Editing Go-Ahead Group (section)

===Incorporation===
[[File:Go Ahead Gateshead bus 3771 MCW Metrobus C771 OCN Metrocentre rally 2009 (1).JPG|thumb|Preserved [[Go North East]] [[MCW Metrobus]]]]
The Go-Ahead Group was originally founded as ''Go-Ahead Northern Limited'' on 17 February 1987 as a consequence of the [[privatisation]] of the [[National Bus Company (UK)|National Bus Company]], during which a partial [[management buyout]] led by [[Martin Ballinger]] and [[Chris Moyes]] purchased its [[Gateshead]]-based northern division, known as the [[Go North East|Northern General Transport Company]].<ref name=Times180906>[http://www.go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/storage/pdf/chief_executive.pdf Chris Moyes obituary] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002122723/http://www.go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/storage/pdf/chief_executive.pdf |date=2 October 2013 }} ''[[The Times]]'' 18 September 2006</ref> Early expansion of the company involved the acquisition of several smaller competing bus operators in [[North East England]], such as ''Gypsy Queen'' in 1989 and ''Low Fell Coaches'' in June 1992. Go-Ahead Northern also became a [[subcontractor]] to [[National Express Coaches|National Express]], operating services to the Midlands, North East, North West and South West England.<ref name=AnnualReport1994>[http://www.go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/archive_pres/1994pres/ar1994.pdf Go-Ahead Annual Report 30 June 1994] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123165635/http://www.go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/archive_pres/1994pres/ar1994.pdf |date=23 November 2012 }} Go-Ahead Group</ref><ref name=AnnualReport1996>[http://www.go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/archive_pres/1996pres/ar1996.pdf Go-Ahead Annual Report 29 June 1996] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123165203/http://go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/archive_pres/1996pres/ar1996.pdf |date=23 November 2012 }} Go-Ahead Group</ref> Around the same time, Go-Ahead Leisure purchased a number of [[pub]]s,<ref name=AnnualReport1994/> which were sold on during February 1996.<ref name=AnnualReport1996/>

Despite bidding for a number of other larger bus operators in the intervening period, Go-Ahead's first major acquisition was [[Brighton & Hove (bus company)|Brighton & Hove]] in November 1993,<ref name=AnnualReport1994/><ref name="times">[http://www.thetimes100.co.uk/case-study--meeting-needs-competitive-sector--97-265-2.php Times 100 Case Study]  {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906235345/http://www.thetimes100.co.uk/case-study--meeting-needs-competitive-sector--97-265-2.php |date=6 September 2008 }}</ref><ref name=History>[http://www.britishbuspublishing.co.uk/Go-Ahead-Group-Handbooks Go-Ahead History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014180210/http://www.britishbuspublishing.co.uk/Go-Ahead-Group-Handbooks |date=14 October 2013 }} ''Go-Ahead Group Handbook'' British Bus Publishing</ref> followed by the [[Oxford Bus Company]] and Wycombe Bus Company in March 1994.<ref name=AnnualReport1994/> In May 1997, the [[Brighton & Hove (bus company)|Brighton & Hove]] operation expanded with the acquisition of the former municipal operator Brighton Transport.<ref name="AnnualReport1997">[http://www.go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/archive_pres/1997pres/ar1997.pdf Go-Ahead Annual Report 28 June 1997] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123165216/http://go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/archive_pres/1997pres/ar1997.pdf|date=23 November 2012}} Go-Ahead Group</ref> During September 1999, [[Metrobus (South East England)|Metrobus]], a large operator operating in London, Surrey and Sussex was acquired.<ref name="times"/><ref name=AnnualReport2000>[http://www.go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/archive_pres/2000pres/ar2000.pdf Go-Ahead Annual Report 1 July 2000] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123165806/http://go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/archive_pres/2000pres/ar2000.pdf |date=23 November 2012 }} Go-Ahead Group</ref>

====Flotation and into London====
Initially, Go-Ahead was structured as an unlisted public company and was owned 90 percent by its management. In May 1994, it was [[Initial public offering|floated]] on the [[London Stock Exchange]].<ref name=AnnualReport1994/><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/all-aboard-for-goaheads-float-1428442.html |title = All aboard for Go Ahead's float |work = The Independent |date = 11 March 1994}}</ref>

