Holding(s) in Company

Smiths Group PLC
17 January 2006

17 JANUARY 2006

NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES

LISTING RULE LR 9.6.7 R
     
1.   Name of listed company: SMITHS GROUP PLC

2.   Name of shareholder with a major interest: BARCLAYS PLC

3.   Please state whether notification indicates that it is regarding the
     holding of the shareholder named in 2 above; in respect of a non-beneficial
     interest; or in the case of an individual holder if it is a holding of that
     person's spouse or children under the age of 18

     NOTIFICATION BY BARCLAYS PLC OF A NOTIFIABLE INTEREST THROUGH THE LEGAL
     ENTITIES:

     BARCLAYS BANK TRUST COMPANY LTD;     
     BARCLAYS CAPITAL SECURITIES LTD;
     BARCLAYS GLOBAL FUND ADVISORS;
     BARCLAYS GLOBAL INVESTORS AUSTRALIA LTD;
     BARCLAYS GLOBAL INVESTORS CANADA LTD;
     BARCLAYS GLOBAL INVESTORS LTD;
     BARCLAYS GLOBAL INVESTORS, N.A.;
     BARCLAYS GLOBAL INVESTORS JAPAN LTD;     
     BARCLAYS GLOBAL INVESTORS JAPAN TRUST & BANKING;
     BARCLAYS LIFE ASSURANCE CO LTD;
     BARCLAYS PRIVATE BANK AND TRUST LTD;
     BARCLAYS PRIVATE BANK LTD; AND
     GERRARD LTD
     
4.   Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the
     number of shares held by each of them

     SHAREHOLDER                                                      SHARES

     BANK OF NEW YORK                                                 39,786
     BARCLAYS CAPITAL NOMINEES LTD                                   261,873
     BARCLAYS GLOBAL INVESTORS CANADA                                 30,641
     BARCLAYS TRUST CO & OTHERS                                        1,735
     BARCLAYS TRUST CO AS EXEC/ADM                                        94
     BARCLAYS TRUST CO DMC69                                          11,500
     BARCLAYS TRUST CO E99                                             1,635
     BARCLAYS TRUST CO R69                                            56,272
     BNP PARIBAS                                                      59,759
     CHASE NOMINEES LTD 16376 A/C                                    304,678
     CHASE NOMINEES LTD 20947 A/C                                  6,186,110
     CHASE NOMINEES LTD 28270 A/C                                    245,214
     CIBC MELLON GLOBAL SECURITIES                                    39,035
     CLYDESDALE NOMINEES HGB0125 01201420 A/C                          2,300
     GERRARD NOMINEES LIMITED 602698 A/C                                 475
     GERRARD NOMINEES LIMITED 603856 A/C                               3,040
     GERRARD NOMINEES LIMITED 604331 A/C                                 460
     GERRARD NOMINEES LIMITED 627729 A/C                               1,000
     GERRARD NOMINEES LIMITED 643975 A/C                               1,800
     GERRARD NOMINEES LIMITED 659481 A/C                                 450
     GERRARD NOMINEES LIMITED 659792 A/C                                 640
     GERRARD NOMINEES LIMITED 660137 A/C                                 500
     GERRARD NOMINEES LIMITED 660302 A/C                               1,500
     GERRARD NOMINEES LIMITED 660318 A/C                              14,500
     GERRARD NOMINEES LIMITED 660430 A/C                                 230
     GERRARD NOMINEES LIMITED 660632 A/C                               1,350
     GERRARD NOMINEES LIMITED 660758 A/C                               7,000
     GERRARD NOMINEES LIMITED 660851 A/C                               6,500
     GERRARD NOMINEES LIMITED 660968 A/C                                 713
     GERRARD NOMINEES LIMITED 768557 A/C                               3,350
     GERRARD NOMINEES LIMITED 770101 A/C                               2,500
     GERRARD NOMINEES LIMITED 781271 A/C                               3,000
     GRIEG MIDDLETON NOMINEES LIMITED                                229,226
     GRIEG MIDDLETON NOMINEES LIMITED 126066DA A/C                       400
     GRIEG MIDDLETON NOMINEES LIMITED 523475DN A/C                   100,000
     GRIEG MIDDLETON NOMINEES LIMITED 562979DN A/C                     6,800
     INVESTORS BANK AND TRUST CO.                                  8,532,090
     JP MORGAN (BGI CUSTODY) 16331 A/C                               153,632
     JP MORGAN (BGI CUSTODY) 16338 A/C                                33,400
     JP MORGAN (BGI CUSTODY) 16341 A/C                               463,105
     JP MORGAN (BGI CUSTODY) 16342 A/C                                70,947
     JP MORGAN (BGI CUSTODY) 16344 A/C                                50,851
     JP MORGAN (BGI CUSTODY) 16345 A/C                                87,646
     JP MORGAN (BGI CUSTODY) 16400 A/C                             5,883,116
     JP MORGAN (BGI CUSTODY) 17011 A/C                                 9,245
     JP MORGAN (BGI CUSTODY) 18408 A/C                                25,979
     JPMORGAN CHASE BANK                                           1,106,040
     MASTER TRUST BANK                                                 6,386
     MELLON TRUST - US CUSTODIAN/                                    138,951
     MELLON TRUST OF NEW ENGLAND                                     111,449
     MITSUBISHI TRUST INTERNATIONAL                                    4,061
     MITSUI ASSET                                                      7,343
     NORTHERN TRUST BANK - BGI SEPA                                  303,003
     R C GREIG NOMINEES LTD                                        1,830,303
     R C GREIG NOMINEES LTD AK1 A/C                                  633,246
     R C GREIG NOMINEES LTD BL1 A/C                                  155,017
     R C GREIG NOMINEES LTD CM1 A/C                                   74,290
     R C GREIG NOMINEES LTD GP1 A/C                                  178,354
     R C GREIG NOMINEES LTD SA1 A/C                                   98,021
     REFLEX NOMINEES LTD                                                 594
     STATE  STREET BANK & TRUST - WI                                 111,199
     STATE STREET BOSTON                                             315,254
     STATE STREET TRUST OF CANADA                                     41,586
     SUMITOMO TB                                                       3,029
     THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY - U                                   64,064
     TRUST & CUSTODY SERVICES BANK                                     5,416
     ZEBAN NOMINEES LTD                                                  260
          
5.   Number of shares / amount of stock acquired: NOT DISCLOSED
     
6.   Percentage of issued class*: N/A

7.   Number of shares / amount of stock disposed: NOT DISCLOSED

8.   Percentage of issued class*: N/A

9.   Class of security: ORDINARY SHARES OF 25p

10.  Date of transaction: NOT DISCLOSED

11.  Date listed company informed: 17 JANUARY 2006
     
12.  Total holding following this notification:  28,123,943 SHARES (AT 13
     JANUARY 2006)

13.  Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification*:
     4.97%

14.  Any additional information

15.  Name of contact and telephone number for queries: NEIL BURDETT - 020
     8457 8229

16.  Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for making
     this notification: NEIL BURDETT

17.  Date of notification: 17 JANUARY 2006
     
*    any treasury shares held by the listed company should not be taken into
     account when calculating percentage


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange