Director Shareholding

British American Tobacco PLC
16 March 2005





DIRECTORS' INTERESTS



On 16 March 2005, the Company granted an award of British American Tobacco
p.l.c. 25p ordinary shares to the directors of British American Tobacco listed
below under the Deferred Share Bonus Scheme at an award price of 929p per Share.
  Awards under the Deferred Share Bonus Scheme are conditional awards of shares
which are held in trust for three years and no further performance conditions
apply in that period.





Director                          Deferred Shares     Total  Beneficial

                                  Awarded             Interests following this
                                                      Notification





P N Adams                         37,742              278,341 (including 150,153
                                                      Deferred Shares)



A Monteiro de Castro              26,641              275,881 (including 96,491
                                                      Deferred Shares)



P A Rayner                        23,977              180,609 (including 97,702
                                                      Deferred Shares)







ENQUIRIES:



Investor Relations:

Ralph Edmondson    020 7845 1180



Press Office:

David Betteridge / Teresa La Thangue    020 7845 2888






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