Interim Management Statement

Smiths News PLC
17 January 2008



                                 Smiths News PLC

                          Interim Management Statement


Smiths News PLC is today publishing its first Interim Management Statement as
required by the UK Listing Authority's Disclosure and Transparency rules,
relating to the period from 1 September 2007 to 12 January 2008.


PERIOD REVIEW


Overall revenue for the first 19 weeks of the financial year increased by 0.8%.
The Group benefited from a number of newspaper price rises in the early part of
the financial year. Weekly magazines have traded in line with expectations,
whilst in the monthly magazine market volume declines have eased.


Planned efficiency and cost saving initiatives for this financial year are
proceeding as anticipated.


The Group continues to make progress in its strategy to use its competencies to
win new contracts:


   •Smiths News is pleased to announce that it has secured the News
    International business in Peterborough and Cambridge with effect from 26
    December 2007. This business has an annualised sales value of £8m.


   •The Returns Company has also won a new three-year contract to process
    around ten million book returns per annum for HarperCollins on a national
    basis.


To further support its new business strategy the Group has made two senior
appointments: Dom McKenna, previously Group Development Director of Arriva plc,
has joined the Company as Business Development Director, and Christine Key,
currently Commercial Director at Parcelnet will join as Managing Director of The
Returns Company.


Trading remains in line with the Board's expectations. Overall, despite a
general downturn in some retail markets, product categories remain resilient
with price increases offsetting the impact of volume declines.


There has been no significant change in the financial position of the Company
since 31 August 2007.


INTERIM RESULTS


Smiths News PLC will announce its Interim results for the six months ending 29
February 2008 on 24 April 2008.







Enquiries:


Smiths News PLC
Alan Humphrey, Investor Relations                           01793 563641

Brunswick Group LLP
Kate Holgate, Media Relations                              020 7404 5959



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