Company Statement

FirstGroup PLC
27 March 2002


27 March 2002

                              Company Statement


Ahead of a series of pre-close meetings with analysts to be held this week,
FirstGroup plc confirms that group sales and profit before tax and exceptional
items for the year to 31 March 2002 will be in line with market expectations.

The Group will also confirm with analysts that in the US good progress is being
made in the current round of bidding for new school bus contracts for the start
of the autumn term. In the UK rail passenger volumes have shown a sharp increase
in the last four months as the network has recovered from the disruption caused
by emergency engineering work in 2001. UK bus volumes have increased by over 1%
in the first 11 months of the year, with strong performances in London and other
urban areas.

The company expects to announce its results for the year to 31 March 2002 on 
15 May 2002.


Contacts:

Iain Lanaghan           Group Finance Director             020 7291 0505

Michael Mitchell        Corporate Communications Director  020 7291 0504



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