0000928816-17-002321.txt : 20171122 0000928816-17-002321.hdr.sgml : 20171122 20171122133050 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000928816-17-002321 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 485BPOS PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 12 FILED AS OF DATE: 20171122 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20171122 EFFECTIVENESS DATE: 20171130 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: GEORGE PUTNAM BALANCED FUND CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000081259 IRS NUMBER: 046013677 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MA FISCAL YEAR END: 0731 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 485BPOS SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 002-10816 FILM NUMBER: 171219400 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE POST OFFICE SQ CITY: BOSTON STATE: MA ZIP: 02109 BUSINESS PHONE: 8002252581 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE POST OFFICE SQ CITY: BOSTON STATE: MA ZIP: 02109 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: GEORGE PUTNAM FUND OF BOSTON DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19940302 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: PUTNAM EQUITY INCOME FUND/NEW DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19940302 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: PUTNAM GEORGE FUND OF BOSTON DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920703 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: GEORGE PUTNAM BALANCED FUND CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000081259 IRS NUMBER: 046013677 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MA FISCAL YEAR END: 0731 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 485BPOS SEC ACT: 1940 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 811-00058 FILM NUMBER: 171219401 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE POST OFFICE SQ CITY: BOSTON STATE: MA ZIP: 02109 BUSINESS PHONE: 8002252581 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE POST OFFICE SQ CITY: BOSTON STATE: MA ZIP: 02109 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: GEORGE PUTNAM FUND OF BOSTON DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19940302 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: PUTNAM EQUITY INCOME FUND/NEW DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19940302 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: PUTNAM GEORGE FUND OF BOSTON DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920703 0000081259 S000005597 GEORGE PUTNAM FUND OF BOSTON C000015264 Class A Shares PGEOX C000015265 Class B Shares PGEBX C000015266 Class C Shares PGPCX C000015267 Class M Shares PGEMX C000015268 Class R Shares PGPRX C000015269 Class Y Shares PGEYX C000136854 Class R5 C000136855 Class R6 C000184401 Class T Shares 485BPOS 1 a_george485b.htm GEORGE PUTNAM BALANCED FUND a_george485b.htm
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on   
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November 22, 2017   
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  Registration No. 2-10816 
  811-00058 
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION   
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549   
 
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FORM N-1A   
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  REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933  / X / 
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  Pre-Effective Amendment No.  /    / 
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  Post-Effective Amendment No. 115  / X / 
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  REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY  / X / 
  ACT OF 1940  ---- 
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  Amendment No. 49  / X / 
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  (Check appropriate box or boxes)  ---- 
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GEORGE PUTNAM BALANCED FUND   
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)   
 
One Post Office Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02109   
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)   
 
Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code  
(617) 292-1000   
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  It is proposed that this filing will become effective 
  (check appropriate box) 
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/    /  immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) 
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/ X /  on November 30, 2017 pursuant to paragraph (b) 
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/    /  60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) 
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/    /  on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) 
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/    /  75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) 
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/    /  on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485. 
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If appropriate, check the following box: 
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/    /  this post-effective amendment designates a new 
----  effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment. 
 
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  ROBERT T. BURNS, Vice President 
  GEORGE PUTNAM BALANCED FUND 
  One Post Office Square 
  Boston, Massachusetts 02109 
  (Name and address of agent for service) 
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  Copy to: 
  BRYAN CHEGWIDDEN, Esquire 
  ROPES & GRAY LLP 
  1211 Avenue of the Americas 
  New York, New York 10036 

 

 

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Fund summary

 

 

 

Goal

George Putnam Balanced Fund seeks to provide a balanced investment composed of a well-diversified portfolio of stocks and bonds which produce both capital growth and current income.

Fees and expenses

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The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Putnam funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial advisor and in How do I buy fund shares? beginning on page 15 of the fund’s prospectus, in the Appendix to the fund’s prospectus, and in How to buy shares beginning on page II-1 of the fund’s statement of additional information (SAI).

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Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

Share class Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price) Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower)
Class A 5.75% 1.00%*
Class B NONE 5.00%**
Class C NONE 1.00%***
Class M 3.50% NONE
Class R NONE NONE
Class R5 NONE NONE
Class R6 NONE NONE
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Class T 2.50% NONE
Class Y NONE NONE
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Annual fund operating expenses
(expenses you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

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Share class Management fees Distribution and service (12b-1) fees Other expenses Total annual fund operating expenses
Class A 0.53% 0.25% 0.23% 1.01%
Class B 0.53% 1.00% 0.23% 1.76%
Class C 0.53% 1.00% 0.23% 1.76%
Class M 0.53% 0.75% 0.23% 1.51%
Class R 0.53% 0.50% 0.23% 1.26%
Class R5 0.53% N/A 0.21% 0.74%
Class R6 0.53% N/A 0.11% 0.64%
Class T 0.53% 0.25% 0.23%< 1.01%
Class Y 0.53% N/A 0.23% 0.76%

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2          Prospectus




*   Applies only to certain redemptions of shares bought with no initial sales charge.
**   This charge is phased out over six years.
***   This charge is eliminated after one year.

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<   Other expenses are based on expenses of class A shares for the fund’s last fiscal year.

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Example

The following hypothetical example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other funds. It assumes that you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods indicated and then, except as indicated, redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. It assumes a 5% return on your investment each year and that the fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Your actual costs may be higher or lower.

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Share class 1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Class A $673 $879 $1,103 $1,745
Class B $679 $856 $1,156 $1,880
Class B (no redemption) $179 $556 $956 $1,880
Class C $279 $556 $956 $2,078
Class C (no redemption) $179 $556 $956 $2,078
Class M $499 $812 $1,147 $2,093
Class R $129 $401 $694 $1,528
Class R5 $76 $238 $414 $924
Class R6 $66 $206 $359 $804
Class T $351 $565 $796 $1,461
Class Y $78 $244 $425 $948



Portfolio turnover

The fund pays transaction-related costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when the fund’s shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or the above example, affect fund performance. The fund’s turnover rate in the most recent fiscal year was 204%.

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Investments, risks, and performance

Investments

We invest mainly in a combination of bonds and common stocks (growth or value stocks or both) of large U.S. companies, with a greater focus on common stocks. For example, we may purchase stocks of companies with stock prices that reflect a value lower than that which we place on the company. We may also consider other factors that we believe will cause the stock price to rise. We buy bonds of governments and private companies that are mostly investment-grade in quality with intermediate- to long-term maturities (three years or longer). We may consider, among other factors, a company’s valuation, financial strength, growth potential, competitive position in its industry, projected future earnings, cash flows and dividends when deciding whether



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to buy or sell equity investments, and, among other factors, credit, interest rate and prepayment risks, as well as general market conditions, when deciding whether to buy or sell fixed-income investments. We may also use derivatives, such as futures, options, warrants and swap contracts, for both hedging and non-hedging purposes.

Risks

It is important to understand that you can lose money by investing in the fund.

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The value of stocks and bonds in the fund’s portfolio may fall or fail to rise over extended periods of time for a variety of reasons, including general financial market conditions, changing market perceptions (including, in the case of bonds, 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. Growth stocks may be more susceptible to earnings disappointments, and value stocks may fail to rebound.

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Bond investments are subject to interest rate risk, which means the value of the fund’s bond investments is likely to fall if interest rates rise. Bond investments also are subject to credit risk, which is the risk that the issuer of the bond may default on payment of interest or principal. Interest rate risk is generally greater for longer-term bonds, and credit risk is generally greater for below-investment-grade bonds (sometimes referred to as “junk bonds”), which may be considered speculative. Our use of derivatives may increase the risks of investing in the fund by increasing investment exposure (which may be considered leverage) or, in the case of many over-the-counter instruments, because of the potential inability to terminate or sell derivatives positions and the potential failure of the other party to the instrument to meet its obligations.

The fund may not achieve its goal, and it is not intended to be a complete investment program. An investment in the fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Performance

The performance information below gives some indication of the risks associated with an investment in the fund by showing the fund’s performance year to year and over time. The bar chart does not reflect the impact of sales charges. If it did, performance would be lower. Please remember that past performance is not necessarily an indication of future results. Monthly performance figures for the fund are available at putnam.com.

 

 



4          Prospectus




 

 

 

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Annual total returns for class A shares before sales charges

 

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Average annual total returns after sales charges
(for periods ending 12/31/16)

Share class 1 year 5 years 10 years
Class A before taxes 1.72% 8.02% 2.44%
Class A after taxes on distributions 1.37% 7.68% 1.74%
Class A after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares 1.14% 6.28% 1.76%
Class B before taxes 2.08% 8.19% 2.42%
Class C before taxes 6.06% 8.50% 2.28%
Class M before taxes 3.56% 7.99% 2.17%
Class R before taxes 7.66% 9.03% 2.80%
Class R5 before taxes* 8.19% 9.58% 3.31%
Class R6 before taxes* 8.28% 9.64% 3.34%
Class T before taxes** 5.23% 8.75% 2.79%
Class Y before taxes 8.16% 9.57% 3.31%
S&P 500 Index (no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) 11.96% 14.66% 6.95%
Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) 2.65% 2.23% 4.34%
George Putnam Blended Index (no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) 8.41% 9.78% 6.54%

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*   Performance for class R5 and class R6 shares prior to their inception (12/2/13) is derived from the historical performance of class Y shares and has not been adjusted for the lower investor servicing fees applicable to class R5 and class R6 shares; had it, returns would have been higher.

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**   Class T shares were not outstanding during the periods shown. Performance shown for class T shares is derived from the historical performance of class A shares, adjusted for the lower initial sales charge currently applicable to class T shares.

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The fund’s performance is compared to the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, an unmanaged index of U.S. investment-grade fixed income securities. The fund’s performance is also compared to the S&P 500 Index, an unmanaged index of large U.S. company stocks. In addition, the fund’s performance is compared to the George Putnam Blended Index, an unmanaged index administered by Putnam Management, 60% of which is the S&P 500 Index and 40% of which is the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index.



Prospectus          5




 

After-tax returns reflect the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are shown for class A shares only and will vary for other classes. These after-tax returns do not apply if you hold your fund shares through a 401(k) plan, an IRA, or another tax-advantaged arrangement.

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

Your fund’s management

Investment advisor

Putnam Investment Management, LLC

Portfolio managers

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Aaron Cooper
Chief Investment Officer, Equities,
portfolio manager of the fund
since 2014

Paul Scanlon
Co-Head of Fixed Income, portfolio
manager of the fund since 2016

Sub-advisor

Putnam Investments Limited*

*   Though the investment advisor has retained the services of Putnam Investments Limited (PIL), PIL does not currently manage any assets of the fund.


Purchase and sale of fund shares

You can open an account, purchase and/or sell fund shares, or exchange them for shares of another Putnam fund by contacting your financial advisor or by calling Putnam Investor Services at 1-800-225-1581. Purchases for 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.

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When opening an account, you must complete and mail a Putnam account application, along with a check made payable to the fund, to: Putnam Investor Services, P.O. Box 8383, Boston, MA 02266-8383. The minimum initial investment of $500 is currently waived, although Putnam reserves the right to reject initial investments under $500 at its discretion. There is no minimum for subsequent investments.

You can sell your shares back to the fund or exchange them for shares of another Putnam fund any day the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open. Shares may be sold or exchanged by mail, by phone, or online at putnam.com. Some restrictions may apply.

Tax information

The fund’s distributions will be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains unless you hold the shares through a tax-advantaged arrangement, in which case you will generally be taxed only upon withdrawal of monies from the arrangement.



6          Prospectus




 

Financial intermediary compensation

If you purchase the fund through a broker/dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank or financial advisor), the fund and its related companies may pay that intermediary for the sale of fund shares and related services. Please bear in mind that these payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker/dealer or other intermediary to recommend the fund over another investment. Ask your advisor or visit your advisor’s website for more information.

 

What are the fund’s main investment strategies and related risks?

This section contains greater detail on the fund’s main investment strategies and the related risks you would face as a fund shareholder. It is important to keep in mind that risk and reward generally go hand in hand; the higher the potential reward, the greater the risk. As mentioned in the fund summary, we pursue the fund’s goal by investing mainly in bonds and common stocks of large U.S. companies, with a greater emphasis on common stocks. However, under normal circumstances, we invest at least 25% of the fund’s total assets in fixed-income securities, including debt securities, preferred stocks and that portion of the value of convertible securities attributable to the fixed-income characteristics of those securities.

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  • Common stocks. Common stock represents an ownership interest in a company. The value of a company’s stock may fall as a result of factors directly relating to that company, such as decisions made by its management or lower demand for the company’s products or services. A stock’s value may also fall because of factors affecting not just the company, but also other companies in the same industry or in a number of different industries, such as increases in production costs. From time to time, the fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in issuers in one or more related industries or sectors, which would make the fund more vulnerable to adverse developments affecting those issuers, industries or sectors. The value of a company’s stock may also be affected by changes in financial markets that are relatively unrelated to the company or its industry, such as changes in interest rates or currency exchange rates. In addition, a company’s stock generally pays dividends only after the company invests in its own business and makes required payments to holders of its bonds and other debt. For this reason, the value of a company’s stock will usually react more strongly than its bonds and other debt to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects. Stocks of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than those of larger companies.

Growth stocks — Stocks of companies we believe are fast-growing may trade at a higher multiple of current earnings than other stocks. The values of these stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the values of other stocks. If our assessment of the prospects for a company’s earnings growth is wrong, or if our judgment of how other investors will value the company’s earnings growth is wrong, then the price of the company’s stock may fall or may not approach the value that we have placed on it. In addition, growth stocks, at times, may not perform



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as well as value stocks or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.

Value stocks — Companies whose stocks we believe are undervalued by the market may have experienced adverse business developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused their stocks to be out of favor. If our assessment of a company’s prospects is wrong, or if other investors do not similarly recognize the value of the company, then the price of the company’s stock may fall or may not approach the value that we have placed on it. In addition, value stocks, at times, may not perform as well as growth stocks or the stock market in general, and may be out of favor with investors for varying periods of time.

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  • Interest rate risk. The values of bonds and other debt instruments usually rise and fall in response to changes in interest rates. Declining interest rates generally increase the value of existing debt instruments, and rising interest rates generally decrease the value of existing debt instruments. Changes in a debt instrument’s value usually will not affect the amount of interest income paid to the fund, but will affect the value of the fund’s shares. Interest rate risk is generally greater for investments with longer maturities.

Some investments give the issuer the option to call or redeem an investment before its maturity date. If an issuer calls or redeems an investment during a time of declining interest rates, we might have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, and, therefore, the fund might not benefit from any increase in value as a result of declining interest rates.

  • Credit risk. Investors normally expect to be compensated in proportion to the risk they are assuming. Thus, debt of issuers with poor credit prospects usually offers higher yields than debt of issuers with more secure credit. Higher-rated investments generally have lower credit risk.

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We invest most of the fixed-income portion of the fund in investment-grade investments. These are rated at least BBB or its equivalent at the time of purchase by a nationally recognized securities rating agency, or are unrated investments that we believe are of comparable quality. We may invest in below-investment-grade investments. However, we will not invest in securities that are rated lower than B or its equivalent by each rating agency rating the investment, or are unrated securities that we believe are of comparable quality. We will not necessarily sell an investment if its rating is reduced (or increased) after we buy it.

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Investments rated below BBB or its equivalent are below-investment-grade in quality and may be considered speculative. This rating reflects a greater possibility that the issuers may be unable to make timely payments of interest and principal and thus default. If this happens, or is perceived as likely to happen, the values of those investments will usually be more volatile and are likely to fall. A default or expected default could also make it difficult for us to sell the investments at prices approximating the values we had previously placed on them. Lower-rated debt usually has a more limited market than higher-rated debt, which may at times make

 

 



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it difficult for us to buy or sell certain debt instruments or to establish their fair value. Credit risk is generally greater for zero-coupon bonds and other investments that are issued at less than their face value and that are required to make interest payments only at maturity rather than at intervals during the life of the investment. Although investment-grade investments generally have lower credit risk, they may share some of the risks of lower-rated investments. U.S. government investments generally have the least credit risk, but are not completely free of credit risk. While some investments, such as U.S. Treasury obligations and Ginnie Mae certificates, are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, others are backed only by the credit of the issuer.

Credit ratings are based largely on the issuer’s historical financial condition and the rating agencies’ investment analysis at the time of rating. The rating assigned to any particular investment does not necessarily reflect the issuer’s current financial condition, and does not reflect an assessment of the investment’s volatility or liquidity. Although we consider credit ratings in making investment decisions, we perform our own investment analysis and do not rely only on ratings assigned by the rating agencies. Our success in achieving the fund’s goal may depend more on our own credit analysis when we buy lower-rated debt than when we buy investment-grade debt. We may have to participate in legal proceedings involving the issuer or take possession of and manage assets that secure the issuer’s obligations. This could increase the fund’s operating expenses and decrease its net asset value.

Some convertible securities receive payments only after the company has paid the holders of its non-convertible debt; for this reason, the credit risk of a company’s convertible securities can be greater than that of its non-convertible debt.

  • Prepayment risk. Traditional debt investments typically pay a fixed rate of interest until maturity, when the entire principal amount is due. In contrast, payments on securitized debt instruments, including mortgage-backed and asset-backed investments, typically include both interest and partial payment of principal. Principal may also be prepaid voluntarily, or as a result of refinancing or foreclosure. We may have to invest the proceeds from prepaid investments in other investments with less attractive terms and yields.

Compared to debt that cannot be prepaid, mortgage-backed investments are less likely to increase in value during periods of declining interest rates and have a higher risk of decline in value during periods of rising interest rates. These investments may increase the volatility of the fund. Some mortgage-backed investments receive only the interest portion or the principal portion of payments on the underlying mortgages. The yields and values of these investments are extremely sensitive to changes in interest rates and in the rate of principal payments on the underlying mortgages. The market for these investments may be volatile and limited, which may make them difficult to buy or sell. Asset-backed securities are structured like mortgage-backed securities, but instead of mortgage loans or interests in mortgage loans, the underlying assets may include such items as motor vehicle installment sales or installment loan contracts, leases of various types of real and personal



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property and receivables from credit card agreements. Asset-backed securities are subject to risks similar to those of mortgage-backed securities.

  • Foreign investments. We may invest in foreign investments. Foreign investments involve certain special risks, including:
—   Unfavorable changes in currency exchange rates: Foreign investments are typically issued and traded in foreign currencies. As a result, their values may be affected by changes in exchange rates between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar.
—   Political and economic developments: Foreign investments may be subject to the risks of seizure by a foreign government, direct or indirect impact of sovereign debt default, imposition of economic sanctions or restrictions on the exchange or export of foreign currency, and tax increases.
—   Unreliable or untimely information: There may be less information publicly available about a foreign company than about most publicly-traded U.S. companies, and foreign companies are usually not subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices as stringent as those in the United States.
—   Limited legal recourse: Legal remedies for investors may be more limited than the remedies available in the United States.
—   Limited markets: Certain foreign investments may be less liquid (harder to buy and sell) and more volatile than most U.S. investments, which means we may at times be unable to sell these foreign investments at desirable prices. In addition, there may be limited or no markets for bonds of issuers that become distressed. For the same reason, we may at times find it difficult to value the fund’s foreign investments.
—   Trading practices: Brokerage commissions and other fees are generally higher for foreign investments than for U.S. investments. The procedures and rules governing foreign transactions and custody may also involve delays in payment, delivery or recovery of money or investments.
—   Sovereign issuers: The willingness and ability of sovereign issuers to pay principal and interest on government securities depends on various economic factors, including the issuer’s balance of payments, overall debt level, and cash flow from tax or other revenues. In addition, there may be no legal recourse for investors in the event of default by a sovereign government.


The risks of foreign investments are typically increased in countries with less developed markets, which are sometimes referred to as emerging markets. Emerging markets may have less developed economies and legal and regulatory systems, and may be susceptible to greater political and economic instability than developed foreign markets. Countries with emerging markets are also more likely to experience high levels of inflation, or currency devaluation, and investments in emerging markets may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in developed markets. For these and other reasons, investments in emerging markets are often considered speculative.

 

 



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Certain risks related to foreign investments may also apply to some extent to U.S.-traded investments that are denominated in foreign currencies, investments in U.S. companies that are traded in foreign markets, or investments in U.S. companies that have significant foreign operations.

  • Derivatives. We may engage in a variety of transactions involving derivatives, such as futures, options, warrants and swap contracts. Derivatives are financial instruments whose value depends upon, or is derived from, the value of something else, such as one or more underlying investments, pools of investments, indexes or currencies. We may make use of “short” derivatives positions, the values of which typically move in the opposite direction from the price of the underlying investment, pool of investments, index or currency. We may use derivatives both for hedging and non-hedging purposes, including as a substitute for a direct investment in the securities of one or more issuers. However, we may also choose not to use derivatives based on our evaluation of market conditions or the availability of suitable derivatives. Investments in derivatives may be applied toward meeting a requirement to invest in a particular kind of investment if the derivatives have economic characteristics similar to that investment.

Derivatives involve special risks and may result in losses. The successful use of derivatives depends on our ability to manage these sophisticated instruments. Some derivatives are “leveraged,” which means they provide the fund with investment exposure greater than the value of the fund’s investment in the derivatives. As a result, these derivatives may magnify or otherwise increase investment losses to the fund. The risk of loss from certain short derivatives positions is theoretically unlimited. The value of derivatives may move in unexpected ways due to the use of leverage or other factors, especially in unusual market conditions, and may result in increased volatility.

Other risks arise from the potential inability to terminate or sell derivatives positions. A liquid secondary market may not always exist for the fund’s derivatives positions. In fact, many over-the-counter instruments (investments not traded on an exchange) will not be liquid. Over-the-counter instruments also involve the risk that the other party to the derivatives transaction will not meet its obligations. For further information about additional types and risks of derivatives and the fund’s asset segregation policies, see Miscellaneous Investments, Investment Practices and Risks in the SAI.

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  • Market risk. The value of securities in the fund’s portfolio may fall or fail to rise over extended periods of time for a variety of reasons, including general financial market conditions, changing market perceptions (including, in the case of bonds, 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. During those periods, the fund may experience high levels of shareholder redemptions, and may have to sell securities at times when it would otherwise not do so, and at unfavorable prices.

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  • Other investments. In addition to the main investment strategies described above, the fund may make other types of investments, such as investments in preferred stocks, convertible securities, and asset-backed securities. The fund may also loan portfolio securities to earn income. These practices may be subject to other risks, as described under Miscellaneous Investments, Investment Practices and Risks in the SAI.
  • Temporary defensive strategies. In response to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions, we may take temporary defensive positions, such as investing some or all of the fund’s assets in cash and cash equivalents, that differ from the fund’s usual investment strategies. However, we may choose not to use these temporary defensive strategies for a variety of reasons, even in very volatile market conditions. These strategies may cause the fund to miss out on investment opportunities, and may prevent the fund from achieving its goal. Additionally, while temporary defensive strategies are mainly designed to limit losses, such strategies may not work as intended.
  • Changes in policies. The Trustees may change the fund’s goal, investment strategies and other policies set forth in this prospectus without shareholder approval, except as otherwise provided.

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  • Portfolio turnover rate. The fund’s portfolio turnover rate measures how frequently the fund buys and sells investments. A portfolio turnover rate of 100%, for example, would mean that the fund sold and replaced securities valued at 100% of the fund’s assets within a one-year period. The fund expects to engage in frequent trading. Funds with high turnover may be more likely to realize capital gains that must be distributed to shareholders as taxable income. High turnover may also cause a fund to pay more brokerage commissions and to incur other transaction costs (including imputed transaction costs), which may detract from performance. The fund’s portfolio turnover rate and the amount of brokerage commissions it pays and transaction costs it incurs will vary over time based on market conditions.

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  • Portfolio holdings. The SAI includes a description of the fund’s policies with respect to the disclosure of its portfolio holdings. For more specific information on the fund’s portfolio, you may visit the Putnam Investments website, putnam.com/individual, where the fund’s top 10 holdings and related portfolio information may be viewed monthly beginning approximately 15 days after the end of each month, and full portfolio holdings may be viewed beginning on the last business day of the month after the end of each calendar quarter. This information will remain available on the website until the fund files a Form N-CSR or N-Q with the SEC for the period that includes the date of the information, after which such information can be found on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

Who oversees and manages the fund?

The fund’s Trustees

As a shareholder of a mutual fund, you have certain rights and protections, including representation by a Board of Trustees. The Putnam Funds’ Board of Trustees oversees the general conduct of the fund’s business and represents the interests of the Putnam

 

 



12          Prospectus




 

fund shareholders. At least 75% of the members of the Putnam Funds’ Board of Trustees are independent, which means they are not officers of the fund or affiliated with Putnam Investment Management, LLC (Putnam Management).

The Trustees periodically review the fund’s investment performance and the quality of other services such as administration, custody, and investor services. At least annually, the Trustees review the fees paid to Putnam Management and its affiliates for providing or overseeing these services, as well as the overall level of the fund’s operating expenses. In carrying out their responsibilities, the Trustees are assisted by an administrative staff, auditors and legal counsel that are selected by the Trustees and are independent of Putnam Management and its affiliates.

Contacting the fund’s Trustees
Address correspondence to:
The Putnam Funds Trustees
One Post Office Square
Boston, MA 02109

The fund’s investment manager

The Trustees have retained Putnam Management, which has managed mutual funds since 1937, to be the fund’s investment manager, responsible for making investment decisions for the fund and managing the fund’s other affairs and business.

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The basis for the Trustees’ approval of the fund’s management contract and the sub-management contract described below is discussed in the fund’s annual report to shareholders dated July 31, 2017.

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The fund pays a monthly management fee to Putnam Management. The fee is calculated by applying a rate to the fund’s average net assets for the month. The rate is based on the monthly average of the aggregate net assets of all open-end 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), and generally declines as the aggregate net assets increase.

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The fund paid Putnam Management a management fee (after any applicable waivers) of 0.53% of average net assets for the fund’s last fiscal year.

Putnam Management’s address is One Post Office Square, Boston, MA 02109.

Putnam Management has retained its affiliate PIL to make investment decisions for such fund assets as may be designated from time to time for its management by Putnam Management. PIL is not currently managing any fund assets. If PIL were to manage any fund assets, Putnam Management (and not the fund) would pay a quarterly sub-management fee to PIL for its services at the annual rate of 0.40% of the average net asset value (NAV) of any fund assets managed by PIL. PIL, which provides a full range of international investment advisory services to institutional clients, is located at Cassini House, 57–59 St James’s Street, London, England, SW1A 1LD.

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Prospectus          13




 

Pursuant to this arrangement, Putnam investment professionals who are based in foreign jurisdictions may serve as portfolio managers of the fund or provide other investment services, consistent with local regulations.

  • Portfolio managers. The officers of Putnam Management identified below are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the fund’s portfolio.

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Portfolio managers Joined fund Employer Positions over past five years
Aaron Cooper 2014

Putnam Management

2011 - Present

Chief Investment Officer, Equities

Previously, Director, Global Equity Research

Paul Scanlon 2016

Putnam Management

1999 - Present

 Co-Head of Fixed Income

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The SAI provides information about these individuals’ compensation, other accounts managed by these individuals and these individuals’ ownership of securities in the fund.

How does the fund price its shares?

The price of the fund’s shares is based on its NAV. The NAV per share of each class equals the total value of its assets, less its liabilities, divided by the number of its outstanding shares. Shares are only valued as of the scheduled close of regular trading on the NYSE each day the exchange is open.

The fund values its investments for which market quotations are readily available at market value. It values all other investments and assets at their fair value, which may differ from recent market prices. For example, the fund may value a stock traded on a U.S. exchange at its fair value when the exchange closes early or trading in the stock is suspended. It may also value a stock at fair value if recent transactions in the stock have been very limited or if, in the case of a security traded on a market that closes before the NYSE closes, material information about the issuer becomes available after the close of the relevant market. Market quotations are not considered to be readily available for many debt securities. These securities are generally valued at fair value on the basis of valuations provided by an independent pricing service approved by the fund’s Trustees or dealers selected by Putnam Management. Pricing services and dealers determine valuations for normal institutional-size trading units of such securities using information with respect to transactions in the bond being valued, market transactions for comparable securities and various relationships, generally recognized by institutional traders, between securities. 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.

The fund translates prices for its investments quoted in foreign currencies into U.S. dollars at current exchange rates, which are generally determined as of 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time each day the NYSE is open. As a result, changes in the value of those currencies in relation to the U.S. dollar may affect the fund’s NAV. Because foreign

 

 



14          Prospectus




 

markets may be open at different times than the NYSE, the value of the fund’s shares may change on days when shareholders are not able to buy or sell them. Many securities markets and exchanges outside the U.S. close before the close of the NYSE, 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 close of the NYSE. As a result, the fund has adopted fair value pricing procedures, which, among other things, require the fund to fair value foreign equity securities if there has been a movement in the U.S. market that exceeds a specified threshold that may change from time to time. If events materially affecting the values of the fund’s foreign fixed-income investments occur between the close of foreign markets and the close of regular trading on the NYSE, these investments will also be valued at their fair value. As noted above, the value determined for an investment using the fund’s fair value pricing procedures may differ from recent market prices for the investment.

The fund’s most recent NAV is available on Putnam Investments’ website at putnam.com/individual or by contacting Putnam Investor Services at 1-800-225-1581.

How do I buy fund shares?

Opening an account

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You can open a fund account and purchase class A, B, C, and M shares by contacting your financial representative or Putnam Investor Services at 1-800-225-1581 and obtaining a Putnam account application. Purchases for 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. The completed application, along with a check made payable to the fund, must then be returned to Putnam Investor Services at the following address:

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Putnam Investor Services
P.O. Box 8383
Boston, MA 02266-8383

You can open a fund account with as little as $500. The minimum investment is waived if you make regular investments weekly, semi-monthly or monthly through automatic deductions from your bank checking or savings account. Although Putnam is currently waiving the minimum, it reserves the right to reject initial investments under the minimum at its discretion.

The fund sells its shares at the offering price, which is the NAV plus any applicable sales charge (class A and class M shares only). Your financial representative or Putnam Investor Services generally must receive your completed buy order before the close of regular trading on the NYSE for your shares to be bought at that day’s offering price.

If you participate in an employer-sponsored retirement plan that offers the fund, please consult your employer for information on how to purchase shares of the fund through the plan, including any restrictions or limitations that may apply.



Prospectus          15




 

Mutual funds must obtain and verify information that identifies investors opening new accounts. If the fund is unable to collect the required information, Putnam Investor Services may not be able to open your account. Investors must provide their full name, residential or business address, Social Security or tax identification number, and date of birth. Entities, such as trusts, estates, corporations and partnerships, must also provide additional identifying documentation. Putnam Investor Services may share identifying information with third parties for the purpose of verification. If Putnam Investor Services cannot verify identifying information after opening your account, the fund reserves the right to close your account at the then-current NAV, which may be more or less than your original investment, net of any applicable sales charges.

Also, the fund may periodically close to new purchases of shares or refuse any order to buy shares if the fund determines that doing so would be in the best interests of the fund and its shareholders.

Purchasing additional shares

Once you have an existing account, you can make additional investments at any time in any amount in the following ways:

  • Through a financial representative. Your representative will be responsible for furnishing all necessary documents to Putnam Investor Services and may charge you for his or her services.
  • Through Putnam’s Systematic Investing Program. You can make regular investments weekly, semi-monthly or monthly through automatic deductions from your bank checking or savings account.
  • Via the Internet or phone. If you have an existing Putnam fund account and you have completed and returned an Electronic Investment Authorization Form, you can buy additional shares online at putnam.com or by calling Putnam Investor Services at 1-800-225-1581.
  • By mail. You may also request a book of investment stubs for your account. Complete an investment stub and write a check for the amount you wish to invest, payable to the fund. Return the check and investment stub to Putnam Investor Services.
  • By wire transfer. You may buy fund shares by bank wire transfer of same-day funds. Please call Putnam Investor Services at 1-800-225-1581 for wiring instructions. Any commercial bank can transfer same-day funds by wire. The fund will normally accept wired funds for investment on the day received if they are received by the fund’s designated bank before the close of regular trading on the NYSE. Your bank may charge you for wiring same-day funds. Although the fund’s designated bank does not currently charge you for receiving same-day funds, it reserves the right to charge for this service. You cannot buy shares for employer-sponsored retirement plans by wire transfer.

 

 



16          Prospectus




 

Which class of shares is best for me?

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This prospectus offers you four classes of five shares: A, B, C, M or T. Employer-sponsored retirement plans may also choose class R, R5 or R6 shares, and certain investors described below may also choose class Y shares. Purchases for 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 T shares are available only through financial intermediaries that offer shares of the fund through an omnibus brokerage platform.

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Each share class represents investments in the same portfolio of securities, but each class has its own sales charge and expense structure, as illustrated in the Fund summary — Fees and expenses section, allowing you and your financial representative to choose the class that best suits your investment needs. When you purchase shares of a fund, you must choose a share class. Deciding which share class best suits your situation depends on a number of factors that you should discuss with your financial representative, including:

  • How long you expect to hold your investment. Class B shares charge a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) on redemptions that is phased out over the first six years; class C shares charge a CDSC on redemptions in the first year.
  • How much you intend to invest. While investments of less than $100,000 can be made in any share class, classes A and M offer sales charge discounts starting at $50,000.
  • Total expenses associated with each share class. As shown in the section entitled Fund summary — Fees and expenses, each share class offers a different combination of up-front and ongoing expenses. Generally, the lower the up-front sales charge, the greater the ongoing expenses.

Here is a summary of the differences among the classes of shares

Class A shares

  • Initial sales charge of up to 5.75%
  • Lower sales charges available for investments of $50,000 or more
  • No deferred sales charge (except that a deferred sales charge of 1.00% may be imposed on certain redemptions of shares bought without an initial sales charge)

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  • Lower annual expenses, and higher dividends, than class B, C, M or T shares because of lower 12b-1 fees.

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Class B shares

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Purchases for 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.

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  • No initial sales charge; your entire investment goes to work immediately
  • Deferred sales charge of up to 5.00% if shares are sold within six years of purchase



Prospectus          17


 

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  • Higher annual expenses, and lower dividends, than class A, M or T shares because of higher 12b-1 fees

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  • Convert automatically to class A shares after eight years, thereby reducing future 12b-1 fees
  • Orders for class B shares of one or more Putnam funds will be refused when the total value of the purchase, plus existing account balances that are eligible to be linked under a right of accumulation for purchases of class A shares (as described below), is $100,000 or more. Investors considering cumulative purchases of $100,000 or more should consider whether class A shares would be more advantageous and consult their financial representative.

Class C shares

  • No initial sales charge; your entire investment goes to work immediately
  • Deferred sales charge of 1.00% if shares are sold within one year of purchase

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  • Higher annual expenses, and lower dividends, than class A, M or T shares because of higher 12b-1 fees

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  • No conversion to class A shares, so no reduction in future 12b-1 fees
  • Orders for class C shares of one or more Putnam funds, other than class C shares sold to employer-sponsored retirement plans, will be refused when the total value of the purchase, plus existing account balances that are eligible to be linked under a right of accumulation for purchases of class A shares (as described below), is $1,000,000 or more. Investors considering cumulative purchases of $1,000,000 or more should consider whether class A shares would be more advantageous and consult their financial representative.

Class M shares

  • Initial sales charge of up to 3.50%
  • Lower sales charges available for investments of $50,000 or more
  • No deferred sales charge
  • Lower annual expenses, and higher dividends, than class B or C shares because of lower 12b-1 fees

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  • Higher annual expenses, and lower dividends, than class A or T shares because of higher 12b-1 fees

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  • No conversion to class A shares, so no reduction in future 12b-1 fees
  • Orders for class M shares of one or more Putnam funds, other than class M shares sold to employer-sponsored retirement plans, will be refused when the total value of the purchase, plus existing account balances that are eligible to be linked under a right of accumulation for purchases of class A shares (as described below), is $1,000,000 or more. Investors considering cumulative purchases of $1,000,000 or more should consider whether class A shares would be more advantageous and consult their financial representative.

 

 



18          Prospectus




 

Class R shares (available only to employer-sponsored retirement plans)

  • No initial sales charge; your entire investment goes to work immediately
  • No deferred sales charge
  • Lower annual expenses, and higher dividends, than class B, C or M shares because of lower 12b-1 fees

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  • Higher annual expenses, and lower dividends, than class A or T shares because of higher 12b-1 fees

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  • No conversion to class A shares, so no reduction in future 12b-1 fees.

Class R5 shares (available only to employer-sponsored retirement plans)

  • No initial sales charge; your entire investment goes to work immediately
  • No deferred sales charge

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  • Lower annual expenses, and higher dividends, than class A, B, C, M, R or T shares because of no 12b-1 fees and lower investor servicing fees

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  • Lower annual expenses, and higher dividends, than class Y shares because of lower investor servicing fees
  • Higher annual expenses, and lower dividends, than class R6 shares because of higher investor servicing fees.

Class R6 shares (available only to employer-sponsored retirement plans)

  • No initial sales charge; your entire investment goes to work immediately
  • No deferred sales charge

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  • Lower annual expenses, and higher dividends, than class A, B, C, M, R or T shares because of no 12b-1 fees and lower investor servicing fees

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  • Lower annual expenses, and higher dividends, than class R5 or Y shares because of lower investor servicing fees.

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Class T shares

  • Class T shares are available only through financial intermediaries that offer shares of the fund through an omnibus brokerage platform.
  • Initial sales charge of up to 2.50%
  • Lower sales charges available for investments of $250,000 or more
  • No deferred sales charge
  • Lower annual expenses, and higher dividends, than class B, C or M shares because of lower 12b-1 fees
  • Potential for lower initial sales charge than class A shares, however, right of accumulation and statement of intention discounts (described in this prospectus) are not applicable to class T shares.

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Prospectus          19




 

Class Y shares (available only to investors listed below)

  • The following investors may purchase class Y shares if approved by Putnam:
—   employer-sponsored retirement plans that are clients of third-party administrators (including affiliates of Putnam) that have entered into agreements with Putnam and offer institutional share class pricing (no sales charge or 12b-1 fee);
—   bank trust departments and trust companies that have entered into agreements with Putnam and offer institutional share class pricing to their clients;

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—   corporate individual retirement accounts (IRAs) administered by Putnam, if another retirement plan of the sponsor is eligible to purchase class Y shares;

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—   college savings plans that qualify for tax-exempt treatment under Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code;
—   other Putnam funds and Putnam investment products;
—   investors purchasing shares through an asset-based fee program that regularly offers institutional share classes and that is sponsored by a registered broker-dealer or other financial institution;
—   clients of a financial representative who are charged a fee for consulting or similar services;
—   corporations, endowments and foundations that have entered into an arrangement with Putnam;
—   fee-paying clients of a registered investment advisor (RIA) who initially invests for clients an aggregate of at least $100,000 in Putnam funds;
—   investment companies (whether registered or private), both affiliated and unaffiliated with Putnam;

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—   current and retired Putnam employees and their immediate family members (including an employee’s spouse, domestic partner, fiancé(e), or other family members who are living in the same household) as well as, in each case, Putnam-offered health savings accounts, IRAs, and other similar tax-advantaged plans solely owned by the foregoing individuals; current and retired directors of Putnam Investments, LLC; current and retired Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company employees; and current and retired Trustees of the fund. Upon the departure of any member of this group of individuals from Putnam, Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company, or the fund’s Board of Trustees, the member’s class Y shares convert automatically to class A shares, unless the member’s departure is a retirement, as determined by Putnam in its discretion for employees and directors of Putnam and employees of Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company and by the Board of Trustees in its discretion for Trustees; provided that conversion will not take place with respect to class Y shares held by former Putnam employees and their immediate family members in health savings accounts where it is not operationally practicable due to platform or other limitations; and

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20          Prospectus




 

—   personal and family member IRAs of registered representatives and other employees of broker-dealers and other financial institutions having a sales agreement with Putnam Retail Management, if (1) the registered representative or other employee is the broker of record or financial representative for the account, (2) the broker-dealer or other financial institution’s policies prohibit the use of class A shares or other classes of fund shares that pay 12b-1 fees in such accounts to avoid potential prohibited transactions under Internal Revenue Service rules due to the account owners’ status as “disqualified persons” under those rules, and (3) the broker-dealer or other financial institution has an agreement with Putnam Retail Management related to the use of class Y shares in these accounts.


Trust companies or bank trust departments that purchased class Y shares for trust accounts may transfer them to the beneficiaries of the trust accounts, who may continue to hold them or exchange them for class Y shares of other Putnam funds. Defined contribution plans (including corporate IRAs) that purchased class Y shares under prior eligibility criteria may continue to purchase class Y shares.

  • No initial sales charge; your entire investment goes to work immediately
  • No deferred sales charge

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  • Lower annual expenses, and higher dividends, than class A, B, C, M, R or T shares because of no 12b-1 fees

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  • Higher annual expenses, and lower dividends, than class R5 or R6 shares because of higher investor servicing fees.

Initial sales charges for class A and M shares

  Class A sales charge as a percentage of*: Class M sales charge as a percentage of*:
Amount of purchase at offering price ($) Net amount invested Offering price** Net amount invested Offering price**
Under 50,000 6.10% 5.75% 3.63% 3.50%
50,000 but under 100,000 4.71 4.50 2.56 2.50
100,000 but under 250,000 3.63 3.50 1.52 1.50
250,000 but under 500,000 2.56 2.50 1.01 1.00
500,000 but under 1,000,000 2.04 2.00 1.01 1.00
1,000,000 and above NONE NONE N/A*** N/A***

*   Because of rounding in the calculation of offering price and the number of shares purchased, actual sales charges you pay may be more or less than these percentages.
**   Offering price includes sales charge.
***   The fund will not accept purchase orders for class M shares (other than by employer-sponsored retirement plans) where the total of the current purchase, plus existing account balances that are eligible to be linked under a right of accumulation (as described below) is $1 million or more.



Prospectus          21




 

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Initial sales charges for class T shares

  Class T sales charge as a percentage of*:
Amount of purchase at offering price (Transaction level) ($) Net amount invested Offering price**
Under 249,000 2.56% 2.50%
250,000 but under 499,999 2.04 2.00
500,000 but under 999,999 1.52 1.50
1,000,000 and above 1.01 1.00

*   Because of rounding in the calculation of offering price and the number of shares purchased, actual sales charges you pay may be more or less than these percentages.
**   Offering price includes sales charge.

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Reducing your class A or class M sales charge

The fund offers two principal ways for you to qualify for discounts on initial sales charges on class A and class M shares, often referred to as “breakpoint discounts”:

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  • Right of accumulation. You can add the amount of your current purchases of class A or class M shares of the fund and other Putnam funds to the value of your existing accounts in the fund and other Putnam funds. Individuals can also include purchases by, and accounts owned by, their spouse and minor children, including accounts established through different financial representatives. For your current purchases, you will pay the initial sales charge applicable to the total value of the linked accounts and purchases, which may be lower than the sales charge otherwise applicable to each of your current purchases. Class T shares and shares of Putnam money market funds, other than money market fund shares acquired by exchange from other Putnam funds, are not included for purposes of the right of accumulation.

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To calculate the total value of your existing accounts and any linked accounts, the fund will use the higher of (a) the current maximum public offering price of those shares or (b) if you purchased the shares after December 31, 2007, the initial value of the total purchases, or, if you held the shares on December 31, 2007, the market value at maximum public offering price on that date, in either case, less the market value on the applicable redemption date of any of those shares that you have redeemed.

  • Statement of intention. A statement of intention is a document in which you agree to make purchases of class A or class M shares in a specified amount within a period of 13 months. For each purchase you make under the statement of intention, you will pay the initial sales charge applicable to the total amount you have agreed to purchase. While a statement of intention is not a binding obligation on you, if you do not purchase the full amount of shares within 13 months, the fund will redeem shares from your account in an amount equal to the difference between the higher initial sales charge you would have paid in the absence of the statement of intention and the initial sales charge you actually paid.

 

 



22          Prospectus




 

Account types that may be linked with each other to obtain breakpoint discounts using the methods described above include:

  • Individual accounts
  • Joint accounts
  • Accounts established as part of a retirement plan and IRA accounts (some restrictions may apply)
  • Shares of Putnam funds owned through accounts in the name of your dealer or other financial intermediary (with documentation identifying beneficial ownership of shares)
  • Accounts held as part of a Section 529 college savings plan managed by Putnam Management (some restrictions may apply)

In order to obtain a breakpoint discount, you should inform your financial representative at the time you purchase shares of the existence of other accounts or purchases that are eligible to be linked for the purpose of calculating the initial sales charge. The fund or your financial representative may ask you for records or other information about other shares held in your accounts and linked accounts, including accounts opened with a different financial representative. Restrictions may apply to certain accounts and transactions. Further details about breakpoint discounts can be found on Putnam Investments’ website at putnam.com/individual by selecting Mutual Funds, then Pricing and performance, and then About fund costs, and in the SAI.

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  • Additional reductions and waivers of sales charges. In addition to the breakpoint discount methods described above for class A and class M shares, the fund may sell the classes of shares specified below without a sales charge or CDSC under the circumstances described below. The sales charge and CDSC waiver categories described below do not apply to customers purchasing shares of the fund through any of the financial intermediaries specified in the Appendix to this prospectus (each, a “Specified Intermediary”).

Different financial intermediaries may impose different sales charges. Please refer to the Appendix for the sales charge or CDSC waivers that are applicable to each Specified Intermediary.

Class A and class M shares

The following categories of investors are eligible to purchase class A and class M shares without payment of a sales charge:

(i)   current and former Trustees of the fund, their family members, business and personal associates; current and former employees of Putnam Management and certain current and former corporate affiliates, their family members, business and personal associates; employer-sponsored retirement plans for the foregoing; and partnerships, trusts or other entities in which any of the foregoing has a substantial interest;



Prospectus          23




 

(ii)   clients of administrators or other service providers of employer-sponsored retirement plans (for purposes of this waiver, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs or SARSEPs) (not applicable to tax-exempt funds);
(iii)   registered representatives and other employees of broker-dealers having sales agreements with Putnam Retail Management; employees of financial institutions having sales agreements with Putnam Retail Management or otherwise having an arrangement with any such broker-dealer or financial institution with respect to sales of fund shares; and their immediate family members (spouses and children under age 21, including step-children and adopted children);
(iv)   a trust department of any financial institution purchasing shares of the fund in its capacity as trustee of any trust (other than a tax-qualified retirement plan trust), through an arrangement approved by Putnam Retail Management, if the value of the shares of the fund and other Putnam funds purchased or held by all such trusts exceeds $1 million in the aggregate;
(v)   clients of (i) broker-dealers, financial institutions, financial intermediaries or registered investment advisors that charge a fee for advisory or investment services or (ii) broker-dealers, financial institutions, or financial intermediaries that have entered into an agreement with Putnam Retail Management to offer shares through a fund “supermarket” or retail self directed brokerage account with or without the imposition of a transaction fee;
(vi)   college savings plans that qualify for tax-exempt treatment under Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”); and
(vii)   shareholders reinvesting the proceeds from a Putnam Corporate IRA Plan distribution into a nonretirement plan account.


Administrators and other service providers of employer-sponsored retirement plans are required to enter into contractual arrangements with Putnam Investor Services in order to offer and hold fund shares. Administrators and other service providers of employer-sponsored retirement plans seeking to place trades on behalf of their plan clients should consult Putnam Investor Services as to the applicable requirements.

Class B and class C shares

A CDSC is waived in the event of a redemption under the following circumstances:

(i)   a withdrawal from a Systematic Withdrawal Plan (“SWP”) of up to 12% of the net asset value of the account (calculated as set forth in the SAI);
(ii)   a redemption of shares that are no longer subject to the CDSC holding period therefor;
(iii)   a redemption of shares that were issued upon the reinvestment of distributions by the fund;

 

 



24          Prospectus




(iv)   a redemption of shares that were exchanged for shares of another Putnam fund, provided that the shares acquired in such exchange or subsequent exchanges (including shares of a Putnam money market fund or Putnam Short Duration Income Fund) will continue to remain subject to the CDSC, if applicable, until the applicable holding period expires; and
(v)   in the case of individual, joint or Uniform Transfers to Minors Act accounts, in the event of death or post-purchase disability of a shareholder, for the purpose of paying benefits pursuant to tax-qualified retirement plans (“Benefit Payments”), or, in the case of living trust accounts, in the event of the death or post-purchase disability of the settlor of the trust.


Class T shares

The fund may sell class T shares without a sales charge under the following circumstances:

(i)   upon reinvestment of distributions by the fund; and
(ii)   upon exchange of shares of other classes of the fund.


The methods of reducing the sales charge through the right of accumulation and the statement of intention described above with respect to class A and M shares do not apply to class T shares.

Additional information about reductions and waivers of sales charges, including deferred sales charges, is included in the SAI. You may consult your financial representative or Putnam Retail Management for assistance.

How do I sell or exchange fund shares?

You can sell your shares back to the fund or exchange them for shares of another Putnam fund any day the NYSE is open, either through your financial representative or directly to the fund. Class T shares may not be exchanged for class T shares of another Putnam fund.

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If you redeem your shares shortly after purchasing them, your redemption payment for the shares may be delayed until the fund collects the purchase price of the shares, which may be up to 10 calendar days after the purchase date.

Regarding exchanges, not all Putnam funds offer all classes of shares or may be open to new investors. If you exchange shares otherwise subject to a deferred sales charge, the transaction will not be subject to the deferred sales charge. When you redeem the shares acquired through the exchange, however, the redemption may be subject to the deferred sales charge, depending upon when and from which fund you originally purchased the shares. The deferred sales charge will be computed using the schedule of any fund into or from which you have exchanged your shares that would result in your paying the highest deferred sales charge applicable to your class of shares. For purposes of computing the deferred sales charge, the length of time you have owned your shares will be measured from the date of original purchase, unless you originally purchased the shares from another Putnam fund that does not directly charge a



Prospectus          25




 

deferred sales charge, in which case the length of time you have owned your shares will be measured from the date you exchange those shares for shares of another Putnam fund that does charge a deferred sales charge, and will not be affected by any subsequent exchanges among funds.

  • Selling or exchanging shares through your financial representative. Your representative must receive your request in proper form before the close of regular trading on the NYSE for you to receive that day’s NAV, less any applicable deferred sales charge. Your representative will be responsible for furnishing all necessary documents to Putnam Investor Services on a timely basis and may charge you for his or her services.
  • Selling or exchanging shares directly with the fund. Putnam Investor Services must receive your request in proper form before the close of regular trading on the NYSE in order to receive that day’s NAV, less any applicable deferred sales charge.
  • By mail. Send a letter of instruction signed by all registered owners or their legal representatives to Putnam Investor Services. If you have certificates for the shares you want to sell or exchange, you must return them unendorsed with your letter of instruction.
  • By telephone. You may use Putnam’s telephone redemption privilege to redeem shares valued at less than $100,000 unless you have notified Putnam Investor Services of an address change within the preceding 15 days, in which case other requirements may apply. Unless you indicate otherwise on the account application, Putnam Investor Services will be authorized to accept redemption instructions received by telephone. A telephone exchange privilege is currently available for amounts up to $500,000. Sale or exchange of shares by telephone is not permitted if there are certificates for your shares. The telephone redemption and exchange privileges may be modified or terminated without notice.
  • Via the Internet. You may also exchange shares via the Internet at putnam.com/individual.
  • Shares held through your employer’s retirement plan. For information on how to sell or exchange shares of the fund that were purchased through your employer’s retirement plan, including any restrictions and charges that the plan may impose, please consult your employer.
  • Additional requirements. In certain situations, for example, if you sell shares with a value of $100,000 or more, the signatures of all registered owners or their legal representatives must be guaranteed by a bank, broker-dealer or certain other financial institutions. In addition, Putnam Investor Services usually requires additional documents for the sale of shares by a corporation, partnership, agent or fiduciary, or surviving joint owner. For more information concerning Putnam’s signature guarantee and documentation requirements, contact Putnam Investor Services.

The fund also reserves the right to revise or terminate the exchange privilege, limit the amount or number of exchanges or reject any exchange. The fund into which you would like to exchange may also reject your exchange. These actions may apply to all shareholders or only to those shareholders whose exchanges Putnam Management

 

 



26          Prospectus




 

determines are likely to have a negative effect on the fund or other Putnam funds. Consult Putnam Investor Services before requesting an exchange. Ask your financial representative or Putnam Investor Services for prospectuses of other Putnam funds. Some Putnam funds are not available in all states.

Deferred sales charges for class B, class C and certain class A shares

If you sell (redeem) class B shares within six years of purchase, you will generally pay a deferred sales charge according to the following schedule:

Year after purchase 1 2 3 4 5 6 7+
Charge 5% 4% 3% 3% 2% 1% 0%


A deferred sales charge of 1.00% will apply to class C shares if redeemed within one year of purchase. Class A shares that are part of a purchase of $1 million or more (other than by an employer-sponsored retirement plan) will be subject to a 1.00% deferred sales charge if redeemed within nine months of purchase.

Deferred sales charges will be based on the lower of the shares’ cost and current NAV. Shares not subject to any charge will be redeemed first, followed by shares held longest. You may sell shares acquired by reinvestment of distributions without a charge at any time.

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  • Payment information. The fund typically expects to send you payment for your shares the business day after your request is received in good order, although if you hold your shares through certain financial intermediaries or financial intermediary programs, the fund typically expects to send payment for your shares within three business days after your request is received in good order. However, it is possible that payment of redemption proceeds may take up to seven days. Under unusual circumstances, the fund may suspend redemptions, or postpone payment for more than seven days, as permitted by federal securities law. Under normal market conditions, the fund typically expects to satisfy redemption requests by using holdings of cash and cash equivalents or selling portfolio assets to generate cash. Under stressed market conditions, the fund may also satisfy redemption requests by borrowing under the fund’s lines of credit or interfund lending arrangements. For additional information regarding the fund’s lines of credit and interfund lending arrangements, please see the Statement of Additional Information.

To the extent consistent with applicable laws and regulations, the fund reserves the right to satisfy all or a portion of a redemption request by distributing securities or other property in lieu of cash (“in-kind” redemptions), under both normal and stressed market conditions. In-kind redemptions are typically used to meet redemption requests that represent a large percentage of the fund’s net assets in order to minimize the effect of the large redemption on the fund and its remaining shareholders. Any in-kind redemption will be effected through a pro rata distribution of all publicly traded portfolio securities or securities for which quoted bid prices are available, subject to certain exceptions. The securities distributed in an in-kind redemption will be valued in the same manner as they are valued for purposes of computing the fund’s net asset value. Once distributed in-kind to an investor,



Prospectus          27




 

securities may increase or decrease in value before the investor is able to convert them into cash. Any transaction costs or other expenses involved in liquidating securities received in an in-kind redemption will be borne by the redeeming investor. The fund has committed, in connection with an election under Rule 18f-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, to pay all redemptions of fund shares by a single shareholder during any 90-day period in cash, up to the lesser of (i) $250,000 or (ii) 1% of the fund’s net assets measured as of the beginning of such 90-day period. For information regarding procedures for in-kind redemptions, please contact Putnam Retail Management. You will not receive interest on uncashed redemption checks.

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  • Redemption by the fund. If you own fewer shares than the minimum set by the Trustees (presently 20 shares), the fund may redeem your shares without your permission and send you the proceeds after providing you with at least 60 days’ notice to attain the minimum. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the fund may also redeem shares if you own more than a maximum amount set by the Trustees. There is presently no maximum, but the Trustees could set a maximum that would apply to both present and future shareholders.

Policy on excessive short-term trading

  • Risks of excessive short-term trading. Excessive short-term trading activity may reduce the fund’s performance and harm all fund shareholders by interfering with portfolio management, increasing the fund’s expenses and diluting the fund’s NAV. Depending on the size and frequency of short-term trades in the fund’s shares, the fund may experience increased cash volatility, which could require the fund to maintain undesirably large cash positions or buy or sell portfolio securities it would not have bought or sold otherwise. The need to execute additional portfolio transactions due to these cash flows may also increase the fund’s brokerage and administrative costs and, for investors in taxable accounts, may increase taxable distributions received from the fund.

When the fund invests in foreign securities, its performance may be adversely impacted and the interests of longer-term shareholders may be diluted as a result of time-zone arbitrage, a short-term trading practice that seeks to exploit changes in the value of the fund’s investments that result from events occurring after the close of the foreign markets on which the investments trade, but prior to the later close of trading on the NYSE, the time as of which the fund determines its NAV. If an arbitrageur is successful, he or she may dilute the interests of other shareholders by trading shares at prices that do not fully reflect their fair value.

When the fund invests in securities that may trade infrequently or may be more difficult to value, such as securities of smaller companies, it may be susceptible to trading by short-term traders who seek to exploit perceived price inefficiencies in the fund’s investments. In addition, the market for securities of smaller companies may at times show “market momentum,” in which positive or negative performance may continue from one day to the next for reasons unrelated to the fundamentals of the issuer. Short-term traders may seek to capture this momentum by trading frequently

 

 



28          Prospectus




 

in the fund’s shares, which will reduce the fund’s performance and may dilute the interests of other shareholders. Because securities of smaller companies may be less liquid than securities of larger companies, the fund may also be unable to buy or sell these securities at desirable prices when the need arises (for example, in response to volatile cash flows caused by short-term trading). Similar risks may apply if the fund holds other types of less liquid securities, including below-investment-grade bonds.

