Transfer of Treasury Shares

Ashtead Group plc

1st April 2008

                                               Ashtead Group plc

                                          Transfer of Treasury Shares

Ashtead Group plc ("the Company") announces that on 1st April 2008, the following ordinary shares were transferred from treasury stock for the purpose of an employee's share scheme allotment:

5,317 ordinary shares at 28.35 pence per share.

Following the above transfer of treasury stock, the Company holds 27,907,686 ordinary shares as treasury shares. The total number of ordinary shares in issue (excluding shares held as treasury shares) is 533,665,040.

This number (533,665,040) 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