Holding(s) in Company

Ashtead Group plc

5 December 2008

                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC                               

                            Ordinary Shares of 10p                             

Ashtead Group plc announces it has today been advised that on 4 December 2008
AXA S.A and its group of companies were directly interested in a total of
6,178,008 shares (or 1.22% of its share capital) and indirectly interested in a
total of 16,752,920 shares (or 3.31% of its share capital).

Enquiries:

020 7726 9740

Eric Watkins