N-CSRS 1 a_convertiblesecurities.htm PUTNAM CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES FUND a_convertiblesecurities.htm


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES




Investment Company Act file number: (811-02280)
Exact name of registrant as specified in charter: Putnam Convertible Securities Fund
Address of principal executive offices: One Post Office Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02109
Name and address of agent for service: Robert T. Burns, Vice President
One Post Office Square
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
Copy to:         Bryan Chegwidden, Esq.
Ropes & Gray LLP
1211 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (617) 292-1000
Date of fiscal year end: October 31, 2018
Date of reporting period: November 1, 2017 — April 30, 2018



Item 1. Report to Stockholders:

The following is a copy of the report transmitted to stockholders pursuant to Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940:




Putnam
Convertible Securities
Fund

Semiannual report
4 | 30 | 18

 

Consider these risks before investing: Convertible securities prices may fall or fail to rise over time for several reasons, including general financial market conditions, changing market perceptions (including perceptions about the risk of default and expectations about monetary policy or interest rates), changes in government intervention in the financial markets, and factors related to a specific issuer or industry. These and other factors may lead to increased volatility and reduced liquidity in the fund’s portfolio holdings. These risks are generally greater for convertible securities issued by small and/or midsize companies. Convertible securities’ prices may be adversely affected by underlying common stock price changes. While convertible securities tend to provide higher yields than common stocks, the higher yield may not protect against the risk of loss or mitigate any loss associated with a convertible security’s price decline. Convertible securities are subject to credit risk, which is the risk that an issuer of the fund’s investments may default on payment of interest or principal. Credit risk is greater for below-investment-grade convertible securities. Convertible securities may be less sensitive to interest-rate changes than non-convertible bonds because of their structural features (e.g., convertibility, “put” features). Interest-rate risk is generally greater, however, for longer-term bonds and convertible securities whose underlying stock price has fallen significantly below the conversion price. You can lose money by investing in the fund.



Message from the Trustees

June 8, 2018

Dear Fellow Shareholder:

After an extended period of record advances and low volatility for global financial markets, the first half of 2018 has been considerably more challenging. Stocks began the year against a backdrop of optimism, but quickly lost ground in February with a sharp downturn that pushed the U.S. market into correction territory. Stocks subsequently recovered somewhat, but markets have remained choppy. Bond markets have also had a series of ups and downs, due in part to uncertainty surrounding trade policy and the trajectory of U.S. interest rates.

While volatility and declines can be unsettling, seasoned investors recognize that they are natural and ultimately can restore balance in the financial markets. In this changing environment, Putnam’s experienced investment professionals continue to monitor risks and seek opportunities. They take a research-intensive approach to investing that includes risk management strategies designed to serve investors in all types of markets.

As always, we believe investors should maintain a well-diversified portfolio, think about long-term goals, and speak regularly with their financial advisors. In the following pages, you will find an overview of your fund’s performance for the reporting period as well as an outlook for the coming months.

Thank you for investing with Putnam.





Two different investment objectives — seeking current income and seeking capital appreciation potential — typically dictate an investor’s preference for bonds or stocks. But with Putnam Convertible Securities Fund, investors can pursue both of these objectives at the same time.

Hybrid securities with the characteristics of stocks and bonds

Typically issued as bonds or preferred stock, convertibles offer investors the ability to “convert” their convertible shares into shares of common stock. This feature allows investors to profit from the potential price appreciation of the convertible issuer’s underlying stock. At the same time, convertibles offer both income potential and downside protection through their fixed-income characteristics.


Source: Putnam, as of 12/31/17. All returns are annualized. Index performance is not indicative of Putnam fund performance or a guarantee of future results. You cannot invest in an index.

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Current performance may be lower or higher than the quoted past performance, which cannot guarantee future results. Share price, principal value, and return will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or a loss when you sell your shares. Performance of class A shares assumes reinvestment of distributions and does not account for taxes. Fund returns in the bar chart do not reflect a sales charge of 5.75%; had they, returns would have been lower. See below and pages 9–11 for additional performance information. For a portion of the periods, the fund had expense limitations, without which returns would have been lower. To obtain the most recent month-end performance, visit putnam.com.

* The fund’s benchmark, the ICE BofAML U.S. Convertible Index, was introduced on 12/31/87, which post-dates the inception of the fund’s class A shares.

Returns for the six-month period are not annualized, but cumulative.


This comparison shows your fund’s performance in the context of broad market indexes for the six months ended 4/30/18. See above and pages 9–11 for additional fund performance information. Index descriptions can be found on page 14.

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Robert L. Salvin
Portfolio Manager

Rob has an M.B.A. from the Booth School of Business, University of Chicago, and a B.S. from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. He joined Putnam in 2000 and has been in the investment industry since 1986.


Anthony J. Daigle
Assistant Portfolio Manager

Anthony has a B.S. in International Business from Merrimack College. He has been in the investment industry since he joined Putnam in 2004.

What was the market environment like for U.S. convertible securities during the reporting period ended April 30, 2018?

ROB Investor optimism about U.S. tax reform, easing geopolitical tensions, and strong third-quarter corporate earnings contributed to a favorable environment for convertible securities in the closing months of 2017. Convertible securities tend to take on equity characteristics during rising markets, which helped the asset class enjoy solid performance at this time — led by better-than-expected results in the technology sector.

Stocks began 2018 on an upbeat note with optimism about the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which ushered in significant tax breaks for corporations. In February, however, rising wage inflation led to a sharp downturn in the equity markets. Stocks recovered but slid again in March when President Trump proposed tariffs on aluminum and steel imports, raising concerns about a trade war with China. The technology sector also struggled when a scandal alleging misuse of customer data by Facebook weighed on its stock — overshadowing what had so far been a solid earnings season. In this environment, convertibles

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Allocations are shown as a percentage of the fund’s net assets as of 4/30/18. Cash and net other assets, if any, represent the market value weights of cash, derivatives, short-term securities, and other unclassified assets in the portfolio. Summary information may differ from the portfolio schedule included in the financial statements due to the inclusion of derivative securities, any interest accruals, the exclusion of as-of trades, if any, the use of different classifications of securities for presentation purposes, and rounding. Holdings and allocations may vary over time.


This table shows the fund’s top 10 individual holdings and the percentage of the fund’s net assets that each represented as of 4/30/18. Short-term investments, TBA commitments, and derivatives, if any, are excluded. Holdings may vary over time.

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remained largely insulated with little exposure to the most volatile companies.

The Federal Reserve announced two interest-rate hikes during the period, raising the federal funds rate in December 2017 to a target range of 1.25% to 1.50% and in March 2018 to a target range of 1.50% to 1.75%. Against this backdrop, U.S. Treasuries experienced alternating bouts of selloffs and rallies, as investors grappled with these rate hikes and geopolitical concerns. Treasury yields rose sharply in the second half of the period, with the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury yield closing out the period at 2.95% and spreads widened for both investment-grade and high-yield convertible issuers, reflecting increased uncertainty. With the return for the broader fixed-income markets in negative territory, convertibles benefited from their underlying equity exposure.

How did Putnam Convertible Securities Fund perform?

ANTHONY For the six months ended April 30, 2018, the fund delivered positive performance but underperformed the ICE BofAML U.S. Convertible Index [the benchmark index] and the average return of funds in its Lipper peer group. At the sector level, overweight positioning within the technology sector was the largest positive contributor, particularly the fund’s overweight exposure to Everbridge and RealPage. Effective security selection within the utilities sector also added to relative performance.

Positive performance was offset by underweight positioning and security selection within the financials and consumer cyclicals sectors, which were the largest relative detractors at the sector level. Additionally, an overweight exposure to and security selection in capital goods detracted from performance.

Can you discuss some of the holdings that were notable contributors?

ROB The fund’s investments in the large-cap energy company, Hess, was rewarding during the period. The rally in energy prices contributed to stronger revenue growth, and the stock rallied as a result.

The fund’s overweight position in the small-cap technology company, Everbridge, augmented performance. The underlying equity of Everbridge, a global provider of emergency communications and enterprise safety solutions, surged on the news in December 2017 that the State of Vermont selected the company as its notification provider. The stock also rallied in the first quarter of 2018 after the company announced the acquisition of Unified Messaging Systems.

Finally, RealPage, a mid-cap company that provides property management software solutions for the multi-family, commercial, single-family, and vacation rental housing industries, was another strong contributor. The security’s outperformance was driven by strength in the underlying equity, which rallied in response to solid fourth-quarter 2017 earnings.

What were some holdings that detracted from returns during the period?

ANTHONY The greatest detractor to performance was Clovis Oncology, a development-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on cancer treatments. The stock’s underperformance was driven by multiple factors, including a lack of merger and acquisition interest in the biotechnology sector and the underperformance of the oncology drug manufacturing peer Tesaro.

Our decision to not invest in two mid-cap stocks that performed well also weighed on the fund’s performance. The mid-cap technology

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company, Verisign, which provides domain registration services, benefited from strength in cloud computing in the fourth quarter of 2017, despite weakness in the broader technology sector. Herbalife Nutrition, a global producer of nutrition supplements, weight management, and personal-care products, rallied after an activist investor sold his position in the company’s stock. The stock rallied further when the company announced first-quarter 2018 earnings that beat market expectations.

What is your outlook for the second half of 2018?

ROB We have a constructive outlook for the U.S. convertibles market. Corporate earnings results for the fourth quarter of 2017 and first quarter of 2018 largely exceeded market expectations. Furthermore, we believe the benefits of tax reform are still percolating through the U.S. economy. In addition to the reduction in the corporate tax rate, the U.S. tax overhaul framework includes a lower repatriation rate, full expensing of capital expenditures, and the capping of interest-rate deductibility. On balance, we believe these changes will be positive for convertible issuers.

On the technical side, convertibles continue to witness what we believe is a healthy new-issue market, with year-to-date supply through April 30, 2018, up over 18% year-over-year. Increased supply has expanded the universe of investment options in the U.S. convertibles market, creating attractive associated return opportunities, in our view. We expect this robust environment for new issues to continue in the face of rising interest rates, barring any short-term volatility. Additionally, we believe that the new tax law increases the relative attractiveness of convertible market funding versus corporate debt, particularly for more highly levered companies — potentially creating additional demand for the asset class.

As central banks continue the process of normalizing monetary policy, which could cause unease in the equity markets, we believe convertible securities continue to be an attractive investment strategy. In addition, convertibles historically have performed well amid rising interest rates because of


This chart shows how the fund’s top weightings have changed over the past six months. Allocations are shown as a percentage of the fund’s net assets. Current period summary information may differ from the portfolio schedule included in the financial statements due to the inclusion of derivative securities, any interest accruals, the exclusion of as-of trades, if any, the use of different classifications of securities for presentation purposes, and rounding. Holdings and allocations may vary over time.

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their sensitivity to underlying equities. By losing less ground in declining markets and capturing a significant portion of their upside performance over time, we believe convertibles may continue to offer investors a superior risk-adjusted return alternative to directly owning stocks.

Thank you, gentlemen, for your time and insights today.

The views expressed in this report are exclusively those of Putnam Management and are subject to change. They are not meant as investment advice.

Please note that the holdings discussed in this report may not have been held by the fund for the entire period. Portfolio composition is subject to review in accordance with the fund’s investment strategy and may vary in the future. Current and future portfolio holdings are subject to risk.

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Your fund’s performance

This section shows your fund’s performance, price, and distribution information for periods ended April 30, 2018, the end of the first half of its current fiscal year. In accordance with regulatory requirements for mutual funds, we also include performance information as of the most recent calendar quarter-end and expense information taken from the fund’s current prospectus. Performance should always be considered in light of a fund’s investment strategy. Data represent past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. More recent returns may be less or more than those shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or a loss when you sell your shares. Performance information does not reflect any deduction for taxes a shareholder may owe on fund distributions or on the redemption of fund shares. For the most recent month-end performance, please visit the Individual Investors section at putnam.com or call Putnam at 1-800-225-1581. Class I, R, and Y shares are not available to all investors. See the Terms and definitions section in this report for definitions of the share classes offered by your fund.

Fund performance Total return for periods ended 4/30/18

  Annual                 
  average    Annual    Annual    Annual     
  (life of fund) 10 years  average 5 years  average  3 years  average  1 year  6 months 
Class A (6/29/72)                   
Before sales charge  9.68%  86.23%  6.42%  43.06%  7.43%  14.81%  4.71%  8.57%  0.60% 
After sales charge  9.54  75.52  5.79  34.84  6.16  8.20  2.66  2.33  –5.18 
Class B (7/15/93)                   
Before CDSC  9.49  75.38  5.78  37.76  6.62  12.24  3.92  7.76  0.20 
After CDSC  9.49  75.38  5.78  35.76  6.31  9.24  2.99  2.76  –4.68 
Class C (7/26/99)                   
Before CDSC  9.50  72.71  5.62  37.78  6.62  12.22  3.92  7.77  0.24 
After CDSC  9.50  72.71  5.62  37.78  6.62  12.22  3.92  6.77  –0.74 
Class I (3/3/15)                   
Net asset value  9.81  91.81  6.73  45.47  7.78  16.12  5.11  9.02  0.79 
Class M (3/13/95)                   
Before sales charge  9.03  77.17  5.89  39.55  6.89  13.09  4.19  8.07  0.35 
After sales charge  8.94  70.97  5.51  34.66  6.13  9.13  2.96  4.29  –3.16 
Class R (12/1/03)                   
Net asset value  9.41  81.62  6.15  41.25  7.15  13.90  4.43  8.32  0.47 
Class Y (12/30/98)                   
Net asset value  9.80  90.92  6.68  44.79  7.68  15.62  4.96  8.85  0.70 

 

Current performance may be lower or higher than the quoted past performance, which cannot guarantee future results. After-sales-charge returns for class A and M shares reflect the deduction of the maximum 5.75% and 3.50% sales charge, respectively, levied at the time of purchase. Class B share returns after contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) reflect the applicable CDSC, which is 5% in the first year, declining over time to 1% in the sixth year, and is eliminated thereafter. Class C share returns after CDSC reflect a 1% CDSC for the first year that is eliminated thereafter. Class I, R, and Y shares have no initial sales charge or CDSC. Performance for class B, C, M, R, and Y shares before their inception is derived from the historical performance of class A shares, adjusted for the applicable sales charge (or CDSC) and the higher operating expenses for such shares, except for class Y shares, for which 12b-1 fees are not applicable. Performance for class I shares prior to their inception is derived from the historical performance of class Y

Convertible Securities Fund 9 

 



shares and has not been adjusted for the lower investor servicing fees applicable to class I shares; had it, returns would have been higher.

For a portion of the periods, the fund had expense limitations, without which returns would have been lower.

Class B share performance reflects conversion to class A shares after eight years.

Class C share performance reflects conversion to class A shares after ten years.

Comparative index returns For periods ended 4/30/18

  Annual                 
  average    Annual    Annual    Annual     
  (life of fund)  10 years  average  5 years  average  3 years  average  1 year  6 months 
ICE BofAML U.S.                   
Convertible Index    109.10%  7.66%  55.56%  9.24%  19.94%  6.25%  9.14%  2.11% 
Lipper Convertible                   
Securities Funds  9.68%  83.07  6.21  43.99  7.52  15.99  5.04  8.98  2.12 
category average*                   

 

Index and Lipper results should be compared with fund performance before sales charge, before CDSC, or at net asset value.

* Over the 6-month, 1-year, 3-year, 5-year, 10-year, and life-of-fund periods ended 4/30/18, there were 82, 82, 70, 61, 39, and 1 fund(s), respectively, in this Lipper category.

The fund’s benchmark, the ICE BofAML U.S. Convertible Index, was introduced on 12/31/87, which post-dates the inception of the fund’s class A shares.

Fund price and distribution information For the six-month period ended 4/30/18

Distributions  Class A  Class B  Class C  Class I  Class M  Class R  Class Y 
Number  2 2  2  2  2 2  2 
Income  $0.240 $0.144  $0.145  $0.289  $0.173 $0.204  $0.274 
Capital gains                   
Long-term gains  0.526 0.526  0.526  0.526  0.526  0.526  0.526 
Short-term gains           
Total  $0.766  $0.670  $0.671  $0.815  $0.699  $0.730  $0.800 
  Before  After  Net  Net  Net  Before  After  Net  Net 
  sales  sales  asset  asset  asset  sales  sales  asset  asset 
Share value  charge  charge  value  value  value  charge  charge  value  value 
10/31/17  $26.19  $27.79  $25.66  $25.88  $26.20  $25.91  $26.85  $26.07  $26.18 
4/30/18  25.58  27.14  25.04  25.27  25.59  25.30  26.22  25.46  25.56 
  Before  After  Net  Net  Net  Before  After  Net  Net 
Current rate  sales  sales  asset  asset  asset  sales  sales  asset  asset 
(end of period)  charge  charge  value  value  value  charge  charge  value  value 
Current dividend                   
rate1  1.88%  1.77%  1.15%  1.17%  2.25%  1.39%  1.34%  1.65%  2.14% 
Current 30-day                   
SEC yield2  N/A  0.78  0.07  0.06  1.22  N/A  0.31  0.57  1.07 

 

The classification of distributions, if any, is an estimate. Before-sales-charge share value and current dividend rate for class A and M shares, if applicable, do not take into account any sales charge levied at the time of purchase.

After-sales-charge share value, current dividend rate, and current 30-day SEC yield, if applicable, are calculated assuming that the maximum sales charge (5.75% for class A shares and 3.50% for class M shares) was levied at the time of purchase. Final distribution information will appear on your year-end tax forms.

1 Most recent distribution, including any return of capital and excluding capital gains, annualized and divided by NAV or market price at end of period.

2 Based only on investment income and calculated using the maximum offering price for each share class, in accordance with SEC guidelines.

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Fund performance as of most recent calendar quarter Total return for periods ended 3/31/18

  Annual                 
  average    Annual    Annual    Annual     
  (life of fund) 10 years average 5 years  average  3 years  average  1 year  6 months 
Class A (6/29/72)                   
Before sales charge  9.73%  98.06%  7.07%  46.43%  7.93%  16.67%  5.27%  11.30%  3.77% 
After sales charge  9.58  86.67  6.44  38.01  6.65  9.96  3.21  4.90  –2.20 
Class B (7/15/93)                   
Before CDSC  9.53  86.52  6.43  40.99  7.11  14.04  4.48  10.44  3.37 
After CDSC  9.53  86.52  6.43  38.99  6.81  11.04  3.55  5.44  –1.63 
Class C (7/26/99)                   
Before CDSC  8.90  83.76  6.27  40.97  7.11  14.06  4.48  10.47  3.35 
After CDSC  8.90  83.76  6.27  40.97  7.11  14.06  4.48  9.47  2.35 
Class I (3/3/15)                   
Net asset value  9.85  104.02  7.39  48.90  8.29  18.05  5.69  11.72  3.96 
Class M (3/13/95)                   
Before sales charge  9.07  88.42  6.54  42.79  7.38  14.89  4.74  10.73  3.46 
After sales charge  8.99  81.83  6.16  37.80  6.62  10.87  3.50  6.85  –0.16 
Class R (12/1/03)                   
Net asset value  9.45  93.20  6.81  44.52  7.64  15.75  5.00  11.02  3.60 
Class Y (12/30/98)                   
Net asset value  9.84  103.15  7.35  48.27  8.20  17.54  5.53  11.60  3.86 

 

See the discussion following the fund performance table on page 9 for information about the calculation of fund performance.

Your fund’s expenses

As a mutual fund investor, you pay ongoing expenses, such as management fees, distribution fees (12b-1 fees), and other expenses. Using the following information, you can estimate how these expenses affect your investment and compare them with the expenses of other funds. You may also pay one-time transaction expenses, including sales charges (loads) and redemption fees, which are not shown in this section and would have resulted in higher total expenses. For more information, see your fund’s prospectus or talk to your financial representative.

Expense ratios

  Class A  Class B  Class C  Class I  Class M  Class R  Class Y 
Total annual operating expenses for the               
fiscal year ended 10/31/17  1.07%  1.82%  1.82%  0.69%  1.57%  1.32%  0.82% 
Annualized expense ratio for the               
six-month period ended 4/30/18  1.05%  1.80%  1.80%  0.68%  1.55%  1.30%  0.80% 

 

Fiscal-year expense information in this table is taken from the most recent prospectus, is subject to change, and may differ from that shown for the annualized expense ratio and in the financial highlights of this report.

Expenses are shown as a percentage of average net assets.

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Expenses per $1,000

The following table shows the expenses you would have paid on a $1,000 investment in each class of the fund from 11/1/17 to 4/30/18. It also shows how much a $1,000 investment would be worth at the close of the period, assuming actual returns and expenses.

  Class A  Class B  Class C  Class I  Class M  Class R  Class Y 
Expenses paid per $1,000 *†  $5.22  $8.93  $8.94  $3.39  $7.70  $6.46  $3.98 
Ending value (after expenses)  $1,006.00  $1,002.00  $1,002.40  $1,007.90  $1,003.50  $1,004.70  $1,007.00 

 

* Expenses for each share class are calculated using the fund’s annualized expense ratio for each class, which represents the ongoing expenses as a percentage of average net assets for the six months ended 4/30/18. The expense ratio may differ for each share class.

Expenses are calculated by multiplying the expense ratio by the average account value for the period; then multiplying the result by the number of days in the period; and then dividing that result by the number of days in the year.

Estimate the expenses you paid

To estimate the ongoing expenses you paid for the six months ended 4/30/18, use the following calculation method. To find the value of your investment on 11/1/17, call Putnam at 1-800-225-1581.


Compare expenses using the SEC’s method

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has established guidelines to help investors assess fund expenses. Per these guidelines, the following table shows your fund’s expenses based on a $1,000 investment, assuming a hypothetical 5% annualized return. You can use this information to compare the ongoing expenses (but not transaction expenses or total costs) of investing in the fund with those of other funds. All mutual fund shareholder reports will provide this information to help you make this comparison. Please note that you cannot use this information to estimate your actual ending account balance and expenses paid during the period.

  Class A  Class B  Class C  Class I  Class M  Class R  Class Y 
Expenses paid per $1,000 *†  $5.26  $9.00  $9.00  $3.41  $7.75  $6.51  $4.01 
Ending value (after expenses)  $1,019.59  $1,015.87  $1,015.87  $1,021.42  $1,017.11  $1,018.35  $1,020.83 

 

* Expenses for each share class are calculated using the fund’s annualized expense ratio for each class, which represents the ongoing expenses as a percentage of average net assets for the six months ended 4/30/18. The expense ratio may differ for each share class.

Expenses are calculated by multiplying the expense ratio by the average account value for the six-month period; then multiplying the result by the number of days in the six-month period; and then dividing that result by the number of days in the year.

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Terms and definitions

Important terms

Total return shows how the value of the fund’s shares changed over time, assuming you held the shares through the entire period and reinvested all distributions in the fund.

Before sales charge, or net asset value, is the price, or value, of one share of a mutual fund, without a sales charge. Before-sales-charge figures fluctuate with market conditions, and are calculated by dividing the net assets of each class of shares by the number of outstanding shares in the class.

After sales charge is the price of a mutual fund share plus the maximum sales charge levied at the time of purchase. After-sales-charge performance figures shown here assume the 5.75% maximum sales charge for class A shares and 3.50% for class M shares.

Contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) is generally a charge applied at the time of the redemption of class B or C shares and assumes redemption at the end of the period. Your fund’s class B CDSC declines over time from a 5% maximum during the first year to 1% during the sixth year. After the sixth year, the CDSC no longer applies. The CDSC for class C shares is 1% for one year after purchase.

Share classes

Class A shares are generally subject to an initial sales charge and no CDSC (except on certain redemptions of shares bought without an initial sales charge).

Class B shares are closed to new investments and are only available by exchange from another Putnam fund or through dividend and/ or capital gains reinvestment. They are not subject to an initial sales charge and may be subject to a CDSC.

Class C shares are not subject to an initial sales charge and are subject to a CDSC only if the shares are redeemed during the first year.

Class I shares are not subject to an initial sales charge or CDSC, and carry no 12b-1 fee. They are only available to institutional clients and other investors who meet minimum investment requirements.

Class M shares have a lower initial sales charge and a higher 12b-1 fee than class A shares and no CDSC.

Class R shares are not subject to an initial sales charge or CDSC and are only available to employer-sponsored retirement plans.

Class Y shares are not subject to an initial sales charge or CDSC and carry no 12b-1 fee. They are generally only available to corporate and institutional clients and clients in other approved programs.

Fixed-income terms

Current rate is the annual rate of return earned from dividends or interest of an investment. Current rate is expressed as a percentage of the price of a security, fund share, or principal investment.

Mortgage-backed security (MBS), also known as a mortgage “pass-through,” is a type of asset-backed security that is secured by a mortgage or collection of mortgages. The following are types of MBSs:

Agency “pass-through” has its principal and interest backed by a U.S. government agency, such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac).

