Issue 87 | September 2011 onThe newsletter stage of Stagecoach Group STAGECOACH is launching a new tax-free Buy As You Earn (BAYE) share scheme for all UK employees. Under the new BAYE plan, to be administered New employee by the Yorkshire Building Society, all Stagecoach employees in the UK with more than three months’ continuous service will be eligible to buy Stagecoach shares each month out of their share scheme pre-tax income. Employees will be able to invest from as little as a £2 deduction per pay period Special 2 for 1 deal up to a maximum of £125 per month to buy among the best in the industry, launched with a 2 Stagecoach shares. for 1 matching of free shares from the Company And, for each whole share bought by an on the first £10 of investment especially targeted employee out of their first £10 monthly to maximise benefits available at the level investment, the employee will also be awarded affordable to the average paid employee.” two free matching shares from Stagecoach. So, Eligible UK staff will receive an Invitation for example, by investing £10 a month from Information Pack mid-September and the pre-tax income (costing only £6.80 out of net deadline for applications to the BAYE scheme is take-home pay for a basic rate tax-payer), the 14 October 2011. Interested employees should employee could receive another £20 of free read the invitation pack for details and look out shares from the Company each month under the for posters and other information at depots and BAYE. in offices across the Group. Employees can also The shares are held in trust for the employee, contact the Yorkshire Building Society on 0845 who can withdraw the shares they have 1200300 for information about the plan. purchased at any time. The free matching shares Employees who do not join the scheme at the awarded by the company can be withdrawn by launch will have further opportunities to do so in employees after three years. October and April each year. Stagecoach Group Finance Director Martin The BAYE is intended to replace the previous Griffiths said: “The Group has a long track record Sharesave SAYE scheme which matures on 1 of supporting employee participation in the October 2011. See page 2 of On Stage for Company and we think this new BAYE will be more information about the SAYE scheme. Metrolink trams Flat-out on the new sleeper coach sold in Manchester STAGECOACH Group is trialling STAGECOACH Group has the UK’s first budget sleeper coach completed the sale of its Metrolink service between Glasgow and London, tram operation in Manchester. The offering passengers their own bed business has been sold to Ratp Dev as well as a standard seat for greater UK Limited. comfort during their journey. The sale relates only to the Manchester On the new pilot service, operated by Metrolink system and Stagecoach will market-leading budget coach provider continue to operate the Supertram network in megabus.com, passengers will have access to Sheffield as normal. a toilet, free wi-fi, on-board refreshments and a complimentary overnight pack containing a toothbrush, toothpaste, a bottle of water, an Sir Brian stretches out in the new Cash return for eye mask and a luggage label. Each berth has megabus.com sleeper coach. shareholders a reading light and curtain for extra privacy, as growing demand for our night-time megabus. well as a duvet, pillow and blanket. com journeys. The new sleeper services will FOLLOWING a review of its capital The coaches have been safety certified offer extra comfort and facilities, but still at structure, Stagecoach has announced by VOSA and are fitted with CCTV. For excellent value for money prices. proposals to return approximately£340 additional safety and security, each berth is “We’ve always been at the forefront of million to its shareholders through a 4 equipped with a button to alert the driver innovative ways to make public transport more for 5 share consolidation, returning 47p in the event of an emergency. The vehicles attractive and convenient for people. We believe per each existing ordinary share. also meet Transport for London’s new Low the best way to find out if it’s a service our The Group believes this will establish Emissions Zone (LEV) requirements, which customers want is by offering them the chance a more appropriate and efficient capital come into force in the capital in January 2012. to try it out for real. Travelling direct from structure. Stagecoach Group Chief Executive, Sir city centre to city centre beats the hassle of a The proposal will be voted on at a General Brian Souter, said: “Travelling overnight is a red-eye flight from an airport and is a greener, Meeting on 7 October. great way to save time, and we’ve already seen smarter way to travel.” 