Holding in Company

Ashtead Group PLC
16 August 2001

                  DEALINGS BY SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDERS


1)   NAME OF COMPANY

      ASHTEAD GROUP PLC

2)   NAME OF SHAREHOLDER HAVING A MAJOR INTEREST

      LAZARD ASSET MANAGEMENT

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.

      NOT ADVISED

5)   Number of shares/amount of stock acquired.

      -

6)   ( N/A %) of issued Class

7)   Number of shares/amount of stock disposed

      1,078,819

8)   ( 0.3 %) of issued Class

9)   Class of security

      10P ORDINARY SHARES

10)  Date of transaction

      NOT ADVISED

11)  Date company informed

       16.08.01

12)  Total holding following this notification


      12,686,220         
              
13)  Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

       3.9%

14)  Any additional information

       -

15)  Name of contact and telephone number for queries

      R.E. CLARK
      01372 363 300

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

     Date of Notification ....16.08.2001......