Expansion Continues in US

Ashtead Group PLC
11 November 1999


                       ASHTEAD CONTINUES TO EXPAND IN US

Ashtead  Group - the UK's leading equipment outsourcer - announced today  that
its  American subsidiary, Sunbelt Rentals, has reached agreement in principle,
via  letters  of intent, to acquire 19 branches, primarily within its  current
ten State area of operations in the United States.

Completion  has taken place in respect of two branches and completion  of  the
other  17  is  expected within the next few weeks. In aggregate,  the  current
annualised  revenues  of  these acquisitions  are  some  $30  million.  It  is
anticipated  that  the  purchases  will  be  funded  from  current   borrowing
facilities. Further details will be given when the transactions are finalised.

Peter Lewis, Ashtead's Chairman, said:

'These  acquisitions  are  part of our plan  to  expand  in  the  US  by  both
acquisition and greenfield openings. At the beginning of our financial year we
owned 66 profit centres in the US. Since then we have added 11 greenfield  and
with  these further two branches we now have 79. The additional 17 sites  will
support our plans to reach 100 profit centres by our year end.

'With  regard  to our strategic review, we continue to engage  in  discussions
with  various  parties  with the objective of delivering enhanced  shareholder
value in what is a consolidating industry. We will make a further statement in
due course.'

                                       
The  directors of Ashtead Group plc accept responsibility for the  information
contained  in this announcement.  To the best of the knowledge and  belief  of
the  directors (who have taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is  the
case),  the  information contained in this announcement is in accordance  with
the  facts  and  does not omit anything likely to affect the  import  of  such
information.

Enquiries

Peter Lewis, Chairman
George Burnett, Managing Director
Ashtead Group plc                  Tel: [phone]

Tim Spratt, Director
Financial Dynamics                 Tel: [phone]