Director Shareholding

British American Tobacco PLC
22 March 2004

DIRECTORS' INTERESTS



The independent trustee of the British American Tobacco Group Employee Trust
notified the Company on 22 March 2004 that between 17 and 19 March 2004 it had
purchased 6,424,000 British American Tobacco p.l.c. 25p ordinary shares (the
"Shares") at a price of 822.7081p per Share to satisfy the future exercise of
options under the Company's share option scheme and the future release of awards
under the Company's long term incentive plan and deferred share bonus scheme.



Following this transaction, the independent trustee of the British American
Tobacco Group Employee Trust holds a total of 33,855,626 Shares.  The following
executive directors, together with other employees, are potential beneficiaries
and are therefore treated as having an interest:  Mr M F Broughton, Mr P N
Adams, Mr A Monteiro de Castro and Mr P A Rayner.










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