Holding in Company

Ashtead Group PLC
15 August 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 LIST BELOW

5)   Number of shares/amount of stock acquired.

     -

6)   ( N/A %) of issued Class

7)   Number of shares/amount of stock disposed

     4,710,588

8)   (1.45%) of issued Class

9)   Class of security

     10P ORDINARY SHARES

10)  Date of transaction

     NOT ADVISED

11)  Date company informed

     15.08.01

12)  Total holding following this notification

     28,285,650
               
              
13)  Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

     8.70%

14)  Any additional information

     -

15)  Name of contact and telephone number for queries

     R.E.  CLARK - 01372 362300

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

     Date of Notification ...15.08.2001...........



Sedol Number:     53673

As at 14/8/2001 Barclays PLC, through its subsidiary Barclays Bank PLC, had a
notifiable interest in 17,023,520 ORD units representing 5.23% of the issued
share capital of 325131194 units.

Non-Material holding is 3.46% of the issued Share capital.
Group Holding is 8.69% of the issued share capital.

Registered Holding                                                      Holding

Chase Nominees Limited                              16331               249,510
Chase Nominees Limited                              16341               779,969
Chase Nominees Limited                              16344               179,112
Chase Nominees Limited                              16345               327,464
Chase Nominees Limited                              16376                57,527
Chase Nominees Limited                              16400             2,574,898 
Chase Nominees Limited                              16530               721,729
Chase Nominees Limited                              18409               105,059
Chase Nominees Limited                              20947             6,472,833
Chase Manhattan Bank London                                           4,257,781
Chase Nominees LTD A/C LEND a/c No. 18642                               163,114 

Chase Nominees LTD A/C LEND a/c No. 16201                               139,213
Chase Nominees Ltd A/C BGIOMNI 19688 a/c No. 19688                      441,043
*** Unknown ***                                                         503,201
*** Unknown ***                                                          19,364
*** Unknown ***                                                           9,147
*** Unknown ***                                                          16,994
*** Unknown ***                                                           5,562
       
                                                    Material Total   17,023,520

Bank of New York Nominees Limited                   367748              871,641
Bank of New York Nominees Limited                   392067              699,674
Bank of New York Nominees Limited                   683013                5,087
*** Unknown ***                                     3121                317,069
BT Globenet Nominees Limited                                             17,467
BT Globenet Nominees Limited                        10 N/A               23,900
BT Globenet Nominees Limited                        562755              321,925
Chase Nominees Limited                              13642                98,402
Chase Nominees Limited                              16607                29,028
Chase Nominees Limited                              16612               101,701
Chase Nominees Limited                              16617               106,710
Chase Nominees Limited                              16621                51,700
Chase Nominees Limited                              16644               185,535
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                48,630
Chase Nominees Limited                              19499                44,777
Chase Nominees Limited                              19503               225,319
Chase Nominees Limited                              19505               150,319
Chase Nominees Limited                              19507               376,764
Chase Nominees Limited                              19508                45,283
Chase Nominees Limited                              19512                34,933
Chase Nominees Limited                              19513                17,421
Chase Nominees Limited                              19514                67,338
Chase Nominees Limited                              19518               386,456
Chase Nominees Limited                              19519               904,077
Chase Nominees Limited                              19520               115,613
Chase Nominees Limited                              20717                14,338
Chase Nominees Limited                              22402               391,152
Chase Nominees Limited                              B8AC                 37,561
*** Unknown ***                                     90986               284,324
*** Unknown ***                                     20945                90,825
*** Unknown ***                                                         271,464
*** Unknown ***                                     NONE                683,095
MSS Nominees Limited                                                    382,538
MSS Nominees Limited                                5456A               724,600
MSS Nominees Limited                                7897A                54,848
MSS Nominees Limited                                                     43,352
MSS Nominees Limited                                N/A                 155,285
*** Unknown ***                                                         159,647
Nortrust Nominees Limited                           BCP01                23,394
Nortrust Nominees Limited                           CVS21               545,777
Nortrust Nominees Limited                           SHR14               179,022
Nortrust Nominees Limited                           USF01               962,826
Nortrust Nominees Limited                           USF06               106,504
Nortrust Nominees Limited                           USF12               326,984
State Street Nominees Limited                       4L9S                182,671
State Street Nominees Limited                       5750A               157,362
State Street Nominees Limited                       5H53                 52,748

                                                  Non-Material Tot   11,262,130
          
                                                  Group Total        28,285,650