Director/PDMR Shareholding

ASHTEAD GROUP PLC: DIRECTOR/PDMR SHAREHOLDING                 

                                                                 18 August 2006

George Burnett has today informed the company that he has sold 3,870,109 of his
beneficially held nil paid rights and 370,667 of his non beneficially held
rights in each case at a price of 24.724 pence per nil paid right.

The proceeds will be used to subscribe for the balance of the beneficially and
non-beneficially held rights shares at the subscription price of 100p per
share.

Following completion of the rights issue, George Burnett's beneficial and non
beneficial interests in the issued ordinary share capital of Ashtead Group will
be as follows

Beneficially owned 13,819,953 2.5%

Non-beneficially owned 1,323,638 0.2%