  • Fund policies. In order to protect the interests of long-term shareholders of the fund, Putnam Management and the fund’s Trustees have adopted policies and procedures intended to discourage excessive short-term trading. The fund seeks to discourage excessive short-term trading by using fair value pricing procedures to value investments under some circumstances. In addition, Putnam Management monitors activity in those shareholder accounts about which it possesses the necessary information in order to detect excessive short-term trading patterns and takes steps to deter excessive short-term traders.
  • Account monitoring. Putnam Management’s Compliance Department currently uses multiple reporting tools to detect short-term trading activity occurring in accounts for investors held directly with the Putnam funds as well as within accounts held through certain financial intermediaries. Putnam Management measures excessive short-term trading in the fund by the number of “round trip” transactions above a specified dollar amount within a specified period of time. A “round trip” transaction is defined as a purchase or exchange into a fund followed, or preceded, by a redemption or exchange out of the same fund. Generally, if an investor has been identified as having completed two “round trip” transactions with values above a specified amount within a rolling 90-day period, Putnam Management will issue the investor and/or his or her financial intermediary, if any, a written warning. Putnam Management’s practices for measuring excessive short-term trading activity and issuing warnings may change from time to time. Certain types of transactions are exempt from monitoring, such as those in connection with systematic investment or withdrawal plans and reinvestment of dividend and capital gain distributions.
  • Account restrictions. In addition to these monitoring practices, Putnam Management and the fund reserve the right to reject or restrict purchases or exchanges for any reason. Continued excessive short-term trading activity by an investor or intermediary following a warning may lead to the termination of the exchange privilege for that investor or intermediary. Putnam Management or the fund may determine that an investor’s trading activity is excessive or otherwise potentially harmful based on various factors, including an investor’s or financial intermediary’s trading history in the fund, other Putnam funds or other investment products, and may aggregate activity in multiple accounts in the fund or other Putnam funds under common ownership or control for purposes of determining whether the activity is excessive. If the fund identifies an investor or intermediary as a potential excessive trader, it may, among other things, require future trades to be submitted by mail rather than by phone or over the Internet, impose limitations on the amount, number, or frequency of future purchases or exchanges, or temporarily or permanently bar the investor or intermediary from investing in the fund or other Putnam funds. The fund



Prospectus          29




 

may take these steps in its discretion even if the investor’s activity does not fall within the fund’s current monitoring parameters.

  • Limitations on the fund’s policies. There is no guarantee that the fund will be able to detect excessive short-term trading in all accounts. For example, Putnam Management currently does not have access to sufficient information to identify each investor’s trading history, and in certain circumstances there are operational or technological constraints on its ability to enforce the fund’s policies. In addition, even when Putnam Management has sufficient information, its detection methods may not capture all excessive short-term trading.

In particular, many purchase, redemption and exchange orders are received from financial intermediaries that hold omnibus accounts with the fund. Omnibus accounts, in which shares are held in the name of an intermediary on behalf of multiple beneficial owners, are a common form of holding shares among retirement plans and financial intermediaries such as brokers, advisers and third-party administrators. The fund is generally not able to identify trading by a particular beneficial owner within an omnibus account, which makes it difficult or impossible to determine if a particular shareholder is engaging in excessive short-term trading. Putnam Management monitors aggregate cash flows in omnibus accounts on an ongoing basis. If high cash flows or other information indicate that excessive short-term trading may be taking place, Putnam Management will contact the financial intermediary, plan sponsor or recordkeeper that maintains accounts for the beneficial owner and attempt to identify and remedy any excessive trading. However, the fund’s ability to monitor and deter excessive short-term traders in omnibus accounts ultimately depends on the capabilities and cooperation of these third-party financial firms. A financial intermediary or plan sponsor may impose different or additional limits on short-term trading.

Distribution plans and payments to dealers

Putnam funds are distributed primarily through dealers (including any broker, dealer, bank, bank trust department, registered investment advisor, financial planner, retirement plan administrator, and any other institution having a selling, services, or any similar agreement with Putnam Retail Management or one of its affiliates). In order to pay for the marketing of fund shares and services provided to shareholders, the fund has adopted distribution and service (12b-1) plans, which increase the annual operating expenses you pay each year in certain share classes, as shown in the table of annual fund operating expenses in the section Fund summary — Fees and expenses. Putnam Retail Management and its affiliates also make additional payments to dealers that do not increase your fund expenses, as described below.

  • Distribution and service (12b-1) plans. The fund’s 12b-1 plans provide for payments at annual rates (based on average net assets) of up to 0.35% on class A shares and 1.00% on class B, class C, class M and class R shares. The Trustees currently limit payments on class A, class M and class R shares to 0.25%, 0.75% and 0.50% of average net assets, respectively. Because these fees are paid out of the fund’s assets on an

 

 



30          Prospectus




 

ongoing basis, they will increase the cost of your investment. The higher fees for class B, class C, class M and class R shares may cost you more over time than paying the initial sales charge for class A shares. Because class C, class M and class R shares, unlike class B shares, do not convert to class A shares, class C, class M and class R shares may cost you more over time than class B shares. Class R5, class R6 and class Y shares, for shareholders who are eligible to purchase them, will be less expensive than other classes of shares because they do not bear sales charges or 12b-1 fees.

  • Payments to dealers. If you purchase your shares through a dealer, your dealer generally receives payments from Putnam Retail Management representing some or all of the sales charges and distribution and service (12b-1) fees, if any, shown in the tables under Fund summary — Fees and expenses at the front of this prospectus.

Putnam Retail Management and its affiliates also pay additional compensation to selected dealers in recognition of their marketing support and/or program servicing (each of which is described in more detail below). These payments may create an incentive for a dealer firm or its representatives to recommend or offer shares of the fund or other Putnam funds to its customers. These additional payments are made by Putnam Retail Management and its affiliates and do not increase the amount paid by you or the fund as shown under Fund summary — Fees and expenses.

The additional payments to dealers by Putnam Retail Management and its affiliates are generally based on one or more of the following factors: average net assets of a fund attributable to that dealer, sales or net sales of a fund attributable to that dealer, or reimbursement of ticket charges (fees that a dealer firm charges its representatives for effecting transactions in fund shares), or on the basis of a negotiated lump sum payment for services provided.

Marketing support payments are generally available to most dealers engaging in significant sales of Putnam fund shares. These payments are individually negotiated with each dealer firm, taking into account the marketing support services provided by the dealer, including business planning assistance, educating dealer personnel about the Putnam funds and shareholder financial planning needs, placement on the dealer’s preferred or recommended fund company list, and access to sales meetings, sales representatives and management representatives of the dealer, as well as the size of the dealer’s relationship with Putnam Retail Management. Although the total amount of marketing support payments made to dealers in any year may vary, on average, the aggregate payments are not expected, on an annual basis, to exceed 0.085% of the average net assets of Putnam’s retail mutual funds attributable to the dealers.

Program servicing payments, which are paid in some instances to dealers in connection with investments in the fund through dealer platforms and other investment programs, are not expected, with certain limited exceptions, to exceed 0.20% of the total assets in the program on an annual basis. These payments are made for program or platform services provided by the dealer, including shareholder recordkeeping, reporting, or transaction processing, as well as services rendered in connection with dealer platform development and maintenance, fund/investment selection and monitoring, or other similar services.



Prospectus          31




 

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You can find a list of all dealers to which Putnam made marketing support and/or program servicing payments in 2016 in the SAI, which is on file with the SEC and is also available on Putnam’s website at putnam.com. You can also find other details in the SAI about the payments made by Putnam Retail Management and its affiliates and the services provided by your dealer. Your dealer may charge you fees or commissions in addition to those disclosed in this prospectus. You can also ask your dealer about any payments it receives from Putnam Retail Management and its affiliates and any services your dealer provides, as well as about fees and/or commissions it charges.

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  • Other payments. Putnam Retail Management and its affiliates may make other payments (including payments in connection with educational seminars or conferences) or allow other promotional incentives to dealers to the extent permitted by SEC and NASD (as adopted by FINRA) rules and by other applicable laws and regulations. The fund’s transfer agent may also make payments to certain financial intermediaries in recognition of subaccounting or other services they provide to shareholders or plan participants who invest in the fund or other Putnam funds through their retirement plan. See the discussion in the SAI under Management — Investor Servicing Agent for more details.

Fund distributions and taxes

The fund normally distributes any net investment income quarterly and any net realized capital gains annually. You may choose to reinvest distributions from net investment income, capital gains or both in additional shares of your fund or other Putnam funds, or you may receive them in cash in the form of a check or an electronic deposit to your bank account. If you do not select an option when you open your account, all distributions will be reinvested. If you choose to receive distributions in cash, but correspondence from the fund or Putnam Investor Services is returned as “undeliverable,” the distribution option on your account may be converted to reinvest future distributions in the fund. You will not receive interest on uncashed distribution checks.

For shares purchased through your employer’s retirement plan, the terms of the plan will govern how the plan may receive distributions from the fund.

For federal income tax purposes, distributions of net investment income are generally taxable to you as ordinary income. Taxes on distributions of capital gains are determined by how long the fund owned (or is deemed to have owned) the investments that generated them, rather than by how long you have owned (or are deemed to have owned) your shares. Distributions that the fund properly reports to you as gains from investments that the fund owned for more than one year are generally taxable to you as long-term capital gains includible in net capital gain and taxed to individuals at reduced rates. Distributions of gains from investments that the fund owned for one year or less and gains on the sale of or payment on bonds characterized as market discount are generally taxable to you as ordinary income.

 

 



32          Prospectus




 

Distributions that the fund properly reports to you as “qualified dividend income” are taxable at the reduced rates applicable to your net capital gain provided that both you and the fund meet certain holding period and other requirements. Distributions are taxable in the manner described in this paragraph whether you receive them in cash or reinvest them in additional shares of this fund or other Putnam funds.

Distributions by the fund to retirement plans that qualify for tax-advantaged treatment under federal income tax laws will not be taxable. Special tax rules apply to investments through such plans. You should consult your tax advisor to determine the suitability of the fund as an investment through such a plan and the tax treatment of distributions (including distributions of amounts attributable to an investment in the fund) from such a plan.

Unless you are investing through a tax-advantaged retirement account (such as an IRA), you should consider avoiding a purchase of fund shares shortly before the fund makes a distribution because doing so may cost you money in taxes. Distributions are taxable to you even if they are paid from income or gains earned by the fund before your investment (and thus were included in the price you paid). Contact your financial representative or Putnam to find out the distribution schedule for your fund.

The fund’s investments in certain debt obligations may cause the fund to recognize taxable income in excess of the cash generated by such obligations. Thus, the fund could be required at times to liquidate other investments, including when it is not advantageous to do so, in order to satisfy its distribution requirements.

The fund’s investments in foreign securities, if any, may be subject to foreign withholding or other taxes. In that case, the fund’s return on those investments would be decreased. Shareholders generally will not be entitled to claim a credit or deduction with respect to these foreign taxes. In addition, the fund’s investments in foreign securities or foreign currencies may increase or accelerate the fund’s recognition of ordinary income and may affect the timing or amount of the fund’s distributions.

The fund’s use of derivatives, if any, may affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to shareholders and, therefore, may increase the amount of taxes payable by shareholders.

Any gain resulting from the sale or exchange of your shares generally also will be subject to tax.

The above is a general summary of the tax implications of investing in the fund. Please refer to the SAI for further details. You should consult your tax advisor for more information on your own tax situation, including possible foreign, state and local taxes.



Prospectus          33




 

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Information about the Summary Prospectus, Prospectus, and SAI

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The summary prospectus, prospectus, and SAI for a fund provide information concerning the fund. The summary prospectus, prospectus, and SAI are updated at least annually and any information provided in a summary prospectus, prospectus, or SAI can be changed without a shareholder vote unless specifically stated otherwise. The summary prospectus, prospectus, and the SAI are not contracts between the fund and its shareholders and do not give rise to any contractual rights or obligations or any shareholder rights other than any rights conferred explicitly by federal or state securities laws that may not be waived.

Financial highlights

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The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the fund’s recent financial performance. No class T shares were outstanding during these periods. Certain information reflects financial results for a single fund share. The total returns represent the rate that an investor would have earned or lost on an investment in the fund, assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. This information has been derived from the fund’s financial statements, which have been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. The Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’s report and the fund’s financial statements are included in the fund’s annual report to shareholders, which is available upon request.

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34          Prospectus




 

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

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  INVESTMENT OPERATIONS LESS DISTRIBUTIONS     RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Period ended Net asset value, beginning of period Net investment income (loss) a Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments Total from investment operations From net investment income Total distributions Net asset value, end of period Total return at net asset value (%) b Net assets, end of period (in thousands) Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) c Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets (%) Portfolio turnover (%)
Class A                        
July 31, 2017 $17.38 .23 1.69 1.92 (.21) (.21) $19.09 11.14 $972,570 1.01 1.29 204 d
July 31, 2016 17.22 .22 .14 .36 (.20) (.20) 17.38 2.17 953,549 1.00 e 1.33 e 154 d
July 31, 2015 16.12 .19 1.10 1.29 (.19) (.19) 17.22 8.04 999,928 .97 1.11 130 d
July 31, 2014 14.81 .23 1.29 1.52 (.21) (.21) 16.12 10.37 1,051,287 .99 1.52 98 f
July 31, 2013 12.88 .21 1.92 2.13 (.20) (.20) 14.81 16.68 1,030,545 1.01 1.56 86 f
Class B                        
July 31, 2017 $17.18 .10 1.67 1.77 (.08) (.08) $18.87 10.33 $20,188 1.76 .55 204 d
July 31, 2016 17.02 .10 .14 .24 (.08) (.08) 17.18 1.42 21,592 1.75 e .58 e 154 d
July 31, 2015 15.94 .06 1.09 1.15 (.07) (.07) 17.02 7.21 24,133 1.72 .36 130 d
July 31, 2014 14.65 .12 1.27 1.39 (.10) (.10) 15.94 9.51 24,881 1.74 .77 98 f
July 31, 2013 12.74 .11 1.90 2.01 (.10) (.10) 14.65 15.83 26,541 1.76 .82 86 f
Class C                        
July 31, 2017 $17.26 .10 1.67 1.77 (.08) (.08) $18.95 10.29 $45,970 1.76 .54 204 d
July 31, 2016 17.10 .09 .15 .24 (.08) (.08) 17.26 1.45 41,700 1.75 e .58 e 154 d
July 31, 2015 16.01 .06 1.10 1.16 (.07) (.07) 17.10 7.26 36,720 1.72 .36 130 d
July 31, 2014 14.72 .12 1.27 1.39 (.10) (.10) 16.01 9.50 29,091 1.74 .76 98 f
July 31, 2013 12.80 .11 1.91 2.02 (.10) (.10) 14.72 15.85 23,534 1.76 .81 86 f
Class M                        
July 31, 2017 $17.15 .14 1.66 1.80 (.13) (.13) $18.82 10.53 $70,919 1.51 .79 204 d
July 31, 2016 16.99 .14 .14 .28 (.12) (.12) 17.15 1.69 66,779 1.50 e .83 e 154 d
July 31, 2015 15.90 .10 1.10 1.20 (.11) (.11) 16.99 7.56 75,297 1.47 .61 130 d
July 31, 2014 14.62 .16 1.26 1.42 (.14) (.14) 15.90 9.75 77,338 1.49 1.02 98 f
July 31, 2013 12.71 .14 1.90 2.04 (.13) (.13) 14.62 16.17 74,636 1.51 1.06 86 f
Class R                        
July 31, 2017 $17.33 .18 1.70 1.88 (.18) (.18) $19.03 10.90 $1,090 1.26 .99 204 d
July 31, 2016 17.16 .19 .13 .32 (.15) (.15) 17.33 1.93 409 1.25 e 1.13 e 154 d
July 31, 2015 16.07 .15 1.09 1.24 (.15) (.15) 17.16 7.74 1,102 1.22 .86 130 d
July 31, 2014 14.77 .20 1.28 1.48 (.18) (.18) 16.07 10.08 983 1.24 1.27 98 f
July 31, 2013 12.84 .18 1.92 2.10 (.17) (.17) 14.77 16.44 960 1.26 1.32 86 f
Class R5                        
July 31, 2017 $17.45 .30 g 1.69 1.99 (.20) (.20) $19.24 11.46 $13 .74 1.71 g 204 d
July 31, 2016 17.28 .26 .16 .42 (.25) (.25) 17.45 2.49 76,674 .73 e 1.59 e 154 d
July 31, 2015 16.18 .23 1.11 1.34 (.24) (.24) 17.28 8.28 71,647 .72 1.34 130 d
July 31, 2014† 15.28 .18 .85 1.03 (.13) (.13) 16.18 6.76* 11 .48* 1.15* 98 f
Class R6                        
July 31, 2017 $17.45 .30 1.70 2.00 (.28) (.28) $19.17 11.57 $11,738 .64 1.64 204 d
July 31, 2016 17.28 .28 .15 .43 (.26) (.26) 17.45 2.58 8,013 .63 e 1.71 e 154 d
July 31, 2015 16.18 .25 1.10 1.35 (.25) (.25) 17.28 8.39 8,239 .62 1.46 130 d
July 31, 2014† 15.28 .19 .85 1.04 (.14) (.14) 16.18 6.81* 7,100 .42* 1.19* 98 f
Class Y                        
July 31, 2017 $17.45 .28 1.69 1.97 (.26) (.26) $19.16 11.37 $77,716 .76 1.54 204 d
July 31, 2016 17.28 .26 .15 .41 (.24) (.24) 17.45 2.48 58,289 .75 e 1.60 e 154 d
July 31, 2015 16.17 .23 1.11 1.34 (.23) (.23) 17.28 8.34 114,920 .72 1.36 130 d
July 31, 2014 14.86 .27 1.29 1.56 (.25) (.25) 16.17 10.61 111,604 .74 1.77 98 f
July 31, 2013 12.92 .25 1.92 2.17 (.23) (.23) 14.86 16.99 106,794 .76 1.81 86 f

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

 



36      Prospectus

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Financial highlights (Continued)

*   Not annualized.
†   For the period December 2, 2013 (commencement of operations) to July 31, 2014.
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. Also excludes acquired fund fees and expenses, if any.

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d   Portfolio turnover includes TBA purchase and sales transactions.

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e   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 .01% as a percentage of average net assets per share for each class.

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f   Portfolio turnover excludes TBA purchase and sale commitments. Including TBA purchase and sale commitments to conform with current year presentation, the portfolio turnover would have been the following:

   
July 31, 2014 142%
July 31, 2013 186%

g   The net investment income ratio and per share amount shown for the period ended July 31, 2017 may not correspond with the expected class specific differences for the period due to the timing of redemptions out of the class.



38          Prospectu

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Appendix

Financial intermediary specific sales charge waiver information

As described in the prospectus, class A, M and T shares may be subject to an initial sales charge and class B and C shares may be subject to a CDSC. Certain financial intermediaries may impose different initial sales charges or waive the initial sales charge or CDSC in certain circumstances. This Appendix details the variations in sales charge waivers by financial intermediary. You should consult your financial representative for assistance in determining whether you may qualify for a particular sales charge waiver.

MERRILL LYNCH

Effective April 10, 2017, if you purchase fund shares through a Merrill Lynch platform or account held at Merrill Lynch, you will be eligible only for the following sales charge waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and CDSC waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in the fund’s prospectus or SAI. It is your responsibility to notify your financial representative at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts qualifying you for sales charge waivers or discounts.

Front-end Sales Charge Waivers on Class A Shares available through Merrill Lynch

  • Employer-sponsored retirement, deferred compensation and employee benefit plans (including health savings accounts) and trusts used to fund those plans, provided that the shares are not held in a commission-based brokerage account and shares are held for the benefit of the plan
  • Shares purchased by college savings plans that qualify for tax-exempt treatment under Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
  • Shares purchased through a Merrill Lynch-affiliated investment advisory program
  • Shares purchased by third party investment advisors on behalf of their advisory clients through Merrill Lynch’s platform
  • Shares of funds purchased through the Merrill Edge Self-Directed platform
  • Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the fund (but not any other Putnam fund)
  • Shares exchanged from Class C shares of the same fund in the month of or following the 10-year anniversary of the purchase date
  • Employees and registered representatives of Merrill Lynch or its affiliates and their family members
  • Trustees of the fund, and employees of Putnam Management or any of its affiliates, as described in the fund’s prospectus
  • Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions from a Putnam fund, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales charge (known as Rights of Reinstatement)

 

 



40          Prospectus




 

CDSC Waivers on A, B and C Shares available through Merrill Lynch

  • Death or disability of the shareholder
  • Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the fund’s prospectus
  • Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account
  • Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching age 70½
  • Shares sold to pay Merrill Lynch fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Merrill Lynch
  • Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement
  • Shares held in retirement brokerage accounts that are exchanged for a share class with lower operating expenses due to transfer to certain fee based accounts or platforms (applicable to A and C shares only)

Front-end Sales Charge Discounts available through Merrill Lynch: Breakpoints, Rights of Accumulation & Letters of Intent

  • Breakpoints as described in the fund’s prospectus and SAI
  • Rights of Accumulation (ROA), which entitle you to breakpoint discounts, will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within your household at Merrill Lynch. Eligible Putnam fund assets not held at Merrill Lynch may be included in the ROA calculation only if you notify your financial representative about such assets
  • Letters of Intent (LOI), which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases of Putnam funds, through Merrill Lynch, over a 13-month period

</R>



Prospectus          41




 

Make the most of your Putnam privileges

<R>

As a Putnam mutual fund shareholder, you have access to a number of services that can help you build a more effective and flexible financial program. Here are some of the ways you can use these privileges to make the most of your Putnam mutual fund investment.

</R>

Systematic investment plan

Invest as much as you wish. The amount you choose will be automatically transferred weekly, semi-monthly or monthly from your checking or savings account.

Systematic withdrawal

Make regular withdrawals monthly, quarterly, semiannually, or annually from your Putnam mutual fund account.

Systematic exchange

Transfer assets automatically from one Putnam account to another on a regular, prearranged basis.

Exchange privilege

Exchange money between Putnam funds. The exchange privilege allows you to adjust your investments as your objectives change. A signature guarantee is required for exchanges of more than $500,000 and shares of all Putnam funds may not be available to all investors.

Investors may not maintain, within the same fund, simultaneous plans for systematic investment or exchange (into the fund) and systematic withdrawal or exchange (out of the fund). These privileges are subject to change or termination.

 

 

 

 



42          Prospectus




 

<R>

Dividends plus

Diversify your portfolio by investing dividends and other distributions from one Putnam fund automatically into another at net asset value.

Statement of intention

You may reduce a front-end sales charge by agreeing to invest a minimum dollar amount over 13 months. Depending on your fund, the minimum is $50,000 or $100,000. Whenever you make an investment under this arrangement, you or your financial representative should notify Putnam Investor Services that a Statement of Intention is in effect.

</R>

Many of these services can be accessed online at putnam.com.

<R>

For more information about any of these services and privileges, call your financial representative or a Putnam customer service representative toll free at 1-800-225-1581.

</R>

 

 



Prospectus          43




For more information about George Putnam Balanced Fund

The fund’s SAI and annual and semiannual reports to shareholders include additional information about the fund. The SAI is incorporated by reference into this prospectus, which means it is part of this prospectus for legal purposes. The fund’s annual report discusses the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the fund’s performance during its last fiscal year. You may get free copies of these materials, request other information about any Putnam fund, or make shareholder inquiries, by contacting your financial representative, by visiting Putnam’s website at putnam.com/individual, or by calling Putnam toll-free at 1-800-225-1581.

You may review and copy information about a fund, including its SAI, at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. You may call the Commission at 1-202-551-8090 for information about the operation of the Public Reference Room. You may also access reports and other information about the fund on the EDGAR Database on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov. You may get copies of this information, with payment of a duplication fee, by electronic request at the following E-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the Commission’s Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520. You may need to refer to the fund’s file number.

<R>

Putnam Investments
One Post Office Square
Boston, MA 02109
1-800-225-1581

Address correspondence to:

Putnam Investor Services
P.O. Box 8383
Boston, MA 02266-8383

putnam.com



File No. 811-00058		 SP021 308678 11/17

 

 

Class T shares of the fund
are not currently available
for purchase.

</R>







<R>

FUND SYMBOLS  CLASS A  CLASS B  CLASS C  CLASS M  CLASS R  CLASS R5  CLASS R6  CLASS T  CLASS Y 
  PGEOX  PGEBX  PGPCX  PGEMX  PGPRX  PGELX  PGEJX  Pending  PGEYX 

 

</R>

 

George Putnam Balanced Fund 
 
FORM N-1A 
 
PART B 
 
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI) 
<R>
11/30/17 

 

This SAI is not a prospectus. If the fund has more than one form of current prospectus, each reference to the prospectus in this SAI includes all of the fund's prospectuses, unless otherwise noted. The SAI should be read together with the applicable prospectus. For a free copy of the fund's annual report or a prospectus dated 11/30/17, as revised from time to time, call Putnam Investor Services at 1-800-225-1581, visit Putnam's website at putnam.com or write Putnam Investor Services, P.O. Box 8383, Boston, MA 02266-8383.

</R>

Part I of this SAI contains specific information about the fund. Part II includes information about the fund and the other Putnam funds.

<R>   
  sai_33.pdf - 2017/11 
</R>   

 

I-1 

 


Table of Contents 

 

PART I   
 
FUND ORGANIZATION AND CLASSIFICATION  I-3 
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS  I-4 
CHARGES AND EXPENSES  I-6 
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS  I-17 
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM AND FINANCIAL  I-19 
STATEMENTS   
 
 
PART II   
 
HOW TO BUY SHARES  II-1 
<R>   
DISTRIBUTION PLANS  II-11 
MISCELLANEOUS INVESTMENTS, INVESTMENT PRACTICES AND RISKS  II-19 
TAXES  II-61 
MANAGEMENT  II-76 
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE  II-99 
INVESTOR SERVICES  II-100 
SIGNATURE GUARANTEES  II-105 
REDEMPTIONS  II-105 
POLICY ON EXCESSIVE SHORT-TERM TRADING  II-106 
SHAREHOLDER LIABILITY  II-106 
DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO INFORMATION  II-106 
INFORMATION SECURITY RISKS  II-108 
PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES  II-109 
SECURITIES RATINGS  II-109 
APPENDIX A - PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES OF THE PUTNAM FUNDS  II-115 
APPENDIX B - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  II-142 
</R>   

 

I-2 

 


SAI
 
PART I 

 

FUND ORGANIZATION AND CLASSIFICATION

George Putnam Balanced Fund is a Massachusetts business trust organized on November 1, 1937. A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, which is governed by Massachusetts law, is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Prior to June 20, 2014, the fund was known as The George Putnam Fund of Boston.

The fund is an open-end diversified management investment company with an unlimited number of authorized shares of beneficial interest. The Trustees may, without shareholder approval, create two or more series of shares representing separate investment portfolios. Any such series of shares may be divided without shareholder approval into two or more classes of shares having such preferences and special or relative rights and privileges as the Trustees determine. The fund offers classes of shares with different sales charges and expenses.

Each share has one vote, with fractional shares voting proportionally. Shares of all classes will vote together as a single class except when otherwise required by law or as determined by the Trustees. Shares are freely transferable, are entitled to dividends as declared by the Trustees, and, if the fund were liquidated, would receive the net assets of the fund.

The fund may suspend the sale of shares at any time and may refuse any order to purchase shares. Although the fund is not required to hold annual meetings of its shareholders, shareholders holding at least 10% of the outstanding shares entitled to vote have the right to call a meeting to elect or remove Trustees, or to take other actions as provided in the Agreement and Declaration of Trust.

Information about the Summary Prospectus, Prospectus, and SAI

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.

I-3 

 


<R>

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.

</R>

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

As fundamental investment restrictions, which may not be changed without a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities, the fund may not and will not:

(1) With respect to 75% of its total assets, invest in securities of any issuer if, immediately after such investment, more than 5% of the total assets of the fund (taken at current value) would be invested in the securities of such issuer; provided that this limitation does not apply to obligations issued or guaranteed as to interest or principal by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities or to securities issued by other investment companies.

(2) With respect to 75% of its total assets, acquire more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any issuer.

(3) Purchase securities (other than securities of the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities) if, as a result of such purchase, more than 25% of the fund's total assets would be invested in any one industry.

(4) Invest in commodities or commodity contracts except that it may purchase or sell financial futures contracts and options thereon.

(5) Act as an underwriter except to the extent that, in connection with the disposition of its portfolio securities, it may be deemed to be an underwriter under certain federal securities laws.

(6) Borrow money in excess of 33 1/3% of the value of its total assets (not including the amount borrowed) at the time the borrowing is made.

I-4 

 


(7) Make loans, except by purchase of debt obligations in which the fund may invest consistent with its investment policies (including without limitation debt obligations issued by other Putnam funds), by entering into repurchase agreements, or by lending its portfolio securities.

(8) Purchase any security the disposition of which is restricted under federal securities laws if as a result more than 15% of the fund's net assets, taken at current value, would be invested in such securities, excluding restricted securities that have been determined by the Trustees of the fund (or the person designated by them to make such determinations) to be readily marketable.

(9) Purchase or sell real estate, although it may purchase securities of issuers which deal in real estate, securities which are secured by interests in real estate, and securities which represent interests in real estate, and it may acquire and dispose of real estate or interests in real estate acquired through the exercise of its rights as a holder of debt obligations secured by real estate or interests therein.

The Trustees may not deal with the fund as principal in the purchase or sale of securities, or borrow money or property from the fund.

