Holding(s) in Company

Ashtead Group plc

15 March 2010

                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC                               

                            Ordinary Shares of 10p                             

Ashtead Group plc has been advised today that on 9 March 2010 Artemis
Investment Management Limited were directly interested in a total of 48,771,626
shares (or 9.69% of its share capital).

Enquiries:

020 7726 9740

Eric Watkins