Director Shareholding

British American Tobacco PLC
11 March 2003


DIRECTORS' SHAREHOLDINGS

The independent trustee of the British American Tobacco Group Employee Trust
notified the Company on 11 March 2003 that it had on 10 March 2003 released
1,783,234 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 370,748 shares were released to the following Directors of
British American Tobacco p.l.c as follows:





                     Shares              No of Shares                                 Total Beneficial and
                     Released            sold at 587.88p                              Family Interests
                     from 2000           per Share to cover         No of Shares      following this
Director             LTIP Award          UK tax liability           Acquired           Notification



M F Broughton        236,228             94,729                     141,499            708,340 (including
                                                                                       210,048 Deferred Shares)


P N Adams             99,813             40,026                      59,787            236,087 (including
                                                                                       93,644 Deferred Shares)



P A Rayner            34,707             n/a                         34,707            78,959 (including
                                                                                       43,981 Deferred Shares)


The independent trustee of the British American Tobacco Group Employee Trust
also notified the Company on 11 March 2003 that it had on 10 March 2003 released
232,077 Shares to satisfy the exercise of options under the Company's share
option scheme.  The participants in respect of whom the 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 33,766,297 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 M F Broughton,
Mr A Monteiro de Castro and Mr P A Rayner.



ENQUIRIES:



Investor Relations:
Ralph Edmondson    020 7845 1180



Press Office:
David Betteridge / Sarah Corbey /Anne Tradigo   020 7845 2888






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