Holding(s) in Company

Ashtead Group plc

14th October 2005

                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC                               

                            Ordinary Shares of 10p                             

Ashtead Group plc announces it has been advised by Barclays Corporate
Secretariat, that as at 10th October 2005 Barclays PLC had a material interest
in a total of 14,349,188 (or 3.57%) of its shares.