Purchase of Own Securities

British Assets Trust PLC
27 February 2001


British Assets Trust PLC

REPURCHASE OF GROWTH SHARES

On 26 February 2001 British Assets Trust plc bought 750,000 of its own growth
shares for cancellation at a price of 149.00p each.  There are 46,770,630
growth shares in issue following this repurchase.

The Company still has authority to buy-back for cancellation up to 13.41% of
the growth shares in issue as at the date of the extraordinary general meeting
held on 23 February 2001 when the buy-back authority was renewed by
shareholders.

Gordon J Humphries
Company Secretary, British Assets Trust PLC

Enquiries:               Gordon Humphries,   Tel: [phone]