WH Smith Plc

British retailer WH Smith <SMWH.L> said on Wednesday it could cut up to 1,500 jobs as part of a restructuring of its UK store operations, due to significantly fewer customers at its travel and high street shops despite easing coronavirus restrictions.

British retailer WH Smith said on Wednesday it could cut up to 1,500 jobs as part of a restructuring of its UK store operations due to a coronavirus-driven fall in customers at its travel and high street shops.

British retailer WH Smith <SMWH.L> on Thursday said total revenues plunged 85% in April as sales at its airport and train station shops and kiosks were hit by government travel restrictions to halt the spread of the coronavirus.

WH Smith reported an 85% slump in group sales in April on Thursday, slightly better than its earlier forecast as a 400% rise in online book sales helped offset some of the damage of mass coronavirus closures of its kiosks and stores.

British retailer WH Smith said on Monday it was placing shares of about 13.7% of the company's ordinary share capital to get it through the coronavirus crisis.

* WH SMITH PLC - COVID-19 UPDATE AND NEW FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS

British books, newspaper and stationery retailer WH Smith said on Monday it had secured new lending facilities of 120 million pounds ($147 million) to get it through the coronavirus crisis which are conditional on raising new equity.

Sales at WH Smith's <SMWH.L> stores in British airports have slumped by 35% as the coronavirus outbreak curbs travel, potentially denting its profit by up to 40 million pounds ($51 million) this year, the British retailer said.

British retailer WH Smith said the impact of coronavirus on its stores in airports, stations and the high street could hit its full-year underlying profit by between 30 million and 40 million pounds ($38-51 million).

British travel-food company SSP warned of a 50% fall in February sales across the Asia Pacific region as the coronavirus outbreak drove a collapse in domestic and international air travel, sending its shares to a more than two-year low.

WH Smith said on Wednesday sales in the 20-week period including Christmas rose 7%, as more customers shopped at its outlets in airports and railway stations, but turmoil on the British shopping streets led to lower like-for-like sales.

British retailer WH Smith Plc <SMWH.L> made its second major foray into U.S. airports on Thursday with a $400 million purchase of Marshall Retail Group, expanding in a fast-growing segment and sending its shares up 5%.

WH Smith Plc on Thursday reported a 7% increase in annual pretax profit and said it would buy Marshall Retail Group for about $400 million to expand internationally.

WH Smith Plc said on Wednesday it was set to meet its fiscal year results expectations, bolstered by solid sales at its stores in airports and railway stations.

British books, stationery and newspaper chain WH Smith Plc said on Wednesday its stores at airports and railway stations performed well in the year, helping it expect an annual outcome in line with its expectations.

** Shares of British books, stationery and newspaper chain up about 2% at 20 pounds

WH Smith Plc announced the departure of Chief Executive Officer Stephen Clarke after six years in charge on Tuesday, as the British books, stationery and newspaper chain reported another double-digit rise in sales in the third quarter.

WH Smith Plc Chief Executive Officer Stephen Clarke has decided to step down, the British books, stationary and newspaper chain said on Tuesday as it reported a rise in third-quarter sales.

British books, newspaper and stationery seller WH Smith took a step into U.S. airports on Tuesday by buying digital accessories retailer InMotion for 155 million pounds ($198.40 million), pushing its shares 5 percent higher in early trade.