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Smith & Nephew

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Industry Furnishings, Fixtures & Appliances
Employees 10,000+
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FY2000 Annual Report · Smith & Nephew
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The facts behind the figures

Strong financial performance
Underlying sales growth in our ongoing
business areas was 9% and margins rose 
from 16% to 17%. Adjusted earnings per
share were up by 8% after 7% restructuring
dilution. Key factors in this achievement
were the increasing innovation and strength
of the product range and the planned
expansion of our sales teams worldwide.
Margins benefited from continuing
manufacturing efficiencies and rationalisation.

Turnover 
£ million

Profit before tax and exceptional items 
£ million

1,069

1,048

1,053

1,120

1,135

182.2

160.7

152.4

170.9

171.4

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

4

Smith & Nephew 2000

Chairman’s statement

Two years ago, we announced a plan 
to transform Smith & Nephew. Over three
years the business would change from a
healthcare conglomerate into a group
focused on long term growth markets in
medical devices. The measure of our
success would be a substantial
improvement in financial performance – 
with margins up by three percentage points
to 17% and high single-digit earnings
growth each year.

I am pleased to report that the
transformation is progressing ahead of
schedule. We are meeting our financial
targets and have delivered a substantial
increase in value for shareholders.

During 2000 we largely completed the

repositioning of the business. In June we 
sold our consumer products business for 
a net consideration of £210m. In October
we announced a joint venture with
Beiersdorf to include both companies’
traditional woundcare, casting, bandaging
and compression hosiery (phlebology)
businesses. We also agreed the purchase of
Beiersdorf’s advanced woundcare business
for £30m and announced our intention to
divest our ENT business.

Share price (pence)
350

300

250

200

150

21

3

4

5 6

6

Smith & Nephew 2000

Financial performance
Sales and profits in our ongoing business
areas continued to grow well. The underlying
sales growth was 9% and margins continued
to strengthen despite the divestment of our
profitable consumer business. Adjusted
earnings per share (EPS) rose 8% to 11.61p.

Importantly, investors are recognising

the transformation in Smith & Nephew’s
growth prospects. Their confidence in our
future has been reflected in a shareholder
return of 43% in the year. 

Capital structure and dividend
During the year we created a more efficient
and cash generative capital structure and
returned cash to shareholders, delivering
the promised benefits from our active
management of the business portfolio.
In August we paid shareholders a

special dividend totalling £416m – 
37.14p per share – and in a related share
consolidation issued nine new shares for
each 11 previously held. We also
announced a change in dividend policy as
part of our strategic emphasis on making
Smith & Nephew a recognised growth
business. Our intention is that shareholders’
future returns will come increasingly from
real growth in the value of their shares and
so will depend less on the dividend. We
have therefore raised our dividend cover to
around 2.5 times, and accordingly propose
a final dividend of 2.8p per ordinary share.
This gives a total for the year of 4.5p,
compared with 6.5p in 1999. The reduction
in dividend will leave more cash in the
business for future investment in acquisitions
and organic growth, to support further
improvement in shareholder value.

 Share price progression in 2000 

1 31.01.00 Acquisition of Collagenase
2 21.02.00 1999 Preliminary Results
3 28.06.00 Sale of Consumer/Intended 

JV/Capital Restructure

4 07.08.00 2000 Interim Results
5 02.11.00 JV signed/announced 

increased EPS target

6 20.11.00 Acquisition of Orthopaedic
Biosystems

to raise the bar: in the three years from
2002 our targeted EPS growth rate is to 
be in the mid-teens. 

This performance will not come from
restructuring alone. As the Chief Executive’s
review on the following pages makes clear,
our transformation has been underpinned
by the strength and excellence of our
product and service offering. It has also
been sustained by the people who work for
Smith & Nephew. Through their energy and
dedication the group is driving towards its
aim of being first choice in medical devices. 

Dudley Eustace
Chairman

Board
Two directors left the board in October.
Deputy Chief Executive Alan Fryer took
early retirement following the restructuring
of the Group; Dr Nancy Lane, a non-
executive director, retired after three terms. 
Alan has had a distinguished career with
the company over 31 years, 13 of them as
a board member, and Nancy has been 
a director for nine years. We are grateful 
for all that they have both contributed and
wish them well.

We have taken the opportunity to
widen the board’s international experience
by bringing in two new non-executive
directors from the USA. Warren Knowlton,
who joined in November, is Chief Executive
Officer of the US operations of Pilkington
and worldwide President of its automotive
and aerospace activities. Richard De
Schutter, who joined in January 2001, 
is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
of The Dupont Pharmaceuticals Company.
He was previously Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of G.D. Searle, the
pharmaceutical subsidiary of the Monsanto
Company, and was until recently Senior
Vice President of Pharmacia Corporation.

Outlook
Two-thirds of the way through the
transformation programme, Smith &
Nephew is in better shape than ever to
seize the opportunities for growth in its
chosen markets.

Our targets for growth in margins 
and EPS were ambitious, but we have
demonstrated our ability to meet them.
Indeed, our progress has been so
encouraging that in October we decided 

Smith & Nephew 2000

7

Chief Executive’s statement

Transformation
The vision we adopted in 1998 was to
become first choice in our chosen medical
device areas of orthopaedics, endoscopy
and wound management. These are
technologically advanced areas of
considerable growth potential where we
can realistically aim for world market
leadership. In 2000 we took the world 
No1 position in wound management for 
the first time and strengthened our
leadership in the arthroscopic segment of
endoscopy. In orthopaedics, where we are
one of the market leaders, we continued 
to build market share.

Our exit from the consumer

marketplace in June 2000 has given us 
a clear focus on medical devices and
enables us to seek further acquisitions in
this area. We sold our feminine hygiene and
toiletries business – including Lil-lets and
Simple – to a management buyout team 
for £140m, and the Elastoplast first aid
dressings business to Beiersdorf for £80m.
The disposal had a negative impact on
earnings in 2000 but will allow stronger
growth from 2002 onwards. 

In November we announced a global
joint venture with Beiersdorf that combines
the two companies’ traditional woundcare,
casting, bandaging and phlebology
businesses. The businesses we will transfer
into the venture had annual sales of £150m
and generated operating profits of £17m in

2000. The joint venture, 50% owned 
by each company and headquartered in
Germany, will have annual sales of over
£300m and some 3,000 employees. It
begins operations in April 2001. There is
flexibility for both partners to review their
involvement after five years.

In a related transaction we agreed to
acquire Beiersdorf’s advanced woundcare
business for £30m in cash. This will give 
us critical mass in several key national
markets, particularly Germany; and brands
such as the Cutinova moist wound healing
products and Leukostrip/Leokoclip for
wound closure strengthen our product
portfolio and R&D capability. The business
generated operating profit of £3m from
sales of £35m in 2000. 

To complete the restructuring of the

group we intend to dispose of our ear, 
nose and throat (ENT) business this year.
ENT provides implants to replace diseased
bones in the middle ear and products for
head, neck and sinus surgery. In 2000 it
generated operating profit of £5m from
sales of £31m. 

We intend to develop our rehabilitation

business as a fourth global business
providing medical devices for the post-
surgical orthopaedic and active rehabilitation
markets. In our segments of the market we
are already world leader. With 2000 sales of
£68m and a growing market in orthopaedic
recovery, we expect rehabilitation to make
an increasing contribution to group sales
and profit.

The joint venture with Beiersdorf,
advanced woundcare acquisition and ENT
disposal will modestly dilute earnings per
share in 2001, be broadly neutral in 2002
and contribute to stronger growth thereafter.

329

276

216

193

211

177

180

181

64

68

Continuing sales by
product group 
£ million
 2000
 1999

Orthopaedics

Endoscopy

Advanced wound 
management

Rehabilitation

Other
operations

8

Smith & Nephew 2000

While undertaking this major
restructuring of the group we have also
been working to maintain continued
improvement throughout the business. 
In particular, we have been rationalising
manufacturing, reducing costs to enhance
margins, and increasing the impetus of 
our R&D and product development to
deliver new products that meet clearly
identified market needs.

Acquisitions
We have supplemented our product
development programme by acquiring new
products and businesses that strengthen our
competitive position in our chosen markets.
In January 2000 we acquired the
Collagenase advanced woundcare business
from BASF Pharma for £74m. Collagenase
(Santyl in North America and Iruxol and
Novuxol in the rest of the world) is one of
the world’s three highest selling woundcare
products. The acquisition gives our advanced
wound management business an uplift in
sales and has made us clear market leader
in this strongly-growing field. It also gives 
us a substantially enlarged sales force in
key markets worldwide – in the US, for
example, our team has doubled to 190, the
largest focused sales force in the sector.
Collagenase has strong market
positions in the US, Germany, Spain, Italy
and Brazil. We intend to accelerate its
growth by registering it in further major
markets including the UK, France, Japan
and Australia.

In November we acquired Orthopaedic
Biosystems, the Arizona-based arthroscopy
business, for £17m. This rapidly expanding
company sells effective and simple to use
devices for reattaching muscle and

ligaments to bone in the shoulder. This is
one of the fastest-growing segments in
arthroscopic surgery and the acquisition
strengthens our leadership in arthroscopy
and sports-related medicine.

Our sales in 2000 benefited from good

performances by the businesses acquired
in 1999. Exogen, our ultrasound bone
healing product, received regulatory and
reimbursement approvals in the USA and 
is well positioned for further growth in 2001.
The hip and shoulder business acquired
from 3M performed above expectations and
was particularly successful in Japan.

Sales and market share
Our underlying sales growth was 9% 
in our ongoing operations. This good
performance reflected the increasing
strength of our product range, an uplift 
of just under 1% from price rises, and the
growing effectiveness of our sales teams
worldwide. We have substantially enlarged
the sales force across the group, with
particular growth in orthopaedics and
wound management. 

Our orthopaedics business had an
excellent year. Underlying sales growth 
of 10% was driven by the success of the
replacement hip and knee ranges, which
increased sales by 17%. Global market
share increased to 7%.

Endoscopy increased sales by 8%,

benefiting from a series of important
product introductions through the year. We
can expect further benefit in 2001, when all
these products will be making a full year’s
contribution. We remained market leader 
in arthroscopy with a global share of 31%.
Advanced Wound Management

achieved sales growth of 10%. Global market

Smith & Nephew 2000

9

Chief Executive’s statement
continued

share increased to 21% and we gained
market leadership. Once the Beiersdorf joint
venture becomes operational in April this
year, this business will be fully focused on
high-technology, higher-margin products. 
Our Rehabilitation business was in

transition in 2000, as we reorganised and
increased its focus on orthopaedics-related
rehabilitation. Its market share in this area 
is 10%. Sales rose 4% in 2000. 

ENT and casting and bandaging
operations, which are not included in
ongoing operations, grew by 2%.

Our values
We are commited to continuing to develop
our values of performance, innovation and
trust:

– We have a performance culture
geared to sustained long term growth;

– We encourage innovation in products
and services for our customers, and in our
business processes;

– We are intent on deserving the trust 

of clinicians, patients, healthcare
administrators, investors, employees and
the communities we serve.

Product innovation
Innovation is the lifeblood of a medical
device company like Smith & Nephew. We
maintain a strong focus on introducing new
products that will benefit patients and

healthcare providers and enable us to grow
sustainably at above-market rates.

The transformation of the business has

included major changes in the way we
conduct our R&D. Research is now more
commercially focused, and each of our
business units has its own project teams 
at the Group Research Centre. 

This more commercially-oriented
strategy is now delivering outstanding new
products. In the past year we have seen an
excellent sales performance from recently-
launched products such as Synergy and
Echelon hips, Endobutton ligament fixation
and Profore leg ulcer treatment. We have
also seen an enthusiastic market response
to our latest products, including third
generation TriGen nails for fracture fixation
and the revolutionary TriVex system for
minimally invasive removal of varicose veins.

E-business
We are now major users of internet
technology. As well as offering websites that
make ordering and inventory management
easier for customers, we also use the net 
to provide information and support for 
our 2,000-strong sales force worldwide 
and to provide a number of information 
and education services for healthcare
professionals and patients.

Costs and margins
Our commitment to improve underlying
margins by 1 percentage point a year implies
an energetic commitment to continuing
cost reduction. This has involved substantial
manufacturing rationalisation as well as 
the development of a more performance-
oriented culture.

10 Smith & Nephew 2000

The programme to concentrate
production on fewer centres is well under
way. In 2000 we closed our factories in
Australia and Canada, and opened a new
manufacturing facility in Mexico. The balance
of the rationalisation programme, which is
continuing on schedule, will take place largely
on behalf of the joint venture with Beiersdorf.
Other significant cost reduction activity

includes a group purchasing initiative and
the closure of regional offices in Birmingham
and Milan. We have taken care to ensure
that closures have not affected the service
that we provide to customers. Where these
initiatives have involved more job reductions
than we could achieve through natural
wastage we have sought to provide
support to employees by giving as much
notice as possible, and by easing the
transition through counselling, advice and
appropriate redundancy payments.

Social responsibility
Smith & Nephew seeks to balance the
requirements of its shareholders with its
responsibility to its employees, the
community and environment.

Our employment policies emphasise

equality of opportunity, continuous training
and development, open communications
and rewards appropriate to local markets.
We welcome disabled people and make
every effort to retain any employee who
becomes disabled.

In 2000 the group’s direct donations 

to charitable and community activities were
£925,000, of which £400,000 went to the
Smith & Nephew Foundation to fund awards
to the medical and nursing professions.
Smith & Nephew again made no political
contribution in 2000.

Smith & Nephew’s commitment
to reducing its impact on the environment
included continuing savings by reducing
and recycling waste, and active energy
management. We also substantially cut
our atmospheric emissions. During the
year, Orthopaedics achieved ISO 14001
accreditation for its environmental
management systems and our other
businesses continue to work towards
this standard.

Our first report detailing our progress

towards incorporating the principles of
sustainable development in all our operations
is now available on our website at
www.smith-nephew.com.

Health and safety
During the year we consolidated our various
health and safety policies across the group,
recognising that good health and safety
standards and practice go hand-in-hand
with good business results. Each of our
businesses is responsible for reporting
health and safety progress and performance
annually as part of our internal control
measures.

Our people
Before turning to the performance of
individual business units, I would like to 
pay personal tribute to the drive and
enthusiasm of the management team, and
the real involvement of people throughout
the business. Their efforts are enhancing
relationships with our customers and
enabling us to achieve the goals we have
set ourselves for performance, innovation
and trust.

535

444

Continuing sales by 
geographic market 
£ million
 2000
 1999

202

212

93

93

151

166

United 
Kingdom

Continental
Europe

America

Africa, Asia
& Australasia

Smith & Nephew 2000 11

In two years Smith & Nephew
has been transformed.
Today it is a focused, high-
technology growth 
business with leading
positions in its chosen medical
device sectors.

> The picture above right shows the action
of Collagenase in helping clean decaying
matter from hard-to-heal wounds, thereby
radically improving the healing process. 
> The new Genesis II zirconium knee in
production. A major advance in knee implant
technology.

22 Smith & Nephew 2000

The year 2000 has been a real turning
point. Smith & Nephew has become a
leaner, more purposeful business that we
can grow more aggressively. The disposal
of our consumer businesses and the joint
venture with Beiersdorf mean that we are
now fully focused on profitable, technology-
based medical devices. These transactions,
together with the capital restructuring, have
been well received by the stock markets.
The purchases of Exogen, Collagenase and
Orthopaedic Biosystems, and the purchase
in 2001 of Beiersdorf’s advanced woundcare
business, clearly demonstrate our aim of
further strengthening the group’s position
by acquisitions as well as organic growth.
Our growth prospects are excellent.

We have great products and great people.
We continue to build our specialised 
global sales capabilities. Our refocused
R&D activity is delivering a stream of
innovative products providing clinical and
economic benefits to health systems. 

We are broadening our product and service
offerings through mutually advantageous
alliances, and making them more accessible
through e-commerce. We continue to earn
the respect of healthcare professionals as 
a leading provider of medical education and
training. Our relationships with surgeons,
physicians and nurses have never been
stronger.

The foundations are in place. We have
begun to deliver the increased growth that
we promised. Now we are confident enough
to raise our targets still higher. The year’s
increase in shareholder return suggests that
investors share our confidence in the
company’s future.

Christopher O’Donnell
Chief Executive

> Our products are about improving
outcomes for patients. The picture, above
left, shows TransCyte, our bio-engineered
temporary skin covering for treating burns,
being applied at the Children’s National
Medical Centre, Washington DC.
> Members of the knee and hip wear
reduction team, above, at our orthopaedics
business in Memphis – helping us maintain
our reputation for innovation.

Smith & Nephew 2000 23

Performance
Our Orthopaedics business continued to
grow strongly in 2000, gaining market share
and increasing sales by an underlying 10%.
Acquisitions in the previous year added
another 5% to sales. An expanded sales
force and industry-leading new products
were major contributors to the gain. 

To compete effectively in this growing

global market, it is important to have a
skilled sales force that can build strong
relationships with surgeons, and to have a
leading-edge product range. We expanded
the sales force by 10%, attracting skilled
orthopaedic sales people with deep
understanding of their markets. We now
have some 700 orthopaedics sales people
in our key regions worldwide and continuing
expansion in 2001 will include the creation of
a specialist salesforce for key new products. 

Hip and knee joint replacements
performed outstandingly well during the
year. Underlying sales growth of 17% was
over twice the market rate. Our highly
successful Genesis total knee replacement
system proved particularly popular and has
become Orthopaedics’ first $100m per
annum product. 

Sales of our established trauma range

grew by an underlying 6% and Exogen, 
the ultrasound system for healing fresh 
and delayed-healing bone fractures which 
we acquired in 1999, grew by 20%. 
In February it received FDA approval 

in the US for non-healing fractures and
subsequently gained Medicare
reimbursement approval in August. 

The hip and shoulder products we
acquired from 3M in 1999 added to our
overall hip and shoulder portfolios. 

Innovation
Smith & Nephew has a reputation for
innovative products that offer clear clinical
and cost benefits, backed-up with first-
class service. We maintained this reputation
in orthopaedics with a series of important
new product and service launches in 2000.

TriGen, launched into targeted
accounts in 2000 and now fully available,
sets new standards in fixing long bone
fractures. Made of titanium, it features a
less invasive surgical technique than
previous systems, and offers innovative
instruments that provide new levels of
surgical efficiency. 

The development of web-based

services and computer-assisted tools 
has provided new opportunities for us. 
In August we entered an alliance with
Medtronic to develop and market
orthopaedic applications for Image Guided
Surgery (IGS). The use of IGS products will
offer significant benefits for patients,
surgeons and operating room staff,
including less invasive procedures,
increased surgical accuracy and reduced
radiation exposure. An estimated 750,000

1. Launched in 1998, the Synergy and Echelon hip
systems give us our first complete hip offering for both
primary and revision needs. 2. Genesis II zirconium 
knee production, Memphis. Scheduled for launch in
2001, the oxidised zirconium coating on the implant
significantly reduces the amount of wear thereby
increasing the potential life of the implant.

Orthopaedics

12 Smith & Nephew 2000

1. 

trauma and total joint operations could
benefit from image-guided surgery every
year. The overall market for computer-
assisted surgery is estimated at $200m and
annual growth is expected to average
around 15% for the next five years. 

Also in August, we launched Remote

Image Services in conjunction with
eTrauma.com. This interactive and secure
web-based system allows surgeons to 
view images of a patient’s x-ray anywhere 
in the world on a standard PC. It enables
faster diagnosis and speedier treatment at
low cost, and creates new possibilities in
surgical planning, technical review and
second opinions. 

Supartz, a lubricant which is injected
into knee joints to relieve the pain caused
by osteoarthritis, received FDA approval 
in January 2001 and will be launched in 
the US in the second quarter. The market
for this product is estimated at $200m in
the US alone and is growing at 12% 
per annum.

Our strategy for future growth is
founded on continuing leadership in new
product development and we have active
development pipelines to bring new products
to all our markets. Innovations scheduled for
launch in 2001 include Profix and Genesis II

2. 

knee implants made from a new material for
orthopaedic applications, oxidised zirconium
with improved wear properties which are
expected to be of significant benefit to
younger, more active patients.

Future growth
The opportunity in orthopaedics is based 
on worldwide economic and demographic
trends. Longer-living populations are
resulting in growing demand for hip and
knee replacements, and for revisions as
they wear out. In turn, this is driving
demand for longer-lasting bearing surfaces.
The growing popularity of sports, especially
among women, has brought an increase 
in injuries and joint operations. Patient
empowerment and healthcare economics
are driving demand for less invasive
procedures such as Exogen and Supartz. 

These trends play to our strengths. 

We will continue to penetrate the joint
reconstruction market by leveraging our
strong portfolio of products and services,
and by introducing less invasive products
and technologies. We are working to
accelerate our growth in the trauma market
by making effective use of radical new
products such as our Image Guided Surgery
applications. We are contributing to patient
education and empowerment through 
our websites and intend to make further 
in roads into the fast-growing market for
less invasive therapies.

New products
contribute 33% 
of sales

Smith & Nephew 2000 13

Performance
Our Endoscopy business increased sales
by an underlying 8%, boosted by a strong
programme of 10 new product launches.
We further strengthened and trained our
sales force, and in addition to the world’s
largest arthroscopy sales team we now also
have a dedicated endosurgery team driving
our entry into non-arthroscopic procedures.

Relationships with surgeons are
crucial. We are committed to working with
them to develop new techniques that will
reduce patient trauma and pain, cut costs
to healthcare systems and improve
outcomes for surgeons. 

We continued to enhance our
manufacturing performance. Initiatives to
improve margins and reduce product costs
included the introduction of a one-piece
tubing machine in our blade line. This cut
manufacturing time by 50%, saving $2m 
a year. We also completed our focused
factory programme to concentrate similar
products into single plants, saving almost
$1m a year. 

Innovation
We offer all four arthroscopic technologies –
access, visualisation, resection and repair –
and are building on our leadership position
with a strong product development pipeline
involving over 30 new techniques and
products.

The majority of products launched 

in 2000 strengthened our portfolio in
arthroscopy. In the larger endoscopy market
we introduced TriVex, the first completely
new varicose vein surgery technique in
centuries.

The new Dyonics Power shaver

system brings enhanced value to 
a $340m market. Its higher torque allows
surgeons to operate at slower speeds with
more control. The system’s new BoneCutter
blades are ideal for a variety of arthroscopic
procedures. A single blade is able both to
cut soft tissue and to act as a burr to remove
bone, saving significant surgeon time. 
We introduced our first absorbable
product for rotator cuff ligament tears in 
the shoulder – the RotorloC suture anchor –
and enhanced our leadership in knee
ligament repair with the launch of the
BioRCI screw. This attaches soft tissue
grafts to bone and is then gradually
absorbed by the body.

