Holding(s) in Company

Smiths Group PLC
31 October 2005

31 OCTOBER 2005

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 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
GLOBAL FUND ADVISORS; 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

BARCLAYS CAPITAL NOMINEES LTD                                                                       101,551
BARCLAYS GLOBAL INVESTORS CANADA                                                                     26,647
BARCLAYS TRUST CO & OTHERS                                                                              471
BARCLAYS TRUST CO AS EXEC/ADM                                                                            79
BARCLAYS TRUST CO DMC69                                                                              11,500
BARCLAYS TRUST CO R69                                                                                53,110
BNP PARIBAS                                                                                          78,688
CHASE NOMINEES LTD 16376 A/C                                                                        304,678
CHASE NOMINEES LTD 20947 A/C                                                                      4,807,342
CHASE NOMINEES LTD 28270 A/C                                                                        257,077
CIBC MELLON GLOBAL SECURITIES                                                                        46,243
CLYDESDALE NOMINEES HGB0125 01201382 A/C                                                              5,750
CLYDESDALE NOMINEES HGB0125 01201420 A/C                                                              2,300
GERRARD NOMINEES LIMITED ER1 A/C                                                                     67,688
GRIEG MIDDLETON NOMINEES LIMITED GM1 A/C                                                            222,645
GRIEG MIDDLETON NOMINEES LIMITED GM3 A/C                                                            107,200
INVESTORS BANK AND TRUST CO.                                                                      8,881,801
JP MORGAN (BGI CUSTODY) 16331 A/C                                                                   159,650
JP MORGAN (BGI CUSTODY) 16338 A/C                                                                    33,400
JP MORGAN (BGI CUSTODY) 16341 A/C                                                                   375,374
JP MORGAN (BGI CUSTODY) 16342 A/C                                                                    69,343
JP MORGAN (BGI CUSTODY) 16344 A/C                                                                    28,504
JP MORGAN (BGI CUSTODY) 16345 A/C                                                                    55,513
JP MORGAN (BGI CUSTODY) 16400 A/C                                                                 5,824,435
JP MORGAN (BGI CUSTODY) 17011 A/C                                                                     9,245
JP MORGAN (BGI CUSTODY) 18408 A/C                                                                    25,979
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK                                                                               1,267,107
MASTER TRUST BANK                                                                                     6,386
MELLON TRUST - US CUSTODIAN/                                                                        154,714
MELLON TRUST OF NEW ENGLAND                                                                         135,964
MITSUBISHI TRUST INTERNATIONAL                                                                        4,061
MITSUI ASSET                                                                                          7,343
NORTHERN TRUST BANK - BGI SEPA                                                                      361,979
R C GREIG NOMINEES LTD RC1 A/C                                                                    1,833,291
R C GREIG NOMINEES LTD AK1 A/C                                                                      637,147
R C GREIG NOMINEES LTD BL1 A/C                                                                      161,891
R C GREIG NOMINEES LTD CM1 A/C                                                                       76,633
R C GREIG NOMINEES LTD GP1 A/C                                                                      192,749
R C GREIG NOMINEES LTD SA1 A/C                                                                      101,503
REFLEX NOMINEES LTD                                                                                     594
STATE  STREET BANK & TRUST - WI                                                                      86,085
STATE STREET BOSTON                                                                                 381,292
STATE STREET TRUST OF CANADA                                                                         53,136
SUMITOMO TB                                                                                           3,029
THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY - U                                                                       74,539
TRUST & CUSTODY SERVICES BANK                                                                         5,899
ZEBAN NOMINEES LTD                                                                                      533

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: 31.10.2005

12.     Total holding following this notification:  27,102,088 SHARES (AT 25
OCTOBER 2005)

13.     Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification*:
4.80%

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: 31.10.2005

* any treasury shares held by the listed company should not be taken into
account when calculating percentage




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