Director/PDMR Shareholding

Ashtead Group plc

5th September 2006

                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC                               

                          Share Purchase by Directors                          

Ashtead Group plc announces that the following directors have today purchased
ordinary shares in the Company as follows:

                   No of 10p                         Total      % of Issued  
                Ordinary Shares      Purchase      number of       Share                    
                   purchased           price      Shares held     Capital
                                                                             
AWP Stenham         72,168             136p         393,000        0.070%              
G Iceton             7,000             137p          39,082        0.007%    


Contacts:

Cob Stenham          Non-executive chairman           020 7299 5562          
George Burnett       Chief executive              )                          
Ian Robson           Finance director             )   01372 362300           
                                                                             
Brian Hudspith       The Maitland Consultancy         020 7379 5151