ROTHMANS DENIES SHARE SALE SPECULATION
<Rothmans Holdings (Tobacco) Ltd> said
in a sttement there was "no foundation" to press speculation that
it would sell its stake in Rothmans International Plc <ROT.L>
to Philip Morris Inc <MO.N>, or that it would buy Morris'
stake.
    In the 1986 report, Rothmans International said RHT, which
is controlled by <Rupert Foundation SA>, owned 18.25 mln
ordinary and 64.37 mln B ordinary shares, or 99.9 pct and 26.1
pct respectively.
    Morris owns 79.8 mln B ordinary shares, or 32.4 pct.
Rothmans B shares, which firmed on the speculation to close at
273p from 241p on Friday, eased to 245.5p at 0838 GMT.
 REUTER
