Royal Mail parent IDS swings to profit under new ownership

(Sharecast News) - Royal Mail parent company International Distribution Services posted a profit in its first results since Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský's EP Group acquired a controlling stake in the firm, marking a sharp turnaround from last year's losses. For the year ended 30 March, IDS reported a £26m pre-tax profit, compared to a £75m pre-tax loss in FY24, driven by cost-cutting measures and stabilising volumes at Royal Mail, which had previously struggled with strike-related disruptions and falling parcel demand.

The turnaround comes just months after EP Group secured a 54% stake in IDS, triggering a change of control and prompting a strategic reset. Křetínský pledged to invest in modernising Royal Mail's infrastructure and improving service reliability.

GLS, IDS's international logistics arm, also remained a strong performer, contributing £348m in adjusted operating profits in FY25, up from £296m a year earlier as the group said GLS continued to benefit from resilient cross-border demand and operational efficiencies.

Royal Mail itself returned to profitability, posting a £26m adjusted operating profit, a marked improvement when compared to last year's £419m loss, with IDS saying the division had made "significant progress" in reducing costs and improving productivity. However, IDS cautioned that challenges still remained in balancing service levels with profitability.

IDS opted not to declare a dividend, citing the need to preserve capital during the transition.

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com