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 August 17, 2005 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 --- --- [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 --- --- [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 --- --- [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 --- --- If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2 (b) : 82- n/a. 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: August 17, 2005 By: /s/ Paul Chambers ----------------- Paul Chambers Company Secretary NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES 1. Name of company Smith & Nephew plc 2. Name of shareholder having a major interest The Capital Group Companies, Inc. 3. Please state whether notification indicates that it is in respect of holding of the shareholder named in 2 above or in respect of a non-beneficial interest or in the case of an individual holder if it is a holding of that person's spouse or children under the age of 18 Non-beneficial 4. Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the number of shares held by each of them Capital Guardian Trust Company: State Street Nominees Ltd 50,850 Bank Of New York Nominees Ltd 504,543 Chase Manhattan Bank Australia Ltd 4,800 Chase Nominees Ltd 503,613 BT Globenet Nominees Ltd 53,900 Midland Bank plc 24,200 Cede & Co 45,400 Nortrust Nominees 1,096,840 Royal Bank of Scotland 5,500 MSS Nominees Ltd 13,400 State Street Bank & Trust Co 3,000 RBSTB Nominees Ltd 3,100 Deutsche Bank AG 1,800 ROY Nominees Ltd 3,500 Mellon Nominees (UK) Ltd 42,200 JP Morgan Chase Bank 3,300 Capital International Ltd: State Street Nominees Ltd 14,400 Bank of New York Nominees 547,665 Northern Trust 294,344 Chase Nominees Ltd 364,293 Midland Bank plc 22,900 Bankers Trust 16,400 Morgan Guaranty 57,500 Nortrust Nominees 597,126 State Street Bank & Trust Co 22,500 Deutsche Bank AG 166,741 HSBC Bank plc 156,965 Mellon Bank NA 13,800 Bank One London 24,400 Capital International SA: Chase Nominees Ltd 85,952 Lloyds Bank 13,600 Capital Research and Management Company: State Street Nominees Ltd 7,965,300 Chase Nominees Ltd 15,639,846 5. Number of shares / amount of stock acquired Not disclosed 6. Percentage of issued class Not disclosed 7. Number of shares / amount of stock disposed ............................................................... 8. Percentage of issued class ............................................................... 9. Class of security Ordinary shares of 12 2/9p 10. Date of transaction ............................................................... 11. Date company informed 17.08.2005 12. Total holding following this notification 28,363,678 13. Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification 3.02% 14. Any additional information ............................................................... 15. Name of contact and telephone number for queries Kate Cummins - Company Secretarial Assistant 020 7960 2251 16. Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for making this notification Kate Cummins - Company Secretarial Assistant Date of notification 17.08.2005 The FSA does not give any express or implied warranty as to the accuracy of this document or material and does not accept any liability for error or omission. The FSA is not liable for any damages (including, without limitation, damages for loss of business or loss of profits) arising in contract, tort or otherwise from the use of or inability to use this document, or any material contained in it, or from any action or decision taken as a result of using this document or any such material.