Purchase of Own Securities

British Assets Trust PLC
19 October 2000


British Assets Trust PLC


REPURCHASE OF ORDINARY SHARES

On 18 October 2000 British Assets Trust plc bought 1,721,212 of its own
ordinary shares for cancellation at a price of 154.00p each.  There are
304,650,000 ordinary shares in issue following this repurchase.

The Company still has authority to buy-back for cancellation up to 11.00% 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, British Assets Trust PLC


Enquiries:     Gordon Humphries,   Tel: [phone]