Transaction in Own Shares

Ashtead Group PLC

18 February 2008

Ashtead Group plc ("the Company") announces that on 18 February 2008 it
purchased through UBS Limited, 250,000 ordinary shares at an average price of 
81.8308 pence per share. The highest price paid was 82 pence per share and the
lowest price paid was 79.75 pence per share.

The Company intends to hold these shares in Treasury.

Following the purchase of these shares, the Company holds 19,530,985 of its

shares in Treasury and has 542,041,741 shares in issue (excluding Treasury

shares).

This number (542,041,741) represents the total voting rights in the Company and

may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which

they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a
change to their interest in, Ashtead Group plc under the FSA's Disclosure and
Transparency Rules.

Enquiries:

Ashtead Group plc 020 7726 9740

Eric Watkins