Holding in Company

Ashtead Group PLC
14 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 BELOW

5)   Number of shares/amount of stock acquired.

     16,364,844

6)   (5.03%) of issued Class

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

     14.08.01

12)  Total holding following this notification

     32,996,238
              
13)  Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

     10.15%

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 ...14.08.2001........


Barclays Bank PLC - Group Registered Holders Analysis

ASHTEAD GROUP               Sedol Number:   53673

As at 10/08/2001  Barclays PLC, through its subsidiary Barclays Bank PLC, had a
notifiable interest in 32,996,238 ORD GBP0.10 units representing 10.14% of the
issued share capital of 325131194 units.


                                                                      
Registered Holder                                                     Holding
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                                     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                                     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                                     18409      102,931
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       45,183
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                                     20947    6,472,833
Chase Nominees Limited                                     22402      391,152
Chase Nominees Limited                                      B8AC       37,561
*** Unknown ***                                            90986      284,324
*** Unknown ***                                            20945       90,825
*** Unknown ***                                                       271,464
*** Unknown ***                                            DUM      3,924,890
*** 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
MSTC 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    1,289,810
Chase Manhattan Bank London                                         4,086,649
Chase Nominees LTD A/C LEND a/c No 18642                              163,114
Chase Nominees LTD A/C LEND a/c No 16201                              135,345
Chase Nominees LTD A/C BGIOMNI 19688 a/c No 19688                     441,043
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  32,996,238
                                                                   ----------