RNS Number:5183T
Brewin Dolphin Holdings PLC
19 December 2003



                         BREWIN DOLPHIN HOLDINGS PLC


 Issue and awards of shares and grants of options over shares under the Brewin
         Dolphin Holdings PLC Senior Employee Matching Share Scheme


Brewin Dolphin Holdings PLC ('the company") announces that Mourant & Co Trustees
Limited ("the trustee"), as trustee of the Brewin Dolphin Holdings PLC Employee
Share Ownership Trust ("the Trust"), has recently acquired by subscription and
awarded shares and Brewin Dolphin Holdings PLC has granted options under the
Brewin Dolphin Holdings PLC Senior Employee Matching Share Scheme ("the scheme")
to employees of companies in the Brewin Dolphin group of companies, including Mr
Still, an executive director of the company. The scheme, which is intended to
encourage share retention by the participating employees, offers participating
employees the opportunity to purchase shares in the company at current market
value and receive a matching option to acquire shares at current market value.
This is the first occasion on which awards of shares and option grants under the
scheme have been made.



On 19 December 2003, the trustee acquired by subscription and awarded to
relevant participating employees 978,106 of the company's ordinary shares of 1p
each ("shares") and on a matching one to one basis the company granted options
to subscribe for 978,106 shares to relevant participating employees. Of the
shares awarded and options granted. Mr Still was awarded 60,753 shares and
granted options to subscribe for 60,753 shares. The shares awarded are
registered in the name of the trustee and will remain so subject to the terms of
the scheme.


The shares have been issued to and awarded by the trustee nil paid at a price of
82.3p per share representing the market value of a share at the time of the
issue and award (the average mid-market price of a share at the close of
business on the three business days prior to 19 December 2003 was 82.3p). The
full purchase price of the shares is payable to the trustee as set out in the
scheme and in any event no later than 19 December 2010.


The options are over new shares of the company and may be exercised, subject to
satisfaction of performance conditions, continued employment by a Brewin Dolphin
company and retention of the related awarded shares until 19 December 2007, and
otherwise as set out in the scheme, at a price of 82.3 p per share (no payment
was made on grant) normally at any time between 19 December 2007 and 19 December
2010 but otherwise as set out in the scheme including by reason of a change of
control following a takeover. Save as set out in the scheme, the options may not
be sold, transferred, charged or otherwise disposed of prior to exercise.


Information regarding the award of the shares and options to and the interests
of Mr Still was received by the company on 19 December 2003.

Mr Still is also interested in shares held otherwise than under the scheme.




                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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