Holding(s) in Company

Smith WH PLC
20 October 2005


             NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES


1)   NAME OF LISTED COMPANY

     WH SMITH PLC

2)   NAME OF SHAREHOLDER HAVING A MAJOR INTEREST

     DEUTSCHE BANK AG

3)   Please state whether notification indicates that it is 
     regarding the holding of the shareholder named in 2 above;
     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 18 OCTOBER 2005

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 18 OCTOBER 2005

5)   Number of shares/amount of stock acquired.

     N/A

6)   Percentage of issued Class (any treasury shares held by the
     listed company should not be taken into account when
     calculating percentage)



7)   Number of shares/amount of stock disposed

     N/A

8)   Percentage of issued Class (any treasury shares held by the
     listed company should not be taken into account when
     calculating percentage)



9)   Class of security

     ORDINARY SHARES OF 2 13/81 PENCE EACH

10)  Date of transaction

     N/A

11)  Date listed company informed

     20 OCTOBER 2005

12)  Total holding following this notification

     5,537,030
               
13)  Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification
     (any treasury shares held by the listed company should not be taken
     into account when calculating percentage)

     3.06%

14)  Any additional information



15)  Name of contact and telephone number for queries

     MISS A LAM [phone]

16)  Name and signature of duly authorised officer of the listed company
     responsible for making this notification

     I HOUGHTON, COMPANY SECRETARY

     Date of Notification     20 OCTOBER 2005



LETTER TO: WH SMITH PLC
DATED: 18 OCTOBER 2005

Disclosure of interests in shares

In accordance with Section 198-202 of the UK Companies Act 1985 we are writing
on behalf of Deutsche Bank AG to inform you that on the basis that the relevant
issued share capital of your company is 180,952,026 ordinary shares, Deutsche
Bank AG, and its subsidiary companies have a notifiable interest in 5,537,030
ordinary shares of WH Smith plc, amounting to 3.06%.  Part of this holding may
relate to hedging arrangements for customer transactions.

Deutsche Bank AG is a corporation domiciled in Frankfurt, Germany, of which
Deutsche Bank AG London is a branch.

FROM: DEUTSCHE BANK AG LONDON


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