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Exhibit 4.3    
  

 
  IMPERIAL TOBACCO GROUP PLC    
  

 
 

RULES OF THE IMPERIAL TOBACCO GROUP SHARE MATCHING SCHEME    
  

(Approved
by the Company on

14 August 1996 and amended by the Remuneration Committee

on 2 December 1996, on 31 January 2000,

on 24 November 2000 and on 23 November 2001) 

   RULES OF THE IMPERIAL TOBACCO GROUP

SHARE MATCHING SCHEME  

1.    Definitions  

        Except where inconsistent with the subject or context, words defined in the Trust Deed made between Imperial Tobacco Group PLC (1) and Abacus (C.I.)
Limited (the "Trustees") (2) dated 1 October 1996 establishing the Imperial Tobacco Group PLC Employee Benefit Trust (the "Trust") shall have the same meanings when used in these rules.
In addition the following words and expressions shall have the following meanings: 

	 	 	"Act"	 	the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988;
	 	 	"Additional Share"	 	a Share allocated pursuant to Rule 4;
	 	 	"Beneficiary"	 	means and includes:
	 	 	 	 	(i)	 	any Employee;
	 	 	 	 	(ii)	 	any former Employee; and
	 	 	 	 	(iii)	 	the wife husband widow widower and children and stepchildren (being in the case of children and stepchildren under 18 years of age) of any such Employee or former Employee;
	 	 	 	 	(iv)	 	the personal representatives of any such Employee or former Employee provided that the terms of the deceased Employee's or former Employee's will or intestacy are such that the person or persons who will receive any
benefit under this Settlement are only those within Section 86(1)(b) of the Inheritance Tax Act 1984 in relation to such deceased Employee or former Employee
	 	 	 	 	PROVIDED THAT (A) no person shall be a former Employee for the purposes of this definition unless he shall be at the date of execution of the Employee Benefit Trust or become after that date an Employee; AND (B) a
Beneficiary shall not include any person who is for the time being resident for tax purposes in the Island of Jersey;
	 	 	"Board"	 	the duly constituted Remuneration Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company;
	 	 	"Company"	 	Imperial Tobacco Group PLC;
	 	 	"Control"	 	as defined in Section 840 of the Act;
	 	 	"CREST"	 	means the relevant system (as defined in the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 1995 (SI 1995/3272)) in respect of which CRESTCo is the operator;
	 	 	"CRESTCo"	 	means CRESTCo Limited;
	 	 	"CREST Account"	 	means a designated CREST account held by a Participant with Salomon Smith Barney Inc (or such other sponsor as agreed by the Trustees in their absolute discretion);
	 	 	"Early Vesting Date"	 	as defined at Rule 5.2;
	 	 	"Earnings"	 	in respect of any Employee, the basic annual salary of that Employee;
	 	 	"Employee"	 	any person for the time being in full or part-time (but not temporary) employment of any Member of the Group;
	 	 	"Expected Vesting Date"	 	as defined at Rule 5.1;
	 	 	"Group"	 	the Company and its Subsidiaries;

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	 	 	"Lodged Share"	 	a Share:
	 	 	 	 	(i)	 	acquired by the Trustees with monies provided by a Beneficiary or transferred to the Trustees and in each case held by the Trustees as bare nominee for such Beneficiary; or
	 	 	 	 	(ii)	 	in respect of which a share certificate(s) covering such Share has been deposited with the Trustees by a Beneficiary which shall be held by the Trustees (or such person or persons as may from time to time be nominated by
the Trustees) on behalf of the Beneficiary; or
	 	 	 	 	(iii)	 	held by the Participant in a CREST Account with Salomon Smith Barney (or such other sponsor as agreed by the Trustees in their absolute discretion);
	 	 	"Member of the Group"	 	the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
	 	 	"Participant"	 	a Beneficiary on whose behalf Lodged Shares are held by the Trustees or by the Beneficiary in a CREST Account, and who has not withdrawn them or who has deposited a share certificate(s) with the Trustees;
	 	 	"Rules"	 	these Rules as from time to time amended in accordance with their provisions;
	 	 	"Scheme"	 	the Imperial Tobacco Group Share Matching Scheme constituted by these Rules;
	 	 	"Share"	 	an ordinary share in the capital of the Company;
	 	 	"Subsidiary"	 	a subsidiary or subsidiary undertaking of the Company within the meaning of the Companies Act 1985;
	 	 	"Vesting Date"	 	the earlier of the Expected Vesting Date and Early Vesting Date;
	 	 	"Vested Share"	 	an Additional Share which has been allocated to a Beneficiary and which becomes vested in the Beneficiary in accordance with the Rules.

2.    Invitations  

	2.1
	The
Board may, from time to time, invite any Beneficiary to participate in the Scheme.

	2.2
	Any
such invitation shall invite such Beneficiaries as the Board may in its discretion determine:

	(a)
	to
pay monies to the Trustees and to authorise and require the Trustees to apply such monies in the acquisition of Lodged Shares; and/or

	(b)
	to
transfer Shares to the Trustees as Lodged Shares; and/or

	(c)
	to
deliver a share certificate(s) in respect of the Lodged Shares to the Trustees (or such other person or persons as may be nominated by the Trustees provided the share
certificate(s) are held to the Trustees' order); and/or

	(d)
	to
open a CREST Account and either (i) apply monies towards the purchase of Shares; or (ii) transfer Shares by way of a completed CREST dematerialisation form to the
CREST Account such shares being Lodged Shares, 

and
shall advise such Beneficiaries of the proposed allocation of Additional Shares. 

2

 
	2.3
	The
Trustees shall allocate Additional Shares to Participants in respect of their Lodged Shares on such basis as the Board may in its discretion determine based on length of service
with the Group, the Earnings of a Participant, the financial performance of the Group or otherwise howsoever PROVIDED THAT the maximum aggregate number of Additional Shares which may be allocated to a
Participant in respect of an invitation shall not exceed the total number of Lodged Shares held by the Trustees on behalf of such Participant or held by the Participant in a CREST Account in respect
of such invitation.

	2.4
	No
invitation shall be made other than at a time at which dealings in Shares may occur under the London Stock Exchange Model Code for securities dealings by directors and other
relevant employees. 

3.    Lodged Shares  

	3.1
	Lodged
Shares shall be registered either:

	(a)
	in
the name of the Trustees (or such other person or persons as may be nominated by the Board for the purpose) who shall hold such Shares as bare nominee for the relevant Participant;
and/or

	(b)
	in
the Participant's name and the share certificate(s) covering such Shares shall be held by the Trustees (or such other person or persons as may be nominated by the Trustees provided
the share certificate(s) is held to the Trustees' order); or

	(c)
	in
the Participant's name and held in a designated CREST Account held with Salomon Smith Barney (or such other sponsor as agreed with the Trustees in their absolute discretion). 

	3.2
	The
Trustees shall not exercise any rights attaching to Lodged Shares otherwise than in accordance with any written wishes received from the relevant Participant. It shall be the
responsibility of each Participant to ensure that any voting wishes are conveyed to the Trustees in sufficient time and with sufficient clarity to allow the Trustees to carry out the same, and the
Trustees shall not be liable to any person for the consequences of any failure to exercise voting rights.

	3.3
	The
Trustees shall pay to the relevant Participant the amount of any dividends paid by the Company on the Lodged Shares (other than those in respect of which a share certificate(s)
has or have been deposited with the Trustees), and unless otherwise instructed by the relevant Participant shall credit the CREST Account of the Participant (if the Participant holds his/her Lodged
Shares in a CREST Account) with the amount of any such dividends. 

