Re Share Subscription

Compass Group PLC
17 January 2003


Compass Group PLC (the Company) announces that on 17 January 2003, Ogier 
Employee Benefit Trustee Limited, as Trustee of the Compass Group Employee Trust 
No 2 (the Trust), subscribed for 288,089 ordinary shares in the Company 
(Shares).

The Shares were subscribed at 320.75p per Share, being the middle market 
quotation of a Share on 16 January 2003. Following this acquisition, the Trustee 
distributed all these shares to satisfy participants' entitlement under the 
Compass Group Commitment Share Plan (the Commitment Plan).

Following the distribution of these shares, no shares are held by the Trustee.


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