Director Shareholding

British American Tobacco PLC
19 March 2003

DIRECTORS' INTERESTS



The independent trustee of the B.A.T Industries Employee Share Ownership Plan
notified the Company on 19 March 2003 that it had on 18 March 2003 disposed of
15,963 British American Tobacco p.l.c. 25p ordinary shares (the 'Shares') to
satisfy the exercise of options under the B.A.T Industries Employee Share 'E'
Option Scheme. The participant in respect of whom the disposal of shares was
made is not a director of British American Tobacco p.l.c.

Following this transaction, the independent trustee of the B.A.T Industries
Employee Share Ownership Plan holds a total of 1,053,042 Shares. The following
executive directors, together with other employees, are potential beneficiaries
and are therefore treated as having an interest: Mr P N Adams and Mr A Monteiro
de Castro.




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