Employee Benefit Trust

Ashtead Group PLC
08 August 2005


Ashtead Group plc

8th August 2005

                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC

                                 Share Purchase


Ashtead Group plc has been advised that on 5th August 2005, Mourant & Co Limited
on behalf of the Ashtead Employee Benefit Trust ('the Trust') purchased 352,679
10p ordinary shares at a price of £1.143 per share.

The total number of shares held by the Trust is 3,076,140 or 0.76% of the
Company's issued share capital of which 176,469 have been conditionally
transferred to SI Robson, executive director.

The Trust's shares may ultimately vest in executive directors and senior
managers under the Company's share option plans, Incentive Investment Plan and/
or the Performance Share Plan.


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