Vanguard Group's Disclosure on Smith (DS) plc Shareholdings

The Vanguard Group, Inc. has filed a Form 8.3 under the Takeover Code, revealing its ownership interest of 4.89% in Smith (DS) plc. The disclosure highlights Vanguard's control over 67,526,897 ordinary shares of Smith (DS) plc as of October 9, 2024. This form is part of the regulatory requirements for entities with significant stakes, specifically over 1% ownership in a public company.

Additionally, Vanguard reported purchasing 4,392 shares at a price of 4.60 GBP per unit in recent dealings. No cash-settled or stock-settled derivative transactions or other security subscriptions have been reported. The document confirmed the absence of any inducement arrangements or agreements regarding options or derivatives associated with Vanguard's holdings in Smith (DS) plc, stating "none." The disclosure aims to maintain transparency in financial engagements.