Director/PDMR Shareholding

Ashtead Group plc

3 August 2011

                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC                               

                          Share purchase by Director                           

Ashtead Group plc announces that on the 3 August 2011 the directors named below
purchased ordinary 10p shares in the Company as follows:

   Director    No of ordinary  Purchase price Total number of  % of Issued  
                     10p                        shares held                 
                                                              share capital 
                   shares                                                   
                                                                            
                  purchased                                                 
                                                                            
Geoff Drabble      50,000          139.5          411,357         0.08%     
                                                                            
  Ian Robson       25,000          139.5         1,577,034        0.30%     

Contact:

Eric Watkins

020 7726 9700