12/09/2013

Royal Mail To Be Privatised 'In Coming Weeks'

The UK government has given formal notice to the stock exchange that it plans to privatise Royal Mail "in the coming weeks".

It has not provided specific details as to how much of the group will be sold, but it is understood to be a majority.

Employees of Royal Mail will be given 10% of the shares, with the rest being offered to institutional investors. Members of the public can also apply for shares, with the minimum amount being £750.

Free shares will be given to 150,000 UK-based Royal Mail employees, who will then be able to apply for additional shares under an employee priority offer, with a minimum application of £500.

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) has said it opposes the float and is due to ballot its members for strike action. The outcome of the ballot will be announced on 3 October. Royal Mail expects CWU members to vote in favour of industrial action. If this is the case, the first date available for a strike will be 10 October.

The Government has said it will make a decision on how much to sell of the firm after looking at market conditions and seeing how much demand there is for shares.

The Post Office was separated from Royal Mail in 2012 and is not for sale.

(JP/CD)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

25 January 2011
Met Police Seize Scam Mail Aimed At UK Victims
In the first operation of its kind, officers from the Metropolitan Police Service's Economic and Specialist Crime Unit (Operation Sterling) took possession of a bulk delivery of scam mail intended for vulnerable victims across the UK and searched and closed five virtual offices used by the scammers.
04 October 2007
Royal Mail Workers Go On Strike
Postal workers across the UK began the first in a series of countrywide strikes on Thursday afternoon. Around 130,000 members of the Communication Workers Union began a 48-hour walkout at noon on Thursday, following a failure to reach an agreement during last-minute talks with Royal Mail. A second 48-hour strike is due to take place on October 8.
18 October 2004
Royal Mail urged to redouble efforts to stop mass mail scams
Royal Mail has been told to "tighten" its procedures in an effort to try to stop fraudsters using the postal system to get to consumers. The Trading Standards Institute (TSI) made the calls after statistics revealed that 67% of complaints about scams aimed at consumers relate to items delivered through the post.
08 October 2009
Vote For UK Mail Strike Questioned
It could be a cold festive season this year as the Christmas post is now in doubt. But while it looks like being seriously affected now that Royal Mail workers have voted for a national strike - management insist that a majority are not in favour.
11 October 2013
Royal Mail Shares Soar
Shares in the Royal Mail have jumped more than 30%. The value of the firm has been boosted to over £4.5bn, dramatic rise from the pre-flotation pricing of £3.3bn.