Holding in Company

Compass Group PLC
9 February 2001


          NOTIFICATION OF THE HOLDINGS UNDER THE EC DIRECTIVE 88/627
                 ON THE DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST IN SHARES


Putnam Investment Management, LLC and The Putnam Advisory Company, LLC (together
('Putnam') are hereby notifying you of certain holdings of its clients.  Each
Putnam entity is an investment advisor registered in the United States pursuant
to the Investment Advisors Act of 1940.

Clients of Putnam hold beneficial interests in 90,888,938 Compass Group PLC
shares representing 4.104% of the Compass Group PLC shares outstanding.  The
Iceland Group PLC shares are held by Putnam's clients for investment purposes
only.

Contact:     Michael E. DeFao 
             617.760.7634