Re Share Subscription

Compass Group PLC
20 December 2002


Compass Group PLC (the Company) announces that on 20 December 2002, Ogier
Employee Benefit Trustee Limited, as Trustee of the Compass Group Employee Trust
No 2 (the Trust), subscribed for 39,833 ordinary shares in the Company (Shares).

The Shares were subscribed at 309p per Share, being the middle market quotation
of a Share on 19 December 2002. Following this acquisition, the Trustee
distributed all the shares to satisfy participants' entitlements 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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