Shareholder Circular published on National Storage Mechanism

15 December, 2014

Imperial Tobacco Group PLC (the "Company")

Publication of Shareholder Circular (incorporating Notice of General Meeting)

Further to the announcement made on 15 July 2014, the Company has today published a shareholder circular (the "Circular") in relation to the proposed acquisition by the Company of certain U.S. cigarette and e-cigarette brands and assets currently owned by Reynolds American Inc. and Lorillard, Inc. (the "Acquisition").  The Circular has been prepared in accordance with the Listing Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority.

The Acquisition is subject to the approval of the Company's shareholders, and accordingly, the Circular contains a notice convening a General Meeting which is to be held at Bristol Marriott Hotel City Centre, 2 Lower Castle Street, Old Market, Bristol, BS1 3AD at 3:00 p.m. or immediately following the conclusion of the Company's Annual General Meeting, whichever is the later, on 28 January 2015.

The Circular has been approved by the UK Listing Authority and submitted to the National Storage Mechanism (the "NSM") and will be available for inspection on the NSM's website at http://www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/NSM.

Copies of the Circular will be sent to shareholders of the Company as soon as practicable.

The Circular and notice of General Meeting will also be available for viewing on the Company's website at http://www.imperial-tobacco.com.

For further information please contact:

Imperial Tobacco Group PLC

Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Limited

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