BW20030724002119  20030724T163044Z UTC


( BW)(PUTNAM-INVESTMENTS)(WPP) Rule 8 - WPP Group PLC

    Business Editors
    UK REGULATORY NEWS

    LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 24, 2003--

Date of disclosure: July 24, 2003

DISCLOSURE UNDER RULES 8.1(a), 8.1(b)(i) AND 8.3
OF THE CITY CODE ON TAKEOVERS AND MERGERS

Date of dealing:  July 23, 2003

Dealing in:.......WPP Group PLC..............(name of company)

(1)  Class of securities (eg ordinary shares):   Ordinary Shares

(2)  Amount bought           Amount sold              Price per unit
     2,545                   0                        5.19

(3)  Resultant total of the same class owned or controlled
     (and percentage of class):      53,206,404 (4.624%)

(4)  Party making disclosure:          Putnam Investments

(5)  EITHER     (a) Name of purchaser/vendor (Note 1)
     OR         (b) If dealing for discretionary client(s), name of fund
                    management organisation

                     Putnam Investments

(6)  Reason for disclosure (Note 2)
     (a) associate of (i)  offeror (Note 3):                NO
                      (ii) offeree company :                NO

     Specify which category or categories of associate (1-8 overleaf)

     If category (8), explain.........................................

     .................................................................

     (b) Rule 8.3 (ie disclosure because of ownership or control of 1% or more of
         the class of relevant securities dealt in) :     YES

Signed, for and on behalf of the party named in (4) above.../s/...Michael E. DeFao

(Also print name of signatory):       Michael E. DeFao

Telephone and extension number:       1-617-760-7634

Note 1. Specify owner, not nominee or vehicle company. If relevant,
also identify controller of owner, eg where an owner normally acts on
instructions of a controller.

Note 2. Disclosure might be made for more than one reason; if so,
state all reasons.

Note 3. Specify which offeror if there is more than
one.

Note 4. When an arrangement exists with any offeror, with the offeree
company or with an associate of any offeror or of the offeree company
in relation to relevant securities, details of such arrangement must
be disclosed, as required by Note 6 on Rule 8.

Note 5. It may be necessary, particularly when disclosing derivative
transactions, to append a sheet to this disclosure form so that all
relevant information can be given.

Note 6. In the case of an average price bargain, each underlying trade
should be disclosed.

For full details of disclosure requirements, see Rule 8 of the Code.
If in doubt, contact the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers, Monitoring
Section, Tel. No: 020 7638 0129. E-mail:monitoring@disclosure.org.uk

   Short Name: Putnam Investments
   Category Code: DCC
   Sequence Number: 00007553
   Time of Receipt (offset from UTC): 20030724T172715+0100

    --30--RA/uk*

    CONTACT: Putnam Investments

    KEYWORD: UNITED KINGDOM INTERNATIONAL EUROPE
    INDUSTRY KEYWORD: BANKING
    SOURCE: Putnam Investments

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