Imperial Tobacco Group PLC approach to Altadis S.A.

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, SOUTH AFRICA OR JAPAN

Imperial Tobacco Group PLC confirms that it has made an approach to Altadis S.A. in relation to a possible combination of Imperial Tobacco Group and Altadis at a price of €45.0 per Altadis share in cash, recognising that, as previously announced by Altadis, a dividend of €0.5 per Altadis share is payable on 20 March. Discussions are at a very early stage and there can be no certainty that this approach will lead to an offer being made.

Enquiries:

Imperial Tobacco Group PLC

Alex Parsons
Group Media Relations
Telephone: +44 (0) 117 933 7241

John Nelson-Smith
Investor Relations
Telephone: +44 (0) 117 933 7032


Citigroup (lead financial adviser to Imperial Tobacco Group PLC)

Ian Carnegie-Brown
Ian Hart
Mark Todd
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7986 4000

Manuel Falco
Telephone: +34 91 538 4411


Hoare Govett Limited (joint corporate broker to Imperial Tobacco Group PLC)

Hugo Fisher
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7678 8000

Morgan Stanley & Co. International Limited (financial adviser and joint corporate broker to Imperial Tobacco Group PLC)

Paul Baker
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7425 5000


Citigroup, Hoare Govett Limited and Morgan Stanley & Co. International Limited which are authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority, are acting exclusively for Imperial Tobacco Group PLC and no one else in relation to the matters referred to in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Imperial Tobacco Group PLC for providing the protections afforded to clients of Citigroup, Hoare Govett Limited and Morgan Stanley & Co. International Limited nor for providing advice in relation to these matters, the content of this announcement or any matter referred to herein.