Director Shareholding

British American Tobacco PLC
17 March 2005

DIRECTORS' INTERESTS



The independent trustee of the British American Tobacco Group Employee Trust
notified the Company on 17 March 2005 that it had between 14 March 2005 and 16
March 2005 released 29,495 British American Tobacco p.l.c. 25p Ordinary Shares
("the 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 this transaction, the independent trustee of the British American
Tobacco Group Employee Trust holds a total of 25,760,040 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 P A Rayner and
Mr A Monteiro de Castro.




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