Collateralized mortgage obligation (CMO) represents claims to specific cash flows from pools of home mortgages.

The streams of principal and interest payments on the mortgages are distributed to the different classes of CMO interests in “tranches.” Each tranche may have different principal balances, coupon rates,

Convertible Securities Fund 13 

 



prepayment risks, and maturity dates. A CMO is highly sensitive to changes in interest rates and any resulting change in the rate at which homeowners sell their properties, refinance, or otherwise prepay loans. CMOs are subject to prepayment, market, and liquidity risks.

Interest-only (IO) security is a type of CMO in which the underlying asset is the interest portion of mortgage, Treasury, or bond payments.

Non-agency residential mortgage-backed security (RMBS) is an MBS not backed by Fannie Mae, Ginnie Mae, or Freddie Mac. One type of RMBS is an Alt-A mortgage-backed security.

Commercial mortgage-backed security (CMBS) is secured by the loan on a commercial property.

Yield curve is a graph that plots the yields of bonds with equal credit quality against their differing maturity dates, ranging from shortest to longest. It is used as a benchmark for other debt, such as mortgage or bank lending rates.

Comparative indexes

Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is an unmanaged index of U.S. investment-grade fixed-income securities.

ICE BofAML (Intercontinental Exchange Bank of America Merrill Lynch) U.S. 3-Month Treasury Bill Index is an unmanaged index that seeks to measure the performance of U.S. Treasury bills available in the marketplace.

ICE BofAML U.S. Convertible Index is an unmanaged index of high-yield U.S. convertible securities.

S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged index of common stock performance.

ICE Data Indices, LLC (“ICE BofAML”), used with permission. ICE BofAML permits use of the ICE BofAML indices and related data on an “as is” basis; makes no warranties regarding same; does not guarantee the suitability, quality, accuracy, timeliness, and/or completeness of the ICE BofAML indices or any data included in, related to, or derived therefrom; assumes no liability in connection with the use of the foregoing; and does not sponsor, endorse, or recommend Putnam Investments, or any of its products or services.

Indexes assume reinvestment of all distributions and do not account for fees. Securities and performance of a fund and an index will differ. You cannot invest directly in an index.

Lipper is a third-party industry-ranking entity that ranks mutual funds. Its rankings do not reflect sales charges. Lipper rankings are based on total return at net asset value relative to other funds that have similar current investment styles or objectives as determined by Lipper. Lipper may change a fund’s category assignment at its discretion. Lipper category averages reflect performance trends for funds within a category.

14 Convertible Securities Fund 

 



Other information for shareholders

Important notice regarding delivery of shareholder documents

In accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations, Putnam sends a single copy of annual and semiannual shareholder reports, prospectuses, and proxy statements to Putnam shareholders who share the same address, unless a shareholder requests otherwise. If you prefer to receive your own copy of these documents, please call Putnam at 1-800-225-1581, and Putnam will begin sending individual copies within 30 days.

Proxy voting

Putnam is committed to managing our mutual funds in the best interests of our shareholders. The Putnam funds’ proxy voting guidelines and procedures, as well as information regarding how your fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the 12-month period ended June 30, 2017, are available in the Individual Investors section of putnam.com, and on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. If you have questions about finding forms on the SEC’s website, you may call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. You may also obtain the Putnam funds’ proxy voting guidelines and procedures at no charge by calling Putnam’s Shareholder Services at 1-800-225-1581.

Fund portfolio holdings

The fund will file a complete schedule of its portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. Shareholders may obtain the fund’s Form N-Q on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, the fund’s Form N-Q may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. You may call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for information about the SEC’s website or the operation of the Public Reference Room.

Trustee and employee fund ownership

Putnam employees and members of the Board of Trustees place their faith, confidence, and, most importantly, investment dollars in Putnam mutual funds. As of April 30, 2018, Putnam employees had approximately $510,000,000 and the Trustees had approximately $80,000,000 invested in Putnam mutual funds. These amounts include investments by the Trustees’ and employees’ immediate family members as well as investments through retirement and deferred compensation plans.

Convertible Securities Fund 15 

 



Financial statements

These sections of the report, as well as the accompanying Notes, constitute the fund’s financial statements.

The fund’s portfolio lists all the fund’s investments and their values as of the last day of the reporting period. Holdings are organized by asset type and industry sector, country, or state to show areas of concentration and diversification.

Statement of assets and liabilities shows how the fund’s net assets and share price are determined. All investment and non-investment assets are added together. Any unpaid expenses and other liabilities are subtracted from this total. The result is divided by the number of shares to determine the net asset value per share, which is calculated separately for each class of shares. (For funds with preferred shares, the amount subtracted from total assets includes the liquidation preference of preferred shares.)

Statement of operations shows the fund’s net investment gain or loss. This is done by first adding up all the fund’s earnings — from dividends and interest income — and subtracting its operating expenses to determine net investment income (or loss). Then, any net gain or loss the fund realized on the sales of its holdings — as well as any unrealized gains or losses over the period — is added to or subtracted from the net investment result to determine the fund’s net gain or loss for the fiscal period.

Statement of changes in net assets shows how the fund’s net assets were affected by the fund’s net investment gain or loss, by distributions to shareholders, and by changes in the number of the fund’s shares. It lists distributions and their sources (net investment income or realized capital gains) over the current reporting period and the most recent fiscal year-end. The distributions listed here may not match the sources listed in the Statement of operations because the distributions are determined on a tax basis and may be paid in a different period from the one in which they were earned. Dividend sources are estimated at the time of declaration. Actual results may vary. Any non-taxable return of capital cannot be determined until final tax calculations are completed after the end of the fund’s fiscal year.

Financial highlights provide an overview of the fund’s investment results, per-share distributions, expense ratios, net investment income ratios, and portfolio turnover in one summary table, reflecting the five most recent reporting periods. In a semiannual report, the highlights table also includes the current reporting period.

16 Convertible Securities Fund 

 



The fund’s portfolio 4/30/18 (Unaudited)

  Principal   
CONVERTIBLE BONDS AND NOTES (76.1%)*  amount  Value 
Aerospace and defense (1.6%)     
Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes     
2.25%, 12/15/23  $4,693,000  $5,935,706 
Kaman Corp. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes 3.25%, 5/1/24  4,800,000  5,382,542 
    11,318,248 
Biotechnology (4.4%)     
BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes     
0.599%, 8/1/24  9,615,000  9,247,986 
Insmed, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes 1.75%, 1/15/25  3,585,000  3,342,231 
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 2.25%, 6/15/22  3,495,000  4,567,528 
Medicines Co. (The) cv. sr. unsec. notes 2.50%, 1/15/22  7,730,000  8,475,535 
Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes     
2.25%, 5/15/24  4,195,000  5,424,110 
    31,057,390 
Broadcasting (2.4%)     
Liberty Media Corp. cv. sr. unsec. bonds 1.375%, 10/15/23  8,206,000  9,413,103 
Liberty Media Corp. cv. sr. unsec. unsub. bonds 2.25%, 9/30/46  4,430,000  4,642,405 
Liberty Media Corp. 144A cv. sr. unsec. unsub. bonds     
2.125%, 3/31/48  3,241,000  3,194,411 
    17,249,919 
Cable television (1.8%)     
DISH Network Corp. cv. sr. unsec. notes 3.375%, 8/15/26  13,887,000  12,654,529 
    12,654,529 
Capital goods (1.0%)     
Dycom Industries, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.75%, 9/15/21  5,990,000  7,393,906 
    7,393,906 
Commercial and consumer services (3.8%)     
Euronet Worldwide, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. bonds 1.50%, 10/1/44  3,664,000  4,337,780 
Macquarie Infrastructure Corp. cv. sr. unsec. unsub. notes     
2.00%, 10/1/23  6,004,000  5,381,944 
Priceline Group, Inc. (The) cv. sr. unsec. unsub. notes     
0.35%, 6/15/20  7,140,000  11,937,652 
Square, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 0.375%, 3/1/22  2,611,000  5,525,137 
    27,182,513 
Components (0.7%)     
Finisar Corp. cv. sr. unsec. unsub. bonds 0.50%, 12/15/36  5,300,000  4,769,640 
    4,769,640 
Computers (6.7%)     
Avid Technology, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 2.00%, 6/15/20  5,874,000  4,806,694 
Citrix Systems, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.50%, 4/15/19  3,105,000  4,457,203 
HubSpot, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.25%, 6/1/22  4,083,000  5,200,721 
Nuance Communications, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 1.25%, 4/1/25  1,947,000  1,913,120 
Nutanix, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes zero %, 1/15/23  3,229,000  3,989,107 
RealPage, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes 1.50%, 11/15/22  7,345,000  10,255,456 
ServiceNow, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. unsub. bonds zero %, 11/1/18  2,885,000  6,461,246 
ServiceNow, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. unsub. notes zero %, 6/1/22  3,265,000  4,372,488 
Western Digital Corp. 144A cv. company guaranty sr. unsec. notes     
1.50%, 2/1/24  5,385,000  5,619,188 
    47,075,223 

 

Convertible Securities Fund 17 

 



  Principal   
CONVERTIBLE BONDS AND NOTES (76.1%)* cont.  amount  Value 
Conglomerates (0.7%)     
Siemens Financieringsmaatschappij NV cv. company guaranty sr.     
unsec. bonds 1.65%, 8/16/19, (Netherlands)  $4,750,000  $5,224,240 
    5,224,240 
Construction (1.5%)     
Cemex SAB de CV cv. unsec. sub. notes 3.72%, 3/15/20, (Mexico)  5,425,000  5,574,188 
Patrick Industries, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes 1.00%, 2/1/23  5,286,000  5,069,517 
    10,643,705 
Consumer services (3.6%)     
Chegg, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.25%, 5/15/23  4,621,000  5,011,867 
IAC FinanceCo, Inc. 144A cv. company guaranty sr. unsec. notes     
0.875%, 10/1/22  7,384,000  9,041,834 
Liberty Expedia Holdings, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. unsub. bonds     
1.00%, 6/30/47  8,926,000  8,730,744 
Wayfair, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes 0.375%, 9/1/22  3,092,000  2,871,373 
    25,655,818 
Electrical equipment (0.5%)     
II-VI, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.25%, 9/1/22  3,522,000  3,749,169 
    3,749,169 
Electronics (11.1%)     
GT Advanced Technologies, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes 3.00%,     
12/15/20, F   2,944,000  294 
Inphi Corp. cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.75%, 9/1/21  6,040,000  5,556,426 
Intel Corp. cv. jr. unsec. sub. notes 3.25%, 8/1/39  5,655,000  14,083,212 
Microchip Technology, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes     
1.625%, 2/15/27  20,187,000  22,716,431 
Micron Technology, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. bonds 3.00%, 11/15/43  10,110,000  16,004,807 
ON Semiconductor Corp. cv. company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub.     
notes 1.625%, 10/15/23  4,623,000  5,957,891 
ON Semiconductor Corp. cv. company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub.     
notes 1.00%, 12/1/20  4,291,000  5,674,268 
OSI Systems, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 1.25%, 9/1/22  5,990,000  5,405,975 
TTM Technologies, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 1.75%, 12/15/20  2,020,000  3,101,645 
    78,500,949 
Entertainment (0.8%)     
Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes     
2.50%, 3/15/23  5,720,000  5,631,397 
    5,631,397 
Gaming and lottery (0.9%)     
Caesars Entertainment Corp. cv. sr. unsec. notes 5.00%, 10/1/24  3,510,850  6,157,329 
    6,157,329 
Health-care services (0.8%)     
Teladoc, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes 3.00%, 12/15/22  4,680,000  5,773,669 
    5,773,669 
Insurance (0.5%)     
Heritage Insurance Holdings, Inc. 144A cv. company guaranty sr.     
unsec. bonds 5.875%, 8/1/37  2,775,000  3,367,154 
    3,367,154 
Manufacturing (0.6%)     
Greenbrier Cos., Inc. (The) cv. sr. unsec. notes 2.875%, 2/1/24  4,018,000  4,325,911 
    4,325,911 

 

18 Convertible Securities Fund 

 



  Principal   
CONVERTIBLE BONDS AND NOTES (76.1%)* cont.  amount  Value 
Media (1.1%)     
Liberty Interactive, LLC 144A cv. sr. unsec. bonds 1.75%, 9/30/46  $7,150,000  $7,478,900 
    7,478,900 
Medical technology (1.8%)     
China Medical Technologies, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. bonds Ser. CMT,     
4.00%, 8/15/18, (China) (In default)  F   3,213,000  205,632 
China Medical Technologies, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes 6.25%,     
12/17/18, (China) (In default)  F   3,544,000  198,464 
Insulet Corp. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes 1.375%, 11/15/24  2,525,000  2,856,406 
Nevro Corp. cv. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 1.75%, 6/1/21  4,188,000  4,885,432 
Wright Medical Group, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 2.00%, 2/15/20  4,876,000  4,900,380 
    13,046,314 
Oil and gas (2.5%)     
Chesapeake Energy Corp. cv. company guaranty sr. unsec. notes     
5.50%, 9/15/26  8,326,000  7,273,594 
Oasis Petroleum, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 2.625%, 9/15/23  3,014,000  3,549,588 
Whiting Petroleum Corp. cv. company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub.     
notes 1.25%, 4/1/20  7,347,000  6,998,054 
    17,821,236 
Pharmaceuticals (4.6%)     
Clovis Oncology, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 1.25%, 5/1/25  7,200,000  6,485,530 
Jazz Investments I, Ltd. cv. company guaranty sr. unsec. sub.     
bonds 1.875%, 8/15/21, (Ireland)  11,131,000  11,611,637 
Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc./Delaware cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes     
2.375%, 4/1/22  6,266,000  5,886,049 
Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes     
0.625%, 4/1/23  5,496,000  5,961,764 
Teligent, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 3.75%, 12/15/19  2,975,000  2,811,369 
    32,756,349 
Real estate (2.4%)     
Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes     
4.75%, 3/15/23, R   5,363,000  5,227,000 
IH Merger Sub, LLC cv. company guaranty sr. unsec. notes     
3.50%, 1/15/22, R   6,927,000  7,839,037 
Starwood Property Trust, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. unsub. notes     
4.00%, 1/15/19, R   3,385,000  3,622,641 
    16,688,678 
Semiconductor (4.6%)     
Cypress Semiconductor Corp. cv. sr. unsec. notes 4.50%, 1/15/22  4,226,000  5,431,069 
Integrated Device Technology, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. unsub. notes     
0.875%, 11/15/22  5,669,000  6,118,563 
Jazz US Holdings, Inc. cv. company guaranty sr. unsec. notes     
8.00%, 12/31/18  1,008,000  2,614,248 
Novellus Systems, Inc. cv. company guaranty sr. unsec. notes     
2.625%, 5/15/41  2,275,000  12,563,221 
Teradyne, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 1.25%, 12/15/23  4,845,000  5,910,730 
    32,637,831 
Shipping (1.3%)     
Air Transport Services Group, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes     
1.125%, 10/15/24  6,163,000  5,838,530 
Scorpio Tankers, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes 2.375%, 7/1/19  3,171,000  3,044,160 
    8,882,690 

 

Convertible Securities Fund 19 

 



  Principal   
CONVERTIBLE BONDS AND NOTES (76.1%)* cont.  amount  Value 
Software (6.9%)     
Apptio, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.875%, 4/1/23  $5,130,000  $5,206,950 
Coupa Software, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.375%, 1/15/23  5,171,000  6,294,824 
Everbridge, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 1.50%, 11/1/22  5,358,000  6,764,700 
Nice Systems, Inc. cv. company guaranty sr. unsec. notes     
1.25%, 1/15/24  4,813,000  6,022,483 
Okta, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.25%, 2/15/23  6,623,000  7,576,884 
Red Hat, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. unsub. bonds 0.25%, 10/1/19  2,865,000  6,344,202 
Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. bonds 5.25%, 5/15/18  2,623,000  2,630,329 
Workday, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.25%, 10/1/22  7,676,000  8,282,404 
    49,122,776 
Technology services (5.0%)     
Carbonite, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 2.50%, 4/1/22, (acquired     
various dates from 9/22/17 to 2/14/18, cost $4,080,806) ∆∆   3,610,000  4,964,411 
Fidelity National Financial, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. unsub. notes     
4.25%, 8/15/18  1,860,000  5,312,718 
j2 Global, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 3.25%, 6/15/29  5,750,000  7,340,709 
Palo Alto Networks, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes zero %, 7/1/19  3,475,000  6,084,214 
Proofpoint, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 0.75%, 6/15/20  4,607,000  6,950,977 
Twitter, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. unsub. bonds 1.00%, 9/15/21  4,650,000  4,363,197 
    35,016,226 
Telecommunications (1.2%)     
CalAmp Corp. cv. sr. unsec. notes 1.625%, 5/15/20  3,005,000  3,034,449 
Powerwave Technologies, Inc. cv. unsec. sub. notes 3.875%,     
10/1/27, (In default)  F   5,121,000  512 
RingCentral, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes zero %, 3/15/23  5,388,000  5,608,908 
    8,643,869 
Tobacco (0.8%)     
Vector Group, Ltd. cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes 1.75%, 4/15/20  5,295,000  5,615,348 
    5,615,348 
Trucks and parts (0.5%)     
Horizon Global Corp. cv. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 2.75%, 7/1/22  4,018,000  3,238,303 
    3,238,303 
Total convertible bonds and notes (cost $495,389,299)    $538,679,229 
 
CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCKS (17.5%)*  Shares  Value 
Banking (2.0%)     
Bank of America Corp. Ser. L, 7.25% cv. pfd.  5,335  $6,794,123 
Wells Fargo & Co. Ser. L, 7.50% cv. pfd. S   5,588  7,153,646 
    13,947,769 
Consumer (1.3%)     
Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. $5.375 cv. pfd.  84,672  9,091,436 
    9,091,436 
Electric utilities (2.3%)     
DTE Energy Co. $3.25 cv. pfd.  132,395  6,916,315 
NextEra Energy, Inc. $3.06 cv. pfd. S   165,980  9,583,320 
    16,499,635 
Financial (0.9%)     
AMG Capital Trust II $2.575 cv. pfd. S   102,985  6,187,267 
    6,187,267 

 

20 Convertible Securities Fund 

 



CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCKS (17.5%)* cont.  Shares  Value 
Health-care services (1.1%)     
Anthem, Inc. $2.63 cv. pfd.  131,334  $7,471,591 
    7,471,591 
Manufacturing (2.0%)     
Belden, Inc. $6.75 cv. pfd. S   59,316  5,049,666 
Rexnord Corp. Ser. A, $2.88 cv. pfd.  152,028  9,062,450 
    14,112,116 
Medical technology (2.2%)     
Becton Dickinson and Co. Ser. A, $3.063 cv. pfd.  253,325  15,229,899 
    15,229,899 
Oil and gas (1.5%)     
Hess Corp. $4.00 cv. pfd.  164,495  10,716,866 
    10,716,866 
Power producers (0.4%)     
Vistra Energy Corp. $7.00 cv. pfd.    32,928  3,082,061 
    3,082,061 
Real estate (1.1%)     
Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. Ser. D, $1.75 cv. pfd. R   145,767  5,225,412 
iStar, Inc. Ser. J, $2.25 cv. pfd. R   61,040  2,787,245 
    8,012,657 
Regional Bells (—%)     
Cincinnati Bell, Inc. Ser. B, $3.378 cum. cv. pfd.  190  9,313 
    9,313 
Technology services (1.3%)     
Mandatory Exchangeable Trust 144A $5.75 cv. pfd.  45,699  9,216,360 
    9,216,360 
Telecommunications (1.4%)     
Crown Castle International Corp. Ser. A, 6.875% cv. pfd.  9,853  10,093,831 
    10,093,831 
Total convertible preferred stocks (cost $110,894,858)    $123,670,801 
 
COMMON STOCKS (2.0%)*  Shares  Value 
Bank of America Corp.  142,415  $4,261,057 
Citigroup, Inc.  28,780  1,964,811 
Danaher Corp.  29,310  2,940,379 
GT Advanced Technologies, Inc. F   476  5 
Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.    51,255  2,023,035 
Stone Energy Corp.    32,868  1,170,101 
T-Mobile US, Inc.    29,411  1,779,656 
Total common stocks (cost $11,822,104)    $14,139,044 
 
  Principal   
CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (0.2%)*  amount  Value 
Stone Energy Corp. company guaranty notes 7.50%, 5/31/22  $1,088,508  $1,107,557 
Total corporate bonds and notes (cost $1,219,919)    $1,107,557 

 

  Expiration  Strike     
WARRANTS (—%)*   date  price  Warrants  Value 
GT Advanced Technologies, Inc.   3/17/19  $0.00  487  $5 
GT Advanced Technologies, Inc. F   3/17/19  0.00  331  3 
Total warrants (cost $91,926)        $8 

 

Convertible Securities Fund 21 

 



SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (5.6%)*  Shares  Value 
Putnam Short Term Investment Fund 1.88%   27,524,957  $27,524,957 
Putnam Cash Collateral Pool, LLC 1.95% d   12,277,687  12,277,687 
Total short-term investments (cost $39,802,644)    $39,802,644 
 
TOTAL INVESTMENTS     
Total investments (cost $659,220,750)    $717,399,283 

 

Notes to the fund’s portfolio

Unless noted otherwise, the notes to the fund’s portfolio are for the close of the fund’s reporting period, which ran from November 1, 2017 through April 30, 2018 (the reporting period). Within the following notes to the portfolio, references to “Putnam Management” represent Putnam Investment Management, LLC, the fund’s manager, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Putnam Investments, LLC and references to “ASC 820” represent Accounting Standards Codification 820 Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures.

* Percentages indicated are based on net assets of $707,985,713.

This security is non-income-producing.

∆∆ This security is restricted with regard to public resale. The total fair value of this security and any other restricted securities (excluding 144A securities), if any, held at the close of the reporting period was $4,964,411, or 0.7% of net assets.

d Affiliated company. See Notes 1 and 5 to the financial statements regarding securities lending. The rate quoted in the security description is the annualized 7-day yield of the fund at the close of the reporting period.

F This security is valued by Putnam Management at fair value following procedures approved by the Trustees. Securities are classified as Level 3 for ASC 820 based on the securities’ valuation inputs (Note 1).

L Affiliated company (Note 5). The rate quoted in the security description is the annualized 7-day yield of the fund at the close of the reporting period.

R Real Estate Investment Trust.

S Security on loan, in part or in entirety, at the close of the reporting period (Note 1).

Debt obligations are considered secured unless otherwise indicated.

144A after the name of an issuer represents securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers.

The dates shown on debt obligations are the original maturity dates.

22 Convertible Securities Fund 

 



ASC 820 establishes a three-level hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements. The valuation hierarchy is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of the fund’s investments. The three levels are defined as follows:

Level 1: Valuations based on quoted prices for identical securities in active markets.

Level 2: Valuations based on quoted prices in markets that are not active or for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly.

Level 3: Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the fund’s net assets as of the close of the reporting period:

    Valuation inputs
Investments in securities:  Level 1  Level 2  Level 3 
Common stocks*:       
Communication services  $1,779,656  $—­  $—­ 
Conglomerates  2,940,379  —­  —­ 
Consumer cyclicals  2,023,035  —­  —­ 
Energy  1,170,101  —­  —­ 
Financials  6,225,868  —­  —­ 
Technology  —­  —­  5 
Total common stocks  14,139,039  —­  5 
 
Convertible bonds and notes  —­  538,274,327  404,902 
Convertible preferred stocks  —­  123,670,801  —­ 
Corporate bonds and notes  —­  1,107,557  —­ 
Warrants  —­  —­  8 
Short-term investments  27,524,957  12,277,687  —­ 
Totals by level  $41,663,996  $675,330,372  $404,915 

 

* Common stock classifications are presented at the sector level, which may differ from the fund’s portfolio presentation.

During the reporting period, transfers within the fair value hierarchy, if any (other than certain transfers involving non-U.S. equity securities as described in Note 1), did not represent, in the aggregate, more than 1% of the fund’s net assets measured as of the end of the period. Transfers are accounted for using the end of period pricing valuation method.

