Compass Group Canada Acquires The Hurley Group

Acquisition strengthens Canadian presence for business & industry and facilities management support services

TORONTO , Feb. 5 /CNW/ - Compass Group Canada , Toronto , ON, announces the completion of its acquisition of The Hurley Group, a leading Toronto-based provider of cleaning and facility management services in North America , operating mainly in business & industry, as well as in airports and cultural venues. Through the acquisition, The Hurley Group becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Compass Group Canada . The transaction was finalized on February 5th, 2010 .

"Named one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies in each of the last eight years, The Hurley Group's entrepreneurial culture and goal of attracting and retaining a high-quality workforce and a prestigious customer base fits very well with Compass Canada's vision and operating philosophy as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers for 2009 and 2010," said Jack C. MacDonald, CEO, Compass Group Canada and ESS North America . "The Hurley Group acquisition enables us to deliver additional services to their market, and the acquisition positions Compass Group Canada for continued growth."

The Hurley Group comprises 3,500 employees providing cleaning and facility management services across Canada . The company's business model will be maintained and it will run as a separate entity under Compass Group Canada's organizational structure. As the newly appointed Chairman of the Board of The Hurley Group, J. Michael Horgan will report to Jack C. MacDonald.

The name of the company will remain The Hurley Group, and their corporate offices will remain in Toronto . Philippe D. Mack, formerly Chief Operating Officer of The Hurley Group, has been named as The Hurley Group's new Chief Executive Officer, reporting to Jack C. MacDonald.

"This is truly an exciting development in the evolution of the company. I am enormously proud of what our team has achieved over the past 50 years," said J. Michael Horgan , former president and co-CEO, The Hurley Group. "We long ago recognized that people are our greatest strength and by working together, we have become one of the best employers in North America . Compass Group is a company with similar core values, sharing a commitment to quality, service and employee development. This bodes extremely well for the continued growth and success of the combined organizations."

About Compass Group Canada

Compass Group Canada is the country's leading foodservice and support services company, with revenues of $1.25 billion in 2009. Operating sectors include Eurest, Eurest Services, Chartwells, Morrison, Crothall, ESS, Canteen, Compass Leisure & Entertainment, Levy Restaurants, Restaurant Associates. With 386,000 associates worldwide, its parent company, UK-based Compass Group PLC had revenues of (pnds stlg)13.4 billion in the year to September 30, 2009 .

For more information, visit www.compass-canada.com

For further information: Cindy Harris, Director of Communications, Compass Group Canada, [phone] x 432, [email protected]