Purchase of Own Securities

British Assets Trust PLC
12 October 2000


REPURCHASE OF ORDINARY SHARES

On 12 October 2000 British Assets Trust plc bought 650,000 of its own ordinary
shares for cancellation at a price of 151.00p each.  There are 306,371,212
ordinary shares in issue following this repurchase.

The Company still has authority to buy-back for cancellation up to 11.55% 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]