For immediate release: Thursday, 9 October 2008
Trading Update
British American Tobacco has been informed that Compagnie Financiere Richemont SA, Richemont SA and Remgro Limited have obtained the necessary approvals to proceed with their restructuring proposals.
British American Tobacco will shortly be meeting investors in South Africa prior to the listing of the Group's shares on the JSE Limited.
Copies of the presentation, which will cover British American Tobacco's long term strategy and historic performance, will be available for all investors on www.bat.com from 13 October. In terms of current trading, the trends outlined in the Interim Report to 30 June 2008, as announced on 31 July 2008, continued for the period to 30 September 2008.
The acquisitions of the cigarette assets of Tekel and the cigarette and snus businesses of Skandinavisk Tobakskompagni were completed on 24 June and 2 July 2008 respectively and the integration of the assets and businesses into the British American Tobacco Group is progressing according to plan.
The Group will publish its Quarterly Report for the nine months to 30 September 2008 on Thursday, 30 October 2008.
ENQUIRIES
British American Tobacco Press Office
David Betteridge / Kate Matrunola / Catherine Armstrong
+44 (0) 20 7845 2888 (24 hours)
British American Tobacco Investor Relations
Ralph Edmondson / Rachael Brierley
+44 (0) 20 7845 1180 / 1519