Adrian Hargrave, CEO of SEEEN, explains how the new funds will accelerate customer growth Watch the video here.
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Stagecoach Group plc Disposal 2 August 2011 Manchester tram operations Stagecoach Group plc ("Stagecoach") yesterday completed the sale of its subsidiary, Stagecoach Metrolink Limited ("SML"), to Ratp Dev UK Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ratp Développement. SML operates and maintains the Manchester Metrolink tram network under a ten-year contract with Transport for Greater Manchester (formerly, Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive) through to July 2017. The gross assets of SML as at 30 April 2011 were £16.2m. The sale relates only to SML. The sale does not include the Group's Sheffield tram operations, and the Group is not engaged in any discussions regarding a sale of the Sheffield tram operations.
Commenting on the results, Chief Executive, Sir Brian Souter, said: "We are seeing growing demand for our bus and rail services in the UK and North America, with further evidence of modal shift as consumers look for better value and more convenient transport alternatives to the rising cost of motoring and increasing road congestion. "The strong results we have achieved across the Group are the result of our successful organic growth strategy. We are focused on providing value-for-money products, continuing to invest heavily in our networks, and harnessing the power of the Internet, new technology and social media to attract new customers and make it easier for people to access our services. "We look forward with confidence to the year ahead. Public transport is central to supporting economic growth and meeting the global challenge of climate change. In the UK, high quality public transport will be at the heart of the successful delivery of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. We believe the outlook for our bus and rail services is positive."
Stagecoach Group plc - Preliminary results for the year ended 30 April 2011 Business highlights · Strong Group performance delivering good returns for shareholders o Adjusted earnings per share* up 27.3% to 23.8p o Full year dividend up 9.2% to 7.1p · Completing review of capital structure - will report conclusions in August 2011 · Further megabus.com expansion driving revenue growth in North America · Sector-leading profit margin and good passenger volume growth trends at UK Bus · UK Rail underpinned by operational delivery and customer satisfaction · Shortlisted for Greater Anglia and West Coast rail franchises; Virgin Rail Group in discussions about a franchise extension at West Coast · Positive outlook for the Group's greener, smarter public transport services
http://investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201106290700113100J
Nomura recommends buy Stagecoach Group, target price 275p.
A consortium led by Stagecoach co-founder and chief executive Sir Brian Souter has snapped up a Turkish ferry group in a deal worth $86m (£538m). The transport mogul’s family investment vehicle Souter Investments will own 30% of the firm, Istanbul Deniz Otonuslen, with co-investors including his sister and fellow Stagecoach founder Ann Gloag, Scottish businessman Sir Angus Grossart and a clutch of Turkish companies Tepe, Alden and Sera, says the Daily Express.
There was a First Bus Inspector or Supervisor on the bus who confirmed that they did not accept Stagecoach tickets. He explained that as Stagecoach stop running at 6.00pm whereas First Bus continue to midnight it would not make sense for them to provide 6 hours of travel for no fares. A point i had to accept. You may well be the most considerate bus driver on the planet, but the one i encountered was an idiot. And if you think that "drivers do not go out of their way to make things difficult for passengers" then you have obviously never been on a bus in London as red lights seem to have a different meaning to bus drivers!!! My wife spent nearly 30 years commuting using buses and you would not believe some of the stories she has to tell, including four major accidents. Two where the bus ran a red light, one where it pulled out into oncoming traffic, and one where the bus driver went off route to avoid an unconnected accident and promptly ran into a low bridge!!! I am just very grateful for the fact that i only ever have occasion to use one or two buses a year. The next time i find myself in that part of the country and have need to leave my car at home i will ask my sister for a lift. The people in your area are indeed lucky to have you as a driver. ATB.
I work for Stagecoach as a Driver. I carry well over a thousand people on my bus every day.When they alight from my vehicle 99% say thank-you to me. Your experience with the return ticket is unfortunate some one got their wires crossed.How do you not know the fault lies with the 1st bus driver that refused to accept your return ticket. I know in Teesside Stagegcoach accept many of the arriva tickets and visa versa.Drivers believe it or not are human beings they do not go out of teir way to make things difficult for passengers. The job of a bus driver does have job satisfaction.When you drive a bus All day in safely plus having a good repore with passenegers and maintaining your schedule at the end of the day you feel you have achieved something. Stagecoach are a good company giving value for money and good service to passengers. I believe in the company so much I have many private shares in the company I work for.
