PPT Putnam Premier Income Trust

Putnam Investments today announced quarterly performance results for 1 closed-end fund over the three months ended 4/30/05. Putnam Premier Income Trust The per-share net asset value (NAV) for Putnam Premier Income Trust (PPT) was $7.11 as of the close of business on 4/30/05. The per-share NAV for this fund was $7.29 as of 1/31/05. The share price as traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on 4/30/05 was $6.34. The share price for this fund as traded on the NYSE was $6.65 as of 1/31/05. The fund's total return for the three months ended 4/30/05 was 0.27% based on net asset value and -1.99% based on NYSE share price. Quarterly data for the three months ended includes the impact of the merger of Putnam Master Income Trust into Putnam Premier Income Trust on February 25, 2005. Additional quarterly data is as follows: -0- *T Three months Three months ended ended April 30, April 30, 2005 2004 --------------- ------------- Total investment income Total $ 17,855,010 $ 17,340,292 Per common share $ .09 $ .12 --------------- ------------- Net investment income Total $ 15,493,768 $ 15,237,650 Per common share $ .08 $ .11 --------------- ------------- Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments Total $ (9,421,059) $(18,146,790) Per common share $ (.05) $ (.13) --------------- ------------- Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations Total $ 6,072,709 $ (2,909,140) Per common share $ .03 $ (.02) --------------- ------------- Net assets available at the end of the period Total $1,387,960,576 $999,736,974 Per common share $ 7.11 $ 7.08 *T About Putnam Investments: Founded in 1937, Putnam Investments is one of the nation's oldest and largest money management firms. As of May 31, 2005, Putnam managed $196 billion in assets, of which $132 billion is for mutual fund investors and $64 billion is for institutional clients. Putnam has headquarters in Boston and offices in London and Tokyo.