4.    Effect of Allocation  

	4.1
	Any
Additional Share which has been allocated to a Participant shall be held upon trust absolutely for that Participant (such that the Trustees may exercise any rights attaching to
the Additional Shares and the relevant Participant shall have no entitlement to any dividends paid by the Company on the Additional Shares) if and so long as that Participant shall, throughout the
period commencing on the date of allocation of such Additional Share and ending on the Vesting Date:

	(a)
	be
and have been employed continuously under a contract of employment with any Member of the Group and is not then under notice of termination of such contract given or received; and

	(b)
	not
have caused any of the Lodged Shares in respect of which the Additional Shares were allocated to have been transferred or delivered in accordance with Rule 7. 

	4.2
	No
Lodged Share may be assigned, charged or (subject to Rule 7) otherwise disposed of by a Participant. 

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   5.    Vesting of Shares  

	5.1
	"Expected
Vesting Date" in relation to any Additional Shares means such anniversary of the date of allocation of the Additional Shares as the Board shall, prior to such allocation
determine;

	5.2
	"Early
Vesting Date" in relation to any Additional Share means the date on which any of the following events shall first occur prior to the Expected Vesting Date of such Additional
Share:

	(a)
	any
person acquiring Control of the Company (including for the avoidance of doubt pursuant to an amalgamation or reconstruction, however effected, or a compromise or a scheme of
arrangement sanctioned by the Court under Section 425 of the Companies Act 1985);

	(b)
	notice
being duly given of a resolution for the voluntary winding-up of the Company;

	(c)
	death
during service of the Participant; or,

	(d)
	cessation
of the Participant's employment by reason of:

	(i)
	ill
health, injury, disability or redundancy;

	(ii)
	the
company employing the Participant ceasing to be a Member of the Group;

	(iii)
	the
business or part of the business to which the Participant's office or employment relates being transferred to a person who is not a Member of the Group;

	(iv)
	any
other circumstances. 

	(e)
	notice
being given that the Shares will cease to be listed on the London Stock Exchange. 

	5.3
	Any
Lodged Shares held upon bare trust for a Participant shall be transferred (in such manner (whether in uncertificated form or otherwise) as the Trustees may determine) to the
relevant Participant on the Vesting Date and in relation to any Lodged Shares in respect of which a share certificate(s) has or have been deposited with the Trustees, the Trustees shall return or
procure the return of all such share certificates as soon as practicable following the Vesting Date.

	5.4
	
	(a)
	If
the Early Vesting Date has arisen under Rule 5.2(d)(iv), any award of Additional Shares to that
Participant shall lapse unless, within six months of that date, the Trustee shall determine otherwise in which case there shall be transferred to the relevant Participant such number of Additional
Shares as may be determined by the Trustees in their discretion but not exceeding the number of Additional Shares which would have been transferred to the Participant had the Early Vesting Date arisen
otherwise than under Rule 5.2(d)(iv).

	(b)
	If
the Early Vesting Date has arisen otherwise than under Rule 5.2(d)(iv), there shall also be transferred to the relevant Participant (or to the Participant's estate) such
number of Additional Shares as may be determined by the Trustee in accordance with the basis of allocation originally laid down under Rule 2.3. 

	5.5
	The
Additional Shares transferred to a Participant pursuant to Rule 5.4 above shall rank pari passu with all Shares then in
issue except that they will not rank for any dividend or other distribution paid or made by reference to a record date falling prior to the date that they are transferred.

	5.6
	For
the purposes of this Rule 5, where a Participant's employment with any Member of the Group is terminated without notice the Participant's employment shall be deemed to
cease on the date on which the termination takes effect and where the said employment is terminated with notice the Participant's employment shall be deemed to cease on the date on which that notice
is given unless the Board in its sole discretion shall agree to extend the date on which the employment is deemed to cease to the date when the notice expires. 

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	5.7
	Notwithstanding
the provisions of this Rule 5, no Share may be issued under the Scheme on any date if, as a result, any of the following limits would be exceeded:

	(a)
	the
total number of Shares issued or committed to be issued during the period of ten years ending on that date under the Scheme and all other employees' share schemes established by
the Company would exceed 10% of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company on that date;

	(b)
	the
total number of Shares issued or committed to be issued during the period of five years ending on that date under the Scheme and all other employees' share schemes established by
the Company would exceed 5% of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company on that date;

	(c)
	the
total number of Shares issued or committed to be issued during the period of ten years ending on that date under the Scheme and all other employees' share schemes established by
the Company would exceed 5% of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company on that date, PROVIDED THAT there shall be excluded for the purposes of this limit Shares issued or committed to be
issued under any employees' share scheme in circumstances where participation is offered or extended to all or most employees of the particpating companies under that scheme. 

6.    Capitalisation  

	6.1
	If
and whenever new Shares are allotted to the Trustees by way of capitalisation or other distribution of a capital nature, such new Shares shall accrue and be added to and be held
upon identical trusts to the Shares in respect of which such new Shares shall have been allotted. The number and nominal value of Additional Shares and the basis of further allocations of Additional
Shares, may be adjusted in such a manner as the Company's Auditors, acting as experts and not as arbitrators, may confirm in writing to be fair and reasonable. Participants shall be notified of any
such adjustment.

	6.2
	If
and whenever the Company shall issue by way of rights or otherwise make any offer or invitation to shareholders generally and shall issue to its members nil paid letters of
allotment or other documents ("Nil Paid Rights") representing negotiable Nil Paid Rights or entitlements relating to any ordinary shares or other security or securities (or any mixture of the two) in
or of the Company, the Trustees shall be entitled to receive but shall be obliged to sell such proportion of such Nil Paid Rights as are attributable to Additional Shares as shall enable the Trustees
to subscribe for the new shares or securities which are the subject of the balance of the Nil Paid Rights and the Trustees shall so apply the proceeds of disposal in that way. The shares or securities
so purchased shall be added pro rata and be held upon identical trusts to the Additional Shares held by the Trustees in respect of which such Nil Paid Rights shall have been received by the Trustees.
Any cash balance shall be held likewise. If any such Nil Paid Rights shall be issued by reference to a record date which falls after the time at which the relevant Shares in respect of which such Nil
Paid Rights shall have been issued shall have become held absolutely for a Participant, such Nil Paid Rights shall be held by the Trustees upon trust for such Participant absolutely.

	6.3
	If
under Rule 6.1 or 6.2 above any fraction of a Share arises the allocation therein provided for shall be rounded up or down as the Trustees may in their sole discretion think
fit. 

5

 
	6.4
	In
relation to any Lodged Share registered in the name of the Trustees (or another person) pursuant to Rule 2.2 the Participant may instruct the Trustees to take such action as
the Participant may inform the Trustees in writing. The Trustees shall be under no obligation to take any action unless the Participant shall provide any necessary funds and shall not be responsible
for any failure to act in time or at all, irrespective of the circumstances. 

7.    Transfer of Legal Title  

        The Trustees shall in respect of all (but not some only) of the Lodged Shares: 

	(a)
	transfer
the legal title into the name of the relevant Participant and shall transfer the same into such Participant's name, or, if the Partcicipant directs otherwise, in such manner
(whether in uncertificated form or otherwise) as the Trustees may determine; and/or

	(b)
	deliver
or procure the delivery of all the share certificate(s) to the relevant Participant as soon as reasonably practicable following the receipt of any written instruction to this
effect from such Participant. 

