Holding(s) in Company

Ashtead Group plc

9 July 2008

                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC                               

                            Ordinary Shares of 10p                             

Ashtead Group plc announces it has been advised that on 8 July 2008 Legal &
General Assurance Group plc and Legal & General Investment Management Limited
were directly interested in a total of 25,787,966 shares (or 5.00% of its share
capital).

Enquiries:

Ashtead Group plc 020 7726 9740

Eric Watkins


  ND