Transfer of Treasury Shares

Ashtead Group plc

13 May 2008

                                  Ashtead Group plc

                             Transfer of Treasury Shares

Ashtead Group plc ("the Company") announces that on 13 May 2008, the
following ordinary shares were transferred from treasury stock for the purpose
of an employee's share scheme allotment:

18,221 ordinary shares at 28.35 pence per share

Following the above transfer of treasury stock, the Company holds 32,379,069
ordinary shares as treasury shares. The total number of ordinary shares in
issue (excluding shares held as treasury shares) is 529,193,657.

This number (529,193,657) 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