Close Period Share Repurchase Programme

Imperial Tobacco Group PLC - Close Period Share Repurchase Programme

Imperial Tobacco announces today that it has instructed Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Limited], to commence a non-discretionary programme to repurchase its own ordinary shares during its close period which commences on 1 April 2013 and ends on 30 April 2013 with the publication of Imperial Tobacco's half year results. The repurchased shares will all be held as treasury shares.

Any share repurchases will be effected within certain pre-set parameters and in accordance with both Imperial Tobacco's general authority to repurchase ordinary shares and Chapter 12 of the Listing Rules, which requires that the maximum price paid be limited to no more than 105 per cent of the average middle market closing price of Imperial Tobacco's ordinary shares for the five dealing days preceding the date of the purchase. Imperial Tobacco confirms that as at 28 March 2013 it has no unpublished price sensitive inside information.

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Copies of our announcements are available on our website: www.imperial-tobacco.com