Director/PDMR Shareholding

Ashtead Group plc
20 October 2008

                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC                               

                            Directors Shareholding                             
                          Performance Share Plan 2005                          

Ashtead Group plc announces that following the partial vesting on 17 August
2008 of awards made under the Company's Performance Share Plan, on 16 October
2008 Mr Robson exercised his entitlement to and acquired 86,919 ordinary 10p
shares.

Furthermore, on 17 October 2008 Mr Robson exercised his rights under the
Company's Unapproved Share Option Scheme to acquire 325,216 ordinary 10p shares
at the option price of 38.28p.

As a result of the foregoing Mr Robson now owns beneficially 1,480,092 ordinary
10p shares (0.29% of the Company's issued share capital).

Additionally, Mr Robson conditionally holds 193,861 ordinary 10p shares under
the Company's Performance Share Plan which have been registered in his name
subject to forfeiture in the event that the performance conditions attaching to
the award are not met.