28th Jun 2006 17:21
Smith WH PLC28 June 2006 NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES 1) NAME OF LISTED COMPANY WH SMITH PLC 2) NAME OF SHAREHOLDER HAVING A MAJOR INTEREST SILCHESTER INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS LIMITED 3) Please state whether notification indicates that it is regarding the holding of the shareholder named in 2 above; in respect of a non-beneficial interest; or in the case of an individual holder if it is a holding of that person's spouse or children under the age of 18 SEE ATTACHED LETTER DATED 28 JUNE 2006 4) Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the number of shares held by each of them. SEE ATTACHED LETTER DATED 28 JUNE 2006 5) Number of shares/amount of stock acquired. N/A 6) Percentage of issued Class (any treasury shares held by the listed company should not be taken into account when calculating percentage) 7) Number of shares/amount of stock disposed N/A 8) Percentage of issued Class (any treasury shares held by the listed company should not be taken into account when calculating percentage) 9) Class of security ORDINARY SHARES OF 2 13/81 PENCE EACH 10) Date of transaction N/A 11) Date listed company informed 28 JUNE 2006 12) Total holding following this notification 26,981,398 13) Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification (any treasury shares held by the listed company should not be taken into account when calculating percentage) 14.9% 14) Any additional information 15) Name of contact and telephone number for queries AMANDA LAM (01793) 562489 16) Name and signature of duly authorised officer of the listed company responsible for making this notification I HOUGHTON, COMPANY SECRETARY Date of Notification ................. 28 JUNE 2006 ....... LETTER TO: WH SMITH PLCDATED: 28 JUNE 2006 Silchester International Investors Limited ("Silchester") acts as an InvestmentManager for a number of commingled funds ("our Clients"). In acting for ourClients, we are given full discretion over their investments, and are empoweredto vote on their behalf. However, we do not act as their Custodian and thereforeshares are not held in our name, but in the nominee name of our Clients'Custodian bank. In addition, Silchester holds 49.9% of the issued share capital of SandersonAsset Management Limited ("Sanderson") a UK limited company that also actsas Investment Manager for a number of commingled funds and separate accounts. In acting for its clients, Sanderson are given full discretion over theirinvestments, and are empowered to vote on their behalf. However, Sanderson do not act as its clients' Custodian and therefore shares are not held in Sanderson's name, but in the nominee name of Sanderson's client's Custodian bank. Silchester's share ownership in Sanderson does not allow Silchester to exerciseany direct or indirect control over Sanderson's investment strategy, philosophyor implementation, the investments that Sanderson may purchase or sell on behalfof its clients, or the manner in which Sanderson may vote proxies that arisefrom its client investments. However, Silchester is deemed to have an'interest' in shares that Sanderson controls by virtue of Section 203(2)(b) ofthe Companies Act 1985. Recent purchases/sales of shares in your company, by Silchester on behalf of itsclients, have resulted in Silchester having an interest in the following shares(also see attached): SILCHESTER 21,650,192 Recent purchases/sales of shares in your company by Sanderson on behalf of itsclients, have resulted in Sanderson having an interest in the following shares,and Silchester having an interest over the same shares for the purposes ofSection 203(2)(b) of the Companies Act 1985 (also see attached): SANDERSON 5,331,206 Our records show that you have the following shares in that class: WH SMITH PLC 181,070,154 As such, Silchester has an interest over 14.9% of the shares of that class and,of that, two of our clients control 7.69% and 3.26%. This interest is beingnotified in fulfillment of the obligations imposed by Section 198-202 of theCompanies Act 1985. Silchester does not have an interest mentioned in Section208(5) of the Companies Act 1985 in any of the shares to which this notification relates. The Takeover Panel has advised that Silchester is not required to report its Client's shareholding in aggregate with Sanderson for purposes of Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code. LETTER FROM: ALISON RAVENSCROFT HEAD OF DEALING SILCHESTER SILCHESTER INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS LIMITED - CLIENT OWNERSHIP Company:WH SMITH PLC Attention: Ian Houghton Share Class: Address: Greenbridge RoadORDINARY Swindon Wiltshire SN3 3RX Issued Shares: 181,070,154 SII Client Ownership:21,650,192 Date: 28 June 2006 % of Shares 11.96 SII ACCOUNT NOMINEE SILCHESTER SILCHESTER % HOLDING VOTING CURRENT AT FUND AUTHORITY SHARE LEVEL HOLDING Silchester International Investors Northern Trust YES 5,898,103 3.26 International Value Equity Group Trust Company Silchester International Investors Tobacco Northern Trust YES 942,303 0.52 Free International Value Equity Trust Company Silchester International Investors Northern Trust YES 13,928,226 7.69 International Value Equity Trust Company The Calleva Trust Northern Trust YES 881,560 0.49 Company TOTAL 21,650,192 Please refer to the following page for information on Sanderson ManagementLimited's ("Sanderson's") client holdings. Under the terms of Sanderson'sprivacy policy, the names, addresses or other identifying information ofSanderson's client accounts are not shared with Silchester employees. SANDERSON ASSET MANAGEMENT - CLIENT OWNERSHIP Company:WH SMITH PLC Attention: Ian Houghton Share Class: Address: Greenbridge RoadORDINARY Swindon Wiltshire SN3 3RX Issued Shares: 181,070,154 SAM Ownership:5,331,206 Date: 28 June 2006 % of Shares 2.94 SAM ACCOUNT NOMINEES SANDERSON SANDERSON % HOLDING VOTING CURRENT AT FUND AUTHORITY SHARE LEVEL HOLDING BUST NORTHERN TRUST CO YES 2,333,000 1.29CAT PICTET & CIE YES 109,000 0.06DYN STATE STREET YES 88,700 0.05EUF STATE STREET YES 317,026 0.18GOLF BANK OF NEW YORK YES 82,000 0.05GREEN NORTHERN TRUST CO YES 34,000 0.02GRIT NORTHERN TRUST CO YES 605,000 0.33INGOT MELLON TRUST YES 139,680 0.08MINI STATE STREET YES 230,400 0.13OCEAN NORTHERN TRUST CO YES 100,000 0.06OVAL MELLON TRUST YES 131,800 0.07PEARL NORTHERN TRUST CO YES 63,000 0.03RAIN CITIGROUP YES 109,000 0.06STAMP NORTHERN TRUST CO YES 75,600 0.04TIME BANK OF NEW YORK YES 29,000 0.02 TRAY NORTHERN TRUST CO YES 533,000 0.29WHEAT MELLON TRUST YES 143,000 0.08WINDY NORTHERN TRUST CO YES 98,000 0.05WOGAN NORTHERN TRUST CO YES 110,000 0.06 TOTAL 5,331,206 Under the terms of Sanderson Asset Management Limited's ("Sanderson's") privacypolicy, the names, addresses, or other identifying information of Sanderson'sclient accounts are not shared with Silchester employees. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
Wh Smith