Purchase of Own Securities

Compass Group PLC
01 August 2003


                               Compass Group PLC

                    Purchase of own shares for cancellation

Compass Group PLC announces that on 1st August 2003 it purchased for
cancellation 500,000 ordinary shares at the price of 331.53 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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