“Many companies have become aware that their shareholders have received unsolicited phone calls or correspondence concerning investment matters. These are typically from overseas based ‘brokers’ who target UK shareholders, offering to sell them what often turn out to be worthless or high risk shares in US or UK investments. These operations are commonly known as ‘boiler rooms’. These ‘brokers’ can be very persistent and extremely persuasive, and a 2006 survey by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) has reported that the average amount lost by investors is around £20,000.

It is not just the novice investor that has been duped in this way; many of the victims had been successfully investing for several years. Shareholders are advised to be very wary of any unsolicited advice, offers to buy shares at a discount or offers of free company reports. If you receive any unsolicited investment advice:

• Make sure you get the correct name of the person and organisation
• Check that they are properly authorised by the FSA before getting involved by visiting www.fsa.gov.uk/register/home.do
• Report the matter to the FSA either by calling 0300 500 5000 or visiting www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk
• If the calls persist, hang up.

If you deal with an unauthorised firm, you will not be eligible to receive payment under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. The FSA can be contacted by completing an online form at www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/doing/regulated/law/alerts/overseas.shtml

Details of any share dealing facilities that the company endorses will be included in company mailings.

More detailed information on this or similar activity can be found on the FSA website www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk”

As announced on 2 February 2012 a final dividend for 2011 of 10.80 US¢ per ordinary share has been proposed by the Board and will be payable subject to shareholder approval on 9 May 2012, to shareholders whose names appear on the register at the close of business on 20 April 2012. The sterling equivalent per ordinary share will be set following the record date. Shareholders who wish their dividends to be paid directly into a bank or building society account and have not already completed a mandate form should contact the Company’s registrars, Equiniti.

The Company has a dividend re-investment plan that offers shareholders, except those in North America, the opportunity to invest their cash dividends in further Smith & Nephew ordinary shares, which are purchased in the market at competitive dealing costs. Application forms for re-investing dividends are available from Equiniti who administer the plan on behalf of the Company.

For the purposes of capital gains tax the price of ordinary shares on 31 March 1982 was 35.04p.

The Company’s ordinary shares are quoted on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol SN. The Company’s share price is available on the Smith & Nephew website www.smith-nephew.com  and on the London Stock Exchange website at  www.londonstockexchange.com, where it is updated at regular intervals throughout the day. It is also quoted daily in UK national newspapers.

For information about the AGM, shareholdings, dividends and changes to personal details all shareholders should contact Equiniti, Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing, West Sussex BN99 6DA, UK. Telephone 0871 384 2081 (Calls to this number are charged at 8p per minute from a BT landline. Other telephony providers costs may vary) or +44 (0)121 415 7072 if calling from outside the UK.

In the US, the Company’s ordinary shares are traded in the form of American Depositary Shares ("ADSs") evidenced by ADRs, and trade on the NYSE under the symbol SNN. Each ADS represents five ordinary shares. The Bank of New York Mellon is the authorised depositary bank for the Company’s ADR programme. A Global BuyDIRECT plan is available for US residents, enabling investment directly in ADSs with reduced brokerage commissions and service costs. For further information on Global BuyDIRECT contact: The Bank of New York Mellon on +1-866-259-2287 (toll-free) or visit the Bank of New York Mellon website at  http://www.adrbnymellon.com.

The Company’s ADS price can be obtained from the official New York Stock Exchange website at www.nyse.com  and is quoted daily in the Wall Street Journal.

All enquiries regarding ADS holder accounts and payment of dividends should be addressed to BNY Mellon Shareowner Services, PO Box 358516, Pittsburgh PA 15252-8516. Toll free in USA 1-866-259-2287. International calls +1 201 680 6825.

The Company’s last Annual General Meeting was held on 14 April 2011 at 2.00pm at the Royal Society, 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AG. 

All resolutions were passed on a poll. The results of the poll can be found here.

The corporate headquarters is in the UK and the registered office address is:

Smith & Nephew plc,
15 Adam Street,
London WC2N 6LA, UK.
Registered in England and Wales No. 324357.
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7401 7646.
Website: www.smith-nephew.com.