Ashtead joins FTSE 100 list in UK

Ashtead Group will join the FTSE 100 list of major UK stock exchange quoted companies at close of business on Friday 20 December.

The FTSE 100 is one of the key business lists in the UK and Europe, comprising the top 100 capitalised business on the London Stock Exchange.

Ashtead has seen its share price increase steadily during 2013, from around £4.30 at the start of the year to the current high of more than £7.70. Two years ago the share price was around £1.50. The company’s market capitalisation is currently £3.9 billion.

The company has seen its share price rise on the back of impressive growth figures for its US business Sunbelt Rentals. It's UK company, A-Plant, has also seen improving results recently.

The only other rental company in the FSTE 100 is Aggreko, which has a market capitalisation of £4.5 billion.

Ashtead joins the list from Monday 23 December following the latest quarterly review undertaken by the independent FTSE Europe, Middle East and Africa Regional (EMEA) Committee.

FTSE, which is owned by the London Stock Exchange Group, publishes a wide range of UK and worldwide equity indices.