Numis

Numis Corporation Plc was a British financial-services firm focused on institutional stockbroking, equity research, corporate broking and corporate advisory work. Its principal base was in the City of London, with additional operations in New York City. The company served listed businesses and institutional investors, particularly in the United Kingdom's equity markets and among companies quoted on the London Stock Exchange's Alternative Investment Market. The business originated in 1989 through the merger of Hemsley & Co Securities and Raphael Zorn. The merged firm initially traded as RZH Ltd before adopting the Numis name in 2000. The rebranding marked the development of a broader institutional brokerage and advisory identity rather than a conventional retail-investment brand. Numis's activities centered on connecting public companies with investors, supporting equity-market transactions, producing research and providing corporate-broking advice. A notable expansion of the firm's market-information activities came in 2012, when it purchased the Hoare Govett Small Cap Index from Hoare Govett. The index helped reinforce Numis's presence in the small-cap and mid-cap segment of the British equity market, an area in which specialist research and investor access were important competitive differentiators. Leadership continuity changed in 2016 when Oliver Hemsley stepped down as chief executive after 25 years with the firm. Alex Ham and Ross Mitchinson became co-chief executives, with Ham responsible for the advisory and corporate-broking side of the business and Mitchinson overseeing equities. This division reflected Numis's two main commercial pillars: advising corporate clients and serving institutional investors through sales, trading and research. By autumn 2017, Numis had 195 stock-market clients. A February 2018 assessment by Adviser Rankings Ltd reported that the firm was broker to 11 of the 50 largest companies on the London Stock Exchange's Alternative Investment Market, indicating a strong position among listed growth companies and smaller-cap issuers. The company later reported operations involving approximately 235 staff across London and New York City. In April 2023, Deutsche Bank agreed to acquire Numis in an all-cash transaction valued at £410 million. The acquisition was completed on 13 October 2023. Following completion, the business was announced as operating under, or being known as, Deutsche Numis. Accordingly, Numis is best understood as a former standalone corporate brand whose institutional-brokerage and advisory operations were absorbed into Deutsche Bank's platform.

Numis traces its origins to 1989, when Hemsley & Co Securities merged with Raphael Zorn. The combined business was initially known as RZH Ltd. It developed as an institutional stockbroker and corporate adviser, serving professional investors and publicly listed companies rather than retail customers. In 2000, RZH Ltd adopted the Numis name. The rebrand established the identity under which the firm became known in the United Kingdom's equity markets. Its business combined institutional sales and trading, equity research, corporate broking and advisory services. This model positioned Numis between companies seeking access to public markets and investors seeking research, liquidity and investment opportunities. The firm maintained a particular emphasis on smaller listed companies. This focus was important in the United Kingdom, where specialist brokers have historically played a significant role in supporting smaller issuers and companies quoted on AIM. In 2012, Numis purchased the Hoare Govett Small Cap Index from Hoare Govett, adding a recognized small-cap market benchmark to its activities and reinforcing its research-oriented position. A major management transition occurred in 2016. Oliver Hemsley, who had led the business for 25 years, stepped down as chief executive. Alex Ham and Ross Mitchinson succeeded him as co-chief executives. Their responsibilities were divided: Ham led the advisory and corporate-broking arm, while Mitchinson oversaw the equities business. The structure reflected the firm's dual emphasis on corporate clients and institutional equity-market services. Numis expanded its client base and institutional profile during the late 2010s. By autumn 2017, it had 195 stock-market clients. A February 2018 report from Adviser Rankings Ltd stated that Numis was broker to 11 of the 50 largest companies on London's Alternative Investment Market. The firm was also described as employing approximately 235 people across its London and New York offices, giving it an international operating footprint while retaining a distinctly UK-centered market specialization. The decisive change in Numis's corporate history came in 2023. In April, Deutsche Bank agreed to acquire the company in an all-cash transaction valued at £410 million. The transaction completed on 13 October 2023. Following completion, the business was announced as Deutsche Numis, ending Numis's existence as an independent standalone group and bringing its brokerage and advisory capabilities into Deutsche Bank. The Numis name therefore represents both a former listed financial-services company and the heritage of the business that continued within Deutsche Numis.

