HDS Retail Asia Pacific acquires 15 stores

The acquisition includes 15 stores in Hong Kong and Australia.

HDS Retail Asia Pacific is pleased to announce an agreement was reached on September 7, 2005 to purchase the A&R Whitcoulls Group travel retail businesses in Hong Kong and Australia, from A&R Whitcoulls Group Holdings Pty Limited, which itself acquired WH Smith ASPAC in 2004.

The acquisition includes 10 stores in Hong Kong and 5 in Australia, of which 13 are currently branded WH Smith and 2 Angus & Robertson. This acquisition will result in a re-branding of all stores.

HDS Retail Asia Pacific will have the exclusive right to operate press and book stores in the Hong-Kong airport (with the exception of one bookstore at the arrivals gate).

These stores will provide customers with a wide range of international press and books, including in Chinese language. Today, HDS Retail Asia Pacific operates 49 travel retail outlets in Australia and manages 10 stores at Singapore Changi Airport.

After the Collins Bookstore acquisition in June 2005 and this one, HDS Retail Asia Pacific is now the exclusive operator of Press & Books in the 5 largest Australian airports, as well as in Singapore Changi airport and the Sydney and Melbourne railway stations.

Retail brands of the Asia Pacific group already in the region include:

• NewsLink, TimesNewsLink and Relay – books and press,
• Hub – convenience,
• Discover – regional food and wine,
• Virgin – music, dvds and books and Kaboom – children’s toys…