Director/PDMR Shareholding

Ashtead Group plc

17th September 2007

                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC                               

                          Share Purchase by Directors                          

Ashtead Group plc announces that the following directors have today purchased
ordinary 10p shares in the Company as follows:

                   No of 10p         Purchase     Total number  % of Issued  
                Ordinary Shares        price       of Shares   Share Capital
                   purchased                         held                   
                                                                             
G Iceton            10,000           110.00p         49,082        0.009%    
H Etheridge         10,000           110.00p         10,000        0.002%    
C Cole              10,000           108.69p         52,082        0.009%    
                                                                             

Contact:

Eric Watkins                                          020 7726 9700