Director/PDMR Shareholding

Ashtead Group PLC
15 July 2005


Ashtead Group plc

15th July 2005





                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC

                      Director's Exercise of Share Options

                             Ordinary Shares of 10p

Ashtead Group plc announces that on the 14th July 2005 Sat Dhaiwal exercised his
rights under the Company's share option scheme and sold 72,000 Ordinary shares
in the Company (0.022% of the issued share capital) at £1.10p per share.

Contacts:

Cob Stenham               Chairman                             020 7299 5562
George Burnett            Chief Executive                      01372 362300
Ian Robson                Finance Director                     01372 362300




                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange