Director/PDMR Shareholding

Ashtead Group plc

16th October 2007

                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC                               

                            Directors' Shareholding                            

Ashtead Group plc announces that following the maturity of the Company's 2004
Save As You Earn Scheme, Mr S Robson and Mr S Dhaiwal have both purchased
11,699 ordinary 10p shares at an exercise price of 28.36p.

Following these purchases the beneficial holdings of Mr Robson and Mr Dhaiwal
are:-

                       Total Number of       Percentage of    
                                                              
                         Shares Held     Issued Share Capital 
                                                              
Mr Robson                  824,176               0.14%        
                                                              
Mr Dhaiwal                 219,215               0.04%        

Additionally, Mr Robson and Mr Dhaiwal conditionally hold 539,034 and 335,410
ordinary shares respectively under the Company's Performance Share Plan.

Contact:
Eric Watkins, Legal Counsel and Company Secretary Tel: [phone]