At the start and close of the reporting period, Level 3 investments in securities represented less than 1% of the fund’s net assets and were not considered a significant portion of the fund’s portfolio.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

Convertible Securities Fund 23 

 



Statement of assets and liabilities 4/30/18 (Unaudited)

ASSETS   
Investment in securities, at value, including $11,889,810 of securities on loan (Note 1):   
Unaffiliated issuers (identified cost $619,418,106)  $677,596,639 
Affiliated issuers (identified cost $39,802,644) (Notes 1 and 5)  39,802,644 
Dividends, interest and other receivables  2,985,138 
Receivable for shares of the fund sold  1,081,439 
Receivable for investments sold  2,098,613 
Prepaid assets  60,106 
Total assets  723,624,579 
 
LIABILITIES   
Payable for investments purchased  1,940,306 
Payable for shares of the fund repurchased  433,222 
Payable for compensation of Manager (Note 2)  366,394 
Payable for custodian fees (Note 2)  4,880 
Payable for investor servicing fees (Note 2)  155,700 
Payable for Trustee compensation and expenses (Note 2)  239,125 
Payable for administrative services (Note 2)  3,799 
Payable for distribution fees (Note 2)  123,298 
Collateral on securities loaned, at value (Note 1)  12,277,687 
Other accrued expenses  94,455 
Total liabilities  15,638,866 
 
Net assets  $707,985,713 
 
REPRESENTED BY   
Paid-in capital (Unlimited shares authorized) (Notes 1 and 4)  $614,753,913 
Undistributed net investment income (Note 1)  9,748,492 
Accumulated net realized gain on investments (Note 1)  25,304,775 
Net unrealized appreciation of investments  58,178,533 
Total — Representing net assets applicable to capital shares outstanding  $707,985,713 

 

(Continued on next page)

24 Convertible Securities Fund 

 



Statement of assets and liabilities cont.

COMPUTATION OF NET ASSET VALUE AND OFFERING PRICE   
Net asset value and redemption price per class A share   
($388,976,462 divided by 15,207,602 shares)  $25.58 
Offering price per class A share (100/94.25 of $25.58)*  $27.14 
Net asset value and offering price per class B share ($7,429,008 divided by 296,664 shares)**  $25.04 
Net asset value and offering price per class C share ($37,678,386 divided by 1,491,045 shares)**  $25.27 
Net asset value and offering price per class I share ($11,586 divided by 453 shares)  $25.59 
Net asset value and redemption price per class M share ($3,338,420 divided by 131,973 shares)  $25.30 
Offering price per class M share (100/96.50 of $25.30)*  $26.22 
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per class R share   
($4,050,916 divided by 159,105 shares)  $25.46 
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per class Y share   
($266,500,935 divided by 10,424,777 shares)  $25.56 

 

* On single retail sales of less than $50,000. On sales of $50,000 or more the offering price is reduced.

** Redemption price per share is equal to net asset value less any applicable contingent deferred sales charge.

Net asset value may not recalculate due to rounding of fractional shares.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

Convertible Securities Fund 25 

 



Statement of operations Six months ended 4/30/18 (Unaudited)

INVESTMENT INCOME   
Interest (including interest income of $248,945 from investments in affiliated issuers) (Note 5)  $4,225,384 
Dividends  4,087,468 
Securities lending (net of expenses) (Notes 1 and 5)  42,466 
Total investment income  8,355,318 
 
EXPENSES   
Compensation of Manager (Note 2)  2,210,194 
Investor servicing fees (Note 2)  469,553 
Custodian fees (Note 2)  6,973 
Trustee compensation and expenses (Note 2)  13,249 
Distribution fees (Note 2)  767,595 
Administrative services (Note 2)  11,775 
Other  148,480 
Total expenses  3,627,819 
 
Expense reduction (Note 2)  (1,005) 
Net expenses  3,626,814 
 
Net investment income  4,728,504 
 
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS)   
Net realized gain (loss) on:   
Securities from unaffiliated issuers (Notes 1 and 3)  34,454,776 
Total net realized gain  34,454,776 
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:   
Securities in unaffiliated issuers  (34,615,167) 
Total change in net unrealized depreciation  (34,615,167) 
Net loss on investments  (160,391) 
 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations  $4,568,113 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

26 Convertible Securities Fund 

 



Statement of changes in net assets

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS  Six months ended 4/30/18*  Year ended 10/31/17 
Operations     
Net investment income  $4,728,504  $9,830,033 
Net realized gain on investments  34,454,776  29,135,804 
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments  (34,615,167)  76,531,585 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations  4,568,113  115,497,422 
Distributions to shareholders (Note 1):     
From ordinary income     
Net investment income     
Class A  (3,670,610)  (7,923,900) 
Class B  (44,104)  (106,310) 
Class C  (237,197)  (556,131) 
Class I  (128)  (248) 
Class M  (22,793)  (55,057) 
Class R  (32,986)  (85,268) 
Class Y  (2,715,992)  (4,787,674) 
From net realized long-term gain on investments     
Class A  (8,069,942)   
Class B  (163,298)   
Class C  (849,537)   
Class I  (231)   
Class M  (69,658)   
Class R  (86,617)   
Class Y  (5,038,595)   
Increase (decrease) from capital share transactions (Note 4)  7,048,582  (46,244,392) 
Total increase (decrease) in net assets  (9,384,993)  55,738,442 
 
NET ASSETS     
Beginning of period  717,370,706  661,632,264 
End of period (including undistributed net investment     
income of $9,748,492 and $11,743,798, respectively)  $707,985,713  $717,370,706 

 

* Unaudited.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

Convertible Securities Fund 27 

 



Financial highlights (For a common share outstanding throughout the period)

  INVESTMENT OPERATIONS      LESS DISTRIBUTIONS          RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA   
                        Ratio of  Ratio of net   
  Net asset    Net realized      From            expenses  investment   
  value,    and unrealized  Total from  From  net realized      Net asset  Total return  Net assets,  to average  income (loss)  Portfolio 
  beginning  Net investment  gain (loss) on  investment  net investment  gain on  Total  Redemption  value, end  at net asset  end of period  net assets  to average  turnover 
Period ended­  of period­  income (loss) a  investments­  operations­  income­  investments­  distributions  fees  of period­  value (%) b  (in thousands)  (%) c  net assets (%)  (%) 
Class A­                             
April 30, 2018**   $26.19­  .17­  (.01)  .16­  (.24)  (.53)  (.77)  —­  $25.58­  .60*  $388,976­  .52*  .64*  33* 
October 31, 2017­  22.55­  .35­  3.77­  4.12­  (.48)  —­  (.48)  —­  26.19­  18.44­  410,595­  1.07­  1.43­  56­ 
October 31, 2016­  23.37­  .35­  .17­  .52­  (.49)  (.85)  (1.34)  —­  22.55­  2.49­  404,101­  1.09­d  1.59­d  49­ 
October 31, 2015­  25.60­  .26­  (.93)  (.67)  (.52)  (1.04)  (1.56)  —­  23.37­  (2.86)  517,495­  1.06­  1.04­  67­ 
October 31, 2014­  23.57­  .18­  2.42­  2.60­  (.57)  —­  (.57)  —­  25.60­  11.10­  578,716­  1.06­  .72­  63­ 
October 31, 2013­  20.09­  .37­  3.71­  4.08­  (.60)  —­  (.60)  —­e  23.57­  20.62­  556,643­  1.08­  1.69­  72­ 
Class B­                             
April 30, 2018**   $25.66­  .07­  (.02)  .05­  (.14)  (.53)  (.67)  —­  $25.04­  .20*  $7,429­  .90 *  .27*  33* 
October 31, 2017­  22.10­  .16­  3.70­  3.86­  (.30)  —­  (.30)  —­  25.66­  17.56­  8,201­  1.82­  .68­  56­ 
October 31, 2016­  22.93­  .18­  .15­  .33­  (.31)  (.85)  (1.16)  —­  22.10­  1.72­  9,018­  1.84­d  .84­d  49­ 
October 31, 2015­  25.13­  .07­  (.90)  (.83)  (.33)  (1.04)  (1.37)  —­  22.93­  (3.55)  11,374­  1.81­  .29­  67­ 
October 31, 2014­  23.15­  (.01)  2.38­  2.37­  (.39)  —­  (.39)  —­  25.13­  10.27­  13,228­  1.81­  (.04)  63­ 
October 31, 2013­  19.75­  .20­  3.64­  3.84­  (.44)  —­  (.44)  —­e  23.15­  19.68­  12,009­  1.83­  .95­  72­ 
Class C­                             
April 30, 2018**   $25.88­  .07­  —­e  .07­  (.15)  (.53)  (.68)  —­  $25.27­  .24*  $37,678­  .90 *  .27*  33* 
October 31, 2017­  22.29­  .16­  3.72­  3.88­  (.29)  —­  (.29)  —­  25.88­  17.52­  42,892­  1.82­  .68­  56­ 
October 31, 2016­  23.11­  .18­  .16­  .34­  (.31)  (.85)  (1.16)  —­  22.29­  1.72­  50,827­  1.84­d  .84­d  49­ 
October 31, 2015­  25.32­  .07­  (.91)  (.84)  (.33)  (1.04)  (1.37)  —­  23.11­  (3.54)  72,536­  1.81­  .30­  67­ 
October 31, 2014­  23.33­  (.01)  2.39­  2.38­  (.39)  —­  (.39)  —­  25.32­  10.27­  73,451­  1.81­  (.06)  63­ 
October 31, 2013­  19.90­  .20­  3.67­  3.87­  (.44)  —­  (.44)  —­e  23.33­  19.68­  50,931­  1.83­  .93­  72­ 
Class I­                             
April 30, 2018**   $26.20­  .22­  (.01)  .21­  (.29)  (.53)  (.82)  —­  $25.59­  .79*  $12­  .34*  .83*  33* 
October 31, 2017­  22.55­  .45­  3.77­  4.22­  (.57)  —­  (.57)  —­  26.20­  18.93­  11­  .69­  1.80­  56­ 
October 31, 2016­  23.38­  .43­  .15­  .58­  (.56)  (.85)  (1.41)  —­  22.55­  2.87­  10­  .69­d  1.95­d  49­ 
October 31, 2015  25.33­  .25­  (1.77)  (1.52)  (.43)  —­  (.43)  —­  23.38­  (6.05)*    .45*  .98 *  67­ 
Class M­                             
April 30, 2018**   $25.91­  .10­  (.01)  .09­  (.17)  (.53)  (.70)  —­  $25.30­  .35*  $3,338­  .77*  .39 *  33* 
October 31, 2017­  22.31­  .22­  3.74­  3.96­  (.36)  —­  (.36)  —­  25.91­  17.88­  3,660­  1.57­  .93­  56­ 
October 31, 2016­  23.14­  .23­  .16­  .39­  (.37)  (.85)  (1.22)  —­  22.31­  1.95­  3,590­  1.59­d  1.07­d  49­ 
October 31, 2015­  25.35­  .13­  (.91)  (.78)  (.39)  (1.04)  (1.43)  —­  23.14­  (3.32)  3,951­  1.56­  .54­  67­ 
October 31, 2014­  23.35­  .05­  2.40­  2.45­  (.45)  —­  (.45)  —­  25.35­  10.54­  4,583­  1.56­  .21­  63­ 
October 31, 2013­  19.91­  .26­  3.67­  3.93­  (.49)  —­  (.49)  —­e  23.35­  20.01­  3,885­  1.58­  1.20­  72­ 
Class R­                             
April 30, 2018**   $26.07­  .13­  (.01)  .12­  (.20)  (.53)  (.73)  —­  $25.46­  .47*  $4,051­  .65*  .52*  33* 
October 31, 2017­  22.45­  .29­  3.75­  4.04­  (.42)  —­  (.42)  —­  26.07­  18.15­  4,940­  1.32­  1.18­  56­ 
October 31, 2016­  23.28­  .29­  .16­  .45­  (.43)  (.85)  (1.28)  —­  22.45­  2.21­  4,898­  1.34­d  1.32­d  49­ 
October 31, 2015­  25.50­  .20­  (.93)  (.73)  (.45)  (1.04)  (1.49)  —­  23.28­  (3.09)  4,972­  1.31­  .79­  67­ 
October 31, 2014­  23.48­  .12­  2.41­  2.53­  (.51)  —­  (.51)  —­  25.50­  10.83­  6,569­  1.31­  .46­  63­ 
October 31, 2013­  20.02­  .31­  3.70­  4.01­  (.55)  —­  (.55)  —­e  23.48­  20.30­  5,617­  1.33­  1.43­  72­ 

 

See notes to financial highlights at the end of this section.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

28 Convertible Securities Fund  Convertible Securities Fund 29 

 



Financial highlights cont.

