Director Shareholding

British American Tobacco PLC
22 March 2005

DIRECTORS' SHAREHOLDINGS



The independent Trustee of the British American Tobacco Group Employee Trust
notified the Company on 21 March 2005 that it had on the same day released
796,283 British American Tobacco p.l.c. 25p ordinary shares (the "Shares") to
participants in the British American Tobacco Long Term Incentive Plan.  Of these
Shares, a total of 140,913 Shares were released to the following Directors of
British American Tobacco p.l.c. as follows:


                        Shares                                 Total Beneficial and
                        Released           No of Shares        Family Interests
                        From 2002          sold at 927.6851p   following this                   
Director                LTIP Award         per Share           Notification


P N Adams               54,199             54,199              224,142 (including 150,153 Deferred Shares)

P A Rayner              43,359             43,359              137,250 (including 97,702 Deferred Shares)

A Monteiro de Castro    43,355             43,355              232,526 (including 96,491 Deferred Shares)


Following these transactions, the independent trustee of the British American
Tobacco Group Employee Trust holds a total of 24,976,863 Shares.  The following
executive directors, together with other employees, are potential beneficiaries
and are therefore treated as having an interest: Mr P N Adams, Mr A Monteiro de
Castro and Mr P A Rayner.



ENQUIRIES:


Investor Relations:
Ralph Edmondson               020 7845 1180



Press Office:
David Betteridge / Teresa La Thangue / Emily Brand          020 7845 2888




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