Director Shareholding

Ashtead Group PLC
12 November 2004



                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC

                           Share Purchase by Director



Ashtead Group plc announces that Gary Iceton has recently purchased 20,000
ordinary shares in the Company of (0.006% of the issued share capital) at a
price of 74.9 pence per share.


Contacts:

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

Brian Hudspith    The Maitland Consultancy                020 7379 5151







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