Director Shareholding

Sopheon PLC
2 May 2001

                                                                    2 May 2001

                   Sopheon plc ('Sopheon' or the 'Company')

                            Director Shareholdings


Sopheon plc announces that yesterday it granted options over Sopheon ordinary
5p shares to certain directors as part of a wider 2001 incentive award of up
to 743,781 options to its senior staff. The options were granted at a price of
77.5p per ordinary share and in the case of staff and executive directors, the
ultimate number of options granted depends on meeting certain performance
criteria for 2001. As part of this award, Andrew Michuda (Chief Executive) has
been granted up to 77,162 options, Barry Mence (Chairman) up to 45,000
options, and Arif Karimjee (Chief Financial Officer) up to 25,000 options. In
addition to the 2001 incentive grant, Bernard Al, who joined the board as a
non-executive director earlier this year, has been granted 25,000 options. The
options are exercisable between 1 and 10 years after the date of grant, with
an incremental 25% of the options becoming exercisable at the end of each of
the first four years.


For further information, please contact:

Sopheon plc, www.sopheon.com
Barry Mence, Chairman         ([e-mail])     + 44 (0)1483-883000
Arif Karimjee, CFO            ([e-mail])   + 44 (0)1483-883000

Buchanan Communications
Steve Liebmann/Ed Cowdery  ([e-mail])        + 44 (0)20 7466 5000


For further information on Sopheon, please refer to the Company's website:
www.sopheon.com.