Holding(s) in Company

Smith WH PLC
12 October 2004

 
                           SCHEDULE 10
 
             NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES


1)   NAME OF COMPANY

WH SMITH PLC

2)   NAME OF SHAREHOLDER HAVING A MAJOR INTEREST

HBOS PLC

3)   Please state whether notification indicates that it is in respect of 
     holding of the Shareholder named in 2 above or in respect of a 
     non-beneficial interest or in the case of an individual holder if it is a
     holding of that person's spouse or children under the age of 18

SEE ATTACHED LETTER DATED 12 OCTOBER 2004

4)   Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the 
     number of shares held by each of them.

SEE ATTACHED LETTER DATED 12 OCTOBER 2004

5)   Number of shares/amount of stock acquired.

N/A

6)   Percentage of issued Class


7)   Number of shares/amount of stock disposed

N/A

8)   Percentage of issued Class


9)   Class of security

ORDINARY SHARES OF 2 13/81 PENCE EACH

10)  Date of transaction

N/A

11)  Date company informed

12 OCTOBER 2004

12)  Total holding following this notification

NOT KNOWN
               
13)  Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

LESS THAN 3%

14)  Any additional information



15)  Name of contact and telephone number for queries

MISS A LAM  [phone]

16)  Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for 
     making this notification

     Date of Notification ...... 12 OCTOBER 2004 ..................



LETTER TO:  WH SMITH PLC

DATED:  12 OCTOBER 2004


COMPANIES ACT 1985 (AS AMENDED)(THE 'ACT')

Section 198 disclosure by HBOS plc on its own behalf and on behalf of those of
its subsidiaries which hold a material interest in Ordinary 2.1605p shares
comprising part of the relevant share capital of W H Smith plc ('the Company')

Pursuant to Section 198 of the Act, we hereby give the Company notice that we no
longer have a material interest (for the purposes of Sections 208 and 209 of the
Act) in the Ordinary 2.1605p shares comprising part of the relevant share
capital (as defined in the section 198 of the Act) of the Company.

LETTER FROM:  HBOS PLC




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