Offer Update

WPP Group PLC
10 October 2001



    NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO AUSTRALIA, CANADA
    OR JAPAN


                                  WPP GROUP PLC

                            OFFER FOR TEMPUS GROUP PLC


    WPP announces that it is seeking the consent of the Takeover Panel to
    invoke the material adverse change condition in relation to its Offer for
    Tempus, as set out in paragraph (g)(i) of Appendix 1, Part A of its offer
    document dated 10 September 2001 (the 'Offer Document').

    The board of WPP remains convinced of the strategic merits of combining
    WPP and Tempus. However, it is the unanimous view of the WPP board that
    there has been a material adverse change in the prospects of the Tempus
    Group following the announcement of WPP's Offer and, in particular,
    following the terrorist attacks in the United States on 11 September 2001.
    The board of WPP has therefore concluded that it is in WPP shareholders'
    best interests to seek to invoke the material adverse change condition.

    A formal submission has been made to the Takeover Panel today and a
    further announcement will be made in due course.

    Enquiries:

    WPP     Telephone: [phone]

    Sir Martin Sorrell, Group Chief Executive

    Paul Richardson, Group Finance Director


    MERRILL LYNCH     Telephone: [phone]

    Philip Yates, Managing Director

    Richard Taylor, Director

    Tim Pratelli, Director


    GOLDMAN SACHS     Telephone: [phone]

    Richard Campbell-Breeden, Managing Director

    James Del Favero, Managing Director


    BUCHANAN COMMUNICATIONS     Telephone: [phone]

    Richard Oldworth, Managing Director

    Mark Edwards, Director


    The definitions set out in the Offer Document have the same meanings in
    this announcement unless the context requires otherwise.


    The Offer is not being made, directly or indirectly, in or into Australia,
    Canada or Japan. Accordingly, copies of this announcement are not being,
    and must not be, mailed or otherwise distributed or sent in or into or
    from Australia, Canada or Japan.


    The Directors of WPP accept responsibility for the information contained
    in this announcement and, to the best of their knowledge and belief
    (having taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case), the
    information contained in this announcement is in accordance with the facts
    and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such
    information.


    Merrill Lynch International and Goldman Sachs International, both of which
    are regulated in the United Kingdom by The Securities and Futures
    Authority Limited, are acting exclusively for WPP in connection with the
    Offer and no one else and will not be responsible to anyone other than WPP
    for providing the protections afforded to their respective customers or
    for providing advice in relation to the Offer or any other matter referred
    to herein.