Capital Research Discloses 192.38M Shares (8.8%) of BTI
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Capital Research Global Investors reports beneficial ownership of 192,380,424 shares of British American Tobacco p.l.c. common stock, representing 8.8% of the 2,195,796,448 shares believed outstanding. The filing shows sole voting power over 192,348,927 shares and sole dispositive power over 192,380,424 shares, with no shared voting or dispositive power. Reported holdings include 21,509,702 Depository Receipts that correspond to common stock. The reporting entity is Capital Research Global Investors, organized in Delaware, listing an office in Los Angeles. The statement certifies the holdings are not for the purpose of changing or influencing control of the issuer.
Positive
- Material disclosed stake: Reported beneficial ownership of 192,380,424 shares (8.8%), exceeding the 5% reporting threshold.
- Clear control of votes: Sole voting power over 192,348,927 shares and sole dispositive power over 192,380,424 shares.
- Transparency on instruments: Includes 21,509,702 Depository Receipts identified as representing common stock.
Negative
- None.
Insights
TL;DR: Capital Research discloses a material 8.8% stake (192.38M shares) in British American Tobacco; a significant passive holding with sole voting/dispositive control noted.
The position reported by Capital Research Global Investors represents a material ownership block that exceeds the 5% reporting threshold and therefore is likely to attract investor attention. The filing specifies near-complete sole voting and dispositive power over the reported shares, which gives the manager clear control of how those shares are voted and disposed of on behalf of clients. The inclusion of 21.5M Depository Receipts is notable because it clarifies the form of a portion of the holding. The filing also contains an explicit certification that the shares are not held to influence control, indicating a routine, portfolio-management purpose rather than an activist intent.
TL;DR: An 8.8% beneficial stake signals material ownership but the filer disclaims any intent to change control, suggesting a passive or index-style holding.
The disclosure is material from a governance perspective because an 8.8% stake in a large, widely held issuer creates potential influence over governance outcomes, even if the filer asserts no intent to seek control. The filing’s breakdown—sole voting power of 192,348,927 and sole dispositive power of 192,380,424—means Capital Research can act decisively on voting matters where it chooses to do so. Investors and the issuer will note the position for shareholder meeting dynamics and any future engagement, but the explicit certification frames this as ordinary-course investment activity rather than an activist campaign.