Completion of Disposal

Smith WH PLC
27 September 2004


27 September 2004

                            WH Smith PLC ('WHSmith')

                     Completion of Hodder Headline Disposal
                       Resignation of Tim Hely Hutchinson
                  Listing of New Ordinary Shares and C Shares

The Board of WH Smith PLC ('the Board') is pleased to announce that the sale of
its publishing business, Hodder Headline, to Hachette Livre, a wholly owned
subsidiary of Lagardere S.C.A., completed on 25 September 2004.

The Board also announces the resignation of Tim Hely Hutchinson as a Director of
WH Smith PLC and Chairman of WHSmith News. Neil Monnery, Group Strategy
Director, is appointed Chairman of WHSmith News with immediate effect.

The Return of Cash to Shareholders is now being implemented and it is expected
that New Ordinary Shares and C Shares in WHSmith will be admitted to the London
Stock Exchange's Official List and will commence trading at 8.00 a.m. today.
Further details of the Return of Cash are contained in the Circular to
Shareholders dated 27 August 2004.

On admission, a total of 180,405,000 New Ordinary Shares of 2 13/81 pence each
and 250,562,500 C Shares of 85 pence each will be in issue.

All definitions used in the Circular to Shareholders dated 27 August 2004 apply
to this announcement.


                                      Ends


Enquiries:

WH Smith PLC
Mark Boyle     Investor Relations                         [phone]
Louise Evans   Media Relations                            [phone]

Brunswick                                                 [phone]
Louise Charlton
Tom Buchanan




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