Holding(s) in Company

Ashtead Group plc

15th December 2006

                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC                               

                            Ordinary Shares of 10p                             

Ashtead Group plc announces it has been advised by The Goldman Sachs Group
Inc., ("GS Inc") that as at close of business on 12th December 2006 it was
interested in a total of 28,502,144 (or 5.10%) of its share capital.

The interest in these shares arose from a beneficial interest held by Goldman
Sachs International, a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of GS Inc. These shares
are, or will be, registered at CREST in account CREPTEMP.