Share Purchase by Director

Ashtead Group PLC
06 August 2004


                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC

                           Share Purchase by Director



Ashtead Group plc announces that Sat Dhaiwal has recently purchased 12,023
ordinary shares in the Company (0.004% of the issued share capital) at a price
of 41.6 pence per share.


Contacts:

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

David Trenchard     Tulchan Communications                  020 7353 4200



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