BW20030311002102  20030311T170759Z UTC


( BW)(PUTNAM-INVESTMENT)(WMN) Rule 8 - WM Morrison Supermarkets Plc

    Business Editors
    UK REGULATORY NEWS

    LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 7, 2003--

Date of disclosure: March 11, 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: March 10, 2003

Dealing in: WM Morrison Supermarkets Plc     (name of company)

(1)  Class of securities : Ordinary shares

(2)  Amount bought           Amount sold              Price per unit
     586,739                        (0)                     1.4743051

(3)  Resultant total of the same class owned or controlled
     (and percentage of  class): 15,654,468   (1.003 %)

(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......X.......

(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

Notes 

*   References to a "bank" do not apply to a bank whose sole
    relationship with a party to an offer is the provision of normal
    commercial banking services or such activities in connection with
    the offer as confirming that cash is available, handling
    acceptances and other registration work.

References to "financial and other professional advisers (including
stockbrokers)", in relation to a party to an offer, do not include an
organisation which has stood down, because of a conflict of interest
or otherwise, from acting for that party in connection with the offer.
If the organisation is to have a continuing involvement with that
party during the offer, the Panel must be consulted. Unless the Panel
is satisfied that the involvement is entirely unconnected with the
offer, the above exclusion will not normally apply.

#   The normal test for whether a person is controlled by, controls or
    is under the same control as another person will be by reference
    to the definition of control contained in the Code. There may be
    other circumstances which the Panel will regard as giving rise to
    such a relationship (eg where a majority of the equity share
    capital is owned by another person who does not have a majority of
    the voting rights); in cases of doubt, the Panel should be
    consulted.

   Short Name: Putnam Investments
   Category Code: DCC
   Sequence Number: 00002720
   Time of Receipt (offset from UTC): 20030311T163747+0000

    --30--ac/uk*

    CONTACT: Putnam Investments

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

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