8.    Stamp Duty and Other Expenses  

        Any stamp duty or other expenses incurred in any transfer of Additional Shares and/or Lodged Shares by the Trustees shall be payable: 

	(a)
	in
the case of either a transfer into the name or (at the direction) of the Participant concerned or the acquisition by the Trust of Additional Shares, by the Trustees; and

	(b)
	in
any other case, by the Participant concerned (unless the Board shall determine otherwise). 

9.    Taxation  

	9.1
	The
Company or the Trustees may make such provision for and take such action as may be considered by either of them to be necessary or expedient for the withholding or payment of any
taxes or any other statutory deductions for which either of them is properly accountable and wherever those taxes are imposed provided those taxes arise in respect of any transfer of funds or assets
or any payment pursuant to the Trust and/or these Rules including (but not limited to) the withholding of funds or property (or any portion thereof) from any payment under the Trust and/or under these
Rules until a Participant reimburses the Company or the Trustees for the amounts of any such taxes for which either of them is respectively and properly accountable.

	9.2
	For
the purposes of this Rule 9 the Trustees may rely on any information supplied to them by the Company or by any tax adviser selected by the Company as to the amount of any
such tax liability. 

10.  General  

	10.1
	Any
notice or other document given to any Employee pursuant to the Scheme shall be delivered to him, sent by post to him at his home address according to the records of his employing
company or such other address as may appear to the Board to be appropriate or sent to him by e-mail to his usual e-mail address according to the records of his employing
company or to such other e-mail address that the Employee may have advised may be used. Notices or other documents sent by post shall be deemed to have been received 2 days
following the date of posting.

	10.2
	The
decision of the Board on any question of interpretation of the Rules or any dispute relating to or connected with the Scheme shall be final and conclusive.

	10.3
	The
costs of introducing, operating and administering the Scheme shall be borne by the Company. 

6

 
	10.4
	The
Board shall have power from time to time to make regulations for the administration and operation of the Scheme provided that they are not inconsistent with these Rules.

	10.5
	Nothing
in the Scheme shall form part of any Participant's contract of employment. The rights and obligations of a Participant under the terms and conditions of his employment by any
Member of the Group shall not be affected by his participation in the Scheme. The Participant shall have no right to compensation or damages or any other sum or benefit in respect of his ceasing to
participate in the Scheme or in respect of any loss or reduction of any rights or expectations under the Scheme in any circumstances. An Employee who is not invited to participate in the Scheme shall
have no right to compensation or damages or any other sum or benefit in respect of his non-participation. 

11.  Amendment  

	11.1
	The
Scheme shall be administered under the direction of the Board who may at any time and from time to time by resolution and without other formality amend or augment the Rules or
the Scheme in any respect provided that:

	(a)
	no
amendment shall operate to affect adversely in any way any rights already acquired by a Participant;

	(b)
	no
amendment may be made which would, if carried out, involve the Trustee in a new or additional obligation or liability without the prior agreement of the Trustee; and

	(c)
	no
amendment may be made to the advantage of Participants except with the prior approval of the shareholders of the Company in General Meeting except for minor amendments to benefit
the administration of the Scheme and amendments to obtain or maintain favourable tax, exchange control or regulatory treatment for Participants in the Scheme or for any Member of the Group. 

	11.2
	Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, the Board may at any time and from time to time by resolution and without further formality amend the Scheme in such manner
as the Board may consider necessary or desirable:

	(a)
	in
any way to the extent necessary to render the Scheme capable of approval by the Inland Revenue or any other governmental or other regulatory body pursuant to any present or future
United Kingdom legislation; or

	(b)
	in
order to comply with, take advantage of, or otherwise in connection with any taxation, legal, regulatory or other rule, law, guideline, regulation or other provision of or
prevailing in any jurisdiction in which this Scheme is or is intended to be operated. 

	11.3
	The
limits in Rule 5 may not be increased without the approval of the shareholders of the Company in General Meeting.

	11.4
	No
amendment shall take effect that would cause the Scheme to cease to be an "employees' share scheme" as defined in Section 743 of the Companies Act 1985. 

12.  Termination  

        The Scheme may be terminated at any time by a resolution of the Board, and shall in any event terminate on 15 August 2006, but any termination shall not
affect the outstanding rights of Participants. 

13.  Governing Law  

        This Scheme shall be governed by the laws of England. 

7

  

 
 

SCHEDULE 1
  
    INTERNATIONAL RULES    
  

        The Rules of the Scheme apply in the jurisdictions specified below: 

Belgium

France

Germany

Hong Kong

Singapore

Spain 

        The
Rules of the Scheme apply with and subject to the following amendments and provisions which have been adopted by the Board pursuant to rule 11.2 for the purposes of the
operation of the Scheme in the jurisdictions specified below: 

The
Netherlands (Appendix 1)

Ireland (Appendix 2)

United States of America (Appendix 3)

Canada (Appendix 4)

Australia (Appendix 5)

New Zealand (Appendix 6) 

8

  

 
 

APPENDIX 1    
  

 
  IMPERIAL TOBACCO GROUP INTERNATIONAL
  SHARE MATCHING SCHEME    
  

The
purpose of this Appendix is to specify terms and conditions under which the Scheme is to be modified in its application to any Lodged Shares or allocation of Additional Shares made or to be made
to a person resident for tax purposes in The Netherlands. 

Words
and phrases defined in the Scheme shall bear the same meaning in this Appendix 1 except as otherwise provided. 

	1.
	In
Rule 2.1 the reference to "Beneficiary" shall be deleted and replaced by "Employee".

	2.
	In
rule 2.2 reference to "Beneficiaries" shall be deleted and replaced by references to "Employees". 

9

 
 
 

APPENDIX 2    
  

 
  IMPERIAL TOBACCO GROUP INTERNATIONAL
  SHARE MATCHING SCHEME    
  

The
purpose of this Appendix is to specify terms and conditions under which the Scheme is to be modified in its application to any Lodged Shares or allocation of Additional Shares made or to be made
to a person resident for tax purposes in Ireland. 

Words
and phrases defined in the Scheme shall bear the same meaning in this Appendix 2 except as otherwise provided. 

	1.
	Rule 5.3
shall be redesignated Rule 5.3(a) and a new rule shall be added after Rule 5.3(a) and Rule 5 shall be re-numbered accordingly: 

"5.3(b)
subject to Rule 5.4 the Additional Shares held on trust for a Participant shall be transferred (in such manner (whether in uncertified form or otherwise) as the Trustees may determine)
to the relevant Participant on the Vesting Date." 

10

 

 
 

APPENDIX 3    
  

 
  IMPERIAL TOBACCO GROUP INTERNATIONAL
  SHARE MATCHING SCHEME    
  

The
purpose of this Appendix is to specify terms and conditions under which the Scheme is to be modified in its application to any Lodged Shares or allocation of Additional Shares made or to be made
to a person resident for tax purposes in the United States. 

Words
and phrases defined in the Scheme shall bear the same meaning in this Appendix 3 except as otherwise provided. 