In December we acquired Orthopaedic
Biosystems, an Arizona-based arthroscopy
business. This brought us new tissue
fixation technology and a complete shoulder
repair product line, significantly increasing
our share of the shoulder repair market.
TriVex, our revolutionary system for 
minimally invasive varicose vein removal,
offers a major advance over traditional 
surgery. The technique allows precise,

Endoscopy

1. 

14 Smith & Nephew 2000

reliable and efficient vein extraction – cutting
operating theatre time by up to 50%,
requiring fewer incisions per operation and
reducing post-operative pain. During 2000
we trained over 250 surgeons around the
world to use the system, and numbers will
continue to climb steadily this year.

We continue to develop e-business
platforms that provide information, education
and easier access to our products. The US
launch of eFast, providing innovative,
added-value service and financing support,
has given healthcare purchasers better
access to capital equipment such as
visualisation products. Dyonics1.com
provides a new outlet for pre-owned
equipment. And new patient information
sites – Knee1.com, Shoulder1.com and
Veins1.com – helped thousands of patients
to learn more about their conditions and
available treatments, and to make contact
with surgeons.

Future growth
To sustain growth and maintain our strong
market position we are increasing the value
and number of customer relationship benefit
programmes. An important element in this
process is our OnSight training programme,
which enables surgeons to visit Smith &
Nephew and see for themselves the work
we are doing to advance and simplify surgical
techniques: 114 leading surgeons visited 
us in 2000.

We are also enhancing our reputation

for surgeon-focused innovation with our
InVentures BioSkills Lab at our Mansfield,
Massachusetts facility. This is accelerating
the progress of knee and shoulder surgery
by enabling surgeons who have an idea for
a new technique to visit us and develop the
concept in our state-of-the-art facility. We
can then commercialise both the technique
and the necessary instrumentation. Last
year, 115 surgeons from around the world
participated in this programme and
generated 240 prototypes.

The key to growth in the endoscopy
market will continue to be innovation, with
techniques that offer patient benefits and
improved healthcare economics. We are
earning increasing recognition as an innovator
and our objective is that by 2004, 25% of
all sales will be from products launched in
the previous three years. 

1. TriVex is the first completely new
varicose vein surgery technique in
centuries. Pictured is the TriVex powered
resector. 2. Arthroscopy blade production
at our facility in Andover, Massachussetts.

2. 

10 new products
launched during
2000

Smith & Nephew 2000 15

Performance
Our advanced wound management business
increased underlying sales by 10%. BSN
Medical, our joint venture with Beiersdorf, will
acquire our traditional dressings products in
2001, allowing wound management to focus
its attention on higher added value advanced
woundcare products.

The acquisition of Collagenase in
January 2000 made us clear world market
leader in advanced wound management. 
It adds one of the world’s top three wound
management products to our portfolio 
and gives us a leading position in the
pharmaceutically active segment of the
market, which we expect to continue
growing strongly. Collagenase is an enzyme
that helps clean decaying matter from 
hard-to-heal wounds and radically improves
the healing process. Linked to our existing
products, it enables us to pioneer the
concept of wound bed preparation as a new
approach to the science of wound healing.
We intend to accelerate Collagenase’s
growth by registering it in additional markets
– notably the UK, France, Japan and
Australia. We can now provide a complete
service in wound management therapies,
from wound bed preparation to full closure
of the healing wound.

We have continued to build our sales
and marketing infrastructure in the world’s

major markets – both through investment 
in our existing network and through the
additional sales teams we gained with the
acquisition of Collagenase. The integration
of the two sales forces has increased our
capacity throughout the world, particularly
in our key markets in the US and Germany.

TransCyte, our bio-engineered
temporary skin substitute for burns, which
has been developed through our joint
venture with Advanced Tissue Sciences
(ATS), increased sales by 76%. It has clear
advantages over competitive products 
as a covering and infection barrier, and 
is performing particularly well in the US.
Profore, our four-layer bandage system for
leg ulcers, increased sales by 28%. Allevyn,
our hydrocellular foam dressing range,
remained our most successful wound
management product, growing sales by 19%
and substantially increasing market share.

While building sales on the strength of
our outstanding product range and leading-
edge technology, we have also been 
raising the operational efficiency of our
manufacturing and global supply chain 
to maximise return on capital. Without
disruption to sales or customer service 

1. 

Wound mana

1. We are now focused entirely on higher added value
advanced woundcare products – such as OpSite IV3000,
being used here in the Chirurgische Klinik der Universitat,
Munich. 2. Collagenase, branded Iruxol (Santyl in North
America), which we acquired in January 2000, is one of
the world’s three highest selling wound care products. 

16 Smith & Nephew 2000

in key markets, the manufacturing
rationalisation programme has relocated
low volume production from Australia and
Canada to our new lower-cost facilities in
Hull, where higher volumes have substantially
improved production economics.

management problems and opportunities.

We are confident that the transformation
that has taken place in 2000 has created a
strong platform for the wound management
business to build further on its global
market position.

Future growth
As a result of the formation of BSN Medical,
our wound management business will be
entirely focused on advanced products
offering significant patient and economic
benefits.

Our strategy for future products and
sales growth focuses on three treatment
areas: wound assessment, wound bed
preparation and active healing. In these
areas we intend to provide innovative
solutions to customers’ wound management
problems, including the provision of
substantial education and clinical support. 

Innovation
Our market position is founded on a record of
innovation that has given us a comprehensive
range of state-of-the-art products. We
intend to develop this position further and
have radically re-engineered our R&D
programme – raising expenditure from 
4% of sales to 6%. We are also devoting
increased resources to third party
technology sourcing and partnerships.

Dermagraft, our bio-engineered foot

ulcer treatment which has also been
developed through our joint venture with
ATS, continues to await approval from the
Food and Drugs Administration in the US.
Sales are becoming established in other
countries, where we have obtained
approval, including the UK and Canada. 
E-business technology will support 

our education service for clinicians and
patients and improve access and create
enhanced solutions for customers. One
example of this is our new interactive
website, Wounds1.com, where patients 
and clinicians can learn more about wound

Number one
global market
position

gement

2. 

Smith & Nephew 2000 17

Performance
After review, we decided in 2000 that 
our Rehabilitation business should be
refocused to achieve a step-change in sales
and profit growth in the expanding physical
rehabilitation market. Although smaller than
our other three major businesses,
Rehabilitation is already the global leader 
in its served markets, with a 10% market
share. The business has a strong foothold
in the US, UK and Germany, and an
established presence in the world’s other
major healthcare markets.

The transformation of this business 
has begun and is well underway. We are
focusing on building a technology-based
business that will provide therapists with
products and services for complete
rehabilitation procedures, and in particular
those related to the needs of orthopaedic
recovery patients.

We have also examined our
manufacturing needs, aiming to reduce
exposure to strong currencies and margin
erosion. As a result, we reluctantly decided
to close our Farnham site in the UK, where
we manufacture the Homecraft range of
aids to daily living and electro-mechanical
products. These will be sourced from third-
party suppliers worldwide when the site
closes at the end of March 2001. We have
also begun to rationalise manufacturing at

our Germantown, Wisconsin site in the US,
where our focus is now on proprietary
products. The realignment of the business
will provide considerable future benefits.

During 2000 global sales rose 4%

underlying with a 7% increase in the US.
The strong sales growth in the US benefited
from strategies put in place after the 1999
reimbursement changes. Germany achieved
double-digit sales growth. A 6% decline in
UK sales growth was primarily due to a shift
in customer purchasing practices. Local
and health authorities are moving to direct
care contracts, whereby loan equipment is
managed on behalf of the authority.

We will gain further improvements 

in business performance from our recent
reorganisation in the Canadian and 
French markets. 

1. 

Rehabilitation

18 Smith & Nephew 2000

introduction of these ‘smart’ or active
devices in the field of patient rehabilitation.

Future growth
Our R&D pipeline is expanding with
rehabilitation technology products for 
the future. We are currently developing
technology driven, clinically proven and 
cost effective rehabilitation protocol
products both from our own resources 
and through strategic alliances.

We intend to retain our status as 

world leader in clinical rehabilitation
products through innovation and to utilise
technology to enhance our product line 
and continuously improve our global
logistics and customer service.

Innovation
Our lead rehabilitation technology product
line is the Kinetec range of continuous
passive motion (CPM) machines. These
apply mechanical force to help patients
exercise joints after surgery in a controlled
way and without effort. During 2000 sales
of the Kinetic range increased by 18%.
In Germany, Europe’s largest
healthcare market, we were particularly
successful in growing our Kinetec business.
Germany uses an extensive network of
distributors with close ties to orthopaedic
surgeons and physiotherapists. We
launched the new Kinetec Centura shoulder
unit against strong competition from the
market leader, collaborating with industry
leaders in pain control to achieve good
synergies in orthopaedic recovery.

In the US, the Kinetec range showed

significant year-on-year growth – as did
clinic equipment products in general. 
We also forged a strong relationship with
HealthSouth, the world’s largest sports
medicine and rehabilitation provider, 
which is resulting in opportunities for 
co-development of products.

We believe that the practice of
rehabilitation therapy will benefit from the
introduction of ‘smart’ devices using
electronic capabilities to monitor and deliver
enhanced therapy. We aim to lead the

2. 

1. Our lead rehabilitation technology product line is the
Kinetec range of continuous passive motion (CPM)
machines. The picture shows a CPM machine being
serviced at our plant in Wisconsin. 2. This smart wrist
device is being developed to sense the patient’s arm
position and motion to monitor their exercise regime
both at home and in the clinic.

Refocusing on
‘smart’ devices

Smith & Nephew 2000 19

Joint venture

BSN Medical, our joint venture with
Beiersdorf, starts operation in April 2001.
The joint venture was agreed in November
2000, subject to competition clearances 
in a number of countries – all of which have
now been obtained.

The new venture brings together the

interests of both partners in casting and
bandaging, traditional woundcare and
phlebology (compression hosiery). It will 
be 50% owned by each partner. We will
transfer into the joint venture businesses
with annual sales of £150m and operating
profits of £17m. Future profits will be 
shared equally between the partners. BSN
Medical will combine the strengths of both
parent companies with a new and separate
identity, independent management and
dedicated sales and manufacturing teams
all aimed at creating real market focus. 

Smith & Nephew has had a relationship

with Beiersdorf for over 50 years, most
recently through the distribution agreement
for Nivea. The joint venture – and the
associated sale of Beiersdorf’s advanced
woundcare products to Smith & Nephew –
is a logical extension of the relationship and
perfectly fits the two companies’ strategies:
it will allow Smith & Nephew to concentrate
on becoming an advanced medical device
company, and Beiersdorf to focus its
energies on consumer personal care.

Pro-forma joint venture sales 
in top 10 markets %

Canada 3%

Netherlands 4%

USA 17%

UK 8%

France 8%

Germany 22%

Italy 5%

Spain 4%

Australia 6%

South Africa 3%

20 Smith & Nephew 2000

will distribute BSN Medical’s products into
the hospital and other non-pharmacy
channels; Beiersdorf will distribute products
into the retail pharmacy sector. These
relationships will enable the joint venture 
to benefit from a greater critical mass in all
trade channels, to the mutual benefit of
both partners.

New opportunities
Building on its strong market position is 
an overriding objective for BSN Medical 
in the coming years. With this in mind, the
new business will actively seek to develop
new opportunities through enhanced joint
R&D investment and through acquisitions
and licensing arrangements.

The new company will be managed 
by a combined team from Smith & Nephew
and Beiersdorf led by Graham Siddle, who
will become its Chief Executive. The business
is being planned rigorously and carefully to
become a leading independent global
supplier of high quality healthcare products,
and we expect its enhanced focus to
generate real value for its parent companies.
The partners know each other well and the
deal will remain flexible: both companies
have the option to review their positions
after five years.

Portfolio of leading brands
BSN Medical will become a substantial
global player with annual sales of about
£300m worldwide. It will manage a portfolio
of leading brands in its core product
segments with a mandate to develop
business strongly. Substantial synergies 
will be realised in all areas of the combined
operation, enabling better resource
allocation and creating significant cost
reduction opportunities. This should enable
BSN Medical to generate excellent profit
growth over the medium term.

The new business will be headquartered

in Hamburg, Germany. It will have some
3,000 employees and manufacturing
facilities in the UK, the US, Germany,
France, Ireland, South Africa, Mexico, India
and Pakistan. It will gain continuing benefits
from Smith & Nephew’s manufacturing
rationalisation programme, and from the
integration of the Beiersdorf products and
manufacturing facilities into the programme. 
BSN Medical will be a market leader 
in many of the fields in which it operates.
Casting and bandaging will contribute
about 43% of the business, traditional
woundcare 35% and phlebology 22%.
Geographically, 59% of sales will be in
Europe, 22% in North America and 19% 
in the rest of the world. 

In the key markets of Germany, the

UK, the US, France and the Netherlands,
the company will have its own sales
resources. In other countries, BSN Medical
will share the selling resources of both
parents. In most countries, Smith & Nephew

Smith & Nephew 2000 21

Financial review

Presentation
The group has announced four major restructuring 
steps during the year:

1) the disposal of the consumer business;

2) the payment of a special dividend of £416m and a
consolidation of the number of ordinary shares in issue
on a 9 new ordinary 122⁄9p shares for 11 old 10p shares
basis, from 1,119m to 916m shares;

3) the transfer of the casting and bandaging and
traditional woundcare businesses to a 50/50 joint
venture with Beiersdorf AG and the disposal of the ear,
nose and throat (ENT) business;

4) the acquisitions of the Collagenase and Beiersdorf
advanced woundcare businesses and the Orthopaedic
Biosystems Ltd. Inc. (OBL) arthroscopy business.

The disposal of the consumer business was completed
in the second half of the year and the results of this
business are classified as ‘discontinued’ in the profit and
loss account. However, because the completion of the
transfer to the joint venture of the casting and bandaging
and traditional woundcare businesses will not occur until
2001 and the disposal of ENT is ongoing, the results of
these businesses are classified as ‘other operations’. 
This leaves a clear portrayal of the sales and profits of
the ongoing businesses of orthopaedics, endoscopy,
advanced wound management and rehabilitation. 
The Collagenase and OBL businesses have been
acquired and are included in continuing operations. 
The acquisition of Beiersdorf’s advanced woundcare
business will become effective on 1 April 2001.

The group’s 50% interest in the casting and bandaging
and traditional woundcare joint venture will be accounted
for using the gross equity method from its formation on
1 April 2001.

Trading results
Sales during the year amounted to £1,135m, an increase
of 1% compared with last year. Adjusting for currency and
putting acquisitions and disposals on a like for like basis,
this was an underlying growth of 8%. Within that, the
underlying sales growth of other operations was 2% and
the sales growth of the ongoing businesses was 9%.
Selling price increases accounted for approaching 1% of
overall growth.

Profit before tax and exceptional items amounted to
£171m, consistent with last year, despite the loss of
profit following the disposal of the consumer business
and the financing cost of the special dividend. Interest
swung from £3m received in 1999 to £7m paid as a
consequence of the net capital outflow of these two
events. Unlike previous years when currency has been a
cost, the overall currency effect was neutral, with a £4m

30 Smith & Nephew 2000

translational gain offsetting a similar amount of
transactional cost.

Operating profit before exceptional items of the ongoing
businesses was £142m, a 24% increase, with margins
increasing over 1% to 17.3%. The operating margin of
the group as a whole was 15.7% compared with 15% 
a year ago: a 1% point improvement, before 0.3% point
of transactional currency cost mentioned earlier, coming
from the ongoing programme of cost and efficiency
savings and from the manufacturing rationalisation
programme implemented in 1999.

Exceptional Items
The principal exceptional item in the year was a £106m
gain on the disposal of the consumer business, after
deducting £32m of goodwill set off against reserves 
on a previous acquisition. £13m was spent on the
manufacturing rationalisation programme, making £65m
to date out of a total programme of £76m. Following 
the announcement of the joint venture with Beiersdorf
and the related advanced woundcare acquisition, this
programme has been extended to include the additional
benefits arising from combining the businesses of the
joint venture and integrating the acquisition and will
involve a further £31m of programme expenditure.
Acquisition integration costs of £3m were incurred 
during the year.

The net exceptional gain in the year was therefore £90m,
increasing profit before tax to £261m, compared with
£182m last year.

EPS and taxation
Earnings per share before exceptional items were
11.61p, an increase on 1999 of 8%. The underlying tax
charge of £51.4m remains at 30%. The tax charge on
the net exceptional items was £5m.

Adjusting for the effects of the disposal of the bracing
business in 1999 and the consumer business this year,
the interest cost on the special dividend offset by the
associated reduction in the effective number of ordinary
shares in issue, the increase in earnings per share before
exceptional items rises to 15%.

Dividends and shareholders’ funds
At the time of announcing the disposal of the consumer
business, the special dividend and the consolidation of
share capital, the Board intimated that it intended to
adopt a dividend cover on a per share basis in the
region of 21⁄2 times for this year. Accordingly, having paid
an interim dividend of 1.7 pence per ordinary share, it is
recommended that the final dividend be 2.8 pence,
making a total of 4.5 pence.

After a cost of ordinary dividends of £41m and £416m 
in respect of the special dividend, a £252m deficit has
been charged to reserves. Against this, shareholders’
funds have been augmented by £32m of goodwill on 
the consumer business on its disposal previously set 
off against reserves on acquisition, by £8m of new
shares issued for share options less £10m of currency
translation. The net movement in shareholders’ funds
was a decrease of £222m to £330m.

Employees
The average number of employees during the year
declined 7% to 10,400, largely as a consequence of the
disposal of the consumer business and also because of
manufacturing rationalisation. A result of this was that
sales per employee improved 9% to £109,000.

Investment
Capital expenditure of £64m on tangible and intangible
fixed assets amounted to 5.6% of sales. The principal
areas of investment were hospital based surgical
instruments and equipment for orthopaedic implants 
and endoscopy, information technology and a new
factory facility for casting and bandaging in Mexico.
Technological investments were also made in
eTrauma.com and image guided surgery.

In addition the Collagenase woundcare business 
was acquired for £74m of which £31m was in cash 
and the balance is phased over five years, and the 
OBL arthroscopy business was acquired for £17m.

The R&D investment of the continuing businesses was
5%, compared to 4% previously for the group, reflecting
the higher innovation content of orthopaedics, endoscopy
and advanced wound management. The Dermagraft
programme involved further revenue investment of £6m.
We also continue to invest in sales and marketing
worldwide, with significant expansions occurring in 
the sales forces of our continuing businesses.

Cash flow and facilities
The conversion of operating profit to operating cash 
flow was 77%. This was after £23m of outgoings on
manufacturing rationalisation, acquisition integration 
and divestment costs. Net proceeds of £210m were
received from the disposal of the consumer business.

The special dividend was paid as a return of capital on 
11 August following the disposal of the consumer business
and the consolidation of the ordinary share capital by way
of 9 new ordinary 122⁄9 shares for every 11 old ordinary 
10p shares.

In order to finance the net cash flow requirement as a
result of the special dividend, the company arranged
committed bank facilities of £400m.

Net cash flow and movement in net borrowings during
the year were:

Operating cash flow
Interest, tax and dividends
Disposals net of acquisitions
Issues of share capital

Net cash flow
Exchange adjustments
Opening net cash

Closing net borrowings

£m

137
(529)
159
8

(225)
(33)
22

(236)

Closing net debt of £236m compares to group capital
and reserves of £330m. Interest of £7m was covered 
25 times by operating profit.

Capital structure and treasury policy
The directors have established a set of policies to
manage funding, currency and interest rate risks. 
The group only uses financial instruments to manage 
the financial risk associated with underlying business
activities and their financing.

Our policy is to ensure that there is sufficient funding 
and facilities in place to meet foreseeable borrowing
requirements. Unused bank facilities amounted to
£450m of which £216m were committed facilities.

Shareholders’ funds are protected by matching foreign
currency assets, including acquisition goodwill, with
foreign liabilities where practicable. These liabilities take
the form of either borrowings or currency swaps. At the
year end group borrowings were £261m, mainly in foreign
currency. Cash and bank balances were £25m. Currency
swaps amounted to £426m, of which 77% were to re-
denominate internal borrowings into US dollars.

Group borrowings take advantage of short-term interest
rates. We use interest rate swaps to protect borrowing
costs and the differentials between borrowing and
deposit rates, fixing interest rates on major exposures 
by the beginning of the financial year. The majority of
interest costs and differentials have been protected
through to December 2001 with some protection
carrying over into 2003.

The group trades in over 90 countries and as a
consequence manages £260m of foreign currency
transactions using forward foreign exchange contracts.
Our policy is for firm commitments to be fully covered
and forecasts to be covered between 50% and 90% 
for up to one year. There are therefore no currency
exposures on monetary assets and liabilities that could
give rise to material gains and losses in the profit and
loss account. It is group policy for operating units not 
to hold unhedged monetary assets or liabilities other
than in their functional operating currencies.

It is company policy to ensure that suppliers are paid
within agreed terms. At the year end the company’s
trade creditors amounted to £3.3m, the equivalent of 
35 days credit.

Shareholder value
Year 2000 has been a year of major restructuring for 
the group, with very significant returns generated for
shareholders from the re-rating that the ordinary shares
have received from investors. At the end of 1999 the 
price earnings ratio was 19 on that year’s results, whereas
this year it was 27; through a combination of this and 
the special dividend, shareholders have received a total
return of 43% in 2000.

Peter Hooley
Finance Director

Smith & Nephew 2000 31

The Board

• •
Dudley Eustace 64, Chairman Appointed Deputy
Chairman in 1999 and Chairman from January 2000.
Chairman of the Nominations Committee. He is a 
non-executive director of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines NV,
Aegon NV and Hagemeyer NV. 
Pictured at 1 below.

•
Christopher O’Donnell 54, Chief Executive He joined 
the group in 1988 and was appointed a director in 
1992. He was appointed Chief Executive in 1997.
Pictured at 5 below.

Peter Hooley 54, Finance Director He joined the 
group and was appointed a director in 1991. 
Pictured at 7 below.

• • • •
Sir Anthony Cleaver 62 A director since 1993. Chairman
of the Audit Committee. Chairman of AEA Technology
plc, the Medical Research Council, IX Europe Limited 
and S Three Limited. Also a non-executive director 
of Lockheed Martin UK Limited.
Pictured at 2 below.

