WHSmith deregulates

Reuters reports that WH Smith confirmed plans to Tuesday to split in two, saying existing shareholders would receive one share in a separately listed retail business and another in a news distribution business. The new name? The easy-to-remember WH Smith, natch!

Kate Swann and Alan Stewart would be chief executive and finance director respectively of the new retail business, while Mark Cashmore and Alan Humphrey will be chief executive and finance director respectively of the new Smiths News distribution business.

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