Purchase of Own Securities

Henderson Smaller Cos Inv Tst PLC
10 May 2001


HENDERSON GLOBAL INVESTORS

THE HENDERSON SMALLER COMPANIES INVESTMENT TRUST PLC


10 May 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 100,000 ordinary shares of 25p each of the
Company was made today at a price of 278.5p per share.

Following the purchase and cancellation of the above shares, 167,089,094
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]