The Investment Company Act of 1940 provides that a "vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities" of a fund means the affirmative vote of the lesser of (1) more than 50% of the outstanding fund shares, or (2) 67% or more of the shares present at a meeting if more than 50% of the outstanding fund shares are represented at the meeting in person or by proxy.

For purposes of the fund’s fundamental policy on commodities and commodities contracts (#4 above), at the time of the establishment of the policy, swap contracts on financial instruments or rates were not within the understanding of the terms “commodities” or “commodity contracts,” and notwithstanding any federal legislation or regulatory action by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) that subject such swaps to regulation by the CFTC, the fund will not consider such instruments to be commodities or commodity contracts for purposes of this policy.

For purposes of the fund’s fundamental policy on industry concentration (#3 above), Putnam Investment Management, LLC ("Putnam Management"), the fund's investment manager, determines the appropriate industry categories and assigns issuers to them, informed by a variety of considerations, including relevant third party categorization systems. Industry categories and issuer assignments may change over time as industry sectors and issuers evolve. Portfolio allocations shown in shareholder reports and other

I-5 

 


communications may use broader investment sectors or narrower sub-industry categories.

The following non-fundamental investment policies may be changed by the Trustees without shareholder approval:

(1) The fund will not invest in (a) securities which are not readily marketable, (b) securities restricted as to resale (excluding securities determined by the Trustees of the fund (or the person designated by the Trustees of the fund to make such determinations) to be readily marketable), and (c) repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days, if, as a result, more than 15% of the fund's net assets (taken at current value) would be invested in securities described in (a), (b) and (c).

(2) The fund will not issue any class of securities which is senior to the fund's shares of beneficial interest, except for permitted borrowings.

All percentage limitations on investments (other than pursuant to non-fundamental restriction (1) ) will apply at the time of the making of an investment and shall not be considered violated unless an excess or deficiency occurs or exists immediately after and as a result of such investment.

If, as a result of a change in values or net assets or other circumstances, greater than 15% of the fund’s net assets are invested in securities described in (a), (b) and (c) in non-fundamental policy (1) above, the fund will take such steps as are deemed advisable to protect the fund’s liquidity.

The fund has filed an election under Rule 18f-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 committing the fund to pay all redemptions of fund shares by a single shareholder during any 90-day period in cash, up to the lesser of (i) $250,000 or (ii) 1% of such fund's net assets measured as of the beginning of such 90-day period.

CHARGES AND EXPENSES

<R>

</R>

Management fees

<R>

Under the fund’s management contract (the “Management Contract”), the fund pays a monthly fee to Putnam Management. The fee is calculated by applying a rate to the fund’s average net assets for the month. The rate is based on the monthly average of

I-6 

 


the aggregate net assets of all open-end 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) (“Total Open-End Mutual Fund Average Net Assets”), as determined at the close of each business day during the month, as set forth below: 0.680% of the first $5 billion of Total Open-End Mutual Fund Average Net Assets; 0.630% of the next $5 billion of Total Open-End Mutual Fund Average Net Assets; 0.580% of the next $10 billion of Total Open-End Mutual Fund Average Net Assets; 0.530% of the next $10 billion of Total Open-End Mutual Fund Average Net Assets; 0.480% of the next $50 billion of Total Open-End Mutual Fund Average Net Assets; 0.460% of the next $50 billion of Total Open-End Mutual Fund Average Net Assets; 0.450% of the next $100 billion of Total Open-End Mutual Fund Average Net Assets; and 0.445% of any excess thereafter.

For the past three fiscal years, pursuant to the Management Contract, the fund incurred the following fees:

</R>

    Amount of  Amount management fee 
  Management  management fee  would have been without 
Fiscal year  fee paid  waived  waivers 
<R>       
2017  $6,295,588  $0  $6,295,588 
</R>       
2016  $6,471,422  $15,594  $6,487,016 
2015  $6,927,555  $0  $6,927,555 

 

<R>

The amount of management fee waived for the 2016 fiscal year resulted from a voluntary, one time waiver by Putnam Management.

</R>

I-7 

 


Brokerage commissions

The following table shows brokerage commissions paid during the fiscal years indicated:

Fiscal  Brokerage 
year  commissions 
<R>   
2017  $811,385 
</R>   
2016  $1,051,147 
2015  $1,222,944 

 

<R>

The brokerage commissions for the fund’s 2017 fiscal year were lower than the brokerage commissions for the fund’s 2015 and 2016 fiscal years due in part to increased portfolio transactions in asset classes with lower brokerage commission rates.

</R>

The following table shows transactions placed with brokers and dealers during the most recent fiscal year through which Putnam Management and its affiliates receive brokerage or research services:

Dollar value of  Percentage of total  Amount of 
these transactions  transactions  commissions 
<R>     
$1,253,844,986  77.78%  $649,746 

 

At the end of fiscal 2017, the fund held the following securities of its regular broker-dealers (or affiliates of such broker-dealers):

</R>

I-8 

 


Broker-dealers or affiliates Value of securities held
<R> 
Bank of America Corp.  $14,852,197 
Barclays PLC  $402,183 
Citigroup, Inc.  $12,389,554 
Credit Suisse Group AG  $2,678,776 
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)  $7,595,161 
JP Morgan Chase & Co.  $9,733,907 
Royal Bank of Canada  $451,587 
UBS AG  $2,843,122 
Wells Fargo & Co.  $643,075 
</R>   

 

Administrative expense reimbursement

<R>

The fund reimbursed Putnam Management for administrative services during fiscal 2017, including compensation of certain fund officers and contributions to the Putnam Retirement Plan for their benefit, as follows:

</R>

  Portion of total reimbursement 
Total  for compensation and 
reimbursement  contributions 
<R>   
$36,306  $26,004 
</R>   

 

Trustee responsibilities and fees

The Trustees are responsible for generally overseeing the conduct of fund business. Subject to such policies as the Trustees may determine, Putnam Management furnishes a continuing investment program for the fund and makes investment decisions on its behalf. Subject to the control of the Trustees, Putnam Management also manages the fund's other affairs and business.

<R>

The table below shows the value of each Trustee's holdings in the fund and in all of the Putnam Funds as of December 31, 2016.

</R>

I-9 

 


  Dollar range of George  Aggregate dollar range of shares 
  Putnam Balanced Fund  held in all of the Putnam funds 
Name of Trustee  shares owned  overseen by Trustee 
Liaquat Ahamed  $1-$10,000  over $100,000 
Ravi Akhoury  $1-$10,000  over $100,000 
Barbara M. Baumann  $50,001-$100,000  over $100,000 
Jameson A. Baxter  over $100,000  over $100,000 
<R>     
</R>     
Katinka Domotorffy  $1-$10,000  over $100,000 
<R>     
*Catharine Bond Hill  N/A  N/A 
</R>     
Paul L. Joskow  $10,001-$50,000  over $100,000 
Kenneth R. Leibler  $1-$10,000  over $100,000 
Robert E. Patterson  $10,001-$50,000  over $100,000 
George Putnam, III  over $100,000  over $100,000 
<R>     
*Manoj P. Singh  N/A  N/A 
** Robert L. Reynolds  $1-$10,000  over $100,000 

 

* Appointed to the Board of Trustees on March 16, 2017.

** Trustee who is an "interested person" (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940) of the fund and Putnam Management. Mr. Reynolds is deemed an "interested person" by virtue of his positions as an officer of the fund and Putnam Management. Mr. Reynolds is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Putnam Investments, LLC and President of your fund and each of the other Putnam funds. None of the other Trustees is an "interested person".

</R>

Each Independent Trustee of the fund receives an annual retainer fee and an additional fee for each Trustee meeting attended. Independent Trustees also are reimbursed for expenses they incur relating to their services as Trustees. All of the current Independent Trustees of the fund are Trustees of all the Putnam funds and receive fees for their services.

The Trustees periodically review their fees to ensure that such fees continue to be appropriate in light of their responsibilities as well as in relation to fees paid to trustees of other mutual fund complexes. The Board Policy and Nominating Committee, which consists solely of Independent Trustees of the fund, estimates that committee and Trustee meeting time, together with the appropriate preparation, requires the equivalent of at least four business days per regular Trustee meeting. The standing committees of the Board of Trustees, and the number of times each committee met during your fund’s most recently completed fiscal year, are shown in the table below:

I-10 

 


<R>   
Audit, Compliance and Distributions Committee  13 
Board Policy and Nominating Committee  6 
Brokerage Committee  5 
Contract Committee  11 
</R>   
Executive Committee  1 
Investment Oversight Committees   
Investment Oversight Committee A  7 
Investment Oversight Committee B  7 
Pricing Committee  8 

 

<R>

The following table shows the year each Trustee was first elected a Trustee of the Putnam funds, the fees paid to each Trustee by the fund for fiscal 2017, and the fees paid to each Trustee by all of the Putnam funds for services rendered during calendar year 2016.

</R>

I-11 

 


COMPENSATION TABLE 

 

    Pension or  Estimated  Total 
  retirement  annual  compensation 
  Aggregate  benefits  benefits from  from all 
Trustee/Year  compensation  accrued as  all Putnam  Putnam 
  from the fund  part of fund  funds upon  funds(2) 
    expenses  retirement(1)   
<R>         
Liaquat Ahamed/2012(3)  $4,984  N/A  N/A  $315,000 
Ravi Akhoury/2009  $4,883  N/A  N/A  $302,500 
Barbara M. Baumann/2010(3)  $5,079  N/A  N/A  $315,000 
Jameson A. Baxter/1994(3)(4)  $7,304  $340  $110,533  $482,031 
Robert J. Darretta/2007(3)(5)  $4,465  N/A  N/A  $340,000 
Katinka Domotorffy/2012(3)  $4,984  N/A  N/A  $315,000 
Catharine Bond Hill/2017(6)  $2,549  N/A  N/A  N/A 
John A. Hill/1985(3)(5)  $3,956  $559  $161,667  $290,000 
Paul L. Joskow/1997(3)  $4,984  $249  $113,417  $315,000 
Kenneth R. Leibler/2006  $5,460  N/A  N/A  $322,500 
Robert E. Patterson/1984  $4,984  $396  $106,542  $302,500 
George Putnam, III/1984  $5,381  $413  $130,333  $340,000 
Manoj P. Singh/2017(6)  $2,549  N/A  N/A  N/A 
W. Thomas Stephens/1997(7)  $4,164  $228  $107,125  $315,000 
Robert L. Reynolds/2008(8)  N/A  N/A  N/A  N/A 
</R>         

 

(1) Estimated benefits for each Trustee are based on Trustee fee rates for calendar years 2003, 2004 and 2005.

<R>

(2) As of December 31, 2016, there were 114 funds in the Putnam family.

(3) Certain Trustees are also owed compensation deferred pursuant to a Trustee Compensation Deferral Plan. As of July 31, 2017, the total amounts of deferred compensation payable by the fund, including income earned on such amounts, to these Trustees were: Mr. Ahamed - $13,265; Ms. Baumann - $15,885; Ms. Baxter - $90,406; Mr. Darretta - $66,913; Ms. Domotorffy - $11,361; Mr. Hill - $174,930; and Dr. Joskow -$60,547.

</R>

(4) Includes additional compensation to Ms. Baxter for service as Chair of the Trustees of the Putnam funds.

I-12 

 


<R>

(5) Mr. Darretta and Mr. Hill retired from the Board of Trustees on June 30, 2017.

(6) Dr. Hill and Mr. Singh were appointed to the Board of Trustees on March 16, 2017.

(7) Mr. Stephens retired from the Board of Trustees of the Putnam funds on March 31, 2008. Upon his retirement in 2008, Mr. Stephens became entitled to receive annual retirement benefit payments from the funds commencing on January 15, 2009. Mr. Stephens was re-appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Putnam funds effective May 14, 2009, and in connection with his re-appointment, Mr. Stephens agreed to suspend the balance of his retirement benefit payments for the duration of his service as a Trustee, which concluded with his retirement on June 30, 2017.

(8) Mr. Reynolds is an "interested person" of the fund and Putnam Management.

Under a Retirement Plan for Trustees of the Putnam funds (the "Plan"), each Trustee who retires with at least five years of service as a Trustee of the funds is entitled to receive an annual retirement benefit equal to one-half of the average annual attendance and retainer fees paid to such Trustee for calendar years 2003, 2004 and 2005. This 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. A death benefit, also available under the Plan, ensures that the Trustee and his or her beneficiaries will receive benefit payments for the lesser of an aggregate period of (i) ten years, or (ii) such Trustee's total years of service.

</R>

The Plan Administrator (currently the Board Policy and Nominating Committee) may terminate or amend the Plan at any time, but no termination or amendment will result in a reduction in the amount of benefits (i) currently being paid to a Trustee at the time of such termination or amendment, or (ii) to which a current Trustee would have been entitled had he or she retired immediately prior to such termination or amendment. The Trustees have terminated the Plan with respect to any Trustee first elected to the Board after 2003.

For additional information concerning the Trustees, see "Management" in Part II of this SAI.

I-13 

 


Share ownership

<R>

At October 31, 2017, the officers and Trustees of the fund as a group owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of each class of the fund, except class R6 and class Y of which they owned 1.59% and 3.28%, respectively and, except as noted below, no person owned of record or to the knowledge of the fund beneficially 5% or more of any class of shares of the fund.

</R>

Class  Shareholder name  Percentage 
and address  Owned 
<R>   
Edward D Jones & Co.   
A  For the Benefit of Customers   
1255 Manchester Rd.  7.70% 
St. Louis, MO 63131-3729   
A  Pershing, LLC   
1 Pershing Plaza  6.06% 
Jersey City, NJ 07399-0001   
National Financial Services, LLC   
For the Exclusive Benefit of our Customers   
A  499 Washington Blvd.  5.86% 
Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 4th Fl.   
Jersey City, NJ 07310-2010   
Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC   
Special Custody Acct   
A  for the Exclusive Benefit of Customer  5.85% 
2801 Market St.   
Saint Louis, MO 63103-2523   
Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.Clearing Account   
B  For the Exclusive Benefit of Their Customers  10.34% 
101 Montgomery St.   
San Francisco, CA 94104-4151   
National Financial Services, LLC   
For the Exclusive Benefit of our Customers   
B  499 Washington Blvd.  8.95% 
Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 4th Fl.   
Jersey City, NJ 07310-2010   
Pershing, LLC   
B  1 Pershing Plaza  8.64% 
Jersey City, NJ 07399-0001   

 

I-14 

 


  Raymond James   
  Omnibus For Mutual Funds   
B  House Acct Firm 92500015  6.53% 
  Attn: Courtney Waller   
  880 Carillon Pkwy   
  St. Petersburg, FL 33716-1100   
  Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC   
  Special Custody Acct   
C  for the Exclusive Benefit of Customer  14.90% 
  2801 Market St.   
  Saint Louis, MO 63103-2523   
  Pershing, LLC   
C  1 Pershing Plaza  10.50% 
  Jersey City, NJ 07399-0001   
  MLPF&S   
  For The Sole Benefit Of Its Customers   
C  Attn Fund Administration  7.26% 
  4800 Deer Lake Dr E Fl 3   
  Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484   
  National Financial Services, LLC   
  For the Exclusive Benefit of our Customers   
C  499 Washington Blvd.  6.36% 
  Attn: Mutual Funds Dept. 4th Fl.   
  Jersey City, NJ 07310-2010   
  State Street Bank Ttee   
M  ADP Access Product  84.67% 
  1 Lincoln St.   
  Boston, MA 02111-2901   
  State Street Bank Ttee   
R  ADP Access Product  86.29% 
  1 Lincoln St.   
  Boston, MA 02111-2901   
  MLPF&S   
  For The Sole Benefit Of Its Customers   
R  Attn Fund Administration  5.66% 
  4800 Deer Lake Dr E Fl 3   
  Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484   
  Putnam Investments, LLC   
R5  One Post Office Square  100.00% 
  Boston, MA 02109   
  Great-West Trust Company, LLC   
  The Putnam Retirement Plan   
R6  8515 E Orchard Rd. 2T2  48.69% 
  Greenwood Village, CO 80111-5002   

 

I-15 

 


R6  Great-West Trust Company, LLC   
  Recordkeeping for various benefit plans  37.90% 
  8515 E Orchard Rd . 2T2   
  Greenwood Village, CO 80111-5002   
R6  Great-West Trust Company, LLC   
  Employee Benefits Clients 401(k) Plan  12.74% 
  8515 E Orchard Rd. 2T2   
  Greenwood Village, CO 80111-5002   
  Great-West Trust Company, LLC   
  Recordkeeping for various benefit plans   
Y  8515 E Orchard Rd 2T2  39.17% 
  Greenwood Village, CO 80111-5002   
  Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC   
  Special Custody Acct   
Y  for the Exclusive Benefit of Customer  8.39% 
  2801 Market St.   
  Saint Louis, MO 63103-2523   
  MLPF&S   
  For The Sole Benefit Of Its Customers   
Y  Attn Fund Administration  6.20% 
  4800 Deer Lake Dr E Fl 3   
  Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484   
  Pershing, LLC   
Y  1 Pershing Plaza  5.54% 
  Jersey City, NJ 07399-0001   
  LPL Financial   
  Omnibus Customer Account   
Y  Attn: Lindsay O'Toole  5.05% 
  4707 Executive Drive   
  San Diego, CA 92121-3091   

 

</R>

Distribution fees

<R>

During fiscal 2017, the fund paid the following 12b-1 fees to Putnam Retail Management:

</R>

Class A  Class B  Class C  Class M  Class R 
<R>         
$2,379,541  $210,723  $437,017  $511,503  $3,716 
</R>         

 

I-16 

 


Class A sales charges and contingent deferred sales charges

Putnam Retail Management received sales charges with respect to class A shares in the following amounts during the periods indicated:

  Total front-  Sales charges retained by  Contingent 
Fiscal  end sales  Putnam Retail Management  deferred 
year  charges  after dealer concessions  sales charges 
<R>       
2017  $452,342  $86,189  $39 
</R>       
2016  $463,066  $85,883  $35 
2015  $538,989  $101,364  $3,019 
<R>       
</R>       

 

Class B contingent deferred sales charges

Putnam Retail Management received contingent deferred sales charges upon redemptions of class B shares in the following amounts during the periods indicated:

Fiscal  Contingent deferred 
year  sales charges 
<R>   
2017  $8,643 
</R>   
2016  $15,340 
2015  $9,187 
<R>   
</R>   

 

Class C contingent deferred sales charges

Putnam Retail Management received contingent deferred sales charges upon redemptions of class C shares in the following amounts during the periods indicated:

I-17 

 


Fiscal  Contingent deferred 
year  sales charges 
<R>   
2017  $1,255 
</R>   
2016  $4,010 
2015  $1,862 
<R>   
</R>   

 

Class M sales charges

Putnam Retail Management received sales charges with respect to class M shares in the following amounts during the periods indicated:

    Sales charges retained by 
Fiscal  Total front-end  Putnam Retail Management 
year  sales charges  after dealer concessions 
<R>     
2017  $12,368  $1,421 
</R>     
2016  $12,006  $1,942 
2015  $2,217  $354 
<R>     
</R>     

 

During the fund's last three fiscal years, Putnam Retail Management received no contingent deferred sales charges with respect to class M shares. Effective November 1, 2015, the fund no longer assesses a contingent deferred sales charge with respect to class M shares.

 

I-18 

 


Investor servicing fees

<R>

During the 2017 fiscal year, the fund incurred $2,090,396 in fees for investor servicing provided by Putnam Investor Services, Inc.

</R>

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

Other accounts managed

The following table shows the number and approximate assets of other investment accounts (or portions of investment accounts) that the fund's portfolio managers managed as of the fund's most recent fiscal year-end. The other accounts may include accounts for which the individuals were not designated as a portfolio manager. Unless noted, none of the other accounts pays a fee based on the account's performance.

          Other accounts (including 
          separate accounts, managed 
      Other accounts that pool  account programs and single- 
Portfolio  Other SEC-registered open-  assets from more than one  sponsor defined contribution 
manager  end and closed-end funds  client  plan offerings) 
  Number    Number    Number   
  of    of    of   
  accounts  Assets  accounts  Assets  accounts  Assets 
<R>             
Aaron Cooper  4  $457,500,000  0  $0  3  $47,000,000 
Paul Scanlon  25*  $11,491,500,000  33  $8,620,600,000  26  $14,828,000,000 

 

* 4 accounts, with total assets of $1,132,800,000, pay an advisory fee based on account performance.

</R>

See “Management—Portfolio Transactions—Potential conflicts of interest in managing multiple accounts” in Part II of this SAI for information on how Putnam Management addresses potential conflicts of interest resulting from an individual’s management of more than one account.

Compensation of portfolio managers

Putnam’s goal for its products and investors is to deliver strong performance versus peers or performance ahead of the applicable benchmark, depending on the product, over a rolling 3-year period. Portfolio managers are evaluated and compensated, in part, based on their performance relative to this goal across the products they manage.

I-19 

 


In addition to their individual performance, evaluations take into account the performance of their group and a subjective component.

Each portfolio manager is assigned an industry-competitive incentive compensation target consistent with this goal and evaluation framework. Actual incentive compensation may be higher or lower than the target, based on individual, group, and subjective performance, and may also reflect the performance of Putnam as a firm. Typically, performance is measured over the lesser of three years or the length of time a portfolio manager has managed a product.

Incentive compensation includes a cash bonus and may also include grants of deferred cash, stock or options. In addition to incentive compensation, portfolio managers receive fixed annual salaries typically based on level of responsibility and experience.

For this fund, Putnam evaluates performance based on the fund's peer ranking in the fund's Lipper category or categories, as applicable, over the 3-year period. This peer ranking is based on pre-tax performance.

Ownership of securities

<R>

The dollar range of shares of the fund owned by each portfolio manager at the end of the fund’s last fiscal year, including investments by immediate family members and amounts invested through retirement and deferred compensation plans, was as follows:

Portfolio manager  Dollar range of shares owned 
</R>   
Aaron Cooper  $0 
<R>   
Paul Scanlon  $10,001-$50,000 
</R>   

 

I-20 

 


INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<R>

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, 101 Seaport Boulevard, Boston, Massachusetts 02210, is the fund's independent registered public accounting firm providing audit services, tax return review and other tax consulting services and assistance and consultation in connection with the review of various Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, financial highlights and financial statements included in the fund's Annual Report for the fund's most recent fiscal year are included as Appendix B to this SAI. The financial highlights included in the prospectus and this SAI and the financial statements included in this SAI (which is incorporated by reference into the prospectus) have been so included in reliance upon the Report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, given on their authority as experts in auditing and accounting.

</R>

I-21 

 


THE PUTNAM FUNDS
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (“SAI”) 
PART II

 

HOW TO BUY SHARES

Each prospectus describes briefly how investors may buy shares of the fund and identifies the share classes offered by that prospectus. Because of different sales charges and expenses, the investment performance of the classes will vary. This section of the SAI contains more information on how to buy shares. For more information, including your eligibility to purchase certain classes of shares, contact your investment dealer or Putnam Investor Services, Inc., the funds’ investor servicing agent (“Putnam Investor Services”), at 1-800-225-1581. Investors who purchase shares at net asset value through employer-sponsored retirement plans (including, for example, 401(k) plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, and 457 plans) should also consult their employer for information about the extent to which the matters described in this section and in the sections that follow apply to them.

Except as set forth below, the fund does not accept new accounts or additional investments (including by way of exchange from another fund) into existing accounts held in the name of persons or entities that do not have both a residential or business address within the United States (including APO/FPO addresses) and a valid U.S. tax identification number. Any existing account that is updated to reflect a non-U.S. address will also be restricted from making additional investments. Non-U.S. institutional clients may invest in a fund, provided that the client is acting for its own account and is not a financial institution (e.g., a broker-dealer purchasing shares on behalf of its customers), and has provided Putnam with documentation (i) that is appropriate to the type of entity seeking to establish the account and (ii) sufficient to enable Putnam Investor Services to determine that the investment would not violate any applicable securities laws or regulations, including non-U.S. laws and regulations.

In addition, Class M shares of Putnam Diversified Income Trust, Putnam Europe Equity Fund, Putnam Global Income Trust, Putnam High Yield Fund, Putnam Income Fund, and Putnam U.S. Government Income Trust are available for public offering in Japan through certain Japanese registered broker-dealers with whom Putnam Retail Management Limited Partnership has an agreement.

In addition, the fund does not accept new accounts or additional investments (including by way of exchange from another fund) into existing accounts by entities that Putnam Investor Services has reason to believe are involved in the sale or distribution of marijuana, even if such sale or distribution is licensed by a state.

General Information

The fund is currently making a continuous offering of its shares. The fund receives the entire net asset value of shares sold. The fund will accept unconditional orders for shares to be executed at the public offering price based on the net asset value per share next determined after the order is placed. In the case of class A shares, class M shares and class T shares, the public offering price is the net asset value plus the applicable sales charge, if any. (The public offering price is thus calculable by dividing the net asset value by 100% minus the sales charge, expressed as a percentage.) No sales charge is included in the public offering price of other classes of shares. In the case of orders for purchase of shares placed through dealers, the public offering price will be based on the net asset value determined on the day the order is placed, but only if the dealer or a registered transfer agent or registered clearing agent receives the order, together with all required identifying information, before the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”). If the dealer or registered transfer agent or registered clearing agent receives the order after the close of the NYSE, the price will be based on the net asset value next determined. If funds for the purchase of shares are sent directly to Putnam Investor Services, they will be invested at the public offering price based on the net asset value next determined after all required identifying

October 27, 2017  II-1 

 


information has been collected. Payment for shares of the fund must be in U.S. dollars; if made by check, the check must be drawn on a U.S. bank.

Initial purchases are subject to the minimums stated in the prospectus, except that (i) individual investments under certain employer-sponsored retirement plans or Tax Qualified Retirement Plans may be lower, and (ii) the minimum investment is waived for investors participating in systematic investment plans or military allotment plans. Information about these plans is available from investment dealers or Putnam Investor Services. Currently Putnam is waiving the minimum for all initial purchases, but reserves the right to reject initial purchases under the minimum in the future, except as noted in the first sentence of this paragraph.

Systematic investment plan. As a convenience to investors, shares may be purchased through a systematic investment plan. Pre-authorized monthly, semi-monthly, or weekly bank drafts for a fixed amount ($200,000 or less) are used to purchase fund shares at the applicable public offering price next determined after Putnam Retail Management Limited Partnership (“Putnam Retail Management”) receives the proceeds from the draft. A shareholder may choose any date or dates in the month for these drafts, but if the date falls on a weekend or holiday, the draft will be processed on the next business day. Further information and application forms are available from the investment dealers or from Putnam Retail Management.

Reinvestment of distributions. Distributions to be reinvested are reinvested without a sales charge in shares of any Putnam fund the shareholder is eligible to invest in under the shareholder's account as of the ex-dividend date using the net asset value determined on that date, and are credited to a shareholder's account on the payment date. Dividends for Putnam money market funds are credited to a shareholder's account on the payment date. Distributions for all other funds that declare a distribution daily are reinvested without a sales charge as of the last day of the period for which distributions are paid using the net asset value determined on that date, and are credited to a shareholder's account on the payment date.

Purchasing shares with securities (“in-kind” purchases). In addition to cash, the fund will consider accepting securities as payment for fund shares at the applicable net asset value. Generally, the fund will only consider accepting securities to increase its holdings in a portfolio security, or if Putnam Investment Management, LLC (“Putnam Management”) determines that the offered securities are a suitable investment for the fund and in a sufficient amount for efficient management.

While no minimum has been established, it is expected that the fund would not accept securities with a value of less than $100,000 per issue as payment for shares. The fund may reject in whole or in part any or all offers to pay for purchases of fund shares with securities, may require partial payment in cash for such purchases to provide funds for applicable sales charges, and may discontinue accepting securities as payment for fund shares at any time without notice. The fund will value accepted securities in the manner described in the section "Determination of Net Asset Value" for valuing shares of the fund. The fund will only accept securities that are delivered in proper form. The fund will not accept certain securities, for example, options or restricted securities, as payment for shares. The acceptance of securities by certain funds in exchange for fund shares is subject to additional requirements. For federal income tax purposes, a purchase of fund shares with securities will be treated as a sale or exchange of such securities on which the investor will generally realize a taxable gain or loss. The processing of a purchase of fund shares with securities involves certain delays while the fund considers the suitability of such securities and while other requirements are satisfied. For information regarding procedures for payment in securities, contact Putnam Retail Management. Investors should not send securities to the fund except when authorized to do so and in accordance with specific instructions received from Putnam Retail Management.

Sales Charges and Other Share Class Features — Retail Investors

This section describes certain key features of share classes offered to retail investors and retirement plans that do not purchase shares at net asset value. Much of this information addresses the sales charges, including initial sales charges and contingent deferred sales charges (“CDSCs”) imposed on the different share classes and

October 27, 2017  II-2 

 


various commission payments made by Putnam to dealers and other financial intermediaries facilitating shareholders’ investments. This information supplements the descriptions of these share classes and payments included in the prospectus.

Initial sales charges, dealer commissions and CDSCs on shares sold outside the United States may differ from those applied to U.S. sales.

