Acquisition

Ashtead Group PLC
05 May 2005




Ashtead Group plc

5th May 2005

         Ashtead Group plc subsidiary acquires plant and tool business


Ashtead Group plc announces that its UK subsidiary, A-Plant, has acquired the
plant and tool hire business of Howard Plant (Poole) Limited for a consideration
of £436,467 subject to a physical inspection of the assets being acquired. The
skip hire business carried on by Howard Plant (Poole) Limited will remain with
the vendors and will move to a new location. Deferred consideration will be
payable based on the next twelve month's hire income arising from the assets
being acquired, subject to a minimum of £20,000. Turnover of the business being
acquired was approx £600,000 in the year to 31 March 2005.

The new location complements A-Plant's South Coast businesses in Fareham,
Southampton and Weymouth. A-Plant operates from over 200 locations in Great
Britain and is a market leader in the provision of plant, tools and specialist
equipment to over 40,000 customers in the construction, industrial, commercial,
utility and homeowner markets.
Contacts:

Cob Stenham      Non-executive chairman                 020 7299 5562
George Burnett   Chief executive                  )
Ian Robson       Finance director                 )     01372 362300




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