FirstGroup plc (FGP), one of the UK's leading public transport operators, has disclosed the purchase of 208,206 ordinary shares across two trading dates as part of its share buyback programme launched on 18 June 2026. The shares were acquired through RBC Europe Limited at weighted average prices of 225.71p and 229.84p respectively. Following these transactions, FirstGroup holds 39,421,650 shares in treasury, with 531,273,365 ordinary shares remaining in issue excluding treasury shares. Investors tracking the programme will note the company retains the option to cancel purchased shares in due course.

Key Points

  • FirstGroup plc (FGP), UK public transport operator listed on the London Stock Exchange
  • Purchased 112,645 shares on 2 November 2026 and 95,561 shares on 6 November 2026 under its ongoing buyback programme
  • Weighted average prices of 225.7119p and 229.8437p; highest price paid was 230.0000p on 6 November 2026
  • Investors should watch for further buyback tranches and any decision to cancel treasury shares

FirstGroup Purchases 208,206 Ordinary Shares Across Two Dates in November 2026

FirstGroup plc completed two separate share purchases under its buyback programme during early November 2026. On 2 November 2026, the company acquired 112,645 ordinary shares of 5 pence each at a weighted average price of 225.7119p, with individual trades ranging from a low of 218.6000p to a high of 228.0000p. On 6 November 2026, a further 95,561 shares were purchased at a weighted average price of 229.8437p, with prices moving in a tighter range between 229.2000p and 230.0000p. All transactions were executed by RBC Europe Limited on the company's behalf in line with the programme's terms.

Treasury Share Position and Total Voting Rights Following the November Transactions

Following the two November purchases, FirstGroup now holds 39,421,650 ordinary shares in treasury. The total number of ordinary shares in issue, excluding those held as treasury shares, stands at 531,273,365. This figure also represents the total number of voting rights in FirstGroup as at 6 November 2026, and the company notes that shareholders should use this denominator when calculating whether they are required to disclose interests or changes in interests under the FCA's Disclosure and Transparency Rules. FirstGroup initially intends to hold the purchased shares as treasury shares, though cancellation remains a possibility.

Programme Launched in June 2026 and Conducted Under Market Abuse Regulation

The buyback programme was first announced on 18 June 2026 and is being carried out in accordance with Article 5(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, commonly referred to as the Market Abuse Regulation. Transactions are executed through intermediary RBC Europe Limited, identified by code ROYCGB22. The company's shares carry ISIN GB0003452173, and FirstGroup's Legal Entity Identifier is 549300DEJZCPWA4HKM93. A full breakdown of individual trades conducted by RBC Europe Limited on both dates has been appended to the announcement, providing transparency over the execution of each order within the programme.

What the Buyback Signals About FirstGroup's Capital Allocation Strategy

Share buyback programmes are commonly used by companies to return capital to shareholders and can signal board confidence in the underlying business. FirstGroup operates across public transport markets in the UK, and the continuation of its programme across multiple tranches in November 2026 indicates ongoing execution of the strategy announced earlier in the year. The option to cancel treasury shares, rather than reissue them, could reduce the total share count over time. Investors may wish to monitor the remaining scale and duration of the programme, though no further financial guidance was disclosed in this announcement.