Holding(s) in Company

WH Smith PLC
08 May 2008



                                                                    

TR-1: NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES


(1). Identity of the issuer or the underlying issuer of existing shares to which
voting rights are attached:

WH SMITH PLC 


2. Reason for the notification (please state Yes/No): (   )

An acquisition or disposal of voting rights:                               (X  )

An acquisition or disposal of financial instruments which may result 
in the acquisition of shares already issued to which voting rights are 
attached:                                                                  (   )

An event changing the breakdown of voting rights:                          (   )

Other (please specify) :                                                   (   )


 
3. Full name of person(s) subject to the notification obligation:

SILCHESTER INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS LIMITED
 

4. Full name of shareholder(s) (if different from 3.):

SILCHESTER INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS INTERNATIONAL VALUE EQUITY TAXABLE TRUST
SILCHESTER INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS INTERNATIONAL VALUE EQUITY TRUST
SILCHESTER INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS INTERNATIONAL VALUE EQUITY GROUP TRUST
SILCHESTER INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS TOBACCO FREE INTERNATIONAL VALUE EQUITY TRUST
THE CALLEVA TRUST
 

5. Date of the transaction and date on which the threshold is crossed or reached
if different):

7TH MAY 2008
 

6. Date on which issuer notified:

8TH MAY 2008
 

7. Threshold(s) that is/are crossed or reached:

3%
 

8. Notified details:


 


A: Voting rights attached to shares

 
Class/type of shares            Situation previous to  
if possible using the           the Triggering         
ISIN CODE                       transaction        
                       Number of shares       Number of voting Rights 
GB00B2PDGW16           6,017,785              6,017,785


 

                     Resulting situation after the triggering transaction 
 
Class/type of shares Number of shares  Number of voting rights    % of voting rights  
if possible using                                                                 
the ISIN CODE                                                                         
                     Direct            Direct     Indirect        Direct    Indirect  
                     4,656,616         4,656,616                  2.95%

 

B: Financial Instruments

Resulting situation after the triggering transaction 

Type of     Expiration Date  Exercise/Conversion Number of voting     % of voting     
financial                    Period/ Date        rights that may be   rights          
instrument                                       acquired if the                      
                                                 instrument is                        
                                                 exercised/                           
                                                 converted.                           

 

Total (A+B)
Number of voting rights       % of voting rights 
4,656,616                     2.95%


 

9. Chain of controlled undertakings through which the voting rights and/or the
financial instruments are effectively held, if applicable:


 


Proxy Voting:

 
10. Name of the proxy holder:

SILCHESTER INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS LIMITED
 

11. Number of voting rights proxy holder will cease to hold:


 

12. Date on which proxy holder will cease to hold voting rights:


 

13. Additional information:

Silchester International Investors Ltd ('Silchester') acts as investment manager 
for the clients detailed in Question 4 above (our 'Clients'). In acting for our 
Clients, Silchester are given full discretion over their investments and are 
empowered to vote on their behalf. However, we do not act as our Clients' 
custodian and therefore shares are not held in our name but in the name of each 
Client's custodian bank.



14.     Contact name:

Henry Heathfield, Equity Dealer

15.     Contact telephone number:

0207 518 7147





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