Director Shareholding

British American Tobacco PLC
23 March 2005



DIRECTORS' SHAREHOLDINGS



The independent Trustee of the British American Tobacco Group Employee Trust
notified the Company on 22 March 2005 that it had on 21 March 2005 transferred
58,890 British American Tobacco p.l.c. ordinary shares of 25p each (the "Shares
") to the following Directors of British American Tobacco p.l.c. in accordance
with the rules of the Deferred Share Bonus Scheme as follows:






                 Shares                          No of Shares                      Total Beneficial and
                 Released         No of Shares   sold at 923p     Net              Family Interests
                 From 2002        Sold at 923p   per Share to     No of Shares     following this
                                                 cover
Director         DSBS Award       per Share      tax liability    Acquired         Notification
                                                 

P N Adams        24,636           n/a            10,108           14,528           214,034 (including 125,517
                                                                                   Deferred Shares)


A Monteiro       19,707           19,707         n/a              n/a              212,819 (including 76,784
de Castro                                                                          Deferred Shares)


P A Rayner       14,547           14,547         n/a              n/a              122,703 (including 83,155
                                                                                   Deferred Shares)



Following these transactions, the independent trustee of the British American
Tobacco Group Employee Trust holds a total of 24,917,973 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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