formerly British-American Tobacco Company Ltd. (1902–76) and B.A.T Industries PLC (1976–98)
British conglomerate that is one of the world's largest manufacturers of tobacco products.
The company's international headquarters are in London, while its chief American subsidiary, Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation, is headquartered in Louisville, Ky. Its acquisitions have included the American Tobacco Company (1994), which represents such cigarette brands as Pall Mall and Lucky Strike; Rothmans International (1999), known for its Dunhill and Rothmans brands; and Canada's largest cigarette company, Imperial Tobacco (2000).