Excercise of Share Options

Ashtead Group PLC

Exercise of Share Options

13 December 2010

                               ASHTEAD GROUP PLC                               

                           EXERCISE OF SHARE OPTIONS                           

Ashtead Group plc ("Ashtead") announces that prior to their expiry in February
2011 Sat Dhaiwal on 10 December 2010 exercised 37,941 unapproved share options
originally granted to him in 2001 at an option price of £1.15 per share.

On the same day Sat Dhaiwal sold 37,941 shares at £1.59 per share.

Sat Dhaiwal continues to hold 365,849 Ashtead ordinary shares representing
0.07% of the Company's total issued voting capital.

The Company also announces that the shares sold by Sat Dhaiwal were purchased
by the Company's ESOT.

Eric Watkins

General Counsel

0207 726 9740