• • 
Warren Knowlton 54 Appointed a director in 
November 2000. He is a director of Pilkington Plc 
and Chief Executive of Pilkington’s Global Automotive
and Aerospace businesses. 
Pictured at 3 below.

• • •
Sir Timothy Lankester 58 A director since 1996. 
He is president of Corpus Christi College, Oxford. 
Also an independent director of the London Metal
Exchange and Deputy Chairman of the British Council.
Pictured at 4 below.

• • 
Richard De Schutter 60 Appointed a director from
January 2001. He is Chairman and Chief Executive 
Officer of The DuPont Pharmaceuticals Company and
non-executive director of General Binding Corporation
and ING Americas. 
Pictured at 6 below.

• • •
Dr Rolf Stomberg 60 A director since 1998. Chairman of
John Mowlem & Company PLC, Management Consulting
Group PLC and Unipoly SA. A non-executive director of
Scania AB, Stinnes AG, Reed Elsevier plc, Cordiant
Communications plc, Aral AG and TPG Group. 
Pictured at 8 below.

• • • •
Sir Brian Pearse 67 A director since 1993. Senior
independent director and Chairman of the Remuneration
Committee. He is Deputy Chairman of Britannic plc 
and a member of the Board of Banking Supervision.
Pictured at 9 below.

• Non-executive directors
• Members of the Remuneration Committee
• Members of the Audit Committee
• Members of the Nominations Committee

Alan Fryer retired as a director on 26 October 2000. 
Dr Nancy J Lane retired as a director on 26 October 2000.

Kenneth Kemp is Honorary Life President. 

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

24 Smith & Nephew 2000

Peter Huntley 40, Group Director Strategy and Business
Development He joined the group and was appointed 
to the Group Executive Committee in 1998. 
Pictured at 15 below.

Dr Alan Suggett 57, Group Director of Technology
He joined the group in 1982 and was appointed to 
the Group Executive Committee in 1986. 
Pictured at 16 below.

Ron Sparks 45, President – Endoscopy
He joined the group in 1983 and was appointed 
to the Group Executive Committee in 1999. 
Pictured at 17 below.

Michael Parson 60, Company Secretary & Group 
Legal Adviser He joined the group and was appointed 
to the Group Executive Committee in 1991. 
Pictured at 18 below.

Group Executive Committee

Christopher O’Donnell Pictured at 5 below.

Peter Hooley Pictured at 7 below.

Larry Papasan 60, President – Orthopaedics
He joined the group in 1991 and was appointed 
to the Group Executive Committee in 1999. 
Pictured at 10 below.

Margaret Stewart 49, Group Director Corporate Affairs
She joined the group in 2000 and was appointed 
to the Group Executive Committee in 2001. 
Pictured at 11 below.

Jim Dick 48, President – Wound Management
He joined the group in 1977 and was appointed 
to the Group Executive Committee in 1999. 
Pictured at 12 below.

Jim Taylor 44, Group Director Indirect Markets
He joined the group and was appointed to the 
Group Executive Committee in 2000. 
Pictured at 13 below.

Paul Williams 54, Group Director Human Resources
He joined the group and was appointed to the Group
Executive Committee in 1998. 
Pictured at 14 below.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Smith & Nephew 2000 25

Shareholders
The group issues summary financial statements in 
place of full annual accounts unless shareholders
request the latter. The summary financial statement is
received by over 90% of shareholders. At the half year,
an interim report is sent to all shareholders. There is a
regular dialogue with individual institutional shareholders
together with results presentations twice a year. There 
is an opportunity for individual shareholders to question
directors at the AGM and the company regularly responds
to letters from shareholders on a range of issues.

Internal control
The Board is responsible for the maintenance of the
group’s system of internal control and for reviewing its
effectiveness. It has established an ongoing process 
of identifying, evaluating and managing key risks by 
a system of functional reports to the Board, the review 
of internal financial controls by the Audit Committee,
augmented by quarterly business reviews and an annual
risk assessment carried out by the head of each
business unit and reviewed by the Chief Executive 
and Finance Director.

These procedures, which have been in place throughout
the year, are designed to identify and manage those
risks that could adversely impact the achievement of the
group’s objectives. Whilst they do not provide absolute
assurance against material misstatement or loss, the
directors, following a review of the systems described,
are of the opinion that a proper system of internal control
is in place within the group.

Share capital
The company has been informed of the following interests
in its ordinary share capital as at 14 February 2001:

– Axa Investment Managers 6.19%
– Sanford C Bernstein 5.52%
– Hermes 4.00%
– Scudder Threadneedle Investments Ltd 3.18%

At the AGM, the company will be seeking a renewal 
of its current permission from shareholders to purchase
its own shares. No shares have been purchased or
contracted for or are the subject of an option under 
the expiring authority.

Auditors
Ernst & Young have expressed their willingness to
continue as auditors and a resolution proposing their
reappointment will be put to the AGM.

Ernst & Young have stated that, subject to the approval
of its partners, it is intending to transfer its business 
to a Limited Liability Partnership during the year. If this
happens, it is the current intention of the directors to 
use their statutory powers to treat the appointment of
Ernst & Young as extending to Ernst & Young LLP.

Corporate governance

Combined Code
The Board considers that the company has complied
throughout the year with the Combined Code of Best
Practice on Corporate Governance.

The Board
The Board meets regularly during the year and is
responsible for the strategic direction, policies and
overall management of the group. There is a clear
division of responsibilities between the Chairman 
and Chief Executive. The Board consists of an
independent non-executive Chairman, two executive
directors and six independent non-executive directors.
All directors have full and timely access to all relevant
information and independent professional advice.

The Board is assisted by the following committees:

The Audit Committee The Audit Committee monitors 
the operation and effectiveness of the internal financial
controls and ensures that the accounts meet statutory
and other requirements.

The Remuneration Committee The Remuneration
Committee sets the pay and benefits of the executive
directors and other members of the Group Executive
Committee and approves their terms of employment.

The Nominations Committee The Nominations
Committee oversees plans for management succession
and recommends appointments to the Board.

The Group Executive Committee The Group Executive
Committee assists the Chief Executive in the
management of the group.

Membership of Board committees and of the Group
Executive Committee is shown with the biographical
details of directors on pages 24 and 25.

Directors
It is proposed to amend the Articles of Association at 
the AGM to provide that directors are required to submit
themselves for re-election every three years. In accordance
with the Articles of Association, Christopher O’Donnell,
Sir Brian Pearse and Dr Rolf Stomberg retire by rotation
and, being eligible, offer themselves for re-election at the
forthcoming AGM. Warren Knowlton was appointed with
effect from 1 November 2000 and Richard De Schutter
from 1 January 2001 and both will be proposed for 
re-election at the AGM.

No director had a material beneficial interest in any
contract involving the company or its subsidiaries 
in 2000.

26 Smith & Nephew 2000

Remuneration report

The Remuneration Committee
The Remuneration Committee comprises Sir Brian
Pearse (Chairman), Sir Anthony Cleaver, Sir Timothy
Lankester and Dr Rolf Stomberg.

Remuneration policy
The Remuneration Committee aims to ensure that
remuneration packages are competitive enough to
attract, retain and motivate executive directors and
Group Executive Committee members of a calibre 
that meets the group’s needs, and that they reflect 
the group’s performance against financial objectives. 
In framing its policy the committee has given full
consideration to the requirements set out in Schedule 
A of the Combined Code. It is advised by independent
consultants and uses data from external research into
companies of similar size, technologies and international
complexity. Remuneration throughout the group is
designed to be competitive locally.

The principal components of remuneration for executive
directors and Group Executive Committee members are:

Basic salary and benefits Basic salary reflects the
responsibility of the job and individual performance. 
The company also provides private healthcare cover 
and a company car or allowance.

Performance-related bonus For executive directors 
the company operates an annual bonus scheme based
on annual growth in adjusted basic earnings per share
and return on operating capital employed. Over time,
achievement of targets should produce a bonus of 30%
of annual salary with a maximum of 100% for over
achievement against targets that would demonstrably
generate a step change in performance. Bonuses are
not pensionable.

Share options and long-term incentives Executive
directors have been eligible for grants of share options
under executive share option schemes, subject to a
maximum value of four times salary in any ten-year
period. Options granted since 1997 may not normally be
exercised unless the company’s average annual growth
in adjusted basic earnings per share has exceeded that
of the UK retail price index by 2% per annum in any
period of three consecutive financial years from the date
of grant. Executive options are not offered at a discount.

Proposals to bring the existing executive share option
schemes into line with current market practice,
particularly in the US, are to be put to shareholders at
this year’s AGM. Details are to be found in the
shareholders’ circular enclosed with this report.

Since 1997 the company has operated a long-term
incentive plan (LTIP) for executive directors and members
of the Group Executive Committee. Under this plan,
shares are transferred to participants depending on 

the company’s performance in relation to a comparator
group of 45 other companies, using total shareholder
return (TSR) over a three-year period as the prime
measure. The maximum value of shares awarded will 
not exceed the participants’ current annual rate of basic
salary at the date the award is granted. Shares will only
be transferred to the participants if the company’s TSR
performance is at or above the median performance of
the comparator companies and if there has been real
growth in the company’s adjusted earnings per share in
the same three-year period. At the median level, 25% of
the award shares will vest. If the company’s performance
is ranked in the top quartile, all the shares will vest. If the
company’s performance lies between the median and
the top quartile, the proportion of shares vesting will 
vary on a straight-line basis. UK participants in the LTIP
will not be granted options under the executive share
option schemes in the same year but they will continue
to be eligible to participate in the savings related share
option scheme.

The following outstanding conditional awards have been
granted under the LTIP:

year to 31 December

Maximum
number
of shares
2000

Maximum
number
of shares
1999

Maximum
number
of shares
1998

C.J. O’Donnell
P. Hooley
A.R. Fryer

155,065
96,916
–

183,040
116,959
134,502

161,263
102,874
108,435

For the plan year commencing in 1998 the company’s
TSR was ranked in the top quartile and the earnings per
share performance criteria was met enabling the plan
participants to be eligible for the vesting of 100% of the
shares conditionally awarded for that year. 

Service contracts Executive directors are appointed 
on contracts terminable by the company on not more
than 12 months’ notice and by the director on six
months’ notice.

Pensions Executive directors participate in the 
defined benefit Smith & Nephew UK Pension Fund and
Smith & Nephew UK Executive Pension Scheme, under
which normal retirement is at age 62 and pension has
been accrued in the year at an annual rate of 1/30 of
final pensionable salary, up to a limit of two thirds of final
pensionable salary. Pensions in payment are guaranteed
to increase by 5% per annum or inflation if lower. 
The company and the trustees of the pension plans 
have a policy of granting discretionary increases,
particularly at times of high inflation. Death in service
cover of four times salary and spouse’s pension at the
rate of two thirds of the member’s pension are provided
on death. Transfer values on leaving service would be
calculated on the minimum funding requirement basis
with allowance for pension increases in line with price
inflation. A supplementary defined contribution plan
partially compensates for the Inland Revenue earnings
cap on final pensionable salary.

Non-executive directors are appointed for terms of three
years. Their remuneration is determined by the Board on
the recommendation of the Nominations Committee.

Smith & Nephew 2000 27

Remuneration report

Directors’ emoluments and pensions

Chairman (non-executive)
D.G. Eustace
J.H. Robinson (to 31 December 1999)

Executive
C.J. O’Donnell
P. Hooley
A.R. Fryer (to 31 December 2000)

Non-executive
Sir Anthony Cleaver
Dr N.J. Lane (to 31 October 2000)
Sir Timothy Lankester
Sir Brian Pearse
Dr R.W.H. Stomberg
W.D. Knowlton (from 1 November 2000)

Salaries
& fees
£’000

Benefits
£’000

Pension
Bonus entitlements
£’000
£’000

Total
2000
£’000

Total
1999
£’000

150
–

354
224
281

24
24
24
24
24
4

–
–

15
15
9

–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–

315
197
324

–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–

19
53
27

–
–
–
–
–
–

150
–

703
489
641

24
24
24
24
24
4

21
156

603
432
452

24
29
24
24
24
–

Dudley Eustace receives an annual fee of £150,000 including a non-executive director’s fee of £24,000.

1,133

39

836

99

2,107

1,789

The figure for pension entitlements consists of any increase in accrued pension benefit in the year (excluding
inflation), together with a contribution of £50,000 to a supplementary plan for Peter Hooley. During 2000 executive
directors paid contributions to the pension plans as follows: Christopher O’Donnell £17,000, Alan Fryer £12,000 
and Peter Hooley £4,000.

The accumulated total amount of the accrued pension benefit for directors as of 31 December 2000 was as follows:
Christopher O’Donnell £95,000 (1999 – £75,000), Alan Fryer £144,000 (1999 – £117,000) and Peter Hooley £22,000
(1999 – £20,000).

Alan Fryer retired from the Board on 26 October 2000, aged 59, but continued in executive office until 31 December
2000, whereupon he became due an annual pension of £142,000. His bonus includes an additional amount relating
to the formation of the joint venture with Beiersdorf AG. The Remuneration Committee retains the discretion of
allowing the vesting of his LTIP award of up to a maximum of 89,668 shares in respect of 1999 if the performance
conditions are met.

The Remuneration Committee exercised its discretion in allowing the vesting of 36,145 shares to Jack Blair, 
a former director who retired on 31 December 1998, under his 1998 LTIP award.

The ages of the directors are set out on page 24.

28 Smith & Nephew 2000

Range of
exercisable
dates of
Average options held
at 31 Dec
exercise
2000
price (p)

183.89 8/1997 –
8/2006

155.00 9/1994 –
8/2006

Directors’ share options

Number of
options
1 Jan
2000

Granted
during
the year

Exercised

Exercise
price (p)

Market
price
at date of
exercise (p)

Profit on
exercise
£

Number of
options
31 Dec
2000

C.J. O’Donnell

367,862

P. Hooley

405,362

A.R. Fryer

195,539

–

–

–

190,000

151.71

305.00

291,251

177,862

–

–

–

–

405,362

191,000
4,539

168.23
152.00

285.00
296.50

223,031
6,559

–
–

–
–

–
–

The range in the market price of the company’s shares during the year, excluding the anomalous closing share price
of 386p on 31 July, was 156.75p to 329.75p and the market price at 31 December 2000 was 310p. All outstanding
options at 31 December 2000 were below 310p. The total profit on exercise of options during the year was
£520,841 as set out above (1999 – £18,137: Alan Fryer £18,137).

Directors’ interests

Beneficial interests of directors in the company’s ordinary shares

Shares

Options

Shares

Options

31 December 2000

1 January 2000

D.G. Eustace
C.J. O’Donnell
P. Hooley
Sir Anthony Cleaver
Sir Timothy Lankester
Sir Brian Pearse
Dr R.W.H. Stomberg

40,909
111,339
4,090
13,730
5,911
20,000
864

–
177,862
405,362
–
–
–
–

–
19,490
5,000
16,782
6,389
20,000
1,035

–
367,862
405,362
–
–
–
–

On 14 February 2001 Christopher O’Donnell became entitled to 161,263 shares and Peter Hooley 102,874 shares 
in respect of the 100% vesting of the 1998 long term incentive plan. There were no other changes in the interests 
of directors between 31 December 2000 and 14 February 2001.

The register of directors’ interests, which is open to inspection at the company’s registered office, contains full 
details of directors’ shareholdings and share options.

By order of the Board, 14 February 2001

Michael Parson
Secretary

Smith & Nephew 2000 29

all the information and explanations we require for our
audit, or if the information specified by law or the Listing
Rules regarding directors’ remuneration and transactions
with the group is not disclosed.

We read the other information in the Annual Report 
and Accounts, including the corporate governance
statement, and consider whether it is consistent with the
audited accounts. We consider the implications for our
report if we become aware of any apparent misstatements
or material inconsistencies with the accounts.

We review whether the corporate governance statement
on page 26 reflects the company’s compliance with the
seven provisions of the Combined Code specified for our
review by the Listing Rules, and we report if it does not.
We are not required to consider whether the Board’s
statements on internal control cover all risks and controls,
or form an opinion on the effectiveness of either the
group’s corporate governance procedures or its risk 
and control procedures.

Basis of audit opinion We conducted our audit in
accordance with Auditing Standards issued by the
Auditing Practices Board. An audit includes examination,
on a test basis, of evidence relevant to the amounts 
and disclosures in the accounts. It also includes an
assessment of the significant estimates and judgements
made by the directors in the preparation of the accounts,
and of whether the accounting policies are appropriate
to the group’s circumstances, consistently applied and
adequately disclosed.

We planned and performed our audit so as to obtain all
the information and explanations which we considered
necessary in order to provide us with sufficient evidence
to give reasonable assurance that the accounts are free
from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or
other irregularity or error. In forming our opinion we also
evaluated the overall adequacy of the presentation of
information in the accounts.

Opinion In our opinion the accounts give a true and fair
view of the state of affairs of the company and of the
group as at 31 December 2000 and of the profit of the
group for the year then ended and have been properly
prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 1985.

Ernst & Young
Registered auditor
London, 14 February 2001

Directors’ responsibilities for the
accounts and auditors’ report

Directors’ responsibilities for the accounts
The directors are required by company law to prepare
accounts for each financial year that give a true and fair
view of the state of affairs of the company and of the
group as at the end of the financial year and of the results
of the group for the year. In preparing the accounts,
suitable accounting policies have been used and applied
consistently, and reasonable and prudent judgements
and estimates have been made. Applicable accounting
standards have been followed. The directors have satisfied
themselves from internal forecasts and available bank
facilities that the group continues as a going concern.

The directors are also responsible for the maintenance 
of the group’s system of internal financial controls. 
These are designed to give reasonable assurance that
proper procedures exist for the maintenance of adequate
accounting records, safeguarding the assets of the
group and for preventing and detecting fraud and other
irregularities. To this end the company has identified 
and documented minimum internal financial control
standards. Annual budgets are prepared and approved
by the directors, and the directors have reserved capital
expenditure and treasury authority levels to the Board and
its delegated committees. The group operates a system
of regular monthly reporting including revised profit and
cash forecasts. Business risks are identified and
monitored on a regular basis. The group operates an
internal audit function which monitors the adequacy of
internal financial controls and systems and compliance
with group standards. The internal auditor gives a report
to the Audit Committee and the Audit Committee
reviews the operation and effectiveness of internal
financial controls and reporting of the group.

Report of the auditors to the members of 
Smith & Nephew plc
We have audited the accounts on pages 33 to 55 
which have been prepared under the historical cost
convention and on the basis of the accounting policies
set out on page 38.

Respective responsibilities of directors and auditors
The directors are responsible for preparing the annual
report. As described on this page, this includes
responsibility for preparing the accounts in accordance
with applicable United Kingdom law and accounting
standards. Our responsibilities, as independent auditors,
are established in the United Kingdom by statute, the
Auditing Practices Board, the Listing Rules of the
Financial Services Authority and by our profession’s
ethical guidance.

We report to you our opinion as to whether the accounts
give a true and fair view and are properly prepared in
accordance with the Companies Act. We also report 
to you if, in our opinion, the directors’ report is not
consistent with the accounts, if the company has not
kept proper accounting records, if we have not received

32 Smith & Nephew 2000

Group profit and loss account

for the year ended 31 December 2000

Turnover
Ongoing operations
Other operations

Continuing operations 
Discontinued operations

Operating profit
Continuing operations:

Before exceptional items – ongoing operations
Before exceptional items – other operations
Exceptional items*

Discontinued operations:

Before exceptional items
Exceptional items*

Discontinued operations:

Net profit on disposals*

Profit on ordinary activities before interest
Interest (payable)/receivable

Profit on ordinary activities before taxation
Taxation

Attributable profit for the year
Dividends:

Ordinary
Special

Retained (deficit)/profit for the year

Basic earnings per ordinary share
Diluted earnings per ordinary share

Results before exceptional items (*)
Profit before taxation

Adjusted basic earnings per ordinary share

Adjusted diluted earnings per ordinary share

Notes

1,2

1,2

3

3

3

4

7

8
8

22

10
10

9

10

10

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

824.8
180.6

1,005.4
129.3

709.9
179.6

889.5
230.4

1,134.7

1,119.9

142.5
22.0
(16.3)

148.2

13.9
–

114.6
20.1
(42.0)

92.7

32.8
(9.7)

162.1

115.8

106.3

268.4
(7.0)

261.4
56.2

205.2

41.3
415.6

(251.7)

19.85p
19.73p

62.9

178.7
3.4

182.1
77.3

104.8

72.5
–

32.3

9.39p
9.37p

171.4

170.9

11.61p

10.72p

11.54p

10.69p

Smith & Nephew 2000 33

Group balance sheet

at 31 December 2000

Fixed assets
Intangible assets
Tangible assets
Investments

Current assets
Stocks
Debtors
Cash and bank

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Borrowings
Other creditors

Net current assets

Total assets less current liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year
Borrowings
Other creditors
Provisions for liabilities and charges

Capital and reserves
Called up share capital:
Equity share capital
Non-equity share capital

Share premium account
Profit and loss account

Approved by the Board on 14 February 2001
Dudley Eustace Chairman Peter Hooley Finance Director

Notes

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

11
12
13

14
15
16

16
17

16
17
18

20
20
22
22

163.0
251.1
24.0

438.1

228.2
277.8
24.6

530.6

82.0
322.0

404.0

126.6

564.7

178.9
8.3
47.9

235.1

329.6

112.4
0.3
125.4
91.5

329.6

74.0
270.5
16.6

361.1

237.6
281.1
100.5

619.2

58.0
312.4

370.4

248.8

609.9

20.2
–
38.0

58.2

551.7

111.8
0.3
118.3
321.3

551.7

34 Smith & Nephew 2000

Group cash flow

for the year ended 31 December 2000

Net cash inflow from operating activities* 

Interest received
Interest paid

Net cash (outflow)/inflow from returns on investments
and servicing of finance

Tax paid

Capital expenditure and financial investment
Capital expenditure
Disposal of fixed assets
Trade investments
Own shares purchased

Notes

23

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

204.0

198.1

4.4
(11.4)

(7.0)

(46.5)

150.5

(63.9)
6.1
(6.0)
(2.9)

(66.7)

(51.1)
209.8

158.7

(475.9)

(233.4)

10.3
(6.9)

3.4

(60.1)

141.4

(67.1)
8.7
(6.7)
–

(65.1)

(50.9)
121.8

70.9

(70.3)

76.9

72.3

(72.3)

7.7
160.6
(9.6)

158.7

(2.4)

4.4
(16.8)
(7.3)

(19.7)

(15.1)

Acquisitions and disposals
Acquisitions
Disposals

Equity dividends paid

Cash (outflow)/inflow before use of liquid resources and financing

Management of liquid resources

Financing
Issues of ordinary share capital
Increase/(decrease) in borrowings
Decrease in currency swaps

Net cash inflow/(outflow)from financing

Decrease in cash

25

23

23
23

23

*After £23.1m (1999 – £18.5m) of outgoings on rationalisation, acquisition integration and divestment costs. 

