Director Shareholding

British American Tobacco PLC
15 May 2002

DIRECTORS' INTERESTS


The independent trustee of the British American Tobacco Group Employee Trust
notified the Company on 14 May 2002 that it had on 14 May 2002

a)         released 20,233 British American Tobacco p.l.c. 25p ordinary shares
(the "Shares") to a participant in the British American Tobacco Long Term
Incentive Plan.  The participant to whom shares were released is not a director
of British American Tobacco p.l.c.

b)         disposed of 34,531 British American Tobacco p.l.c. 25p ordinary
shares (the "Shares") to satisfy the exercise of options under the Company's
share option scheme. The participants in respect of whom the disposal of shares
were made are not directors of British American Tobacco p.l.c.

Following these transactions, the independent trustee of the British American
Tobacco Group Employee Trust holds a total of 35,496,868 Shares.  The following
executive directors, together with other employees, are potential beneficiaries
and are therefore treated as having an interest: Mr P N Adams, Mr M F Broughton,
Mr P A Rayner and Mr A Monteiro de Castro.











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