Director Shareholding

British American Tobacco PLC
25 March 2003

DIRECTORS' SHAREHOLDINGS





The independent trustee of the British American Tobacco Group Employee Trust
notified the Company on 25 March 2003 that on 24 March 2003 a total of 242,549
British American Tobacco p.l.c. 25p ordinary shares ("Shares") were transferred
to Directors of British American Tobacco p.l.c in accordance with the rules of
the Company's Deferred Share Bonus Scheme as follows:



                Shares            No of Shares                           Total Beneficial and
                Transferred       sold at 621p          Net              Family Interests
                from 2000         per Share to cover    No of Shares     following this
Director        DSBS Award        UK tax liability      Acquired         Notification



M F Broughton    111,956             44,791               67,165        738,047 (including
                                                                        172,590 Deferred Shares)

P N Adams         47,305             18,931               28,374        258,920 (including
                                                                        88,103 Deferred Shares)

A Monteiro de     61,356               n/a                61,356        203,089 (including
Castro                                                                  70,414 Deferred Shares)

P A Rayner        21,932               n/a                21,932        101,032 (including
                                                                        44,122 Deferred Shares)





The independent trustee of the British American Tobacco Group Employee Trust
also notified the Company on 25 March 2003 that it had on 24 March 2003:



a)         released 106,046 British American Tobacco p.l.c. 25p ordinary shares
(the "Shares") to participants in the British American Tobacco Long Term
Incentive Plan; and



b)         released 52,448 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 Shares were released 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 39,228,937 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 A Monteiro de Castro and Mr P A Rayner.





ENQUIRIES:



Investor Relations:

Ralph Edmondson    020 7845 1180



Press Office:

David Betteridge / Sarah Corbey /Anne Tradigo   020 7845 2888


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