Smith & Nephew 2000 35

Statement of gains and losses
Movements in shareholders’ funds

Group statement of total recognised gains and losses

for the year ended 31 December 2000

Profit for the financial year
Currency translation differences on foreign currency net investments

Total gains and losses related to the year

Group reconciliation of movements in shareholders’ funds

for the year ended 31 December 2000

Profit for the financial year
Dividends

Retained (deficit)/profit for the year
Exchange adjustments
Issue of shares
Goodwill on disposals

Net (reduction)/addition to shareholders’ funds
Opening shareholders’ funds

Closing shareholders’ funds

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

205.2
(9.9)

195.3

104.8
(4.0)

100.8

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

205.2
456.9

(251.7)
(9.9)
7.7
31.8

(222.1)
551.7

329.6

104.8
72.5

32.3
(4.0)
4.4
33.5

66.2
485.5

551.7

36 Smith & Nephew 2000

Parent company balance sheet

at 31 December 2000

Fixed assets
Tangible assets
Investments

Current assets
Debtors
Cash and bank

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Borrowings
Other creditors

Net current assets

Total assets less current liabilities

Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year
Borrowings
Provisions for liabilities and charges

Capital and reserves
Called up share capital:
Equity share capital
Non-equity share capital

Share premium account
Profit and loss account

Approved by the Board on 14 February 2001
Dudley Eustace Chairman Peter Hooley Finance Director

Notes

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

12
13

15
16

16
17

16
18

20
20
22
22

7.9
413.9

421.8

382.2
14.9

397.1

66.2
212.7

278.9

118.2

540.0

163.5
0.1

163.6

376.4

112.4
0.3
125.4
138.3

376.4

8.1
413.9

422.0

476.8
77.2

554.0

28.9
299.8

328.7

225.3

647.3

4.5
0.9

5.4

641.9

111.8
0.3
118.3
411.5

641.9

Smith & Nephew 2000 37

Accounting policies

The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost
convention and in accordance with Financial Reporting
Standard 18 and other applicable accounting standards.

Consolidation 
The consolidated accounts include the accounts of 
the company and the accounts of all the subsidiary 
and associated undertakings during the year ended 
31 December 2000 for the periods during which they
were members of the group.

Joint arrangements are included in the consolidated
accounts in proportion to the group’s interest in the
results, assets and liabilities of these joint arrangements.

Turnover
Turnover comprises sales of products and services to
third parties at amounts invoiced net of trade discounts
and rebates, excluding turnover taxes.

Foreign currencies
Balance sheet items of overseas companies and foreign
currency borrowings are translated into sterling at the year
end rates of exchange. Profit and loss items and the cash
flows of overseas subsidiary and associated undertakings
are translated at the average rates for the year.

Forward currency contracts entered into in respect of
contracted and anticipated amounts payable on
purchase transactions are accounted for as hedges.
Changes in the fair value of these forward contracts are
recognised in the profit and loss account on the ultimate
sale of the item purchased.

Exchange differences on the translation at closing rates of
exchange of the opening net assets, including acquisition
goodwill, of overseas subsidiary and associated
undertakings are recorded as adjustments to reserves.
Where foreign currency borrowings or swaps are used to
finance or hedge group equity investments, the difference
on translation of these borrowings or swaps is offset as
an adjustment to reserves. The differences arising
between the translation of profits at average and closing
rates of exchange are also recorded as adjustments to
reserves. All other exchange differences are dealt with 
in arriving at profit before taxation.

Intangible fixed assets
Goodwill, representing the excess of purchase
consideration over fair value of net assets acquired 
prior to 31 December 1997, was written off direct to
reserves in the year of acquisition. Goodwill acquired
since 1 January 1998 is capitalised and written off over 
a period not exceeding 20 years. Goodwill previously
written off to reserves is included in the calculation of
profits and losses on disposals.

Purchased patents, know-how, trade marks, licences
and distribution rights are capitalised and amortised over 
a period not exceeding 20 years.

38 Smith & Nephew 2000

Research and development
Revenue expenditure on research and development 
is written off as incurred.

Tangible fixed assets 
Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost and, except 
for freehold and long leasehold land (leases 50 years or
over), are depreciated as wasting assets. Freehold and
long leasehold buildings are depreciated on a straight-
line basis at between 1% and 5% per annum. Short
leasehold land and buildings (leases of under 50 years)
are depreciated by equal annual instalments over the
term of the lease. Plant and equipment are depreciated
over lives ranging between three and 20 years by equal
annual instalments to write down the assets to their
estimated disposal value at the end of their working lives.

Assets held under finance leases are capitalised as
tangible fixed assets and depreciated accordingly. The
capital element of future lease payments is included in
borrowings and interest is charged to profit before taxation
on a reducing balance basis over the term of the lease.

Investments
Associated undertakings are those companies in which
the group has a beneficial interest of 50% or less in the
equity capital and where the group exercises significant
influence over commercial and financial policy decisions.
The consolidated balance sheet includes the group’s
share of the underlying net assets of associated
undertakings. Trade investments are stated at the lower
of cost and the recoverable amount.

Stocks 
Finished goods and work in progress are valued at factory
cost, including appropriate overheads, on a first-in first-out
basis. Raw materials are valued at purchase price and all
stocks are reduced to net realisable value where lower.

Deferred taxation
Deferred taxation is provided under the liability method
on timing differences between tax and accounting
treatments where these are likely to crystallise in the
foreseeable future. Deferred taxation is not provided 
on undistributed profits retained overseas.

Financial instruments
Currency swaps entered into to match foreign currency
assets with foreign currency liabilities are translated into
sterling at the year end rate of exchange. Changes in 
the principal values of currency swaps are matched in
reserves against changes in the values of the related
assets. Interest rate swaps used to protect interest costs
and income are accounted for as hedges. Changes in 
the values of interest rate swaps are offset against the
interest in the period relating to the hedge. The group has
taken advantage of the dispensation of not disclosing
short term debtors and creditors as financial instruments.

Post-retirement benefits
The group’s major pension plans are of the defined
benefit type. For these plans, costs are charged to
operating profit so as to spread the expense of providing
future pensions to employees over their working lives
with the group. Where defined contribution plans operate
the contributions to these plans are charged to operating
profit as they become payable. Where the group provides
healthcare benefits after retirement the expected cost of
these is charged to operating profit over the employees’
working lives with the group.

all the information and explanations we require for our
audit, or if the information specified by law or the Listing
Rules regarding directors’ remuneration and transactions
with the group is not disclosed.

We read the other information in the Annual Report 
and Accounts, including the corporate governance
statement, and consider whether it is consistent with the
audited accounts. We consider the implications for our
report if we become aware of any apparent misstatements
or material inconsistencies with the accounts.

We review whether the corporate governance statement
on page 26 reflects the company’s compliance with the
seven provisions of the Combined Code specified for our
review by the Listing Rules, and we report if it does not.
We are not required to consider whether the Board’s
statements on internal control cover all risks and controls,
or form an opinion on the effectiveness of either the
group’s corporate governance procedures or its risk 
and control procedures.

Basis of audit opinion We conducted our audit in
accordance with Auditing Standards issued by the
Auditing Practices Board. An audit includes examination,
on a test basis, of evidence relevant to the amounts 
and disclosures in the accounts. It also includes an
assessment of the significant estimates and judgements
made by the directors in the preparation of the accounts,
and of whether the accounting policies are appropriate
to the group’s circumstances, consistently applied and
adequately disclosed.

We planned and performed our audit so as to obtain all
the information and explanations which we considered
necessary in order to provide us with sufficient evidence
to give reasonable assurance that the accounts are free
from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or
other irregularity or error. In forming our opinion we also
evaluated the overall adequacy of the presentation of
information in the accounts.

Opinion In our opinion the accounts give a true and fair
view of the state of affairs of the company and of the
group as at 31 December 2000 and of the profit of the
group for the year then ended and have been properly
prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 1985.

Ernst & Young
Registered auditor
London, 14 February 2001

Directors’ responsibilities for the
accounts and auditors’ report

Directors’ responsibilities for the accounts
The directors are required by company law to prepare
accounts for each financial year that give a true and fair
view of the state of affairs of the company and of the
group as at the end of the financial year and of the results
of the group for the year. In preparing the accounts,
suitable accounting policies have been used and applied
consistently, and reasonable and prudent judgements
and estimates have been made. Applicable accounting
standards have been followed. The directors have satisfied
themselves from internal forecasts and available bank
facilities that the group continues as a going concern.

The directors are also responsible for the maintenance 
of the group’s system of internal financial controls. 
These are designed to give reasonable assurance that
proper procedures exist for the maintenance of adequate
accounting records, safeguarding the assets of the
group and for preventing and detecting fraud and other
irregularities. To this end the company has identified 
and documented minimum internal financial control
standards. Annual budgets are prepared and approved
by the directors, and the directors have reserved capital
expenditure and treasury authority levels to the Board and
its delegated committees. The group operates a system
of regular monthly reporting including revised profit and
cash forecasts. Business risks are identified and
monitored on a regular basis. The group operates an
internal audit function which monitors the adequacy of
internal financial controls and systems and compliance
with group standards. The internal auditor gives a report
to the Audit Committee and the Audit Committee
reviews the operation and effectiveness of internal
financial controls and reporting of the group.

Report of the auditors to the members of 
Smith & Nephew plc
We have audited the accounts on pages 33 to 55 
which have been prepared under the historical cost
convention and on the basis of the accounting policies
set out on page 38.

Respective responsibilities of directors and auditors
The directors are responsible for preparing the annual
report. As described on this page, this includes
responsibility for preparing the accounts in accordance
with applicable United Kingdom law and accounting
standards. Our responsibilities, as independent auditors,
are established in the United Kingdom by statute, the
Auditing Practices Board, the Listing Rules of the
Financial Services Authority and by our profession’s
ethical guidance.

We report to you our opinion as to whether the accounts
give a true and fair view and are properly prepared in
accordance with the Companies Act. We also report 
to you if, in our opinion, the directors’ report is not
consistent with the accounts, if the company has not
kept proper accounting records, if we have not received

32 Smith & Nephew 2000

Group profit and loss account

for the year ended 31 December 2000

Turnover
Ongoing operations
Other operations

Continuing operations 
Discontinued operations

Operating profit
Continuing operations:

Before exceptional items – ongoing operations
Before exceptional items – other operations
Exceptional items*

Discontinued operations:

Before exceptional items
Exceptional items*

Discontinued operations:

Net profit on disposals*

Profit on ordinary activities before interest
Interest (payable)/receivable

Profit on ordinary activities before taxation
Taxation

Attributable profit for the year
Dividends:

Ordinary
Special

Retained (deficit)/profit for the year

Basic earnings per ordinary share
Diluted earnings per ordinary share

Results before exceptional items (*)
Profit before taxation

Adjusted basic earnings per ordinary share

Adjusted diluted earnings per ordinary share

Notes

1,2

1,2

3

3

3

4

7

8
8

22

10
10

9

10

10

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

824.8
180.6

1,005.4
129.3

709.9
179.6

889.5
230.4

1,134.7

1,119.9

142.5
22.0
(16.3)

148.2

13.9
–

114.6
20.1
(42.0)

92.7

32.8
(9.7)

162.1

115.8

106.3

268.4
(7.0)

261.4
56.2

205.2

41.3
415.6

(251.7)

19.85p
19.73p

62.9

178.7
3.4

182.1
77.3

104.8

72.5
–

32.3

9.39p
9.37p

171.4

170.9

11.61p

10.72p

11.54p

10.69p

Smith & Nephew 2000 33

Group balance sheet

at 31 December 2000

Fixed assets
Intangible assets
Tangible assets
Investments

Current assets
Stocks
Debtors
Cash and bank

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Borrowings
Other creditors

Net current assets

Total assets less current liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year
Borrowings
Other creditors
Provisions for liabilities and charges

Capital and reserves
Called up share capital:
Equity share capital
Non-equity share capital

Share premium account
Profit and loss account

Approved by the Board on 14 February 2001
Dudley Eustace Chairman Peter Hooley Finance Director

Notes

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

11
12
13

14
15
16

16
17

16
17
18

20
20
22
22

163.0
251.1
24.0

438.1

228.2
277.8
24.6

530.6

82.0
322.0

404.0

126.6

564.7

178.9
8.3
47.9

235.1

329.6

112.4
0.3
125.4
91.5

329.6

74.0
270.5
16.6

361.1

237.6
281.1
100.5

619.2

58.0
312.4

370.4

248.8

609.9

20.2
–
38.0

58.2

551.7

111.8
0.3
118.3
321.3

551.7

34 Smith & Nephew 2000

Group cash flow

for the year ended 31 December 2000

Net cash inflow from operating activities* 

Interest received
Interest paid

Net cash (outflow)/inflow from returns on investments
and servicing of finance

Tax paid

Capital expenditure and financial investment
Capital expenditure
Disposal of fixed assets
Trade investments
Own shares purchased

Notes

23

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

204.0

198.1

4.4
(11.4)

(7.0)

(46.5)

150.5

(63.9)
6.1
(6.0)
(2.9)

(66.7)

(51.1)
209.8

158.7

(475.9)

(233.4)

10.3
(6.9)

3.4

(60.1)

141.4

(67.1)
8.7
(6.7)
–

(65.1)

(50.9)
121.8

70.9

(70.3)

76.9

72.3

(72.3)

7.7
160.6
(9.6)

158.7

(2.4)

4.4
(16.8)
(7.3)

(19.7)

(15.1)

Acquisitions and disposals
Acquisitions
Disposals

Equity dividends paid

Cash (outflow)/inflow before use of liquid resources and financing

Management of liquid resources

Financing
Issues of ordinary share capital
Increase/(decrease) in borrowings
Decrease in currency swaps

Net cash inflow/(outflow)from financing

Decrease in cash

25

23

23
23

23

*After £23.1m (1999 – £18.5m) of outgoings on rationalisation, acquisition integration and divestment costs. 

Smith & Nephew 2000 35

Statement of gains and losses
Movements in shareholders’ funds

Group statement of total recognised gains and losses

for the year ended 31 December 2000

Profit for the financial year
Currency translation differences on foreign currency net investments

Total gains and losses related to the year

Group reconciliation of movements in shareholders’ funds

for the year ended 31 December 2000

Profit for the financial year
Dividends

Retained (deficit)/profit for the year
Exchange adjustments
Issue of shares
Goodwill on disposals

Net (reduction)/addition to shareholders’ funds
Opening shareholders’ funds

Closing shareholders’ funds

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

205.2
(9.9)

195.3

104.8
(4.0)

100.8

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

205.2
456.9

(251.7)
(9.9)
7.7
31.8

(222.1)
551.7

329.6

104.8
72.5

32.3
(4.0)
4.4
33.5

66.2
485.5

551.7

36 Smith & Nephew 2000

Parent company balance sheet

at 31 December 2000

Fixed assets
Tangible assets
Investments

Current assets
Debtors
Cash and bank

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Borrowings
Other creditors

Net current assets

Total assets less current liabilities

Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year
Borrowings
Provisions for liabilities and charges

Capital and reserves
Called up share capital:
Equity share capital
Non-equity share capital

Share premium account
Profit and loss account

Approved by the Board on 14 February 2001
Dudley Eustace Chairman Peter Hooley Finance Director

Notes

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

12
13

15
16

16
17

16
18

20
20
22
22

7.9
413.9

421.8

382.2
14.9

397.1

66.2
212.7

278.9

118.2

540.0

163.5
0.1

163.6

376.4

112.4
0.3
125.4
138.3

376.4

8.1
413.9

422.0

476.8
77.2

554.0

28.9
299.8

328.7

225.3

647.3

4.5
0.9

5.4

641.9

111.8
0.3
118.3
411.5

641.9

Smith & Nephew 2000 37

Accounting policies

The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost
convention and in accordance with Financial Reporting
Standard 18 and other applicable accounting standards.

Consolidation 
The consolidated accounts include the accounts of 
the company and the accounts of all the subsidiary 
and associated undertakings during the year ended 
31 December 2000 for the periods during which they
were members of the group.

Joint arrangements are included in the consolidated
accounts in proportion to the group’s interest in the
results, assets and liabilities of these joint arrangements.

Turnover
Turnover comprises sales of products and services to
third parties at amounts invoiced net of trade discounts
and rebates, excluding turnover taxes.

Foreign currencies
Balance sheet items of overseas companies and foreign
currency borrowings are translated into sterling at the year
end rates of exchange. Profit and loss items and the cash
flows of overseas subsidiary and associated undertakings
are translated at the average rates for the year.

Forward currency contracts entered into in respect of
contracted and anticipated amounts payable on
purchase transactions are accounted for as hedges.
Changes in the fair value of these forward contracts are
recognised in the profit and loss account on the ultimate
sale of the item purchased.

Exchange differences on the translation at closing rates of
exchange of the opening net assets, including acquisition
goodwill, of overseas subsidiary and associated
undertakings are recorded as adjustments to reserves.
Where foreign currency borrowings or swaps are used to
finance or hedge group equity investments, the difference
on translation of these borrowings or swaps is offset as
an adjustment to reserves. The differences arising
between the translation of profits at average and closing
rates of exchange are also recorded as adjustments to
reserves. All other exchange differences are dealt with 
in arriving at profit before taxation.

Intangible fixed assets
Goodwill, representing the excess of purchase
consideration over fair value of net assets acquired 
prior to 31 December 1997, was written off direct to
reserves in the year of acquisition. Goodwill acquired
since 1 January 1998 is capitalised and written off over 
a period not exceeding 20 years. Goodwill previously
written off to reserves is included in the calculation of
profits and losses on disposals.

Purchased patents, know-how, trade marks, licences
and distribution rights are capitalised and amortised over 
a period not exceeding 20 years.

38 Smith & Nephew 2000

Research and development
Revenue expenditure on research and development 
is written off as incurred.

Tangible fixed assets 
Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost and, except 
for freehold and long leasehold land (leases 50 years or
over), are depreciated as wasting assets. Freehold and
long leasehold buildings are depreciated on a straight-
line basis at between 1% and 5% per annum. Short
leasehold land and buildings (leases of under 50 years)
are depreciated by equal annual instalments over the
term of the lease. Plant and equipment are depreciated
over lives ranging between three and 20 years by equal
annual instalments to write down the assets to their
estimated disposal value at the end of their working lives.

Assets held under finance leases are capitalised as
tangible fixed assets and depreciated accordingly. The
capital element of future lease payments is included in
borrowings and interest is charged to profit before taxation
on a reducing balance basis over the term of the lease.

Investments
Associated undertakings are those companies in which
the group has a beneficial interest of 50% or less in the
equity capital and where the group exercises significant
influence over commercial and financial policy decisions.
The consolidated balance sheet includes the group’s
share of the underlying net assets of associated
undertakings. Trade investments are stated at the lower
of cost and the recoverable amount.

Stocks 
Finished goods and work in progress are valued at factory
cost, including appropriate overheads, on a first-in first-out
basis. Raw materials are valued at purchase price and all
stocks are reduced to net realisable value where lower.

Deferred taxation
Deferred taxation is provided under the liability method
on timing differences between tax and accounting
treatments where these are likely to crystallise in the
foreseeable future. Deferred taxation is not provided 
on undistributed profits retained overseas.

Financial instruments
Currency swaps entered into to match foreign currency
assets with foreign currency liabilities are translated into
sterling at the year end rate of exchange. Changes in 
the principal values of currency swaps are matched in
reserves against changes in the values of the related
assets. Interest rate swaps used to protect interest costs
and income are accounted for as hedges. Changes in 
the values of interest rate swaps are offset against the
interest in the period relating to the hedge. The group has
taken advantage of the dispensation of not disclosing
short term debtors and creditors as financial instruments.

Post-retirement benefits
The group’s major pension plans are of the defined
benefit type. For these plans, costs are charged to
operating profit so as to spread the expense of providing
future pensions to employees over their working lives
with the group. Where defined contribution plans operate
the contributions to these plans are charged to operating
profit as they become payable. Where the group provides
healthcare benefits after retirement the expected cost of
these is charged to operating profit over the employees’
working lives with the group.

Notes to the accounts

Note 1 Segmental analysis 

Analysis by activity

Ongoing operations
Other operations

Continuing operations
Discontinued operations

Turnover
2000
£ million

824.8
180.6

1,005.4
129.3

1,134.7

Operating Operating
assets
2000
£ million

profit
2000
£ million

565.8
90.2

656.0
9.9

134.8
13.4

148.2
13.9

162.1

Turnover
1999
£ million

709.9
179.6

889.5
230.4

Operating
profit
1999
£ million

Operating
assets
1999
£ million

82.7
10.0

92.7
23.1

500.6
81.2

581.8
59.7

641.5

665.9

1,119.9

115.8

Exceptional costs of £16.3m (1999 – £51.7m) have been charged as follows: ongoing operations £7.7m 
(1999 – £31.9m), other operations £8.6m (1999 – £10.1m) and discontinued operations nil (1999 – £9.7m). 

Other operations comprise the casting and bandaging and traditional woundcare businesses which will be
contributed to the Joint venture with Beiersdorf AG on 1 April 2001 and the ear, nose and throat business, the
intended disposal of which was announced on 2 November 2000.

Discontinued operations comprise the results of the Consumer business and the first half year results of the 
Bracing business in 1999.

Analysis by geographic origin

United Kingdom
Continental Europe
America
Africa, Asia and Australasia

Continuing operations
Discontinued operations

Less intragroup sales

Turnover
2000
£ million

187.0
230.5
641.0
155.8

1,214.3
129.3

1,343.6
(208.9)

1,134.7

Operating Operating
assets
2000
£ million

profit
2000
£ million

110.4
90.5
401.1
54.0

656.0
9.9

665.9
–

18.8
16.5
92.7
20.2

148.2
13.9

162.1
–

162.1

Turnover
1999
£ million

173.8
232.6
545.9
144.2

1,096.5
230.4

1,326.9
(207.0)

Operating
profit
1999
£ million

Operating
assets
1999
£ million

19.4
11.0
51.1
11.2

92.7
23.1

115.8
–

115.8

115.0
84.3
321.9
60.6

581.8
59.7

641.5
–

641.5

665.9

1,119.9

Exceptional costs of £7.2m have been charged to the UK (1999 – £4.0m), £1.3m to Continental Europe (1999 – £3.0m),
£6.3m to America (1999 – £28.7m) and £1.5m to Africa, Asia and Australasia (1999 – £6.3m). Nil was charged to
discontinued operations (1999 – £9.7m). 

