Holding(s) in Company

Ashtead Group plc

5th January 2007

                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC                               

                            Ordinary Shares of 10p                             

Ashtead Group plc announces it has today been advised by The Goldman Sachs
Group Inc., ("GS Inc") that as at close of business on 3rd January 2007 it was
interested in a total of 22,146,886 shares (or 3.96% of its share capital).

The interest in these shares arose from a beneficial interest held by Goldman
Sachs International, a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of GS Inc. These shares
are, or will be, registered at CREST in account CREPTEMP.