Purchase of Own Securities

HENDERSON SMALLER COMPANIES INVESTMENT TRUST PLC
27 September 1999


     THE HENDERSON SMALLER COMPANIES INVESTMENT TRUST PLC
                               
   Market Purchase by the Company of its own Ordinary Shares


The  Henderson Smaller Companies Investment Trust  plc  hereby
gives notification that, pursuant to the authority granted  to
the Company at the Annual General Meeting on 24 September 1999
to make market purchases of the Company's own shares, a market
purchase of 978 ordinary shares of 25p each of the Company was
made today at a price of 276.0p per share.



For further information please contact:

John Alexander/Stephen Westwood
Henderson Investors
Telephone: [phone]

or

Vicki Staveacre
Henderson Press Office
Telephone: [phone]