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 April 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: April 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 82,550 Bank Of New York Nominees Ltd 1,377,243 Chase Manhattan Bank Australia Ltd 8,500 Chase Nominees Ltd 6,730,310 BT Globenet Nominees Ltd 137,300 Midland Bank plc 240,700 Cede & Co 140,500 Deutsche Bank Mannheim 4,500 Bankers Trust 49,200 Nortrust Nominees 1,371,174 MSS Nominees Ltd 31,700 State Street Bank & Trust Co 55,900 Deutsche Bank AG 3,600 HSBC Bank plc 2,900 ROY Nominees Ltd 4,600 Mellon Nominees (UK) Ltd 337,900 Bank One London 9,700 HSBC 5,200 JP Morgan Chase Bank 907,333 Capital International Ltd: State Street Nominees Ltd 9,200 Bank of New York Nominees 923,106 Northern Trust 384,044 Chase Nominees Ltd 703,545 Midland Bank plc 22,900 Morgan Guaranty 77,500 Nortrust Nominees 570,726 State Street Bank & Trust Co 319,641 Citibank 101,600 Deutsche Bank AG 22,000 HSBC Bank plc 265,565 Mellon Bank NA 28,700 KAS UK 8,900 Bank One London 31,300 JP Morgan Chase Bank 10,800 Raiffeisen Zentral Bank 89,400 Fortis Bank 7,000 Metzler Seel Sohn & Co. 6,500 Nordea Bank 19,000 Bayerische Hypo Und Vereinsbank AG 9,600 Capital International SA: Chase Nominees Ltd 112,600 Midland Bank plc 6,900 Lloyds Bank 5,200 HSBC Bank plc 38,400 Metzler Seel Sohn & Co. 10,200 Capital Research and Management Company: State Street Nominees Ltd 17,890,800 Chase Nominees Ltd 89,013,589 State Street Bank & Trust Co 182,000 Capital International Inc Nortrust Nominees 23,000 HSBC Bank plc 11,500 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 US 20 cents 10. Date of transaction Not known 11. Date company informed 20.04.06 12. Total holding following this notification 122,406,026 13. Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification 13.00% 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 20.04.06 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.