Trade International Distributions Services PLC - RMG CFD

International Distributions Services PLC Company profile

What is Royal Mail Group?

Royal Mail Group is the UK's universal provider of postal services. It delivers letters and parcels to customers and businesses around the country and globally. The company's two main divisions include UK Parcels, International & Letters (UKPIL), and General Logistics Systems (GLS). 

UKPIL operates via about 50 depots and serves around 29 million addresses domestically, collecting and delivering parcels and letters through two main networks: the Royal Mail Core Network and Parcelforce Worldwide. The division also develops and issues stamps and other philatelic products. 

GLS operates in continental Europe and the Republic of Ireland and has one of the most extensive ground-based deferred parcel delivery networks in Europe. The division network includes 37 transhipment points and 660 depots.

Royal Mail is regulated by Ofcom under Part 3 of the Postal Services Act 2011. As Britain’s universal service provider, Royal Mail is regulated more closely than other postal operators in the UK. There are some price controls in place: a price cap on stamped 2nd class letters, large letters and parcels up to 2kg; and a margin squeeze test.

As of 5 February 2018 Royal Mail Group was ranked number 92 in the FTSE 100 index, with a market capitalisation of around £5.1 billion. Check the latest Royal Mail Group share price here at Capital.com.

Who are the key people at Royal Mail Group?

Moya Greene has been Chief Executive Officer since 2010 – she was the first woman ever to hold the post. Peter Long has served as Chairman since September 2015, and Stuart Simpson has been Chief Finance Officer since July 2017.

What is the modern history of Royal Mail Group?

For most of its 500-plus year history, Royal Mail has been a public service, operating as a state corporation or even a government department. In 2011, however, the coalition government passed legislation paving the way for the Royal Mail’s privatisation, and for a majority of the shares to be floated.

Royal Mail duly became a quoted company on 15 October 2013, with shares traded on the London Stock Exchange. Its market capitalisation at entry was £3.3 billion, with over 99 per cent of its UK employees holding shares in the company. Initially the government held a 30% stake in Royal Mail, but it sold its remaining shares in 2015.

What are the latest developments at Royal Mail Group?

Industrial relations have been a problem at Royal Mail since before privatisation. But in February 2018 the Communication Workers’ Union reached an agreement in principle with Royal Mail on a series of pay, pensions, working week and operational changes. The outline deal followed months of negotiations and the threat of industrial action. The terms of the agreement are expected to cost Royal Mail around £400 million a year.

Meanwhile, Royal Mail continues to grapple with the consequences of the steady decline in the number of letters sent in the UK. On the other hand, its growing UK and International parcels businesses now deliver around 60% of total revenues, driven by the massive growth in online shopping. It’s the parcels operation that has the potential to transform Royal Mail from an old-fashioned former public sector giant into a modern, nimble, growing company.

Our RMG chart tracks the ups and downs of the company’s recent share price movements.

Where does Royal Mail Group operate?

Royal Mail PLC’s registered office and corporate headquarters are in London. Parcelforce Worldwide, UKPIL’s express parcels business, manages international traffic through one of two central hubs in Coventry. GLS operates in continental Europe and the Republic of Ireland, with a network that includes 37 transhipment points and 660 depots.

Where is Royal Mail Group traded?

Royal Mail Group shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). The company is also a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. Check out Capital.com for the latest RMG chart.