Biomet Talks Terminated

Smith & Nephew Plc
18 December 2006



Smith & Nephew plc terminates discussions with Biomet



18 December 2006



As announced on 2nd November 2006, Smith & Nephew plc (LSE: SN, NYSE: SNN) has
been in discussions with the Board of Biomet Inc. with a view to combining the
two businesses.  Smith & Nephew announces that these discussions have now been
terminated.





Enquiries


Investors/Media

Debbie Scott                                           Tel:  [phone]
Smith & Nephew plc

David Yates                                             Tel: [phone]
Financial Dynamics - London

Jonathan Birt                                              Tel:  [phone]
Financial Dynamics - New York

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.




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