Holding(s) in Company

Ashtead Group plc

5 February 2010

                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC                               

                            Ordinary Shares of 10p                             

Ashtead Group plc has been advised today that on 3 February 2010 Artemis
Investment Management Limited were directly interested in a total of 53,367,331
shares (or 10.6% of its share capital).

Enquiries:

020 7726 9740

Eric Watkins