Holding in Company

Ashtead Group PLC
31 July 2001




                  DEALINGS BY SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDERS


1)   NAME OF COMPANY

     ASHTEAD GROUP PLC

2)   NAME OF SHAREHOLDER HAVING A MAJOR INTEREST

     BARCLAYS PLC

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

     FUND MANAGER

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

     SEE BELOW

5)   Number of shares/amount of stock acquired.

     19,989,601

6)   ( 6.15%) of issued Class
            MOVEMENT SINCE LAST NOTIFICATION ON 19.06.01

7)   Number of shares/amount of stock disposed



8)   ( N/A %) of issued Class

9)   Class of security

     10p ORDINARY SHARES

10)  Date of transaction

     NOT ADVISED

11)  Date company informed

     31.7.01

12)  Total holding following this notification

     33,034,890
              
13)  Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

     10.16%

14)  Any additional information

     325,131 194 ORDINARY SHARES IN ISSUE

15)  Name of contact and telephone number for queries

     R E CLARKE - 01372-362300

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

     Date of Notification ....31 JULY 2001


BARCLAYS BANK PLC - GROUP REGISTERED HOLDERS ANALYSIS

ASHTEAD GROUP               SEDOL NUMBER: 53673

As at 26.07.01 Barclays PLC, through its subsidiary Barclays Bank PLC, had a
notifiable interest in 33,034,890 ORD GBP0.10 units representing 10.20% of the
issued share capital of 323613950 units.

Registered Holder                                            Holding
Bank of New York Nominees Limited               367748       737,641
Bank of New York Nominees Limited               392067       497,557
Bank of New York Nominees Limited               683013         5,087
Bank of New York Nominees Limited               N/A           22,057
*** Unknown ***                                   3121       286,816
BT Globenet Nominees Limited                                  17,467
BT Globenet Nominees Limited                    10 N/A        23,900
BT Globenet Nominees Limited                    562755       312,037
Chase Nominees Limited                           13642        98,402
Chase Nominees Limited                           16331       249,510
Chase Nominees Limited                           16341       721,433
Chase Nominees Limited                           16344       179,112
Chase Nominees Limited                           16345       297,053
Chase Nominees Limited                           16376        52,834
Chase Nominees Limited                           16400     3,074,898
Chase Nominees Limited                           16530       721,729
Chase Nominees Limited                           16607        17,985
Chase Nominees Limited                           16612       101,701
Chase Nominees Limited                           16617       106,710
Chase Nominees Limited                           16621        41,012
Chase Nominees Limited                           16644       176,034
Chase Nominees Limited                           16645        25,819
Chase Nominees Limited                           16647        17,595
Chase Nominees Limited                           16649         5,042
Chase Nominees Limited                           16669        18,034
Chase Nominees Limited                           16674        44,606
Chase Nominees Limited                           16698        68,104
Chase Nominees Limited                           16847         5,944
Chase Nominees Limited                           16901        37,898
Chase Nominees Limited                           18409       102,391
Chase Nominees Limited                           19499        44,777
Chase Nominees Limited                           19503       215,628
Chase Nominees Limited                           19505       150,319
Chase Nominees Limited                           19507       366,866
Chase Nominees Limited                           19508        45,183
Chase Nominees Limited                           19512        34,933
Chase Nominees Limited                           19513        17,421
Chase Nominees Limited                           19514        67,338
Chase Nominees Limited                           19518       342,673
Chase Nominees Limited                           19519       796,082
Chase Nominees Limited                           19520       115,613
Chase Nominees Limited                           20717        14,338
Chase Nominees Limited                           20947     5,581,274
Chase Nominees Limited                           22402       391,152
Chase Nominees Limited                           B8AC         37,561
*** Unknown ***                                  90986       254,260
*** Unknown ***                                  20945        90,825
*** Unknown ***                                              241,621
*** Unknown ***                                  DUM       3,924,890
*** Unknown ***                                  NONE        683,095
MSS Nominees Limited                                         341,712
MSS Nominees Limited                             5456A       648,408
MSS Nominees Limited                             7897A        54,848
MSS Nominees Limited                                          43,352
MSTC Nominees Limited                            N/A         155,285
*** Unknown ***                                              123,808
Nortrust Nominees Limited                        BCP01        23,394
Nortrust Nominees Limited                        CVS21       477,732
Nortrust Nominees Limited                        SHR14       179,022
Nortrust Nominees Limited                        USF01     3,979,000
Nortrust Nominees Limited                        USF06       106,504
Nortrust Nominees Limited                        USF12       400,479
Chase Manhattan Bank London                                3,451,683
Chase Nominees LTD A/C LEND a/c No 18642                     116,052
Chase Nominees LTD A/C LEND a/c No 16201                     115,385
Chase Nominees LTD A/C BGIOMNI 19688 a/c No 19688            389,990
State Street Nominees Limited                    4L9S        182,671
State Street Nominees Limited                    5750A       157,362
State Street Nominees Limited                    5H53         52,748
*** Unknown ***                                              503,201
*** Unknown ***                                               19,364
*** Unknown ***                                                9,147
*** Unknown ***                                               16,994
*** Unknown ***                                                5,562
                                                           ----------
                                                 TOTAL    33,034,890
                                                           ----------