RNS Number : 6597D

Smith (DS) PLC

20 February 2020

TR-1: Standard form for notification of major holdings

NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR HOLDINGS (to be sent to the relevant issuer and to the FCA in Microsoft Word format if possible)i
1a. Identity of the issuer or the underlying issuer of existing shares to which voting rights are attachedii:				DS Smith plc
1b. Please indicate if the issuer is a non-UK issuer (please mark with an "X" if appropriate)
Non-UK issuer
2. Reason for the notification (please mark the appropriate box or boxes with an "X")
An acquisition or disposal of voting rights							X
An acquisition or disposal of financial instruments							X
An event changing the breakdown of voting rights
Other (please specify)iii:
3. Details of person subject to the notification obligationiv
Name				Aviva plc & its subsidiaries
City and country of registered office (if applicable)				London, England
4. Full name of shareholder(s) (if different from 3.)v
Name			Registered Holder: Available on request                                                  36,535* Chase (GA Group) Nominees Limited            5,986,205* Chase Nominees Limited                                      330,104* HSBC Global Custody Nominee (UK) Limited                                                                              46,377,436*                                                                          State Street Nominees Limited                          309,149*                                                            *denotes direct interest Chase (GA Group) Nominees Limited                774,881 Chase Nominees Limited                                   8,763,979 HL MultiManager Income and Growth Trust                                                                         2,038,186
City and country of registered office (if applicable)
5. Date on which the threshold was crossed or reachedvi:			19/02/2020
6. Date on which issuer notified (DD/MM/YYYY):			20/02/2020
7. Total positions of person(s) subject to the notification obligation
	% of voting rights attached to shares (total of 8. A)	% of voting rights through financial instruments (total of 8.B 1 + 8.B 2)			Total of both in % (8.A + 8.B)	Total number of voting rights of issuervii
Resulting situation on the date on which threshold was crossed or reached	4.70%	2.57%			7.27%	1,372,401,402
Position of previous notification (if applicable)	4.86%	2.14%			7.00%

8. Notified details of the resulting situation on the date on which the threshold was crossed or reachedviii
A: Voting rights attached to shares
Class/type of shares ISIN code (if possible)		Number of voting rightsix					% of voting rights
		Direct (Art 9 of Directive 2004/109/EC) (DTR5.1)		Indirect (Art 10 of Directive 2004/109/EC) (DTR5.2.1)			Direct (Art 9 of Directive 2004/109/EC) (DTR5.1)		Indirect (Art 10 of Directive 2004/109/EC) (DTR5.2.1)
Ordinary Shares GB0008220112		53,039,429		11,577,046			3.86%		0.84%
SUBTOTAL 8. A		64,616,475					4.70%
B 1: Financial Instruments according to Art. 13(1)(a) of Directive 2004/109/EC (DTR5.3.1.1 (a))
Type of financial instrument		Expiration datex	Exercise/ Conversion Periodxi			Number of voting rights that may be acquired if the instrument is exercised/converted.			% of voting rights
RIGHT TO RECALL LOANED SHARES		N/A	N/A			35,321,632* *DIRECT INTEREST			2.57%
			SUBTOTAL 8. B 1			35,321,632			2.57%
B 2: Financial Instruments with similar economic effect according to Art. 13(1)(b) of Directive 2004/109/EC (DTR5.3.1.1 (b))
Type of financial instrument	Expiration datex		Exercise/ Conversion Period xi		Physical or cash settlementxii			Number of voting rights	% of voting rights
					SUBTOTAL 8.B.2

9. Information in relation to the person subject to the notification obligation (please mark the applicable box with an "X")
Person subject to the notification obligation is not controlled by any natural person or legal entity and does not control any other undertaking(s) holding directly or indirectly an interest in the (underlying) issuerxiii
Full chain of controlled undertakings through which the voting rights and/or the financial instruments are effectively held starting with the ultimate controlling natural person or legal entityxiv (please add additional rows as necessary)				X
Namexv	% of voting rights if it equals or is higher than the notifiable threshold	% of voting rights through financial instruments if it equals or is higher than the notifiable threshold	Total of both if it equals or is higher than the notifiable threshold
Aviva plc	4.70%		7.27%
Aviva Group Holdings Limited	4.70%		7.27%
Aviva Investors Holdings Limited	4.70%		7.27%
Aviva Investors Global Services Limited	4.70%		7.27%
Aviva plc	4.70%		7.27%
Aviva Group Holdings Limited	4.70%		7.27%
Friends Provident International Limited

10. In case of proxy voting, please identify:
Name of the proxy holder	See Section 4
The number and % of voting rights held
The date until which the voting rights will be held
11. Additional informationxvi
This notification is prompted by a 4% to 3% change at Direct Interest Level (Box 8A)

Place of completion	Norwich, England
Date of completion	20 February 2020

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

END

HOLEBLFLBLLEBBV