Director Shareholding

British American Tobacco PLC
14 May 2004



DIRECTORS' INTERESTS



The independent trustee of the British American Tobacco Group Employee Trust
notified the Company on 13 May 2004 that it had on 12 May 2004 released 18,834
Shares to satisfy the exercise of options under the Company's share option
scheme.



The participants to whom shares were released are not directors of British
American Tobacco p.l.c.



Following these transactions, the independent trustee of the British American
Tobacco Group Employee Trust holds a total of 31,661,801 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 P A Rayner and Mr A Monteiro de Castro.




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