Acquisition

WPP Group PLC
8 August 2000


                    WPP GROUP PLC ('WPP')
                              
                              
 Hill and Knowlton acquires high tech public relations firm
                SocketPR in the United States

WPP's wholly-owned worldwide public relations and public
affairs operating company, Hill and Knowlton ('H&K'), has
acquired SocketPR, a leading high technology IT and e-
business public relations firm in the United States.

SocketPR, which has offices in Atlanta, Georgia and in
Austin, Texas, further strengthens H&K's growing high
technology practice and confirms the company as a leader in
this fast-growing sector. H&K's high tech practice has
reached more than $50million in billings revenues in the
United States alone.

SocketPR, founded in 1992, employs 45 people and represents
30 high tech clients in the United States.  The agency
provides public relations and strategic marketing counsel to
a range of high tech and consumer-oriented companies.  It
works with start-ups as well as established corporations
helping them to position their products, gain the mindshare
of top influencers and increase marketshare.  Its services
include editorial contact and placement, analyst relations,
press tours, product rollouts and campaigns, trade show
support, branding and Weblicity TM programs that maximise
clients' internet presence.

The agency had revenues of $2.8million in 1999 and net
assets of $365,000 at 31 May 2000.

'Our high technology practice has been leading the way in
innovation for the past several years,' said Tom Hoog,
president and CEO of H&K US.  'Beginning with our
acquisition of Blanc & Otus in 1999, the opening of the Hill
and Knowlton office in the Northern Virginia high tech
corridor, and now with this new partnership with SocketPR,
we are adding strength and market presence across the Hill
and Knowlton network.'

'We are excited to leverage the expertise of SocketPR which
has developed a leadership reputation in high tech PR in
Atlanta and Austin - both burgeoning high tech epicenters,'
said Maureen Blanc, US technology practice leader for H&K
and founder of Blanc & Otus Public Relations, now an H&K
company.

For further information, contact Feona McEwan, WPP
Tel. [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

www.hillandknowlton.com
www.SocketPR.com
www.wpp.com