Go Ahead : recognised with FTSE4GOOD award

Go-Ahead has been recertified with the FTSE4Good accreditation. This independently recognises the continuing positive progress in the company's sustainability agenda.

The company has held the accreditation since 2012, appraising its work to proactively engage with stakeholders and respond positively to their concerns and aspirations in order to find mutually beneficial outcomes.

Group Chief Executive, David Brown, said: 'I am pleased we have been reaccredited by FTSE4Good. It recognises our commitment to running our businesses in a way that delivers long term value to all our stakeholders.

'Environmental wellbeing is key to our strategy and we are part of the solution in reducing congestion and improving air quality. We operate the largest electric bus fleet in Europe and have achieved 10% carbon emissions reduction ahead of our three-year target.'

The FTSE4Good Series is designed to help investors integrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into their investment decisions. The indices identify companies that better manage ESG risks and are used as a basis for tracker funds, structured products and as a performance benchmark. The ESG ratings are used by investors who wish to incorporate ESG factors into their investment decision making processes, or as a framework for corporate engagement and stewardship.

Read more about our sustainability initiatives on www.go-ahead.com/sustainability

ENDS

Notes to editors

For more information contact our press office team on communications@go-ahead.com or 020 7799 8999

About Go-Ahead

Go-Ahead is a leading UK public transport operator, providing high quality services in the bus and rail sectors. Employing around 29,000 people across the country, over one billion passenger journeys are undertaken on our services each year. We are committed to operating our companies in a safe, socially and environmentally responsible way and are proud to have been accredited with triple Carbon Trust Standard for reductions in carbon, water and waste. In addition to the travelling public, our customers include the Department for Transport, Transport for London (TfL) and local authorities.

Bus

Go-Ahead is one of the UK's largest bus operators. With a fleet of around 5,200 buses, we carry over two million passengers every day. Our operations are focused on high density commuter markets. We have a strong presence in London, with around 24 per cent market share, where we provide regulated services for TfL. Outside London, we operate services in Oxford, East Anglia, the South East, Southern and north east England. In September 2016, the Group began operating a bus contract in Singapore, on behalf of the Land Transport Authority.

Rail

The rail operation, Govia, is 65 per cent owned by Go-Ahead and 35 per cent by Keolis. It is the largest rail operation in the UK, responsible for over 30 per cent of all UK passenger rail journeys through its rail franchises: GTR (Govia Thameslink Railway) Southeastern and London Midland.

About FTSE4Good

FTSE Russell (the trading name of FTSE International Limited and Frank Russell Company) confirms that The Go-Ahead Group has been independently assessed according to the FTSE4Good criteria, and has satisfied the requirements to become a constituent of the FTSE4Good Index Series. Created by the global index provider FTSE Russell, the FTSE4Good Index Series is designed to measure the performance of companies demonstrating strong Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices. The FTSE4Good indices are used by a wide variety of market participants to create and assess responsible investment funds and other products

Disclaimer

Certain statements included in this press release contain forward-looking information concerning the Group's strategy, operations, financial performance or condition, outlook, growth opportunities or circumstances in the sectors or markets in which the Group operates. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve uncertainty because they depend of future circumstances, and relate to events, not all of which are within the Group's control or can be produced by the Group. Although the Group 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. Nothing in this press release 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 any way in connection with any investment decision. Except as required by law, the Group undertakes no obligation to update any forward looking statement.