Trading Update

4 November 2015

Stagecoach Group plc

Trading update

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

Financial performance

Recent trading has been consistent with our expectations and there is no change to the adjusted earnings per share that we are anticipating for the year ending 30 April 2016.

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)

The UK Bus (regional operations) Division's like-for-like revenue growth continues to come principally from commercial on and off bus revenue, which is the revenue we receive directly from passengers in respect of travel on our bus services.

Concessionary revenue growth remains modest. Revenue from tendered and school services provided under contract has continued to decline, as a result of local authorities reducing spending on supported services due to budget constraints.

Overall, estimated passenger journey numbers for the Division in the 24 weeks were 0.3% below last year, which is consistent with trends reported earlier this year.

Our expansion of the megabus.com inter-city coach operations in mainland Europe is progressing and we remain positive about the growth opportunities in that market. We are accelerating our expansion plans with the launch of domestic services in France following the French Government's decision to liberalise inter-city bus routes of at least 100km in distance from August 2015. Accordingly, we now expect net start-up losses of around £15m for the year ending 30 April 2016, which is around £5m higher than our previous expectations.

Trading elsewhere at our UK Bus (regional operations) Division is in line with expectations.

UK Bus (London)

Trading at the UK Bus (London) Division is consistent with our expectations, with reported revenue growth reflecting the profile of contracts the Division has with Transport for London. Growth continues to be impacted by congestion resulting from road works, which affects the revenue the business receives as Quality Incentive Income based on its operational performance.

UK Rail

The UK Rail Division continues to perform strongly and we have revised up our forecast of 2015/16 UK Rail operating profit to reflect continued good cost control and clarity around the terms of the new East Midlands Trains franchise.

In September 2015, the Group agreed a new East Midlands Trains franchise direct award with the Department for Transport ("DfT"), which commenced on 18 October 2015 and is scheduled to run until 4 March 2018. The DfT has the option to extend the contract by up to one year on commercial terms that have already been agreed.

The Group has submitted its bid for a new Transpennine Express franchise and its joint venture with Abellio is shortlisted to bid for a new East Anglia franchise. The successful bidder for Transpennine Express is expected to be announced in December 2015, with the franchise commencing in April 2016. The winner of the new East Anglia franchise is expected to be announced in June 2016, with the franchise commencing in October 2016.

North America

The fall in fuel prices continues to impact demand adversely for our megabus.com inter-city coach services, with like-for-like revenue at megabus.com North America in the five months ended 30 September 2015 being 5.9% below the equivalent period last year. Trading elsewhere in the North America division and its joint venture, Twin America, is broadly in line with our expectations. Sightseeing and some other leisure-related businesses continue to be adversely impacted by competition and the strength of the US dollar.

Virgin Rail Group

Virgin Rail Group's West Coast rail franchise continues to perform strongly and that is benefitting taxpayers through profit share payments by the business to the UK DfT.

Financial position

The Group maintains a strong financial position with investment grade credit ratings and appropriate headroom under its debt facilities. Consolidated net debt has, as expected, increased from 30 April 2015, reflecting additional investment in our bus fleet, the acceleration of interest and premium payable associated with redeeming our 5.75% bonds and the reversal of some favourable UK Rail working capital timing differences in the previous financial year, partly offset by continued strong cash generation from operations.

The Group issued £400m of 10-year bonds with an annual coupon of 4.00% on 29 September 2015. The Group subsequently redeemed the £400m of 5.75% bonds that were due to mature in December 2016. The premium payable to redeem the 5.75% bonds in excess of their par value, together with the cost of terminating interest rate swaps that became ineffective as a result of the re-financing, will be approximately £23m. As previously reported, we intend to recognise the actual cost of this as an exceptional item in the Group's consolidated income statement for the six months ended 31 October 2015.

Outlook

Overall current trading is satisfactory and we remain on course to meet our expectations for the year.

Interim results

The Group plans to announce its interim results for the six months ended 31 October 2015 on 9 December 2015.

For further information, please contact:

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.