1st Quarter Revenue Results

Ashtead Group PLC
23 August 2000

ASHTEAD GROUP PLC

PRESS  RELEASE - STRONG FIRST QUARTER REVENUE GROWTH


In preparation for a series of presentations to prospective US investors
starting later today, Ashtead Group plc announces its first quarter (to 31
July 2000) revenue results:

                     Revenues for the      Revenues for the             
                                three                 three     Increase
                    months to 31 July     months to 31 July
                      2000       1999        2000      1999            %
                        £m         £m        US$m      US$m             
Sunbelt Rentals                                                         
Excluding BET         40.1       24.9        60.2      37.4          61%
branches
BET branches (for     34.7          -        52.1         -            -
two months - see      ____       ____        ____      ____         ____
note 1 below)
Total                 74.8       24.9       112.3      37.4         201%
                                                                        
A-Plant               48.2       46.5        72.4      69.8           4%
                                                                        
Ashtead                2.8        2.2         4.2       3.3          25%
Technology            ____       ____        ____      ____         ____
                                                                        
Group total          125.8       73.6       188.9     110.5          71%
                     _____      _____       _____     _____        _____
                                                                        
Geographic split      2000       1999                                   
of revenues              %          %
US                      60         34                                   
UK                      40         66                                   
                     _____      _____
                      100%       100%                                   
                     _____      _____

Like for like revenue growth was:

           Sunbelt Rentals       up   29%
           A-Plant               up    4%
           Ashtead Technology    up   25%

Peter Lewis, Chairman, commented:

'This is a strong start to our year. In the difficult UK market, we have
achieved both absolute and like for like revenue growth of 4%.  Ashtead
Technology is recovering well as the offshore market picks up.  But, most
impressively, Sunbelt has achieved 61% growth in its core business whilst
successfully managing the integration of BET USA.  The merging of the two
businesses is on schedule and we expect to see a growing contribution from
this platform acquisition.'

23 August 2000




Notes

1.   Revenues from the former BET branches acquired on 1 June 2000 are
     included from the date of the acquisition and thus represent revenues
     for the months of June and July only.
2.   Revenues from the former BET branches include total rental revenues of
     £26.8m (US$40.2m).
3.   The translation into US dollars of the Group's revenues which are
     accounted for in sterling has been made for the convenience of US
     readers using the mid-market exchange rate on 10 August 2000 of $1.5014
     = £1.
4.   This announcement and a copy of the presentation prepared for the US
     investor meetings are available on our website: www.ashtead-group.com.
5.   The Annual Report & Accounts for the year to 30 April 2000 will be
     published and mailed to shareholders on Friday 25 August 2000 and will
     be available for download on our website from that date.


Further information:


Ian Robson - Finance Director   Ashtead Group plc        01372 362300
                                                         
Andrew Grant/Nigel Fairbrass    Tulchan Communications   0207 936 0400