Director Shareholding

British American Tobacco PLC
20 March 2003

DIRECTORS' INTERESTS

The independent trustee of the B.A.T Industries Employee Share Ownership Plan
notified the Company on 20 March 2003 that it had purchased 2,796 British
American Tobacco p.l.c. 25p ordinary shares (the 'Shares') on 20 March 2003 at a
price of 600.0371p per Share to satisfy the exercise of outstanding options
under the B.A.T Industries Employee Share 'E' Option Scheme.

Following this transaction, the independent trustee of the B.A.T Industries
Employee Share Ownership Plan holds a total of 1,055,838 Shares. The following
executive directors, together with other employees, are potential beneficiaries
and therefore treated as having an interest: Mr P N Adams and Mr A Monteiro de
Castro.


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