Purchase of Own Securities

British Assets Trust PLC
17 July 2001


REPURCHASE OF EQUITIES INDEX UNSECURED LOAN STOCK

On 17 July 2001 British Assets Trust plc bought 28,500 of its own Equities
Index Unsecured Loan Stock units for cancellation at a price of 260p each. 
There are 5,943,203 units in issue following this repurchase.

Since their issue in April 1989, the Company has repurchased 95.8% of its loan
stock units for cancellation.

Gordon J Humphries
Company Secretary, British Assets Trust PLC


Enquiries:  Gordon Humphries,   Tel: [phone]