Analysis of turnover by geographic market

United Kingdom
Continental Europe
America
Africa, Asia and Australasia

Continuing operations
Discontinued operations

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

92.7
211.8
535.2
165.7

1,005.4
129.3

93.2
201.7
444.0
150.6

889.5
230.4

1,134.7

1,119.9

Smith & Nephew 2000 39

Notes to the accounts

Note 1 Segmental analysis continued

Analysis of turnover by product

Orthopaedics
Endoscopy
Advanced wound management
Rehabilitation

Ongoing operations
Other operations

Continuing operations
Discontinued operations

Note 2 Operating profit

Turnover
Cost of sales

Gross profit
Marketing, selling and distribution
Administration
Research and development
Other 

Operating profit

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

329.3
216.4
210.9
68.2

824.8
180.6

1,005.4
129.3

276.4
192.8
176.9
63.8

709.9
179.6

889.5
230.4

1,134.7

1,119.9

Continuing Discontinued
operations
operations
2000
2000
£ million
£ million

Total
2000
£ million

Continuing Discontinued
operations
operations
1999
1999
£ million
£ million

Total
1999
£ million

1,005.4
370.4

129.3
86.4

1,134.7
456.8

635.0
(333.2)
(109.3)
(46.4)
2.1

148.2

42.9
(24.8)
(4.6)
–
0.4

13.9

677.9
(358.0)
(113.9)
(46.4)
2.5

162.1

889.5
342.8

546.7
(286.5)
(111.4)
(43.6)
(12.5)

92.7

230.4
136.8

1,119.9
479.6

93.6
(54.7)
(14.2)
(1.6)
–

23.1

640.3
(341.2)
(125.6)
(45.2)
(12.5)

115.8

Results of continuing operations have been stated after charging exceptional costs of £16.3m (1999 – £42.0m),
which have been allocated in total as follows: cost of sales £13.2m (1999 – £8.2m), marketing, selling and
distribution £1.2m (1999 – £4.6m), administration £1.9m (1999 – £16.7m) and other nil (1999 – £12.5m). 

Results of discontinued operations have been stated after charging exceptional costs of nil (1999 – £9.7m). 
1999 exceptional costs of £9.7m were allocated as follows: cost of sales £3.8m, marketing, selling and distribution
£1.8m and administration £4.1m.

Operating profit is stated after charging:

Depreciation 
Loss on sale of fixed assets
Amortisation of goodwill 
Amortisation of other intangibles 
Exceptional asset provisions 
Operating lease rentals for land and buildings
Auditors’ remuneration

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

53.0
3.2
7.5
2.4
–
8.8
1.0

50.3
1.9
1.8
4.0
28.6
8.2
1.1

Payments made to the group’s auditors for non-audit services amounted to £1.2m (1999 – £0.5m) in the UK and
£0.9m (1999 – £0.8m) outside the UK. Of these payments £1.6m (1999 – £0.8m) relate to taxation services and
£0.5m (1999 – £0.5m) to statutory and other certifications and accountancy services. Of the total payments for 
non-audit services, £0.9m (1999 – £0.4m) relates to capital transactions.

Unrecognised gains and losses relating to forward foreign exchange contracts in respect of anticipated purchases
over the next 12 months amounted to £2.0m (1999 – £3.9m) and £1.3m (1999 – £2.2m) respectively. The unrecognised
gains and losses on forward foreign exchange contracts at 31 December 1999 were recognised in 2000. The
group’s policy on currency risk management is set out on page 31. The group’s operating units hold no material
unhedged monetary assets or liabilities other than in their functional operating currency.

40 Smith & Nephew 2000

Note 3 Exceptional items
In 2000, operating exceptional items comprise the cost of the manufacturing rationalisation programme begun in
1999 of £12.9m (1999 – £24.3m) and acquisition integration costs of £3.4m (1999 – £5.2m). In 1999 £6.5m was
written off intangible assets relating to the Dermagraft joint arrangement and a £6.0m provision was taken against 
the group’s equity investment in Advanced Tissue Sciences. Discontinued exceptional items of £9.7m in 1999
represent that element of manufacturing rationalisation costs which related to the Consumer business.

The net profit on disposal related to the sale of the Consumer healthcare business in June 2000 for a net cash
consideration of £209.8m. The net profit comprised a gain of £138.1m less £31.8m of acquisition goodwill previously
written off to reserves. The net profit on disposal in 1999 related to the sale of the Bracing business.

Note 4 Interest

Interest receivable

Interest payable:
On bank borrowings
Other

Net interest (payable)/receivable

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

4.4

8.7
2.7

11.4

(7.0)

10.3

6.1
0.8

6.9

3.4

Interest payable on currency swaps of £23.5m (1999 – £25.8m) has been set off against interest receivable.

At 31 December 2000 the group held sterling interest bearing assets of £401m on which interest has been fixed on
£107m at 6.4% for one year and £37m on which interest has been fixed for a further two years at 5.6%, a weighted
average of 6.1% for a weighted average period of 1.7 years. The remainder was cash balances held on short term
deposit at floating rates. The group also held £23m of foreign currency interest bearing assets as cash or on short
term deposit at floating rates. 

The group’s interest bearing liabilities at 31 December 2000 included £481m of US dollars and £107m of euros on
which interest has been fixed for one year on £100m of US dollars and £107m of euros at weighted average rates 
of 6.3% and 4.6% respectively. Interest has also been fixed on £35m of euros for a further two years at 3.6%. The
remaining interest bearing liabilities totalled £72m of various currencies. Where interest has not been fixed the rates
are typically based on the three month interest rate relevant to the currency concerned. Details of financial
instruments as defined by Financial Reporting Standard 13 are set out in Notes 13, 15, 16 and 20.

At 31 December 1999 the group held sterling interest bearing assets of £560m on which interest had been fixed 
on £390m at 5.7% for one year and £37m on which interest had been fixed for a further three years at 5.6%, a
weighted average of 5.7% for a weighted average period of 1.2 years. The remainder was cash balances held on
short term deposit at floating rates. The group also held £14m of foreign currency interest bearing assets as cash 
or on short term deposit at floating rates.

The group’s interest bearing liabilities at 31 December 1999 included £409m of US dollars and £80m of euros on
which interest had been fixed for one year on £288m of US dollars and £62m of euros at weighted average rates of
5.7% and 3.0% respectively. Interest had also been fixed on £34m of euros for a further three years at 3.6%. The
remaining interest bearing liabilities totalled £62m of various currencies of which the largest was £16m of Australian
dollars on which interest had been fixed at 6.0% for one year. Where interest had not been fixed the rates were
typically based on the three month interest rate relevant to the currency concerned. 

At 31 December 2000 unrecognised gains and losses on the value of interest rate swaps were £1.6m and £0.5m
respectively (1999 – gains £3.2m, losses £3.3m). Unrecognised gains of £0.8m will be realised in 2001 and £0.8m
between 2002 and 2003. Unrecognised losses of £0.4m will be realised in 2001 and £0.1m between 2002 and 2003.
Unrecognised net losses of £0.9m on interest rate swaps at 31 December 1999 were recognised in 2000. The group’s
interest rate risk management policy is set out on page 31. The fair values of interest rate swaps are calculated as the
net present value of the future cash flows at 31 December, discounted at market rates of interest on that date.

After the balance sheet date, the group transacted additional interest rate swaps thereby fixing 2001 interest rates on a
further £260m of sterling assets and £335m of US dollar liabilities to give weighted average rates on these principals of
5.5% and 5.3% respectively.

Smith & Nephew 2000 41

Notes to the accounts

Note 5 Employees

The average number of employees during the year was:

United Kingdom
Continental Europe
America
Africa, Asia and Australasia

Staff costs during the year amounted to:

Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Other pension costs (Note 28)

2000

1999

2,589
1,549
3,387
2,910

2,973
1,602
3,370
3,268

10,435

11,213

£ million

£ million

249.1
25.4
10.6

285.1

232.1
25.1
9.1

266.3

Note 6 Directors’ emoluments
Aggregate emoluments of the directors, including pension entitlements of £98,000 (1999 – £78,000), were
£2,107,000 (1999 – £1,789,000). The emoluments of the highest paid director excluding pension entitlement were
£684,000 (1999 – £586,000). The accrued pension benefit of the highest paid director at the end of the year was
£95,000 (1999 – £75,000).

Information concerning individual directors’ emoluments, pension entitlements, shareholdings and share options 
is shown on pages 27 to 29.

Note 7 Taxation

United Kingdom: 
Corporation tax at 30% (1999 – 30.25%)
Adjustments in respect of prior years
Deferred taxation

Overseas: 
Tax on ordinary activities
Adjustments in respect of prior years
Deferred taxation

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

28.8
(1.7)
0.8

27.9

28.1
(1.7)
1.9

28.3

56.2

29.7
–
(3.8)

25.9

47.6
–
3.8

51.4

77.3

The tax charge has been reduced by £3.2m (1999 – £9.5m) as a consequence of the exceptional costs of the
rationalisation programme and acquisition integration costs and increased by £8.0m (1999 – £35.5m) as a result 
of the exceptional profit on disposal, leaving the tax charge on ordinary activities at £51.4m (1999 – £51.3m).

If full provision had been made for deferred tax, the tax charge would have reduced by £1.0m (1999 – increased 
by £5.7m) as follows:

Fixed asset timing differences 
Other timing differences

42 Smith & Nephew 2000

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

(1.9)
0.9

(1.0)

2.0
3.7

5.7

Note 8 Dividends

Ordinary interim of 1.7p (1999 – 2.5p) paid 6 December 2000
Proposed ordinary final of 2.8p (1999 – 4.0p) payable 18 May 2001

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

15.6
25.7

41.3

27.8
44.7

72.5

A special dividend of £415.6m (37.14p per share) was paid on 11 August 2000. Non-equity preference dividends
amounting to £15,000 were paid (1999 – £13,000). 

Note 9 Results before exceptional items
In order to provide a trend measure of underlying performance, profit before taxation is adjusted below to exclude
exceptional items, and basic earnings per share has been recalculated as set out in Note 10.

Profit on ordinary activities before taxation

Adjustments:
Continuing operations: exceptional items
Discontinued operations: exceptional items
Discontinued operations: net gain on disposal

Profit before taxation and exceptional items

Taxation on profit before exceptional items

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

261.4

182.1

16.3
–
(106.3)

171.4

51.4

42.0
9.7
(62.9)

170.9

51.3

Note 10 Earnings per ordinary share
Basic earnings per ordinary share of 19.85p (1999 – 9.39p) are based on profit on ordinary activities after taxation
and preference dividends of £205.2m (1999 – £104.8m) and on 1,034m ordinary shares being the basic weighted
average number of shares in issue during the year (1999 – 1,116m). No adjustment has been made to comparative
data in respect of the share consolidation as together with the special dividend payment the overall effect was that 
of a share repurchase at fair value. The calculation of diluted earnings per ordinary share is based on basic earnings
and on 1,040m ordinary shares (1999 – 1,119m) calculated as follows:

Basic weighted average number of shares
Weighted average number of shares under option 
Number of shares that would have been issued at fair value

Diluted weighted average number of shares

Diluted earnings per ordinary share

The calculation of adjusted basic earnings per ordinary share is as follows:

Basic earnings
Continuing operations: exceptional items
Discontinued operations: exceptional items
Discontinued operations: net gain on disposal
Exceptional taxation 

Adjusted basic earnings

Adjusted basic earnings per ordinary share

Adjusted diluted basic earnings per ordinary share

Shares
2000
million

1,034
22
(16)

1,040

19.73p

Shares
1999
million

1,116
16
(13)

1,119

9.37p

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

205.2
16.3
–
(106.3)
4.8

120.0

104.8
42.0
9.7
(62.9)
26.0

119.6

11.61p

10.72p

11.54p

10.69p

Smith & Nephew 2000 43

Notes to the accounts

Note 11 Intangible fixed assets

Group

Cost:
At 1 January 2000
Exchange adjustment
Acquisitions
Additions
Transfers
Discontinued operations

At 31 December 2000

Amortisation:
At 1 January 2000
Exchange adjustment
Charge for the year
Transfers
Discontinued operations

At 31 December 2000

Net book amounts:
At 31 December 2000

At 31 December 1999

Note 12 Tangible fixed assets

Group

Cost:
At 1 January 2000
Exchange adjustment
Additions
Disposals
Transfers 
Discontinued operations

At 31 December 2000

Depreciation:
At 1 January 2000
Exchange adjustment
Charge for the year
Disposals
Discontinued operations

At 31 December 2000

Net book amounts:
At 31 December 2000

At 31 December 1999

Goodwill
£ million

Other
£ million

Total
£ million

49.1
5.4
89.9
–
2.1
–

146.5

2.1
0.2
7.5
0.2
–

10.0

136.5

47.0

40.9
2.9
–
4.0
(2.1)
(2.4)

43.3

13.9
0.9
2.4
(0.2)
(0.2)

16.8

26.5

27.0

90.0
8.3
89.9
4.0
–
(2.4)

189.8

16.0
1.1
9.9
–
(0.2)

26.8

163.0

74.0

Land and buildings

freehold
£ million

leasehold
£ million

Plant and In course of
equipment construction
£ million

£ million

Total
£ million

83.7
3.0
0.6
(5.5)
0.6
(6.8)

75.6

18.2
0.6
2.7
(3.4)
(1.2)

16.9

58.7

65.5

11.2
0.3
0.4
–
–
–

11.9

3.2
0.1
0.8
–
–

4.1

7.8

8.0

481.7
12.8
35.5
(46.0)
19.9
(40.6)

463.3

302.0
7.8
49.5
(43.1)
(18.8)

297.4

165.9

179.7

17.3
0.5
23.4
(1.3)
(20.5)
(0.7)

18.7

–
–
–
–
–

–

18.7

17.3

593.9
16.6
59.9
(52.8)
–
(48.1)

569.5

323.4
8.5
53.0
(46.5)
(20.0)

318.4

251.1

270.5

Fixed assets include land with a cost of £5.0m (1999 – £5.8m) that is not subject to depreciation. Leases with less
than 50 years to run amounted to £5.1m (1999 – £5.1m). Included in the amounts above are assets held under
finance leases with a net book amount of £2.8m (1999 – £3.0m).

44 Smith & Nephew 2000

Note 12 Tangible fixed assets continued

Parent company 
The opening net book amount of £8.1m represented plant and equipment, with a cost of £17.1m and accumulated
depreciation of £9.0m. Movements in the year comprised £3.6m of additions, depreciation charged in the year of
£1.4m (1999 – £1.4m) and assets of £2.4m written off in connection with the Consumer disposal. The closing net
book value of £7.9m represented plant and equipment with a cost of £20.7m and accumulated depreciation of £12.8m.

Note 13 Investments

At 1 January 2000
Exchange adjustment
Additions
Disposals

At 31 December 2000

Group
own

Group
associated

Group
trade
shares undertakings investments
£ million
£ million

£ million

Group

Parent
subsidiary
total undertakings
£ million

£ million

–
–
2.9
–

2.9

0.7
0.1
–
–

0.8

15.9
1.3
6.0
(2.9)

20.3

16.6
1.4
8.9
(2.9)

24.0

413.9
–
–
–

413.9

Principal subsidiary and associated undertakings are listed on pages 54 and 55. Trade investments are all US dollar
denominated and include an 8% equity investment in Advanced Tissue Sciences Inc, quoted on the Nasdaq exchange
in the US. The quoted market price of the company at 31 December 2000 and 14 February 2001 was $3.03 and
$5.00 respectively. 

Own shares represent the purchase in the year of the Company’s own shares in respect of the Smith & Nephew
Employees’ Share Trust (see note 29).

Note 14 Stocks

Raw materials and consumables
Work in progress
Finished goods and goods for resale

Note 15 Debtors

Amounts falling due within one year:
Trade and other debtors
Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings
Prepayments and accrued income

Amounts falling due after more than one year:
Pension prepayments (Note 28)
Other debtors
Deferred taxation (Note 19)

Group
2000
£ million

54.3
16.6
157.3

228.2

Group
1999
£ million

52.1
16.1
169.4

237.6

Group
2000
£ million

Group
1999
£ million

Parent
2000
£ million

Parent
1999
£ million

246.2
–
24.4

270.6

5.3
1.4
0.5

241.8
–
23.6

265.4

5.7
2.7
7.3

6.9
361.8
13.4

382.1

–
–
0.1

2.4
466.7
7.4

476.5

–
–
0.3

277.8

281.1

382.2

476.8

Other debtors falling due after more than one year are non interest bearing, denominated in various currencies and
are stated at fair value.

Smith & Nephew 2000 45

Notes to the accounts

Note 16 Borrowings

Net borrowings

Gross borrowings:
Due within one year
Due after one year

Cash and bank 

Gross borrowings

Bank loans and overdrafts
Other loans wholly repayable within five years:
51⁄2% US dollar convertible bonds 2000
Other

Other loans wholly repayable after five years

Group
2000
£ million

Group
1999
£ million

Parent
2000
£ million

Parent
1999
£ million

82.0
178.9

260.9
(24.6)

236.3

58.0
20.2

78.2
(100.5)

(22.3)

66.2
163.5

229.7
(14.9)

214.8

28.9
4.5

33.4
(77.2)

(43.8)

259.1

75.9

229.5

33.0

–
1.8

1.8

–

0.2
1.8

2.0

0.3

–
0.2

0.2

–

0.2
0.2

0.4

–

260.9

78.2

229.7

33.4

Bank loans and overdrafts represent drawings under committed and uncommitted facilities of £418m and £264m
respectively. Of the undrawn committed facilities of £216m, £106m expire within one year and £110m after more
than two years. Borrowings secured on fixed and current assets were £1.4m (1999 – £1.7m). Borrowings are shown
at fair value. The group’s liquidity risk management policy is set out on page 31.

The group and parent company have currency swaps which are revalued at year end exchange rates and have
maturities ranging from 2001 to 2005. For the group, gross sterling equivalents of £399.9m (1999 – £477.6m)
receivable and £425.9m (1999 – £484.3m) payable have been netted. The balance of £26.0m (1999 – £6.7m) is
included as £1.0m in cash and bank and as £27.0m in borrowings (1999 – £4.4m in cash and bank and £11.1m 
in borrowings). For the parent company, gross sterling equivalents of £374.0m (1999 – £446.5m) receivable and
£398.5m (1999 – £453.9m) payable have been netted, the balance of £24.5m (1999 – £7.4m) is included as £1.0m 
in cash and bank and as £25.5m in borrowings (1999 – £3.7m in cash and bank and £11.1m in borrowings).
Currency swaps comprise floating interest rate contracts and forward foreign exchange contracts and are used 
for hedging foreign investments.

46 Smith & Nephew 2000

Note 16 Borrowings continued

Gross borrowings are repayable as follows:

Within one year:
Bank loans and overdrafts
Other loans

Total within one year

Bank loans and overdrafts:
After one year and within two years
After two years and within five years

Other loans:
After one year and within two years
After two years and within five years
After five years

Total after one year

Group
2000
£ million

Group
1999
£ million

Parent
2000
£ million

Parent
1999
£ million

81.7
0.3

82.0

20.2
157.2

177.4

0.6
0.9
–

1.5

178.9

260.9

57.5
0.5

58.0

3.5
14.9

18.4

0.3
1.2
0.3

1.8

20.2

78.2

66.2
–

66.2

12.7
150.6

163.3

0.2
–
–

0.2

163.5

229.7

28.7
0.2

28.9

2.5
1.8

4.3

–
0.2
–

0.2

4.5

33.4

In addition to the above gross borrowings, other financial liabilities are £0.3m being 51⁄2% undated cumulative
preference shares as set out in Note 20.

Note 17 Other creditors

Amounts falling due within one year:

Trade creditors
Amounts owed to subsidiary undertakings
Social security costs and other taxes
Accruals and deferred income
Acquisition consideration
Current taxation
Ordinary share dividends

Group
2000
£ million

Group
1999
£ million

Parent
2000
£ million

Parent
1999
£ million

114.6
–
13.0
59.5
32.3
76.9
25.7

322.0

128.5
–
14.8
49.7
–
74.7
44.7

312.4

3.3
150.3
0.4
15.6
–
17.4
25.7

212.7

2.4
221.2
0.3
11.0
–
20.2
44.7

299.8

Amounts falling due after more than one year: acquisition consideration of £8.3m (1999 – nil) is payable by the Group.

Note 18 Provisions for liabilities and charges

Group

At 1 January 2000
Exchange adjustments
Profit and loss account
Utilisation

At 31 December 2000

Rationalisation Retirement
healthcare
and integration
£ million
£ million

Other
£ million

Total
£ million

18.2
(0.1)
37.7
(29.8)

26.0

8.8
0.4
0.7
(0.6)

9.3

11.0
0.3
5.4
(4.1)

12.6

38.0
0.6
43.8
(34.5)

47.9

At 31 December 2000 rationalisation and integration provisions included acquisition integration of £2.2m (1999 – £3.6m).
The retirement healthcare provision is long term in nature, as is the timing of its utilisation. All other provisions are
expected to be utilised within two years. There are no provisions for contractual amounts and hence none is treated
as a financial instrument.

Parent company
The movement in provisions for liabilities and charges in the year from £0.9m to £0.1m represented expenditure 
of £0.8m.

Smith & Nephew 2000 47

Notes to the accounts

Note 19 Deferred taxation

At 1 January 2000
Profit and loss – current year
Profit and loss – prior year adjustments
Exchange adjustment

At 31 December 2000

Deferred tax asset/(liability) is analysed as follows:

Group

Fixed asset timing differences
Other timing differences

Group
£ million

Parent
£ million

7.3
(2.7)
(4.2)
0.1

0.5

0.3
(0.2)
–
–

0.1

Amount
provided
2000
£ million

Amount
provided
1999
£ million

Full 
potential
liability
2000
£ million

Full
potential
liability
1999
£ million

(4.1)
4.6

0.5

(3.3)
10.6

7.3

(24.0)
6.9

(17.1)

(30.2)
16.2

(14.0)

Parent company
The deferred tax asset recognised in the parent company of £0.1m (1999 – £0.3m) is represented by other timing
differences. The full potential deferred tax liability of £1.4m (1999 – £1.5m) is represented by fixed asset timing
differences.

