Smith & Nephew Unveils $160M Cost-Cutting Plan

Artificial hip and knee maker Smith & Nephew has launched a major cost-cutting programme in an effort to ward off pressure to break up the firm by activist investor Elliott Advisors.

Olivier Bohuon, the outgoing boss of the FTSE 100 firm, said the plan would help deliver improved earnings after Smith & Nephew posted net profits down 3pc for 2017 to $767m (£552m), at the lower end of management guidance.

However sales edged up 2pc to $4.8bn, boosted by double digit growth in emerging markets.