Purchase of Own Securities

British Assets Trust PLC
17 November 1999

REPURCHASE OF ORDINARY SHARES

On 17 November 1999 British Assets Trust plc bought 900,000 of its own
ordinary shares for cancellation at a price of 144.00p each.  There are now
317,650,000 ordinary shares in issue following this repurchase.



Gordon J Humphries
Secretary


Enquiries:  0131 465 1000