Purchase of Own Securities

Compass Group PLC
31 March 2003

THE ISSUER ADVISES THAT THE FOLLOWING REPLACES THE PURCHASE OF OWN SECURITIES
ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED ON 28 MARCH 2003 AT 17.02PM UNDER RNS NUMBER 3822J. THE
CORRECT DATE OF THE PURCHASE OF SECURITIES WAS 28 MARCH 2003 AND NOT 28 FEBRUARY
2003. ALL OTHER DETAILS REMAIN UNCHANGED. FULL AMENDED TEXT APPEARS BELOW.


31 March 2003

                               Compass Group PLC


                    Purchase of own shares for cancellation

Compass Group PLC announces that on 28 March 2003 it purchased for cancellation
2,500,000 ordinary shares at a price of 280.32 pence per share through Merrill
Lynch International.

Enquiries:

Cathi Lawrence     Compass Group PLC     01932 573 000


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