Transaction in Own Shares

Compass Group PLC
28 January 2004


                               Compass Group PLC

                    Purchase of own shares for cancellation


Compass Group PLC announces that on 28th January 2004 it purchased for
cancellation 300,000 ordinary shares at the price of 357.4 pence per share from
Hoare Govett's affiliate, ABN AMRO Equities (UK) Limited.


Enquiries

Justin Besley       Compass Group PLC              01932 573 000

Jeremy Thompson     ABN AMRO Equities (UK) Ltd     020 7678 8000


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