Recommended Cash Offer for International Distribution Services plc

Qualifying Certificated Shareholders

On 26 June 2024, Bidco published the Offer Document and a Form of Acceptance to the Qualifying Certificated Shareholders, see the Key Documents section on this page.

The Offer closed for acceptances at 5.00pm on 11 June 2025. If your form of acceptance has not been received by this time, your IDS Shares will be compulsory purchased by Bidco. For further information, please read below.

Compulsory Acquisition

On 28 May 2025, Bidco announced that, as at 3.00 p.m. on 27 May 2025, it had received valid acceptances under the Offer in respect of a total of 631,515,875 IDS Shares representing approximately 90.15% of the IDS Shares to which the Offer relates and the voting rights carried by those IDS Shares. Bidco is therefore exercising its statutory right to compulsorily acquire the remaining IDS Shares in respect of which the Offer has not been accepted and formal compulsory acquisition notices under sections 979 and 980 of the Companies Act (“Compulsory Acquisition Notices”) were issued on 6 June 2025 to all IDS Shareholders who have not yet accepted the Offer (the “Non-Assenting Shareholders”).

Unless a Non-Assenting Shareholder has made an application to the Court within six weeks from the date the Compulsory Acquisition Notices are deemed to have been received (i.e. 22 July 2025) and/or the Court orders otherwise, the IDS Shares held by those IDS Shareholders who have not accepted the Offer by 5:00 p.m. on 11 June 2025 will be acquired compulsorily by Bidco on the same terms as the Offer (i.e. 360 pence per IDS Share).

Offer Proceeds

Once the compulsory acquisition process is complete, IDS will arrange to write to you to explain how you can obtain your cash proceeds. The compulsory acquisition process is expected to complete no earlier than 22 July 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ordinary shareholders who accepted the Offer before 5.00pm on 11 June 2025 will receive their cash consideration (360p per IDS Share) within 14 days of their acceptance being received.

Contact the Shareholder Helpline

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.

+44 (0) 333 207 6505

Please use the country code when calling from outside the UK. Lines are open 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (UK time), Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays in England and Wales).

Key Documents

Key dates

  • 26 June 2024

    Publication and posting of documents

  • 2 August 2024

    Timetable paused subject to regulatory clearances that remained outstanding

  • 23 August 2024

    Record date for 2p 2024 Final Dividend

  • 30 September 2024

    2p final dividend paid to shareholders

  • 02 April 2025

    Announcement made confirming timetable has resumed – Day 32

  • 30 April 2025

    • Offer declared Unconditional.
    • Record Date for 8p Special Dividend (6.00pm.)

  • 14 May 2025

    • 360p cash consideration to be paid to Shareholders who accepted the Offer on 30 April 2025.
    • 8p special dividend to be paid to all Shareholders

  • 28 May 2025

    Compulsory Acquisition and closure of Offer date Announcement made

  • 5:00 p.m on 11 June 2025

    Offer closes for acceptances

  • 29 August 2025

    Long Stop Date in relation to the Acquisition

  • 22 July 2025

    Date the compulsory acquisition process is expected to complete