Purchase of Own Securities

Henderson Smaller Cos Inv Tst PLC
9 February 2001

9 February 2001



             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 29 September 2000 to make market purchases of the Company's own
shares, a market purchase of 150,000 ordinary shares of 25p each of the
Company was made today at a price of 330p per share.

Following the purchase and cancellation of the above shares, 167,721,070
ordinary shares of 25p each will remain in issue.



                                   - ENDS -



For further information please contact:

John Alexander/Stephen Westwood

Henderson Global Investors

Telephone: [phone] 5517

or

Vicki Staveacre

Henderson Press Office

Telephone: [phone]