Holding(s) in Company

22 August 2006

                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC                               

                            Ordinary Shares of 10p                             

Ashtead Group plc announces it has been advised by Barclays Compliance that, as
at 17 August 2006, Barclays PLC has a notifiable interest in a total of
17,148,410 (or 4.22%) of its shares.