Holding in Company

Ashtead Group PLC
12 October 2001


Ashtead Group plc 
Ordinary Shares of 10p

The Company has been advised by Schroder Investment Management Limited (SIML) 
that Schroder interests manage a total of 35,849,671 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      12,141,826 
        Schroder Nominees Ltd

2. Managed by SIML
        Registered or to be registered in names other      18,993,954 
        than Schroder Nominees Ltd and Chase Nominees Ltd  ----------
                                                                     31,135,780

2.  Managed in unit trusts by Schroder Unit Trusts Ltd 
    and registered in the name of Chase Nominees Ltd                  4,713,891 
                                                                              
                                                                     ----------
                                                                     35,849,671
                                                                     ==========

The above interest in 35,849,671 shares in the Company represents an interest of
11.026% in the issued share capital of 325,131,194 shares.