Holding(s) in Company

Ashtead Group PLC
07 May 2004


                                ASHTEAD GROUP PLC

                              Ordinary Shares of 10p


Ashtead Group plc announces that it has been advised by Goldman Sachs 
International that the Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., was interested in a total of
9,808,389 shares in the Company comprising:

a)  an interest in 1,316,503 shares arising from an interest held by Goldman, 
    Sachs & Co., acting as custodian. These shares are, or will be, registered 
    in the name of Goldman Sachs Securities (Nominees), Limited.

b)  an interest in 8,491,886 shares arising from a beneficial interest held by 
    Goldman Sachs International. These shares are, or will be, registered at 
    CREST in account CREPTEMP.



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