Acquisition

British American Tobacco PLC
23 December 2003



                  British American Tobacco acquires ETI S.p.A



British American Tobacco is pleased to announce that it has acquired Ente
Tabacchi Italiani S.p.A (ETI).



On 16 July 2003 British American Tobacco won the auction to acquire ETI, the
State tobacco company, for €2.32 billion (£1.6 billion).  Italian competition
authorities granted approval for the acquisition on 18 December.





Contacts

British American Tobacco Press Office            Investor Relations
David Betteridge/Ann Tradigo/Teresa La Thangue   Ralph Edmondson/Rachael Cummins
[phone] (24 hours)                  [phone] or 1519




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