Holding(s) in Company

Ashtead Group plc

1 December 2009

                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC                               

                            Ordinary Shares of 10p                             

Ashtead Group plc has been advised that on 1st December 2009 BlackRock, Inc.
were interested in a total of 35,132,994 shares (or 6.98% of its share capital)

Enquiries:

020 7726 9740

Eric Watkins