Director/PDMR Shareholding

Ashtead Group plc

1 August 2006
 
                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC                               
                                             
                     Director's Exercise of Share Options                                                        

                            Ordinary Shares of 10p                             

 
Ashtead Group plc announces that on 1 August 2006 Cliff Miller exercised one of
the options he holds under the Company's Unapproved Executive Share Option
Scheme and purchased 100,000 Ordinary shares in the Company at the option price
of 41.5p.  This purchase means that Mr Miller now owns 133,000 shares in the
Company representing 0.025% of the issued share capital.

Contacts:

Cob Stenham     Chairman                    020 7299 5562
George Burnett  Chief Executive             01372 362300
Ian Robson      Finance Director            01372 362300