Note 20 Called up share capital

Authorised

Ordinary shares 122⁄9p (1999 – 10p)
51⁄2% cumulative preference shares £1

Shares
2000
’000

2000
£ million

Shares
1999
’000

1,223,591
450

149.5 1,495,500
450

0.5

150.0

1999
£ million

149.5
0.5

150.0

On 7 August 2000, the ordinary share capital was consolidated by the issue of 9 new ordinary shares of 122⁄9p 
for every 11 ordinary shares of 10p held.

Allotted, issued and fully paid
Equity capital: ordinary shares 10p

At 1 January 2000
Share options and convertible bonds

At 6 August 2000
Effect of share consolidation: ordinary shares 122⁄9p

At 7 August 2000
Share options and convertible bonds

Non-equity capital: 51⁄2% cumulative preference shares £1
At 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2000

Total called up share capital at 31 December 2000

Shares
’000

£ million

1,117,545
1,408

1,118,953
(203,446)

915,507
3,682

919,189

269

111.8
0.1

111.9
–

111.9
0.5

112.4

0.3

112.7

The 51⁄2% cumulative preference shares are denominated in sterling and the fair value is not materially different. 
They are non-voting and carry preferential rights to dividend and distribution on winding up.

48 Smith & Nephew 2000

Note 21 Share option schemes
At 31 December 2000 21,862,000 (1999 – 25,464,000) of the authorised but unissued ordinary shares of 122⁄9p 
were reserved in respect of the following options:

Employee share option schemes
Executive share option schemes

2001-2006
2001-2010

124.0p-221.2p
133.0p-270.0p

Exercisable
in stages
between

Exercise 
prices per
share range
between

Shares
the subject
of options
’000

5,299
16,563

21,862

As the employee scheme is an Inland Revenue approved Save As You Earn scheme the company is exempt 
from accounting for the cost between the share option price and the market value at the grant date.

Note 22 Reserves

Group

At 1 January 2000
Exchange adjustment
Retained deficit for the year
Share options and convertible bonds
Goodwill on disposals

At 31 December 2000

Share

Profit and
premium loss account
£ million
£ million

118.3
–
–
7.1
–

125.4

321.3
(9.9)
(251.7)
–
31.8

91.5

Net exchange losses of £32.9m (1999 – loss of £9.5m) arising on foreign currency net borrowings are included 
within the £9.9m (1999 – £4.0m) exchange adjustment.

The cumulative amount of goodwill (before merger relief of £116.0m) charged to reserves is £344.4m (1999 – £368.8m).
The decrease is due to the goodwill written back to reserves on the disposal of the consumer business of £31.8m
offset by exchange differences on acquisitions made prior to 31 December 1997 of £7.4m.

Parent company

At 1 January 2000
Retained deficit for the year
Share options and convertible bonds

At 31 December 2000

Share

Profit and
premium loss account
£ million
£ million

118.3
–
7.1

125.4

411.5
(273.2)
–

138.3

In accordance with the exemption permitted by Section 230(3) of the Companies Act 1985, the parent company has
not presented its own profit and loss account. The attributable profit for the year dealt with in the accounts of the
parent company is £183.7m (1999 – £31.7m).

Smith & Nephew 2000 49

Notes to the accounts

Note 23 Cash flow statement

Reconciliation of operating profit to net cash flow from operating activities

Operating profit
Depreciation and amortisation
Exceptional asset write downs
Loss on sale of tangible fixed assets
Rationalisation and integration costs
(Increase)/decrease in stocks
Decrease/(increase) in debtors
Increase in creditors and provisions

Net cash inflow from operating activities

Analysis of net borrowings

Cash
Overdrafts

Borrowings due within one year
Borrowings due after one year

Net currency swaps
Liquid resources: cash deposits

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

162.1
62.9
–
3.2
(23.1)
(7.1)
4.5
1.5

204.0

115.8
56.1
28.6
1.9
(18.5)
0.6
(14.2)
27.8

198.1

Opening net
borrowings
£ million

Cash flow adjustments
£ million

£ million

Exchange Closing net
borrowings
£ million

23.8
(5.1)

18.7
(46.0)
(16.0)

(43.3)
(6.7)
72.3

22.3

–
(2.4)

(2.4)
(14.5)
(146.1)

(163.0)
9.6
(72.3)

(225.7)

(0.2)
0.3

0.1
(1.1)
(3.0)

(4.0)
(28.9)
–

(32.9)

23.6
(7.2)

16.4
(61.6)
(165.1)

(210.3)
(26.0)
–

(236.3)

Cash and bank at 31 December 2000 totals £24.6m (1999 – £100.5m) and comprises cash £23.6m (1999 – £23.8m),
liquid resources £nil (1999 – £72.3m) and currency swaps of £1.0m (1999 – £4.4m) as detailed in Note 16.

Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net borrowings

for the year ended 31 December 2000

Change in cash in the year
Change in liquid resources
Change in net currency swaps
Change in borrowings

Change in net borrowings/cash from cash flows
Exchange adjustments

Change in net borrowings/cash in the year
Opening net cash/(borrowings)

Closing net (borrowings)/cash

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

(2.4)
(72.3)
9.6
(160.6)

(225.7)
(32.9)

(258.6)
22.3

(236.3)

(15.1)
72.3
7.3
16.8

81.3
(9.5)

71.8
(49.5)

22.3

Disposals
The net assets of the Consumer business disposed of in 2000 comprised fixed assets £28.1m, stocks £23.9m,
debtors £1.6m and creditors and provisions £13.0m. During 2000 the business contributed £20.6m of the group’s
net operating cash flow and incurred capital expenditure amounting to £0.6m.

50 Smith & Nephew 2000

Note 24 Currency translation
The exchange rates used for the translation of currencies that have the most significant impact on the group results
were:

US dollar
Euro
Australian dollar
South African rand

Average
rate
2000

Average
rate
1999

Year
end rate
2000

Year
end rate
1999

1.51
1.64
2.62
10.55

1.62
1.53
2.49
9.87

1.49
1.59
2.69
11.31

1.61
1.61
2.46
9.92

Note 25 Acquisitions
The principal acquisitions during the year were the Collagenase business acquired in January 2000 and the
Orthopaedics Biosystems business acquired in November 2000. Under the acquisition method of accounting 
the impact on the consolidated balance sheet of acquisitions in the year was:

Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities

Goodwill

Total consideration

Net book 
value 
£ million

0.1
1.9
(1.1)

0.9
89.9

90.8

Of the total consideration £39.7m is deferred consideration (payable in cash) and £51.1m was cash consideration. 
There was no material difference between the fair value and book value of net assets acquired.

Note 26 Financial commitments
Group capital expenditure contracted but not provided for in these accounts amounted to £2.8m (1999 – £2.1m).

Under the group’s joint arrangement with Advanced Tissue Sciences for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers and
other wound indications, amounts of up to £6.7m (1999 – £6.2m) could become payable in the future, subject to
achievement of certain milestones related to regulatory and reimbursement approvals, with further amounts payable
on future regulatory, reimbursement and sales milestones, providing profits exceed certain minimum levels. 

The annual commitments of the group under operating leases were:

Operating leases which expire:

Within one year
After one year and within five years
After five years

Land and
buildings
2000
£ million

Land and
buildings
1999
£ million

Other
assets
2000
£ million

Other
assets
1999
£ million

1.7
2.8
5.6

10.1

1.7
3.4
2.3

7.4

2.1
5.8
0.2

8.1

2.2
5.6
–

7.8

Smith & Nephew 2000 51

Notes to the accounts

Note 27 Contingent liabilities

Guarantees in respect of subsidiary undertakings’ borrowings
Other

Group
2000
£ million

Group
1999
£ million

Parent
2000
£ million

Parent
1999
£ million

–
3.0

3.0

–
3.5

3.5

28.6
3.0

31.6

17.3
3.5

20.8

The group is party to legal proceedings in the normal course of business which it is considered will not result in any
material adverse effect.

Note 28 Post-retirement benefits
The group sponsors pension plans for its employees in most of the countries in which it has major operating companies.
In those countries where there is no company-sponsored pension plan, the state benefits are considered adequate.
Employees’ retirement benefits are the subject of regular management review.

The group’s major pension plans are of the defined benefit type. The group also operates defined contribution type
plans appropriate to local circumstances. Pension plans are established under the laws of the relevant territory with
their assets held in separate trust funds or by insurance companies. 

The pension cost for the group’s defined benefit plans has been determined by independent qualified actuaries,
using the projected unit method to give a substantially level percentage cost on the current and expected future
pensionable payroll. The excess of plan assets over plan liabilities is amortised, using the percentage of payroll
method, over the weighted average of expected pensionable payroll and remaining service lives of current employees
in the plan. The actuarial assumptions used vary according to local circumstances, the most significant being those
in the UK and the US:

Return on investments
Increase in pensionable earnings
Increase in pensions
Increase in dividend income
Inflation

Average remaining service lives

UK
% per 
annum

US
% per 
annum

8.5
5.3
3.5
5.1
3.5

9.0
6.0
nil
n/a
3.0

10.0 years 12.4 years

At the date of the most recent actuarial valuations (which took place between July 1997 and December 2000) 
the aggregate market value of the assets of the group’s major defined benefit plans was £267m (1999 – £256m). 
The actuarial value of plan assets represented 102% of plan liabilities for accrued benefits, including allowance 
for projected future increases in salaries.

Included in debtors due after more than one year is a prepayment of £5.3m (1999 – £5.7m) relating to the excess
funding of certain group pension plans. Included in creditors is an accrual of £9.8m (1999 – £12.0m) relating to the
deferred funding of certain group pension plans. 

At the balance sheet date the unamortised balance of the actuarial value of plan assets over liabilities not recognised
in the group accounts was £8.5m (1999 – £12.7m).

The group recharges the group’s UK pension schemes with the costs of administration and independent advisers
borne by the group. The total amount recharged in the year to 31 December 2000 was £0.4m (1999 – £0.5m). 
The amount receivable at 31 December 2000 was £0.2m (1999 – £0.1m).

52 Smith & Nephew 2000

Note 28 Post-retirement benefits continued
The costs of providing healthcare benefits after retirement of £0.7m (1999 – £0.7m) are determined by independent
qualified actuaries. The unfunded liability of £9.3m (1999 – £8.8m) in respect of the accrued healthcare benefits is
included in provisions. The principal actuarial assumptions that are most significant in determining the cost of
providing healthcare benefits are those in the UK and the US:

Interest rate
Medical cost inflation

Note 29 Smith & Nephew Employees’ Share Trust

Shares acquired

UK
% per 
annum

6.0
7.0

US
% per 
annum

9.0
9.0

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

2.9

–

The Smith & Nephew Employees’ Share Trust (the “Trust”) was established to encourage and facilitate the acquisition
and holding of shares in the company by and for the benefit of employees, including directors, and former employees
and their dependants, as the trustees may determine. 

The trust is administered by an independent professional trust company resident in Jersey and is funded by a direct
loan from the parent company. The costs of the Trust are charged to the profit and loss account as they accrue.
There is a dividend waiver in place in respect of the shares held by the Trust.

At 31 December 2000 the Trust held 0.9 million ordinary shares of the company at an aggregate cost of £2.9 million,
which is included within fixed asset investments on the group balance sheet. The market value of the shares at 
31 December 2000 was £2.9 million. 

Smith & Nephew 2000 53

Subsidiary and associated undertakings

Principal subsidiary undertakings
The information provided below is given for principal subsidiary undertakings in accordance with Section 231(5)(a) 
of the Companies Act 1985. A full list will be appended to the company’s next annual return.

Activity

Country of operation
and incorporation

% owned

United Kingdom
Smith & Nephew Healthcare Limited
Smith & Nephew Homecraft Limited
Smith & Nephew Medical Limited
Smith & Nephew Medical Fabrics Limited*
TJ Smith & Nephew Limited

Continental Europe
Smith & Nephew GmbH
Smith & Nephew SA-NV
Smith & Nephew A/S
Smith & Nephew OY
Smith & Nephew SA
Smith & Nephew GmbH
Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics GmbH
Smith & Nephew Limited
Smith & Nephew Srl
Smith & Nephew BV
Smith & Nephew A/S
Smith & Nephew Lda
Smith & Nephew SA
Smith & Nephew AB
Smith & Nephew AG

America
Smith & Nephew Inc
Smith & Nephew SA de CV
Smith & Nephew Inc
Smith & Nephew Inc

*Owned directly by the parent company

Medical devices
Medical devices
Medical devices
Medical devices
Medical devices

Medical devices
Medical devices
Medical devices
Medical devices
Medical devices
Medical devices
Medical devices
Medical devices 
Medical devices
Medical devices
Medical devices
Medical devices
Medical devices
Medical devices
Medical devices

Medical devices 
Medical devices
Medical devices
Medical devices

United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom

Austria
Belgium
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Germany
Ireland
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Portugal
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland

Canada
Mexico
Puerto Rico
United States

100%
100%
100%
100%
100%

100% 
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%

100%
100%
100%
100%

54 Smith & Nephew 2000

Principal subsidiary undertakings continued

Africa, Asia and Australasia
Smith & Nephew Pty Limited
Smith & Nephew Limited
Smith & Nephew Healthcare Limited
PT Smith & Nephew Healthcare 
Smith & Nephew KK
Smith & Nephew Limited
Smith & Nephew Healthcare Sdn Berhad
Smith & Nephew Limited
Smith & Nephew Pakistan (Pvt) Limited
Smith & Nephew Pte Limited
Smith & Nephew Limited
Smith & Nephew Limited
Smith & Nephew FZE 

Activity

Country of operation
and incorporation

% owned

Australia
Medical devices 
Hong Kong
Medical devices 
India
Medical devices
Indonesia
Medical devices
Japan
Medical devices
Korea
Medical devices
Malaysia
Medical devices
New Zealand
Medical devices
Pakistan
Medical devices
Singapore
Medical devices
South Africa
Medical devices
Medical devices
Thailand
Medical devices United Arab Emirates

100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
97%
100%
100%
100%
100%

Principal associated undertakings and other arrangements
The group owns 49% of Eurociencia CA, a Venezuelan healthcare company, which has a share capital of £0.2m 
(1999 – £0.2m). There are no debt securities attributable to the group’s interest.

The group has interests in two joint arrangements with Advanced Tissue Sciences Inc, one relating to products 
for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers and other wound indications, and the other to cartilage replacement.

Smith & Nephew 2000 55

Summary remuneration report
and auditors’ statement

Directors’ emoluments and share interests

Chairman:

Executive:

D.G. Eustace 
J.H. Robinson (to 31 Dec 1999)

C.J. O’Donnell
P. Hooley
A.R. Fryer (to 31 Dec 2000)

Non-executive: Sir Anthony Cleaver

Dr N.J. Lane (to 26 Oct 2000)
Sir Timothy Lankester
Sir Brian Pearse
Dr R.W.H. Stomberg
W.D. Knowlton (from 1 Nov 2000)

Total emoluments*
1999
2000
£’000
£’000

Share interests

31 December 2000
Options

Shares

1 January 2000
Options

Shares

150
–

703
489
641

24
24
24
24
24
4

21
156

603
432
452

24
29
24
24
24
–

40,909
–

111,339
4,090
–

13,730
–
5,911
20,000
864
–

–
–

177,862
405,362
–

–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–

19,490
5,000
–

16,782
–
6,389
20,000
1,035
–

–
–

367,862
405,362
–

–
–
–
–
–
–

2,107

1,789

*Inclusive of salaries and fees, benefits, annual bonus and pension entitlements. Profits on exercise of share options
were: Christopher O’Donnell £291,000 and Alan Fryer £230,000 (1999 – £18,000).

Directors’ incentive plans
Executive directors participate in an annual bonus scheme based on achieving performance criteria and in a long-term
incentive plan based on the company’s total shareholder return in relation to other companies and growth in earnings 
per share over a three-year period. Total outstanding conditional awards of shares are: Christopher O’Donnell 499,368
(1999 – 344,303) and Peter Hooley 316,749 (1999 – 219,833). For the plan year 1998, the company’s total
shareholder return was ranked in the top quartile of the comparator group and the earnings per share performance
criteria was met, thus enabling the plan participants to be eligible for the vesting of 100% of the shares conditionally
awarded for 1998. As a result, on 14 February 2001, Christopher O’Donnell became entitled to 161,263 shares and 
Peter Hooley entitled to 102,874 shares which are both included in the outstanding conditional awards of shares above.

Auditors’ statement to the members of Smith & Nephew plc on the summary financial statement
We have examined the summary remuneration report above and the summary financial statement set out on pages
28 and 29, the preparation of which is the responsibility of the directors. Our responsibility is to report to you our
opinion on the consistency of the statement with the annual accounts and directors’ report, and its compliance with
the relevant requirements of section 251 of the Companies Act 1985 and regulations made thereunder. We also read
the other information contained in the Report to Shareholders and Summary Financial Statement and consider the
implications for our report if we become aware of any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the
summary financial statement. We conducted our work in accordance with Bulletin 1999/6 ‘The auditors’ statement
on the summary financial statement’ issued by the Auditing Practices Board.

In our opinion, the summary financial statement is consistent with the annual accounts and directors’ report 
of Smith & Nephew plc for the year ended 31 December 2000 and complies with the applicable requirements 
of section 251 of the Companies Act 1985, and regulations made thereunder.

Ernst & Young 
Registered auditor
London, 14 February 2001 

This summary financial statement is a summary of information in the group’s full annual accounts and was approved
by the Board on 14 February 2001 and signed on its behalf by Dudley Eustace and Peter Hooley. It does not contain
sufficient information to allow a full understanding of the results of the group and state of affairs of the company or of
the group. A review of the business is included in the directors’ report. The report of the auditors on the full accounts
for the year ended 31 December 2000 was unqualified and did not contain a statement made under either section
237(2) of the Companies Act 1985 (accounting records or returns inadequate or accounts not agreeing with records
or returns) or section 237(3) (failure to obtain necessary information and explanations).

For further information the full annual accounts and the auditors’ report on those accounts should be consulted.
Shareholders have the right to demand, free of charge, a copy of the group’s full annual report and accounts, which
may be obtained from the company’s registrars.

Smith & Nephew 2000 27

Summary financial statement

Group profit and loss account

for the year ended 31 December 2000

Turnover
Ongoing operations
Other operations

Continuing operations 
Discontinued operations

Operating profit
Continuing operations:

Before exceptional items – ongoing operations
Before exceptional items – other operations
Exceptional items*

Discontinued operations:

Before exceptional items
Exceptional items*

Discontinued operations:

Net profit on disposals*

Profit on ordinary activities before interest
Interest (payable)/receivable

Profit on ordinary activities before taxation
Taxation

Attributable profit for the year
Dividends:

Ordinary
Special

Retained (deficit)/profit for the year

Basic earnings per ordinary share
Diluted earnings per ordinary share

Results before exceptional items (*)
Profit before taxation

Adjusted basic earnings per ordinary share

Adjusted diluted earnings per ordinary share

28 Smith & Nephew 2000

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

824.8
180.6

1,005.4
129.3

709.9
179.6

889.5
230.4

1,134.7

1,119.9

142.5
22.0
(16.3)

148.2

13.9
–

114.6
20.1
(42.0)

92.7

32.8
(9.7)

162.1

115.8

106.3

268.4
(7.0)

261.4
56.2

205.2

41.3
415.6

(251.7)

19.85p
19.73p

62.9

178.7
3.4

182.1
77.3

104.8

72.5
–

32.3

9.39p
9.37p

171.4

170.9

11.61p

10.72p

11.54p

10.69p

Group balance sheet

at 31 December 2000

Fixed assets
Intangible fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets
Investments

Working capital
Stocks
Debtors
Creditors

Provisions

Share capital and reserves
Net borrowings/(cash)

Group cash flow

for the year ended 31 December 2000

Operating profit
Depreciation and amortisation
Exceptional asset write downs
Working capital and provisions

Net cash inflow from operating activities*
Capital expenditure and financial investment

Operating cash flow
Interest
Tax paid
Dividends paid
Acquisitions
Disposals
Issues of ordinary share capital

Net cash flow
Exchange adjustments
Opening net cash/(borrowings)

Closing net (borrowings)/cash

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

163.0
251.1
24.0

438.1

228.2
277.8
(330.3)

175.7

(47.9)

565.9

329.6
236.3

565.9

74.0
270.5
16.6

361.1

237.6
281.1
(312.4)

206.3

(38.0)

529.4

551.7
(22.3)

529.4

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

162.1
62.9
–
(21.0)

204.0
(66.7)

137.3
(7.0)
(46.5)
(475.9)
(51.1)
209.8
7.7

(225.7)
(32.9)
22.3

(236.3)

115.8
56.1
28.6
(2.4)

198.1
(65.1)

133.0
3.4
(60.1)
(70.3)
(50.9)
121.8
4.4

81.3
(9.5)
(49.5)

22.3

*After £23.1m (1999 – £18.5m) of outgoings on rationalisation, acquisition integration and divestment costs.

