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 July 4, 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

Thursday 4 July 2002

MERANT plc

Purchase of own shares


MERANT announces that on Wednesday 3 July 2002 it purchased for
cancellation 1,000,000 ordinary shares of 2p each at a price of 96p.

Since MERANT commenced additional repurchases of its ordinary shares
on 10 June 2002 it has repurchased for cancellation a total of 6,415,229
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:  July 4, 2002              By: /s/ Stephen Going

				--------------------------------------
                         		Stephen Going
		 		Vice President & General Counsel