Purchase of Own Securities

British Assets Trust PLC
3 May 2000


REPURCHASE OF ORDINARY SHARES

On 3 May 2000 British Assets Trust plc bought 150,000 of its own ordinary
shares for cancellation at a price of 142.50p each.  There are 307,816,212
ordinary shares in issue following this repurchase.

The Company still has authority to buy-back for cancellation up to 12.00% of
the ordinary shares in issue as at the date of the annual general meeting held
on 16 December 1999 when the buy-back authority was renewed by shareholders.


Gordon J Humphries
Company Secretary

Enquiries:  0131 465 1000