Business
National Contract Win - ANL
Smiths News PLC has secured a significant long-term contract with Associated Newspapers Limited, extending their exclusive wholesale distribution agreement through July 2037 and expanding it to cover national distribution of ANL's titles from January 2028. This new agreement is expected to generate an incremental uplift in revenue of approximately £105 million per annum from January 2028. Combined with a recent News UK contract win, this represents approximately 36% of the national newspapers and magazines market secured from January 2028, reinforcing Smiths News's market position and long-term sustainability in print news distribution. Disclaimer*
About this update from Smiths News Plc
29 June 2026 This announcement contains inside information Smiths News PLC ("Smiths News" or the "Company") Associated Newspapers Limited - National Contract Win Smiths News (LSE: SNWS), the UK's largest news wholesaler and a leading provider of early morning end-to-end supply chain solutions, is pleased to announce that it has successfully secured a new long-term contract with Associated Newspapers Limited ("ANL"), publisher of 'Daily Mail', 'The Mail on Sunday' and 'The i Paper'. The transformational agreement with ANL (the "Contract") is on enhanced commercial terms for Smiths News and includes (i) an expansion of the distribution territories in which the Company is appointed as ANL's exclusive wholesale distributor, thereby effectively securing national distribution of ANL's leading titles across all of Great Britain, to take effect from January 2028 and (ii) an extension in the contract term of our appointment through to July 2037. The Contract represents an incremental uplift in revenue from the expanded territories of c.£105m per annum from January 2028. The award comes in addition to the News UK contract award announced on 17 June 2026 (see RNS No. 5464I) and, in combination, the two contracts represent c.36% of the national newspapers and magazines market having been secured from January 2028 for Smiths News. As previously announced, key to delivery of both contracts will be the establishment of an expanded national footprint. Guidance around the implementation costs, early-life transition costs, benefits of network expansion, as well as dividend and financing arrangements, remains unchanged from our announcement of 17 June 2026. The Board expects to provide further guidance on the financial effects of both contracts in due course and, in any case, at the time of its preliminary financial results on 4 November 2026. Jonathan Bunting, Chief Executive Officer of Smiths News, commented: "We are delighted to announce the extension and expansion of our partnership with ANL through to 2037. The ANL brands are amongst the most recognisable in the UK and our agreement will allow them to be enjoyed by consumers across Great Britain for many years to come. The extension also supports retailers through the freezing of delivery service charges for the life of the Contract. Today's ann...