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 06, 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: June 06, 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 1,389,550 Bank Of New York Nominees Ltd 1,794,043 Northern Trust 72,200 Chase Manhattan Bank Australia Ltd 8,500 Chase Nominees Ltd 8,330,610 BT Globenet Nominees Ltd 424,600 Midland Bank plc 1,146,300 Cede & Co 142,500 Deutsche Bank Mannheim 4,500 Bankers Trust 294,800 Barclays Bank 18,900 Brown Bros 25,500 Nortrust Nominees 2,819,674 MSS Nominees Ltd 64,700 State Street Bank & Trust Co 138,100 Deutsche Bank AG 3,600 Citibank NA 32,000 HSBC Bank plc 2,900 Mellon Bank NA 109,000 ROY Nominees Ltd 4,600 Mellon Nominees (UK) Ltd 525,200 Bank One London 9,700 HSBC 5,200 JP Morgan Chase Bank 951,633 Capital International Ltd: State Street Nominees Ltd 21,700 Bank of New York Nominees 713,606 Northern Trust 281,644 Chase Nominees Ltd 784,845 Midland Bank plc 38,200 Morgan Guaranty 77,500 Nortrust Nominees 447,872 State Street Bank & Trust Co 89,600 Citibank 263,700 Deutsche Bank AG 24,700 HSBC Bank plc 286.865 Mellon Bank NA 28,700 KAS UK 24,100 Bank One London 31,300 Raiffeisen Zentral Bank 244,400 Fortis Bank 10,500 Metzler Seel Sohn & Co. 6,500 Nordea Bank 57,000 Bayerische Hypo Und Vereinsbank AG 9,600 Capital International SA: Chase Nominees Ltd 324,600 Midland Bank plc 6,900 Pictet & Cie 34,700 State Street Bank & Trust Co 30,300 Lloyds Bank 14,800 HSBC Bank plc 98,200 JP Morgan Chase Bank 10,800 Metzler Seel Sohn & Co. 10,200 Capital Research and Management Company: State Street Nominees Ltd 18,043,000 Chase Nominees Ltd 91,269,800 JPM Nominees Ltd 20,000 State Street Bank & Trust Co 182,000 Capital International Inc Nortrust Nominees 63,600 HSBC Bank plc 34,900 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 05.06.06 11. Date company informed 06.06.06 12. Total holding following this notification 131,904,442 13. Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification 14.01% 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 06.06.06 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.