Holding(s) in Company

Ashtead Group plc

2 July 2009

                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC                               

                            Ordinary Shares of 10p                             

Ashtead Group plc announces it has today been advised that on 30 June 2009 AXA
S.A and its group of companies were directly interested in a total of 5,365,687
shares (or 1.07 % of its share capital) and indirectly interested in a total of
20,064,201 shares (or 3.99 % of its share capital).

Enquiries:

020 7726 9740

Eric Watkins