Holding in Company

Ashtead Group PLC
12 November 2001



                  DEALINGS BY SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDERS


1)   NAME OF COMPANY

     ASHTEAD GROUP PLC

2)   NAME OF SHAREHOLDER HAVING A MAJOR INTEREST

     PETER DONALD LEWIS

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

     BENEFICIAL

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

     (1)  PERRY NOMINEES LIMITED                   859,666
          (LIFE INTEREST TRUST)  

     (2)  P D LEWIS / S J LEWIS/ G B BURNETT    11,140,334

5)   Number of shares/amount of stock acquired.

     -

6)   ( N/A %) of issued Class

7)   Number of shares/amount of stock disposed

     (1)    859,666
     (2)  1,400,000

8)   ( 0.26%) of issued Class
       0.43%

9)   Class of security

     10p ORDINARY SHARES

10)  Date of transaction

     7.11.01 / 9.11.01

11)  Date company informed

     9.11.01 / 12/11/01

12)  Total holding following this notification

     9,740,334
               
13)  Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification
     
     2.996%

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  12.11.2001