Shareholders Approve £3.6bn Royal Mail Takeover by Kretinsky

Shareholders of International Distribution Services (IDS), the parent company of Royal Mail, have approved a £3.6 billion takeover by Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský's EP Group, marking the first time in its 500-year history that Royal Mail will fall into foreign ownership. Over 80% of IDS shareholders voted in favor of the deal, which had previously cleared regulatory and national security hurdles. Křetínský emphasized a long-term approach to investment, promising to prioritize employees and customers while collaborating with unions. The Communication Workers Union described the sale as a pivotal moment and called for accountability in implementing agreements with the new owners. The acquisition will result in IDS being delisted from the London Stock Exchange and re-registered as a private company. A special dividend will be paid out to shareholders, and those who have not yet accepted the offer are urged to do so.