Holding in Company

Ashtead Group PLC
5 September 2001



Ashtead Group
Ordinary Shares of 10p

The Company has been advised by Schroder Investment Management Limited (SIML) 
that Schroder interests manage a total of 35,637,071 shares in the Company on a 
discretionary basis for clients under investment management agreements as 
follows:

1.  Managed by SIML
         Registered or to be registered in the name of   11,931,826 
         Schroder Nominees Ltd

2.  Managed by SIML
         Registered or to be registered in names other   18,991,354 
         than Schroder Nominees Ltd                                   
                                                                     30,923,180
2.  Managed in unit trusts by Schroder Unit 
    Trusts Ltd and registered in the name of
         Chase Nominees Ltd                                           4,713,891
                                                  
                                                                     35,637,071

The above interest in 35,637,071 shares in the Company represents an interest of
10.961% in the issued share capital of 325,128,571 shares.

Contact:

R E Clark
Company Secretary
01372 362300