1 uk bus and group on stage You what?! Network cooperation (Overheard on a bus in America.) SHEFFIELD bus passengers are trying Boy says to friend: “I only had out a groundbreaking ticketing initiative forty minutes of lectures that will allow them to get on different today and I was forty firms’ buses with the same ticket. minutes late so, yeah, Stagecoach Yorkshire and First, together it worked out.” with the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, have signed up to the Sheffield Can you beat that? and South Rotherham Bus Partnership, Send your weird and which introduces multi-operator tickets and wonderful overheard coordinated timetables in the area. comments to Stagecoach Yorkshire Managing Director Paul lindsay.reid@ Lynch, First UK Bus Managing Director Giles stagecoachgroup. Fearnley, David Brown from SYPTE, First UK com Bus Regional Director David Alexander and Stagecoach UK Bus Managing Director Les Warneford. UK Bus management Decision time on SHARESAVE SCHEME OPTIONS appointments your SAYE shares OPTION 1 STAGECOACH has announced the THE Stagecoach SAYE Sharesave To exercise their option to buy Stagecoach appointment of two new Managing scheme, launched in October 2008, Group plc shares at £2.51775 per share Directors for regional companies in its is due to mature on 1 October 2011, to receive a Share Certificate. Employees UK Bus division. giving thousands of Stagecoach have until 21 March 2012 to return their The new appointments follow a structural employees an important decision to Maturity Instruction Form to Yorkshire change within the UK Bus division's make. Building Society in order to take up this operations in the North-west of England. The Staff who have been saving into the option. former Stagecoach North West operations scheme for the past three years will now form part of two new regional OPTION 2 have to select one of three options. companies: Cumbria and North Lancashire, There are also some very important To withdraw their savings and tax-free and Merseyside and South Lancashire. dates for Sharesave scheme employees to bonus to receive a guaranteed cash refund. Elisabeth Tasker, currently Operations remember. Staff choosing this option must return their Director with Stagecoach Manchester, is Each member of the scheme will Maturity Instruction Form to Yorkshire appointed Managing Director of Stagecoach receive a personal letter to their home Building Society by 31 March 2012. Merseyside and South Lancashire. She has address with further information about responsibility for depots in Liverpool, Preston the three options. OPTION 3 and Chorley. In addition, as the market share price of To exercise their option to buy their Nigel Winter is promoted from Operations the Group has been trading close to the Stagecoach Group plc shares at £2.51775 Director, Stagecoach North East, to Managing Option Price recently, each participating per share and receive a cash amount Director Stagecoach Cumbria and North employee will also receive a personal by immediately selling them. To take Lancashire, with responsibility for the Carlisle, illustration giving them key facts about advantage of a reduced dealing cost of West Cumbria, Kendal, Barrow and Lancaster their own personal savings contract to £15, staff must return their Maturity depots. help them make an informed decision. Instruction Form, as well as the Stagecoach has also confirmed the following Staff who have further queries after they Stocktrade Sale Request Form, to positions: have received the information that will be Yorkshire Building Society by Paul Southgate, formerly Managing posted to them should contact Yorkshire 5 October 2011. Director Stagecoach North West, becomes Building Society on 0845 1200 300, Commercial Manager, Stagecoach UK Bus. quoting their Sharesave account number. Les Burton, Operations Director, Stagecoach Merseyside, will become Operations Director Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire. Kendal’s mini bus Paul Lee will continue as Engineering DARREN Syverson, a coach builder Director for both of the Stagecoach at Stagecoach North West’s Kendal companies in the North-west. Garage has built a unique publicity Les Warneford, Managing Director of platform to help promote the Depot’s Stagecoach UK Bus, said: "These new Central Lakes 599 service, in the form appointments demonstrate the strength of of a scaled down Open-Top Bus. management talent we have across the division. The bus, nicknamed “Daz”, was in place at I would like to congratulate Elisabeth and Daz – and key locations on the open-top route during Nigel on their deserved promotions and wish mini-Daz – with the summer, between Bowness Pier and them every success in their new roles." their ‘parent’ bus. Grasmere. 2 uk rail / uk bus on stage Birthday celebrations STAGECOACH Bluebird has celebrated the first birthday of its award-winning Jet 727 bus route. The route, which runs between the city centre and Aberdeen Airport, was recently awarded the prestigious title of Best Bus Service at the 2011 Scottish Transport Awards.