Rule 1

	"ADS"	 	American Depositary Shares, evidenced by American Depositary Receipts, which may be issued by Citibank, N.A., as depositary ("the Depositary") pursuant to the Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of
November 2, 1998, among the Company, the Depositary and all holders and beneficial owners of American Depositary Shares thereunder;
	

"Additional Share"	
 	

a Share, or ADS, if applicable, allocated pursuant to Rule 4;
	

"Lodged Share"	
 	

a Share, or ADS, if applicable, acquired by the Trustees with monies provided by a Beneficiary or transferred to the Trustees by a Beneficiary and in each case held by the Trustees as bare nominees for such Beneficiary;

	Rule 5.2(e)	 	at the end of the sentence add the words "or, that the ADSs cease to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
	

Rule 5.7	
 	

insert the words "(including Shares represented by ADSs)" after the word "Share" wherever it occurs.

11

  

 
 

APPENDIX 4    
  

 
 

IMPERIAL TOBACCO GROUP INTERNATIONAL
  SHARE MATCHING SCHEME    
  

        The purpose of this Appendix is to specify terms and conditions under which the Scheme is to be modified in its application to any Lodged Shares or allocation of
Additional Shares made or to be made to a person resident for tax purposes in Canada. 

        Words
and phrases defined in the Scheme shall bear the same meaning in this Appendix 4 except as otherwise provided. 

	Rule 1	 	 
	

"Vesting Date"	
 	

the earlier of the Expected Vesting Date and Early Vesting Date provided that this date shall not be a date falling more than three years after the date of the allocation of the Additional Shares.
	

Rule 5.6 shall be replaced with the following:	
 	

"For the purposes of the Scheme, a Participant's employment with any Member of the Group shall be considered to have terminated effective on the last day of the Participant's actual and active employment with a Member of the Group whether such day is
selected by agreement with the individual, unilaterally by such a Member of the Group and whether with or without advance notice to the Participant unless the Board in its sole discretion shall agree to extend the date on which the employment is
deemed to cease to the date when the notice expires. Except as may be authorised by the Board, for the avoidance of doubt, no period of notice that is given or that ought to have been given under applicable law in respect of such termination of
employment will be utilised in determining entitlement under the Rules of the Scheme."

12

 
 
 

APPENDIX 5    
  

 
 

IMPERIAL TOBACCO INTERNATIONAL
  SHARE MATCHING SCHEME    
  

        The purpose of this Appendix is to specify terms and conditions under which the Scheme is to be modified in its application to any Lodged Shares or allocation of
Additional Shares made or to be made to a person resident in Australia. 

        Words
and phrases defined in the Scheme shall bear the same meaning in this Appendix 5 except as otherwise provided: 

	1.
	A
Beneficiary must, in order to participate in the Scheme, either

	(a)
	deliver
share certificates in respect of the Lodged Shares owned by the Beneficiary to the Trustees or,

	(b)
	open
a CREST Account and either,

	(i)
	apply
monies towards the purchase of Shares; or

	ii)
	transfer
Shares by way of a CREST dematerialisation to the CREST Account 

and
the definition of "Lodged Shares" and Rule 2.2 of the Scheme shall be read and construed accordingly. 

	2.
	The
following new Rules 2.5 and 2.6 shall be inserted after Rule 2.4:

	'2.5
	The
allocation of Additional Shares to any Participant shall be deemed to be, and shall have effect as, the grant of an option by the Company in favour of the Participant to require
the Company to procure the transfer to the Participant of the Additional Shares to which the Participant is entitled under these Rules on the Vesting Date and:

	(a)
	any
reference in these Rules to the loss, termination or lapsing of any award of Additional Shares shall be deemed to be a reference to such option lapsing; and

	(b)
	any
reference to Additional Shares shall be deemed to be a reference to such option to call for a transfer of the relevant number of Additional Shares. 

	2.6
	The
option referred to in Rule 2.5 shall lapse and be of no further effect unless the Participant shall, throughout the period commencing on the date of the grant of that
option and ending on the Vesting Date:

	(a)
	be
and have been employed continuously under a contract of employment with any Member of the Group and is not then under notice of termination of such contract given or received; and

	(b)
	not
have caused the certificate in respect of any of the Lodged Shares in respect of which the option was granted to have been delivered in the same manner as if Rule 7 applied
to such transfer.' 

	3.
	Rule 4.1
shall be deleted, and the following Rule 4.1 inserted in its place:

	'4.1
	Notwithstanding
any provision of these Rules or of the Trust, no Participant shall have any right or interest, whether legal or equitable, in:

	(a)
	any
Additional Shares allocated to that Partcipant until the Vesting Date;

	(b)
	any
Nil Paid Rights issued by the Company under Rule 6.2 or, until the Vesting Date, in any shares or securities acquired from exercising those Nil Paid Rights; or 

13

 

	(c)
	any
option to acquire any right or interest in any such Share.' 

	4.
	Rule 6.2
shall be deleted and the following Rule 6.2 inserted in its place: 

'If
and whenever the Company shall issue by way of rights or otherwise make any offer or invitation to shareholders generally and shall issue to its members nil paid letters of allotment or other
documents ("Nil Paid Rights") representing negotiable Nil Paid Rights or entitlements relating to any ordinary shares or other security or securities (or any mixture of the two) in or of the Company,
the Trustees shall be entitled to receive but shall be obliged to sell such proportion of such Nil Paid Rights as are attributable to Additional Shares as shall enable the Trustees to subscribe for
the new shares or securities which are the subject of the balance of the Nil Paid Rights and the Trustees shall so apply the proceeds of disposal in that way. The shares or securities so purchased
shall be added pro rata and be held upon the same terms as the Additional Shares held by the Trustees in respect of which such Nil Paid Rights shall
have been received by the Trustees. Any cash balance shall be held likewise. If any such Nil Paid Rights shall be issued by reference to a record date which falls after the time at which the relevant
Shares in respect of which such Nil Paid Rights shall have been issued shall have become held absolutely for a Participant, such Nil Paid Rights shall be held by the Trustees upon trust for such
Participant absolutely. No Participant shall have any right or interest, whether legal or equitable in any Nil Paid Rights or, until the Vesting Date, in any shares or
securities acquired from exercising those Nil Paid Rights.' 

14

 
 
 

APPENDIX 6    
  

 
 

IMPERIAL TOBACCO GROUP INTERNATIONAL
  SHARE MATCHING SCHEME    
  

        The purpose of this Appendix is to specify terms and conditions under which the Scheme is to be modified in its application to any Lodged Shares or allocation of
Additional Shares made or to be made to a person resident for tax purposes in New Zealand. 

        Words
and phrases defined in the Scheme shall bear the same meaning in this Appendix 1 except as otherwise provided. 

	1.
	Rule 4.1
shall be deleted, and the following Rule 4.1 inserted in its place 

'4.1
Prior to the transfer of any Additional Shares to a Participant pursuant to Rule 5.4 below, no Participant shall have any right or interest, whether legal or equitable, in any Additional
Share allocated to that Participant (and for the avoidance of doubt shall have no entitlement to any dividends paid by the Company on the Additional Shares). Any Additional Share shall not be
transferred to a Participant unless the Participant shall, throughout the period commencing on the date of allocation of such Additional Share and ending on the Vesting Date: 

	(a)
	be
and be employed continuously under a contract of employment with nay Member of the Group and is not under notice of termination of such contract given or received; and

	(b)
	not
have caused any of the Lodged Shares in respect of which Additional Shares were allocated to have been transferred or delivered in accordance with Rule 7.' 

