Holding(s) in Company

Ashtead Group plc

17 March 2009

                               Ashtead Group plc                               

                            Ordinary Shares of 10p                             

Ashtead Group plc announces that it has been advised that on 16 March 2009
Aviva plc and its subsidiaries were directly interested in a total of
25,273,170 shares (or 5.02% of its share capital), and indirectly interested in
9,290,314 shares (of 1.85% of its share capital).

Enquiries:

Ashtead Group plc 020 7726 9740

Eric Watkins

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