Initial sales charges for class A, class M and class T shares. The public offering price of class A, class M and class T shares is the net asset value plus a sales charge that varies depending on the size of your purchase (calculable as described above). The fund receives the net asset value. The tables below indicate the sales charges applicable to purchases of class A, class M and class T shares of the funds by style category. The variations in sales charges may reflect the varying efforts required to sell shares to different categories of purchasers, as well as other relevant factors.

The sales charge for class A shares and class M shares is allocated between your investment dealer and Putnam Retail Management as shown in the tables below, except when Putnam Retail Management, in its discretion, allocates the entire amount to your investment dealer. For class T shares, the entire sales charge amount will be allocated to the investment dealer, as shown in the table below.

The underwriter's commission, or dealer reallowance, is the sales charge shown in the prospectus less any applicable dealer discount. Putnam Retail Management will give dealers ten days' notice of any changes in the dealer discount. Putnam Retail Management retains the entire sales charge on any retail sales made by it.

For purchases of class A shares by retail investors that qualify for the highest sales charge breakpoint described in the prospectus, Putnam Retail Management pays commissions on sales during the one-year period beginning with the date of the initial purchase qualifying for that breakpoint. Each subsequent one-year measuring period for these purposes begins with the first qualifying purchase following the end of the prior period. These commissions are paid at the rate of 1.00% of the amount of qualifying purchases up to $4 million, 0.50% of the next $46 million of qualifying purchases and 0.25% of qualifying purchases thereafter.

<R>

For Growth Funds, Blend Funds, Value Funds, Asset Allocation Funds (excluding Retirement Income Fund Lifestyle 1, Putnam PanAgora Managed Futures Strategy, Putnam PanAgora Market Neutral Fund and Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund), Global Sector Funds and RetirementReady® Funds only:

</R>

  CLASS A  CLASS M 
    Amount of sales    Amount of sales 
    charge    charge 
    reallowed to    reallowed to 
  Sales charge as  dealers as a  Sales charge as  dealers as a 
Amount of transaction at  a percentage of  percentage of  a percentage of  percentage of 
offering price ($)  offering price  offering price  offering price  offering price 
 
Under 50,000  5.75%  5.00%  3.50%  3.00% 
50,000 but under 100,000  4.50  3.75  2.50  2.00 
100,000 but under 250,000  3.50  2.75  1.50  1.00 
250,000 but under 500,000  2.50  2.00  1.00  1.00 
500,000 but under 1,000,000  2.00  1.75  1.00  1.00 
1,000,000 and above  NONE  NONE  N/A*  N/A* 

 

October 27, 2017  II-3 

 


For Putnam Absolute Return 500 Fund and Putnam Absolute Return 700 Fund only:

  CLASS A  CLASS M 
    Amount of sales    Amount of sales 
    charge    charge 
    reallowed to    reallowed to 
  Sales charge as  dealers as a  Sales charge as  dealers as a 
Amount of transaction at  a percentage of  percentage of  a percentage of  percentage of 
offering price ($)  offering price  offering price  offering price  offering price 
 
Under 50,000  5.75%  5.00%  3.50%  3.00% 
50,000 but under 100,000  4.50  3.75  2.50  2.00 
100,000 but under 250,000  3.50  2.75  1.50  1.00 
250,000 but under 500,000  2.50  2.00  1.00  1.00 
500,000 and above  NONE  NONE  N/A**  N/A** 

 

<R>

For Putnam PanAgora Managed Futures Strategy, Putnam PanAgora Market Neutral Fund and Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund only:

  CLASS A  CLASS M 
    Amount of sales    Amount of sales 
    charge    charge 
    reallowed to    reallowed to 
  Sales charge as  dealers as a  Sales charge as  dealers as a 
Amount of transaction at  a percentage of  percentage of  a percentage of  percentage of 
offering price ($)  offering price  offering price  offering price  offering price 
 
Under 50,000  6.10%  5.75%  3.63%  3.50% 
50,000 but under 100,000  4.71  4.50  2.56  2.50 
100,000 but under 250,000  3.63  3.50  1.52  1.50 
250,000 but under 500,000  2.56  2.50  1.01  1.00 
500,000 but above  NONE  NONE  N/A**  N/A** 
</R>         

 

October 27, 2017  II-4 

 


For Retirement Income Fund Lifestyle 1, taxable Income Funds and Tax-Exempt Funds (except for Money Market Funds, Putnam Short-Term Municipal Income Fund, Putnam Floating Rate Income Fund, and Putnam Short Duration Income Fund):

  CLASS A  CLASS M 
    Amount of sales    Amount of sales 
    charge    charge 
    reallowed to    reallowed to 
  Sales charge as  dealers as a  Sales charge as  dealers as a 
Amount of transaction at  a percentage of  percentage of  a percentage of  percentage of 
offering price ($)  offering price  offering price  offering price  offering price 
 
Under 50,000  4.00%  3.50%  3.25%  3.00% 
50,000 but under 100,000  4.00  3.50  2.25  2.00 
100,000 but under 250,000  3.25  2.75  1.25  1.00 
250,000 but under 500,000  2.50  2.00  1.00  1.00 
500,000 and above  NONE  NONE  N/A**  N/A** 

 

For Putnam Floating Rate Income Fund, Putnam Absolute Return 100 Fund, Putnam Short-Term Municipal Income Fund and Putnam Absolute Return 300 Fund only:

  CLASS A  CLASS M 
    Amount of sales    Amount of sales 
    charge    charge 
    reallowed to    reallowed to 
  Sales charge as  dealers as a  Sales charge as  dealers as a 
Amount of transaction at  a percentage of  percentage of  a percentage of  percentage of 
offering price ($)  offering price  offering price  offering price  offering price 
 
Under 500,000  1.00%  1.00%  0.75%  0.75% 
500,000 and above  NONE  NONE  N/A**  N/A** 

 

*The funds will not accept purchase orders for class M shares (other than by employer-sponsored retirement plans) where the total of the current purchase, plus existing account balances that are eligible to be linked under a right of accumulation (as described below) is $1 million or more.

**The funds will not accept purchase orders for class M shares (other than by employer-sponsored retirement plans) where the total of the current purchase, plus existing account balances that are eligible to be linked under a right of accumulation (as described below) is $500,000 or more.

<R>

For all Putnam funds that offer class T shares (except Putnam PanAgora Managed Futures Strategy, Putnam PanAgora Market Neutral Fund and Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund, Putnam Short Duration Income Fund and Putnam Absolute Return 100 Fund)*:

</R>

October 27, 2017  II-5 

 


  CLASS T   
 
    Amount of sales charge 
  Sales charge as a  reallowed to dealers as a 
  percentage of offering  percentage of offering 
Amount of transaction at offering price ($)  price  price 
 
Under 249,000  2.50%  2.50% 
250,000 but under 499,999  2.00  2.00 
500,000 but under 999,999  1.50  1.50 
1,000,000 and above  1.00  1.00 

 

<R>

For Putnam PanAgora Managed Futures Strategy, Putnam PanAgora Market Neutral Fund and Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund:

  CLASS T   
 
    Amount of sales charge 
  Sales charge as a  reallowed to dealers as a 
  percentage of offering  percentage of offering 
Amount of transaction at offering price ($)  price  price 
 
Under 249,000  2.56%  2.50% 
250,000 but under 499,999  2.04  2.00 
500,000 but under 999,999  1.52  1.50 
1,000,000 and above  1.01  1.00 
</R>     

 

*Purchases into Putnam Short Duration Income Fund and Putnam Absolute Return 100 Fund will not be subject to any sales charge.

Purchases of class A and class T1 shares without an initial sales charge. Class A shares of any Putnam fund (other than Putnam Short Duration Income Fund, Putnam Government Money Market Fund, and Putnam Money Market Fund) purchased by retail investors that are not subject to an initial sales charge (in accordance with the schedules stated above) are subject to a CDSC of 1.00% if redeemed before the first day of the month in which the nine-month anniversary of that purchase falls. Class A shares of Putnam Short Duration Income Fund and class A and class T1 shares of Putnam Money Market Fund and Putnam Government Money Market Fund purchased by retail investors by exchanging shares from another Putnam fund that were not subject to an initial sales charge (in accordance with the schedules stated above) are subject to a CDSC of 1.00% if redeemed before the first day of the month in which the nine-month anniversary of the original purchase falls.

The CDSC assessed on redemptions of fewer than all of an investor's class A shares (and, for Putnam Money Market Fund and Putnam Government Money Market Fund, class T1 shares) subject to a CDSC will be based on the amount of the redemption minus the amount of any appreciation on the investor's CDSC-subject shares since the purchase of such shares. The CDSC assessed on full redemptions of CDSC-subject shares will be based on the lower of the shares' cost and current NAV. Putnam Retail Management will retain any CDSC imposed on redemptions of such shares to compensate it for the up-front commissions paid to financial intermediaries for such share sales.

October 27, 2017  II-6 

 


Purchases of class A shares for rollover IRAs. Purchases of class A shares for a Putnam Rollover IRA or a rollover IRA of a Putnam affiliate, from a retirement plan for which an affiliate of Putnam Management or a business partner of such affiliate is the administrator, including subsequent contributions, are not subject to an initial sales charge or CDSC. Putnam Retail Management may pay commissions or finders’ fees of up to 1.00% of the proceeds for such Putnam Rollover IRA purchases to the dealer of record or other third party.

Commission payments and CDSCs for class B and class C shares. Except in the case of Putnam Money Market Fund, Putnam Government Money Market Fund and Putnam Short Duration Income Fund as noted below, Putnam Retail Management will pay a 4% commission on sales of class B shares of the fund only to those financial intermediaries who have entered into service agreements with Putnam Retail Management. For tax-exempt funds, this commission includes a 0.20% pre-paid service fee (except for Putnam Tax-Free High Yield Fund and Putnam AMT-Free Municipal Fund, each of which has a 0.25% pre-paid service fee). For Putnam Floating Rate Income Fund, Putnam Absolute Return 100 Fund, Putnam Absolute Return 300 Fund and Putnam Short-Term Municipal Income Fund, Putnam Retail Management will pay a 1.00% commission to financial intermediaries selling class B shares of the fund.

Except in the case of Putnam Money Market Fund, Putnam Government Money Market Fund and Putnam Short Duration Income Fund, Putnam Retail Management pays financial intermediaries a 1.00% commission on sales of class C shares of a fund.

Putnam Retail Management will retain any CDSC imposed on redemptions of class B and class C shares to compensate it for the cost of paying the up-front commissions paid to financial intermediaries for class B or class C share sales.

Conversion of class B shares into class A shares. Class B shares will automatically convert to class A shares on or around the end of the month eight years after the purchase date (for Putnam Small Cap Value Fund, on or around the end of the month six years after the purchase date, and for Putnam Multi-Cap Value Fund, on or around the end of the month five years after the purchase date). Class B shares acquired by exchanging class B shares of another Putnam fund will convert to class A shares based on the time of the initial purchase, and the holding period of the fund with the longer conversion schedule will apply. Any CDSC for such shares will be calculated using the schedule of the fund into or from which shares have been exchanged that would result in the highest CDSC applicable to such shares.” Class B shares acquired through reinvestment of distributions will convert to class A shares based on the date of the initial purchase to which such shares relate. For this purpose, class B shares acquired through reinvestment of distributions will be attributed to particular purchases of class B shares in accordance with such procedures as the Trustees may determine from time to time. The conversion of class B shares to class A shares is subject to the condition that such conversions will not constitute taxable events for federal tax purposes. Shareholders should consult with their tax advisers regarding the state and local tax consequences of the conversion of class B shares to class A shares, or any other exchange or conversion of shares. Average annual total return performance information for class B shares shown in the fund's prospectus assumes conversion to class A shares after the applicable period described in the fund’s prospectus.

Sales without sales charges or contingent deferred sales charges

In addition to the categories of investors eligible to purchase fund shares without a sales charge or CDSC set forth in the fund’s prospectus, in connection with settlements reached between certain firms and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) and/or Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) regarding sales of class B and class C shares in excess of certain dollar thresholds, the fund will permit shareholders who are clients of these firms (and applicable affiliates of such firms) to redeem class B and class C shares of the fund and concurrently purchase class A shares (in an amount to be determined by the dealer of record and Putnam Retail Management in accordance with the terms of the applicable settlement) without paying a sales charge.

The fund may issue its shares at net asset value without an initial sales charge or a CDSC in connection with the acquisition of substantially all of the securities owned by other investment companies or personal holding

October 27, 2017  II-7 

 


companies. The CDSC will be waived on redemptions to pay premiums for insurance under Putnam’s insured investor program.

In the case of certain sales charge waivers described in the prospectus to (i) current and former Trustees of the fund, their family members, business and personal associates; current and former employees of Putnam Management and certain current and former corporate affiliates, their family members, business and personal associates; employer-sponsored retirement plans for the foregoing; and partnerships, trusts or other entities in which any of the foregoing has a substantial interest and (ii) shareholders reinvesting the proceeds from a Putnam Corporate IRA Plan distribution into a nonretirement plan account, the availability of shares at NAV has been determined to be appropriate because involvement by Putnam Retail Management and other brokers in purchases by these investors is typically minimal.

As described in the prospectus, specific sales charge waivers may be available through your particular financial intermediary. Please see the prospectus for additional information about financial intermediary-specific waivers.

Application of CDSC to Systematic Withdrawal Plans (“SWP”). The SWP provisions relating to CDSC waivers described below do not apply to customers purchasing shares of the fund through a Specified Intermediary, unless otherwise specified in the Appendix to the fund’s prospectus. Please refer to the Appendix to the fund’s prospectus for the SWP provisions that are applicable to each Specified Intermediary.

Investors who set up a SWP for a share account (see "INVESTOR SERVICES — Plans Available to Shareholders -- Systematic Withdrawal Plan") may withdraw through the SWP up to 12% of the net asset value of the account (calculated as set forth below) each year without incurring any CDSC. Shares not subject to a CDSC (such as shares representing reinvestment of distributions) will be redeemed first and will count toward the 12% limitation. If there are insufficient shares not subject to a CDSC, shares subject to the lowest CDSC liability will be redeemed next until the 12% limit is reached. The 12% figure is calculated on a pro rata basis at the time of the first payment made pursuant to an SWP and recalculated thereafter on a pro rata basis at the time of each SWP payment. Therefore, shareholders who have chosen an SWP based on a percentage of the net asset value of their account of up to 12% will be able to receive SWP payments without incurring a CDSC. However, shareholders who have chosen a specific dollar amount (for example, $100 per month from the fund that pays income distributions monthly) for their periodic SWP payment should be aware that the amount of that payment not subject to a CDSC may vary over time depending on the net asset value of their account. For example, if the net asset value of the account is $10,000 at the time of payment, the shareholder will receive $100 free of the CDSC (12% of $10,000 divided by 12 monthly payments). However, if at the time of the next payment the net asset value of the account has fallen to $9,400, the shareholder will receive $94 free of any CDSC (12% of $9,400 divided by 12 monthly payments) and $6 subject to the lowest applicable CDSC. This SWP privilege may be revised or terminated at any time.

Other exceptions to application of CDSC. For purposes of the waiver categories set forth in subparagraphs (ii) – (iv) of the fund’s prospectus under the sub-section Additional reductions and waivers of sales charges – Class B and class C shares, shares not subject to a CDSC are redeemed first in determining whether the CDSC applies to each redemption.

For purposes of the waiver categories set forth in subparagraph (v) of the fund’s prospectus under the sub-section Additional reductions and waivers of sales charges – Class B and class C shares, Benefit Payments currently include, without limitation, (1) distributions from an IRA due to death or post-purchase disability, (2) a return of excess contributions to an IRA or 401(k) plan, and (3) distributions from retirement plans qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code or from a 403(b) plan due to death, disability, retirement or separation from service. These waivers may be changed at any time.

Ways to Reduce Initial Sales Charges — Class A and Class M Shares

October 27, 2017  II-8 

 


There are several ways in which an investor may obtain reduced sales charges on purchases of class A shares and class M shares. The variations in sales charges reflect the varying efforts required to sell shares to separate categories of purchasers. These provisions may be altered or discontinued at any time. The breakpoint discounts described below do not apply to customers purchasing shares of the fund through any of the financial intermediaries specified in the Appendix to the fund’s prospectus (each, a “Specified Intermediary”). Please refer to the Appendix to the fund’s prospectus for the breakpoint discounts that are applicable to each Specified Intermediary.

Right of accumulation. A purchaser of class A shares or class M shares may qualify for a right of accumulation discount by combining all current purchases by such person with the value of certain other shares of any class (excluding class T) of Putnam funds already owned. The applicable sales charge is based on the total of:

(i) the investor's current purchase(s); and

(ii) the higher of (x) the maximum public offering price (at the close of business on the previous day) or (y) the initial value of total purchases (less the value of shares redeemed on the applicable redemption date) of:

(a) all shares held in accounts registered to the investor and other accounts eligible to be linked to the investor’s accounts (as described below) in all of the Putnam funds (except closed-end and money market funds and Putnam Short Duration Income Fund, unless acquired as described in (b) below); and

(b) any shares of money market funds or Putnam Short Duration Income Fund acquired by exchange from other Putnam funds.

For shares held on December 31, 2007, the initial value will be the value of those shares at the maximum public offering price on that date.

The following persons may qualify for a right of accumulation discount:

(i) an individual, or a "company" as defined in Section 2(a)(8) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) (which includes corporations which are corporate affiliates of each other);

(ii) an individual, his or her spouse and their children under age 21, purchasing for his, her or their own account;

(iii) a trustee or other fiduciary purchasing for a single trust estate or single fiduciary account (including a pension, profit-sharing, or other employee benefit trust created pursuant to a plan qualified under Section 401 of the Code and Simplified Employer Pension Plans (SEPs) created pursuant to Section 408(k) of the Code);

(iv) tax-exempt organizations qualifying under Section 501(c)(3) of the Code, (not including tax-exempt organizations qualifying under Section 403(b)(7) (a "403(b) plan") of the Code; and

(v) employer-sponsored retirement plans of a single employer or of affiliated employers, other than 403(b) plans.

A combined purchase currently may also include shares of any class (excluding class T) of other continuously offered Putnam funds (other than money market funds and Putnam Short Duration Income Fund) purchased at the same time, if the dealer places the order for such shares directly with Putnam Retail Management.

October 27, 2017  II-9 

 


For individual investors, Putnam Investor Services automatically links accounts the registrations of which are under the same last name and address. Account types eligible to be linked for the purpose of qualifying for a right of accumulation discount include the following (in each case as registered to the investor, his or her spouse and his or her children under the age of 21):

(i) individual accounts;

(ii) joint accounts;

(iii) accounts established as part of a plan established pursuant to Section 403(b) of the Code (“403(b) plans”) or an IRA other than a SIMPLE IRA, SARSEP or SEP IRA;

(iv) shares owned through accounts in the name of the investor’s (or spouse’s or minor child’s) dealer or other financial intermediary (with documentation identifying to the satisfaction of Putnam Investor Services the beneficial ownership of such shares); and (v) accounts established as part of a Section 529 college savings plan managed by Putnam Management.

Shares owned by a plan participant as part of an employer-sponsored retirement plan of a single employer or of affiliated employers (other than 403(b) plans) or a single fiduciary account opened by a trustee or other fiduciary (including a pension, profit-sharing, or other employee benefit trust created pursuant to a plan qualified under Section 401 of the Code) are not eligible for linking to other accounts attributable to such person to qualify for the right of accumulation discount, although all current purchases made by each such plan may be combined with existing aggregate balances of such plan in Putnam funds for purposes of determining the sales charge applicable to shares purchased at such time by the plan.

To obtain the right of accumulation discount on a purchase through an investment dealer, when each purchase is made the investor or dealer must provide Putnam Retail Management with sufficient information to verify that the purchase qualifies for the privilege or discount. The shareholder must furnish this information to Putnam Investor Services when making direct cash investments. Sales charge discounts under a right of accumulation apply only to current purchases. No credit for right of accumulation purposes is given for any higher sales charge paid with respect to previous purchases for the investor’s account or any linked accounts.

Statement of Intention. Investors may also obtain the reduced sales charges for class A shares or class M shares shown in the prospectus for investments of a particular amount by means of a written Statement of Intention (also referred to as a Letter of Intention), which expresses the investor's intention to invest that amount (including certain "credits," as described below) within a period of 13 months in shares of any class of the fund or any other continuously offered Putnam fund (excluding Putnam money market funds and Putnam Short Duration Income Fund), including through an account established as part of a Section 529 college savings plan managed by Putnam Management. Each purchase of class A shares or class M shares under a Statement of Intention will be made at the lesser of (i) the public offering price applicable at the time of such purchase and (ii) the public offering price applicable on the date the Statement of Intention is executed to a single transaction of the total dollar amount indicated in the Statement of Intention.

An investor may receive a credit toward the amount indicated in the Statement of Intention equal to the maximum public offering price as of the close of business on the previous day of all shares he or she owns, or which are eligible to be linked for purposes of the right of accumulation described above, on the date of the Statement of Intention which are eligible for purchase under a Statement of Intention (plus any shares of money market funds and Putnam Short Duration Income Fund acquired by exchange of such eligible shares). Investors do not receive credit for shares purchased by the reinvestment of distributions. Investors qualifying for the "combined purchase privilege" (see above) may purchase shares under a single Statement of Intention.

The Statement of Intention is not a binding obligation upon the investor to purchase the full amount indicated. The minimum initial investment under a Statement of Intention is 5% of such amount, and must be invested immediately. Class A shares or class M shares purchased with the first 5% of such amount will be held in escrow to secure payment of the higher sales charge applicable to the shares actually purchased if the full amount

October 27, 2017  II-10 

 


indicated is not purchased. When the full amount indicated has been purchased, the escrow will be released. If an investor desires to redeem escrowed shares before the full amount has been purchased, the shares will be released from escrow only if the investor pays the sales charge that, without regard to the Statement of Intention, would apply to the total investment made to date.

If an investor purchases more than the dollar amount indicated on the Statement of Intention and qualifies for a further reduced sales charge, the sales charge will be adjusted for the entire amount purchased at the end of the 13-month period, upon recovery by Putnam Retail Management from the investor's dealer of its portion of the sales charge adjustment. Once received from the dealer, which may take a period of time or may never occur, the sales charge adjustment will be used to purchase additional shares at the then current offering price applicable to the actual amount of the aggregate purchases. These additional shares will not be considered as part of the total investment for the purpose of determining the applicable sales charge pursuant to the Statement of Intention. No sales charge adjustment will be made unless and until the investor's dealer returns to Putnam Retail Management any excess commissions previously received.

If an investor purchases less than the dollar amount indicated on the Statement of Intention within the 13-month period, the sales charge will be adjusted upward for the entire amount purchased at the end of the 13-month period. This adjustment will be made by redeeming shares from the account to cover the additional sales charge, the proceeds of which will be paid to the investor's dealer and Putnam Retail Management. Putnam Retail Management will make a corresponding downward adjustment to the amount of the reallowance payable to the dealer with respect to purchases made prior to the investor’s failure to fulfill the conditions of the Statement of Intention. If the account exceeds an amount that would otherwise qualify for a reduced sales charge, that reduced sales charge will be applied. Adjustments to sales charges and dealer reallowances will not be made in the case of the shareholder’s death prior to the expiration of the 13-month period.

Statements of Intention are not available for certain employer-sponsored retirement plans.

Statement of Intention forms may be obtained from Putnam Retail Management or from investment dealers. In addition, shareholders may complete the applicable portion of the fund’s standard account application. Interested investors should read the Statement of Intention carefully.

Commissions on Sales to Employee Retirement Plans

Purchases of class A and class R shares. On sales of class A shares at net asset value to certain employer-sponsored retirement plans and health reimbursement accounts and sales of class R shares, Putnam Retail Management may, at its discretion, pay commissions to the dealer of record on net monthly purchases up to the following rates for purchases before April 1, 2017: 1.00% of the first $1 million, 0.75% of the next $1 million and 0.50% thereafter. Effective April 1, 2017, Putnam Retail Management will no longer make such payments.

For commission payments made by Putnam Retail Management to dealers and other financial intermediaries with respect to other classes of shares offered to employer-sponsored retirement plans and other tax-favored plan investors, see the corresponding sub-heading under “—Sales Charges and Other Share Class Features—Retail Investors.”

DISTRIBUTION PLANS

If the fund or a class of shares of the fund has adopted a distribution (12b-1) plan, the prospectus describes the principal features of the plan. This SAI contains additional information which may be of interest to investors.

Continuance of a plan is subject to annual approval by a vote of the Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the fund and who have no direct or indirect interest in the plan or related arrangements (the "Qualified Trustees"), cast in person at a meeting called for that purpose. All material

October 27, 2017  II-11 

 


amendments to a plan must be likewise approved by the Trustees and the Qualified Trustees. No plan may be amended in order to increase materially the costs which the fund may bear for distribution pursuant to such plan without also being approved by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the fund or the relevant class of the fund, as the case may be. A plan terminates automatically in the event of its assignment and may be terminated without penalty, at any time, by a vote of a majority of the Qualified Trustees or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the fund or the relevant class of the fund, as the case may be.

The fund makes payments under each plan to Putnam Retail Management to compensate Putnam Retail Management for services provided and expenses incurred by it for purposes of promoting the sale of the relevant class of shares, reducing redemptions of shares or maintaining or improving services provided to shareholders by Putnam Retail Management and investment dealers.

Putnam Retail Management compensates qualifying dealers (including, for this purpose, certain financial institutions) for sales of shares and the maintenance of shareholder accounts.

Putnam Retail Management may suspend or modify its payments to dealers. The payments are also subject to the continuation of the relevant distribution plan, the terms of the service agreements between the dealers and Putnam Retail Management and any applicable limits imposed by FINRA. Unless noted below or where Putnam Retail Management and the applicable dealer have agreed otherwise, these payments commence in the first year after purchase.

Financial institutions receiving payments from Putnam Retail Management as described above may be required to comply with various state and federal regulatory requirements, including among others those regulating the activities of securities brokers or dealers.

Except as otherwise agreed between Putnam Retail Management and a dealer, for purposes of determining the amounts payable to dealers for shareholder accounts for which such dealers are designated as the dealer of record, "average net asset value" means the product of (i) the average daily share balance in such account(s) and (ii) the average daily net asset value of the relevant class of shares over the quarter.

Class A shares:

Putnam Retail Management makes quarterly (or in certain cases monthly) payments to dealers at up to the annual rates set forth below (as a percentage of the average net asset value of class A shares for which such dealers are designated the dealer of record) except as described below. No payments are made during the first year after purchase on shares purchased at net asset value by shareholders that invest at least the amount required to be eligible for the highest sales charge breakpoint as disclosed in the fund’s prospectus, unless, in the case of dealers of record for an employer-sponsored retirement plan investing at least $1 million, where such dealer has agreed to a reduced sales commission. In addition, no payments are made during the first year after purchase for shares purchased prior to April 1, 2017 where PRM has paid a commission as described above in “Commissions on Sales to Employee Retirement Plans.”

October 27, 2017  II-12 

 


Rate* Fund 
  
0.25%  All funds currently making payments under a class A 
  distribution plan, except for those listed below 
0.20% for shares purchased before 3/21/05;  Putnam Tax-Free High Yield Fund 
0.25% for shares purchased on or after 3/21/05**   
0.20% for shares purchased before 4/1/05;  Putnam AMT-Free Municipal Fund 
0.25% for shares purchased on or after 4/1/05   
0.20% for shares purchased on or before 12/31/89;  Putnam Convertible Securities Fund 
0.25% for shares purchased after 12/31/89  George Putnam Balanced Fund 
  Putnam Global Equity Fund 
  Putnam Global Natural Resources Fund 
  Putnam Global Health Care Fund 
  Putnam Investors Fund 
0.20% for shares purchased on or before 3/31/90;  Putnam U.S. Government Income Trust 
0.25% for shares purchased after 3/31/90   
0.20% for shares purchased on or before 1/1/90;  Putnam Equity Income Fund 
0.25% for shares purchased after 1/1/90   
0.20% for shares purchased on or before 3/31/91;  Putnam Income Fund 
0.25% for shares purchased after 3/31/91;   
0.10%  Putnam Short Duration Income Fund 
0.20% for shares purchased after 3/6/92 but before  Putnam Minnesota Tax Exempt Income Fund 
4/1/05;  Putnam Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund 
0.25% for shares purchased on or after 4/1/05   
0.15% for shares purchased on or before 5/11/92;  Putnam Massachusetts Tax Exempt Income Fund 
0.20% for shares purchased after 5/11/92 but before   
4/1/05;   
0.25% for shares purchased on or after 4/1/05   
0.15% for shares purchased on or before 12/31/92;  Putnam California Tax Exempt Income Fund 
0.20% for shares purchased after 12/31/92 but  Putnam New Jersey Tax Exempt Income Fund 
before 4/1/05;  Putnam New York Tax Exempt Income Fund 
0.25% for shares purchased on or after 4/1/05  Putnam Tax Exempt Income Fund 
0.15% for shares purchased on or before 7/8/93;  Putnam Pennsylvania Tax Exempt Income Fund 
0.20% for shares purchased after 7/8/93 but before   
4/1/05;   
0.25% for shares purchased on or after 4/1/05   
0.00%  Putnam Government Money Market Fund 
  Putnam Money Market Fund 

 

*For purposes of this table, shares are deemed to be purchased on date of settlement ( i.e. , once purchased and paid for). Shares issued in connection with dividend reinvestments are considered to be purchased on the date of their issuance, not the issuance of the original shares.

