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 September 20, 2006 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: September 20, 2006 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 1,857,400 Bank Of New York Nominees Ltd 1,596,545 Northern Trust 168,700 Chase Manhattan Bank Australia Ltd 7,100 Chase Nominees Ltd 8,633,292 BT Globenet Nominees Ltd 241,500 Midland Bank plc 1,264,000 Cede & Co 129,900 Deutsche Bank Mannheim 4,500 Bankers Trust 367,845 Barclays Bank 82,000 Brown Bros 42,700 Nortrust Nominees 3,231,034 MSS Nominees Ltd 51,000 State Street Bank & Trust Co 217,800 Citibank 9,800 Citibank NA 16,900 Deutsche Bank AG 3,600 HSBC Bank plc 2,900 Mellon Bank NA 84,400 Bank of Ireland Nominees Limited 6,400 ROY Nominees Ltd 24,300 Mellon Nominees (UK) Ltd 567,500 HSBC 20,300 JP Morgan Chase Bank 904,233 Capital International Ltd: State Street Nominees Ltd 65,700 Bank of New York Nominees 982,685 Northern Trust 386,544 Chase Nominees Ltd 693,193 Midland Bank plc 118,000 Citibank London 13,500 Morgan Guaranty 77,500 Nortrust Nominees 742,572 MSS Nominees Limited 16,200 State Street Bank & Trust Co 380,426 Lloyds Bank 3,900 Citibank 8,300 Citibank NA 334,100 Deutsche Bank AG 24,700 HSBC Bank plc 289,665 Mellon Bank NA 28,700 Northern Trust AVFC 80,038 KAS UK 31,400 Mellon Nominees (UK) Ltd 48,600 Bank One London 48,400 JP Morgan Chase Bank 7,100 Raiffeisen Zentral Bank 302,400 Fortis Bank 10,500 Metzler Seel Sohn & Co. 8,100 Nordea Bank 67,000 Bayerische Hypo Und Vereinsbank AG 13,000 Capital International SA: Chase Nominees Ltd 405,000 Midland Bank plc 11,000 Pictet & Cie 44,800 State Street Bank & Trust Co 39,000 Lloyds Bank 18,500 HSBC Bank plc 133,200 JP Morgan Chase Bank 12,900 Metzler Seel Sohn & Co. 11,600 Capital Research and Management Company: State Street Nominees Ltd 23,411,800 Chase Nominees Ltd 109,302,379 JPM Nominees Ltd 50,000 State Street Bank & Trust Co 182,000 Capital International Inc State Street Nominees Limited 647,800 Bank of New York Nominees 243,800 Northern Trust 15,400 Chase Nominees Limited 761,000 Midland Bank 19,000 Bankers Trust 11,200 Nortrust Nominees 137,200 State Street Bank & Trust Co 47,900 Citibank 9,000 Citibank NA 132,700 HSBC Bank plc 33,500 JP Morgan Chase Bank 38,100 5. Number of shares / amount of stock acquired ................................................................ 6. Percentage of issued class ................................................................ 7. Number of shares / amount of stock disposed Not disclosed 8. Percentage of issued class Not disclosed 9. Class of security Ordinary shares of US 20 cents 10. Date of transaction 18.09.06 11. Date company informed 19.09.06 12. Total holding following this notification 160,036,651 13. Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification 16.99% 14. Any additional information ................................................................ 15. Name of contact and telephone number for queries Phil Higgins - Assistant Company Secretary 020 7960 2228 16. Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for making this notification Phil Higgins - Assistant Company Secretary Date of notification 20.09.06 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.