Acquisition

Ashtead Group PLC
18 May 2005



Ashtead Group plc

18th May 2005

                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC

                                  ACQUISITION


Ashtead Group plc announces that its US subsidiary, Sunbelt Rentals, has
acquired the Southern Florida operations of HSS RentX for a consideration of
approximately US$1.7m subject to adjustment dependent on asset verification at
closing. Turnover of these operations was approximately US$4.5m in the year to
28 February 2005.

Sunbelt currently operates seven profit centres in the Miami, Fort Lauderdale
and West Palm Beach markets. The acquisition, which will add a further five
profit centres, will largely complete the process of clustering these markets.

In addition the Group expects to acquire one of the properties from which the
business operates for a further consideration of approximately US$0.8m subject
to completion of satisfactory environmental inspections.

Contacts:

Cob Stenham               Non-executive chairman     020 7299 5562
George Burnett            Chief executive         )
Ian Robson                Finance director        )  01372 362300






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