Purchase of Own Securities

Henderson Smaller Cos Inv Tst PLC
16 July 2002



HENDERSON GLOBAL INVESTORS

THE HENDERSON SMALLER COMPANIES INVESTMENT TRUST PLC

16 July 2002



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 Extraordinary
General Meeting on 26 June 2002 to make market purchases of the Company's own
shares, a market purchase of 160,000 ordinary shares of 25p each of the Company
was made today at a price of 96.375p per share.

Following the purchase and cancellation of the above shares, 133,270,999
ordinary shares of 25p each will remain in issue.


                                -ENDS-

For further information please contact:

John Alexander or Andrew Stack

The Henderson Smaller Companies Investment Trust plc

Telephone: [phone] or 4351

Stephen Westwood

Head of Investment Trusts

Henderson Global Investors

Telephone: [phone]

Stephen Phillips

Investor Relations Manager

Henderson Global Investors

Telephone: [phone]



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