Director/PDMR Shareholding

Ashtead Group plc

25 July 2011

                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC                               

                          Share purchase by Director                           

Ashtead Group plc announces that Geoff Drabble, director, purchased ordinary
10p shares in the Company as follows:

       Date             No of 10p        Purchase price      % of Issued    
                                                                            
                     Ordinary Shares                        Share Capital   
                                                                            
                        purchased                                           
                                                                            
   20 July 2011           6,209              1.579              0.001       
                                                                            
   22 July 2011           3,000              1.673              0.0005      

Following both purchases the shares were immediately gifted to Geoff Drabble's

non-dependent children.

After these transactions Geoff Drabble continues to hold 361,357 ordinary 10p
shares of the Company or 0.07% of its issued share capital.

Contact:

Eric Watkins

020 7726 9700