Transaction in Own Shares

Compass Group PLC
10 December 2003

10 December 2003

Compass Group plc

Purchase of own shares for cancellation

Compass Group plc announces that on 10 December 2003 it purchased for
cancellation 1,100,000 ordinary shares at a price of 356.3864p per share through
Merrill Lynch International.

Enquiries:

Justin Besley

Compass Group plc

01932 573 000


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