SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20549


                                    FORM 6-K

                            REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER
                      PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


For the month of April 9, 2002

                                   MERANT plc
                 (Translation of Registrant's Name Into English)

               The Lawn, Old Bath Road, Newbury, England RG14 1QN
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)


         (Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or
will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.)


     Form 20-F   X                            Form 40-F _____
              -------

         (Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by
furnishing the information contained in this form is also thereby
furnishing the information to the Commission  pursuant to Rule 12g3-
2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.)

         Yes   X                              No  _____
            -------

         (If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned
to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2 (b): 82-795.)


                       LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE ANNOUNCEMENT





MERANT PLC

Tuesday 9 April 2002

MERANT plc

Purchase of own shares


MERANT announces that on Monday 8 April 2002 it purchased for
cancellation 250,000 ordinary shares of 2p each at a price of 117p.

Since MERANT started to buy back its ordinary shares on 13
December 2001 it has repurchased for cancellation a total of
18,831,524 ordinary shares.


END

SIGNATURES


   Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to
be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized.


                                       MERANT plc
                                       (Registrant)


Date:  April 9, 2002              By: /s/ Leo Millstein
                             --------------------------------------
                          	Leo Millstein
		 			Vice President & General Counsel