REG - Smiths News PLC - Trading Statement

Smiths NewsAnnouncement

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RNS Number : 7995Q  Smiths News PLC  29 January 2026

29 January 2026

Smiths News PLC

("Smiths News" or the "Company")

 

Trading Update

 

Smiths News, (LSE: SNWS), the UK's largest news wholesaler and a leading
provider of early morning end-to-end supply chain solutions, today provides
shareholders with an update on trading ahead of its Annual General Meeting
("AGM") taking place this morning.

 

The Board confirms that trading for the year ending 29 August 2026 ("FY2026")
remains in line with market expectations(1).

 

The Company's strategy of maintaining shareholder returns alongside the
development of additional revenue streams that leverage the Company's existing
capabilities and networks remains on track.

 

Accordingly, Smiths News confirms that, subject to shareholder approval at the
AGM later today, it will pay a final dividend for FY2025 of 3.8p and a special
dividend of 3.0p to shareholders on 5 February 2026, bringing the total for
FY2025 to 8.55p per ordinary share held.

 

Jon Bunting, Chief Executive Officer of Smiths News, commented:

 

"Smiths News has performed strongly since the start of the year, and I am
pleased to report that we are on track to meet market expectations.

 

"We continue to make progress in broadening our market reach, whilst ensuring
we maintain our best class service across our newspaper and magazine
activities.

 

"I look forward to providing a further update to shareholders at the half year
results in May."

 

 

(1) Company compiled analyst consensus can be found on the Smiths News
website: Analyst Consensus
(https://www.smithsnews.co.uk/investor-zone/investors/consensus-and-key-metrics/)

 

 

For further information, please contact:

 

 Smiths News PLC                                      via Vigo Consulting

 Jonathan Bunting, Chief Executive Officer

 George Cooper, Interim Chief Financial Officer

 www.smithsnews.co.uk (http://www.smithsnews.co.uk)

 Vigo Consulting                                      Tel: +44 (0) 20 7390 0230

 Jeremy Garcia / Fiona Hetherington / Anna Sutton

 smithsnews@vigoconsulting.com

 

About Smiths News

Smiths News is the UK's largest news wholesaler and leading provider of early
morning, end-to-end supply chain solutions. Smiths News has been delivering
newspapers to retailers across the UK for over 200 years on behalf of the
major national and regional publishers. Today, Smiths News delivers to over
22,000 customers across England and Wales on a daily basis.

 

Smiths News's service capability now extends into a number of new verticals
that build on its expertise in warehousing, reverse logistics and early
morning final mile services, across its extensive high-density UK delivery
network, including a waste recycling collection service, the delivery of
additional categories such as books and home entertainment, and extending our
services in the final mile.

 

The speed of turnaround and the density of Smiths News' coverage is critical
to one of the world's fastest physical supply chains and we remain focused on
continuing to deliver best in class service to the news and magazines market,
whilst exploring opportunities for growth based on this strong foundation.

 

For more information, please visit: www.smithsnews.co.uk
(http://www.smithsnews.co.uk)

 

 

Person responsible for arranging release of this announcement:

Stuart Marriner, General Counsel & Company Secretary

Smiths News plc, Rowan House, Cherry Orchard North, Kembrey Park, Swindon SN2
8UH

Email: cosec@smithsnews.co.uk

 

 

 

 

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