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 ---- October 11, 2002 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 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 10 October 2002 The Secretary PR Newswire Ludgate House 245 Blackfriars Road London SE1 9UY Dear Sirs, Smith & Nephew plc has been notified today, pursuant to Section 198 of the Companies Act 1985 (as amended), by FMR Corp and Fidelity International Limited that they have a notifiable interest in 65,061,418 ordinary shares of 12 2/9p each in the Company representing 7.01% of the issued share capital of the Company. Yours faithfully, J.V. Sutton Assistant Company Secretary