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, 2002 SMITH & NEPHEW plc (Registrant's name) Heron House 15 Adam Street London, England WCN 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 whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form 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. Total Pages: 2 20 June 2002 The Secretary London Stock Exchange RNS Old Broad Street London EC2N 1HP Dear Sirs, Smith & Nephew plc has been notified today, pursuant to Section 198 of the Companies Act 1985 (as amended), by Merrill Lynch Investment Managers that they have a notifiable interest in 93,145,312 ordinary shares of 12 2/9p each in the Company, representing 10.04% of the issued capital of the Company, as at 14th June 2002. Yours faithfully, J.V. Sutton Assistant Company Secretary