Director/PDMR Shareholding

Ashtead Group plc

9 November 2007

                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC                               

                          Director/PDMR Shareholding                           

Ashtead Group plc announces that the following director has today purchased
ordinary 10p shares in the Company as follows:

                   No of 10p         Purchase     Total number   % of Issued  
                Ordinary Shares       price        of Shares    Share Capital
                   purchased                         held                   
                                                                             
M Burrow            20,000            97.45p         40,000        0.007%    
                                                                             

Following the vesting of 190,144 shares on 30 October 2007 under the Company's
Performance Share Plan, Mr Cliff Miller, on 8 November 2007, transferred 23,000
shares at 99.00p per share to the Employee Share Option Trust in partial
settlement of his tax liability in respect of the vesting.

Mr Miller continues to hold the balance of the vested shares and his beneficial
holding is 424,351 ordinary shares (0.08% of the Company's issued share
capital).

Contact:

Eric Watkins                                          020 7726 9700