Transaction in Own Shares

Compass Group PLC
17 August 2006


17th August 2006
                               Compass Group PLC

                    Purchase of own shares for cancellation


Compass Group PLC announces that on 17 August 2006 it purchased for cancellation
330,000 ordinary shares at a price of 254.6136 pence per share through Merrill
Lynch International.


Enquiries:

Justin Besley                        Compass Group PLC
01932 573 000



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