Holding in Company

Ashtead Group PLC
10 November 2000


                  DEALINGS BY SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDERS


1)   NAME OF COMPANY

ASHTEAD GROUP PLC


2)   NAME OF SHAREHOLDER HAVING A MAJOR INTEREST

FIDELITY INTERNATIONAL LTD AND ITS DIRECT AND INDIRECT SUBSIDIARIES


3)   Please state whether notification indicates that it is in respect of 
     holding of the Shareholder named in 2 above or in respect of a 
     non-beneficial interest or in the case of an individual holder if it is a
     holding of that person's spouse or children under the age of 18

NON-BENEFICIAL


4)   Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the 
     number of shares held by each of them.

SEE LIST BELOW


5)   Number of shares/amount of stock acquired.

-


6)   ( N/A %) of issued Class

-
7)   Number of shares/amount of stock disposed

1,992,914


8)   (0.62%) of issued Class

9)   Class of security

10P ORDINARY SHARES


10)  Date of transaction

NOT ADVISED


11)  Date company informed

12.06 HOURS (US TIME)
09.11.00


12)  Total holding following this notification

12,321,494

              
13)  Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

3.81%


14)  Any additional information



15)  Name of contact and telephone number for queries

R E CLARK
01372 224 773


16)  Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for 
     making this notification


     Date of Notification     10TH NOVEMBER 2000


SCHEDULE A

SECURITY:    ASHTEAD GROUP PLC


                                  MANAGEMENT
                   SHARES HELD     COMPANY       NOMINEE REGISTERED NAME

(Ordinary Shares)    11,003,713      FISL        Clydesdale Bank (Head Office)
                                                 Nominees Limited
                        767,195      FIL         Clydesdale Bank (Head Office)
                                                 Nominees Limited
                        550,586      FIL         HSBC Client Holdings Nominee
                                                 (UK) Limited

Total Ordinary 
Shares               12,321,494


Current ownership 
percentage:                3.81%


Shares in issue:    323,512,385


Change in holdings
since last filing:    (1,992,914) ordinary shares