Share Purchase by Director

Ashtead Group plc

4 September 2012

                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC                               

                          Share purchase by Director                           

Ashtead Group plc announces that on the 4 September 2012 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                                                                 
                                                                               
      30,000               315p               132,082              0.02%       

Contact:

Eric Watkins 020 7726 9700