WH Smith

Swindon, United Kingdom Founded: 1792 • Age: 234 yrs
Multi-consumer products are retailed by WHSmith across the United Kingdom.
Annual revenue $2.1B Latest available
Total funding - 3 rounds
Employees 15200 Tracked headcount
Investors 4 Known backers
Products - Services tracked
Competitors - Brand Intelligence

About WH Smith

WH Smith is a company based in Swindon (United Kingdom) founded in 1792. The company has 15,200 employees as of August 31, 2024. WH Smith has completed 3 acquisitions, including Cult Pens, InMotion Entertainment and Marshall Retail Group.

  • Headquarter Swindon, United Kingdom
  • Employees 15200 as on 31 Aug, 2024
  • Stage Public
  • Sectors
    Retail
  • Email
    Locked
  • Phone
    Locked
  • Website
    Locked
  • Social
    Locked
  • Legal Name Wh Smith Plc
Operational Areas
Retail → Consumer & Fashion Retail Unlock Sub-Sector Unlock Segment
Key Metrics
  • Annual Revenue
    $2.08 B (USD)
    5.43
    as on Aug 31, 2025
  • Net Profit
    -$193.67 M (USD)
    -366.67
    as on Aug 31, 2025
  • EBITDA
    $364.48 M (USD)
    2.26
    as on Aug 31, 2025
  • Latest Funding Round
    $450.48 M (USD), Post-IPO

    Apr 29, 2021

  • Investors
    Barclays

    & 3 more

  • Employee Count
    15200

    as on Aug 31, 2024

  • Investments & Acquisitions
    Cult Pens

    & 2 more

Upgrade to premium

Unlock complete access to The Company Check

Get unrestricted viewing across everything we track — from companies and brands to investors, funding rounds, acquisitions, financials, and more.

Upgrade to Premium No viewing limits. Your plan controls exports and screening usage.
Included in your Premium account
  • Unlimited viewing on all profiles Companies, investors, financials, funding, acquisitions & directors
  • Full access to every database India & global coverage, advanced filters and rich profile details
  • Always-on access from your team account Single premium plan for everything you see on the portal

IPO & Listings of WH Smith

WH Smith is a publicly listed company on the LSE with ticker symbol SMWH in UK, operating in the Retail trade sector. As a publicly traded entity, the company provides investors with opportunities to participate in its growth story through equity ownership. The listing enables access to capital markets, enhances corporate visibility, and provides liquidity for shareholders while maintaining transparency through regulatory compliance and regular financial disclosures.

Exchange: LSE · Ticker: SMWH · Sector: Retail trade · UK

People of WH Smith

Headcount 10000+
Employee Profiles 80
Board Members and Advisors 7
Employee Profiles
People
Rachel Budd
Group Corporate Tax Manager
People
Robert Moorhead
CFO and COO
People
Megan McCorriston
Multi Site Manager
People
Daniel Ward
Central Operations Planner

Unlock access to complete

Board Members and Advisors
people
Simon Emeny
Non-Executive Director
people
Ian Houghton
Company Secretary
people
Colette Burke
Non-Executive Director
people
Annette Court
Chair

Unlock access to complete

Funding Insights of WH Smith

Investors in WH Smith

WH Smith has secured backing from 4 investors, including institutional investors. Prominent investors backing the company include Barclays, HSBC and BNP Paribas.

All
Institutional
Investor Description Founded Year Domain Location
Diversified financial services are provided across global markets.
Locked Locked Locked
Universal banking and financial advisory services are provided globally.
Locked Locked Locked
-
Locked Locked Locked
Premium access

Investor details for WH Smith

Investor domains, locations, round participation, and complete history require an active premium plan.

  • Investor domains
  • Investor locations
  • Funding rounds
  • Participation history

Verified entity values are shown only after access is granted.

