Result of EGM

Smith WH PLC
02 August 2006


                                  WH Smith PLC


                        Results of Shareholder Meetings
      Separation of the WH Smith Retail and News businesses via a Demerger


The Board of WH Smith is pleased to announce that at the Shareholder Meetings
held earlier today, all of the resolutions approving the separation of the WH
Smith Retail and News businesses via a Demerger and the Share Plans Proposals
were passed.

At the Court Meeting to approve the Scheme, the resolution approving the Scheme
was passed by the requisite majorities on a poll. The voting of those
Shareholders who cast votes either in person or by proxy at the Court Meeting
was as follows:
                            For      % of total        Against      % of total
Number of votes     108,289,161           99.89        117,376            0.11
Number of voters          2,008                             99


In addition, at the EGM also held today, the special resolution to approve the
Scheme, the related reduction of capital of WH Smith and certain other related
arrangements, and the ordinary resolutions to approve the Share Plans Proposals,
were also passed by the requisite majorities on a show of hands. The following
levels of proxy appointments and associated voting instructions were received
prior to the meeting:

 Resolution        Proxy Votes For           Proxy Votes           Abstentions
     Number         the Resolution           Against the
                                              Resolution
          1            109,436,580               249,372               727,022
          2            103,653,322             5,518,335             1,241,317
          3            103,767,935             5,418,733             1,226,306
          4            109,872,079               157,990               382,905
          5            103,654,396             5,517,556             1,241,022
          6            103,767,277             5,418,692             1,227,005
          7            109,874,249               156,622               382,103


Any proxy appointments which gave discretion to the Chairman have been included
in the 'for' total.


Following the passing of the resolutions, Smiths News Shares are expected to be
admitted to the Official List for trading on the London Stock Exchange on 30
August 2006 and the Demerger is expected to become effective on 31 August 2006.
New WH Smith Shares are expected to be admitted to the Official List for trading
on the London Stock Exchange on 1 September 2006. Smiths News PLC will be the
holding company for both the WH Smith Retail business and the News business on
30 August 2006 and 31 August 2006. From 1 September 2006, Smiths News and New WH
Smith will trade as two separate entities. It is also intended that, upon the
Demerger, New WH Smith will be renamed 'WH Smith PLC'.

.

For Shareholders who hold WH Smith Shares through the CREST system, WH Smith
expects to credit their CREST account on 30 August 2006 with Smiths News Shares
and on 1 September 2006 with New WH Smith Shares. Shareholders who transfer the
Smiths News Shares to which they are entitled prior to the Demerger Effective
Time (expected to be 6.00 pm on 31 August 2006) will not receive any New WH
Smith Shares. Certificates for Smiths News Shares and New WH Smith Shares are
expected to be dispatched on 8 September 2006.


Expected Timetable of Principal Events

Court hearing of the petition to sanction the Scheme              25 August 2006

Court hearing of the petition to confirm the WH Smith Reduction   29 August 2006
of Capital

Scheme Record Time                                                  6.00pm on 29
                                                                     August 2006

Last day of dealing in WH Smith Shares                            29 August 2006

Scheme becomes effective and Smith News becomes the ultimate       shortly after
holding company of WH Smith                                         7.30am on 30
                                                                     August 2006

Delisting of WH Smith Shares                                        8.00am on 30
                                                                     August 2006

Smiths News Shares admitted to the Official List, crediting of      8.00am on 30
Smiths News Shares to CREST accounts and trading in Smiths News      August 2006
Shares commences on the London Stock Exchange

Court hearing of the petition to confirm the Smith News           30 August 2006
Reduction of Capital

Smith News Reduction of Capital becomes effective                 31 August 2006

Demerger Record Time                                                6.00pm on 31
                                                                     August 2006

Effective time for the Demerger                                         close of
                                                                  business on 31
                                                                     August 2006

New WH Smith Shares admitted to the Official List, crediting of      8.00am on 1
New WH Smith Shares to CREST accounts and trading in New WH       September 2006
Smith Shares commences on the London Stock Exchange

Court hearing of the petition to confirm the New WH Smith            1 September
Reduction of Capital                                                        2006

New WH Smith Reduction of Capital becomes effective                  4 September
                                                                            2006

Dispatch of certificates for Smiths News Shares and New WH Smith     8 September
Shares                                                                      2006


Notes:

All definitions used in the circular to Shareholders dated 7 July 2006 shall
apply to this announcement.

If any of the above times or dates should change, the revised times and/or dates
will be notified to Shareholders by an announcement on a Regulatory Information
Service. All times are London times.

Copies of the resolutions may be viewed at the Document Viewing Facility of the
Financial Services Authority, 25 North Colonnade, London E14 5HS during normal
business hours on any weekday (Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays excepted).


Enquiries:

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


Brunswick                             [phone]
Tom Buchanan
Pam Small



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