TR-1: Standard form for notification of major holdings
1. Issuer Details
ISIN
GB00B2PDGW16
Issuer Name
WH SMITH PLC
UK or Non-UK Issuer
UK
2. Reason for Notification
An acquisition or disposal of voting rights
3. Details of person subject to the notification obligation
Name
Marathon Asset Management Limited
City of registered office (if applicable)
London
Country of registered office (if applicable)
United Kingdom
4. Details of the shareholder
| Name |
City of registered office |
Country of registered office |
| Bank of America Merrill Lynch |
||
| Brown Brothers Harriman |
||
| JP Morgan |
||
| Northern Trust |
||
| State Street Bank & Trust Co, Boston |
5. Date on which the threshold was crossed or reached
07-Jan-2025
6. Date on which Issuer notified
08-Jan-2025
7. Total positions of person(s) subject to the notification obligation
| % of voting rights attached to shares (total of 8.A) |
% of voting rights through financial instruments (total of 8.B 1 + 8.B 2) |
Total of both in % (8.A + 8.B) |
Total number of voting rights held in issuer |
|
| Resulting situation on the date on which threshold was crossed or reached |
10.030874 |
0.000000 |
10.030874 |
13031608 |
| Position of previous notification (if applicable) |
8. Notified details of the resulting situation on the date on which the threshold was crossed or reached
8A. Voting rights attached to shares
| Class/Type of shares ISIN code(if possible) |
Number of direct voting rights (DTR5.1) |
Number of indirect voting rights (DTR5.2.1) |
% of direct voting rights (DTR5.1) |
% of indirect voting rights (DTR5.2.1) |
| GB00B2PDGW16 |
0 |
6515804 |
0.000000 |
5.015437 |
| GB00B2PDGW16 |
0 |
6515804 |
0.000000 |
5.015437 |
| Sub Total 8.A |
13031608 |
10.030874% |
||
8B1. Financial Instruments according to (DTR5.3.1R.(1) (a))
| Type of financial instrument |
Expiration date |
Exercise/conversion period |
Number of voting rights that may be acquired if the instrument is exercised/converted |
% of voting rights |
| Sub Total 8.B1 |
||||
8B2. Financial Instruments with similar economic effect according to (DTR5.3.1R.(1) (b))
| Type of financial instrument |
Expiration date |
Exercise/conversion period |
Physical or cash settlement |
Number of voting rights |
% of voting rights |
| Sub Total 8.B2 |
|||||
9. Information in relation to the person subject to the notification obligation
1. Person subject to the notification obligation is not controlled by any natural person or legal entity and does not control any other undertaking(s) holding directly or indirectly an interest in the (underlying) issuer.
| Ultimate controlling person |
Name of controlled undertaking |
% of voting rights if it equals or is higher than the notifiable threshold |
% of voting rights through financial instruments if it equals or is higher than the notifiable threshold |
Total of both if it equals or is higher than the notifiable threshold |
10. In case of proxy voting
Name of the proxy holder
The number and % of voting rights held
The date until which the voting rights will be held
11. Additional Information
The shares referred to in this disclosure correspond to a number of funds and accounts managed by portfolio managers under the control of Marathon Asset Management Ltd. There are also a further 925,952 shares under the control of Marathon Asset Management Ltd where the firm does not have authority to vote.
12. Date of Completion
08-Jan-2025
13. Place Of Completion
London, UK