Holding(s) in Company

Ashtead Group plc

27 November 2008

                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC                               

                            Ordinary Shares of 10p                             

Ashtead Group plc announces it has been advised that on 25 November 2008 Aviva
plc were directly interested in a total of 25,201,461 shares (or 4.95% of its
share capital) and indirectly interested in 8,756,359 shares (or 1.72% of its
share capital).

Enquiries:

Ashtead Group plc 020 7726 9740

Eric Watkins