Share Purchase by Director

Ashtead Group PLC
19 April 2004


                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC

                           Share Purchase by Director



Ashtead Group plc announces that its Chairman, Cob Stenham, has today purchased
200,000 ordinary shares in the Company (0.06% of the issued share capital) at a
price of 28.5 pence per share. These shares comprise his total holding in the
Company and will be registered in the name of Nutraco Nominees Limited


Contacts:

Cob Stenham         Chairman                                020 7299 5562
George Burnett      Chief Executive          )              01372 362300
Ian Robson          Finance Director         )

David Trenchard     Tulchan Communications                  020 7353 4200







                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange