FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934
June 24, 2003
Commission File Number 001-14978
SMITH & NEPHEW plc
(Registrant's name)
15 Adam Street
London, England WC2N 6LA
(Address of registrant's principal executive offices)
[Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.]
Form 20-F X Form 40-F
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[Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1).]
Yes No X
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[Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7).]
Yes No X
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[Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained
in this Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2 (b) under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934.]
Yes No X
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If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the
registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2 (b) : 82- n/a.
Total Pages: 5
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Smith & Nephew plc
(Registrant)
Date: June 24, 2003 By: /s/ Paul Chambers
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Paul Chambers
Company Secretary
2
20 June 2003
Smith & Nephew Close Period Trading Update
Smith & Nephew plc, the advanced medical devices group, has continued to
achieve strong double-digit sales growth during the first half of 2003 in its
largest and fastest-growing business - Orthopaedics. Overall underlying sales
growth for Smith & Nephew in the first half of 2003 is expected to be around
10%. Acquisitions will add 1% to this growth, but currency will be 3% adverse.
Orthopaedics will lead the group with underlying sales growth of around 15% as
anticipated, with continued strong reconstructive growth of 19% and trauma
growth of 10%. Wound Management's underlying growth is running at 7%, a slower
than expected start, largely due to delays in production expansion in the US.
Sales of Dermagraft are on track and we expect Wound Management to return to
previous growth levels in the second half. As previously indicated, we
anticipate Endoscopy's sales growth will slow to 5%, mainly due to increased
blade reuse in the US, but is expected to improve for the full year with a
number of new product launches in the second half.
Sir Christopher O'Donnell, Chief Executive of Smith & Nephew said, "We are
pleased with the growth of our orthopaedics business and believe increased
sales of new products will accelerate our overall sales growth in the second
half of the year. We remain on track to meet our full-year financial targets."
Smith & Nephew is to give a briefing to investors and analysts today ahead of
the close period, which precedes its interim results announcement. The
briefing will be via conference call at 3 pm UK time, and can be heard by live
audio webcast via the Smith & Nephew website at www.smith-nephew.com. A
recording of the briefing will be available on the Smith & Nephew website
after the call.
Smith & Nephew, whose business is focused on the fast growing markets for
orthopaedics, endoscopy and advanced wound management products, will report
interim results on 31 July.
Enquiries:
Smith & Nephew
Angie Craig Tel: +44 (0)20 7401 7646
Corporate Affairs Director
Financial Dynamics
David Yates Tel: +44 (0)20 7831 3113
23 June 2003
The Secretary
London Stock Exchange
RNS
Old Broad Street
London
EC2N 1HP
Dear Sirs,
Cancellation and Repayment of Preference Shares and Scheme of Arrangement.
At a hearing on Friday, 20 June 2003, the High Court approved the cancellation
and repayment of all of the issued and unissued 5.5 per cent. cumulative
preference shares of (GBP)1 each in Smith & Nephew plc (the 'Preference
Shares') by way of a reduction of capital. The reduction of capital is
expected to become effective today, Monday, 23 June 2003, and the 268,500
issued Preference Shares are expected to cease trading on the London Stock
Exchange and be cancelled from the Official List of the UK Listing Authority
on Tuesday, 24 June 2003.
Under the terms of the cancellation and repayment, Preference shareholders
will receive (GBP)1.38 per Preference Share together with accrued dividends
to the date of repayment. Preference Shareholders will be sent a cheque no
later than Monday, 7 July 2003.
At the same hearing the High Court agreed, at the request of Smith & Nephew,
to adjourn the hearing of the proposed scheme of arrangement until such later
time as Smith & Nephew may request. Smith & Nephew requested the adjournment
to allow it to consider the impact of Zimmer's offers for Centerpulse A.G. and
InCentive Capital A.G. on the Smith & Nephew scheme of arrangement.
Yours faithfully,
P.R. Chambers
Company Secretary
United States of America
The offer for Centerpulse shares is being made in the United States only
through a prospectus/offer to exchange, which is part of a registration
statement filed with the SEC by Smith & Nephew Group. Centerpulse shareholders
who are US persons or are located in the United States are urged to read the
registration statement, including the prospectus/offer to exchange included
therein, and the other documents filed, or to be filed, with the SEC by Smith
& Nephew Group or Centerpulse relating to the Centerpulse offer, because they
contain important information about the Centerpulse offer. You may obtain a
free copy of these documents from the SEC's Web site at www.sec.gov. You may
also obtain this information from Morrow & Co., Inc., the US information agent
for the Centerpulse offer, at (800) 607-0088, or by e-mail at
centerpulse.info@morrowco.com