PPT Putnam Premier Income Trust

Putnam Investments today announced quarterly performance results for 1 closed-end fund over the three months ended 4/30/06. Putnam Premier Income Trust The per-share net asset value (NAV) for Putnam Premier Income Trust (NYSE: PPT) was $7.01 as of the close of business on 4/30/06. The per-share NAV for this fund was $7.08 as of 1/31/06. The share price as traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on 4/30/06 was $6.11. The share price for this fund as traded on the NYSE was $6.21 as of 1/31/06. The fund's total return for the three months ended 4/30/06 was 0.47% based on net asset value and -0.16% based on NYSE share price. Quarterly data for the prior three months ended April 30, 2005 includes the impact of the merger of Putnam Master Income Trust into Putnam Premier Income Trust on February 25, 2005. -0- *T Additional quarterly data is as follows: Three months Three months ended ended April 30, 2006 April 30, 2005 ------------------------------------------------------ --------------- Total investment income Total $ 19,570,758 $ 17,855,010 Per common share $ .10 $ .09 ------------------------------------------------------ --------------- Net investment income Total $ 17,210,732 $ 15,493,768 Per common share $ .09 $ .08 ------------------------------------------------------ --------------- Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments Total $ (15,959,072) $ (9,421,059) Per common share $ (.08) $ (.05) ------------------------------------------------------ --------------- Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations Total $ 1,251,660 $ 6,072,709 Per common share $ .01 $ .03 ------------------------------------------------------ --------------- Net assets available at the end of the period Total $1,328,715,844 $1,387,960,576 Per common share $ 7.01 $ 7.11 *T Data for the fund for the period ended April 30, 2006 reflects the repurchase of common shares pursuant to a repurchase program that commenced in October 2005. About Putnam Investments: Founded in 1937, Putnam Investments is one of the nation's oldest and largest money management firms. As of April 30, 2006, Putnam managed USD$191 billion assets. Mutual fund assets were USD$127 billion. Institutional assets were USD$64 billion. Putnam has offices in Boston, London and Tokyo.