Our history

Explore some of the turning points in our history.

1984

Ashtead Group plc formed as a vehicle to acquire what was then a five branch business trading in the south-east of England with revenues of £1m

Ashtead Group plc lists on the London Stock Exchange

Ashtead acquires the US equipment rental interests of Rentokil Initial plc, thereby doubling the size of Sunbelt Rentals.

Ashtead acquires the US number six in equipment rental, NationsRent Inc, for $1bn and becomes the second largest equipment rental company in the US.

Ashtead becomes the UK’s largest provider of rental traffic systems by acquiring Lux Traffic Controls Limited for £15.5m.

Sunbelt Rentals enters Southwest Canadian market by acquiring GWG Rentals.

Sunbelt Rentals doubles the size of its Canadian business with 30 locations added with the CRS acquisition.

Sunbelt Rentals acquires William F. White in Canada.