Purchase of Own Securities

Witan Investment Company Plc
17 January 2000



               WITAN INVESTMENT COMPANY PLC


          Market Purchase of Company's Own Shares
                             
                             
Notification  is  given  that  pursuant  to  the  authority
granted at the Annual General Meeting held on 16 March 1999
to  make  market purchases of the Company's own  shares  of
25p, a market purchase of 1,375,000 ordinary shares of  25p
each  in the capital of the Company was made on Friday,  14
January 2000 at a price of 457p per share.

Following this purchase and cancellation there will be
369,128,094 shares in issue.

                                                                                
    
For further information please contact :

James Budden
Witan Investment Company plc
Telephone : [phone]

Norman Brown
Henderson Investors Limited
Telephone: [phone]

Vicki Staveacre
Henderson Investors Press Office
Telephone: [phone]