Transaction in Own Shares

Ashtead Group PLC
05 February 2008


Ashtead Group PLC
05 February 2008


Ashtead Group PLC (the 'Company') announces that on 05 February 2008 it
purchased through UBS Limited, 876,515 ordinary shares at an average price of
81.2833 pence per share. The highest price paid was 83 pence per share and the
lowest price paid was 79.25 pence per share.

The Company intends to hold these shares in Treasury.

Following the purchase of these shares, the Company holds 15,691,476 of its
shares in Treasury and has 545,881,250 shares in issue (excluding Treasury
shares).

This number (545,881,250) represents the total voting rights in the Company and
may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which
they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a
change to their interest in, Ashtead Group PLC under the FSA's Disclosure and
Transparency Rules.



Enquiries:

Ashtead Group PLC                        020 7726 9740
Eric Watkins



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