In October 1994, Go-Ahead purchased [[London Central]] during the [[Privatisation of London bus services|privatisation of London Buses]].<ref name="Times180906" /><ref name="History" /><ref name="AnnualReport1995">[http://www.go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/archive_pres/1995pres/ar1995.pdf Go-Ahead Annual Report 30 June 1995] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123165542/http://go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/archive_pres/1995pres/ar1995.pdf |date=23 November 2012 }} Go-Ahead Group</ref> In March 1995, [[OK Motor Services]] was purchased and integrated into the [[Go North East]] operation.<ref name=AnnualReport1995/><ref>{{usurped|1=[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120119144236/http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/rep_pub/reports/1996/379go.htm The Go-Ahead Group plc and OK Motor Services Limited: A report on the merger situation]}} [[Competition Commission]] 1996</ref> In June 1996, a second London bus operation, [[London General]], was acquired from the management team that had purchased it when privatised.<ref name=Times180906/><ref name=AnnualReport1996/><ref name=History/>

==== Airport services====
In October 1998, Go-Ahead diversified with the acquisition of [[Gatwick Handling|Gatwick Handling International]], a provider of ground handling services at UK airports.<ref name="AnnualReport1999">[http://www.go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/archive_pres/1999pres/ar1999.pdf Go-Ahead Annual Report 3 July 1999] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123170503/http://go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/archive_pres/1999pres/ar1999.pdf|date=23 November 2012}} Go-Ahead Group</ref> Go-Ahead acquired the ground handling operations of [[British Midland International|British Midland]] and Midland Airport Services in March 2001, followed by Reed Aviation in August 2001. All these operations, including at Gatwick, all were rebranded as [[Aviance UK|Aviance]].<ref name="AnnualResults2001">[http://www.go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/archive_pres/2001pres/ar2001.pdf Go-Ahead annual results 30 June 2001] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123165824/http://www.go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/archive_pres/2001pres/ar2001.pdf|date=23 November 2012}} Go-Ahead Group</ref>

In May 2002, Go-Ahead diversified again,<ref name="AnnualReport2002">{{Cite web |title=Go-Ahead Annual Report 29 June 2002 |url=http://www.go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/archive_pres/2002pres/ar2002.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123170333/http://go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/archive_pres/2002pres/ar2002.pdf |archive-date=23 November 2012}}</ref> acquiring airport-focused ''Meteor Parking''.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.meteormeetandgreet.com |title = Meteor parking website |publisher = Go-Ahead Group}}</ref> Included in the purchase of Gatwick Handling International in 1998 was a 50% shareholding in [[Dnata UK|Plane Handling]], and in August 2004 Go-Ahead purchased the remaining 50% from [[Virgin Group|Virgin Aviation]].<ref name="Annualreport2005">[http://www.go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/2005pres/ar2005/ar2005.pdf Go-Ahead Annual Report 2 July 2005] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123165843/http://go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/2005pres/ar2005/ar2005.pdf|date=23 November 2012}} Go-Ahead Group</ref> In December 2006 [[Gatwick Airport]] parking operator PAS was purchased and integrated into Meteor Parking, followed by security provider Nikaro in February 2007.<ref name="AnnualReport2007" />

In January 2010, Go-Ahead disposed of most of its airport-based operations via a sale to [[Dnata UK]] and [[Servisair]].<ref>[http://www.go-ahead.com/media/news/2009news/2009-12-03.aspx Go-Ahead to Sell the Majority of its Aviation Ground Handling and Cargo Operations] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123140250/http://go-ahead.com/media/news/2009news/2009-12-03.aspx|date=23 November 2012}} Go-Ahead Group 3 December 2009</ref>  In September 2010, Meteor Parking was sold to [[Vinci SA]], bringing Go-Ahead's involvement in the aviation support industry to a close.<ref name="AnnualReport2011">[http://www.go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/2011pres/ar-2011-v2.pdf Go-Ahead Annual Report 2 July 2011] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123173755/http://go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/2011pres/ar-2011-v2.pdf|date=23 November 2012}} Go-Ahead Group</ref>