Purchase of Own Securities

British Assets Trust PLC
7 November 2000


REPURCHASE OF ORDINARY SHARES

On 7 November 2000 British Assets Trust plc bought 250,000 of its own ordinary
shares for cancellation at a price of 157.25p each.  There are 304,400,000
ordinary shares in issue following this repurchase.

The Company still has authority to buy-back for cancellation up to 10.92% 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, British Assets Trust PLC


Enquiries:               Gordon Humphries,   Tel: [phone]