Director/PDMR Shareholding

Ashtead Group plc

17 December 2007

                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC                               

                          Share Purchase by Directors                          

Ashtead Group plc announces that on the 14 December the following director
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                   
                                                                             
B Edwards           20,000            0.81p          40,000        0.007%    
                                                                             

Contact:

Eric Watkins                                          020 7726 9700