RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST: NPR's business news begins with the sale of the Royal Mail.</s>RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST: British unveiled plans this morning to sell the majority of its centuries old postal service. It's the largest privatization of a government service the country has seen in decades. The public offering of the world's oldest postal service would take place in the coming weeks.</s>RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST: The Royal Mail traces its roots to a service founded by Henry VIII in 1516. Analysts say it would fetch more than $4 billion. The Department for Business says 10 percent of the shares will be given to the Royal Mail's staff.</s>STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: I wonder if they occasionally have one of those news stories about someone finding a $300 or $400 year-old letter that's finally been delivered, dropped behind a desk somewhere.
British officials unveiled plans Thursday morning to sell the majority of its centuries old postal service. It's the largest privatization of a government service the country has seen in decades. The public offering of the world's oldest postal service would take place in the coming weeks.