Transaction in Own Shares

Henderson Smaller Cos Inv Tst PLC
21 May 2004


HENDERSON GLOBAL INVESTORS

THE HENDERSON SMALLER COMPANIES INVESTMENT TRUST PLC

21 May 2004


              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 26 September 2003 to make market purchases of the Company's own
shares, a market purchase of 250,000 ordinary shares of 25p each of the Company
was made today at a price of 135p per share.

Following the purchase and cancellation of the above shares, 114,761,840
ordinary shares of 25p each will remain in issue.


                                -ENDS-

For further information please contact:

Neil Hermon

The Henderson Smaller Companies Investment Trust plc

Telephone: [phone]

or

Theresa Wat

The Henderson Smaller Companies Investment Trust plc

Telephone: [phone]

or

Stephen Westwood

Head of Investment Trusts

Henderson Global Investors

Telephone: [phone]

or

Stephen Phillips

Associate Director

Henderson Global Investors

Telephone: [phone]


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange