Director Shareholding

British American Tobacco PLC
12 December 2003

DIRECTORS' INTERESTS

The independent trustee of the B.A.T Industries Employee Share Ownership Plan
notified Company on 12 December 2003 that it had between 3 and 10 December 2003
released 13,582 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' Scheme. The participants in respect of whom the disposal of shares
were made are not directors 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 757,749 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