Acquisition

Smith (DS) PLC
03 October 2005


3 October 2005


DS SMITH ACQUIRES TIMMERMANS TO EXTEND SPICERS' EUROPEAN NETWORK



DS Smith Plc, the international packaging manufacturer and office products
wholesaler, has acquired Timmermans NV, the largest office products wholesaler
in the Benelux region of Europe. Timmermans had sales of €45m in 2004, net
assets of €7.5m as at 31 December 2004 and employs 130 people.  The business
supplies 15,000 office products lines to dealers and retailers throughout
Belgium and Holland from its distribution centre at Deinze, near Ghent, in
Belgium and through a sales office at Almere in Holland.  Its previous owners,
Michel and Patrick Timmermans, will remain in the business and continue to lead
it.



The acquisition of Timmermans extends the continental European sales coverage of
DS Smith's Spicers business, which has an existing network of 21 distribution
centres in the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Spain and Italy.  The enlarged
business will have sales of over £530 million per annum.  This acquisition will
further strengthen Spicers' pan-European buying capability, which enables it to
provide its customers with a broad range of competitively priced merchandise.
Spicers' product range includes traditional stationery lines, electronic office
supplies, office furniture, janitorial supplies and office catering and vending
provisions.


Tony Thorne, Chief Executive of DS Smith said:


'I am pleased that we have been able to add the well-established Timmermans
business to Spicers' European network.  This acquisition further develops
Spicers' position as the leading European wholesaler of office products by
extending our presence into the Belgian and Dutch markets.  For DS Smith, the
transaction will be immediately earnings enhancing and is expected to produce
returns above the Group's cost of capital.'



Enquiries
DS Smith Plc                                       020 7932 5000
Tony Thorne, Group Chief Executive
Gavin Morris, Group Finance Director
Peter Aubusson, Group Communications Manager


Financial Dynamics                                020 7269 7291
Richard Mountain/Robert Gurner






                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange       CQQBLFXEKBZBBD