Options for Sale of Interest in Rothmans Sought

British American Tobacco PLC
16 November 1999


BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO ACTIVELY EXPLORING ALL OPTIONS FOR SALE OF
INTEREST IN ROTHMANS INC.

LONDON - British American Tobacco plc (British American Tobacco)
announced today that it has retained Bunting Warburg Dillon Read Inc.
to assist in the sale of the Canadian business of the Rothmans
International group represented by its 71.2% interest in Rothmans Inc.
British American Tobacco has previously announced that it has entered
into an agreement with the Canadian Competition Bureau to dispose of
this interest and is actively exploring all options including a trade
sale and a public offering.

Rothmans Inc. is a Canadian public company with common shares traded on
the Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver Stock Exchanges under the stock
symbol ROC.  The Company manufactures and distributes a full range of
quality tobacco products in Canada through its 60% owned subsidiary,
Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc.

British American Tobacco is the world's second largest international
tobacco group.   Major international brands include State Express 555,
Lucky Strike, Kent, Benson & Hedges, Players and Pall Mall, Rothmans,
Dunhill, and Peter Stuyvesant.  In June 1999, British American Tobacco
completed its merger with Rothmans International.



For further information contact:

British American Tobacco plc       Bunting Warburg Dillon Read Inc.
Michael Prideaux                   James E. Kofman
London, England                    Toronto, Ontario
Tel:  [phone]          Tel:  [phone]
Fax:  [phone]          Fax:  [phone]