Rule 8.1 - National Express Group PLC

FORM 8.1

         DEALINGS BY OFFERORS, OFFEREE COMPANIES OR THEIR ASSOCIATES
                 FOR THEMSELVES OR FOR DISCRETIONARY CLIENTS
                (Rules 8.1(a) and (b)(i) of the Takeover Code)

1. KEY INFORMATION

Name of person dealing (Note 1)     CLARE HELEN SOPER

Company dealt in                    NATIONAL EXPRESS GROUP PLC

Class of relevant security to which ORDINARY SHARES OF 5 PENCE EACH
the dealings being disclosed relate
(Note 2)

Date of dealing                     1 JULY 2009

2. INTERESTS, SHORT POSITIONS AND RIGHTS TO SUBSCRIBE

(a) Interests and short positions (following dealing) in the class of
relevant security dealt in (Note 3)

                                           Long                 Short
                                    Number      (%)       Number      (%)
(1) Relevant securities
 
RICHARD MICHAEL SOPER AND CLARE     11,961   DE MINIMIS
HELEN SOPER
 
(2) Derivatives (other than
options)
 
(3) Options and agreements to
purchase/sell
 
Total                               11,961   DE MINIMIS

 
(b) Interests and short positions in relevant securities of the
company, other than the class dealt in (Note 3)


Class of relevant security:               Long                  Short
 
                                    Number      (%)      Number        (%)
(1) Relevant securities
 
(2) Derivatives (other than
options)
 
(3) Options and agreements to
purchase/sell
 
Total
 
(c) Rights to subscribe (Note 3)

Class of relevant security: Details
 
3. DEALINGS (Note 4)

(a) Purchases and sales

Purchase/sale           Number of securities   Price per unit (Note 5)


SALE                    3,146                  £2.81 per share
                        3,000                  £2.80 per share
                        
 
(b) Derivatives transactions (other than options)

Product name,   Long/short (Note 6)   Number of securities (7)   Note  Price per unit (Note 5)
e.g. CFD                         
 
(c) Options transactions in respect of existing securities

(i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying


Product name,    Writing,       Number of        Exercise Type,     Expiry Option money
e.g. call option selling,       securities to    price    e.g.      date   paid/received
                 purchasing,    which the option          American,        per unit
                 varying etc.   relates (Note 7)          European         (Note 5)
                                                          etc.

 
(ii) Exercising


Product name, e.g. call       Number of securities   Exercise price per unit (Note 5)
option                                               
 

(d) Other dealings (including new securities) (Note 4)


Nature of transaction (Note 8)    Details             Price per unit (if
                                                     applicable) (Note 5)
 
4. OTHER INFORMATION

Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

Full details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding between the person disclosing
and any other person relating to the voting rights of any relevant securities under any
option referred to on this form or relating to the voting rights or future acquisition or
disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative referred to on this form is
referenced. If none, this should be stated.
 
Is a Supplemental Form 8 attached? (Note 9) NO -

Date of disclosure                                 2 July 2009

Contact name                                       EILEEN MALCOLMSON

Telephone number                                   01224 650626

Name of offeree/offeror with which associated      FIRSTGROUP PLC

Specify category and nature of associate status    RICHARD SOPER IS A DIRECTOR OF FIRST
(Note 10)                                          HAMPSHIRE & DORSET LIMITED, A SMALL BUS
                                                   COMPANY WITHIN FIRSTGROUP PLC'S UK BUS
                                                   DIVISION, AND CLARE HELEN SOPER IS HIS
                                                   WIFE
Notes

The Notes on Form 8.1 can be viewed on the Takeover Panel's website at
www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk