Holding(s) in Company

Ashtead Group plc

7 April 2009

                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC                               

                            Ordinary Shares of 10p                             

Ashtead Group plc announces it has today been advised that on 6 April 2009
Ameriprise Financial Inc and its group were directly interested in a total of
427,000 shares (or 0.08% of its share capital) and indirectly interested in a
total of 26,965,337 shares (or 5.36% of its share capital).

Enquiries:

020 7726 9740

Eric Watkins