15

QuickLinks

Exhibit 4.3

IMPERIAL TOBACCO GROUP PLC

RULES OF THE IMPERIAL TOBACCO GROUP SHARE MATCHING SCHEME

SCHEDULE 1 INTERNATIONAL RULES

APPENDIX 1

IMPERIAL TOBACCO GROUP INTERNATIONAL SHARE MATCHING SCHEME

APPENDIX 2

IMPERIAL TOBACCO GROUP INTERNATIONAL SHARE MATCHING SCHEME

APPENDIX 3

IMPERIAL TOBACCO GROUP INTERNATIONAL SHARE MATCHING SCHEME

APPENDIX 4

IMPERIAL TOBACCO GROUP INTERNATIONAL SHARE MATCHING SCHEME

APPENDIX 5

IMPERIAL TOBACCO INTERNATIONAL SHARE MATCHING SCHEME

APPENDIX 6

IMPERIAL TOBACCO GROUP INTERNATIONAL SHARE MATCHING SCHEMEQuickLinks
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Exhibit 4.4    
  

IMPERIAL TOBACCO GROUP PLC  

 
 

RULES OF THE IMPERIAL TOBACCO GROUP
  
    LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN    
  

Approved
by the Company

on 14 August 1996

(and amended by the Remuneration Committee

on 9 October, 2 December 1996 and 24 November 2000

and 23 November 2001) 

ASHURST
MORRIS CRISP

Broadwalk House

5 Appold Street

London EC2A 2HA

Tel: 0207-638-1111

Fax: 0207-972-7990 

 
 

CONTENTS    
  

	Clause
	 	 
	 	Page

	1.	 	Operation of the Plan	 	2
	2.	 	Terms of a Conditional Award	 	2
	3.	 	Plan Limit	 	2
	4.	 	Grant of Conditional Awards	 	2
	5.	 	Obligations of Employee	 	3
	6.	 	Leaving Service or Reconstruction or Takeover during the Performance Period	 	3
	7.	 	Determination of Options	 	4
	8.	 	Options	 	4
	9.	 	Exercise and Lapse of Options	 	5
	10.	 	Reconstruction or Takeover before the Release Date—Lapse of Options	 	5
	11.	 	Capital Reorganisation	 	6
	12.	 	General	 	6
	13.	 	Amendment and termination	 	6
	14.	 	Governing Law	 	7

  

 
 

DEFINITIONS    
  

        "Certificate of Participation" means a certificate of participation issued pursuant to Rule 4(2). 

        "Committee"
means the Remuneration Committee of the Board of Directors of Imperial Tobacco Group PLC. 

        "Company"
means Imperial Tobacco Group PLC. 

        "Conditional
Award" means a conditional award to an Employee of Shares, in accordance with the Rules. 

        "Control"
has the same meaning as in Section 840 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988. 

        "Employee"
means any employee (including one who is also a director) of any Group Company who is required to devote substantially the whole of his working time to his employment or
office. 

        "Exercise
Price" means the nominal price payable on the exercise of an Option to be determined by the Trustee. 

        "Group
Company" means the Company and any company that is under the Control of the Company and is designated by the Committee as a participating company for the purposes of the Plan. 

        "London
Stock Exchange" means the London Stock Exchange Limited. 

        "Normal
Retirement Age" means age 65. 

        "Option"
means the right to acquire at the Exercise Price that number of Shares determined under Rule 7 (and which right shall be capable of being exercised at any time prior to
the seventh anniversary of its grant). 

        "Option
Certificate" means a certificate issued pursuant to Rule 8(2). 

        "Participant"
means an Employee who has a Conditional Award or an Option (and includes his personal representatives where appropriate). 

        "Performance
Condition" means the condition or conditions determined by the Committee and notified to a Participant. 

        "Performance
Period" means the period specified in a Certificate of Participation in respect of which a Performance Condition may be satisfied. 

        "Plan"
means the Imperial Tobacco Group Long Term Incentive Plan constituted by this document as may be amended from time to time in accordance with the Rules. 

        "Reconstruction
or Takeover" means any takeover, merger, amalgamation or reconstruction, however effected, including a reverse takeover, partial offer, reorganisation or scheme of
arrangement sanctioned by the court as a result of which there is a change in Control of the Company or any compromise or arrangement sanctioned by the Court under Section 425 of the Companies
Act 1985. 

        "Release
Date" means the seventh (7th) anniversary of the date on which an Option is granted, being the latest date on or by which such Option may be exercised by a Participant. 

        "Rules"
means these rules as amended from time to time. 

        "Shares"
means fully paid ordinary shares in the capital of the Company. 

        "Tax"
means any tax, duty, impost, levy charge or royalty in the nature of tax, whether domestic or foreign, and whether or not chargeable directly against the person concerned or any
other person, and any fine, penalty or interest connected therewith. 

1

 

        "Trustee"
means the trustees of any trust established by the Company or any other Group Company for the benefit of Employees. 

        Where
the context so admits the singular shall include the plural and vice versa and the masculine gender shall include the feminine. Any reference to a statutory provision is to be
construed as a reference to that provision as for the time being amended or re-enacted. 

1.    Operation of the Plan  

        The Plan shall be operated by the Committee at any time and at its discretion. 

2.    Terms of a Conditional Award  

        On or before granting a Conditional Award the Committee shall determine the following in relation to such Conditional Award: 

	(1)
	the
maximum number of Shares the subject of such Conditional Award;

	(2)
	the
Performance Period;

	(3)
	the
Performance Conditions to be satisfied in respect of the Performance Period; and

	(4)
	subject
to Rules 6 and 7, the date that the Shares, the subject of such Conditional Award shall be capable of vesting. 

3.    Plan Limit  

	(1)
	The
Committee shall consider whether the Company, subject to any applicable statutory or regulatory restrictions, should issue Shares to the Trustee or whether the Trustee should be
requested to purchase Shares in respect of Conditional Awards.

	(2)
	No
Share may be issued under the Plan on any date if, as a result, any of the following limits were to be exceeded:

	(i)
	the
total number of Shares issued or committed to be issued during the period of ten years ending on that date under the Plan and all other employees'
share schemes established by the Company would exceed 10% of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company on that date;

	(ii)
	the
total number of Shares issued or committed to be issued during the period of five years ending on that date under the Plan and all other employees'
share schemes established by the Company would exceed 5% of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company on that date; or

	(iii)
	the
total number of Shares issued or committed to be issued during the period of ten years ending on that date under the Plan and all other
discretionary share schemes established by the Company would exceed 5% of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company on that date and when determining whether a share scheme established by the
Company is a discretionary one for the purpose of this Rule 3(2)(iii) any savings related share option scheme or any other share scheme participation in which is offered to all Employees
shall be disregarded. 

4.    Grant of Conditional Awards  

	(1)
	The
Committee may grant a Conditional Award at any time to any Employee (provided that he will not reach Normal Retirement Age before the end of the Performance Period relating to
such Conditional Award). 

2

 
	(2)
	A
Participant who is granted a Conditional Award shall receive a Certificate of Participation (to take effect as a deed executed by the Company) as soon as reasonably practicable
following the date of grant. The Certificate of Participation shall set out the terms of the Participant's Conditional Award as specified Rule 2.

	(3)
	If
at any time after the grant of a Conditional Award the Committee considers that circumstances have arisen which would prevent the terms of the Conditional Award (as regards the
operation of the Plan generally or in respect of any Participant) from operating fairly in accordance with the spirit of the Plan, the Committee may vary any of those terms and specify any other terms
applicable to the operation of the Plan PROVIDED THAT any amendments made to the Performance Condition shall, in the opinion of the Committee, ensure that the revised Performance Condition is neither
easier nor more difficult to achieve than the original Performance Condition when first set. The Committee shall notify Participants of the details of any such variation which affects a Participant. 