• 2023

  Deutsche Bank announces acquisition

  [1]Numisen.wikipedia.org

  Deutsche Bank agreed to acquire Numis in an all-cash transaction valued at £410 million.

• 2023

  Acquisition completed

  [1]Numisen.wikipedia.org

  The transaction completed on 13 October, with the business subsequently known as Deutsche Numis.

• 2017

  Client base reaches 195 stock-market companies

  [1]Numisen.wikipedia.org

  By autumn 2017, Numis had 195 stock-market clients.

• 2016

  Co-chief executive structure introduced

  [1]Numisen.wikipedia.org

  Oliver Hemsley left the chief executive role after 25 years; Alex Ham and Ross Mitchinson became co-chief executives.

• 2012

  Hoare Govett Small Cap Index acquired

  [1]Numisen.wikipedia.org

  Numis purchased the Hoare Govett Small Cap Index from Hoare Govett.

• 2000

  RZH Ltd rebrands as Numis

  [1]Numisen.wikipedia.org

  The firm adopted the Numis name, creating the identity associated with its institutional brokerage and corporate-advisory activities.

• 1989

  Formation through merger

  [1]Numisen.wikipedia.org

  Hemsley & Co Securities and Raphael Zorn merged to form the business that initially traded as RZH Ltd.

A specialist independent institutional broker and corporate adviser with a strong focus on UK listed companies, particularly small-cap and mid-cap issuers and companies quoted on AIM.

• Securities brokerage

  Institutional equity brokerage

  Numis provided brokerage services to professional and institutional investors trading listed equities. Its activity included facilitating investor access to corporate clients, supporting liquidity and connecting companies with the institutional investment community. The service was particularly associated with the United Kingdom's listed small-cap and mid-cap market.

• Corporate advisory

  Corporate broking and advisory

  The firm's corporate-broking and advisory business worked with listed companies on their relationships with shareholders and the wider capital market. It formed one of Numis's principal operating divisions and included advice associated with public-company strategy, investor engagement and equity-market transactions.

• Financial research

  Equity research

  Numis produced research intended to help institutional investors evaluate listed companies and sectors. Its research capability supported the firm's brokerage and corporate-client relationships, with a notable orientation toward smaller and growth-oriented companies in the UK market.

• Market index · 2012

  Hoare Govett Small Cap Index

  Acquired from Hoare Govett in 2012, the Hoare Govett Small Cap Index was a small-cap market benchmark and research asset associated with Numis's specialist coverage of smaller listed companies.

• 2023

  Acquisition by Deutsche BankM&A

  Background

  Deutsche Bank sought to expand its equity-capital-markets and corporate-broking capabilities through Numis's UK franchise.

  Action taken

  Deutsche Bank agreed to acquire Numis in an all-cash transaction valued at £410 million, completing the purchase on 13 October 2023.

  Aftermath

  Numis ceased to operate as an independent standalone group, and the combined business was announced as Deutsche Numis.

  Transaction value. £410 million (Announced April 2023; completed 13 October 2023)

  Source

• 2016

  Leadership succession under a co-chief executive modelOther

  Background

  Oliver Hemsley stepped down after serving as chief executive for 25 years.

  Action taken

  Alex Ham and Ross Mitchinson became co-chief executives, dividing responsibility between advisory and corporate broking on one side and equities on the other.

  Aftermath

  The new structure aligned senior management with Numis's two core business areas.

  Source

• 2012

  Purchase of the Hoare Govett Small Cap IndexM&A

  Background

  Numis sought to strengthen its specialist position in the small-cap segment of the UK equity market.

  Action taken

  The firm purchased the Hoare Govett Small Cap Index from Hoare Govett.

  Aftermath

  The transaction added a small-cap benchmark and related market-information asset to Numis's offering.

  Source

• 2000

  Rebrand from RZH Ltd to NumisStrategy

  Background

  The business formed in 1989 had operated under the RZH Ltd name while developing its institutional brokerage and advisory activities.

  Action taken

  The company adopted the Numis name as its principal corporate identity.

  Aftermath

  Numis became the long-term identity associated with the firm's UK institutional-brokerage and corporate-advisory franchise.

  Source

1. 1Numisen.wikipedia.org