Purchase of Own Securities

BRITISH ASSETS TRUST PLC
22 July 1999


REPURCHASE OF ORDINARY SHARES

On 21 July 1999 British Assets Trust plc bought 1,500,000 of its own ordinary
shares for cancellation at a price of 139.50p each.  There are 321,060,000
ordinary shares in issue following this repurchase.


Gordon J Humphries
Secretary


Enquiries:  0131 465 1000