Purchase of Own Securities

British Assets Trust PLC
21 January 2000

REPURCHASE OF ORDINARY SHARES

On 20 January 2000 British Assets Trust plc bought 250,000 of its own ordinary
shares for cancellation at a price of 146.00p each.  There are now 314,453,570
ordinary shares in issue following this repurchase.





Gordon J Humphries
Secretary


Enquiries:  0131 465 1000