Director/PDMR Shareholding

Ashtead Group plc

5th February 2007

                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC                               

                     Director's Exercise of Share Options                      

                            Ordinary Shares of 10p                             

Ashtead Group plc announces that on 2nd February 2007 Cliff Miller exercised
his rights in respect of the following share options:

      No. of  Option price                          
     Options     per share                          
      32,521        121.9p                          
      54,202         94.0p                          
      37,941         94.5p                          
      54,202        115.3p

To meet the exercise costs and commission charges in respect of the exercise,
Mr Miller sold 107,182 shares at a price of 177p per share and retained the
balance of 71,684 shares.

As at close of business on 2nd February 2007 Mr Miller held a total of 254,559
shares or 0.04% of the Company's issued share capital.

Contacts:

Geoff Drabble       Chief executive             )                              
Ian Robson          Finance director            )    01372 362300