MEMPHIS, Tenn., Oct. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Smith & Nephew's (NYSE: SNN)(LSE:SN) Orthopaedics business announced today it has made a first-of-its-kind contribution to the Center for Orthopaedic Trauma Advancement (COTA) for fellowship and resident education grants. Smith & Nephew and COTA entered into a grant administration agreement in September under which COTA will serve as an independent, third-party administrator of funds. Smith & Nephew is providing COTA's first donation to support research, fellowship and residency programs for orthopaedic surgeons serving the multiply-injured patient. COTA is the first 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation exclusively dedicated to funding medical education for surgeons who specialize in orthopaedic trauma patient care. The organization is working to build on Smith & Nephew's contribution with additional grants from industry, as well as non-profit entities and philanthropic sources. "We are proud to donate the first funds to COTA as they create an important avenue for the independent selection and distribution of grants," said Bill Shopoff, president of Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics' Trauma business. "This agreement reinforces our commitment to training and education for the physicians who deliver life-restoring trauma technology to patients." About Smith & Nephew Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business, specialising in Orthopaedics, including Reconstruction, Trauma and Clinical Therapies; Endoscopy and Advanced Wound Management. Smith & Nephew is a global leader in arthroscopy and advanced wound management and is one of the leading global orthopaedics companies. Smith & Nephew is dedicated to helping improve people's lives. The Company prides itself on the strength of its relationships with its surgeons and professional healthcare customers, with whom its name is synonymous with high standards of performance, innovation and trust. The Company operates in 32 countries around the world. Annual sales in 2008 were $3.8 billion. 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 planned growth in our business and in our 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 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. DATASOURCE: Smith & Nephew CONTACT: Analyst/Investor Inquiries: Liz Hewitt, +44 (0) 20 7401 7646, Media Inquiries: Andrew Burns, +1-901-399-5739, , both of Smith & Nephew; Nancy Franzon, Executive Director, COTA, +1-847-384-4223 Web Site: http://www.smith-nephew.com/

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