Vanguard Reports Disclosure in Smith (DS) plc under Takeover Code

The Vanguard Group, Inc. has publicly disclosed its ownership interest in Smith (DS) plc, complying with the Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code. According to the disclosure made on 21 March 2024, The Vanguard Group holds a significant interest representing 4.51% of Smith (DS) plc through 62,144,248 ordinary shares. This disclosure aligns with the regulations requiring any entity with more than 1% interest in relevant securities of a company involved in a takeover to report their position.

The disclosure follows a recent transaction in which The Vanguard Group purchased an additional 76,012 ordinary shares at a price of 3.44 GBP each on 20 March 2024. The document states there are no arrangements, agreements, or understandings relating to the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option, nor any concerning future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced. As per the document, no Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) is attached, indicating no open stock-settled derivative positions or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities. The notice concludes with contact information for further inquiries.