5.    Obligations of Employee  

	(1)
	An
Employee who receives a Conditional Award may renounce the Conditional Award within thirty days of the date on which it is made, in which event such Conditional Award shall be
deemed for all purposes never to have been made.

	(2)
	A
Participant to whom a Conditional Award is granted (and who does not renounce such Conditional Award) shall:

	(a)
	be
bound by the terms of the Plan;

	(b)
	not
assign, transfer or charge such Conditional Award or any interest in it; and

	(c)
	indemnify
the Company, all Group Companies and the Trustee against any liability any of them may have to make a payment of Tax in connection with his participation in the Plan. 

6.    Leaving Service or Reconstruction or Takeover during the Performance Period  

	(1)
	Subject
to Rules 6(2) and 6(3), if a Participant ceases to be an Employee before the expiry of the Performance Period, his Conditional Award shall immediately lapse.

	(2)
	(i)
If a Participant ceases to be an Employee before the expiry of the Performance Period by reason of

	•
	death

	•
	injury,
ill-health, or disability

	•
	redundancy

	•
	retirement
on or after contractual retirement age

	•
	early
retirement with the agreement of his Employing Company

	•
	the
Group Company or business in which the Participant is employed ceasing to be under the Control of the Company, or to be owned by a Group Company

	•
	any
other circumstances where the Committee so decides 

the
Performance Period shall be deemed to have ended as at the date on which the Participant ceases to be an Employee (which period shall be referred to as "the Relevant Period") and the number of
Shares to be the subject of an Option in respect of the relevant Conditional Award shall be equal to A where A = x/yPA (the "formula") where: 

3

 

        A
is the number of Shares to be the subject of such Option; 

        PA
is the number of Shares determined by the application of the Performance Condition to the Relevant Period; 

        x
is the number of days comprised in the Relevant Period; and, 

        y
is the total number of days which would have been comprised in the Performance Period had the Participant not ceased to be an Employee. 

	(ii)
	In
the case of death an Option shall be granted to the personal representatives of the Participant in respect of the number of Shares determined by the
formula set out in this Rule 6(2) but may only be exercised by the same on the production of an Office Copy Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration. 

	(3)
	If
a Participant ceases to be an Employee before the expiry of the Performance Period by reason of

	•
	early
retirement with the agreement of his Employing Company; or

	•
	redundancy 

        the
Committee may determine that the formula shall not be applied either in whole or in part. 

	(4)
	If
there is a Reconstruction or Takeover before the expiry of the Performance Period, the Performance Period shall be deemed to have ended on the date on which the change of Control
takes effect.

	(5)
	If
in consequence of an offer to shareholders in the Company (or any of them) or any scheme of reconstruction (however effected) before expiry of the Performance Period the Shares are
to cease to be listed on the London Stock Exchange, the Committee shall notify Participants and the Performance Period shall be deemed to have ended on the date of such notification. 

7.    Determination of Options  

	(1)
	As
soon as reasonably practicable after, but in any event within 35 days of, the date determined by the Committee for the purposes of Rule 2(4) (or, but only in the
circumstances set out in Rule 6(2), 6(3), 6(4) or 6(5), as soon as reasonably practicable after, but in any event within 35 days of, the deemed end of the Performance Period) an Option
shall be granted to a Participant by either the Company or the Trustee over such number of Shares the subject of the relevant Conditional Award as is determined by the application of the Performance
Condition and, but only where required in accordance with the terms of Rule 6(2) or 6(3), the formula.

	(2)
	The
Participant shall have no further rights in respect of any Shares subject to a Conditional Award which are not made the subject of the corresponding Option. 

8.    Options  

	(1)
	If
Options are to be granted by the Trustee the Company shall advise the Trustee of the number of Shares to be comprised in the Options to be granted and the Release Date applicable
to such Options and the Trustee shall be requested to grant Options on the basis advised to it.

	(2)
	If
Options are to be granted by the Company, rule 8(1) shall not apply and the Company will decide upon the number of Shares to be comprised in the Options it is to grant and
the Release Date applicable to such Options and shall grant such Options on this basis. 

4

 
	(3)
	An
Option Certificate executed under seal or otherwise to take effect as a deed specifying the number of Shares the subject of the Option, the Exercise Price and the Release Date
shall be issued to the Participant.

	(4)
	The
Company, any relevant Group Company and/or the Trustee may in their absolute discretion make such arrangements as it or they consider necessary or desirable to meet any liability
to Tax or other imposts in respect of Options granted under the Plan. 

9.    Exercise and Lapse of Options  

	(1)
	Save
as otherwise provided in these Rules, an Option may be exercised in whole or in part at any time after an Option is granted pursuant to Rule 8 and until the Release Date.

	(2)
	An
Option shall be exercised by the Participant lodging with the Trustee at its registered office (or such other address as may be notified to Participants from time to time) a notice
in such form as the Trustee may from time to time prescribe and payment (in such manner as the Trustee shall direct) of the Exercise Price; the date of exercise shall be the date of such notice.

	(3)
	Following
any exercise of an Option in part (other than an exercise which exhausts the Option), the Participant shall be sent a new Option Certificate in respect of the balance of
Shares the subject of such Option.

	(4)
	Shares
shall be transferred to a Participant as soon as reasonably practicable after the Option is exercised.

	(5)
	Shares
transferred pursuant to the Plan will rank pari passu in all respects with Shares then already in issue except that they will
not rank for any dividend or other distribution of the Company paid or made by reference to a record date falling prior to the date of exercise of the relevant Option. 

10.  Reconstruction or Takeover before the Release Date—Lapse of Options  

	(1)
	If
there is a Reconstruction or Takeover Participants shall be notified and outstanding Options must be exercised in whole or in part not later than the earliest of:

	(a)
	the
expiry of the period of six months commencing on the date there is a change of Control of the Company;

	(b)
	the
expiry of the period of three months commencing on the date on which the Court sanctions a compromise or arrangement under Section 425 of the Companies Act 1985;

	(c)
	the
expiry of the period during which any person becomes bound or entitled to acquire Shares under Sections 428 to 430F of the Companies Act 1985. 

	(2)
	If
the Shares are to cease being listed on the London Stock Exchange Participants shall be notified and outstanding Options must be exercised in whole or in part prior to or within
six months from the date of such cessation.

	(3)
	An
Option shall lapse and be of no further effect if, or to the extent that, it shall not have been exercised by the expiry of any time limit for exercise set out in this
Rule 10, whichever shall expire first and in such circumstances the Participant otherwise entitled thereto shall have no further claim or right resulting from its lapse. 

5

 

11.  Capital Reorganisation  

	(1)
	If
there is any capital reorganisation of the Company including a capitalisation issue, rights issue or rights offer, consolidation or sub-division or any other variation
of share capital, or any special dividend, reconstruction or demerger, a Conditional Award or an Option shall be adjusted in such manner as the Company's auditors, acting as experts and not as
arbitrators, may confirm in writing to be fair and reasonable.

	(2)
	Participants
shall be notified of any such adjustment. 

12.  General  

	(1)
	Any
notice or other document given to any Employee or Participant pursuant to the Plan shall be delivered to him or sent by post to him at his home address according to the records of
his employing company or such other address as may appear to the Committee to be appropriate. Notices or other documents sent by post shall be deemed to have been received 2 days following the
date of posting.

