Holding(s) in Company

Ashtead Group PLC
08 December 2004



Ashtead Group plc

8th December 2004

                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC

                             Ordinary Shares of 10p

Ashtead Group plc announces it has been advised by The Goldman Sachs Group Inc.,
('GS Inc') that as at 6th December 2004 it was interested in a total of
16,359,864 (or 5.02%) of its shares comprising:
          
     a)   an interest in 6,299,700 shares arising from the interest held by
          Goldman Sachs & Co., a direct subsidiary of GS Inc, acting as 
          custodian. These shares are, or will be, registered in the name of 
          Goldman Sachs Securities (Nominees) Limited ('GSSN').

     b)   an interest in 10,060,164 shares arising from a beneficial interest 
          held by Goldman Sachs International, a direct subsidiary of GS Inc. 
          These shares are, or will be registered at CREST in account CREPTEMP.



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