Holding(s) in Company

Ashtead Group plc

27 March 2009

                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC                               

                            Ordinary Shares of 10p                             

Ashtead Group plc announces it has been advised that on 25 March 2009 Legal &
General Group plc were directly interested in a total of 24,068,042 shares (or
4.78% of its share capital) and indirectly interested in a total of 1,881,805
shares (or 0.37% of its share capital).

Enquiries:

Ashtead Group plc 020 7726 9740

Eric Watkins