Smith & Nephew Announces 2007 Preliminary Results


London, UK--(Marketwire - February 7, 2008) - Smith & Nephew 2007 Preliminary Results

"Another quarter of sustained growth completing a good year. Margin improvement on track."

7 February 2008

Smith & Nephew plc (LSE: SN, NYSE: SNN), the global medical technology business, announces its results for the fourth quarter ended 31 December 2007.

                                           3 months to  31 December 07
                                       $m   underlying        reported
                                            increase %       increase/
                                                            (decrease)
                                                                     %

Revenue 1                             967            8              25

Operating profit 2                    154                          (2)

Trading profit 2                      222           14              21

EPS (cents) 3                        11.1                         (26)

EPSA (cents) 4                       16.6                           10

Business Unit Revenue 1
Orthopaedic     -  Reconstruction     374           11              49
                -  Trauma & CT        176            9              21
Endoscopy                             201            7              10
Advanced Wound Management             216            4              13


                                           12 months to 31 December 07
                                       $m   underlying        reported
                                            increase %       increase/
                                                            (decrease)
                                                                     %

Revenue 1                           3,369           10              21

Operating profit 2                    493                          (8)

Trading profit 2                      706           17              24

EPS (cents) 3                        34.2                         (57)

EPSA (cents) 4                       52.0                           15

Business Unit Revenue 1
Orthopaedic     -  Reconstruction   1,240           13              35
                -  Trauma & CT        618           13              20
Endoscopy                             732           10              13
Advanced Wound Management             779            5              12




Full Year Highlights

-   Group revenue of $3.4 billion, double digit revenue growth for the
    year

-   Trading profit at $706 million up 17%

-   Over 1% margin improvement delivered by Earnings Improvement 
    Programme - programme firmly on track

-   EPSA increased 15% to 52.0c

-   Orthopaedic Reconstruction revenue growth of 13% leads the market,
    for the 5th consecutive year

-   Orthopaedic Trauma and Clinical Therapies revenues up 13% as our 
    EXOGEN* Ultrasound Bone Healing System outpaces the market

-   Investment outside the US drives Endoscopy revenues up 10%

-   Advanced Wound Management trading margin up 120 basis points in 
    response to restructuring

-   Second interim dividend up 10% to 7.38c per share


Q4 Highlights

-   Orthopaedic Reconstruction delivers above market global growth 
    for the 7th consecutive quarter

-   US BHR* System momentum strong, US knee revenue growth recovers
    as salesforce focus delivers

-   Endoscopy sustained growth driven by investment outside the US

-   Earnings Improvement Programme achieves continued benefits

Commenting on the full year, David Illingworth, Chief Executive of Smith & Nephew, said;

"Smith & Nephew had a strong 2007 generating double digit revenue growth for the year. Orthopaedic Reconstruction grew 13%, with good performance in the US in knees and the BHR System. Additionally, our Endoscopy business grew in double digits and our Clinical Therapies business grew very substantially ahead of the market. I am very pleased with the progress of the Earnings Improvement Programme which is firmly on track. The outlook for 2008 is good as growth continues across all four divisions and our focus on high growth segments and new product launches gives us confidence for the future."

Analyst presentation

An analyst presentation to discuss the Company's fourth quarter results will be held at 12.30pm GMT/ 7.30am EST today, Thursday 7 February. There will be a live webcast of this presentation on the Smith & Nephew website at http://www.smith-nephew.com. An on demand replay will be available shortly following the close of the call at http://www.smith-nephew.com/Q407. A podcast will also be available at the same address. A listen-only service is available by calling +44 (0)20 7806 1955 in the UK or +1 718 354 1389 in the US. Analysts should contact Samantha Hardy on +44 (0)20 7960 2257 or by email at samantha.hardy@smith-nephew.com for presentation details.

Notes

1   Unless specified as 'reported', all revenue increases throughout this
    document are underlying increases after adjusting for the effects of 
    currency translation and acquisitions.  See note 3 to the financial 
    statements for a reconciliation of these measures to results reported 
    under IFRS.

2   A reconciliation from operating profit to trading profit is given in 
    note 4 to the financial statements.  The underlying increase in 
    trading profit is the increase in trading profit after adjusting for
    the effects of currency translation and acquisitions.  Unless 
    specified as 'reported' all trading profit increases throughout this
    document are underlying.

3   The EPS for the twelve months in the comparable period included 
    37.3 cents from the gain on sale of BSN Medical.

4   Adjusted earnings per ordinary share ("EPSA") growth is as reported,
    not underlying, and is stated before restructuring and rationalisation
    costs, acquisition related costs, the legal settlement with the US 
    Department of Justice, ("the legal settlement"), amortisation of 
    acquisition intangibles and taxation thereon, and in 2006 the gain 
    on the disposal of the joint venture and the related fair value 
    adjustment.  See note 2 to the financial statements.

5   Trading cash flow is cash generated from operations less capital 
    expenditure but before the Macrotextured settlements, acquisition 
    related costs, the legal settlement and restructuring costs.


Enquiries

Investors

Adrian Hennah                              +44 (0) 20 7401 7646
Chief Financial Officer
Smith & Nephew

Liz Hewitt                                 +44 (0) 20 7401 7646
Group Director Corporate Affairs
Smith & Nephew


Media

Jon Coles                                  +44 (0) 20 7404 5959
Justine McIlroy
Brunswick - London

Cindy Leggett-Flynn                        +1 (212) 333 3810
Brunswick - New York

About Us

Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business, specialising in Orthopaedic Reconstruction, Orthopaedic Trauma and Clinical Therapies, Endoscopy and Advanced Wound Management products. Smith & Nephew is a global leader in arthroscopy and advanced wound management and is one of the leading global orthopaedics companies.

Smith & Nephew is dedicated to helping improve people's lives. The Company prides itself on the strength of its relationships with its surgeons and professional healthcare customers, with whom its name is synonymous with high standards of performance, innovation and trust. The Company operates in 32 countries around the world. Annual sales in 2007 were $3.4 billion.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In particular, statements regarding expected revenue growth and trading margins discussed under "Outlook" are forward-looking statements as are discussions of our product pipeline. These statements, as well as the phrases "aim", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "well-placed", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "consider" and similar expressions, are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors (including, but not limited to, the outcome of litigation, claims and regulatory approvals) that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Smith & Nephew, or industry results, to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Please refer to the documents that Smith & Nephew has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including Smith & Nephew's most recent annual report on Form 20F, for a discussion of certain of these factors.

All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Smith & Nephew as of the date hereof. All written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to Smith & Nephew or any person acting on behalf of Smith & Nephew are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing. Smith & Nephew does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in Smith & Nephew's expectation with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

* Trademark of Smith & Nephew. Certain marks registered US Patent and Trademark Office.

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