Purchase of Own Securities

British Assets Trust PLC
2 December 1999




REPURCHASE OF GROWTH SHARES

On 1 December 1999 British Assets Trust plc bought 250,000 of its own growth
shares for cancellation at a price of 138.75p each.  There are 56,565,296
growth shares in issue following this repurchase.





Gordon J Humphries
Company Secretary


Enquiries:  0131 465 1000