Holding(s) in Company

Ashtead Group plc

3 April 2009

                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC                               

                            Ordinary Shares of 10p                             

Ashtead Group plc announces it has today been advised that on 2 April 2009
Standard Life Investments Ltd were directly interested in a total of 32,004,387
shares (or 6.36% of its share capital) and indirectly interested in a total of
27,072,571 shares (or 5.38% of its share capital).

Enquiries:

020 7726 9740

Eric Watkins