Purchase of Own Securities

British Empire Sec & Gen Tst PLC
18 February 2000






PURCHASE OF OWN SHARES

On 17 February 2000 British Empire Securities and General Trust p.l.c. bought
20,000 of its own ordinary shares for cancellation at a price of 151.00p each.
 There are 182,785,089 ordinary shares in issue following this purchase.






Enquiries:  John Walton, Ivory & Sime Asset Management Limited
            Tel: [phone]