Purchase of Own Securities

British Assets Trust PLC
9 August 2000


REPURCHASE OF GROWTH SHARES

On 9 August 2000 British Assets Trust plc bought 250,000 of its own growth
shares for cancellation at a price of 149.00p each.  There are 53,716,726
growth shares in issue following this repurchase.

The Company still has authority to buy-back for cancellation up to 9.95% of
the growth 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]