Transaction in Own Shares

Ashtead Group plc

05 August 2008

                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC                               

                            Ordinary Shares of 10p                             

Ashtead Group plc announces it has been advised that on 01 August 2008 Legal &
General Assurance Group plc and Legal & General Investment Management Limited
were directly interested in a total of 23,838,837 shares (or 4.67% of its share
capital) and indirectly interested in a total of 1,720,551 shares (or 0.34% of
its share capital).

Enquiries:

Ashtead Group plc 020 7726 9740

Eric Watkins