26156_cover.qxp:Layout 1 15/9/08 16:55 Page fc1 The Go-Ahead Group plc The Annual Report and Accounts Registered Office Go-Ahead for the year ended 28 June 2008 3rd Floor 41–51 Grey Street Newcastle Upon Tyne Group NE1 6EE plc Telephone 0191 232 3123 Annual Facsimile 0191 221 0315 Report The Go-Ahead Group plc Head Office and 6th Floor Accounts 1 Warwick Row London SW1E 5ER for Telephone 0207 821 3939 the Facsimile 0270 821 3938 year Right time, right place Email [email protected] ended www.go-ahead.com June 28 2008 26156_cover.qxp:Layout 1 15/9/08 16:55 Page fc2 www.go-ahead.comFor more information visit: Contents Who we are and what we do 1 Group highlights Online Annual Report Go-Ahead is one of the UK’s leading providers of The 2008 Annual Report and Accounts passenger transport services operating in the bus, Directors’ Report: Business Review can be found on our website in interactive rail and aviation services sectors. Employing over 2 Chairman’s statement and PDF formats. There are also Excel 27,500 people across the country, around 920 million 4 Group Chief Executive’s review spreadsheets of the key financial statements passenger journeys are undertaken on our services 6 Group Chief Executive’s Q&A available to download. each year. In addition to the travelling public, customers 8 Operating review – Bus Access the Notice of Meeting Annual Report and Accounts include the Department for Transport (Df T), Transport For the year ended 28 June 2008 10 Operating review – Rail The 2008 Notice of Annual General Right time, right place for London (TfL), local authorities, British Airports Meeting is also available online. Authority (BAA) and major airlines. 12 Operating review – Aviation Services Links to further information 14 Financial review and risk management In the Investor Centre on our website 18 Corporate responsibility Annual Report and Accounts you can find other useful information, For the year ended 28 June 2008 including share price data, dividend Directors’ Report: Corporate Governance information and our financial calendar. Right time, right place Why we are different 20 Board of Directors 21 Senior Management Download the latest presentations We are uniquely focused on the UK. Our companies Keep up to date with our presentations operate in high density commuter markets where there 22 Corporate governance in the Financial Information section is a strong need for public transport. We believe that 25 Remuneration report of our Investor Centre. We upload all transport services are best delivered at a local level 31 Other statutory information presentations from our investor days, as with accessible managers who can respond to local well as our half year and full year results. needs. We empower our local managers and operate Financial Statements our companies as autonomous business units, whilst 35 Independent auditors’ report working together to share experience and expertise 36 Consolidated income statement Electronic communications around our Group. 37 Consolidated balance sheet As far as possible, except where shareholders have requested otherwise*, The Go-Ahead Group plc provides shareholder documents via the Company’s website. Receiving the Company’s communications electronically offers advantages in terms of speed and convenience; it is a secure method of delivering shareholder documentation and allows the 38 Consolidated cashflow statement Company to communicate with its shareholders in a more environmentally and cost effective way. Whenever a document has been made available on the Company’s website, 39 Consolidated statement of recognised shareholders receiving communications electronically will be notified either by post or by email where an email address has been provided. income and expense If you have not done so already, and now wish to register to receive future communications issued by The Go-Ahead Group plc electronically, please visit the website of our Registrars, Equiniti Limited, at www.shareview.co.uk and click on ‘Register’ in the top left corner. By signing up for a Shareview portfolio, you will also be able to view information 40 Notes to the consolidated regarding your holding, change your address and bank details online, and even sell or purchase shares in the Company. When completing your details you will need your shareholder Our strategy and vision financial statements reference number which is either an eight or eleven digit number found on your tax voucher or share certificate. The default option during registration is that your preferred method The Group’s strategy is to create organic earnings growth of delivery of Company communications is electronic. 