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 20, 2003, Smith & Nephew released the following.

 

Extension of offer periods

 

According to today’s decision by the Swiss Takeover Board, the offer periods of the competing parallel public tender offers by Smith & Nephew Group plc and Zimmer Holdings, Inc. for Centerpulse Ltd and InCentive Capital Ltd will lapse on 27 August 2003.

 

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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 U.S. information agent for the Centerpulse offer, at (800) 607-0088, or by e-mail at centerpulse.info@morrowco.com.