**Shares of Putnam Tax-Free High Yield Fund issued in connection with the merger of Putnam Municipal Income Fund into that fund pay a commission at the annual rate of 0.20% or 0.25%, based on the date of the original purchase of the shareholder’s corresponding shares of Putnam Municipal Income Fund, as set forth below: 0.20% for shares purchased on or before 5/7/92; 0.25% for shares purchased after 5/7/92.

October 27, 2017  II-13 

 


Class B shares:

Putnam Retail Management makes quarterly (or in certain cases monthly) payments to dealers at the annual rates set forth below (as a percentage of the average net asset value of class B shares for which such dealers are designated the dealer of record).

Rate  Fund 
  
0.25%  All funds currently making payments under a class B 
  distribution plan, except for those listed below 
0.25%, except that the first year's service fees of  Putnam AMT-Free Municipal Fund 
0.25% are prepaid at time of sale  Putnam Tax-Free High Yield Fund 
0.20%, except that the first year’s service fees of  Putnam California Tax Exempt Income Fund 
0.20% are prepaid at time of sale  Putnam Massachusetts Tax Exempt Income Fund 
  Putnam Minnesota Tax Exempt Income Fund 
  Putnam New Jersey Tax Exempt Income Fund 
  Putnam New York Tax Exempt Income Fund 
  Putnam Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund 
  Putnam Pennsylvania Tax Exempt Income Fund 
  Putnam Tax Exempt Income Fund 
0.50%  Putnam Government Money Market Fund* 
  Putnam Money Market Fund 
  Putnam Short Duration Income Fund 

 

* Effective as of the close of business on March 31, 2017, Putnam Money Market Fund and Putnam Government Money Market Fund will limit the 12b-1 fees payable by class B shares to 0.00% of the average net asset value of class B shares for which such dealers are designated the dealer of record.

Class C shares:

Putnam Retail Management makes quarterly (or in certain cases monthly) payments to dealers at the annual rates set forth below (as a percentage of the average net asset value of class C shares for which such dealers are designated the dealer of record). No payments are made during the first year after purchase unless the shares were initially purchased without a CDSC, except that payments for Putnam Money Market Fund, Putnam Government Money Market Fund and Putnam Short Duration Income Fund will be made beginning in the first year.

Rate  Fund 
  
1.00%  All funds currently making payments under a class C 
  distribution plan, except for those listed below 
0.50%  Putnam Government Money Market Fund * 
  Putnam Money Market Fund* 
  Putnam Short Duration Income Fund 

 

* Effective as of the close of business on March 31, 2017, Putnam Money Market Fund and Putnam Government Money Market Fund will limit the 12b-1 fees payable by class C shares to 0.00% of the average net asset value of class C shares for which such dealers are designated the dealer of record.

Different rates may apply to shares sold outside the United States.

October 27, 2017  II-14 

 


Class M shares:

Putnam Retail Management makes quarterly (or in certain cases monthly) payments to dealers at the annual rates set forth below (as a percentage of the average net asset value of class M shares for which such dealers are designated the dealer of record), except as follows.

Rate  Fund 
  
0.65%  All Growth, Blend, Value, Global Sector and Asset 
  Allocation Funds (excluding Retirement Income Fund 
  Lifestyle 1) currently making payments under a class 
  M distribution plan, and Putnam Absolute Return 500 
  Fund and Putnam Absolute Return 700 Fund. 
0.40%  All Income funds currently making payments under a 
  class M distribution plan (except for Putnam Floating 
  Rate Income Fund, Putnam Government Money 
  Market Fund, Putnam Money Market Fund, Putnam 
  Short-Term Municipal Income Fund and Putnam Short 
  Duration Income Fund) and Retirement Income Fund 
  Lifestyle 1. 
0.30%  Putnam Absolute Return 100 Fund, Putnam Absolute 
  Return 300 Fund, Putnam Short-Term Municipal 
  Income Fund and Putnam Floating Rate Income Fund 
0.15%  Putnam Government Money Market Fund* 
  Putnam Money Market Fund* 
  Putnam Short Duration Income Fund 

 

* Effective as of the close of business on March 31, 2017, Putnam Money Market Fund and Putnam Government Money Market Fund will limit the 12b-1 fees payable by class M shares to 0.00% of the average net asset value of class M shares for which such dealers are designated the dealer of record.

Putnam Retail Management’s payments to dealers for plans investing in class M shares for which such dealers are designated the dealer of record may equal up to the annual rate of 0.75% of the average net asset value of such class M shares for Putnam Absolute Return 500 Fund and Putnam Absolute Return 700 Fund as well as all Growth, Blend, Value, Global Sector and Asset Allocation Funds currently making payments under a class M distribution plan and up to the annual rate of 0.50% of the average net asset value of such class M shares for all Income funds currently making payments under a class M distribution plan (except for Putnam Floating Rate Income Fund, Putnam Short-Term Municipal Income Fund, Putnam Money Market Fund, Putnam Government Money Market Fund and Putnam Short Duration Income Fund).

Different rates may apply to shares sold outside the United States.

Class R shares:

Putnam Retail Management makes quarterly (or in certain cases monthly) payments to dealers at up to the annual rates set forth below (as a percentage of the average net asset value of class R shares for which such dealers are designated the dealer of record). No payments are made to dealers during the first year after purchase, with respect to shares purchased before April 1, 2017, if Putnam Retail Management paid a commission to the dealer at purchase as described above in “Commissions on Sales to Employee Retirement Plans.”

October 27, 2017  II-15 

 


Rate  Fund 
 
0.50%  All funds currently making payments under a class R 
  distribution plan* 

 

* Effective as of the close of business on March 31, 2017, Putnam Money Market Fund and Putnam Government Money Market Fund will limit the 12b-1 fees payable by class R shares to 0.00% of the average net asset value of class R shares for which such dealers are designated the dealer of record.

A portion of the class R distribution fee payable to dealers may be paid to third parties who provide services to plans investing in class R shares and participants in such plans.

Class T shares:

Putnam Retail Management makes quarterly (or in certain cases monthly) payments to dealers at the annual rate set forth below (as a percentage of the average net asset value of class T shares for which such dealers are designated the dealer of record).

Rate  Fund 
 
0.25%  All funds currently making payments under a 
  class T distribution plan. 

 

Class T1 shares:

Putnam Retail Management makes quarterly (or in certain cases monthly) payments to dealers at the annual rates set forth below (as a percentage of the average net asset value of class T1 shares for which such dealers are designated the dealer of record).

Rate  Fund 
 
0.25%  Putnam Government Money Market Fund* 
  Putnam Money Market Fund* 

 

* Effective as of the close of business on March 31, 2017, Putnam Money Market Fund and Putnam Government Money Market Fund will limit the 12b-1 fees payable by class T1 shares to 0.00% of the average net asset value of class T1 shares for which such dealers are designated the dealer of record.

Additional Dealer Payments

As described earlier in this section, dealers may receive different commissions, sales charge reallowances and other payments with respect to sales of different classes of shares of the funds. These payments may include servicing payments to retirement plan administrators and other institutions up to the same levels as described above. For purposes of this section the term “dealer” includes any broker, dealer, bank, bank trust department, registered investment advisor, financial planner, retirement plan administrator and any other institution having a selling, services, or any similar agreement with Putnam Retail Management or one of its affiliates.

Putnam Retail Management and its affiliates pay additional compensation to selected dealers under the categories described below. These categories are not mutually exclusive, and a single dealer may receive payments under all categories. These payments may create an incentive for a dealer firm or its representatives to recommend or offer shares of the fund or other Putnam funds to its customers. These additional payments are

October 27, 2017  II-16 

 


made pursuant to agreements with dealers and do not change the price paid by investors for the purchase of a share or the amount a fund will receive as proceeds from such sales or the distribution (12b-1) fees and the expenses paid by the fund as shown under the heading “Fees and Expenses” in the prospectus.

Marketing Support Payments. Putnam Retail Management and its affiliates make payments to certain dealers for marketing support services. These payments are individually negotiated with each dealer firm, taking into account the marketing support services provided by the dealer, including business planning assistance, educating dealer personnel about the Putnam funds and shareholder financial planning needs, placement on the dealer’s preferred or recommended fund company list, and access to sales meetings, sales representatives and management representatives of the dealer, as well as the size of the dealer’s relationship with Putnam Retail Management. Putnam Retail Management and its affiliates compensate dealers differently depending upon, among other factors, the level and/or type of marketing support provided by the dealer. Payments are generally based on one or more of the following factors: average net assets of Putnam’s retail mutual funds attributable to that dealer, gross or net sales of Putnam’s retail mutual funds attributable to that dealer, reimbursement of ticket charges (fees that a dealer firm charges its representatives for effecting transactions in fund shares) or a negotiated lump sum payment for services rendered. In addition, payments typically apply to retail sales and assets, but may not, in certain situations, apply to other specific types of sales or assets, such as to retirement plans or fee-based advisory programs.

Although the total of marketing support payments made to dealers in any year may vary, on average, the aggregate payments are not expected, on an annual basis, to exceed 0.085% of the average assets of Putnam’s retail mutual funds attributable to the dealers.

The following dealers (and such dealers’ respective affiliates) received marketing support payments from Putnam Retail Management and its affiliates during the calendar year ended December 31, 2016:

American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc.  Lincoln Investment Planning, Inc. 
Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.  LPL Financial LLC 
AXA Advisors, LLC  MMC Securities Corp. 
BancWest Investment Services, Inc.  Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC 
Cadaret, Grant & Co. Inc.  National Planning Corporation 
Cambridge Investment Research, Inc.  M&T Securities, Inc. 
Cetera Advisors, LLC  Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. 
Cetera Advisor Networks, LLC  MSI Financial Services, Inc. 
Cetera Financial Specialists, LLC  Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC 
Cetera Investment Services, LLC  Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. 
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.  PNC Investments LLC 
Citizens Securities, Inc.  Raymond James & Associates, Inc. 
Clearing Services, LLC  Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. 
Commonwealth Equity Services  RBC Capital Markets, LLC 
CUNA Brokerage Services, Inc.  Royal Alliance Associates 
CUSO Financial Services, L.P.  Sagepoint Financial, Inc. 
First Allied Securities, Inc.  Santander Securities LLC 
FSC Securities Corporation  Securities America, Inc. 
Girard Securities, Inc.  Securian Financial Services, Inc. 
HD Vest Investment Securities, Inc.  Securities Service Network, Inc. 
Independent Financial Group, LLC  SII Investments 
Investacorp, Inc.  Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated 
INVEST Financial Corporation  Summit Brokerage Services, Inc. 
Investment Centers of America, Inc.  SunTrust Bank, Inc. 

 

October 27, 2017  II-17 

 


Investors Capital Corp.  SunTrust Investment Services, Inc. 
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC  TD Ameritrade, Inc. 
J.P. Morgan Securities, LLC  TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc. 
J.P. Turner & Company, LLC  Triad Advisors, Inc. 
Kestra Investment Services, LLC  U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. 
KMS Financial Services, Inc.  UBS Financial Services Inc. 
Legend Equities Corporation  Voya Financial Advisors, Inc. 
Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp.  VSR Financial Services, Inc. 
Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation   

 

Additional dealers may receive marketing support payments in 2017 and in future years. Any additions, modifications or deletions to the list of dealers identified above that have occurred since December 31, 2016 are not reflected. You can ask your dealer about any payments it receives from Putnam Retail Management and its affiliates.

Program Servicing Payments. Putnam Retail Management and its affiliates also make payments to certain dealers that sell Putnam fund shares through dealer platforms and other investment programs to compensate dealers for a variety of services they provide. A dealer may perform program services itself or may arrange with a third party to perform program services. In addition to shareholder recordkeeping, reporting, or transaction processing, program services may include services rendered in connection with dealer platform development and maintenance, fund/investment selection and monitoring, or other similar services. Payments by Putnam Retail Management and its affiliates for program servicing support to any one dealer are not expected, with certain limited exceptions, to exceed 0.20% of the total assets in the program on an annual basis. In addition, Putnam Retail Management and its affiliates make one-time or annual payments to selected dealers receiving program servicing payments in reimbursement of printing costs for literature for shareholders, account maintenance fees or fees for establishment of Putnam funds on the dealer’s system. The amounts of these payments may, but will not normally (except in cases where the aggregate assets in the program are small), cause the aggregate amount of the program servicing payments to such dealer on an annual basis to exceed the amounts set forth above.

The following dealers (and such dealers’ respective affiliates) received program servicing payments from Putnam Retail Management and its affiliates during the calendar year ended December 31, 2016:

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.  Pershing LLC 
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc.  RBC Capital Markets, LLC 
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC  Transamerica Advisors Life Insurance Company 
National Financial Services LLC  Trust Company of America 

 

Additional or different dealers may also receive program servicing payments in 2017 and in future years. Any additions, modifications or deletions to the list of dealers identified above that have occurred since December 31, 2016 are not reflected. You can ask your dealer about any payments it receives from Putnam Retail Management and its affiliates.

Other Payments. From time to time, Putnam Retail Management, at its expense, may provide additional compensation to dealers which sell or arrange for the sale of shares of the fund to the extent not prohibited by laws or the rules of any self-regulatory agency, such as FINRA. Such compensation provided by Putnam Retail Management may include financial assistance to dealers that enables Putnam Retail Management to participate in and/or present at dealer-sponsored conferences or seminars, sales or training programs for invited registered representatives and other dealer employees, dealer entertainment, and other dealer-sponsored events, and travel expenses, including lodging incurred by registered representatives and other employees in connection with prospecting, retention and due diligence trips. Putnam Retail Management makes payments for entertainment events it deems appropriate, subject to Putnam Retail Management’s internal guidelines and applicable law. These payments may vary upon the nature of the event.

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Sub-accounting payments. Certain dealers or other financial intermediaries also receive payments from Putnam Investor Services or its affiliates in recognition of sub-accounting or other services they provide to shareholders or plan participants who invest in the fund or other Putnam funds through their retirement plan. The amount paid for these services varies depending on the share class selected and by dealer or other financial intermediary, and may also take into account the extent to which the services provided by the dealer replace services that Putnam Investor Services or its affiliates would otherwise have to provide. There are no such payments in respect of class R6 shares, and payments in respect of class R5 shares are generally made at an annual rate of up to 0.10% of a fund’s average net assets attributable to class R5 shares held by a dealer or other financial intermediary, except that an annual rate of up to 0.07% of a fund’s average net assets attributable to class R5 shares held by a dealer or other financial intermediary applies to Putnam American Government Income Fund, Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Conservative Fund, Putnam Global Income Trust, Putnam Income Fund and Putnam Short Duration Income Fund. Payments for other classes vary. See the discussion under the heading “MANAGEMENT – Investor Servicing Agent” for more details.

You can ask your dealer for information about payments it receives from Putnam Retail Management or its affiliates and the services it provides for those payments.

MISCELLANEOUS INVESTMENTS, INVESTMENT PRACTICES AND RISKS

As noted in the prospectus, in addition to the main investment strategies and the principal risks described in the prospectus, the fund may employ other investment practices and may be subject to other risks, which are described below. Because the following is a combined description of investment strategies of all of the Putnam funds, certain matters described herein may not apply to your fund. Unless a strategy or policy described below is specifically prohibited or limited by the investment restrictions discussed in the fund’s prospectus or in this SAI, or by applicable law, the fund may engage in each of the practices described below without limit. This section contains information on the investments and investment practices listed below. With respect to funds for which Putnam Investments Limited (“PIL”), The Putnam Advisory Company, LLC (“PAC”) and/or PanAgora Asset Management, Inc. (“PanAgora”) serve as sub-adviser (as described in the fund’s prospectus), references to Putnam Management in this section include PIL, PAC and/or PanAgora, as appropriate.

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Temporary Defensive Strategies  Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs) 
Bank Loans  Money Market Instruments 
Borrowing and Other Forms of Leverage  Mortgage-backed and Asset-backed Securities 
Commodity-Related Investments  Options on Securities 
Derivatives  Preferred Stocks and Convertible Securities 
Exchange-Traded Notes  Private Placements and Restricted Securities 
Floating Rate and Variable Rate Demand Notes  Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) 
Foreign Currency Transactions  Redeemable Securities 
Foreign Investments and Related Risks  Repurchase Agreements 
Forward Commitments and Dollar Rolls  Securities Loans 
Futures Contracts and Related Options  Securities of Other Investment Companies 
Hybrid Instruments  Short Sales 
Inflation-Protected Securities  Short-Term Trading 
Initial Public Offerings (IPOs)  Special Purpose Acquisition Companies 
Interfund Borrowing and Lending  Structured Investments 
Inverse Floaters  Swap Agreements 
Investments in Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries  Tax-exempt Securities 
Legal and Regulatory Risk Relating to Investment Strategy  Warrants 
Lower-rated Securities  Zero-coupon and Payment-in-kind Bonds 
Market Risk   

 

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Temporary Defensive Strategies

In response to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions, Putnam Management may take temporary defensive positions that differ from the fund’s usual investment strategies. In implementing these temporary defensive strategies, the fund may invest primarily in, among other things, debt securities, preferred stocks, U.S. government and agency obligations, cash or money market instruments (including, to the extent permitted by law or applicable exemptive relief, money market funds), or any other securities Putnam Management considers consistent with such defensive strategies. While temporary defensive strategies are mainly designed to limit losses, such strategies may not work as intended.

Bank Loans

The fund may invest in bank loans. By purchasing a loan, the fund acquires some or all of the interest of a bank or other lending institution in a loan to a particular borrower. The fund may act as part of a lending syndicate, and in such cases would be purchasing a “participation” in the loan. The fund may also purchase loans by assignment from another lender. Many loans are secured by the assets of the borrower, and most impose restrictive covenants which must be met by the borrower. These loans are typically made by a syndicate of banks, represented by an agent bank which has negotiated and structured the loan and which is responsible generally for collecting interest, principal, and other amounts from the borrower on its own behalf and on behalf of the other lending institutions in the syndicate, and for enforcing its and their other rights against the borrower. Each of the lending institutions, including the agent bank, lends to the borrower a portion of the total amount of the loan, and retains the corresponding interest in the loan.

The fund’s ability to receive payments of principal and interest and other amounts in connection with loan participations held by it will depend primarily on the financial condition of the borrower (and, in some cases, the lending institution from which it purchases the loan). The value of collateral, if any, securing a loan can decline, or may be insufficient to meet the borrower’s obligations or difficult to liquidate. In addition, the fund’s access to collateral may be limited by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. The failure by the fund to receive scheduled interest or principal payments on a loan would adversely affect the income of the fund and would likely reduce the value of its assets, which would be reflected in a reduction in the fund's net asset value. Banks and other lending institutions generally perform a credit analysis of the borrower before originating a loan or participating in a lending syndicate. In selecting the loans in which the fund will invest, however, Putnam Management will not rely solely on that credit analysis, but will perform its own investment analysis of the borrowers. Putnam Management's analysis may include consideration of the borrower's financial strength and managerial experience, debt coverage, additional borrowing requirements or debt maturity schedules, changing financial conditions, and responsiveness to changes in business conditions and interest rates. Putnam Management will generally not have access to non-public information to which other investors in syndicated loans may have access. Because loans in which the fund may invest are not generally rated by independent credit rating agencies, a decision by the fund to invest in a particular loan will depend almost exclusively on Putnam Management's, and the original lending institution's, credit analysis of the borrower. Investments in loans may be of any quality, including “distressed” loans, and will be subject to the fund’s credit quality policy. The loans in which the fund may invest include those that pay fixed rates of interest and those that pay floating rates – i.e. , rates that adjust periodically based on a known lending rate, such as a bank’s prime rate.

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Loans may be structured in different forms, including novations, assignments and participating interests. In a novation, the fund assumes all of the rights of a lending institution in a loan, including the right to receive payments of principal and interest and other amounts directly from the borrower and to enforce its rights as a lender directly against the borrower. The fund assumes the position of a co-lender with other syndicate members. As an alternative, the fund may purchase an assignment of a portion of a lender's interest in a loan. In this case, the fund may be required generally to rely upon the assigning bank to demand payment and enforce its rights against the borrower, but would otherwise be entitled to all of such bank's rights in the loan. The fund may also purchase a participating interest in a portion of the rights of a lending institution in a loan. In such case, it will be entitled to receive payments of principal, interest and premium, if any, but will not generally be entitled to enforce its rights directly against the agent bank or the borrower, and must rely for that purpose on the lending institution. The fund may also acquire a loan interest directly by acting as a member of the original lending syndicate.

The fund will in many cases be required to rely upon the lending institution from which it purchases the loan to collect and pass on to the fund such payments and to enforce the fund's rights under the loan. As a result, an insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the lending institution may delay or prevent the fund from receiving principal, interest and other amounts with respect to the underlying loan. When the fund is required to rely upon a lending institution to pay to the fund principal, interest and other amounts received by it, Putnam Management will also evaluate the creditworthiness of the lending institution.

The borrower of a loan in which the fund holds an interest may, either at its own election or pursuant to terms of the loan documentation, prepay amounts of the loan from time to time. There is no assurance that the fund will be able to reinvest the proceeds of any loan prepayment at the same interest rate or on the same terms as those of the original loan.

Corporate loans in which the fund may invest are generally made to finance internal growth, mergers, acquisitions, stock repurchases, leveraged buy-outs and other corporate activities. A significant portion of the corporate loans purchased by the fund may represent interests in loans made to finance highly leveraged corporate acquisitions, known as "leveraged buy-out" transactions, leveraged recapitalization loans and other types of acquisition financing. The highly leveraged capital structure of the borrowers in such transactions may make such loans especially vulnerable to adverse changes in economic or market conditions. In addition, loans generally are subject to restrictions on transfer, and only limited opportunities may exist to sell such participations in secondary markets. As a result, the fund may be unable to sell loans at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or may be able to sell them only at a price that is less than their fair market value. The fund may hold investments in loans for a very short period of time when opportunities to resell the investments that Putnam Management believes are attractive arise.

Certain of the loans acquired by the fund may involve revolving credit facilities under which a borrower may from time to time borrow and repay amounts up to the maximum amount of the facility. In such cases, the fund would have an obligation to advance its portion of such additional borrowings upon the terms specified in the loan participation. To the extent that the fund is committed to make additional loans under such a participation, it will at all times set aside on its books liquid assets in an amount sufficient to meet such commitments. Certain of the loan participations acquired by the fund may also involve loans made in foreign (i. e ., non-U.S.) currencies. The fund's investment in such participations would involve the risks of currency fluctuations described in this SAI with respect to investments in the foreign securities.

With respect to its management of investments in bank loans, Putnam Management will normally seek to avoid receiving material, non-public information (“Confidential Information”) about the issuers of bank loans being considered for acquisition by the fund or held in the fund’s portfolio. In many instances, borrowers may offer to furnish Confidential Information to prospective investors, and to holders, of the issuer’s loans. Putnam Management’s decision not to receive Confidential Information may place Putnam Management at a disadvantage relative to other investors in loans (which could have an adverse effect on the price the fund pays or receives when buying or selling loans). Also, in instances where holders of loans are asked to grant amendments,

October 27, 2017  II-21 

 


waivers or consent, Putnam Management’s ability to assess their significance or desirability may be adversely affected. For these and other reasons, it is possible that Putnam Management’s decision not to receive Confidential Information under normal circumstances could adversely affect the fund’s investment performance.

Notwithstanding its intention generally not to receive material, non-public information with respect to its management of investments in loans, Putnam Management may from time to time come into possession of material, non-public information about the issuers of loans that may be held in the fund’s portfolio. Possession of such information may in some instances occur despite Putnam Management’s efforts to avoid such possession, but in other instances Putnam Management may choose to receive such information (for example, in connection with participation in a creditors’ committee with respect to a financially distressed issuer). As, and to the extent, required by applicable law, Putnam Management's ability to trade in these loans for the account of the fund could potentially be limited by its possession of such information. Such limitations on Putnam Management's ability to trade could have an adverse effect on the fund by, for example, preventing the fund from selling a loan that is experiencing a material decline in value. In some instances, these trading restrictions could continue in effect for a substantial period of time.

In some instances, other accounts managed by Putnam Management or an affiliate may hold other securities issued by borrowers whose loans may be held in the fund’s portfolio. These other securities may include, for example, debt securities that are subordinate to the loans held in the fund’s portfolio, convertible debt or common or preferred equity securities. In certain circumstances, such as if the credit quality of the issuer deteriorates, the interests of holders of these other securities may conflict with the interests of the holders of the issuer’s loans. In such cases, Putnam Management may owe conflicting fiduciary duties to the fund and other client accounts. Putnam Management will endeavor to carry out its obligations to all of its clients to the fullest extent possible, recognizing that in some cases certain clients may achieve a lower economic return, as a result of these conflicting client interests, than if Putnam Management's client accounts collectively held only a single category of the issuer’s securities.

The settlement period (the period between the execution of the trade and the delivery of cash to the purchaser) for some bank loan transactions may be significantly longer than the settlement period for other investments, and in some cases longer than seven days. Requirements to obtain the consent of the borrower and/or agent can delay or impede the fund’s ability to sell bank loans and can adversely affect the price that can be obtained. It is possible that sale proceeds from bank loan transactions will not be available to meet redemption obligations, in which case the fund may be required to utilize cash balances or, if necessary, sell its more liquid investments or investments with shorter settlement periods.

Borrowing and Other Forms of Leverage

The fund may borrow money to the extent permitted by its investment policies and restrictions and applicable law. When the fund borrows money or otherwise leverages its portfolio, the value of an investment in the fund will be more volatile and other investment risks will tend to be compounded. This is because leverage tends to exaggerate the effect of any increase or decrease in the value of the fund’s holdings. In addition to borrowing money from banks, the fund may engage in certain other investment transactions that may be viewed as forms of financial leverage – for example, using dollar rolls, investing collateral from loans of portfolio securities, entering into when-issued, delayed-delivery or forward commitment transactions or using derivatives such as swaps, futures, forwards, and options. Because the fund either (1) sets aside cash (or other assets determined to be liquid by Putnam Management in accordance with procedures established by the Trustees) on its books in respect of such transactions during the period in which the transactions are open or (2) otherwise “covers” its obligations under the transactions, such as by holding offsetting investments , the fund does not consider these transactions to be borrowings for purposes of its investment restrictions or “senior securities” for purposes of the 1940 Act. In some cases (e.g., with respect to futures and forwards that are contractually required to “cash-settle”), the fund is permitted under relevant guidance from the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or SEC staff to set aside assets with respect to an investment transaction in the amount of its net (marked-to-market) obligations thereunder, rather than the full

October 27, 2017  II-22 

 


notional amount of the transaction. By setting aside assets equal only to its net obligations, the fund will have the ability to employ leverage to a greater extent than if it set aside assets equal to the notional amount of the transaction, which may increase the risk associated with such investments.

Each Putnam fund (other than Putnam RetirementReady® Funds, Putnam Retirement Income Fund Lifestyle 1, Putnam Global Sector Fund and Putnam Short-Term Investment Fund) participates in a syndicated committed line of credit provided by State Street Bank and Trust Company and Northern Trust Company and an uncommitted line of credit provided by State Street Bank and Trust Company. These lines of credit are intended to provide a temporary source of cash in extraordinary or emergency circumstances, such as unexpected shareholder redemption requests. The fund may pay a commitment or other fee to maintain a line of credit, in addition to the stated interest rate. A participating fund in the syndicated committed line of credit that invests more than 10% of its assets in other pooled investment vehicles (other than money market funds) (a “fund-of-funds”) will be required to maintain a 400% asset coverage ratio.

Commodity-Related Investments

Some funds may gain exposure to commodity markets by investing in physical commodities or commodity-related instruments directly or indirectly. Such instruments include, but are not limited to, futures contracts, swaps, options, forward contracts, and structured notes and equities, debt securities, convertible securities, and warrants of issuers in commodity-related industries. Commodity prices can be extremely volatile and may be directly or indirectly affected by many factors, including changes in overall market movements, real or perceived inflationary trends, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates or currency exchange rates, population growth and changing demographics, and factors affecting a particular industry or commodity, such as drought, floods, or other weather conditions, livestock disease, trade embargoes, competition from substitute products, transportation bottlenecks or shortages, fluctuations in supply and demand, tariffs, and international regulatory, political, and economic developments (e.g., regime changes and changes in economic activity levels). In addition, some commodities are subject to limited pricing flexibility because of supply and demand factors, and others are subject to broad price fluctuations as a result of the volatility of prices for certain raw materials and the instability of supplies of other materials.

Actions of and changes in governments, and political and economic instability, in commodity-producing and -exporting countries may affect the production and marketing of commodities. In addition, commodity-related industries throughout the world are subject to greater political, environmental, and other governmental regulation than many other industries. Changes in government policies and the need for regulatory approvals may adversely affect the products and services of companies in the commodities industries. For example, the exploration, development, and distribution of coal, oil, and gas in the United States are subject to significant federal and state regulation, which may affect rates of return on coal, oil, and gas and the kinds of services that the federal and state governments may offer to companies in those industries. In addition, compliance with environmental and other safety regulations has caused many companies in commodity-related industries to incur production delays and significant costs. Government regulation also may impede the development of new technologies. The effect of future regulations affecting commodity-related industries cannot be predicted.

