Employee Benefit Trust

RNS Number : 2654L

Smiths News PLC

03 September 2012

 



For Immediate Release                                                                                                                              3 September 2012

Smiths News PLC

SMITHS NEWS EMPLOYEE BENEFIT TRUST

Smiths News PLC (the Company), the largest UK newspaper and magazine wholesaler, a leading UK book wholesaler and the UK's leading specialist distributor of consumable products to the education market, today notifies that the Smiths News Employee Benefit Trust intends to purchase 1,000,000 ordinary shares over the course of the next 6 months.

The purchase of these shares is being made as part of an ongoing programme in order to cover obligations of the Trust under the Company's employee share schemes.

Enquiries:

Smiths News PLC Mark Cashmore, Group Chief Executive Nick Gresham, Chief Financial Officer	01793 563641
Buchanan Jeremy Garcia / Gabriella Clinkard	020 7466 5000

About Smiths News PLC:

Smiths News PLC comprises Smiths News, the UK's leading wholesaler of newspapers and magazines, Bertram Books, a leading UK book wholesaler and The Consortium, a leading independent distributor of consumable products to the education and care markets.

Smiths News distributes newspapers and magazines on behalf of all the major national publishers as well as a large number of regional publishers. The business serves approximately 30,000 customers across England and Wales, supplying large general retailers as well as smaller independent newsagents. Smiths News has an approximate 55% share of the newspaper and magazine wholesaling market in the UK. In addition to its distribution activities, Smiths News collects and processes returns, supplies sales information to publishers and provides a range of services for its retail customers.

Bertram Books supplies books to a mix of independent booksellers, on-line and multiple retailers, and libraries. Bertram has an approximate 45% share of the wholesale book market. In August 2011 the company acquired Dawson Holdings plc. The principal asset, Dawson Books is a leading supplier of academic books in the UK and internationally.

In April 2012 the company acquired The Consortium. The Consortium is the UK's leading distributor of educational and care consumable products servicing 25,000 customers. The business has a 6% market share in large and growing markets.

 

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