Purchase of Own Securities

British Empire Securities and General Trust PLC
19 November 1999



PURCHASE OF OWN SHARES

On 18 November 1999 British Empire Securities and General Trust p.l.c. bought
1,500,000 of its own ordinary shares for cancellation at a price of 138.75p
each.  There are 185,055,089 ordinary shares in issue following this purchase.






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