Purchase of Own Securities

British Assets Trust PLC
12 January 2001



REPURCHASE OF GROWTH SHARES

On 12 January 2001 British Assets Trust plc bought 5,400,000 of its own growth
shares for cancellation at a price of 149.00p each.  There are 47,520,630
growth shares in issue following this repurchase.

The Company still has authority to buy-back for cancellation up to 4.29% of
the growth shares in issue as at the date of the annual general meeting held
on 21 December 2000 when the buy-back authority was renewed by shareholders.


Gordon J Humphries
Company Secretary, British Assets Trust PLC


Enquiries:  Gordon Humphries,   Tel: [phone]