TR-1: NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES (i)
1. Identity of the issuer or the underlying issuer of existing shares to which voting rights are attached: (ii)
DS Smith Plc
2. Reason for the notification (please mark as appropriate):
An acquisition or disposal of voting rights: ( )
An acquisition or disposal of qualifying financial instruments which may result in the acquisition of shares already issued to which voting rights are attached: ( )
An acquisition or disposal of instruments with similar economic effect to qualifying financial instruments: ( )
An event changing the breakdown of voting rights: ( )
Other (please specify): ( X ) Change to Shares in Issue
3. Full name of person(s) subject to the notification obligation: (iii)
Hermes Equity Ownership Services Limited
4. Full name of shareholder(s) (if different from 3.): (iv)
Shares are held by the relevant custodian(s)
5. Date of the transaction and date on which the threshold is crossed or reached: (v)
22 February 2012
6. Date on which issuer notified:
23 February 2012
7. Threshold(s) that is/are crossed or reached: (vi) (vii)
1%
8. Notified details:
A: Voting rights attached to shares (viii)(ix)
Class/type of shares if possible using the ISIN CODE |
Situation previous to the triggering transaction |
|
|
Number of Shares |
Number of Voting Rights |
GB0008220112 |
16,633,799 |
16,633,799 |
Resulting situation after the triggering transaction
Class/type of shares if possible using the ISIN CODE |
Number of shares |
Number of voting rights |
% of voting rights (x) |
||
|
|
Direct (xi) |
Indirect (xii) |
Direct |
Indirect |
|
|
|
16,633,799 |
|
1.79442% |
B: Qualifying Financial Instruments
Resulting situation after the triggering transaction
Type of financial instrument |
Expiration date (xiii) |
Exercise/Conversion Period (xiv) |
Number of voting rights that may be acquired if the instrument is exercised/ converted. |
% of voting rights |
|
|
|
|
|
C: Financial Instruments with similar economic effect to Qualifying Financial Instruments (xv)( xvi)
Resulting situation after the triggering transaction
Type of financial instrument |
Exercise price |
Expiration date (xvii) |
Exercise/ Conversion period (xviii) |
Number of voting rights instrument refers to |
% of voting rights (xix) (xx) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nominal |
Delta |
|
|
Total (A+B+C)
Number of voting rights |
Percentage of voting rights |
16,633,799 |
1.79442% |
9. Chain of controlled undertakings through which the voting rights and/or the financial instruments are effectively held, if applicable: (xxi)
BT Pension Scheme Trustees Limited, as trustee of the BT Pension Scheme ("BTPS") controls Britel Fund Trustees Limited, which is the parent undertaking of Hermes Fund Managers Limited ("HFML"). HFML is the parent undertaking of Hermes Equity Ownership Services Limited ("HEOS") (Voting rights: 1.79442%)*
* This notification is being made in respect of HEOS, which is an indirect holder of shares for the purpose of DTR 5.2.1(h) as a result of control of voting rights in relation to such shares.
Proxy Voting:
10. Name of the proxy holder:
See comment in Section 9.
11. Number of voting rights proxy holder will cease to hold:
See comment in Section 9.
12. Date on which proxy holder will cease to hold voting rights:
See comment in Section 9.
13. Additional information:
14. Contact name:
Valerie Davidson
15. Contact telephone number:
020 7680 2177
Identity of the notifier, if applicable (xvii)
Full name:
Matthew Jowett
Contact address:
DS Smith Plc, Beech House, Whitebrook Park, Maidenhead SL6 8XY
Phone number:
01628 583400