Smith & Nephew 2000 29

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

1998
£ million

1997
£ million

1996
£ million

1,005.4
129.3

889.5
230.4

801.3
252.1

785.8
262.3

806.4
262.8

1,134.7

1,119.9 

1,053.4

1,048.1

1,069.2

164.5
(16.3)

13.9
–

162.1
106.3

268.4
(7.0)

261.4
56.2

205.2
41.3
415.6

(251.7)

19.85p
19.73p
4.50p

171.4
11.61p
11.54p

15.7%
4.0%
5.6%

134.7
(42.0)

32.8
(9.7)

115.8
62.9

178.7
3.4

182.1
77.3

104.8
72.5
–

32.3

9.39p
9.37p
6.50p

119.5
(16.3)

34.6
(1.6)

136.2
–

136.2
(1.7)

134.5
40.8

93.7
69.2
–

24.5

8.42p
8.40p
6.20p

131.4
(1.8)

33.2
–

162.8
(6.5)

156.3
(3.9)

152.4
38.7

113.7
69.0
–

44.7

155.6
(4.4)

32.3
–

183.5
0.9

184.4
(5.7)

178.7
58.0

120.7
66.5
–

54.2

10.24p
10.22p
6.20p

10.92p
10.86p
6.00p

170.9
10.72p
10.69p

15.0%
4.0%
5.8%

152.4
9.58p
9.57p

14.6%
4.1%
6.6%

160.7
11.00p
10.97p

15.7%
4.0%
7.1% 

182.2
11.21p
11.16p

17.6%
3.9%
6.7%

Group five year summary

Profit and loss account

Turnover
Continuing operations
Discontinued operations

Operating profit
Continuing operations:

Before exceptional items
Exceptional items*
Discontinued operations

Before exceptional items
Exceptional items*

Profit/(loss) on disposals*

Profit before interest
Interest (payable)/receivable

Profit before taxation
Taxation

Profit after taxation
Ordinary dividends
Special dividend

Retained (deficit)/profit

Basic earnings per ordinary share
Diluted earnings per ordinary share 
Dividends per ordinary share

Results before exceptional items (*):
Profit before taxation
Adjusted earnings per ordinary share
Adjusted diluted earnings per ordinary share

Operating profit (before exceptional items) to sales
Research and development costs to sales
Capital investment (including intangibles) to sales

30 Smith & Nephew 2000

Balance sheet

Fixed assets 
Working capital
Provisions

Capital employed

Called up share capital
Reserves

Capital and reserves
Net borrowings/(cash)

Operating profit (before exceptional items)
to average capital employed
Gearing

Cash flow

Cash inflow from operating activities
Capital expenditure and financial investment

Interest, tax and dividends
Acquisitions and disposals
Issues of share capital

Net cash flow
Exchange adjustments
Opening net cash/(borrowings)

Closing net (borrowings)/cash

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

1998
£ million

1997
£ million

1996
£ million

438.1
175.7
(47.9)

565.9

112.7
216.9

329.6
236.3

565.9

361.1
206.3
(38.0)

529.4

112.1
439.6

551.7
(22.3)

529.4

334.4
232.0
(31.4)

535.0

111.7
373.8

485.5
49.5

535.0

302.0
235.8
(29.9)

507.9

111.5
349.8

461.3
46.6

507.9

277.3
233.4
(32.3)

478.4

111.0
324.4

435.4
43.0

478.4

33%
72%

31%
nil

30%
10%

33%
10%

39%
10%

204.0
(66.7)

137.3
(529.4)
158.7
7.7

(225.7)
(32.9)
22.3

(236.3)

198.1
(65.1)

133.0
(127.0)
70.9
4.4

81.3
(9.5)
(49.5)

22.3

161.9
(61.9)

100.0
(91.3)
(16.4)
3.0

(4.7)
1.8
(46.6)

(49.5)

181.7
(66.8)

114.9
(113.0)
(8.0)
4.3

(1.8)
(1.8)
(43.0)

(46.6)

189.3
(63.4)

125.9
(106.3)
(42.6)
5.2

(17.8)
56.8
(82.0)

(43.0)

Smith & Nephew 2000 31

Notes to the accounts

Note 1 Segmental analysis 

Analysis by activity

Ongoing operations
Other operations

Continuing operations
Discontinued operations

Turnover
2000
£ million

824.8
180.6

1,005.4
129.3

1,134.7

Operating Operating
assets
2000
£ million

profit
2000
£ million

565.8
90.2

656.0
9.9

134.8
13.4

148.2
13.9

162.1

Turnover
1999
£ million

709.9
179.6

889.5
230.4

Operating
profit
1999
£ million

Operating
assets
1999
£ million

82.7
10.0

92.7
23.1

500.6
81.2

581.8
59.7

641.5

665.9

1,119.9

115.8

Exceptional costs of £16.3m (1999 – £51.7m) have been charged as follows: ongoing operations £7.7m 
(1999 – £31.9m), other operations £8.6m (1999 – £10.1m) and discontinued operations nil (1999 – £9.7m). 

Other operations comprise the casting and bandaging and traditional woundcare businesses which will be
contributed to the Joint venture with Beiersdorf AG on 1 April 2001 and the ear, nose and throat business, the
intended disposal of which was announced on 2 November 2000.

Discontinued operations comprise the results of the Consumer business and the first half year results of the 
Bracing business in 1999.

Analysis by geographic origin

United Kingdom
Continental Europe
America
Africa, Asia and Australasia

Continuing operations
Discontinued operations

Less intragroup sales

Turnover
2000
£ million

187.0
230.5
641.0
155.8

1,214.3
129.3

1,343.6
(208.9)

1,134.7

Operating Operating
assets
2000
£ million

profit
2000
£ million

110.4
90.5
401.1
54.0

656.0
9.9

665.9
–

18.8
16.5
92.7
20.2

148.2
13.9

162.1
–

162.1

Turnover
1999
£ million

173.8
232.6
545.9
144.2

1,096.5
230.4

1,326.9
(207.0)

Operating
profit
1999
£ million

Operating
assets
1999
£ million

19.4
11.0
51.1
11.2

92.7
23.1

115.8
–

115.8

115.0
84.3
321.9
60.6

581.8
59.7

641.5
–

641.5

665.9

1,119.9

Exceptional costs of £7.2m have been charged to the UK (1999 – £4.0m), £1.3m to Continental Europe (1999 – £3.0m),
£6.3m to America (1999 – £28.7m) and £1.5m to Africa, Asia and Australasia (1999 – £6.3m). Nil was charged to
discontinued operations (1999 – £9.7m). 

Analysis of turnover by geographic market

United Kingdom
Continental Europe
America
Africa, Asia and Australasia

Continuing operations
Discontinued operations

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

92.7
211.8
535.2
165.7

1,005.4
129.3

93.2
201.7
444.0
150.6

889.5
230.4

1,134.7

1,119.9

Smith & Nephew 2000 39

Notes to the accounts

Note 1 Segmental analysis continued

Analysis of turnover by product

Orthopaedics
Endoscopy
Advanced wound management
Rehabilitation

Ongoing operations
Other operations

Continuing operations
Discontinued operations

Note 2 Operating profit

Turnover
Cost of sales

Gross profit
Marketing, selling and distribution
Administration
Research and development
Other 

Operating profit

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

329.3
216.4
210.9
68.2

824.8
180.6

1,005.4
129.3

276.4
192.8
176.9
63.8

709.9
179.6

889.5
230.4

1,134.7

1,119.9

Continuing Discontinued
operations
operations
2000
2000
£ million
£ million

Total
2000
£ million

Continuing Discontinued
operations
operations
1999
1999
£ million
£ million

Total
1999
£ million

1,005.4
370.4

129.3
86.4

1,134.7
456.8

635.0
(333.2)
(109.3)
(46.4)
2.1

148.2

42.9
(24.8)
(4.6)
–
0.4

13.9

677.9
(358.0)
(113.9)
(46.4)
2.5

162.1

889.5
342.8

546.7
(286.5)
(111.4)
(43.6)
(12.5)

92.7

230.4
136.8

1,119.9
479.6

93.6
(54.7)
(14.2)
(1.6)
–

23.1

640.3
(341.2)
(125.6)
(45.2)
(12.5)

115.8

Results of continuing operations have been stated after charging exceptional costs of £16.3m (1999 – £42.0m),
which have been allocated in total as follows: cost of sales £13.2m (1999 – £8.2m), marketing, selling and
distribution £1.2m (1999 – £4.6m), administration £1.9m (1999 – £16.7m) and other nil (1999 – £12.5m). 

Results of discontinued operations have been stated after charging exceptional costs of nil (1999 – £9.7m). 
1999 exceptional costs of £9.7m were allocated as follows: cost of sales £3.8m, marketing, selling and distribution
£1.8m and administration £4.1m.

Operating profit is stated after charging:

Depreciation 
Loss on sale of fixed assets
Amortisation of goodwill 
Amortisation of other intangibles 
Exceptional asset provisions 
Operating lease rentals for land and buildings
Auditors’ remuneration

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

53.0
3.2
7.5
2.4
–
8.8
1.0

50.3
1.9
1.8
4.0
28.6
8.2
1.1

Payments made to the group’s auditors for non-audit services amounted to £1.2m (1999 – £0.5m) in the UK and
£0.9m (1999 – £0.8m) outside the UK. Of these payments £1.6m (1999 – £0.8m) relate to taxation services and
£0.5m (1999 – £0.5m) to statutory and other certifications and accountancy services. Of the total payments for 
non-audit services, £0.9m (1999 – £0.4m) relates to capital transactions.

Unrecognised gains and losses relating to forward foreign exchange contracts in respect of anticipated purchases
over the next 12 months amounted to £2.0m (1999 – £3.9m) and £1.3m (1999 – £2.2m) respectively. The unrecognised
gains and losses on forward foreign exchange contracts at 31 December 1999 were recognised in 2000. The
group’s policy on currency risk management is set out on page 31. The group’s operating units hold no material
unhedged monetary assets or liabilities other than in their functional operating currency.

40 Smith & Nephew 2000

Note 3 Exceptional items
In 2000, operating exceptional items comprise the cost of the manufacturing rationalisation programme begun in
1999 of £12.9m (1999 – £24.3m) and acquisition integration costs of £3.4m (1999 – £5.2m). In 1999 £6.5m was
written off intangible assets relating to the Dermagraft joint arrangement and a £6.0m provision was taken against 
the group’s equity investment in Advanced Tissue Sciences. Discontinued exceptional items of £9.7m in 1999
represent that element of manufacturing rationalisation costs which related to the Consumer business.

The net profit on disposal related to the sale of the Consumer healthcare business in June 2000 for a net cash
consideration of £209.8m. The net profit comprised a gain of £138.1m less £31.8m of acquisition goodwill previously
written off to reserves. The net profit on disposal in 1999 related to the sale of the Bracing business.

Note 4 Interest

Interest receivable

Interest payable:
On bank borrowings
Other

Net interest (payable)/receivable

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

4.4

8.7
2.7

11.4

(7.0)

10.3

6.1
0.8

6.9

3.4

Interest payable on currency swaps of £23.5m (1999 – £25.8m) has been set off against interest receivable.

At 31 December 2000 the group held sterling interest bearing assets of £401m on which interest has been fixed on
£107m at 6.4% for one year and £37m on which interest has been fixed for a further two years at 5.6%, a weighted
average of 6.1% for a weighted average period of 1.7 years. The remainder was cash balances held on short term
deposit at floating rates. The group also held £23m of foreign currency interest bearing assets as cash or on short
term deposit at floating rates. 

The group’s interest bearing liabilities at 31 December 2000 included £481m of US dollars and £107m of euros on
which interest has been fixed for one year on £100m of US dollars and £107m of euros at weighted average rates 
of 6.3% and 4.6% respectively. Interest has also been fixed on £35m of euros for a further two years at 3.6%. The
remaining interest bearing liabilities totalled £72m of various currencies. Where interest has not been fixed the rates
are typically based on the three month interest rate relevant to the currency concerned. Details of financial
instruments as defined by Financial Reporting Standard 13 are set out in Notes 13, 15, 16 and 20.

At 31 December 1999 the group held sterling interest bearing assets of £560m on which interest had been fixed 
on £390m at 5.7% for one year and £37m on which interest had been fixed for a further three years at 5.6%, a
weighted average of 5.7% for a weighted average period of 1.2 years. The remainder was cash balances held on
short term deposit at floating rates. The group also held £14m of foreign currency interest bearing assets as cash 
or on short term deposit at floating rates.

The group’s interest bearing liabilities at 31 December 1999 included £409m of US dollars and £80m of euros on
which interest had been fixed for one year on £288m of US dollars and £62m of euros at weighted average rates of
5.7% and 3.0% respectively. Interest had also been fixed on £34m of euros for a further three years at 3.6%. The
remaining interest bearing liabilities totalled £62m of various currencies of which the largest was £16m of Australian
dollars on which interest had been fixed at 6.0% for one year. Where interest had not been fixed the rates were
typically based on the three month interest rate relevant to the currency concerned. 

At 31 December 2000 unrecognised gains and losses on the value of interest rate swaps were £1.6m and £0.5m
respectively (1999 – gains £3.2m, losses £3.3m). Unrecognised gains of £0.8m will be realised in 2001 and £0.8m
between 2002 and 2003. Unrecognised losses of £0.4m will be realised in 2001 and £0.1m between 2002 and 2003.
Unrecognised net losses of £0.9m on interest rate swaps at 31 December 1999 were recognised in 2000. The group’s
interest rate risk management policy is set out on page 31. The fair values of interest rate swaps are calculated as the
net present value of the future cash flows at 31 December, discounted at market rates of interest on that date.

After the balance sheet date, the group transacted additional interest rate swaps thereby fixing 2001 interest rates on a
further £260m of sterling assets and £335m of US dollar liabilities to give weighted average rates on these principals of
5.5% and 5.3% respectively.

Smith & Nephew 2000 41

Notes to the accounts

Note 5 Employees

The average number of employees during the year was:

United Kingdom
Continental Europe
America
Africa, Asia and Australasia

Staff costs during the year amounted to:

Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Other pension costs (Note 28)

2000

1999

2,589
1,549
3,387
2,910

2,973
1,602
3,370
3,268

10,435

11,213

£ million

£ million

249.1
25.4
10.6

285.1

232.1
25.1
9.1

266.3

Note 6 Directors’ emoluments
Aggregate emoluments of the directors, including pension entitlements of £98,000 (1999 – £78,000), were
£2,107,000 (1999 – £1,789,000). The emoluments of the highest paid director excluding pension entitlement were
£684,000 (1999 – £586,000). The accrued pension benefit of the highest paid director at the end of the year was
£95,000 (1999 – £75,000).

Information concerning individual directors’ emoluments, pension entitlements, shareholdings and share options 
is shown on pages 27 to 29.

Note 7 Taxation

United Kingdom: 
Corporation tax at 30% (1999 – 30.25%)
Adjustments in respect of prior years
Deferred taxation

Overseas: 
Tax on ordinary activities
Adjustments in respect of prior years
Deferred taxation

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

28.8
(1.7)
0.8

27.9

28.1
(1.7)
1.9

28.3

56.2

29.7
–
(3.8)

25.9

47.6
–
3.8

51.4

77.3

The tax charge has been reduced by £3.2m (1999 – £9.5m) as a consequence of the exceptional costs of the
rationalisation programme and acquisition integration costs and increased by £8.0m (1999 – £35.5m) as a result 
of the exceptional profit on disposal, leaving the tax charge on ordinary activities at £51.4m (1999 – £51.3m).

If full provision had been made for deferred tax, the tax charge would have reduced by £1.0m (1999 – increased 
by £5.7m) as follows:

Fixed asset timing differences 
Other timing differences

42 Smith & Nephew 2000

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

(1.9)
0.9

(1.0)

2.0
3.7

5.7

Note 8 Dividends

Ordinary interim of 1.7p (1999 – 2.5p) paid 6 December 2000
Proposed ordinary final of 2.8p (1999 – 4.0p) payable 18 May 2001

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

15.6
25.7

41.3

27.8
44.7

72.5

A special dividend of £415.6m (37.14p per share) was paid on 11 August 2000. Non-equity preference dividends
amounting to £15,000 were paid (1999 – £13,000). 

Note 9 Results before exceptional items
In order to provide a trend measure of underlying performance, profit before taxation is adjusted below to exclude
exceptional items, and basic earnings per share has been recalculated as set out in Note 10.

Profit on ordinary activities before taxation

Adjustments:
Continuing operations: exceptional items
Discontinued operations: exceptional items
Discontinued operations: net gain on disposal

Profit before taxation and exceptional items

Taxation on profit before exceptional items

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

261.4

182.1

16.3
–
(106.3)

171.4

51.4

42.0
9.7
(62.9)

170.9

51.3

Note 10 Earnings per ordinary share
Basic earnings per ordinary share of 19.85p (1999 – 9.39p) are based on profit on ordinary activities after taxation
and preference dividends of £205.2m (1999 – £104.8m) and on 1,034m ordinary shares being the basic weighted
average number of shares in issue during the year (1999 – 1,116m). No adjustment has been made to comparative
data in respect of the share consolidation as together with the special dividend payment the overall effect was that 
of a share repurchase at fair value. The calculation of diluted earnings per ordinary share is based on basic earnings
and on 1,040m ordinary shares (1999 – 1,119m) calculated as follows:

Basic weighted average number of shares
Weighted average number of shares under option 
Number of shares that would have been issued at fair value

Diluted weighted average number of shares

Diluted earnings per ordinary share

The calculation of adjusted basic earnings per ordinary share is as follows:

Basic earnings
Continuing operations: exceptional items
Discontinued operations: exceptional items
Discontinued operations: net gain on disposal
Exceptional taxation 

Adjusted basic earnings

Adjusted basic earnings per ordinary share

Adjusted diluted basic earnings per ordinary share

Shares
2000
million

1,034
22
(16)

1,040

19.73p

Shares
1999
million

1,116
16
(13)

1,119

9.37p

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

205.2
16.3
–
(106.3)
4.8

120.0

104.8
42.0
9.7
(62.9)
26.0

119.6

11.61p

10.72p

11.54p

10.69p

Smith & Nephew 2000 43

Notes to the accounts

Note 11 Intangible fixed assets

Group

Cost:
At 1 January 2000
Exchange adjustment
Acquisitions
Additions
Transfers
Discontinued operations

At 31 December 2000

Amortisation:
At 1 January 2000
Exchange adjustment
Charge for the year
Transfers
Discontinued operations

At 31 December 2000

Net book amounts:
At 31 December 2000

At 31 December 1999

Note 12 Tangible fixed assets

Group

Cost:
At 1 January 2000
Exchange adjustment
Additions
Disposals
Transfers 
Discontinued operations

At 31 December 2000

Depreciation:
At 1 January 2000
Exchange adjustment
Charge for the year
Disposals
Discontinued operations

At 31 December 2000

Net book amounts:
At 31 December 2000

At 31 December 1999

Goodwill
£ million

Other
£ million

Total
£ million

49.1
5.4
89.9
–
2.1
–

146.5

2.1
0.2
7.5
0.2
–

10.0

136.5

47.0

40.9
2.9
–
4.0
(2.1)
(2.4)

43.3

13.9
0.9
2.4
(0.2)
(0.2)

16.8

26.5

27.0

90.0
8.3
89.9
4.0
–
(2.4)

189.8

16.0
1.1
9.9
–
(0.2)

26.8

163.0

74.0

Land and buildings

freehold
£ million

leasehold
£ million

Plant and In course of
equipment construction
£ million

£ million

Total
£ million

83.7
3.0
0.6
(5.5)
0.6
(6.8)

75.6

18.2
0.6
2.7
(3.4)
(1.2)

16.9

58.7

65.5

11.2
0.3
0.4
–
–
–

11.9

3.2
0.1
0.8
–
–

4.1

7.8

8.0

481.7
12.8
35.5
(46.0)
19.9
(40.6)

463.3

302.0
7.8
49.5
(43.1)
(18.8)

297.4

165.9

179.7

17.3
0.5
23.4
(1.3)
(20.5)
(0.7)

18.7

–
–
–
–
–

–

18.7

17.3

593.9
16.6
59.9
(52.8)
–
(48.1)

569.5

323.4
8.5
53.0
(46.5)
(20.0)

318.4

251.1

270.5

Fixed assets include land with a cost of £5.0m (1999 – £5.8m) that is not subject to depreciation. Leases with less
than 50 years to run amounted to £5.1m (1999 – £5.1m). Included in the amounts above are assets held under
finance leases with a net book amount of £2.8m (1999 – £3.0m).

44 Smith & Nephew 2000

Note 12 Tangible fixed assets continued

Parent company 
The opening net book amount of £8.1m represented plant and equipment, with a cost of £17.1m and accumulated
depreciation of £9.0m. Movements in the year comprised £3.6m of additions, depreciation charged in the year of
£1.4m (1999 – £1.4m) and assets of £2.4m written off in connection with the Consumer disposal. The closing net
book value of £7.9m represented plant and equipment with a cost of £20.7m and accumulated depreciation of £12.8m.

Note 13 Investments

At 1 January 2000
Exchange adjustment
Additions
Disposals

At 31 December 2000

Group
own

Group
associated

Group
trade
shares undertakings investments
£ million
£ million

£ million

Group

Parent
subsidiary
total undertakings
£ million

£ million

–
–
2.9
–

2.9

0.7
0.1
–
–

0.8

15.9
1.3
6.0
(2.9)

20.3

16.6
1.4
8.9
(2.9)

24.0

413.9
–
–
–

413.9

Principal subsidiary and associated undertakings are listed on pages 54 and 55. Trade investments are all US dollar
denominated and include an 8% equity investment in Advanced Tissue Sciences Inc, quoted on the Nasdaq exchange
in the US. The quoted market price of the company at 31 December 2000 and 14 February 2001 was $3.03 and
$5.00 respectively. 

Own shares represent the purchase in the year of the Company’s own shares in respect of the Smith & Nephew
Employees’ Share Trust (see note 29).

Note 14 Stocks

Raw materials and consumables
Work in progress
Finished goods and goods for resale

Note 15 Debtors

Amounts falling due within one year:
Trade and other debtors
Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings
Prepayments and accrued income

Amounts falling due after more than one year:
Pension prepayments (Note 28)
Other debtors
Deferred taxation (Note 19)

Group
2000
£ million

54.3
16.6
157.3

228.2

Group
1999
£ million

52.1
16.1
169.4

237.6

Group
2000
£ million

Group
1999
£ million

Parent
2000
£ million

Parent
1999
£ million

246.2
–
24.4

270.6

5.3
1.4
0.5

241.8
–
23.6

265.4

5.7
2.7
7.3

6.9
361.8
13.4

382.1

–
–
0.1

2.4
466.7
7.4

476.5

–
–
0.3

277.8

281.1

382.2

476.8

Other debtors falling due after more than one year are non interest bearing, denominated in various currencies and
are stated at fair value.

Smith & Nephew 2000 45

Notes to the accounts

Note 16 Borrowings

Net borrowings

Gross borrowings:
Due within one year
Due after one year

Cash and bank 

Gross borrowings

Bank loans and overdrafts
Other loans wholly repayable within five years:
51⁄2% US dollar convertible bonds 2000
Other

Other loans wholly repayable after five years

Group
2000
£ million

Group
1999
£ million

Parent
2000
£ million

Parent
1999
£ million

82.0
178.9

260.9
(24.6)

236.3

58.0
20.2

78.2
(100.5)

(22.3)

66.2
163.5

229.7
(14.9)

214.8

28.9
4.5

33.4
(77.2)

(43.8)

259.1

75.9

229.5

33.0

–
1.8

1.8

–

0.2
1.8

2.0

0.3

–
0.2

0.2

–

0.2
0.2

0.4

–

260.9

78.2

229.7

33.4

Bank loans and overdrafts represent drawings under committed and uncommitted facilities of £418m and £264m
respectively. Of the undrawn committed facilities of £216m, £106m expire within one year and £110m after more
than two years. Borrowings secured on fixed and current assets were £1.4m (1999 – £1.7m). Borrowings are shown
at fair value. The group’s liquidity risk management policy is set out on page 31.

