Editing FirstGroup (section)

===2020s===
[[File:First 36531 BK73 AEV.jpg|thumb|[[First Bus East of England|First Eastern Counties]] [[Wright StreetDeck Electroliner]] in [[Norwich]] in October 2023]]
In May 2020, FirstGroup announced it has effectively reversed its previous strategy, opting to retain its UK bus operations and instead sell its assets in North America.<ref>{{cite magazine |title = FirstGroup issues Winter 2020 trading statement as sell-off of US operations announced |magazine = [[Coach & Bus Week]] |issue = 1436 |date = 17 March 2020 |page = 11}}</ref> In April 2021, FirstGroup agreed terms to sell the [[First Student]] and [[First Transit]] businesses to [[EQT AB|EQT]]; the sale completed later in 2021.<ref>{{cite magazine |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210423100404/https://cbwmagazine.com/firstgroup-to-focus-operations-on-the-uk-as-first-student-and-first-transit-sold/ |url = https://cbwmagazine.com/firstgroup-to-focus-operations-on-the-uk-as-first-student-and-first-transit-sold/ |title = FirstGroup to focus operations on the UK as First Student and First Transit sold |magazine = Coach & Bus Week |date = 23 April 2021|archive-date=23 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210423185733/https://www.metro-magazine.com/10141925/firstgroup-enters-agreement-to-sell-first-student-first-transit |url = https://www.metro-magazine.com/10141925/firstgroup-enters-agreement-to-sell-first-student-first-transit |title = FirstGroup Plans to Sell First Student, First Transit for $4.6 Billion |magazine = [[Metro Magazine|Metro]] |date = 23 April 2021|archive-date=23 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title = Our history |url = https://www.firstgroupplc.com/about-firstgroup/our-history.aspx |access-date = 11 November 2021 |website = www.firstgroupplc.com |language = en}}</ref>

During October 2021, FirstGroup announced the sale of Greyhound Lines to [[Flixbus]], completing its stated divestments to focus on its core UK public transport businesses.<ref name="Sale of Greyhound Lines, Inc">{{cite web |title = Sale of Greyhound Lines, Inc. |url = https://otp.tools.investis.com/clients/uk/first_group/rns/regulatory-story.aspx?cid=858&newsid=1519026 |access-date = 23 October 2021 |website = otp.tools.investis.com}}</ref> In October 2021, the [[open-access operator]] [[Lumo (train operating company)|Lumo]] commenced operating services on the [[East Coast Main Line]].<ref>{{cite web |url = http://orr.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/21885/2016-05-12-ecml-decision-letter.pdf |title = Applications for the East Coast Main Line |publisher = [[Office of Rail & Road]] |date = 12 May 2016}}</ref><ref name = "independent 25oct2021">{{cite web |url = https://inews.co.uk/news/lumo-trains-london-edinburgh-electric-20-high-speed-1264631 |title = Low-cost electric rail operator Lumo launches between London and Edinburgh |work = The Independent |first = Sophie |last = Lam |date = 25 October 2021}}</ref>

In June 2022, FirstGroup's board unanimously rejected a £1.2bn takeover proposal from US private equity firm [[I Squared Capital]]; a spokesperson stated that the offer had undervalued the company.<ref>{{cite news |date = 9 June 2022 |title = FirstGroup rejects £1.2bn takeover approach from US suitor |language = en-GB |work = BBC News |url = https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-61745692 |access-date = 10 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.independent.co.uk/business/firstgroup-rebuffs-ps1-2bn-takeover-approach-b2097171.html |title = FirstGroup rebuffs £1.2bn takeover approach |work = The Independent |first = Holly |last = Williams |date = 9 June 2022}}</ref> While talks between the two companies continued for a further two months,<ref>{{cite web |url = https://scottishfinancialreview.com/2022/07/21/firstgroup-gets-further-takeover-talk-extension/ |title = FirstGroup Gets Further Takeover Talk Extension |publisher = scottishfinancialreview.com |date = 21 July 2022}}</ref> I Squared ultimately called off its efforts in August 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/private-equity-firm-i-squared-says-it-does-not-intend-make-offer-firstgroup-2022-08-16/ |title = Private equity firm I Squared says it does not intend to make offer for FirstGroup |publisher = Reuters |date = 16 August 2022}}</ref>

In February 2023, FirstGroup announced that subject to regulatory approval, it would purchase both the bus services and bus dealer operations of [[Purfleet]]-based [[Ensignbus]].<ref>{{cite news |last = Maatouk |first = Michele |url = https://www.sharecast.com/news/news-and-announcements/firstgroup-to-buy-essex-based-bus-group-ensignbus--12248744.html |work = ShareCast |title = FirstGroup to buy Essex-based bus Group Ensignbus |date = 8 February 2023 |access-date = 8 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.route-one.net/news/firstgroup-agrees-to-purchase-ensignbus-business/ |title = FirstGroup agrees to purchase Ensignbus business |work = routeone |date = 8 February 2023 |access-date = 8 February 2023}}</ref>

In January 2024, FirstGroup purchased [[York Pullman]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |title=Agreement to acquire York Pullman Bus Company |url=https://otp.tools.investis.com/clients/uk/first_group/rns/regulatory-story.aspx?cid=858&newsid=1783100 |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=otp.tools.investis.com}}</ref> In October 2024, FirstGroup purchased both Lakeside Group and Anderson Travel.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

In September 2024, FirstGroup purchased [[Grand Union (train operating company)|Grand Union's]] [[Euston railway station|London Euston]] to [[Stirling railway station (Scotland)|Stirling]] operating rights.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=First acquires Stirling-London Grand Union open access operation |url=https://www.railmagazine.com/news/2024/09/24/first-acquires-stirling-london-grand-union-open-access-operation |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=Rail|language=en}}</ref> Then in December 2024, it purchased Grand Union's other approved operating rights from [[Paddington railway station|London Paddington]] to [[Carmarthen railway station|Carmarthen]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=First aims for Devon after completing Grand Union deal |url=https://www.railnews.co.uk/news/2024/12/05-first-aims-for-devon-after.html |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=Railnews}}</ref>

Also in December 2024, FirstGroup announced it has agreed terms to purchase [[RATP Dev Transit London]] from [[RATP Group]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=FirstGroup Plc - Agreement to acquire RATP London|url=https://markets.ft.com/data/announce/detail?dockey=600-202412100200PR_NEWS_PRUKDSCL_0016-1 |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=Financial Times}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20241210095013/https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/first-to-re-enter-london-with-ratp-dev-acquisition/ First to re-enter London with RATP Dev acquisition] ''Bus & Coach Buyer'' 10 December 2024</ref>

In January 2025, FirstGroup purchased Matthews Coach Hire.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=chrispeat |date=2025-02-04 |title=FirstGroup acquires Matthews Coach Hire |url=https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/firstgroup-acquires-matthews-coach-hire/ |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=Bus & Coach Buyer |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In May 2025, the [[South Western Railway (2017–2025)|South Western Railway train operating company]] was transferred to the Department for Transport owned [[South Western Railway]], following a commitment to renationalising railway services by the Labour Government.<ref name=nationalised25>{{cite news|url=https://www.cityam.com/south-western-railway-c2c-and-greater-anglia-to-be-nationalised-in-2025/ |title=South Western Railway, c2c and Greater Anglia to be nationalised in 2025|newspaper=[[City AM]]|date=4 December 2024|access-date=25 May 2025}}</ref>