HDD Hardide Plc

RNS No 7451n
HODDER HEADLINE PLC
24 May 1999

                                      
                Not for release, distribution or publication
               in or into the USA, Canada, Australia or Japan

                       WH Smith Group PLC ("WH Smith")
                                      
     Recommended cash offer for Hodder Headline PLC ("Hodder Headline")

WH  Smith announces that it has today agreed to acquire 13,881,011 ordinary
shares  of Hodder Headline at 525 pence per share which has resulted in its
shareholding exceeding 30 per cent. of Hodder Headline's issued ordinary share
capital.  A further announcement in relation to the share purchases will be
made shortly.

Accordingly,  the offer by WH Smith, which was announced this  morning  ("the
Offer"), will be amended so as to comply with the provisions of Rule 9 of the
City Code on Takeovers and Mergers.

The  Offer  will now only be conditional upon WH Smith receiving  acceptances
which, together with Hodder Headline shares acquired or agreed to be acquired
before or during the Offer, will result in WH Smith and any person acting  in
concert with it holding shares carrying more than 50 per cent. of the  voting
rights of Hodder Headline.

Schroders is satisfied that WH Smith has sufficient cash resources to satisfy
full acceptance of the Offer.

_____________________________________________________________________________

WH Smith                                          0171 514 9622/3/4
Richard Handover, Group Chief Executive
Keith Hamill, Finance Director
Tim Blythe, Corporate Affairs Director

Schroders                                         0171 658 6000
Robert Swannell

Cazenove                                          0171 588 2828
David Mayhew


Schroders,  which  is  regulated  by  The Securities  and  Futures  Authority
Limited, is acting for WH Smith and no one else in connection with the  Offer
and  will not be responsible to anyone other than WH Smith for providing  the
protections afforded to the customers of Schroders or for providing advice in
relation  to  the  Offer or any matter referred to herein  or  in  the  Offer
Document.


END

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