The value of commodity-related derivatives fluctuates based on changes in the values of the underlying commodity, commodity index, futures contract, or other economic variable to which they are related. Additionally, economic leverage will increase the volatility of these instruments as they may increase or decrease in value more quickly than the underlying commodity or other relevant economic variable. See “Derivatives,” “Forward Commitments and Dollar Rolls,” “Futures Contracts and Related Options,” “Hybrid Instruments,” “Investments in Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries,” “Short Sales,” “Structured Investments,” “Swap Agreements” and “Warrants” herein for more information on the fund’s investments in derivatives, including commodity-related derivatives such as swap agreements, commodity futures contracts, and options on commodity futures contracts.

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In order for a fund to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) the fund must derive at least 90 percent of its gross income each taxable year from certain sources of “qualifying income” specified in the Code. Each of Putnam PanAgora Managed Futures Strategy’s and Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund’s investment in a wholly-owned foreign subsidiary is expected to provide the fund with exposure to the commodities markets within the limitations of the federal income tax requirements of Subchapter M of the Code. Each of Putnam PanAgora Managed Futures Strategy and Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund’s pursuit of its investment strategy may be limited by the fund’s intention to qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code. As noted below in “Taxes,” the rules regarding the extent to which annual net income, if any, realized by a wholly-owned foreign subsidiary and included in a fund's annual income for U.S. federal income purposes will constitute “qualifying income” for purposes of the fund's qualification as a regulated investment company under the Code are unclear and currently under consideration. See the “Investments in Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries” and “Taxes” sections for more information.

Derivatives

Certain of the instruments in which the fund may invest, such as futures contracts, options, hybrid instruments, forward contracts, swap agreements and structured investments, are considered to be "derivatives." Derivatives are financial instruments whose value depends upon, or is derived from, the value or other attributes of an underlying asset, such as a security or an index. Further information about these instruments and the risks involved in their use is included elsewhere in the prospectus and in this SAI. The fund’s use of derivatives may cause the fund to recognize higher amounts of short-term capital gains, which are generally taxed to individual shareholders at ordinary income tax rates, and higher amounts of ordinary income, and more generally may affect the timing, character and amount of a fund’s distributions to shareholders. The fund’s use of commodity-linked derivatives can be limited by the fund’s intention to qualify as a “regulated investment company” under the Code or bear adversely on the fund’s ability to so qualify, as discussed in “Taxes” below. Investments in derivatives may be applied toward meeting a requirement to invest in a particular kind of investment if the derivatives have economic characteristics similar to that investment. The fund’s use of certain derivatives may in some cases involve forms of financial leverage, which involves risk and may increase the volatility of the fund’s net asset value. See “—Borrowing and Other Forms of Leverage.” In its use of derivatives, the fund may take both long positions (the values of which move in the same direction as the prices of the underlying investments, pools of investments, indexes or currencies), and short positions (the values of which move in the opposite direction from the prices of the underlying investments, pools of investments indexes or currencies).

Short positions may involve greater risks than long positions, as the risk of loss may be theoretically unlimited (unlike a long position, in which the risk of loss may be limited to the amount invested). The fund may use derivatives that combine “long” and “short” positions in order to capture the difference between underlying investments, pools of investments, indices or currencies.

Combined Positions

A fund may purchase and write options in combination with each other, or in combination with futures or forward contracts, options on futures contracts, indexed securities, swap agreements or other derivative instruments, to adjust the risk and return characteristics of its overall position. For example, a fund may purchase a put option and write a call option on the same underlying instrument, in order to construct a combined position whose risk and return characteristics are similar to selling a futures contract. Another possible combined position would involve writing a call option at one strike price and buying a call option at a lower price, in order to reduce the risk of the written call option in the event of a substantial price increase. Because combined options positions involve multiple trades, they result in higher transaction costs and may be more difficult to open and close out.

Exchange-Traded Notes

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The fund may invest in exchange-traded notes (“ETNs”). ETNs are typically senior, unsecured, unsubordinated debt securities whose returns are linked to the performance of a particular market index less applicable fees and expenses. ETNs are listed on an exchange and traded in the secondary market. The fund may hold the ETN until maturity, at which time the issuer is obligated to pay a return linked to the performance of the relevant market index. ETNs do not make periodic interest payments and principal is not protected.

The market value of an ETN may be influenced by, among other things, time to maturity, level of supply and demand of the ETN, volatility and lack of liquidity in the underlying assets, changes in the applicable interest rates, the current performance of the market index to which the ETN is linked, and the credit rating of the ETN issuer. The market value of an ETN may differ from the performance of the applicable market index and there may be times when an ETN trades at a premium or discount. This difference in price may be due to the fact that the supply and demand in the market for ETNs at any point in time is not always identical to the supply and demand in the market for the securities underlying the market index that the ETN seeks to track. A change in the issuer’s credit rating may also impact the value of an ETN despite the underlying market index remaining unchanged. ETNs are also subject to tax risk. No assurance can be given that the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) will accept, or a court will uphold, how the fund characterizes and treats ETNs for tax purposes.

An ETN that is tied to a specific market index may not be able to replicate and maintain exactly the composition and relative weighting of securities, commodities or other components in the applicable market index. ETNs also incur certain expenses not incurred by their applicable market index, and the fund would bear a proportionate share of any fees and expenses borne by the ETN in which it invests.

The fund’s decision to sell its ETN holdings may be limited by the availability of a secondary market. In addition, although an ETN may be listed on an exchange, the issuer may not be required to maintain the listing and there can be no assurance that a secondary market will exist for an ETN. Some ETNs that use leverage in an effort to amplify the returns of an underlying market index can, at times, be relatively illiquid and may therefore be difficult to purchase or sell at a fair price. Leveraged ETNs may offer the potential for greater return, but the potential for loss and speed at which losses can be realized also are greater. The extent of the fund’s investment in commodity-linked ETNs, if any, is limited by tax considerations. For more information regarding the tax treatment of commodity-linked ETNs, please see “Taxes” below.

ETNs are generally similar to structured investments and hybrid instruments. For discussion of these investments and the risks generally associated with them, see “Hybrid Instruments” and “Structured Investments” in this SAI.

Floating Rate and Variable Rate Demand Notes

The fund may purchase taxable or tax-exempt floating rate and variable rate demand notes for short-term cash management or other investment purposes. Floating rate and variable rate demand notes and bonds may have a stated maturity in excess of one year, but may have features that permit a holder to demand payment of principal plus accrued interest upon a specified number of days notice. Frequently, such obligations are secured by letters of credit or other credit support arrangements provided by banks. The issuer has a corresponding right, after a given period, to prepay in its discretion the outstanding principal of the obligation plus accrued interest upon a specific number of days notice to the holders. The interest rate of a floating rate instrument may be based on a known lending rate, such as a bank's prime rate, and is reset whenever such rate is adjusted. The interest rate on a variable rate demand note is reset at specified intervals at a market rate.

Foreign Currency Transactions

To manage its exposure to foreign currencies, the fund may engage in foreign currency exchange transactions, including purchasing and selling foreign currency, foreign currency options, foreign currency forward contracts and foreign currency futures contracts and related options. In addition, the fund may engage in these transactions

October 27, 2017  II-25 

 


for the purpose of increasing its return. Foreign currency transactions involve costs, and, if unsuccessful, may reduce the fund’s return.

Generally, the fund may engage in both "transaction hedging" and "position hedging." The fund may also engage in foreign currency transactions for non-hedging purposes, subject to applicable law. When it engages in transaction hedging, the fund enters into foreign currency transactions with respect to specific receivables or payables, generally arising in connection with the purchase or sale of portfolio securities. The fund will engage in transaction hedging when it desires to "lock in" the U.S. dollar price of a security it has agreed to purchase or sell, or the U.S. dollar equivalent of a dividend or interest payment in a foreign currency. By transaction hedging the fund will attempt to protect itself against a possible loss resulting from an adverse change in the relationship between the U.S. dollar and the applicable foreign currency during the period between the date on which the security is purchased or sold, or on which the dividend or interest payment is earned, and the date on which such payments are made or received. The fund may also engage in position hedging to protect against a decline in the value relative to the U.S. dollar of the currencies in which its portfolio securities are denominated or quoted (or an increase in the value of the currency in which securities the fund intends to buy are denominated or quoted).

The fund may purchase or sell a foreign currency on a spot (or cash) basis at the prevailing spot rate in connection with the settlement of transactions in portfolio securities denominated in that foreign currency or for other hedging or non-hedging purposes. If conditions warrant, for hedging or non-hedging purposes, the fund may also enter into contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies at a future date ("forward contracts") and purchase and sell foreign currency futures contracts. The fund may also purchase or sell exchange-listed and over-the-counter call and put options on foreign currency futures contracts and on foreign currencies.

A foreign currency futures contract is a standardized exchange-traded contract for the future delivery of a specified amount of a foreign currency at a price set at the time of the contract. Foreign currency futures contracts traded in the United States are designed by and traded on exchanges regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the "CFTC"), such as the New York Mercantile Exchange, and have margin requirements.

A foreign currency forward contract is a negotiated agreement to exchange currency at a future time, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract as agreed by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. The contract price may be higher or lower than the current spot rate. In the case of a cancelable forward contract, the holder has the unilateral right to cancel the contract at maturity by paying a specified fee. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts differ from foreign currency futures contracts in certain respects. For example, the maturity date of a forward contract may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, rather than a predetermined date in a given month. Forward contracts may be in any amount agreed upon by the parties rather than predetermined amounts. In addition, forward contracts are traded in the interbank market conducted directly between currency traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers, so that no intermediary is required. A forward contract generally has no deposit requirement, and no commissions are charged at any stage for trades.

At the maturity of a forward or futures contract, the fund either may accept or make delivery of the currency specified in the contract, or at or prior to maturity enter into a closing transaction involving the purchase or sale of an offsetting contract. Closing transactions with respect to forward contracts are usually effected with the currency trader who is a party to the original forward contract. Closing transactions with respect to futures contracts may be effected only on a commodities exchange or board of trade which provides a secondary market in such contracts; a clearing corporation associated with the exchange assumes responsibility for closing out such contracts.

Although the fund intends to purchase or sell foreign currency futures contracts only on exchanges or boards of trade where there appears to be an active secondary market, there is no assurance that a secondary market on an exchange or board of trade will exist for any particular contract or at any particular time. In such event, it may not be possible to close a futures position and, in the event of adverse price movements, the fund would continue to be required to make daily cash payments of variation margin.

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It is impossible to forecast with precision the market value of portfolio securities at the expiration or maturity of a forward or futures contract. Accordingly, it may be necessary for the fund to purchase additional foreign currency on the spot market (and bear the expense of such purchase) if the market value of the security or securities being hedged is less than the amount of foreign currency the fund is obligated to deliver and a decision is made to sell the security or securities and make delivery of the foreign currency. Conversely, it may be necessary to sell on the spot market some of the foreign currency received upon the sale of the portfolio security or securities if the market value of such security or securities exceeds the amount of foreign currency the fund is obligated to deliver.

As noted above, the fund may purchase or sell exchange-listed and over-the-counter call and put options on foreign currency futures contracts and on foreign currencies. A put option on a futures contract gives the fund the right to assume a short position in the futures contract until the expiration of the option. A put option on a currency gives the fund the right to sell the currency at an exercise price until the expiration of the option. A call option on a futures contract gives the fund the right to assume a long position in the futures contract until the expiration of the option. A call option on a currency gives the fund the right to purchase the currency at the exercise price until the expiration of the option.

Foreign currency options are traded primarily in the over-the-counter market, although options on foreign currencies are also listed on several exchanges. Options are traded not only on the currencies of individual nations, but also on the euro, the joint currency of most countries in the European Union.

The fund will only purchase or write foreign currency options when Putnam Management believes that a liquid secondary market exists for such options. There can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for a particular option at any specific time. Options on foreign currencies may be affected by all of those factors which influence foreign exchange rates and investments generally.

The fund's currency hedging transactions may call for the delivery of one foreign currency in exchange for another foreign currency and may at times not involve currencies in which its portfolio securities are then denominated. Putnam Management will engage in such "cross hedging" activities when it believes that such transactions provide significant hedging opportunities for the fund. Cross hedging transactions by the fund involve the risk of imperfect correlation between changes in the values of the currencies to which such transactions relate and changes in the value of the currency or other asset or liability which is the subject of the hedge.

Transaction and position hedging do not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities that the fund owns or intends to purchase or sell. They simply establish a rate of exchange which one can achieve at some future point in time. Additionally, although these techniques tend to minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currency, they involve costs to the fund and tend to limit any potential gain which might result from the increase in value of such currency.

The fund may also engage in non-hedging currency transactions. For example, Putnam Management may believe that exposure to a currency is in the fund's best interest but that securities denominated in that currency are unattractive. In this situation, the fund may purchase a currency forward contract or option in order to increase its exposure to the currency. In accordance with SEC regulations, the fund will set aside liquid assets on its books to cover forward contracts used for non-hedging purposes.

In addition, the fund may seek to increase its current return or to offset some of the costs of hedging against fluctuations in current exchange rates by writing covered call options and covered put options on foreign currencies. The fund receives a premium from writing a call or put option, which increases the fund's current return if the option expires unexercised or is closed out at a net profit. The fund may terminate an option that it has written prior to its expiration by entering into a closing purchase transaction in which it purchases an option having the same terms as the option written.

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The value of any currency, including U.S. dollars and foreign currencies, may be affected by complex political and economic factors applicable to the issuing country. In addition, the exchange rates of foreign currencies (and therefore the values of foreign currency options, forward contracts and futures contracts) may be affected significantly, fixed, or supported directly or indirectly by U.S. and foreign government actions. Government intervention may increase risks involved in purchasing or selling foreign currency options, forward contracts and futures contracts, since exchange rates may not be free to fluctuate in response to other market forces.

The value of a foreign currency option, forward contract or futures contract reflects the value of an exchange rate, which in turn reflects relative values of two currencies -- the U.S. dollar and the foreign currency in question. Although foreign exchange dealers do not charge a fee for currency conversion, they do realize a profit based on the difference (the "spread") between prices at which they are buying and selling various currencies. Thus, a dealer may offer to sell a foreign currency to the fund at one rate, while offering a lesser rate of exchange should the fund desire to resell that currency to the dealer. Because foreign currency transactions occurring in the interbank market involve substantially larger amounts than those that may be involved in the exercise of foreign currency options, forward contracts and futures contracts, investors may be disadvantaged by having to deal in an odd-lot market for the underlying foreign currencies in connection with options at prices that are less favorable than for round lots. Foreign governmental restrictions or taxes could result in adverse changes in the cost of acquiring or disposing of foreign currencies.

There is no systematic reporting of last sale information for foreign currencies and there is no regulatory requirement that quotations available through dealers or other market sources be firm or revised on a timely basis. Available quotation information is generally representative of very large round-lot transactions in the interbank market and thus may not reflect exchange rates for smaller odd-lot transactions (less than $1 million) where rates may be less favorable. The interbank market in foreign currencies is a global, around-the-clock market. To the extent that options markets are closed while the markets for the underlying currencies remain open, significant price and rate movements may take place in the underlying markets that cannot be reflected in the options markets.

The decision as to whether and to what extent the fund will engage in foreign currency exchange transactions will depend on a number of factors, including prevailing market conditions, the composition of the fund's portfolio and the availability of suitable transactions. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the fund will engage in foreign currency exchange transactions at any given time or from time to time.

Foreign Investments and Related Risks

Foreign securities are normally denominated and traded in foreign currencies. As a result, the value of the fund's foreign investments and the value of its shares may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar. In addition, the fund is required to compute and distribute its income in U.S. dollars. Therefore, if the exchange rate for a foreign currency declines after a fund's income has been earned and translated into U.S. dollars (but before payment), the fund could be required to liquidate portfolio securities to make such distributions. Similarly, if an exchange rate declines between the time a fund incurs expenses in U.S. dollars and the time such expenses are paid, the amount of such currency required to be converted into U.S. dollars in order to pay such expenses in U.S. dollars will be greater than the equivalent amount in any such currency of such expenses at the time they were incurred.

There may be less information publicly available about a foreign issuer than about a U.S. issuer, and foreign issuers may not be subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices comparable to those in the United States. In addition, there may be less (or less effective) regulation of exchanges, brokers and listed companies in some foreign countries. The securities of some foreign issuers are less liquid and at times more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. issuers. Foreign brokerage commissions, custodial expenses and other fees are also generally higher than in the United States.

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Foreign settlement procedures and trade regulations may be more complex and involve certain risks (such as delay in payment or delivery of securities or in the recovery of the fund's assets held abroad) and expenses not present in the settlement of investments in U.S. markets. For example, settlement of transactions involving foreign securities or foreign currencies (see below) may occur within a foreign country, and the fund may accept or make delivery of the underlying securities or currency in conformity with any applicable U.S. or foreign restrictions or regulations, and may pay fees, taxes or charges associated with such delivery. Such investments may also involve the risk that an entity involved in the settlement may not meet its obligations.

In addition, foreign securities may be subject to the risk of nationalization or expropriation of assets, imposition of sanctions (whether imposed by the local sovereign or by the United States government), currency exchange controls, foreign withholding or other taxes or restrictions on the repatriation of foreign currency, confiscatory taxation, political, social or financial instability and diplomatic developments which could affect the value of the fund's investments in certain foreign countries. Dividends or interest on, or proceeds from the sale of, foreign securities may be subject to foreign withholding or other taxes, and special U.S. tax considerations may apply.

Note on MSCI indices. MSCI, Inc. (MSCI) publishes two versions of its indices reflecting the reinvestment of dividends using two different methodologies: gross dividends and net dividends. While both versions reflect reinvested dividends, they differ with respect to the manner in which taxes associated with dividend payments are treated. In calculating the net dividends version, MSCI incorporates reinvested dividends applying the withholding tax rate applicable to foreign non-resident institutional investors that do not benefit from double taxation treaties. Putnam Management believes that the net dividends version of MSCI indices better reflects the returns U.S. investors might expect were they to invest directly in the component securities of an MSCI index.

Legal remedies available to investors in certain foreign countries may be more limited than those available with respect to investments in the United States or in other foreign countries.

The laws of some foreign countries may limit the fund's ability to invest in securities of certain issuers organized under the laws of those foreign countries. These restrictions may take the form of prior governmental approval requirements, limits on the amount or type of securities held by foreigners and limits on the types of companies in which foreigners may invest (e.g., limits on investment in certain industries). Some countries also limit the investment of foreign persons to only a specific class of securities of an issuer that may have less advantageous terms or rights or preferences than securities of the issuer available for purchase by domestic parties, or may directly limit foreign investors’ rights (such as voting rights). Although securities subject to such restrictions may be marketable abroad, they may be less liquid than foreign securities of the same class that are not subject to such restrictions. Foreign laws may also impact the availability of derivatives or hedging techniques relating to a foreign country’s government securities. In each of these situations, the funds’ ability to invest significantly in desired issuers, or the terms of such investments, could be negatively impacted as a result of the relevant legal restriction. Sanctions imposed by the United States government on other countries or persons or issuers operating in such countries could restrict the fund’s ability to buy affected securities or to sell any affected securities it has previously purchased, which may subject the fund to greater risk of loss in those securities.

For purposes of some foreign holding limits or disclosure thresholds, all positions owned or controlled by the same person or entity, even if in different accounts, may be aggregated for purposes of determining whether the applicable limits or thresholds have been exceeded. Thus, even if the fund does not intend to exceed applicable limits, it is possible that different clients managed by Putnam Management and its affiliates (including separate affiliates owned by Power Corporation of Canada outside the Putnam Investments group) may be aggregated for this purpose. These limits may adversely affect the fund’s ability to invest in the applicable security.

The risks described above, including the risks of nationalization or expropriation of assets, typically are increased in connection with investments in developing countries, also known as "emerging markets." For example, political and economic structures in these countries may be in their infancy and developing rapidly, and such countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristic of more developed countries. Certain of these countries have in the past failed to recognize private property rights and have at times

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nationalized and expropriated the assets of private companies. High rates of inflation or currency devaluations may adversely affect the economies and securities markets of such countries. Investments in emerging markets may be considered speculative.

The currencies of certain emerging market countries have experienced devaluations relative to the U.S. dollar, and future devaluations may adversely affect the value of assets denominated in such currencies. Many emerging market countries have experienced substantial, and in some periods extremely high, rates of inflation or deflation for many years, and future inflation may adversely affect the economies and securities markets of such countries.

In addition, unanticipated political or social developments may affect the value of investments in emerging markets and the availability of additional investments in these markets. The small size, limited trading volume and relative inexperience of the securities markets in these countries may make investments in securities traded in emerging markets illiquid and more volatile than investments in securities traded in more developed countries, and the fund may be required to establish special custodial or other arrangements before making investments in securities traded in emerging markets. There may be little financial or accounting information available with respect to issuers of emerging market securities, and it may be difficult as a result to assess the value or prospects of an investment in such securities.

American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) as well as other “hybrid” forms of ADRs, including European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), are certificates evidencing ownership of shares of a foreign issuer. These certificates are issued by depository banks and generally trade on an established market in the United States or elsewhere. The underlying shares are held in trust by a custodian bank or similar financial institution in the issuer’s home country. The depository bank may not have physical custody of the underlying securities at all times and may charge fees for various services, including forwarding dividends and interest and corporate actions. ADRs are alternatives to directly purchasing the underlying foreign securities in their national markets and currencies. However, ADRs continue to be subject to many of the risks associated with investing in foreign securities.

Certain of the foregoing risks may also apply to some extent to securities of U.S. issuers that are denominated in foreign currencies or that are traded in foreign markets, or securities of U.S. issuers having significant foreign operations.

Forward Commitments and Dollar Rolls

The fund may enter into contracts to purchase securities for a fixed price at a future date beyond customary settlement time ("forward commitments") if the fund sets aside on its books liquid assets in an amount sufficient to meet the purchase price, or if the fund enters into offsetting contracts for the forward sale of other securities it owns. In the case of to-be-announced ("TBA") purchase commitments, the unit price and the estimated principal amount are established when the fund enters into a contract, with the actual principal amount being within a specified range of the estimate. Forward commitments may be considered securities in themselves, and involve a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased declines prior to the settlement date, which risk is in addition to the risk of decline in the value of the fund's other assets. Where such purchases are made through dealers, the fund relies on the dealer to consummate the sale. The dealer's failure to do so may result in the loss to the fund of an advantageous yield or price. Although the fund will generally enter into forward commitments with the intention of acquiring securities for its portfolio or for delivery pursuant to options contracts it has entered into, the fund may dispose of a commitment prior to settlement if Putnam Management deems it appropriate to do so. The fund may realize short-term profits or losses upon the sale of forward commitments.

The fund may enter into TBA sale commitments to hedge its portfolio positions, to sell securities it owns under delayed delivery arrangements, or to take a short position in mortgage-backed securities. Proceeds of TBA sale commitments are not received until the contractual settlement date. During the time a TBA sale commitment is outstanding, either equivalent deliverable securities or an offsetting TBA purchase commitment deliverable on or before the sale commitment date are held as "cover" for the transaction, or other liquid assets in an amount

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equal to the notional value of the TBA sale commitment are segregated. Where the fund purchases or sells an option, which is to be settled in cash, to buy or sell a TBA sale commitment, the fund will segregate cash or liquid assets in an amount equal to the current “mark-to-market” value of the option. Unsettled TBA sale commitments are valued at current market value of the underlying securities. If the TBA sale commitment is closed through the acquisition of an offsetting purchase commitment, the fund realizes a gain or loss on the commitment without regard to any unrealized gain or loss on the underlying security. If the fund delivers securities under the commitment, the fund realizes a gain or loss from the sale of the securities based upon the unit price established at the date the commitment was entered into.

The fund may enter into dollar roll transactions (generally using TBAs) in which it sells a fixed income security for delivery in the current month and simultaneously contracts to purchase similar securities (for example, same type, coupon and maturity) at an agreed upon future time. By engaging in a dollar roll transaction, the fund foregoes principal and interest paid on the security that is sold, but receives the difference between the current sales price and the forward price for the future purchase. The fund would also be able to earn interest on the proceeds of the sale before they are reinvested. The fund accounts for dollar rolls as purchases and sales. Because cash (or other assets determined to be liquid by Putnam Management in accordance with procedures established by the Trustees) in the amount of the fund’s commitment under a dollar roll is set aside on the fund’s books, the fund does not consider these transactions to be borrowings for purposes of its investment restrictions.

The obligation to purchase securities on a specified future date involves the risk that the market value of the securities that the fund is obligated to purchase may decline below the purchase price. In addition, in the event the other party to the transaction files for bankruptcy, becomes insolvent or defaults on its obligation, the fund may be adversely affected.

Futures Contracts and Related Options

Subject to applicable law, the fund may invest without limit in futures contracts and related options for hedging and non-hedging purposes, such as to manage the effective duration of the fund's portfolio or as a substitute for direct investment. A financial futures contract sale creates an obligation by the seller to deliver the type of financial instrument called for in the contract in a specified delivery month for a stated price. A financial futures contract purchase creates an obligation by the purchaser to take delivery of the type of financial instrument called for in the contract in a specified delivery month at a stated price. The specific instruments delivered or taken, respectively, at settlement date are not determined until on or near that date. The determination is made in accordance with the rules of the exchange on which the futures contract sale or purchase was made. Futures contracts are traded in the United States only on commodity exchanges or boards of trade -- known as "contract markets" -- approved for such trading by the CFTC, and must be executed through a futures commission merchant or brokerage firm which is a member of the relevant contract market. Examples of futures contracts that the fund may use (which may include single-security futures) include, without limitation, U.S. Treasury security futures, index futures, corporate or municipal bond futures, Government National Mortgage Association certificate futures, interest rate swap futures, commodities futures, futures contracts on sovereign debt, and Eurodollar futures. In addition, as described elsewhere in this SAI, the fund may use foreign currency futures.

Although futures contracts (other than index futures and futures based on the volatility or variance experienced by an index) by their terms call for actual delivery or acceptance of commodities or securities, in most cases the contracts are closed out before the settlement date without the making or taking of delivery. Index futures and futures based on the volatility or variance experienced by an index do not call for actual delivery or acceptance of commodities or securities, but instead require cash settlement of the futures contract on the settlement date specified in the contract. Such contracts may also be closed out before the settlement date. Closing out a futures contract sale is effected by purchasing a futures contract for the same aggregate amount of the specific type of financial instrument or commodity with the same delivery date. If the price of the initial sale of the futures contract exceeds the price of the offsetting purchase, the seller is paid the difference and realizes a gain. Conversely, if the price of the offsetting purchase exceeds the price of the initial sale, the seller realizes a loss. If the fund is unable to enter into a closing transaction, the amount of the fund's potential loss is unlimited. The

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closing out of a futures contract purchase is effected by the purchaser's entering into a futures contract sale. If the offsetting sale price exceeds the purchase price, the purchaser realizes a gain, and if the purchase price exceeds the offsetting sale price, he realizes a loss.

Unlike when the fund purchases or sells a security, no price is paid or received by the fund upon the purchase or sale of a futures contract. Instead, upon entering into a contract, the fund is required to deliver to the futures broker an amount of liquid assets. This amount is known as "initial margin." The nature of initial margin in futures transactions is different from that of margin in security transactions in that futures contract margin does not involve the borrowing of funds to finance the transactions. Rather, initial margin is similar to a performance bond or good faith deposit which is returned to the fund upon termination of the futures contract, assuming all contractual obligations have been satisfied. Futures contracts also involve brokerage costs. Subsequent payments, called "variation margin" or "maintenance margin," to and from the broker are made on a daily basis as the price of the underlying security or commodity fluctuates, making the long and short positions in the futures contract more or less valuable, a process known as "marking to the market." For example, when the fund has purchased a futures contract on a security and the price of the underlying security has risen, that position will have increased in value and the fund will receive from the broker a variation margin payment based on that increase in value. Conversely, when the fund has purchased a security futures contract and the price of the underlying security has declined, the position would be less valuable and the fund would be required to make a variation margin payment to the broker.

The fund may elect to close some or all of its futures positions at any time prior to their expiration in order to reduce or eliminate a position then currently held by the fund. The fund may close its positions by taking opposite positions which will operate to terminate the fund's position in the futures contracts. Final determinations of variation margin are then made, additional cash is required to be paid by or released to the fund, and the fund realizes a loss or a gain. Such closing transactions involve additional commission costs.

A portion of any capital gains from futures contracts in which the fund invests directly will be treated for federal income tax purposes as short-term capital gains that, when distributed to taxable shareholders, will be taxable as ordinary income. The fund’s investments in futures may cause the fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to make the distributions necessary to qualify and be eligible for treatment as a regulated investment company and avoid a fund-level tax. The fund may therefore need to liquidate other investments, including when it is not advantageous to do so, to meet its distribution requirement.

