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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                            -------------------------

                                SCHEDULE 14D-9/A
                                 (RULE 14D-101)

                      SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT
                          UNDER SECTION 14(D)(4) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                                 AMENDMENT NO. 3

                            -------------------------

                                CENTERPULSE LTD.
                            (NAME OF SUBJECT COMPANY)

                                CENTERPULSE LTD.
                        (NAME OF PERSON FILING STATEMENT)

                            -------------------------

         REGISTERED SHARES, PAR VALUE CHF 30 PER SHARE, INCLUDING SHARES
                    REPRESENTED BY AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
                         (TITLE AND CLASS OF SECURITIES)

                            -------------------------

                                NOT APPLICABLE*
                      (CUSIP NUMBER OF CLASS OF SECURITIES)

                            -------------------------

                                  DR. MAX LINK
                       CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
                           AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                                CENTERPULSE LTD.
                                ANDREASSTRASSE 15
                                 CH-8050, ZURICH
                                   SWITZERLAND
                                 +41-1-306-9696
 (NAME, ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF PERSON AUTHORIZED TO RECEIVE NOTICES AND
           COMMUNICATIONS ON BEHALF OF THE PERSON(S) FILING STATEMENT)

                            -------------------------

                                    COPY TO:

                              ELLEN J. ODONER, ESQ.
                           WEIL, GOTSHAL & MANGES LLP
                                767 FIFTH AVENUE
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10153
                                 (212) 310-8000

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* There is no CUSIP Number assigned to the Registered Shares. CUSIP No.
152005104 has been assigned to the American Depositary Shares of Centerpulse
Ltd. that are quoted on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "CEP".
CUSIP No. 152005203 has been assigned to the American Depositary Shares of
Centerpulse Ltd. that were issued pursuant to a restricted ADR facility and are
not publicly traded.

|_| CHECK THE BOX IF THE FILING RELATES SOLELY TO PRELIMINARY COMMUNICATIONS
MADE BEFORE THE COMMENCEMENT OF A TENDER OFFER.
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           This constitutes Amendment No. 3 to the Solicitation/Recommendation
Statement on Schedule 14D-9 initially filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") on July 2, 2003 (as previously amended, the "Schedule
14D-9") by Centerpulse Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of
Switzerland ("Centerpulse" or the "Company"), relating to the exchange offer by
Zimmer Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Zimmer"), being made pursuant to
the Prospectus, dated June 19, 2003, forming a part of Zimmer's Registration
Statement (No. 333-105561) on Form S-4 filed with the SEC.

           The information in the Schedule 14D-9 is hereby expressly
incorporated by reference, except as otherwise set forth below.

ITEM 8.    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

           A copy of the press release issued by the Company on August 6, 2003
is attached hereto as Exhibit (a)(5)(F).

ITEM 9.    MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS.

           The following Exhibit is filed herewith:

           (a)(5)(F) Press release issued by Centerpulse on August 6, 2003.



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                                    SIGNATURE

           After due inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this Statement is true, complete and
correct.


                                      CENTERPULSE, LTD.



                                      By: /s/ Max Link
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Max Link
                                          Chairman and Chief Executive Officer







                                      By: /s/ Urs Kamber
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Urs Kamber
                                          Chief Financial Officer




Dated:  August 6, 2003


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