Holding in Company

Ashtead Group PLC
11 January 2002


Ashtead Group plc 
Ordinary Shares of 10p 

The Company has been advised that Mr J M Harvey has increased his personal 
holding to 15,950,000 of the Company's ordinary shares of 10p each representing 
4.9% of the Company's issued share capital of 325,131,194 share.

The holdings are through the following nominees:
                                                   Shares 

Citybank Nominees for Barclays New York           11,350,000
HSBC Global Custody Nominees UK Limited -
     Account 813259                                2,500,000
Rock Nominees - Account 0819302
     (H.H. Pension Fund)                           2,100,000 
 
                                                  15,950,000

The above represents an increase in Mr Harvey's holdings of 5,550,000 shares, ie
1.7% of the Company's issued share capital since the report of 23 October 2001.