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PRIVACY
Retail & Consumer

WH Smith delays annual results again after accounting issues

The retailer now expects to unveil its latest results on Friday December 19 as auditor PwC requires further time to complete procedures following £50m profit overstatement

WH Smith is focusing on its transport business

WH Smith has delayed the publication of its annual financial results as the retailer continues to grapple with the aftermath of accounting irregularities.

The company informed investors it now anticipates releasing its latest figures on Friday December 19, having previously scheduled them for Tuesday December 16.

The firm explained to shareholders that the postponement would allow auditor PwC "further time to complete the required audit procedures".

This represents the most recent in a series of delays, with the results initially scheduled for publication on November 12.

The postponement follows Carl Cowling's departure as WH Smith's chief executive last month, after a Deloitte investigation substantiated the accounting difficulties.

The retailer, which divested its º£½ÇÊÓÆµ high street operations earlier this year to concentrate on travel locations, first disclosed accounting issues in August.

Share prices plummeted by as much as 40% after the company uncovered that its North American trading profit had been overstated during a financial review.

The business subsequently reduced its profit forecasts.