Holding in Company

Ashtead Group PLC
9 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.

     1,012,453

6)   (0.31%) of issued Class

7)   Number of shares/amount of stock disposed

     -

8)   ( - %) of issued Class

9)   Class of security

     10P ORDINARY SHARES

10)  Date of transaction

     NOT ADVISED

11)  Date company informed

     09.08.01

12)  Total holding following this notification

     16,631,394
               
13)  Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

     5.11%

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 ......09.08.2001..................



BARCLAYS BANK PLC - REGISTERED HOLDERS ANALYSIS

ASHTEAD GROUP               Sedol Number 53673

As at 06/08/2001 Barclays PLC, through its subsidiary Barclays Bank PLC, had a 
notifiable interest in 16,631,394 ORD GBP0.10 units representing 5.11% of the 
issued share capital of 325131194 units.

REGISTERED HOLDER                                                      HOLDING

Chase Nominees Limited                                16331            249,510
Chase Nominees Limited                                16341            754,685
Chase Nominees Limited                                16344            179,112
Chase Nominees Limited                                16345            307,602
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          6,058,174
Chase Manhattan Bank London                                          4,086,649
Chase Nominees Ltd A/C LEND A/C No 18642                               163,114
Chase Nominees Ltd A/C LEND A/C No 16201                               135,345
Chase Nominees Ltd A/C BGIOMNI 19688 A/C No 19688                      441,043
***Unknown***                                                          503,201
***Unknown***                                                           19,364
***Unknown***                                                            9,147
***Unknown***                                                           16,994
***Unknown***                                                            5,562
                                                                    ----------
                                                      Total         16,631,394
                                                                    ==========