Purchase of Own Securities

Compass Group PLC
13 August 2003

13 August 2003

Compass Group PLC

Purchase of own shares for cancellation

Compass Group PLC announces that on 13 August 2003 it purchased for cancellation
500,000 ordinary shares at a price of 343.19 pence per share through Merrill
Lynch International.

Enquiries:

Justin Besley

Compass Group PLC

01932 573 000

END


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange