Subsids Acquisition

WH SMITH GROUP PLC
31 August 1999


WH Smith Group PLC (WH Smith)

Acquisition of Wayland Publishers Limited (Wayland)

WH Smith today (31 August) announced that its subsidiary Hodder Headline
has exchanged contracts with Wolters Kluwer (UK) PLC (Wolters Kluwer) to
purchase the business and assets of Wayland, one of the leading
publishers of fiction and non-fiction books for school libraries in the
UK.  Wayland will become part of Hodder Children's Books, a division of
Hodder Headline.

In the year ended 31 December 1998, Wayland had sales of £8.5 million.
The net asset value of the transaction is approximately £4 million.

Wolters Kluwer acquired Wayland in 1987 and subsequently acquired
Macdonald Young Books in 1994.  The two companies were merged into a
stand-alone business located in Hove, publishing fiction and non-fiction
for children.

Wayland are the publishers of many highly acclaimed National Curriculum
support materials for subjects including History, English, Geography and
Science.  Key fiction titles published by Wayland under the Macdonald
imprint include 'The Jolly Witch' by Dick King-Smith, National Curriculum
Book List title 'Six Dinner Sid' by Inga Moore and 'The Deptford Mice
Trilogy' by Robin Jarvis.

Richard Handover, Group Chief Executive, said:  'When we acquired Hodder
Headline, WH Smith made it clear that, should the opportunity arise, we
would support the addition of quality publishing assets to the Hodder
Headline stable.  The acquisition of Wayland represents such an
opportunity and is an excellent development for Hodder Headline in the
key field of education.'

Tim Hely Hutchinson, Chief Executive of Hodder Headline, said:  'This is
an important strategic acquisition for Hodder Children's Books which has
achieved strong organic growth since its re-launch in 1994.  Wayland and
Macdonald have strong, quality lists that can be sold and marketed more
effectively with the help of Hodder's marketing expertise in the trade.
The increased size and strength of the combined businesses will allow us
to expand our children's publishing and give Hodder significantly greater
access to the primary schools market. The acquisition emphasises the
commitment of both WH Smith and Hodder Headline to expand and develop the
Group's educational offer.'

Enquiries:

WH Smith Group PLC                             0171 409 3222
Richard Handover, Group Chief Executive
Keith Hamill, Finance Director
Tim Blythe, Corporate Affairs Director
                                               
Hodder Headline                                0171 873 6000
Tim Hely Hutchinson, Chief Executive
Mary Tapissier, Managing Director, Hodder
Children's Books