================================================================================ 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. 5 ------------------------- 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 ------------------------- ------------------- * 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. ================================================================================ This constitutes Amendment No. 5 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 20, 2003 is attached hereto as Exhibit (a)(5)(J). ITEM 9. MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS. The following Exhibit is filed herewith: (a)(5)(J) Press release issued by Centerpulse on August 20, 2003. 2 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 20, 2003 3