Share Purchase by Director

Ashtead Group plc

9 September 2010

                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC                               

                          Share purchase by Director                           

Ashtead Group plc announces that on the 9 September 2010 Chris Cole, director,
purchased ordinary 10p shares in the Company as follows:

     No of 10p        Purchase price      Total number of       % of Issued    
                                            Shares held                        
  Ordinary Shares                                              Share Capital   
                                                                               
     purchased                                                                 
                                                                               
      25,000              93.32p              102,082              0.02%       

Contact:

Eric Watkins 020 7726 9700