If my recent experience on a Stagecoach bus is anything to go by then they have a lot to learn when it comes to customer relations. I was in an unfamiliar area at the weekend i asked for a return ticket into town at 5.20pm, handed over my money, and enjoyed the journey. When i arrived at 5.50pm i politely asked what time the last bus back was. Do you know what he said?? "I leave at 6.00pm" was the reply!! What the feck did he think i was going to do for 10 minutes. I couldn't even use the station toilets in that time as they were shut!! When i said i wouldn't have bought a return if he had said i only had 10 mins before the return he said don't worry the other bus company - First Bus - will accept your ticket. He even looked up the times they ran, although as it turns out he was completely wrong. OK i said and off i went to enjoy my evening. On getting back to catch the First bus home i was informed that "no way do we accept Stagecoach tickets and that the other driver would have known that. So i had to pay again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Needless to say although i will be keeping my SGC shares - although i have complained most strongly both regionally and to head office - i will NEVER get on one of their buses again. If that is how they are boosting their profits then they can do it without me. Rant over. ATB.
The Stagecoach is making money at the same time giving good value for money to passengers.People need transport to go about their lives.Stagecoach are delivering a 1st class product. This share price is a bargain compared to 1st Group and Go-Ahead.
http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201104280700135716F
Sales motor ahead at Stagecoach Date: Thursday 28 Apr 2011 LONDON (ShareCast) - Bus group Stagecoach said overall trading remains good and is confident about its trading prospects. Like for like revenue at the group's UK Bus division in the forty-eight weeks ended 3 April 2011 increased 2.2%. Sales at its UK Rail unit, which includes the South West Trains London commuter franchise, rose 6%. The figure excludes its tram businesses. Virgin Rail Group saw its sales rise 12.1% during the same period. Meanwhile North America sales, including Megabus.com, for the eleven months ended 31 March 2011 increased 8.3%. "Overall profitability has remained strong, with good ongoing cost control and all divisions showing revenue growth in the current year," the group said in a company statement. CJ
You seem to have more information, and more shares, in this one than i do. I only hold about half of what you have remaining, should have been more but i didn't participate in one of the previous RI's - no spare funds at the time - so saw my holding shrink in real terms. Don't seem to do anywhere near as much research as you do, maybe because i would have to do in-depth analysis on over 60 holdings!!! So these days i'm stuck with what i bought back in the 80's and 90's, along with a couple of new ones i've bought when i've spare cash from having to sell a holding, i.e. Cadburys. I try to keep abreast of the most relevant developments, but tend to use the information in deciding which is the worst share in my portfolio when i need to raise some cash. I'm sure any professional, or well informed amateur, would tear my portfolio to shreds. Probably selling half and re-investing in better companies. But i'm not prepared to make brokers richer by churning my holdings to try and gain a few extra quid or a better div. I think what i have is fairly well balanced, mainly Blue Chip - so maybe unadventurous but equally quite safe - and produces a good yield. So while i may have an opinion on something i think i know quite a lot about - see our discussions on MWH - i do very little research other then annual reports, trading updates, broker reports etc. On these boards i tend to answer peoples questions re divs, accounting dates, correct wrong assumptions and offer advice when i can on things like RI's, takeovers, tax positions, etc. So, to finally answer your question, i'm afraid i know nothing more than you do on this one. But the one thing i do know, having invested very heavily in China over the last 10 years, is that whatever sector they decide to go into they will very quickly become one of the world's major players as they account for about 1 in 5 people on the planet. If ever they decided to embrace football we would soon end up with 10 Chinese players in every team!!! ATB.
