Holding in Company

Ashtead Group PLC
19 June 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.

     2,152,906

6)   (0.67% MOVEMENT SINCE LAST NOTIFICATION) of issued Class

7)   Number of shares/amount of stock disposed

     -

8)   ( - %) of issued Class

9)   Class of security

     10P ORDINARY SHARES

10)  Date of transaction

     NOT ADVISED

11)  Date company informed

     19.06.01

12)  Total holding following this notification

     13,045,289
               
13)  Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

     4.03%

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

     R.E. CLARK
     Date of Notification ........19/06/2001................


Barclays Bank PLC - Registered Holders Analysis

Ashtead Group               Sedol Number: 53673

As at 15/6/2001 Barclays PLC, through its subsidiary Barclays Bank PLC, had a 
notifiable interest in 13,045,289 ORD GBP0.10 units representing 4.03% of the
issued share capital of 323611327 units.

Registered Holder                                                     Holding

Chase Nominees Limited                              16331             249,510
Chase Nominees Limited                              16341             678,732
Chase Nominees Limited                              16344             146,249
Chase Nominees Limited                              16345             254,273
Chase Nominees Limited                              16376              49,310
Chase Nominees Limited                              16400           2,923,981
Chase Nominees Limited                              16530             721,729
Chase Nominees Limited                              18409              99,612
Chase Nominees Limited                              20947           4,963,087
Chase Manhattan Bank London                                         2,127,484
Chase Nominees Ltd A/C LEND A/C 18642                                  77,964
Chase Nominees Ltd A/C LEND A/C 16201                                  85,597
Chase Nominees Ltd A/C BGIOMNI 19688 A/C 19688                        306,512
***Unknown***                                                         346,776
***Unknown***                                                           9,147
***Unknown***                                                           5,326
                                                                   ----------
                                                    Total          13,045,289
                                                                   ==========