<PAGE> 1
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 October 1, 1999
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.)
<PAGE> 2
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE ANNOUNCEMENT
SCHEDULE 10
NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES
Number of reports in announcement: 1
Company Name:
MERANT plc
Full Issuer Name:
MERANT plc
AVS Security Number:
Unknown
Release Date:
IMMEDIATELY
Release Time:
IMMEDIATELY
Embargo Details:
Telephone Confirmation of Release Required:
Contact Name:
Philip Rosier
Tel. No:
01635-565583
Announcement Given To Third Parties:
Amendment:
No
Headline:
Holding in company
1 Name of company:
MERANT plc
2 Name of shareholder having a major interest:
Fidelity Investments
3 Please state whether notification indicates that it is in respect of
holding of the shareholder named in 2 above or in respect of a
non-beneficial interest or in the case of an individual holder if it is a
holding of that person's spouse or children under the age of 18:
Same as above
<PAGE> 3
4 Name of registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the number of
shares held by each of them:
1,350,000 Chase Nominees Ltd for Fidelity Management and Research Co
47,700 State Street Nominees Ltd for Fidelity Management and Research Co
74,500 State Street Nominees Ltd for Fidelity Management Trust Company
9,289,814 Clydesdale Bank (Head Office) Nominees Ltd for Fidelity
Investment Services Limited
81,200 Bankers Trust for Fidelity Pension Management
93,900 BT Globenet Nominees Ltd for Fidelity Pension Management
40,000 MSS Nominees Ltd for Fidelity Pension Management
554,100 Clydesdale Bank (Head Office) Nominees Ltd for Fidelity
International Ltd
45,000 Mellon Trust for Fidelity International Ltd
188,500 Nortrust Nominees Ltd for Fidelity International Ltd
533,941 RBS Trust Bank for Fidelity International Ltd
205,000 Morgan Stanley for Fidelity International Ltd
46,500 Bankers Trust for Fidelity International Ltd
55,200 Clydesdale Bank (Head Office) Nominees Ltd for Fidelity
Investment Services Limited
275,000 Held as 55,000 ADR's by Lloyds Bank Nominees Ltd for Fidelity
Management and Research Company
21,500 Held as 4,300 ADR's by Nortrust Nominees for Fidelity Management
Trust Company
5 Number of shares/amount of stock acquired:
6 Percentage of issued class:
7 Number of shares/amount of stock disposed:
8 Percentage of issued class:
9 Class of security:
2p Ordinary
10 Date of transaction:
11 Date company informed:
29 September 1999
12 Total holding following this notification:
12,901,855
13 Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification:
8.95
14 Contact name for queries:
Philip Rosier
15 Contact telephone number:
01635-565583
16 Name of company official responsible for making notification:
Philip Rosier
17 Date of notification:
1 October 1999
Additional Information:
<PAGE> 4
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: October 1, 1999 By: /s/ Kenneth A. Sexton
---------------------------------------
Kenneth Sexton
Chief Financial Officer