  INVESTMENT OPERATIONS      LESS DISTRIBUTIONS          RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA   
                        Ratio of  Ratio of net   
  Net asset    Net realized      From            expenses  investment   
  value,    and unrealized  Total from  From  net realized      Net asset  Total return  Net assets,  to average  income (loss)  Portfolio 
  beginning  Net investment  gain (loss) on  investment  net investment  gain on  Total  Redemption  value, end  at net asset  end of period  net assets  to average  turnover 
Period ended­  of period­  income (loss) a  investments­  operations­  income­  investments­  distributions  fees  of period­  value (%) b  (in thousands)  (%) c  net assets (%)  (%) 
Class Y­                             
April 30, 2018**   $26.18­  .20­  (.02)  .18­  (.27)  (.53)  (.80)  —­  $25.56­  .70*  $266,501­  .40 *  .77*  33* 
October 31, 2017­  22.54­  .41­  3.77­  4.18­  (.54)  —­  (.54)  —­  26.18­  18.76­  247,071­  .82­  1.67­  56­ 
October 31, 2016­  23.37­  .40­  .17­  .57­  (.55)  (.85)  (1.40)  —­  22.54­  2.71­  189,190­  .84­d  1.84­d  49­ 
October 31, 2015­  25.59­  .32­  (.92)  (.60)  (.58)  (1.04)  (1.62)  —­  23.37­  (2.57)  260,676­  .81­  1.30­  67­ 
October 31, 2014­  23.56­  .24­  2.42­  2.66­  (.63)  —­  (.63)  —­  25.59­  11.38­  273,693­  .81­  .95­  63­ 
October 31, 2013­  20.08­  .42­  3.72­  4.14­  (.66)  —­  (.66)  —­e  23.56­  20.93­  196,399­  .83­  1.89­  72­ 

 

* Not annualized.

** Unaudited.

For the period March 3, 2015 (commencement of operations) to October 31, 2015.

a Per share net investment income (loss) has been determined on the basis of the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period.

b Total return assumes dividend reinvestment and does not reflect the effect of sales charges.

c Includes amounts paid through expense offset and/or brokerage/service arrangements, if any (Note 2). Also excludes acquired fund fees and expenses, if any.

d Reflects a voluntary waiver of certain fund expenses in effect during the period. As a result of such waivers, the expenses of each class reflect a reduction of less than 0.01% as a percentage of average net assets.

e Amount represents less than $0.01 per share.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

30 Convertible Securities Fund  Convertible Securities Fund 31 

 



Notes to financial statements 4/30/18 (Unaudited)

Within the following Notes to financial statements, references to “State Street” represent State Street Bank and Trust Company, references to “the SEC” represent the Securities and Exchange Commission, references to “Putnam Management” represent Putnam Investment Management, LLC, the fund’s manager, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Putnam Investments, LLC and references to “OTC”, if any, represent over-the-counter. Unless otherwise noted, the “reporting period” represents the period from November 1, 2017 through April 30, 2018.

Putnam Convertible Securities Fund (the fund) is a Massachusetts business trust, which is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as a diversified open-end management investment company. The objective of the fund is to seek, with equal emphasis, current income and capital appreciation. The fund’s secondary objective is conservation of capital. The fund invests mainly in convertible securities of U.S. companies. Under normal circumstances, the fund invests at least 80% of the fund’s net assets in convertible securities. This policy may be changed only after 60 days’ notice to shareholders. Convertible securities combine the investment characteristics of bonds and common stocks. Convertible securities include bonds, preferred stocks and other instruments that can be converted into or exchanged for common stock or equivalent value. A significant portion of the convertible securities the fund buys are below-investment-grade (sometimes referred to as “junk bonds”). The convertible bonds the fund buys usually have intermediate-to long-term stated maturities (i.e. three years or longer), but often contain “put” features, which allow bondholders to sell the bond back to the company under specified circumstances, that result in shorter effective maturities. When deciding whether to buy or sell investments, Putnam Management may consider, among other factors: (i) a security’s structural features, such as its position in a company’s capital structure and “put” and “call” features (a company’s right to repurchase the security under specified circumstances is a “call” feature); (ii) credit and prepayment risks; and (iii) with respect to a company’s common stock underlying a convertible security, the stock’s valuation and the company’s financial strength, growth potential, competitive position in its industry, projected future earnings, cash flows and dividends.

The fund offers class A, class B, class C, class I, class M, class R and class Y shares. The fund registered class T shares in February 2017, however, as of the date of this report, class T shares had not commenced operations and are not available for purchase. Effective May 21, 2018, the fund began offering class R6 shares. Purchases of class B shares are closed to new and existing investors except by exchange from class B shares of another Putnam fund or through dividend and/or capital gains reinvestment. Class A and class M shares are sold with a maximum front-end sales charge of 5.75% and 3.50%, respectively. Class A shares generally are not subject to a contingent deferred sales charge, and class I, class M, class R and class Y shares are not subject to a contingent deferred sales charge. Class B shares, which convert to class A shares after approximately eight years, are not subject to a front-end sales charge and are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge if those shares are redeemed within six years of purchase. Class C shares are subject to a one-year 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge and generally convert to class A shares after approximately ten years. Prior to April 1, 2018, class C shares did not convert to class A shares. Class R shares, which are not available to all investors, are sold at net asset value. The expenses for class A, class B, class C, class M and class R shares may differ based on the distribution fee of each class, which is identified in Note 2. Class I and class Y shares, which are sold at net asset value, are generally subject to the same expenses as class A, class B, class C, class M and class R shares, but do not bear a distribution fee and in the case of class I shares, bear a lower investor servicing fee, which is identified in Note 2. Class I and class Y shares are not available to all investors.

In the normal course of business, the fund enters into contracts that may include agreements to indemnify another party under given circumstances. The fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be, but have not yet been, made against the fund. However, the fund’s management team expects the risk of material loss to be remote.

The fund has entered into contractual arrangements with an investment adviser, administrator, distributor, shareholder servicing agent and custodian, who each provide services to the fund. Unless expressly stated otherwise, shareholders are not parties to, or intended beneficiaries of these contractual arrangements, and these contractual arrangements are not intended to create any shareholder right to enforce them against the service providers or to seek any remedy under them against the service providers, either directly or on behalf of the fund.

Under the fund’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust, any claims asserted against or on behalf of the Putnam Funds, including claims against Trustees and Officers, must be brought in state and federal courts located within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

32 Convertible Securities Fund 

 



Note 1: Significant accounting policies

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The preparation of financial statements is in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Subsequent events after the Statement of assets and liabilities date through the date that the financial statements were issued have been evaluated in the preparation of the financial statements.

Investment income, realized and unrealized gains and losses and expenses of the fund are borne pro-rata based on the relative net assets of each class to the total net assets of the fund, except that each class bears expenses unique to that class (including the distribution fees applicable to such classes). Each class votes as a class only with respect to its own distribution plan or other matters on which a class vote is required by law or determined by the Trustees. If the fund were liquidated, shares of each class would receive their pro-rata share of the net assets of the fund. In addition, the Trustees declare separate dividends on each class of shares.

Security valuation Portfolio securities and other investments are valued using policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees. The Trustees have formed a Pricing Committee to oversee the implementation of these procedures and have delegated responsibility for valuing the fund’s assets in accordance with these procedures to Putnam Management. Putnam Management has established an internal Valuation Committee that is responsible for making fair value determinations, evaluating the effectiveness of the pricing policies of the fund and reporting to the Pricing Committee.

Investments for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the last reported sales price on their principal exchange, or official closing price for certain markets, and are classified as Level 1 securities under Accounting Standards Codification 820 Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (ASC 820). If no sales are reported, as in the case of some securities that are traded OTC, a security is valued at its last reported bid price and is generally categorized as a Level 2 security.

Investments in open-end investment companies (excluding exchange-traded funds), if any, which can be classified as Level 1 or Level 2 securities, are valued based on their net asset value. The net asset value of such investment companies equals the total value of their assets less their liabilities and divided by the number of their outstanding shares.

Market quotations are not considered to be readily available for certain debt obligations (including short-term investments with remaining maturities of 60 days or less) and other investments; such investments are valued on the basis of valuations furnished by an independent pricing service approved by the Trustees or dealers selected by Putnam Management. Such services or dealers determine valuations for normal institutional-size trading units of such securities using methods based on market transactions for comparable securities and various relationships, generally recognized by institutional traders, between securities (which consider such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings). These securities will generally be categorized as Level 2.

Many securities markets and exchanges outside the U.S. close prior to the scheduled close of the New York Stock Exchange and therefore the closing prices for securities in such markets or on such exchanges may not fully reflect events that occur after such close but before the scheduled close of the New York Stock Exchange. Accordingly, on certain days, the fund will fair value certain foreign equity securities taking into account multiple factors including movements in the U.S. securities markets, currency valuations and comparisons to the valuation of American Depository Receipts, exchange-traded funds and futures contracts. The foreign equity securities, which would generally be classified as Level 1 securities, will be transferred to Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy when they are valued at fair value. The number of days on which fair value prices will be used will depend on market activity and it is possible that fair value prices will be used by the fund to a significant extent. Securities quoted in foreign currencies, if any, are translated into U.S. dollars at the current exchange rate.

To the extent a pricing service or dealer is unable to value a security or provides a valuation that Putnam Management does not believe accurately reflects the security’s fair value, the security will be valued at fair value by Putnam Management in accordance with policies and procedures approved by the Trustees. Certain investments, including certain restricted and illiquid securities and derivatives, are also valued at fair value following procedures approved by the Trustees. These valuations consider such factors as significant market or specific security events such as interest rate or credit quality changes, various relationships with other securities, discount rates, U.S. Treasury, U.S. swap and credit yields, index levels, convexity exposures, recovery rates, sales and other multiples and resale restrictions. These securities are classified as Level 2 or as Level 3 depending on the priority of the significant inputs.

Convertible Securities Fund 33 

 



To assess the continuing appropriateness of fair valuations, the Valuation Committee reviews and affirms the reasonableness of such valuations on a regular basis after considering all relevant information that is reasonably available. Such valuations and procedures are reviewed periodically by the Trustees. The fair value of securities is generally determined as the amount that the fund could reasonably expect to realize from an orderly disposition of such securities over a reasonable period of time. By its nature, a fair value price is a good faith estimate of the value of a security in a current sale and does not reflect an actual market price, which may be different by a material amount.

Security transactions and related investment income Security transactions are recorded on the trade date (the date the order to buy or sell is executed). Gains or losses on securities sold are determined on the identified cost basis.

Interest income, net of any applicable withholding taxes, is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividend income, net of any applicable withholding taxes, is recognized on the ex-dividend date except that certain dividends from foreign securities, if any, are recognized as soon as the fund is informed of the ex-dividend date. Non-cash dividends, if any, are recorded at the fair value of the securities received. Dividends representing a return of capital or capital gains, if any, are reflected as a reduction of cost and/or as a realized gain.

All premiums/discounts are amortized/accreted on a yield-to-maturity basis.

Securities lending The fund may lend securities, through its agent, to qualified borrowers in order to earn additional income. The loans are collateralized by cash in an amount at least equal to the fair value of the securities loaned. The fair value of securities loaned is determined daily and any additional required collateral is allocated to the fund on the next business day. The remaining maturities of the securities lending transactions are considered overnight and continuous. The risk of borrower default will be borne by the fund’s agent; the fund will bear the risk of loss with respect to the investment of the cash collateral. Income from securities lending, net of expenses, is included in investment income on the Statement of operations. Cash collateral is invested in Putnam Cash Collateral Pool, LLC, a limited liability company managed by an affiliate of Putnam Management. Investments in Putnam Cash Collateral Pool, LLC are valued at its closing net asset value each business day. There are no management fees charged to Putnam Cash Collateral Pool, LLC. At the close of the reporting period, the fund received cash collateral of $12,277,687 and the value of securities loaned amounted to $11,889,810.

Interfund lending The fund, along with other Putnam funds, may participate in an interfund lending program pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC. This program allows the fund to borrow from or lend to other Putnam funds that permit such transactions. Interfund lending transactions are subject to each fund’s investment policies and borrowing and lending limits. Interest earned or paid on the interfund lending transaction will be based on the average of certain current market rates. During the reporting period, the fund did not utilize the program.

Lines of credit The fund participates, along with other Putnam funds, in a $317.5 million unsecured committed line of credit and a $235.5 million unsecured uncommitted line of credit, both provided by State Street. Borrowings may be made for temporary or emergency purposes, including the funding of shareholder redemption requests and trade settlements. Interest is charged to the fund based on the fund’s borrowing at a rate equal to 1.25% plus the higher of (1) the Federal Funds rate and (2) the overnight LIBOR for the committed line of credit and the Federal Funds rate plus 1.30% for the uncommitted line of credit. A closing fee equal to 0.04% of the committed line of credit plus a $25,000 flat fee and 0.04% of the uncommitted line of credit has been paid by the participating funds. In addition, a commitment fee of 0.21% per annum on any unutilized portion of the committed line of credit is allocated to the participating funds based on their relative net assets and paid quarterly. During the reporting period, the fund had no borrowings against these arrangements.

Federal taxes It is the policy of the fund to distribute all of its taxable income within the prescribed time period and otherwise comply with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), applicable to regulated investment companies. It is also the intention of the fund to distribute an amount sufficient to avoid imposition of any excise tax under Section 4982 of the Code.

