Grant of Options

Numis Corporation PLC
18 May 2001


Numis Corporation Plc ('Numis' or 'the Company')


Substantial shareholders

Numis announces that on 16 May 2001 it received notification that on 15 May
2001 the Equitable Life Assurance Society ('Equitable') disposed of 1,494,600
(9.87%) ordinary shares in the Company.  The price was 150p. Furthermore, on
16 May 2001 it received notification from David John Poutney that he held
1,513,185 (9.99%) ordinary shares.


Cancellation and grant of options
                                   
Background


A little over a year ago (25 April 2000), shareholders at an Extraordinary
General Meeting of the Company approved a change in the limit of the Company's
two executive share option schemes so as to permit the grant of options over
20% of the issued ordinary share capital from time to time.  The limit less
the number of outstanding options over ordinary shares ('headroom') is
289,400.  In order that Numis can grant new options, certain directors of the
Company have agreed to the cancellation of various options that they hold:


Cancellation of options


Director   Position in  No. of options % of shares   Total no. of   % of shares
              Numis       cancelled     in issue   options now held  in issue

Oliver    Chief                112,500        0.74          250,000        1.65
Hemsley   Executive
David     Non-Executive         56,250        0.37                0        0.00
Craig     Chairman
Paul      Non-Executive         40,000        0.26                0        0.00
Gaunt     Director
Michael   Non-Executive         56,250        0.37           25,000        0.16
Sinclair  Director
Totals                         265,000        1.74          275,000        1.81


The options over ordinary shares granted to Oliver Hemsley, David Craig, Paul
Gaunt and Michael Sinclair were granted on 28 March 2000.  They were subject
to performance criteria, as follows:

a)         One half of the options granted over ordinary shares were
exercisable at 292.5p provided that the mid-market price of Numis shares was
in excess of 500p for any consecutive 60 day period from the date of grant of
the options to 3 years after that date (and on the date of exercise) and that
the Numis share price during that 3 year period and up to the day the options
were exercised, had out-performed the FT All Share Index.  The options were
not allowed to be exercised earlier than 3 years or later than 10 years after
the date of grant.


b)         One half of the options granted over ordinary shares were
exercisable at 292.5p provided that the mid-market price of Numis shares was
in excess of 700p for any consecutive 60 day period from the date of grant of
the options to 3 years after that date (and on the date of exercise) and that
the Numis share price during that 3 year period and up to the day the options
were exercised, had out-performed the FT All Share Index.  The options were
not allowed to be exercised earlier than 3 years or later than 10 years after
the date of grant.


Grant of options over new shares

The board of Numis announces that it has, on 15 May 2001, granted options over
554,400 ordinary shares to individuals due to join the Group.  This represents
3.7% of the issued ordinary share capital.  These options are exercisable at a
subscription price of 150p after 15 May 2004 but before 15 May 2011.


The grant of options outlined above takes the Company to the limit of options
over 20% of the issued share capital.


Grant of options over existing shares

The board of Numis also announces that it has, on 15 May 2001, granted options
over 202,950 Numis ordinary shares held in the Employee Share Option Plan to
individuals due to join the Group.  This represents 1.3% of the issued
ordinary share capital.  These options are exercisable at a subscription price
of 150p after 15 May 2004 but before 15 May 2011.

The ordinary shares referred to in this announcement are the ordinary shares
of 25p each in Numis Corporation Plc.


18 May 2001



END