Holding(s) in Company

`

Ashtead Group plc

23rd January 2006

                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC                               

                            Ordinary Shares of 10p                             

Ashtead Group plc ('Ashtead') announces that it has been advised by Third Point
LLC (which is wholly owned by Daniel S Loeb) that as discretionary managers for
various funds and managed accounts they have ceased to be interested in
10,615,000 ordinary shares of Ashtead Group plc.