Director Shareholding

Brown (N.) Group PLC
17 November 2000


The Company wishes to announce the exercise of an exercise of share option
granted in 1993, and the immediate sale of all of the shares so acquired, 
by Mr Jim Martin (Chief Executive), as detailed on the disclosure below.
Mr Martin continues to hold approximately 1 million shares in the company
and has outstanding long term incentive awards over approximately 370,000
shares.



                       DEALINGS BY DIRECTORS


1)  NAME OF COMPANY

N BROWN GROUP plc


2)  NAME OF DIRECTOR

MR J MARTIN


3)  Please state whether notification indicates that it is in respect of
    holding of the shareholder named in 2 above or 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 or in respect of an non-beneficial interest

DIRECTOR'S INTEREST


4)  Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the
    number of shares held by each of them. (If notified)

MR J MARTIN

5)  Please state whether notification relates to a person(s) connected
    with the Director named in 2 above and identify the connected person(s)

N/A


6)  Please state the nature of the transaction. For PEP transactions
    please indicate whether general/single co PEP and if discretionary/non
    discretionary

EXERCISE OF EXECUTIVE SHARE OPTION AND IMMEDIATE SALE OF ALL SHARES SO ACQUIRED


7)  Number of shares/amount of
    stock acquired

400,000


8)   ( 0.1 %)
    of issued Class


9)  Number of shares/amount
    of stock disposed

400,000


10)  ( 0.1 %)
    of issued Class


11) Class of security

10p ORDINARY SHARES


12) Price per share

Bought       93.5p
Sold        297.0p


13) Date of transaction

Bought    17.11.00
Sold      17.11.00



14) Date company informed

17.11.00


15) Total holding following this notification

1,038,230 SHARES


16) Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

0.4%


     IF A DIRECTOR HAS BEEN GRANTED OPTIONS BY THE COMPANY PLEASE
                    COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING BOXES

17) Date of grant



18) Period during which or date on which exercisable



19) Total amount paid (if any) for grant of the option



20) Description of shares or debentures involved: class, number.



21) Exercise price (if fixed at time of grant) or indication that price
    is to be fixed at time of exercise



22) Total number of shares or debentures over which options held
    following this notification



23) Any additional information



24) Name of contact and telephone number for queries

P GRUNDY  0161 238 2334


25) Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for
    making this notification

   Date of Notification    17 NOVEMBER 2000