The fund is subject to the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification 740 Income Taxes (ASC 740). ASC 740 sets forth a minimum threshold for financial statement recognition of the benefit of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The fund did not have a liability to record for any unrecognized tax benefits in the accompanying financial statements. No provision has been made for federal taxes on income, capital gains or unrealized appreciation on securities held nor for excise tax on income and capital gains. Each of the fund’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remains subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service.

34 Convertible Securities Fund 

 



Tax cost of investments includes adjustments to net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) which may not necessarily be final tax cost basis adjustments, but closely approximate the tax basis unrealized gains and losses that may be realized and distributed to shareholders. The aggregate identified cost on a tax basis is $668,185,158, resulting in gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of $80,262,433 and $31,048,308, respectively, or net unrealized appreciation of $49,214,125.

Distributions to shareholders Distributions to shareholders from net investment income are recorded by the fund on the ex-dividend date. Distributions from capital gains, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date and paid at least annually. The amount and character of income and gains to be distributed are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from generally accepted accounting principles. Dividend sources are estimated at the time of declaration. Actual results may vary. Any non-taxable return of capital cannot be determined until final tax calculations are completed after the end of the fund’s fiscal year. Reclassifications are made to the fund’s capital accounts to reflect income and gains available for distribution (or available capital loss carryovers) under income tax regulations.

Note 2: Management fee, administrative services and other transactions

The fund pays Putnam Management a management fee (based on the fund’s average net assets and computed and paid monthly) at annual rates that may vary based on the average of the aggregate net assets of all open-end mutual funds sponsored by Putnam Management (excluding net assets of funds that are invested in, or that are invested in by, other Putnam funds to the extent necessary to avoid “double counting” of those assets). Such annual rates may vary as follows:

0.780%  of the first $5 billion,  0.580%  of the next $50 billion, 
0.730%  of the next $5 billion,  0.560%  of the next $50 billion, 
0.680%  of the next $10 billion,  0.550%  of the next $100 billion and 
0.630%  of the next $10 billion,  0.545%  of any excess thereafter. 

 

For the reporting period, the management fee represented an effective rate (excluding the impact from any expense waivers in effect) of 0.309% of the fund’s average net assets.

Putnam Management has contractually agreed, through February 28, 2019, to waive fees or reimburse the fund’s expenses to the extent necessary to limit the cumulative expenses of the fund, exclusive of brokerage, interest, taxes, investment-related expenses, extraordinary expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses and payments under the fund’s investor servicing contract, investment management contract and distribution plans, on a fiscal year-to-date basis to an annual rate of 0.20% of the fund’s average net assets over such fiscal year-to-date period. During the reporting period, the fund’s expenses were not reduced as a result of this limit.

Putnam Investments Limited (PIL), an affiliate of Putnam Management, is authorized by the Trustees to manage a separate portion of the assets of the fund as determined by Putnam Management from time to time. PIL did not manage any portion of the assets of the fund during the reporting period. If Putnam Management were to engage the services of PIL, Putnam Management would pay a quarterly sub-management fee to PIL for its services at an annual rate of 0.35% of the average net assets of the portion of the fund managed by PIL.

The fund reimburses Putnam Management an allocated amount for the compensation and related expenses of certain officers of the fund and their staff who provide administrative services to the fund. The aggregate amount of all such reimbursements is determined annually by the Trustees.

Custodial functions for the fund’s assets are provided by State Street. Custody fees are based on the fund’s asset level, the number of its security holdings and transaction volumes.

Putnam Investor Services, Inc., an affiliate of Putnam Management, provides investor servicing agent functions to the fund. Putnam Investor Services, Inc. received fees for investor servicing for class A, class B, class C, class M, class R and class Y shares that included (1) a per account fee for each direct and underlying non-defined contribution account (retail account) of the fund; (2) a specified rate of the fund’s assets attributable to defined contribution plan accounts; and (3) a specified rate based on the average net assets in retail accounts. Putnam Investor Services, Inc. has agreed that the aggregate investor servicing fees for each fund’s retail and defined contribution accounts for these share classes will not exceed an annual rate of 0.25% of the fund’s average assets attributable to such accounts.

Class I shares paid a monthly fee based on the average net assets of class I shares at an annual rate of 0.01%.

Convertible Securities Fund 35 

 



During the reporting period, the expenses for each class of shares related to investor servicing fees were as follows:

Class A  $263,419  Class M  2,265 
Class B  5,166  Class R  2,808 
Class C  27,369  Class Y  168,525 
Class I  1  Total  $469,553 

 

The fund has entered into expense offset arrangements with Putnam Investor Services, Inc. and State Street whereby Putnam Investor Services, Inc.’s and State Street’s fees are reduced by credits allowed on cash balances. The fund also reduced expenses through brokerage/service arrangements. For the reporting period, the fund’s expenses were reduced by $1,005 under the expense offset arrangements and by no monies under the brokerage/service arrangements.

Each Independent Trustee of the fund receives an annual Trustee fee, of which $545, as a quarterly retainer, has been allocated to the fund, and an additional fee for each Trustees meeting attended. Trustees also are reimbursed for expenses they incur relating to their services as Trustees.

The fund has adopted a Trustee Fee Deferral Plan (the Deferral Plan) which allows the Trustees to defer the receipt of all or a portion of Trustees fees payable on or after July 1, 1995. The deferred fees remain invested in certain Putnam funds until distribution in accordance with the Deferral Plan.

The fund has adopted an unfunded noncontributory defined benefit pension plan (the Pension Plan) covering all Trustees of the fund who have served as a Trustee for at least five years and were first elected prior to 2004. Benefits under the Pension Plan are equal to 50% of the Trustee’s average annual attendance and retainer fees for the three years ended December 31, 2005. The retirement benefit is payable during a Trustee’s lifetime, beginning the year following retirement, for the number of years of service through December 31, 2006. Pension expense for the fund is included in Trustee compensation and expenses in the Statement of operations. Accrued pension liability is included in Payable for Trustee compensation and expenses in the Statement of assets and liabilities. The Trustees have terminated the Pension Plan with respect to any Trustee first elected after 2003.

The fund has adopted distribution plans (the Plans) with respect to the following share classes pursuant to Rule 12b–1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The purpose of the Plans is to compensate Putnam Retail Management Limited Partnership, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Putnam Investments, LLC, for services provided and expenses incurred in distributing shares of the fund. The Plans provide payments by the fund to Putnam Retail Management Limited Partnership at an annual rate of up to the following amounts (Maximum %) of the average net assets attributable to each class. The Trustees have approved payment by the fund at the following annual rate (Approved %) of the average net assets attributable to each class. During the reporting period, the class-specific expenses related to distribution fees were as follows:

  Maximum %  Approved %  Amount 
Class A  0.35%  0.25%  $498,067 
Class B  1.00%  1.00%  39,064 
Class C  1.00%  1.00%  206,990 
Class M  1.00%  0.75%  12,844 
Class R  1.00%  0.50%  10,630 
Total      $767,595 

 

For the reporting period, Putnam Retail Management Limited Partnership, acting as underwriter, received net commissions of $12,399 and $49 from the sale of class A and class M shares, respectively, and received $1,734 and $289 in contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of class B and class C shares, respectively.

A deferred sales charge of up to 1.00% is assessed on certain redemptions of class A shares. For the reporting period, Putnam Retail Management Limited Partnership, acting as underwriter, received no monies on class A redemptions.

36 Convertible Securities Fund 

 



Note 3: Purchases and sales of securities

During the reporting period, the cost of purchases and the proceeds from sales, excluding short-term investments, were as follows:

  Cost of purchases  Proceeds from sales 
Investments in securities (Long-term)  $226,217,631  $243,390,237 
U.S. government securities (Long-term)     
Total  $226,217,631  $243,390,237 

 

The fund may purchase or sell investments from or to other Putnam funds in the ordinary course of business, which can reduce the fund’s transaction costs, at prices determined in accordance with SEC requirements and policies approved by the Trustees. During the reporting period, purchases or sales of long-term securities from or to other Putnam funds, if any, did not represent more than 5% of the fund’s total cost of purchases and/or total proceeds from sales.

Note 4: Capital shares

At the close of the reporting period, there were an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest authorized. Transactions, including, if applicable, direct exchanges pursuant to share conversions, in capital shares were as follows:

  SIX MONTHS ENDED 4/30/18  YEAR ENDED 10/31/17 
Class A  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount 
Shares sold  629,010  $16,342,240  1,058,537  $25,681,287 
Shares issued in connection with         
reinvestment of distributions  430,998  11,034,765  301,835  7,353,305 
  1,060,008  27,377,005  1,360,372  33,034,592 
Shares repurchased  (1,530,515)  (39,803,483)  (3,602,892)  (87,115,303) 
Net decrease  (470,507)  $(12,426,478)  (2,242,520)  $(54,080,711) 
 
  SIX MONTHS ENDED 4/30/18  YEAR ENDED 10/31/17 
Class B  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount 
Shares sold  9,683  $247,050  12,205  $279,839 
Shares issued in connection with         
reinvestment of distributions  6,013  150,746  3,119  74,347 
  15,696  397,796  15,324  354,186 
Shares repurchased  (38,711)  (986,726)  (103,746)  (2,454,659) 
Net decrease  (23,015)  $(588,930)  (88,422)  $(2,100,473) 
 
  SIX MONTHS ENDED 4/30/18  YEAR ENDED 10/31/17 
Class C  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount 
Shares sold  179,188  $4,624,055  90,389  $2,166,367 
Shares issued in connection with         
reinvestment of distributions  34,272  867,131  17,488  420,724 
  213,460  5,491,186  107,877  2,587,091 
Shares repurchased  (379,493)  (9,716,282)  (731,352)  (17,436,163) 
Net decrease  (166,033)  $(4,225,096)  (623,475)  $(14,849,072) 

 

Convertible Securities Fund 37 

 



  SIX MONTHS ENDED 4/30/18  YEAR ENDED 10/31/17 
Class I  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount 
Shares sold    $—    $— 
Shares issued in connection with         
reinvestment of distributions  14  359  10  248 
  14  359  10  248 
Shares repurchased         
Net increase  14  $359  10  $248 
 
  SIX MONTHS ENDED 4/30/18  YEAR ENDED 10/31/17 
Class M  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount 
Shares sold  4,791  $122,963  17,221  $408,113 
Shares issued in connection with         
reinvestment of distributions  3,602  91,223  2,234  53,798 
  8,393  214,186  19,455  461,911 
Shares repurchased  (17,702)  (456,512)  (39,082)  (944,144) 
Net decrease  (9,309)  $(242,326)  (19,627)  $(482,233) 
 
  SIX MONTHS ENDED 4/30/18  YEAR ENDED 10/31/17 
Class R  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount 
Shares sold  17,226  $446,409  45,875  $1,107,333 
Shares issued in connection with         
reinvestment of distributions  4,142  105,572  3,041  73,749 
  21,368  551,981  48,916  1,181,082 
Shares repurchased  (51,741)  (1,333,841)  (77,604)  (1,869,495) 
Net decrease  (30,373)  $(781,860)  (28,688)  $(688,413) 
 
  SIX MONTHS ENDED 4/30/18  YEAR ENDED 10/31/17 
Class Y  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount 
Shares sold  1,929,249  $49,927,636  3,202,852  $77,964,571 
Shares issued in connection with         
reinvestment of distributions  240,758  6,160,739  151,237  3,692,655 
  2,170,007  56,088,375  3,354,089  81,657,226 
Shares repurchased  (1,183,524)  (30,775,462)  (2,308,877)  (55,700,964) 
Net increase  986,483  $25,312,913  1,045,212  $25,956,262 

 

At the close of the reporting period, Putnam Investments, LLC owned the following shares of the fund:

  Shares owned  Percentage of ownership  Value 
Class I  453  100%  $11,586 

 

38 Convertible Securities Fund 

 



Note 5: Affiliated transactions

Transactions during the reporting period with any company which is under common ownership or control were as follows:

          Shares 
          outstanding 
          and fair 
  Fair value as  Purchase  Sale  Investment  value as 
Name of affiliate  of 10/31/17  cost  proceeds  income  of 4/30/18 
Short-term investments           
Putnam Cash Collateral           
Pool, LLC*  $18,807,175  $86,487,100  $93,016,588  $127,025  $12,277,687 
Putnam Short Term           
Investment Fund**  20,689,743  146,193,886  139,358,672  248,945  27,524,957 
Total Short-term           
investments  $39,496,918  $232,680,986  $232,375,260  $375,970  $39,802,644 

 

* No management fees are charged to Putnam Cash Collateral Pool, LLC (Note 1). Investment income shown is included in securities lending income on the Statement of operations. There were no realized or unrealized gains or losses during the period.

