Re Joint Venture

WH Smith PLC
23 November 2006


                                                                23 November 2006



          WH Smith PLC to open 50 new units in motorway service areas



WH Smith PLC announces agreements with Moto Hospitality Limited and Swayfield
Group to open travel stores in UK motorway service areas. 48 new units will be
opened in Moto service areas and a further 2 units at Swayfield Group sites.


These agreements open up a new channel for WHSmith Travel and bring WHSmith's
products and services direct to motorists for the first time.


The 50 new units will enhance WHSmith Travel's existing network, which comprises
203 units in key air and rail locations.


Today's announcement follows the trials of WHSmith Travel stores at two of
Moto's busiest sites, Birch West on the M62 near Manchester and Leigh Delamere
on the M4 near Chippenham.


The Moto stores will be operated under a franchise agreement, with the majority
opening in 2007. The Swayfield Group sites are a leasehold arrangement and are
expected to open during 2008.


Commenting on the announcement, Kate Swann, WHSmith Group Chief Executive, said:


'We are delighted to be working with Moto and the Swayfield Group to open up a
new channel for our Travel Retail business and bring WHSmith products and
services direct to the motorist for the first time.'



Tim Moss, Moto's Chief Executive, said:


'We are very excited at the prospect of having Britain's biggest CTN* retailer
as a partner in our network of motorway service areas. The agreement comes on
the back of a trial of WHSmith's Travel format, which showed itself to be
extremely popular with our customers.'


'We are looking forward to rolling out WHSmith stores across the entire estate.
This is a natural step for Moto in providing the widest and best choice of
familiar high street brands to our customers.'



Andrew Long, Managing Director of Swayfield Group, commented:


'We are pleased to be working closely with WHSmith.'



* CTN - confectioner, tobacconist, newsagent



                                    - Ends -



Enquiries:


WH Smith PLC

Sarah Heath     Media Relations     020 7851 8850
Mark Boyle      Investor Relations  020 7851 8820


Brunswick

Tom Buchannan                       020 7404 5959
Charlotte Kenyon






NOTE TO EDITORS

WH Smith PLC is made up of 543 high street stores and a further 203 retail units
in 129 airports and stations. The High Street business sells a wide range of
newspapers, magazines, stationery, books and entertainment products, while
WHSmith Travel sells a tailored range of newspapers, magazines, books and
confectionery products for people on the move. In addition, WHSmith Direct -
www.whsmith.co.uk - serves customers on the internet 24 hours a day.



Moto Hospitality Ltd is Britain's biggest operator of motorway service areas,
with 48 sites catering for the needs of over 100 million travellers every year.

Moto is owned by Macquarie Bank, a diversified international provider of
specialist investment banking and financial services, with more than 8000 people
in 23 countries. Macquarie Bank is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, with
a market capitalisation of approx £6.2bn. The Macquarie Bank Group's total
assets are approximately £43.7bn, with a further £57.8bn in assets under
management. Macquarie is a global leader in the acquisition, funding and
management of infrastructure and essential service assets, with more than 90
assets globally.

Swayfield Group owns and operates 7 existing motorway service areas and has
planning consent for a further 5 new developments, which are due to open over
the next 12-18 months. The majority of the existing and new motorway service
areas operate under the Swayfield umbrella brand 'Extra'.




                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange