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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jan/25/wh-smith-considers-possible-sale-of-its-high-street-business
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| WH Smith considers sale of high street business including more than 500 stores | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Retailer says it plans to explore ‘strategic options’ for the future of ‘cash generative’ arm of the company | |
| WH Smith is exploring potential options for its high street business, including a sale, the British retailer said. | WH Smith is exploring potential options for its high street business, including a sale, the British retailer said. |
| The company was holding “secret talks” about the sale of its entire high street arm, which has more than 500 stores, Sky News first reported on Saturday. | |
| Responding to the reports, the group said: “WH Smith confirms that it is exploring potential strategic options for this profitable and cash generative part of the group, including a possible sale.” | |
| The company said there was no certainty that any agreement would be reached, and that it would provide updates on the process “as and when appropriate”. | |
| The high street arm of WH Smith is part of the retailer’s more profitable travel business. Its high street business now accounts for only about 15% of annual group trading profit. | |
| “Over the past decade, WH Smith has become a focused global travel retailer,” the statement continued. | |
| “The group’s travel business has over 1,200 stores across 32 countries, and three-quarters of the group’s revenue and 85% of its trading profit comes from the travel business. | |
| “There can be no certainty that any agreement will be reached and further updates will be provided as and when appropriate.” | |
| The group reported underlying pre-tax profits of £166m for the year to 31 August – up from £143m the previous year. | |
| But earnings remained flat at £32m in its traditional high street business despite a 2% drop in like-for-like sales thanks to cost-saving efforts. |