Investments & Acquisitions by WH Smith

WH Smith has strategically engaged in corporate development activities, having acquired 3 companies. Notable acquisitions include Cult Pens, InMotion Entertainment and Marshall Retail Group.

Investments
Premium access

Investment portfolio details for WH Smith

Portfolio company identities, transaction dates, round details, and investment values require an active premium plan.

  • Portfolio identities
  • Transaction dates
  • Round details
  • Investment values

Verified entity values are shown only after access is granted.

Acquisitions
Company Name Description Domain Location Founded Year Amount
Online retailer of stationery products
Locked Locked 2005 Locked
Travel-related electronics and accessories are retailed at airports.
Locked Locked 1999 Locked
Specialty retail stores are operated in airports and casino resorts.
Locked Locked 1955 Locked
Premium access

Complete acquisition details for WH Smith

Transaction dates, acquired stakes, disclosed values, domains, and locations require an active premium plan.

  • Transaction dates
  • Acquired stakes
  • Disclosed values
  • Domains and locations

Verified entity values are shown only after access is granted.

Financial Statements - WH Smith

Premium access

Detailed financials for WH Smith

Historical revenue, profit, statement rows, ratios, and trend charts require an active premium plan.

  • Historical revenue
  • Profit trends
  • Statement rows
  • Financial ratios

Verified entity values are shown only after access is granted.

Wh Smith Comparisons

WH Smith Primary company
Description
Multi-consumer products are retailed by WHSmith across the U...
Location
Swindon, United Kingdom
Founded Year
1792
Annual Revenue
$2.08 B (USD)
Net Profit
-$193.67 M (USD)
EBITDA
$364.48 M (USD)
Employees
15,200
As of 2024
Premium access

Peer comparison for WH Smith

Named peer metrics, headcount, funding, location, and side-by-side benchmarks require an active premium plan.

  • Named peers
  • Headcount comparison
  • Funding comparison
  • Operating benchmarks

Verified entity values are shown only after access is granted.

+
Add Comparison
Available on Premium

Competitors of WH Smith

Premium access

Detailed competitors of WH Smith

Competitor domains, locations, full profiles, and operating metrics require an active premium plan.

  • Domains and locations
  • Full company profiles
  • Operating metrics
  • Competitive positioning

Verified entity values are shown only after access is granted.

Latest news on Wh Smith

Premium access

Complete news archive for WH Smith

Full article history, source details, and older brand coverage require an active premium plan.

  • Full article archive
  • Source and publication date
  • Older coverage
  • Brand-specific news history

Verified entity values are shown only after access is granted.

Frequently Asked Questions about WH Smith

WH Smith was founded in 1792 and raised its 1st funding round 226 years after it was founded.

WH Smith is headquartered in Swindon, United Kingdom. It is registered at Swindon, Wiltshire, United Kingdom.

As of Aug 31, 2024, the latest employee count at WH Smith is 15,200.

Annual revenue of WH Smith is $2.08B as on Aug 31, 2025.

Founded in 1792, WHSmith is headquartered in Swindon, United Kingdom, and operates as a retailer in the consumer goods sector. A diverse range of products, including books, stationery, and travel items, is offered through physical stores and the online platform at whsmith.co.uk. Nationwide operations in the UK focus on serving everyday consumer needs with established supply chains and distribution networks.

Yes, WH Smith is publicly traded on LSE under the ticker symbol SMWH.

WH Smith has made 3 acquisitions, including Cult Pens, InMotion Entertainment, and Marshall Retail Group.

WH Smith has 4 investors. Key investors include Barclays, HSBC, BNP Paribas, and Santander Corporate Investment Banking.

The ticker symbol of WH Smith is SMWH on LSE.

Explore millions of companies — effortlessly

Access structured, verified intelligence on 7M+ companies across industries, sectors, and global markets. From early-stage startups to large enterprises, discover ownership, leadership, funding, financials, acquisitions, and market signals — all in one powerful platform.

Free account with essential features Instant access to company reports Enterprise solutions available