International Distribution Services Limited (IDS, formerly Royal Mail Limited, Royal Mail plc, International Distributions Services plc and International Distribution Services plc) is a British company providing postal and courier services. IDS was created in 2013 by the UK government as a new holding company of Royal Mail, and a majority of its shares were then sold on the London Stock Exchange, with the government initially retaining a 30 per cent at the time. As of April 2025, IDS is owned and operated by Czech-based EP Group, owned by Daniel Křetínský.

Following the 2010 general election, the coalition government decided to allow private investment into Royal Mail, as recommended in a report from Richard Hooper CBE, the former deputy chairman of Ofcom. Subsequently the Postal Services Act 2011 was passed, allowing for up to 90% of Royal Mail to be privatised, with at least 10% of shares to be held by Royal Mail employees.

In July 2013, Business Secretary Vince Cable announced that Royal Mail was to be floated on the London Stock Exchange, and confirmed that postal staff would be entitled to free shares. Cable explained his position before the House of Commons:

The government's decision on the sale is practical, it is logical, it is a commercial decision designed to put Royal Mail's future on a long-term sustainable business. It is consistent with developments elsewhere in Europe where privatised operators in Austria, Germany and Belgium produce profit margins far higher than the Royal Mail but have continued to provide high-quality and expanding services.

Royal Mail's chief executive Moya Greene publicly supported Cable, stating that the sale would provide staff with "a meaningful stake in the company", while the public would be able to "invest in a great British institution". On 12 September 2013, a six-week plan for the sale of at least half of the business was released to the public; the Communication Workers Union (CWU), representing over 100,000 Royal Mail employees, said that 96% of Royal Mail staff opposed the sell-off. A postal staff ballot in relation to a nationwide strike action was expected to take place in late September 2013.

A new holding company, Royal Mail Limited, was established on 6 September 2013, in anticipation of its initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange. Two weeks later the holding company was re-registered as Royal Mail plc.

Applications for members of the public to buy shares opened on 27 September 2013, ahead of the company's listing on the London Stock Exchange on 15 October 2013. The government was expected to retain between a 37.8% and 49.9% holding in the company. A report on 10 October 2013 revealed that around 700,000 applications for shares had been received by HM Government, more than seven times the amount that were available to the public. Cable stated: "The aim is to place the shares with long-term investors, we are absolutely confident that will happen." At the time of the report, Royal Mail staff continued to ballot regarding potential strike action.

The initial public offering (IPO) price was set at 330p, and conditional trading in shares began on 11 October 2013, ahead of the full listing on 15 October 2013. Following the IPO, 52.2% of Royal Mail had been sold to investors, with 10% given to employees for free. Due to the high demand for shares, an additional 7.8% was sold via an over-allotment arrangement on 8 November 2013. This left the government with a 30% stake in Royal Mail and £1.98bn raised from the sale of shares.