AGM Statement

Ashtead Group plc

23 September 2008

                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC                               

                                 AGM Statement                                 

Ashtead Group plc held its AGM at 2.30 pm on Tuesday 23 September 2008 in
London.

The Board is pleased to confirm that all resolutions placed before the meeting
were carried on a show of hands by the members.

The proxy votes were as follows:

                   RESOLUTION                   FOR       AGAINST     WITHELD  
                                                                               
 (1)  Report and Accounts for 2008          311,948,389    4,237       1,731   
                                                                               
 (2)  Dividend declaration                  311,912,942   41,415         0     
                                                                               
 (3)  Re-election of Mr Cole                311,722,297   229,986      2,074   
                                                                               
 (4)  Re-election of Mr Drabble             310,870,715  1,081,568     2,074   
                                                                               
 (5)  Re-election of Mr Robson              311,607,169   345,114      2,074   
                                                                               
 (6)  Re-appointment of auditors            311,920,248   22,066      12,043   
                                                                               
 (7)  Approval of remuneration report       298,298,571  1,611,671  12,044,115 
                                                                               
 (8)  Authority to allot securities         311,877,187   47,184      29,986   
                                                                               
 (9)  Approval of amended Performance       287,397,748 22,961,056   1,595,553 
      Share Plan 2004
                                                                               
(10)  Amended Articles of Association be    305,169,315   152,818    6,632,224 
      adopted                                                               
                                                                               
(11)  Directors empowered to disapply       311,888,260   40,295      25,802   
      provisions of s89(1) of the Companies                                    
      Act 1985                                   
                                                                     
(12)  Authority to make market purchases    307,478,326  4,467,356     8,675   
      of ordinary shares      

Contacts:

Chris Cole Chairman 020 7299 5562
Geoff Drabble Chief executive 020 7726 9700
Brian Hudspith Maitland 020 7379 5151