Purchase of Own Securities

British Assets Trust PLC
17 March 2000


REPURCHASE OF ORDINARY SHARES

On 17 March 2000 British Assets Trust plc bought 200,000 of its own ordinary
shares for cancellation at a price of 141.00p each.  There are 308,866,212
ordinary shares in issue following this repurchase.

The Company still has authority to buy-back for cancellation up to 12.34% 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

Enquiries:  0131 465 1000