HDD Hardide Plc

RNS No 0937u
HODDER HEADLINE PLC
21 June 1999

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

                       WH Smith Group PLC ("WH Smith")
                                      
     Recommended cash offer for Hodder Headline PLC ("Hodder Headline")
                                      
               Level of acceptances and extension of the Offer
                                      
It  was announced on 25 May 1999 that WH Smith had acquired 18,325,571 Hodder
Headline Shares at 525 pence per share, representing 51.9 per cent. of Hodder
Headline's  issued ordinary share capital.  Accordingly, the  offer  for  the
entire  issued,  and  to  be issued, share capital of  Hodder  Headline  (the
"Offer") was declared unconditional in all respects on 2 June 1999.  Also  on
2  June  1999,  WH  Smith acquired a further 690,348 Hodder Headline  Shares,
representing  a  further  2.0  per cent. of Hodder  Headline's  issued  share
capital.   These Hodder Headline Shares were acquired at 525 pence per  share
through WH Smith's agent Cazenove.

As  at  3.00 p.m. today (18 June), the first closing date of the Offer, valid
acceptances  had  been  received  in respect of  15,174,734  Hodder  Headline
Shares, representing approximately 43.0 per cent. of the issued share capital
of  Hodder  Headline,  which,  together with the 19,015,919  Hodder  Headline
Shares  previously  acquired by WH Smith, gives a total of 34,190,653  Hodder
Headline  Shares, representing 96.9 per cent. of the issued share capital  of
Hodder  Headline.  Of the valid acceptances received, elections for the  Loan
Note  Alternative  were made in respect of 4,201,198 Hodder Headline  Shares,
representing  approximately 11.9 per cent. of the  issued  share  capital  of
Hodder Headline.

The  Hodder  Headline  Directors holding Hodder Headline  Shares  irrevocably
undertook  to accept the Offer in respect of 999,504 Hodder Headline  Shares,
representing, in aggregate, approximately 2.8 per cent. of the  issued  share
capital  of  Hodder Headline.  Acceptances representing these 999,504  Hodder
Headline Shares are included in the valid acceptances referred to above.

Save as disclosed above, neither WH Smith nor any person acting, or deemed to
be  acting,  in  concert with WH Smith held any Hodder  Headline  Shares  (or
rights over such shares) prior to the commencement of the Offer Period on  24
May  1999,  or  has otherwise acquired or agreed to acquire  Hodder  Headline
Shares (or rights over such shares) during the Offer period.

The  Offer  and the Loan Note Alternative have been extended and will  remain
open  for  acceptance until 3.00 p.m. on Friday 2 July 1999.  Hodder Headline
Shareholders  who have not yet accepted the Offer are urged to  complete  and
return their Forms of Acceptance as soon as possible.

Richard Handover, Chief Executive of WH Smith, said:

"I  am delighted that our offer for Hodder Headline has been successful.   We
are  now in a position to work together to achieve our shared objectives  for
both businesses and for the benefit of the total book market."

_____________________________________________________________________________

ENQUIRIES

WH Smith                                          0171 514 9623
Richard Handover, Group Chief Executive
Keith Hamill, Finance Director
Tim Blythe, Director of Corporate Affairs

Schroders                                         0171 658 6000
Robert Swannell

Cazenove                                          0171 588 2828
Edmund Byers


The definitions set out in the offer document dated 28 May 1999 apply in this
announcement.

The  Offer (including the Loan Note Alternative) is not being made,  directly
or  indirectly, in or into, or by the use of the mails of, or by any means or
instrumentality (including, without limitation, facsimile transmission, telex
and telephone) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or of any facility of  a
national  securities  exchange of, the United States,  Canada,  Australia  or
Japan   and   the  Offer  cannot  be  accepted  by  any  such   use,   means,
instrumentality or facility from within the United States, Canada,  Australia
or  Japan.  Accordingly, copies of this announcement, the Offer Document, the
Form of Acceptance and other related documents are not being, and must not be
taken,  mailed  or  otherwise forwarded, distributed  or  sent  (directly  or
indirectly) in or into the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan.

This announcement is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States
and is not an extension of a tender offer for the equity securities of Hodder
Headline.

The  Loan  Notes  have  not  been and will not be  registered  under  the  US
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or under the securities laws of any state
or  other  jurisdiction  of the United States, Canada,  Australia  or  Japan.
Accordingly,  the Loan Notes may not be offered, sold, resold,  delivered  or
transferred, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or  to,  or
for the account or benefit of US persons, or in or into Canada, Australia  or
Japan.

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 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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