The group and parent company have currency swaps which are revalued at year end exchange rates and have
maturities ranging from 2001 to 2005. For the group, gross sterling equivalents of £399.9m (1999 – £477.6m)
receivable and £425.9m (1999 – £484.3m) payable have been netted. The balance of £26.0m (1999 – £6.7m) is
included as £1.0m in cash and bank and as £27.0m in borrowings (1999 – £4.4m in cash and bank and £11.1m 
in borrowings). For the parent company, gross sterling equivalents of £374.0m (1999 – £446.5m) receivable and
£398.5m (1999 – £453.9m) payable have been netted, the balance of £24.5m (1999 – £7.4m) is included as £1.0m 
in cash and bank and as £25.5m in borrowings (1999 – £3.7m in cash and bank and £11.1m in borrowings).
Currency swaps comprise floating interest rate contracts and forward foreign exchange contracts and are used 
for hedging foreign investments.

46 Smith & Nephew 2000

Note 16 Borrowings continued

Gross borrowings are repayable as follows:

Within one year:
Bank loans and overdrafts
Other loans

Total within one year

Bank loans and overdrafts:
After one year and within two years
After two years and within five years

Other loans:
After one year and within two years
After two years and within five years
After five years

Total after one year

Group
2000
£ million

Group
1999
£ million

Parent
2000
£ million

Parent
1999
£ million

81.7
0.3

82.0

20.2
157.2

177.4

0.6
0.9
–

1.5

178.9

260.9

57.5
0.5

58.0

3.5
14.9

18.4

0.3
1.2
0.3

1.8

20.2

78.2

66.2
–

66.2

12.7
150.6

163.3

0.2
–
–

0.2

163.5

229.7

28.7
0.2

28.9

2.5
1.8

4.3

–
0.2
–

0.2

4.5

33.4

In addition to the above gross borrowings, other financial liabilities are £0.3m being 51⁄2% undated cumulative
preference shares as set out in Note 20.

Note 17 Other creditors

Amounts falling due within one year:

Trade creditors
Amounts owed to subsidiary undertakings
Social security costs and other taxes
Accruals and deferred income
Acquisition consideration
Current taxation
Ordinary share dividends

Group
2000
£ million

Group
1999
£ million

Parent
2000
£ million

Parent
1999
£ million

114.6
–
13.0
59.5
32.3
76.9
25.7

322.0

128.5
–
14.8
49.7
–
74.7
44.7

312.4

3.3
150.3
0.4
15.6
–
17.4
25.7

212.7

2.4
221.2
0.3
11.0
–
20.2
44.7

299.8

Amounts falling due after more than one year: acquisition consideration of £8.3m (1999 – nil) is payable by the Group.

Note 18 Provisions for liabilities and charges

Group

At 1 January 2000
Exchange adjustments
Profit and loss account
Utilisation

At 31 December 2000

Rationalisation Retirement
healthcare
and integration
£ million
£ million

Other
£ million

Total
£ million

18.2
(0.1)
37.7
(29.8)

26.0

8.8
0.4
0.7
(0.6)

9.3

11.0
0.3
5.4
(4.1)

12.6

38.0
0.6
43.8
(34.5)

47.9

At 31 December 2000 rationalisation and integration provisions included acquisition integration of £2.2m (1999 – £3.6m).
The retirement healthcare provision is long term in nature, as is the timing of its utilisation. All other provisions are
expected to be utilised within two years. There are no provisions for contractual amounts and hence none is treated
as a financial instrument.

Parent company
The movement in provisions for liabilities and charges in the year from £0.9m to £0.1m represented expenditure 
of £0.8m.

Smith & Nephew 2000 47

Notes to the accounts

Note 19 Deferred taxation

At 1 January 2000
Profit and loss – current year
Profit and loss – prior year adjustments
Exchange adjustment

At 31 December 2000

Deferred tax asset/(liability) is analysed as follows:

Group

Fixed asset timing differences
Other timing differences

Group
£ million

Parent
£ million

7.3
(2.7)
(4.2)
0.1

0.5

0.3
(0.2)
–
–

0.1

Amount
provided
2000
£ million

Amount
provided
1999
£ million

Full 
potential
liability
2000
£ million

Full
potential
liability
1999
£ million

(4.1)
4.6

0.5

(3.3)
10.6

7.3

(24.0)
6.9

(17.1)

(30.2)
16.2

(14.0)

Parent company
The deferred tax asset recognised in the parent company of £0.1m (1999 – £0.3m) is represented by other timing
differences. The full potential deferred tax liability of £1.4m (1999 – £1.5m) is represented by fixed asset timing
differences.

Note 20 Called up share capital

Authorised

Ordinary shares 122⁄9p (1999 – 10p)
51⁄2% cumulative preference shares £1

Shares
2000
’000

2000
£ million

Shares
1999
’000

1,223,591
450

149.5 1,495,500
450

0.5

150.0

1999
£ million

149.5
0.5

150.0

On 7 August 2000, the ordinary share capital was consolidated by the issue of 9 new ordinary shares of 122⁄9p 
for every 11 ordinary shares of 10p held.

Allotted, issued and fully paid
Equity capital: ordinary shares 10p

At 1 January 2000
Share options and convertible bonds

At 6 August 2000
Effect of share consolidation: ordinary shares 122⁄9p

At 7 August 2000
Share options and convertible bonds

Non-equity capital: 51⁄2% cumulative preference shares £1
At 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2000

Total called up share capital at 31 December 2000

Shares
’000

£ million

1,117,545
1,408

1,118,953
(203,446)

915,507
3,682

919,189

269

111.8
0.1

111.9
–

111.9
0.5

112.4

0.3

112.7

The 51⁄2% cumulative preference shares are denominated in sterling and the fair value is not materially different. 
They are non-voting and carry preferential rights to dividend and distribution on winding up.

48 Smith & Nephew 2000

Note 21 Share option schemes
At 31 December 2000 21,862,000 (1999 – 25,464,000) of the authorised but unissued ordinary shares of 122⁄9p 
were reserved in respect of the following options:

Employee share option schemes
Executive share option schemes

2001-2006
2001-2010

124.0p-221.2p
133.0p-270.0p

Exercisable
in stages
between

Exercise 
prices per
share range
between

Shares
the subject
of options
’000

5,299
16,563

21,862

As the employee scheme is an Inland Revenue approved Save As You Earn scheme the company is exempt 
from accounting for the cost between the share option price and the market value at the grant date.

Note 22 Reserves

Group

At 1 January 2000
Exchange adjustment
Retained deficit for the year
Share options and convertible bonds
Goodwill on disposals

At 31 December 2000

Share

Profit and
premium loss account
£ million
£ million

118.3
–
–
7.1
–

125.4

321.3
(9.9)
(251.7)
–
31.8

91.5

Net exchange losses of £32.9m (1999 – loss of £9.5m) arising on foreign currency net borrowings are included 
within the £9.9m (1999 – £4.0m) exchange adjustment.

The cumulative amount of goodwill (before merger relief of £116.0m) charged to reserves is £344.4m (1999 – £368.8m).
The decrease is due to the goodwill written back to reserves on the disposal of the consumer business of £31.8m
offset by exchange differences on acquisitions made prior to 31 December 1997 of £7.4m.

Parent company

At 1 January 2000
Retained deficit for the year
Share options and convertible bonds

At 31 December 2000

Share

Profit and
premium loss account
£ million
£ million

118.3
–
7.1

125.4

411.5
(273.2)
–

138.3

In accordance with the exemption permitted by Section 230(3) of the Companies Act 1985, the parent company has
not presented its own profit and loss account. The attributable profit for the year dealt with in the accounts of the
parent company is £183.7m (1999 – £31.7m).

Smith & Nephew 2000 49

Notes to the accounts

Note 23 Cash flow statement

Reconciliation of operating profit to net cash flow from operating activities

Operating profit
Depreciation and amortisation
Exceptional asset write downs
Loss on sale of tangible fixed assets
Rationalisation and integration costs
(Increase)/decrease in stocks
Decrease/(increase) in debtors
Increase in creditors and provisions

Net cash inflow from operating activities

Analysis of net borrowings

Cash
Overdrafts

Borrowings due within one year
Borrowings due after one year

Net currency swaps
Liquid resources: cash deposits

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

162.1
62.9
–
3.2
(23.1)
(7.1)
4.5
1.5

204.0

115.8
56.1
28.6
1.9
(18.5)
0.6
(14.2)
27.8

198.1

Opening net
borrowings
£ million

Cash flow adjustments
£ million

£ million

Exchange Closing net
borrowings
£ million

23.8
(5.1)

18.7
(46.0)
(16.0)

(43.3)
(6.7)
72.3

22.3

–
(2.4)

(2.4)
(14.5)
(146.1)

(163.0)
9.6
(72.3)

(225.7)

(0.2)
0.3

0.1
(1.1)
(3.0)

(4.0)
(28.9)
–

(32.9)

23.6
(7.2)

16.4
(61.6)
(165.1)

(210.3)
(26.0)
–

(236.3)

Cash and bank at 31 December 2000 totals £24.6m (1999 – £100.5m) and comprises cash £23.6m (1999 – £23.8m),
liquid resources £nil (1999 – £72.3m) and currency swaps of £1.0m (1999 – £4.4m) as detailed in Note 16.

Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net borrowings

for the year ended 31 December 2000

Change in cash in the year
Change in liquid resources
Change in net currency swaps
Change in borrowings

Change in net borrowings/cash from cash flows
Exchange adjustments

Change in net borrowings/cash in the year
Opening net cash/(borrowings)

Closing net (borrowings)/cash

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

(2.4)
(72.3)
9.6
(160.6)

(225.7)
(32.9)

(258.6)
22.3

(236.3)

(15.1)
72.3
7.3
16.8

81.3
(9.5)

71.8
(49.5)

22.3

Disposals
The net assets of the Consumer business disposed of in 2000 comprised fixed assets £28.1m, stocks £23.9m,
debtors £1.6m and creditors and provisions £13.0m. During 2000 the business contributed £20.6m of the group’s
net operating cash flow and incurred capital expenditure amounting to £0.6m.

50 Smith & Nephew 2000

Note 24 Currency translation
The exchange rates used for the translation of currencies that have the most significant impact on the group results
were:

US dollar
Euro
Australian dollar
South African rand

Average
rate
2000

Average
rate
1999

Year
end rate
2000

Year
end rate
1999

1.51
1.64
2.62
10.55

1.62
1.53
2.49
9.87

1.49
1.59
2.69
11.31

1.61
1.61
2.46
9.92

Note 25 Acquisitions
The principal acquisitions during the year were the Collagenase business acquired in January 2000 and the
Orthopaedics Biosystems business acquired in November 2000. Under the acquisition method of accounting 
the impact on the consolidated balance sheet of acquisitions in the year was:

Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities

Goodwill

Total consideration

Net book 
value 
£ million

0.1
1.9
(1.1)

0.9
89.9

90.8

Of the total consideration £39.7m is deferred consideration (payable in cash) and £51.1m was cash consideration. 
There was no material difference between the fair value and book value of net assets acquired.

Note 26 Financial commitments
Group capital expenditure contracted but not provided for in these accounts amounted to £2.8m (1999 – £2.1m).

Under the group’s joint arrangement with Advanced Tissue Sciences for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers and
other wound indications, amounts of up to £6.7m (1999 – £6.2m) could become payable in the future, subject to
achievement of certain milestones related to regulatory and reimbursement approvals, with further amounts payable
on future regulatory, reimbursement and sales milestones, providing profits exceed certain minimum levels. 

The annual commitments of the group under operating leases were:

Operating leases which expire:

Within one year
After one year and within five years
After five years

Land and
buildings
2000
£ million

Land and
buildings
1999
£ million

Other
assets
2000
£ million

Other
assets
1999
£ million

1.7
2.8
5.6

10.1

1.7
3.4
2.3

7.4

2.1
5.8
0.2

8.1

2.2
5.6
–

7.8

Smith & Nephew 2000 51

Notes to the accounts

Note 27 Contingent liabilities

Guarantees in respect of subsidiary undertakings’ borrowings
Other

Group
2000
£ million

Group
1999
£ million

Parent
2000
£ million

Parent
1999
£ million

–
3.0

3.0

–
3.5

3.5

28.6
3.0

31.6

17.3
3.5

20.8

The group is party to legal proceedings in the normal course of business which it is considered will not result in any
material adverse effect.

Note 28 Post-retirement benefits
The group sponsors pension plans for its employees in most of the countries in which it has major operating companies.
In those countries where there is no company-sponsored pension plan, the state benefits are considered adequate.
Employees’ retirement benefits are the subject of regular management review.

The group’s major pension plans are of the defined benefit type. The group also operates defined contribution type
plans appropriate to local circumstances. Pension plans are established under the laws of the relevant territory with
their assets held in separate trust funds or by insurance companies. 

The pension cost for the group’s defined benefit plans has been determined by independent qualified actuaries,
using the projected unit method to give a substantially level percentage cost on the current and expected future
pensionable payroll. The excess of plan assets over plan liabilities is amortised, using the percentage of payroll
method, over the weighted average of expected pensionable payroll and remaining service lives of current employees
in the plan. The actuarial assumptions used vary according to local circumstances, the most significant being those
in the UK and the US:

Return on investments
Increase in pensionable earnings
Increase in pensions
Increase in dividend income
Inflation

Average remaining service lives

UK
% per 
annum

US
% per 
annum

8.5
5.3
3.5
5.1
3.5

9.0
6.0
nil
n/a
3.0

10.0 years 12.4 years

At the date of the most recent actuarial valuations (which took place between July 1997 and December 2000) 
the aggregate market value of the assets of the group’s major defined benefit plans was £267m (1999 – £256m). 
The actuarial value of plan assets represented 102% of plan liabilities for accrued benefits, including allowance 
for projected future increases in salaries.

Included in debtors due after more than one year is a prepayment of £5.3m (1999 – £5.7m) relating to the excess
funding of certain group pension plans. Included in creditors is an accrual of £9.8m (1999 – £12.0m) relating to the
deferred funding of certain group pension plans. 

At the balance sheet date the unamortised balance of the actuarial value of plan assets over liabilities not recognised
in the group accounts was £8.5m (1999 – £12.7m).

The group recharges the group’s UK pension schemes with the costs of administration and independent advisers
borne by the group. The total amount recharged in the year to 31 December 2000 was £0.4m (1999 – £0.5m). 
The amount receivable at 31 December 2000 was £0.2m (1999 – £0.1m).

52 Smith & Nephew 2000

Note 28 Post-retirement benefits continued
The costs of providing healthcare benefits after retirement of £0.7m (1999 – £0.7m) are determined by independent
qualified actuaries. The unfunded liability of £9.3m (1999 – £8.8m) in respect of the accrued healthcare benefits is
included in provisions. The principal actuarial assumptions that are most significant in determining the cost of
providing healthcare benefits are those in the UK and the US:

Interest rate
Medical cost inflation

Note 29 Smith & Nephew Employees’ Share Trust

Shares acquired

UK
% per 
annum

6.0
7.0

US
% per 
annum

9.0
9.0

2000
£ million

1999
£ million

2.9

–

The Smith & Nephew Employees’ Share Trust (the “Trust”) was established to encourage and facilitate the acquisition
and holding of shares in the company by and for the benefit of employees, including directors, and former employees
and their dependants, as the trustees may determine. 

The trust is administered by an independent professional trust company resident in Jersey and is funded by a direct
loan from the parent company. The costs of the Trust are charged to the profit and loss account as they accrue.
There is a dividend waiver in place in respect of the shares held by the Trust.

At 31 December 2000 the Trust held 0.9 million ordinary shares of the company at an aggregate cost of £2.9 million,
which is included within fixed asset investments on the group balance sheet. The market value of the shares at 
31 December 2000 was £2.9 million. 

Smith & Nephew 2000 53

Subsidiary and associated undertakings

Principal subsidiary undertakings
The information provided below is given for principal subsidiary undertakings in accordance with Section 231(5)(a) 
of the Companies Act 1985. A full list will be appended to the company’s next annual return.

Activity

Country of operation
and incorporation

% owned

United Kingdom
Smith & Nephew Healthcare Limited
Smith & Nephew Homecraft Limited
Smith & Nephew Medical Limited
Smith & Nephew Medical Fabrics Limited*
TJ Smith & Nephew Limited

Continental Europe
Smith & Nephew GmbH
Smith & Nephew SA-NV
Smith & Nephew A/S
Smith & Nephew OY
Smith & Nephew SA
Smith & Nephew GmbH
Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics GmbH
Smith & Nephew Limited
Smith & Nephew Srl
Smith & Nephew BV
Smith & Nephew A/S
Smith & Nephew Lda
Smith & Nephew SA
Smith & Nephew AB
Smith & Nephew AG

America
Smith & Nephew Inc
Smith & Nephew SA de CV
Smith & Nephew Inc
Smith & Nephew Inc

*Owned directly by the parent company

Medical devices
Medical devices
Medical devices
Medical devices
Medical devices

Medical devices
Medical devices
Medical devices
Medical devices
Medical devices
Medical devices
Medical devices
Medical devices 
Medical devices
Medical devices
Medical devices
Medical devices
Medical devices
Medical devices
Medical devices

Medical devices 
Medical devices
Medical devices
Medical devices

United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom

Austria
Belgium
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Germany
Ireland
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Portugal
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland

Canada
Mexico
Puerto Rico
United States

100%
100%
100%
100%
100%

100% 
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%

100%
100%
100%
100%

54 Smith & Nephew 2000

Principal subsidiary undertakings continued

Africa, Asia and Australasia
Smith & Nephew Pty Limited
Smith & Nephew Limited
Smith & Nephew Healthcare Limited
PT Smith & Nephew Healthcare 
Smith & Nephew KK
Smith & Nephew Limited
Smith & Nephew Healthcare Sdn Berhad
Smith & Nephew Limited
Smith & Nephew Pakistan (Pvt) Limited
Smith & Nephew Pte Limited
Smith & Nephew Limited
Smith & Nephew Limited
Smith & Nephew FZE 

Activity

Country of operation
and incorporation

% owned

Australia
Medical devices 
Hong Kong
Medical devices 
India
Medical devices
Indonesia
Medical devices
Japan
Medical devices
Korea
Medical devices
Malaysia
Medical devices
New Zealand
Medical devices
Pakistan
Medical devices
Singapore
Medical devices
South Africa
Medical devices
Medical devices
Thailand
Medical devices United Arab Emirates

100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
97%
100%
100%
100%
100%

Principal associated undertakings and other arrangements
The group owns 49% of Eurociencia CA, a Venezuelan healthcare company, which has a share capital of £0.2m 
(1999 – £0.2m). There are no debt securities attributable to the group’s interest.

The group has interests in two joint arrangements with Advanced Tissue Sciences Inc, one relating to products 
for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers and other wound indications, and the other to cartilage replacement.

Smith & Nephew 2000 55

Information for shareholders

Analysis of shareholdings
The number of shareholders as at 31 December 2000 was 27,769.

Shareholders range:

1,000 and under
1,001 to 5,000
5,001 to 10,000
10,001 to 100,000
Over 100,000

Held by:
Individuals
Institutions and companies

Financial calendar
Annual General Meeting
Payment of 2000 final dividend
Interim results announced
Payment of 2001 interim dividend
Full year results announced
Annual report posted
Annual General Meeting

Final dividend
The ordinary shares will trade ex-dividend on both the
London and New York Stock Exchanges from 18 April
2001 and the record date will be 20 April 2001 in
respect of this year’s proposed final dividend to be paid
on 18 May 2001.

Ordinary shares
Payment of cash dividends Shareholders who wish 
their dividends to be paid directly to a bank or building
society and who have not already completed a BACS
mandate should contact the company’s registrars.

Dividend re-investment plan The company has a dividend
re-investment plan that offers shareholders the opportunity
to invest their cash dividends in Smith & Nephew shares,
which are purchased in the market at competitive dealing
costs. Application forms for re-investing the 2000 final
dividend are available from Lloyds TSB Registrars who
administer the plan on behalf of the company. Applications
for re-investment should be returned to the company’s
registrars by 1 May 2001.

UK capital gains tax For the purposes of capital gains tax
the price of ordinary shares on 31 March 1982 was 28.67p.

Smith & Nephew share price The company’s share price
is quoted daily in national newspapers, as well as on
Ceefax and Teletext and at www.londonstockexchange.
com where it is updated at intervals throughout the day.
The Financial Times Cityline Service, telephone 0891
434043, provides an up to the minute share price. 
A fee is charged for this service.

Shareholders
%

Shares
%

37.7
44.7
9.3
6.4
1.9

82.8
17.2

0.6
3.3
2.0
4.9
89.2

7.0
93.0

4 April 2001
18 May 2001
2 August 2001
5 December 2001
mid February 2002
early March 2002
3 April 2002

selling Smith & Nephew shares is available through
Hoare Govett Limited.

American depositary receipts (ADRs)
In the US, the company’s ordinary shares are traded in
the form of American Depositary shares, evidenced by
ADRs, and trade under the symbol SNN. Each American
Depositary Share represents ten ordinary shares. Bank
of New York is the authorised depositary bank for the
company’s ADR programme. A global BuyDIRECT plan
is available for US residents enabling investment directly
in ADRs with reduced brokerage commissions and
service costs.

Smith & Nephew ADR price The company’s ADR price 
is quoted daily in the Wall Street Journal and can be
obtained from the official New York Stock Exchange
website www.nyse.com.

Annual General Meeting
The company’s 64th Annual General Meeting is to be
held on 4 April 2001 at 9.30 am at The Royal Society of
Medicine, 1 Wimpole Street, London W1G 0AE. Notice
of the meeting is enclosed with an accompanying letter
from the Chairman.

Registered office
Smith & Nephew plc, Heron House, 15 Adam Street,
London WC2N 6LA
Registered in England No. 324357

Advisers
Solicitors:

Ashurst Morris Crisp
Pinsent Curtis Biddle
Ernst & Young
Cazenove & Co
Dresdner Kleinwort Benson

Low-cost dealing service A postal and telephone facility
that provides a simple low-cost method of buying and

Auditors:
Stockbrokers:

58 Smith & Nephew 2000