Purchase of Own Securities, etc

British Empire Securities & General Trust PLC
16 March 2000



PURCHASE OF OWN SHARES

On 16 March 2000 British Empire Securities and General Trust p.l.c. bought
1,000,000 of its own ordinary shares for cancellation at a price of 159.00p
each.  There are 178,285,089 ordinary shares in issue following this purchase.


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