Holding(s) in Company

Ashtead Group plc

18 November 2009

                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC                               

                            Ordinary Shares of 10p                             

Ashtead Group plc has been advised that on 16 November 2009 Artemis Investment
Management Limited were directly interested in a total of 51,602,178 shares (or
10.25% of its share capital)

Enquiries:

020 7726 9740

Eric Watkins