Holding(s) in Company

Ashtead Group PLC
05 November 2004



                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC


                             Ordinary Shares of 10p



Ashtead Group plc announces it has been advised by The Goldman Sachs Group Inc.,
that as at 3rd November 2004 it was interested in a total of 15,624,086 (or
4.8%) of its shares comprising:


a)      an interest in 6,299,700 shares arising from the interest held by
        Goldman Sachs & Co., a direct subsidiary of GS Inc, acting as custodian. 
        These shares are, or will be, registered in the name of Goldman Sachs 
        Securities (Nominees) Limited ('GSSN').


b)      an interest in 9,324,386 shares arising from a beneficial interest held
        by Goldman Sachs International, a direct subsidiary of GS Inc. These 
        shares are, or will be registered at CREST in account CREPTEMP.








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