	(2)
	The
decision of the Committee on any question of interpretation of the Rules or any dispute relating to or connected with the Plan shall be final and conclusive.

	(3)
	The
costs of introducing, operating and administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company.

	(4)
	The
Committee shall have power from time to time to make regulations for the administration and operation of the Plan provided that they are not inconsistent with these Rules.

	(5)
	No
Conditional Award shall be made or Option granted or exercised on a day on which any dealing in Shares would be prohibited by the London Stock Exchange Model Code for Transactions
in Securities by Directors (a "Prohibited Day") and any Conditional Award or grant or exercise of an Option shall be deferred until the first day following the Prohibited Day on which the prohibition
on Dealings shall be lifted. This Rule 12(5) shall apply to any Conditional Awards made and Options granted or exercised whether or not the Employee concerned is subject generally to the said
Model Code.

	(6)
	Nothing
in the Plan shall form part of a Participant's contract of employment. The rights and obligations of a Participant under the terms and conditions of his employment by any
Group Company shall not be affected by his participation in the Plan. The Participant shall have no right to compensation or damages or any other sum or benefit in respect of his ceasing to
participate in the Plan or in respect of any loss or reduction of any rights or expectations under the Plan in any circumstances. An Employee who is not invited to participate in the Plan shall have
no right to compensation or damages or any other sum or benefit in respect of his non participation. 

13.  Amendment and termination  

	(1)
	The
Scheme shall be administered under the direction of the Committee who may at any time and from time to time by resolution and without other formality amend or augment the Rules or
the Scheme in any respect provided that:

	(i)
	no
amendment shall operate to affect adversely in any way any rights already acquired by a Participant under the Plan;

	(ii)
	no
amendment may be made which would, if carried out, involve the Trustee in a new or additional obligation or liability without the prior agreement of the Trustee; and 

6

 

	(iii)
	no
amendment may be made to the advantage of Participants except with the prior approval of the shareholders of the Company in General Meeting except
for minor amendments to benefit the administration of the Plan and amendments to obtain or maintain favourable tax, exchange control or regulatory treatment for Participants in the Plan or for any
Group Company. 

	(2)
	Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, the Committee may at any time and from time to time by resolution and without further formality amend the Plan in such
manner as the Committee may consider necessary or desirable in order to comply with, take advantage of, or otherwise in connection with any taxation, legal, regulatory or other rule, law, guideline,
regulation or other provision of or prevailing in any jurisdiction in which this Plan is or is intended to be operated.

	(3)
	The
limits in Rule 3(2) may not be increased without the approval of the shareholders of the Company in General Meeting.

	(4)
	No
amendment shall take effect that would cause the Plan to cease to be an "employees' share scheme" as defined in Section 743 of the Companies Act 1985.

	(5)
	The
Committee shall have discretion to terminate the Plan at any time which shall in any event terminate on 15 August 2006 but, in each case, without prejudice to outstanding
Conditional Awards or Options. 

14.  Governing Law  

        The Plan is governed by English law and if there is any conflict of laws, English law shall prevail. All Group Companies and Participants shall submit to the
non-exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts as regards any matter arising under the Plan. 

7

 
 

SCHEDULE 1    
  

INTERNATIONAL RULES  

        The
Rules of the Plan apply in the jurisdiction specified below: 

Australia

Germany

Singapore

Spain 

        The
Rules of the Plan apply with and subject to the following amendments and provisions which have been adopted by the Board pursuant to rule 13.2 for the purposes of the
operation of the Plan in the jurisdiction specified below: 

Ireland
(Appendix 1)

The Netherlands (Appendix 2)

Belgium (Appendix 3)

France (Appendix 4) 

 
 

APPENDIX 1    
  

 
  IMPERIAL TOBACCO GROUP INTERNATIONAL
  LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN    
  

The
purpose of this Appendix is to specify terms and conditions under which the Plan is to be modified in its application to any conditional award or option granted or to be granted to a person
resident for tax purposes in Ireland. 

Words
and phrases defined in the Plan shall bear the same meaning in this Appendix I except as otherwise provided. 

	1.
	In
the definition of "Option" the word "seventh" shall be deleted and replaced by "fourth".

	2.
	In
the definition of "Release Date" the words "seventh (7th)" shall be deleted and replaced by "fourth (4th)". 

  

 
 

APPENDIX 2    
  

 
  IMPERIAL TOBACCO GROUP INTERNATIONAL
  LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN    
  

The
purpose of this Appendix is to specify terms and conditions under which the Plan is to be modified in its application to any Conditional Award or Option granted or to be granted to a person
resident for tax purposes in the Netherlands. 

Words
and phrases defined in the Plan shall bear the same meaning in this Appendix 2 except as otherwise provided. 

	1.
	Rule 6(2)(i) shall
be amended and the words:

	1.1
	in
the 14th line "to be the subject of an Option in respect of" shall be deleted and replaced with "the subject of";

	1.2
	in
the 16th line "to be the subject of such Option" shall be deleted and replaced with "the number of Shares the subject of the relevant Conditional Award"; 

	2.
	Rule 6(2)(ii) shall
be amended and the words: 

"In
the case of death an Option shall be granted to the personal representatives of the Participant in respect of the number of Shares determined by the formula set out in this
Rule 6(2)(ii) but may only be exercised by the same on the production of an Office Copy Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration" shall be deleted and replaced with the words "In
the case of death the number of Shares determined by the formula set out in this Rule 6(2) shall be transferred to the personal representatives of the Participant on the production of an Office
Copy Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration." 

	3.
	Rule 7
shall be re-titled "Transfer of Shares".

	4.
	Rules 7(1)
and (2) shall be deleted and replaced with the following:

	"7(1)
	After
the date determined by the Committee for the purposes of Rule 2(4) (or, but only in the circumstances set out in Rule 6(2), 6(3), 6(4) or 6(5), as soon as
reasonably practicable after the deemed end of the Performance Period) such number of Shares the subject of the relevant Conditional Award, as is determined by the application of the Performance
Condition and, but only where required in accordance with the terms of Rule 6(2) or 6(3), the formula, shall vest in the Participant and such Shares shall be transferred as soon as practicable
to the relevant Participant.

	7(2)
	The
Participant shall have no further rights in respect of any Shares subject to a Conditional Award which do not vest in accordance with Rule 7(1)." 

	5.
	Rules 8(1),
(2) and (3) shall be deleted.

	6.
	In
Rule 8 (4) the words "Options granted" shall be deleted and replaced with "the vesting of the Conditional Award and/ or the Shares transferred" and the Rule shall be
re-numbered a new Rule 7(3).

	7.
	Rules 9(1)
to (4) inclusive shall be deleted.

	8.
	Rule 9(5)
shall be re-numbered a new Rule 7(4) and the wording "exercise of the relevant Option" shall be deleted and replaced with the wording "transfer of
the Shares".

	9.
	Rule 10
shall be deleted.

	10.
	Rules 11,
12, 13, and 14 re-numbered accordingly. 

1

 
	11.
	The
renumbered Rule 9(5) shall be amended and the words:

	9.1
	in
the first line "Option granted or exercised" shall be deleted and replaced with "shall vest or Shares be transferred";

	9.2
	in
the fourth line "grant or exercise of an Option" shall be deleted and replaced with "the vesting of a Conditional Award or transfer of Shares";

	9.3
	in
the penultimate line "Options granted or exercised" shall be deleted and replaced with "any vesting of Conditional Awards or any transfer of Shares". 