73 Independent auditors’ report and exercise strong cash management, supplemented Please note that, notwithstanding any election by a shareholder to receive electronic communications, the Company may, at its sole and absolute discretion, send any notification or 74 Parent company balance sheet information to shareholders in hard copy form. Notwithstanding any prior request or deemed consent to receive communications electronically, a shareholder may at any time inform by capital investment and value adding acquisitions the Company that he or she wishes to receive information in hardcopy. To do so, please write to the Group Company Secretary, The Go-Ahead Group plc, 3rd Floor, 41-51 Grey and disposals. Our focus will remain on UK passenger 75 Directors’ responsibilities in relation to Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 6EE. the parent company financial statements *This will include shareholders who have elected to continue to receive documents in hard copy (i.e. paper form) and those shareholders who have become members of the Company since July 2008 and are not automatically transport, although we will not rule out investment in deemed to receive shareholder documents electronically. overseas operations where we believe they will add value. 76 Notes to the parent company Legal notice financial statements Certain statements included in the Annual Report and Accounts contain forward-looking information concerning the Group’s strategy, operations, financial performance or condition, outlook, growth opportunities or circumstances in the We are committed to being a leading operator of high sectors or markets in which the Group operate . By their nature, forward-looking statements involve uncertainty because they depend on future circumstances, and relate to events, not all of which are within the Company’s control or can be produced by the Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward–looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Actual quality public transport. Through our companies we aim 84 Shareholder information and results could differ materially from those set out in the forward-looking statements. For a detailed analysis of the factors that may affect our business, financial performance or results of operations, we urge you to look at the Risks and to provide efficient, integrated and sustainable local financial calendar Uncertainties outlined on page 17 of this Annual Report and Accounts. Nothing in the Annual Report and Accounts should be construed as a profit forecast, and no part of these results constitutes, or shall be taken to constitute, an invitation or inducement to invest in The Go-Ahead Group plc or any other entity, and must not be relied upon in anyway in connection with any investment decision. Except as required by law, the company undertakes public transport systems. no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. The Go-Ahead Group plc is subject to the regulatory requirements of the Financial Services Authority of the United Kingdom. Go-Ahead’s Business Review is set out on pages 2 to 19 of this Report. UK company law requires the Board of Directors to produce a Business Review in which the Board provides a fair review Designed and produced by Black Sun plc of the business of the Group and a description of the principal risks and uncertainties it faces. Particular care should be taken when assessing elements of this Business Review that relate to future Printed by Beacon Press developments and the principal risks and uncertainties facing the Group. Whilst the Board has made every effort to identify, disclose and explain such matters, it cannot predict all events or circumstances that will actually affect the Group in the future. This document is printed on Think4 Sharp which contains material sourced from responsibly managed and Please also refer to the Legal Notice on page 85. sustainable commercial forests, certified in accordance with the Forest Stewardship Council. Think4 Sharp is Cert no. SGS-COC-0620 manufactured to the international environmental standard, ISO 14001. It is produced using ECF (elemental chlorine free) pulp; minimising negative impacts on the environment. 26156_insert_AW.qxp:Layout 1 12/9/08 13:17 Page 1 Right time... We believe the fundamental strengths of UK public transport have never been stronger.Despite an uncertain economic outlook in the short-term,we believe the following factors will drive long-term growth in the public transport sector: Improved quality Sustained investment in public transport from operating companies and the Government has resulted in high quality vehicles and rolling stock and safer, more reliable,frequent and punctual services. Political support All major political parties support and recognise the importance of public transport for the UK’s present and future needs.With record investment in the sector,the Government continues to maintain a clear commitment to a growing public transport network. Environmental awareness Public transport is key to the sustainable future of the UK.It plays a vital role in meeting environmental challenges such as reducing carbon emissions and traffic congestion. 26156_insert_AW.qxp:Layout 1 12/9/08 13:17 Page 2 Right place... We have focused our operations on the UK,favouring high density commuter markets which have a strong demand for local transport.