Director/PDMR Shareholding

Ashtead Group plc

15 October 2008

                              ASHTEAD GROUP PLC

                            Directors Shareholding                             

                          Performance Share Plan 2004                          

Ashtead Group plc announces that following the partial vesting on 17 August
2008 of awards made under the Company's Performance Share Plan, on 14 October
Mr Miller exercised his entitlement and sold 77,599 shares at a price of 56.5p
per share.

Mr Miller continues to hold beneficially 424,351 ordinary shares (0.08% of the
Company's issued share capital).

Contact:

Eric Watkins, 020 7726 9740