2

  

 
 

APPENDIX 3    
  

 
  IMPERIAL TOBACCO GROUP INTERNATIONAL
  LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN    
  

The
purpose of this Appendix is to specify terms and conditions under which the Plan is to be modified in its application to any Conditional Award or Option granted or to be granted to a person
resident for tax purposes in Belgium. 

Words
and phrases defined in the Plan shall bear the same meaning in this Appendix 3 except as otherwise provided. 

	1.
	Rule 6(2)(i) shall
be amended and the words:

	1.1
	in
the 14th line "to be the subject of an Option in respect of" shall be deleted and replaced with "the subject of";

	1.2
	in
the 16th line "to be the subject of such Option" shall be deleted and replaced with "the number of Shares the subject of the relevant Conditional Award"; 

	2.
	Rule 6(2)(ii) shall
be amended and the words:

	1.3
	"in
the case of death an Option shall be granted to the personal representatives of the Participant in respect of the number of Shares determined by the formula set out in this
Rule 6(2)(ii) but may only be exercised by the same on the production of an Office Copy Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration" shall be deleted and replaced with the words "In
the case of death the number of Shares determined by the formula set out in this Rule 6(2) shall be transferred to the personal representatives of the Participant on the production of an Office
Copy Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration." 

	3.
	Rule 7
shall be re-titled "Transfer of Shares".

	4.
	Rules 7(1)
and (2) shall be deleted and replaced with the following:

	"7(1)
	After
the date determined by the Committee for the purposes of Rule 2(4) (or, but only in the circumstances set out in Rule 6(2), 6(3), 6(4) or 6(5), as soon as
reasonably practicable after the deemed end of the Performance Period) such number of Shares the subject of the relevant Conditional Award, as is determined by the application of the Performance
Condition and, but only where required in accordance with the terms of Rule 6(2) or 6(3), the formula, shall vest in the Participant and such Shares shall be transferred as soon as practicable
to the relevant Participant.

	7(2)
	The
Participant shall have no further rights in respect of any Shares subject to a Conditional Award which do not vest in accordance with Rule 7(1)." 

	5.
	Rules 8(1),
(2) and (3) shall be deleted.

	6.
	In
Rule 8(4) the words "Options granted" shall be deleted and replaced with "the vesting of the Conditional Award and/ or the Shares transferred" and the Rule shall be
re-numbered a new Rule 7(3).

	7.
	Rules 9(1)
to (4) inclusive shall be deleted.

	8.
	Rule 9(5)
shall be re-numbered a new Rule 7(4) and the wording "exercise of the relevant Option" shall be deleted and replaced with the wording "transfer of
the Shares".

	9.
	Rule 10
shall be deleted.

	10.
	Rules 11,
12, 13, and 14 re-numbered accordingly. 

3

 
	11.
	The
renumbered Rule 9(5) shall be amended and the words:

	9.1
	in
the first line "Option granted or exercised" shall be deleted and replaced with "shall vest or Shares be transferred";

	9.2
	in
the fourth line "grant or exercise of an Option" shall be deleted and replaced with "the vesting of a Conditional Award or transfer of Shares";

	9.3
	in
the penultimate line "Options granted or exercised" shall be deleted and replaced with "any vesting of Conditional Awards or any transfer of Shares". 

4

 

 
 

APPENDIX 4    
  

 
  IMPERIAL TOBACCO GROUP INTERNATIONAL
  LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN    
  

The
purpose of this Appendix is to specify terms and conditions under which the Plan is to be modified in its application to any Conditional Award or Option granted or to be granted to a person
resident for tax purposes in France. 

Words
and phrases defined in the Plan shall bear the same meaning in this Appendix 4 except as otherwise provided. 

	1.
	Rule 5(2)(c)
shall be amended and the words: 

"a
payment of Tax in connection with his participation in the Plan" shall be deleted and replaced by "a payment of Tax by way of withholding in connection with his participation in the Plan". 

	2.
	Rule 6(2)(i) shall
be amended and the words:

	1.1
	in
the 14th line "to be the subject of an Option in respect of" shall be deleted and replaced with "the subject of";

	1.2
	in
the 16th line "to be the subject of such Option" shall be deleted and replaced with "the number of Shares the subject of the relevant Conditional Award"; 

	3.
	Rule 6(2)(ii) shall
be amended and the words:

	1.3
	"in
the case of death an Option shall be granted to the personal representatives of the Participant in respect of the number of Shares determined by the formula set out in this
Rule 6(2)(ii) but may only be exercised by the same on the production of an Office Copy Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration" shall be deleted and replaced with the words "In
the case of death the number of Shares determined by the formula set out in this Rule 6(2) shall be transferred to the personal representatives of the Participant on the production of an Office
Copy Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration." 

	4.
	Rule 7
shall be re-titled "Transfer of Shares".

	5.
	Rules 7(1)
and (2) shall be deleted and replaced with the following:

	"7(1)
	After
the date determined by the Committee for the purposes of Rule 2(4) (or, but only in the circumstances set out in Rule 6(2), 6(3), 6(4) or 6(5), as soon as
reasonably practicable after the deemed end of the Performance Period) such number of Shares the subject of the relevant Conditional Award, as is determined by the application of the Performance
Condition and, but only where required in accordance with the terms of Rule 6(2) or 6(3), the formula, shall vest in the Participant and such Shares shall be transferred as soon as practicable
to the relevant Participant.

	7(2)
	The
Participant shall have no further rights in respect of any Shares subject to a Conditional Award which do not vest in accordance with Rule 7(1)." 

	6.
	Rules 8(1),
(2) and (3) shall be deleted.

	7.
	In
Rule 8(4) the words "Options granted" shall be deleted and replaced with "the vesting of the Conditional Award and/ or the Shares transferred" and the Rule shall be
re-numbered a new Rule 7(3).

	8.
	Rules 9(1)
to (4) inclusive shall be deleted.

	9.
	Rule 9(5)
shall be re-numbered a new Rule 7(4) and the wording "exercise of the relevant Option" shall be deleted and replaced with the wording "transfer of
the Shares". 

5

 
	10.
	Rule 10
shall be deleted.

	11.
	Rules 11,
12, 13, and 14 re-numbered accordingly.

	12.
	The
renumbered Rule 9(5) shall be amended and the words:

	9.1
	in
the first line "Option granted or exercised" shall be deleted and replaced with "shall vest or Shares be transferred";

	9.2
	in
the fourth line "grant or exercise of an Option" shall be deleted and replaced with "the vesting of a Conditional Award or transfer of Shares";

	9.3
	in
the penultimate line "Options granted or exercised" shall be deleted and replaced with "any vesting of Conditional Awards or any transfer of Shares". 

6

QuickLinks

Exhibit 4.4

RULES OF THE IMPERIAL TOBACCO GROUP LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

CONTENTS

DEFINITIONS

SCHEDULE 1

APPENDIX 1

IMPERIAL TOBACCO GROUP INTERNATIONAL LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

APPENDIX 2

IMPERIAL TOBACCO GROUP INTERNATIONAL LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

APPENDIX 3

IMPERIAL TOBACCO GROUP INTERNATIONAL LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

APPENDIX 4

IMPERIAL TOBACCO GROUP INTERNATIONAL LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

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