Holding in Company

Ashtead Group PLC
2 August 2001

                  DEALINGS BY SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDERS


1)   NAME OF COMPANY

     ASHTEAD GROUP PLC

2)   NAME OF SHAREHOLDER HAVING A MAJOR INTEREST

     BARCLAYS PLC

3)   Please state whether notification indicates that it is in respect of 
     holding of the Shareholder named in 2 above or in respect of a 
     non-beneficial interest or in the case of an individual holder if it is a
     holding of that person's spouse or children under the age of 18

     FUND MANAGER     

4)   Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the 
     number of shares held by each of them.

     SEE BELOW

5)   Number of shares/amount of stock acquired.

     -     

6)   ( N/A %) of issued Class

7)   Number of shares/amount of stock disposed

     17,415,949

8)   (5.36%) of issued Class

9)   Class of security

     10p ORDINARY SHARES

10)  Date of transaction

     NOT ADVISED

11)  Date company informed

     02.08.01

12)  Total holding following this notification

     15,618,941
              
13)  Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

     4.80%

14)  Any additional information

     -

15)  Name of contact and telephone number for queries

     R E CLARK - 01372-362300

16)  Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for 
     making this notification

     Date of Notification ...02.08.2001


BARCLAYS BANK PLC - REGISTERED HOLDERS ANALYSIS

ASHTEAD GROUP          Sedol Number: 53673

As at 01/08/2001, Barclays PLC, through its subsidiary Barclays Bank PLC, had a
notifiable interest in 15,618,941 ORD GBP0.10 units representing 4.80% of the
issued share capital of 325131194 units.

Registered Holder                                         Holding
Chase Nominees Limited                    16331           249,510
Chase Nominees Limited                    16341           733,832
Chase Nominees Limited                    16344           179,112
Chase Nominees Limited                    16345           297,053
Chase Nominees Limited                    16376            52,334
Chase Nominees Limited                    16400         2,824,898
Chase Nominees Limited                    16530           721,729
Chase Nominees Limited                    18409           102,931
Chase Nominees Limited                    20947         5,831,274
Chase Manhattan Bank London                             3,451,683
Chase Nominees Ltd A/C LEND a/c No.18642                  116,052
Chase Nominees Ltd A/C LEND a/c No.16201                  115,385
Chase Nominees Ltd A/C BGIOMNI 19688 
                            a/c No.19688                  388,880
***Unknown***                                             503,201
***Unknown***                                              19,364
***Unknown***                                               9,147
***Unknown***                                              16,994
***Unknown***                                               5,562
                                                       ----------
                                       TOTAL           15,618,941
                                                       ----------