Purchase of Own Securities

British Assets Trust PLC
5 July 2001


REPURCHASE OF ORDINARY SHARES

On 4 July 2001 British Assets Trust plc bought 500,000 of its own ordinary
shares for cancellation at a price of 150.75p each.  There are 303,225,000
ordinary shares in issue following this repurchase.

The Company still has authority to buy-back for cancellation up to 14.74% of
the ordinary 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]