Filed by Smith & Nephew Group plc pursuant to
                                       Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933
                                               Subject Company: Centerpulse Ltd.
                                               (Commission File No.: 333-104751)

On June 12, 2003, the following press release was issued.

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN, INTO OR FROM CANADA, AUSTRALIA
OR JAPAN.


12 June 2003


                           SMITH & NEPHEW COMMENTS ON
                        SWISS TAKEOVER BOARD ANNOUNCEMENT

The Swiss Takeover Board this morning made public certain procedural
recommendations in relation to Smith & Nephew's offers to acquire Centerpulse AG
and InCentive Capital AG. These include the proposed timetable for the competing
offers for Centerpulse AG and InCentive Capital AG, which will be run
concurrently and will potentially have an offer end date of 25 August, and a
recommendation that the major shareholders of InCentive Capital AG may withdraw
the shares already tendered to the Smith & Nephew offer. Smith & Nephew is
reviewing these recommendations and their implications for its offers.


Enquiries:

Smith & Nephew plc
Angie Craig                                             Tel: +44 (0)20 7401 7646
Corporate Affairs Director

Financial Dynamics
David Yates                                             Tel: +44 (0)20 7831 3113


United States of America

The offer for Centerpulse shares is being made in the United States only through
a prospectus/offer to exchange, which is part of a registration statement filed
with the SEC by Smith & Nephew Group. Centerpulse shareholders who are US
persons or are located in the United States are urged to read the registration
statement, including the prospectus/offer to exchange included therein, and the
other documents filed, or to be filed, with the SEC by Smith & Nephew Group or
Centerpulse relating to the Centerpulse offer, because they contain important
information about the Centerpulse offer. You may obtain a free copy of these
documents from the SEC's Web site at www.sec.gov. You may also obtain this
information from Morrow & Co., Inc., the US information agent for the
Centerpulse offer, at (800) 607-0088, or by e-mail at
centerpulse.info@morrowco.com