** Management fees charged to Putnam Short Term Investment Fund have been waived by Putnam Management.

There were no realized or unrealized gains or losses during the period.

Note 6: Market, credit and other risks

In the normal course of business, the fund trades financial instruments and enters into financial transactions where risk of potential loss exists due to changes in the market (market risk) or failure of the contracting party to the transaction to perform (credit risk). The fund may be exposed to additional credit risk that an institution or other entity with which the fund has unsettled or open transactions will default. Investments in foreign securities involve certain risks, including those related to economic instability, unfavorable political developments, and currency fluctuations.

Note 7: Summary of derivative activity

The volume of activity for the reporting period for any derivative type that was held during the period is listed below and was based on an average of the holdings at the end of each fiscal quarter:

Warrants (number of warrants)  800 

 

The following is a summary of the fair value of derivative instruments as of the close of the reporting period:

Fair value of derivative instruments as of the close of the reporting period   
  ASSET DERIVATIVES LIABILITY DERIVATIVES
Derivatives not         
accounted for as  Statement of    Statement of   
hedging instruments  assets and    assets and   
under ASC 815  liabilities location  Fair value  liabilities location  Fair value 
Equity contracts  Investments  $8  Payables  $— 
Total    $8    $— 

 

Convertible Securities Fund 39 

 



The following is a summary of change in unrealized gains or losses of derivative instruments on the Statement of operations for the reporting period (Note 1) (there were no realized gains or losses on derivative instruments):

Change in unrealized appreciation or (depreciation) on derivatives recognized in net gain or (loss)   
on investments     
Derivatives not accounted for as     
hedging instruments under ASC 815  Warrants  Total 
Equity contracts  $—  $— 
Total  $—  $— 

 

Note 8: New accounting pronouncements

In March 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2017–08, Receivables — Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310–20): Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities. The amendments in the ASU shorten the amortization period for certain callable debt securities held at a premium, to be amortized to the earliest call date. The ASU is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Management is currently evaluating the impact, if any, of applying this provision.

40 Convertible Securities Fund 

 



Putnam family of funds

The following is a list of Putnam’s open-end mutual funds offered to the public. Investors should carefully consider the investment objective, risks, charges, and expenses of a fund before investing. For a prospectus, or a summary prospectus if available, containing this and other information for any Putnam fund or product, contact your financial advisor or call Putnam Investor Services at 1-800-225-1581. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.

Blend  Value 
Capital Opportunities Fund  Convertible Securities Fund 
Capital Spectrum Fund  Equity Income Fund 
Emerging Markets Equity Fund  International Value Fund 
Equity Spectrum Fund  Small Cap Value Fund 
Europe Equity Fund  
Global Equity Fund Income 
International Capital Opportunities Fund Diversified Income Trust 
International Equity Fund Emerging Markets Income Fund 
Investors Fund Floating Rate Income Fund 
Low Volatility Equity Fund Global Income Trust 
Multi-Cap Core Fund Government Money Market Fund* 
Research Fund High Yield Fund 
  Income Fund 
Global Sector  Money Market Fund 
Global Consumer Fund  Mortgage Securities Fund 
Global Financials Fund  Short Duration Income Fund 
Global Health Care Fund  
Global Industrials Fund Tax-free Income 
Global Natural Resources Fund AMT-Free Municipal Fund 
Global Sector Fund Intermediate-Term Municipal Income Fund 
Global Technology Fund Short-Term Municipal Income Fund 
Global Telecommunications Fund Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Global Utilities Fund Tax-Free High Yield Fund 
   
Growth State tax-free income funds: 
Growth Opportunities Fund California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, 
International Growth Fund New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. 
Small Cap Growth Fund  
Sustainable Future Fund  
Sustainable Leaders Fund   

 

41 Convertible Securities Fund 

 



Absolute Return  Asset Allocation 
Absolute Return 100 Fund®  Dynamic Risk Allocation Fund 
Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund  George Putnam Balanced Fund 
Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund  Dynamic Asset Allocation Balanced Fund 
   
Putnam PanAgora**  Dynamic Asset Allocation Conservative Fund 
Putnam PanAgora Managed Futures Strategy  Dynamic Asset Allocation Growth Fund 
Putnam PanAgora Market Neutral Fund   
Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund  Retirement Income Fund Lifestyle 1 
 
  RetirementReady® 2060 Fund 
  RetirementReady® 2055 Fund 
  RetirementReady® 2050 Fund 
  RetirementReady® 2045 Fund 
  RetirementReady® 2040 Fund 
  RetirementReady® 2035 Fund 
  RetirementReady® 2030 Fund 
  RetirementReady® 2025 Fund 
  RetirementReady® 2020 Fund 

 

* You could lose money by investing in the fund. Although the fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it cannot guarantee it will do so. An investment in the fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The fund’s sponsor has no legal obligation to provide financial support to the fund, and you should not expect that the sponsor will provide financial support to the fund at any time.

You could lose money by investing in the fund. Although the fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it cannot guarantee it will do so. The fund may impose a fee upon sale of your shares or may temporarily suspend your ability to sell shares if the fund’s liquidity falls below required minimums because of market conditions or other factors.

An investment in the fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The fund’s sponsor has no legal obligation to provide financial support to the fund, and you should not expect that the sponsor will provide financial support to the fund at any time.

Not available in all states.

** Sub-advised by PanAgora Asset Management.

Check your account balances and the most recent month-end performance in the Individual Investors section at putnam.com.

Convertible Securities Fund 42 

 



Services for shareholders

Investor services

Systematic investment plan Tell us how much you wish to invest regularly — weekly, semimonthly, or monthly — and the amount you choose will be transferred automatically from your checking or savings account. There’s no additional fee for this service, and you can suspend it at any time. This plan may be a great way to save for college expenses or to plan for your retirement.

Please note that regular investing does not guarantee a profit or protect against loss in a declining market. Before arranging a systematic investment plan, consider your financial ability to continue making purchases in periods when prices are low.

Systematic exchange You can make regular transfers from one Putnam fund to another Putnam fund. There are no additional fees for this service, and you can cancel or change your options at any time.

Dividends PLUS You can choose to have the dividend distributions from one of your Putnam funds automatically reinvested in another Putnam fund at no additional charge.

Free exchange privilege You can exchange money between Putnam funds free of charge, as long as they are the same class of shares. A signature guarantee is required if you are exchanging more than $500,000. The fund reserves the right to revise or terminate the exchange privilege.

Reinstatement privilege If you’ve sold Putnam shares or received a check for a dividend or capital gain, you may reinvest the proceeds with Putnam within 90 days of the transaction and they will be reinvested at the fund’s current net asset value — with no sales charge. However, reinstatement of class B shares may have special tax consequences. Ask your financial or tax representative for details.

Check-writing service You have ready access to many Putnam accounts. It’s as simple as writing a check, and there are no special fees or service charges. For more information about the check-writing service, call Putnam or visit our website.

Dollar cost averaging When you’re investing for long-term goals, it’s time, not timing, that counts. Investing on a systematic basis is a better strategy than trying to figure out when the markets will go up or down. This means investing the same amount of money regularly over a long period. This method of investing is called dollar cost averaging. When a fund’s share price declines, your investment dollars buy more shares at lower prices. When it increases, they buy fewer shares. Over time, you will pay a lower average price per share.

For more information

Visit the Individual Investors section at putnam.com A secure section of our website contains complete information on your account, including balances and transactions, updated daily. You may also conduct transactions, such as exchanges, additional investments, and address changes. Log on today to get your password.

Call us toll free at 1-800-225-1581 Ask a helpful Putnam representative or your financial advisor for details about any of these or other services, or see your prospectus.

43 Convertible Securities Fund 

 



Putnam’s commitment to confidentiality

In order to conduct business with our shareholders, we must obtain certain personal information such as account holders’ names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and dates of birth. Using this information, we are able to maintain accurate records of accounts and transactions.

It is our policy to protect the confidentiality of our shareholder information, whether or not a shareholder currently owns shares of our funds. In particular, it is our policy not to sell information about you or your accounts to outside marketing firms. We have safeguards in place designed to prevent unauthorized access to our computer systems and procedures to protect personal information from unauthorized use.

Within the Putnam organization, your information is shared with those who need it to service your account or provide you with information about other Putnam products or services. Under certain circumstances, we must also share account information with outside vendors who provide services to us, such as mailings and proxy solicitations. In these cases, the service providers enter into confidentiality agreements with us, and we provide only the information necessary to process transactions and perform other services related to your account. It is also our policy to share account information with your financial advisor, if you've provided us with information about your advisor and that person is listed on your Putnam account.

If you would like clarification about our confidentiality policies or have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us at 1-800-225-1581, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Convertible Securities Fund 44 

 



Fund information

Founded over 80 years ago, Putnam Investments was built around the concept that a balance between risk and reward is the hallmark of a well-rounded financial program. We manage over 100 funds across income, value, blend, growth, asset allocation, absolute return, and global sector categories.

Investment Manager  Trustees  Michael J. Higgins 
Putnam Investment  Jameson A. Baxter, Chair  Vice President, Treasurer, 
Management, LLC  Kenneth R. Leibler, Vice Chair  and Clerk 
One Post Office Square  Liaquat Ahamed   
Boston, MA 02109  Ravi Akhoury  Janet C. Smith 
  Barbara M. Baumann  Vice President, 
Investment Sub-Advisor  Katinka Domotorffy  Principal Financial Officer, 
Putnam Investments Limited  Catharine Bond Hill  Principal Accounting Officer, 
16 St James’s Street  Paul L. Joskow  and Assistant Treasurer 
London, England SW1A 1ER Robert E. Patterson  
  George Putnam, III Susan G. Malloy 
Marketing Services  Robert L. Reynolds Vice President and 
Putnam Retail Management  Manoj P. Singh Assistant Treasurer 
One Post Office Square     
Boston, MA 02109 Officers Mark C. Trenchard 
  Robert L. Reynolds Vice President and 
Custodian  President BSA Compliance Officer 
State Street Bank   
and Trust Company Jonathan S. Horwitz Nancy E. Florek 
  Executive Vice President, Vice President, Director of 
Legal Counsel  Principal Executive Officer, Proxy Voting and Corporate 
Ropes & Gray LLP  and Compliance Liaison Governance, Assistant Clerk, 
    and Assistant Treasurer 
  Robert T. Burns  
  Vice President and Denere P. Poulack 
  Chief Legal Officer Assistant Vice President, Assistant 
    Clerk, and Assistant Treasurer 
  James F. Clark   
  Vice President and   
  Chief Compliance Officer   

 

This report is for the information of shareholders of Putnam Convertible Securities Fund. It may also be used as sales literature when preceded or accompanied by the current prospectus, the most recent copy of Putnam’s Quarterly Performance Summary, and Putnam’s Quarterly Ranking Summary. For more recent performance, please visit putnam.com. Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of a fund, which are described in its prospectus. For this and other information or to request a prospectus or summary prospectus, call 1-800-225-1581 toll free. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing. The fund’s Statement of Additional Information contains additional information about the fund’s Trustees and is available without charge upon request by calling 1-800-225-1581.




Item 2. Code of Ethics:
Not applicable

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert:
Not applicable

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services:
Not applicable

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants
Not applicable

Item 6. Schedule of Investments:
The registrant's schedule of investments in unaffiliated issuers is included in the report to shareholders in Item 1 above.

Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures For Closed-End Management Investment Companies:
Not applicable

Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Investment Companies
Not Applicable

Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Companies and Affiliated Purchasers:
Not applicable

Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders:
Not applicable

Item 11. Controls and Procedures:
(a) The registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded, based on their evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report, that the design and operation of such procedures are generally effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the registrant in this report is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission's rules and forms.
(b) Changes in internal control over financial reporting: Not applicable

Item 12. Exhibits:
(a)(1) Not applicable
(a)(2) Separate certifications for the principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the registrant as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, are filed herewith.
(b) The certifications required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, are filed herewith.

SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Putnam Convertible Securities Fund
By (Signature and Title):
/s/ Janet C. Smith
Janet C. Smith
Principal Accounting Officer

Date: June 29, 2018
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

By (Signature and Title):
/s/ Jonathan S. Horwitz
Jonathan S. Horwitz
Principal Executive Officer

Date: June 29, 2018
By (Signature and Title):
/s/ Janet C. Smith
Janet C. Smith
Principal Financial Officer

Date: June 29, 2018