Transaction in Own Shares

Compass Group PLC
09 December 2003

9 December 2003

Compass Group plc

Purchase of own shares for cancellation

Compass Group plc announces that on 9 December 2003 it purchased for
cancellation 1,000,000 ordinary shares at a price of 359.5287p per share through
Merrill Lynch International.

Enquiries:

Justin Besley

Compass Group plc

01932 573 000




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