Holding(s) in Company

Ashtead Group PLC
06 July 2004


Ashtead Group plc

6 July 2004

                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC

                             Ordinary Shares of 10p

Ashtead Group plc announces it has been advised by Goldman Sachs International
that as at 1 July 2004 The Goldman Sachs Group Inc., was interested in a total
of 13,249,373 (or 4.1%) of its shares comprising:

     
a)   an interest in 2,807,487 shares arising from the 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 ('GSSN').
     
b)   an interest in 10,441,886 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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