I sold Twenty thousand the other week, and I have the same again I can shift. Am not up to speed on this one! Have you any up to date information/rumour re takeovers of Bus/coach/companies or in fact countries? The reason i ask is that I had a quick look at the "Chinese coach building scene" The only outcome i can see is very quickly they will be the major force in the industry. Quality build and any specs you wish, and the volume in a short delivery date, must mean that "Alexanders" cannot compete on the open market. If stagecoach can buy into a few countries, and put their own kit in, that perhaps would still make "Alexanders viable" As the labor costs in "China are so low" it pays to have assembly plants in targeted countries, then undercut the existing suppliers. The Chinese vehicles are already selling well in the USA, meet all regs and more. While "Alexanders is a good little company,good product etc. Cannot ever meet like for like re volume. I do not think it is even seen as a threat etc to the "Chinese companies" in that they would ever buy Alexanders. Volume discounting on the open market, will finish Alexanders" I think Alexanders were bankrupt when Suitor bought it, and although it is run quite well,times have moved on in the last few years. Stagecoach can function without Alexanders. But if they were to expand a bit more, would make keeping Alexanders a viable proposition. Shortly I do not think he could sell it as a Bus/coach builder. ATB
DfT reveals franchise runners & riders By John Harrington Date: Thursday 24 Mar 2011 LONDON (ShareCast) - Rail and bus operators are rushing out statements celebrating being on the shortlists for the east and west coast UK rail franchises. Stagecoach Group has welcomed the announcement by the Department for Transport that its joint venture group, Virgin Rail, has pre-qualified to bid for the new West Coast rail franchise, which is expected to start in April 2012. Virgin is the current operator of the franchise which is due to expire in March 2012. It will be in competition with FirstGroup. "We intend to offer compelling and innovative proposals to deliver high quality and attractive services for customers and improved value for taxpayers,” a statement from FirstGroup said. Meanwhile, Tony Collins, Virgin Rail group chief executive, said: "We now look forward to see what the government includes in the tender for the franchise. We intend to submit a very strong bid to retain the West Coast franchise, building on the investment and customer improvements we have made..” Over on the other coast, Go-Ahead Group professed itself delighted to have been shortlisted for the Greater Anglia Rail Franchise. “Greater Anglia is an excellent fit with our existing rail portfolio of Southern, Southeastern and London Midland,” claimed Go-Ahead’s chief executive, Keith Ludeman. The Greater Anglia Franchise is currently operated by National Express as National Express East Anglia and is due to end on February 5, 2012. The company will be competing against Stagecoach Group for the franchise.
Scary times at the moment. FTSE off 400 points from last week due to Japan's/Libya's/etc worries. How much further can/will the markets fall?? If we have a major nuclear incident in Japan, FTSE could easily go sub 5000 and take all shares with it. Not sure there will be enough time to recover to get the price you want. ATB.
Out of touch with the day to day goings on with this share. was going to sell about half my holding , beginning April. Can hit 220ish then sinks. I need to cash up this share in August for something else. The ideal for me is to hit 250 sometime in July, but I don't think there is more information till late summer. Any views on subject welcomed. ATB
Certainly did Bonz1957 I must admit i think the fact that the I C has rated a sell has scuppered that price But i have held SGC for many years and believe there is money to be made
Think you mean 204p lol!!! But £204 would be very nice indeed. ATB.
£204 this is a bargain price
The overall profitability of the Group has remained good, notwithstanding the challenges presented by adverse weather conditions in recent months. Although the severe winter weather in December brought public transport to a standstill in many areas of the UK, Stagecoach said its performance remained good and the financial year’s first 40 weeks had proved profitable. The company’s bus division in the UK, which has networks in cities including Manchester, Hull, Newcastle and Liverpool, saw revenues rise by 1.9 per cent to 6 February compared to the same period a year before. In North America, where Stagecoach also provides transport services, revenues were up by 8.2 per cent compared to the year before for the nine months ending 31 January. This is compared to the 7.5 per cent growth recorded in the six months to 31 October. UK rail, the operator of East Midlands Trains and South West Trains also managed to produce a growth in revenue by 6.9 per cent in the first 40 weeks. This is compared to 6.4 per cent growth for the same period a year earlier. The Group's financial position remains strong. In February 2011, the Group entered into new, unsecured bi-lateral bank facilities that are committed for five years to February 2016 and we are pleased with the pricing and terms that we secured on these new facilities. These new facilities replaced the bank facilities that were due to expire in March 2012. This re-financing extends the Group's debt maturities and provides it with continued access to significant, committed, undrawn bank facilities. Stockbroker Panmure Gordon is confident about the company’s immediate future and has kept a buy recommendation on the stock. In December, Stagecoach announced that although it had increased fares the number of passengers carried was also up. It is likely that the soaring price of oil will force the company to increase ticket prices further.
i work for stagecoach trust me i think good times ahead
Catch you later?? When something happens; I suppose. GL.