profit in the year ending 30 April 2015, overall current trading is satisfactory and the prospects for the Group remain positive.

Preliminary results announcement

The Group intends to announce its preliminary results for the year to 30 April 2014 on Wednesday 25 June 2014.

For further information, please contact:

Stagecoach Group plc www.stagecoachgroup.com

Investors and analysts

Ross Paterson, Finance Director 01738 442111

Bruce Dingwall, Group Financial Controller 01738 442111

Media

Steven Stewart, Director of Corporate Communications 07764 774680

Notes

(1) Like-for-like revenue growth is derived, on a constant currency basis, by comparing year-to-date revenue with the equivalent prior year period for those businesses and individual operating units that have been part of the Group throughout both periods.

(2) This announcement contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial performance, financial position and businesses of Stagecoach Group plc. These statements and forecasts involve risk, uncertainty and assumptions because they relate to events and depend upon circumstances that will occur in the future. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made only as at the date of this announcement. Except as required by law, Stagecoach Group plc has no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or to correct any inaccuracies therein.