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Except in the case of Putnam PanAgora Managed Futures Strategy and Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund, no fund intends to purchase or sell futures or related options for other than hedging purposes, if, as a result, the sum of the initial margin deposits on the fund's existing futures and related options positions and premiums paid for outstanding options on futures contracts would exceed 5% of the fund's net assets.

Each of the funds and subsidiaries set forth below is a commodity pool under the Commodity Exchange Act (the “CEA”), and each of Putnam Management and PanAgora is registered as a “commodity pool operator” under the CEA with respect to each such fund. PanAgora is also registered as a Commodity Trading Advisor under the CEA. Since Putnam Management, PanAgora, and the funds and subsidiaries set forth below are subject to regulation by the CFTC under the CEA, they are required to comply with applicable CFTC disclosure, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements. The disclosure, reporting and, recordkeeping requirements associated with registration with the CFTC as a CPO would ordinarily be in addition to those requirements already imposed onto the funds, Putnam Management, and PanAgora by the SEC. In August 2013, the CFTC issued a rule that permits a registered investment company to elect to comply with certain CFTC obligations by agreeing to comply with certain SEC disclosure, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements. The funds listed below have elected to comply with certain CFTC disclosure, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements by agreeing to comply with applicable SEC requirements.

Fund  Subsidiary 
Putnam PanAgora Managed Futures Strategy  Putnam PanAgora Managed Futures Strategy, Ltd. 
Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund  Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund, Ltd. 

 

As a result, additional CFTC-mandated disclosure, reporting and recordkeeping obligations apply to these Funds and their respective subsidiaries, and compliance with the CFTC’s regulatory requirements could increase Fund expenses, adversely affecting a Fund’s total return. With respect to each other Putnam fund, Putnam Management has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” under the CEA pursuant to Rule 4.5 under the CEA (the “exclusion”) promulgated by the CFTC. Accordingly, Putnam Management (with respect to these funds) is not subject to registration or regulation as a “commodity pool operator” under the CEA. To remain eligible for the exclusion, each of these funds will be limited in its ability to use certain financial instruments regulated under the CEA (“commodity interests”), including futures and options on futures and certain swaps transactions. In the event that a fund’s investments in commodity interests are not within the thresholds set forth in the exclusion, Putnam Management may be required to register as a “commodity pool operator” and/or “commodity trading advisor” with the CFTC with respect to that fund. Putnam Management’s eligibility to claim the exclusion with respect to a fund will be based upon, among other things, the level and scope of the fund’s investment in commodity interests, the purposes of such investments and the manner in which the fund holds out its use of commodity interests. A fund’s ability to invest in commodity interests (including, but not limited to, futures and swaps on broad-based securities indexes and interest rates) is limited by Putnam Management's intention to operate the fund in a manner that would permit Putnam Management to continue to claim the exclusion under Rule 4.5, which may adversely affect the fund’s total return. In the event the fund’s investments in commodity interests require Putnam Management to register with the CFTC as a commodity pool operator with respect to a fund, the fund’s expenses may increase, adversely affecting that fund’s total return.

Index futures. An index futures contract is a contract to buy or sell units of an index at a specified future date at a price agreed upon when the contract is made. Entering into a contract to buy units of an index is commonly referred to as buying or purchasing a contract or holding a long position in the index. Entering into a contract to sell units of an index is commonly referred to as selling a contract or holding a short position. A unit is the current value of the index. The fund may enter into stock index futures contracts, debt index futures contracts, or other index futures contracts appropriate to its objective(s). The fund may also purchase and sell options on index futures contracts.

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For example, the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index ("S&P 500") is composed of 500 selected U.S. common stocks. The S&P 500 assigns relative weightings to the common stocks included in the Index, and the value fluctuates with changes in the market values of those common stocks. In the case of the S&P 500, contracts are currently to buy or sell 250 units. Thus, if the value of the S&P 500 were $150, one contract would be worth $37,500 (250 units x $150). The stock index futures contract specifies that no delivery of the actual stocks making up the index will take place. Instead, settlement in cash must occur upon the termination of the contract, with the settlement being the difference between the contract price and the actual level of the stock index at the expiration of the contract. For example, if the fund enters into a futures contract to buy 250 units of the S&P 500 at a specified future date at a contract price of $150 and the S&P 500 is at $154 on that future date, the fund will gain $1,000 (250 units x gain of $4). If the fund enters into a futures contract to sell 250 units of the stock index at a specified future date at a contract price of $150 and the S&P 500 is at $152 on that future date, the fund will lose $500 (250 units x loss of $2).

Options on futures contracts. The fund may purchase and write call and put options on futures contracts it may buy or sell and enter into closing transactions with respect to such options to terminate existing positions. In return for the premium paid, options on futures contracts give the purchaser the right to assume a position in a futures contract at the specified option exercise price at any time during the period of the option. Upon exercise of the option, the delivery of the futures position by the writer of the option to the holder of the option will be accompanied by delivery of the accumulated balance in the writer's futures margin account which represents the amount by which the market price of the futures contract, at exercise, exceeds (in the case of a call) or is less than (in the case of a put) the exercise price of the option on the future. If an option is exercised on the last trading day prior to its expiration date, the settlement will be made entirely in cash equal to the difference between the exercise price of the option and the closing level of the underlying asset on which the future is based on the expiration date. Purchasers of options who fail to exercise their options prior to the exercise date suffer a loss of the premium paid.

The fund may use options on futures contracts in lieu of writing or buying options directly on the underlying securities or indices or purchasing and selling the underlying futures contracts. For example, to hedge against a possible decrease in the value of its portfolio securities, the fund may purchase put options or write call options on futures contracts rather than selling futures contracts. Similarly, the fund may purchase call options or write put options on futures contracts as a substitute for the purchase of futures contracts to hedge against a possible increase in the price of securities which the fund expects to purchase. Such options generally operate in the same manner, and involve the same risks, as options purchased or written directly on the underlying investments. In addition, the fund will be required to deposit initial margin and maintenance margin with respect to put and call options on futures contracts written by it pursuant to brokers' requirements similar to those described above in connection with the discussion of futures contracts. The writing of an option on a futures contract involves risks similar to those relating to the sale of futures contracts.

Compared to the purchase or sale of futures contracts, the purchase of call or put options on futures contracts generally involves less potential risk to the fund because the maximum amount at risk is the premium paid for the options (plus transaction costs). However, there may be circumstances when the purchase of a call or put option on a futures contract would result in a loss to the fund when the purchase or sale of a futures contract would not, such as when there is no movement in the prices of the hedged investments.

As an alternative to purchasing call and put options on index futures, the fund may purchase and sell call and put options on the underlying indices themselves. Such options would be used in a manner identical to the use of options on index futures.

Risks of transactions in futures contracts and related options. Successful use of futures contracts by the fund is subject to Putnam Management's ability to predict movements in various factors affecting securities markets, including interest rates and market movements, and, in the case of index futures and futures based on the volatility or variance experienced by an index, Putnam Management’s ability to predict the future level of the index or the future volatility or variance experienced by an index. For example, it is possible that, where the fund

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has sold futures to hedge its portfolio against a decline in the market, the index on which the futures are written may advance and the value of securities held in the fund's portfolio, which may differ from those that comprise the index, may decline. If this occurred, the fund would lose money on the futures and also experience a decline in value in its portfolio securities. It is also possible that, if the fund has hedged against the possibility of a decline in the market adversely affecting securities held in its portfolio and securities prices increase instead, the fund will lose part or all of the benefit of the increased value of those securities it has hedged because it will have offsetting losses in its futures positions. In addition, in such situations, if the fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell securities to meet daily variation margin requirements at a time when it is disadvantageous to do so.

The use of options and futures strategies also involves the risk of imperfect correlation among movements in the prices of the securities or other assets underlying the futures and options purchased and sold by the fund, of the options and futures contracts themselves, and, in the case of hedging transactions, of the securities which are the subject of a hedge. In addition to the possibility that there may be an imperfect correlation, or no correlation at all, between movements in the futures used by the fund and the portion of the portfolio being hedged, the prices of futures may not correlate perfectly with movements in the underlying asset due to certain market distortions. First, all participants in the futures market are subject to margin deposit and maintenance requirements. Rather than meeting additional margin deposit requirements, investors may close futures contracts through offsetting transactions which could distort the expected relationship between the underlying asset and futures markets. Second, margin requirements in the futures market are less onerous than margin requirements in the securities market, and as a result the futures market may attract more speculators than the securities market does. Increased participation by speculators in the futures market may also cause temporary price distortions. Due to the possibility of price distortions in the futures market and also because of the imperfect correlation between movements in the underlying asset and movements in the prices of related futures, even a correct forecast of general market trends by Putnam Management may still not result in a profitable position.

There is no assurance that higher than anticipated trading activity or other unforeseen events might not, at times, render certain market clearing facilities inadequate, and thereby result in the institution by exchanges of special procedures which may interfere with the timely execution of customer orders.

To reduce or eliminate a position held by the fund, the fund may seek to close out such position. The ability to establish and close out positions will be subject to the development and maintenance of a liquid secondary market. It is not certain that this market will develop or continue to exist for a particular futures contract or option. Reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary market on an exchange include the following: (i) there may be insufficient trading interest in certain contracts or options; (ii) restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening transactions or closing transactions or both; (iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of contracts or options, or underlying securities; (iv) unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; (v) the facilities of an exchange or a clearing corporation may not at all times be adequate to handle current trading volume; or (vi) one or more exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading of contracts or options (or a particular class or series of contracts or options), in which event the secondary market on that exchange for such contracts or options (or in the class or series of contracts or options) would cease to exist, although outstanding contracts or options on the exchange that had been issued by a clearing corporation as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.

Hybrid Instruments

These instruments are generally considered derivatives and include indexed or structured securities, and combine the elements of futures contracts or options with those of debt, preferred equity or a depository instrument. A hybrid instrument may be a debt security, preferred stock, warrant, convertible security, certificate of deposit or other evidence of indebtedness on which a portion of or all interest payments, and/or the principal or stated amount payable at maturity, redemption or retirement is determined by reference to prices, changes in prices, or differences between prices, of securities, currencies, intangibles, goods, articles or commodities

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(collectively, “underlying assets”), or by another objective index, economic factor or other measure, including interest rates, currency exchange rates, or commodities or securities indices (collectively, “benchmarks”).

The risks of investing in hybrid instruments reflect a combination of the risks of investing in securities, options, futures and currencies. An investment in a hybrid instrument may entail significant risks that are not associated with a similar investment in a traditional debt instrument that has a fixed principal amount, is denominated in U.S. dollars or pays interest either at a fixed rate or a floating rate determined by reference to a common, nationally published benchmark. The risks of a particular hybrid instrument will depend upon the terms of the instrument, but may include the possibility of significant changes in the benchmark(s) or the prices of the underlying assets to which the instrument is linked. Such risks generally depend upon factors unrelated to the operations or credit quality of the issuer of the hybrid instrument, which may not be foreseen by the purchaser, such as economic and political events, the supply and demand of the underlying assets and interest rate movements. Hybrid instruments may be highly volatile and their use by the fund may not be successful.

Hybrid instruments may bear interest or pay preferred dividends at below market (or even relatively nominal) rates. Alternatively, hybrid instruments may bear interest at above market rates but bear an increased risk of principal loss (or gain). The latter scenario may result if “leverage” is used to structure the hybrid instrument. Leverage risk occurs when the hybrid instrument is structured so that a given change in a benchmark or underlying asset is multiplied to produce a greater value change in the hybrid instrument, thereby magnifying the risk of loss as well as the potential for gain.

Hybrid instruments can be an efficient means of creating exposure to a particular market, or segment of a market, with the objective of enhancing total return. For example, a fund may wish to take advantage of expected declines in interest rates in several European countries, but avoid the transaction costs associated with buying and currency-hedging the foreign bond positions. One solution would be to purchase a U.S. dollar-denominated hybrid instrument whose redemption price is linked to the average three year interest rate in a designated group of countries. The redemption price formula would provide for payoffs of less than par if rates were above the specified level. Furthermore, a fund could limit the downside risk of the security by establishing a minimum redemption price so that the principal paid at maturity could not be below a predetermined minimum level if interest rates were to rise significantly. The purpose of this arrangement, known as a structured security with an embedded put option, would be to give the fund the desired European bond exposure while avoiding currency risk, limiting downside market risk, and lowering transaction costs. Of course, there is no guarantee that the strategy will be successful and the fund could lose money if, for example, interest rates do not move as anticipated or credit problems develop with the issuer of the hybrid instrument.

Hybrid instruments are potentially more volatile and carry greater market risks than traditional debt instruments. Depending on the structure of the particular hybrid instrument, changes in a benchmark may be magnified by the terms of the hybrid instrument and have an even more dramatic and substantial effect upon the value of the hybrid instrument. Also, the prices of the hybrid instrument and the benchmark or underlying asset may not move in the same direction or at the same time.

Hybrid instruments may also carry liquidity risk since the instruments are often “customized” to meet the portfolio needs of a particular investor, and therefore, the number of investors that are willing and able to buy such instruments in the secondary market may be smaller than that for more traditional debt securities. Under certain conditions, the redemption value of such an investment could be zero. In addition, because the purchase and sale of hybrid investments could take place in an over-the-counter market without the guarantee of a central clearing organization, or in a transaction between the fund and the issuer of the hybrid instrument, the creditworthiness of the counterparty of the issuer of the hybrid instrument would be an additional risk factor the fund would have to consider and monitor. In addition, uncertainty regarding the tax treatment of hybrid instruments may reduce demand for such instruments. Tax considerations may also limit the extent of the fund’s investments in certain hybrid instruments. Hybrid instruments also may not be subject to regulation by the CFTC, which generally regulates the trading of commodity futures by U.S. persons, the SEC, which regulates the offer and sale of securities by and to U.S. persons, or any other governmental regulatory authority.

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Inflation-Protected Securities

The fund may invest in U.S. Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (“U.S. TIPS”), which are fixed income securities issued by the U.S. Department of Treasury, the principal amounts of which are adjusted daily based upon changes in the rate of inflation. The fund may also invest in other inflation-protected securities issued by non-U.S. governments or by private issuers. U.S. TIPS pay interest on a semi-annual basis, equal to a fixed percentage of the inflation-adjusted principal amount. The interest rate on these bonds is fixed at issuance, but over the life of the bond this interest may be paid on an increasing or decreasing principal value that has been adjusted for inflation.

Repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity (as adjusted for inflation) is guaranteed for U.S. TIPS, even during a period of deflation. However, because the principal amount of U.S. TIPS would be adjusted downward during a period of deflation, the fund will be subject to deflation risk with respect to its investments in these securities. In addition, the current market value of the bonds is not guaranteed, and will fluctuate. If the fund purchases U.S. TIPS in the secondary market whose principal values have been adjusted upward due to inflation since issuance, the fund may experience a loss if there is a subsequent period of deflation. The fund may also invest in other inflation-related bonds which may or may not provide a guarantee of principal. If a guarantee of principal is not provided, the adjusted principal value of the bond repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal amount.

The periodic adjustment of U.S. TIPS is currently tied to the CPI-U, which is calculated by the U.S. Department of Treasury. The CPI-U is a measurement of changes in the cost of living, made up of components such as housing, food, transportation and energy. Inflation-protected bonds issued by a non-U.S. government are generally adjusted to reflect a comparable inflation index, calculated by that government. There can no assurance that the CPI-U or any non-U.S. inflation index will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. If interest rates rise due to reasons other than inflation (for example, due to changes in currency exchange rates), investors in these securities may not be protected to the extent that the increase is not reflected in the bond's inflation measure. In addition, there can be no assurance that the rate of inflation in a non-U.S. country will be correlated to the rate of inflation in the United States. In general, the value of inflation-protected bonds is expected to fluctuate in response to changes in real interest rates, which are in turn tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. Therefore, if inflation were to rise at a faster rate than nominal interest rates, real interest rates might decline, leading to an increase in value of inflation-protected bonds. In contrast, if nominal interest rates increased at a faster rate than inflation, real interest rates might rise, leading to a decrease in value of inflation-protected bonds. If inflation is lower than expected during the period the fund holds the security, the fund may earn less on the security than on a conventional bond. Any increase in principal value is taxable in the year the increase occurs, even though holders do not receive cash representing the increase at that time. As a result, when the fund invests in inflation-protected securities, it could be required at times to liquidate other investments, including when it is not advantageous to do so, in order to satisfy its distribution requirements as a regulated investment company and to eliminate any fund-level income tax liability under the Code.

The U.S. Treasury began issuing inflation-protected bonds in 1997. Certain non-U.S. governments, such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, have a longer history of issuing inflation-protected bonds, and there may be a more liquid market in certain of these countries for these securities.

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Initial Public Offerings

The fund may purchase debt or equity securities in initial public offerings (“IPOs”). These securities, which are often issued by unseasoned companies, may be subject to many of the same risks of investing in companies with smaller market capitalizations. Securities issued in IPOs have no trading history, and information about the companies may be available for very limited periods. Securities issued in an IPO frequently are very volatile in price, and the fund may hold securities purchased in an IPO for a very short period of time. As a result, the fund’s investments in IPOs may increase portfolio turnover, which increases brokerage and administrative costs and may result in taxable distributions to shareholders.

At any particular time or from time to time the fund may not be able to invest in securities issued in IPOs, or invest to the extent desired because, for example, only a small portion (if any) of the securities being offered in an IPO may be made available to the fund. In addition, under certain market conditions a relatively small number of companies may issue securities in IPOs. Similarly, as the number of Putnam funds to which IPO securities are allocated increases, the number of securities issued to any one fund may decrease. The investment performance of the fund during periods when it is unable to invest significantly or at all in IPOs may be lower than during periods when the fund is able to do so. In addition, as the fund increases in size, the impact of IPOs on the fund’s performance will generally decrease.

Interfund Borrowing and Lending

To satisfy redemption requests or to cover unanticipated cash shortfalls, the fund has entered into a Master Interfund Lending Agreement by and among each Putnam fund and Putnam Management (the “Interfund Lending Agreement”) under which the fund may lend or borrow money for temporary purposes directly to or from another Putnam fund (an “Interfund Loan”), subject to meeting the conditions of an SEC exemptive order granted to the fund permitting such Interfund Loans. All Interfund Loans would consist only of uninvested cash reserves that the lending fund otherwise would invest in short-term repurchase agreements or other short-term instruments. At this time, Putnam Short-Term Investment Fund is the only Putnam fund expected to make its uninvested cash reserves available for Interfund Loans.

If the fund has outstanding borrowings, any Interfund Loans to the fund (a) would be at an interest rate equal to or lower than that of any outstanding bank loan, (b) would be secured at least on an equal priority basis with at least an equivalent percentage of collateral to loan value as any outstanding bank loan that requires collateral, and (c) would have a maturity no longer than any outstanding bank loan (and in any event not over seven days). In addition, if an event of default were to occur under any agreement evidencing an outstanding bank loan to the fund, the event of default would automatically (without need for action or notice by the lending fund) constitute an immediate event of default under the Interfund Lending Agreement entitling the lending fund to call the Interfund Loan (and exercise all rights with respect to any collateral) and such a call would be deemed made if the lending bank exercises its right to call its loan under its agreement with the borrowing fund.

The fund may make an unsecured borrowing under the Interfund Lending Agreement if its outstanding borrowings from all sources immediately after the interfund borrowing total 10% or less of its total assets; provided, that if the fund has a secured loan outstanding from any other lender, including but not limited to another Putnam fund, the fund’s Interfund Loan would be secured on at least an equal priority basis with at least an equivalent percentage of collateral to loan value as any outstanding loan secured by collateral. If the fund’s total outstanding borrowings immediately after an interfund borrowing would be greater than 10% of its total assets, the fund may borrow through the credit facility on a secured basis only. All secured Interfund Loans would be secured by the pledge of segregated collateral with a market value equal to at least 102% of the outstanding principal value of the Interfund Loan. The fund may not borrow from any source if its total outstanding borrowings immediately after the borrowing would exceed the limits imposed by Section 18 of the 1940 Act or the fund’s fundamental investment restrictions.

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The fund may not lend to another Putnam fund under the Interfund Lending Agreement if the Interfund Loan would cause its aggregate outstanding Interfund Loans to exceed 15% of the fund’s current net assets at the time of the Interfund Loan. The fund’s Interfund Loans to any one fund may not exceed 5% of the lending fund’s net assets. The duration of Interfund Loans would be limited to the time required to receive payment for securities sold, but in no event may the duration exceed seven days. Interfund Loans effected within seven days of each other would be treated as separate loan transactions for purposes of this condition. Each Interfund Loan may be called on one business day’s notice by a lending fund and may be repaid on any day by a borrowing fund.

The limitations detailed above and the other conditions of the SEC exemptive order permitting interfund lending are designed to minimize the risks associated with interfund lending for both the lending fund and the borrowing fund. However, no borrowing or lending activity is without risk. If the fund borrows money from another fund, there is a risk that the Interfund Loan could be called on one day’s notice or not renewed, in which case the fund may have to borrow from a bank at higher rates if an Interfund Loan were not available from another fund. A delay in repayment to a lending fund could result in a lost opportunity or additional lending costs, and interfund loans are subject to the risk that the borrowing fund could be unable to repay the loan when due.

Inverse Floaters

These securities have variable interest rates that typically move in the opposite direction from movements in prevailing short-term interest rate levels – rising when prevailing short-term interest rate fall, and vice versa. The prices of inverse floaters can be considerably more volatile than the prices of bonds with comparable maturities.

Investments in Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries

Each of Putnam PanAgora Managed Futures Strategy and Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in its wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary, organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company (each, a “Subsidiary” and collectively, the “Subsidiaries”) in order to gain exposure to the commodities markets within the limitations of the federal tax laws, rules and regulations that apply to regulated investment companies.

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Generally, each Subsidiary will invest primarily in commodity futures, and, in the case of Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund, swaps on commodity futures, but each Subsidiary may also invest in other commodity-related instruments (such as financial futures, option and swap contracts). Each Subsidiary may also have exposure to equity and fixed income securities, cash and cash equivalents, pooled investment vehicles (including those that are not registered pursuant to the 1940 Act) and other investments, either as investments or to serve as margin or collateral for the Subsidiary’s derivative positions. Unlike a fund, the Subsidiary may invest without limitation in commodity-linked derivatives. By investing in a Subsidiary, each of Putnam PanAgora Managed Futures Strategy and Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund is indirectly exposed to the risks associated with the Subsidiary’s investments. Except as described below, the Subsidiaries are not registered under the 1940 Act and are not subject to all of the investor protections of the 1940 Act. Changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands could result in the inability of the fund and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in the prospectus and could adversely affect the fund.

The Chief Compliance Officer of Putnam PanAgora Managed Futures Strategy and Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund oversees implementation of each Subsidiary’s policies and procedures, and makes periodic reports to the Board regarding each Subsidiary’s compliance with its policies and procedures. Putnam PanAgora Managed Futures Strategy, Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund and each Subsidiary test for compliance with investment restrictions on a consolidated basis, except that with respect to its investments in certain securities that may involve leverage, each Subsidiary complies with asset segregation requirements to the same extent as the applicable fund.

PanAgora provides investment management and other services to each Subsidiary. PanAgora does not receive increased compensation by virtue of providing each Subsidiary with investment management or administrative services. However, Putnam Management pays PanAgora based on each of Putnam PanAgora Managed Futures Strategy’s and Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund’s assets, including the assets invested in the applicable Subsidiary. Each Subsidiary will also enter into separate contracts for the provision of custody and audit services with the same or with affiliates of the same service providers that provide those services to the applicable fund.

The financial statements of each of Putnam PanAgora Managed Futures Strategy and Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund will be consolidated with the financial statements of the applicable Subsidiary in the fund’s Annual and Semi-Annual Reports. The fund’s Annual and Semi-Annual Reports are distributed to shareholders, and copies of the reports are provided without charge upon request as indicated on the back cover of the prospectus.

In order for the fund to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code the fund must derive at least 90 percent of its gross income each taxable year from certain sources of “qualifying income” specified in the Code. Income from certain commodity-linked derivative instruments in which the fund might invest may not be considered qualifying income. Each of Putnam PanAgora Managed Futures Strategy’s and Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund’s investment in a Subsidiary is expected to provide the fund with exposure to the commodities markets within the limitations of the federal income tax requirements of Subchapter M of the Code. Each of Putnam PanAgora Managed Futures Strategy and Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund’s pursuit of its investment strategy may be limited by the fund’s intention to qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code. As noted below in “Taxes,” the rules regarding the extent to which annual net income, if any, realized by a Subsidiary and included in a fund's annual income for U.S. federal income purposes will constitute “qualifying income” for purposes of the fund's qualification as a regulated investment company under the Code are unclear and currently under consideration. If a net loss is realized by a Subsidiary, such loss is generally not available to offset income or capital gain generated from the fund’s other investments. In addition, a Subsidiary is not permitted to carry forward any net ordinary losses it realizes in a taxable year to offset ordinary income it realizes in subsequent taxable years.

Legal and Regulatory Risks Relating to Investment Strategy

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The fund may be adversely affected by new (or revised) laws or regulations that may be imposed by the CFTC, the SEC, the U.S. Federal Reserve or other banking regulators, or other governmental regulatory authorities or self-regulatory organizations that supervise the financial markets. These agencies are empowered to promulgate a variety of rules pursuant to financial reform legislation in the United States. The fund may also be adversely affected by changes in the enforcement or interpretation of existing statutes and rules. The regulatory environment for private funds is evolving, and changes in the regulation of private funds may adversely affect the value of the investments held by the fund and the ability of the fund to execute its investment strategy. In addition, the securities and futures markets are subject to comprehensive statutes, regulations and margin requirements. The CFTC, the SEC, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, other regulators and self-regulatory organizations and exchanges are authorized to take extraordinary actions in the event of market emergencies. The regulation of derivatives transactions and funds that engage in such transactions is an evolving area of law and is subject to modification by government and judicial action.

The U.S. government recently enacted legislation that provides for new regulation of the derivatives market, including new clearing, margin, reporting and registration requirements. Because the legislation leaves much to rule making, its ultimate impact remains unclear. New regulations could, among other things, adversely affect the value of the investments held by the fund, restrict the fund’s ability to engage in derivatives transactions (for example, by making certain types of derivatives transactions no longer available to the fund) and/or increase the costs of such derivatives transactions (for example, by increasing margin or capital requirements), and the fund may be unable to execute its investment strategy as a result. It is unclear how the regulatory changes will affect counterparty risk.

The CFTC and certain futures exchanges have established limits, referred to as “position limits,” on the maximum net long or net short positions which any person may hold or control in particular options and futures contracts. All positions owned or controlled by the same person or entity, even if in different accounts, may be aggregated for purposes of determining whether the applicable position limits have been exceeded. Thus, even if the fund does not intend to exceed applicable position limits, it is possible that different clients managed by Putnam Management and its affiliates may be aggregated for this purpose. Any modification of trading decisions or elimination of open positions that may be required to avoid exceeding such limits may adversely affect the profitability of the fund.

The SEC has in the past adopted interim rules requiring reporting of all short positions above a certain threshold and is expected to adopt rules requiring monthly public disclosure in the future. In addition, other non-U.S. jurisdictions where the fund may trade have adopted reporting requirements. If the fund’s short positions or its strategy become generally known, the fund’s ability to implement its investment strategy could be adversely affected. In particular, other investors could cause a “short squeeze” in the securities held short by the fund forcing the fund to cover its positions at a loss. Such reporting requirements may also limit the fund’s ability to access management and other personnel at certain companies where the fund seeks to take a short position. In addition, if other investors engage in copycat behavior by taking positions in the same issuers as the fund, the cost of borrowing securities to sell short could increase drastically and the availability of such securities to the fund could decrease drastically. In addition, the SEC recently proposed additional restrictions on short sales, which could restrict the fund’s ability to engage in short sales in certain circumstances. The SEC and regulatory authorities in other jurisdictions may adopt (and in certain cases, have adopted) bans on short sales of certain securities in response to market events. Bans on short selling may make it impossible for the fund to execute certain investment strategies.

Recently enacted federal legislation requires the adoption of regulations that will require any creditor that makes a loan and any securitizer of a loan to retain at least 5% of the credit risk on any loan that is transferred, sold or conveyed by such creditor or securitizer. It is currently unclear how these requirements will apply to loan participations, syndicated loans, and loan assignments. Investors, such as the fund, that seek or hold investments in loans could be adversely affected by the regulation.

Lower-rated Securities

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The fund may invest in lower-rated fixed-income securities (commonly known as "junk bonds"). The lower ratings reflect a greater possibility that adverse changes in the financial condition of the issuer or in general economic conditions, or both, or an unanticipated rise in interest rates, may impair the ability of the issuer to make payments of interest and principal. The inability (or perceived inability) of issuers to make timely payment of interest and principal would likely make the values of securities held by the fund more volatile and could limit the fund's ability to sell its securities at prices approximating the values the fund had placed on such securities. In the absence of a liquid trading market for securities held by it, the fund at times may be unable to establish the fair value of such securities.

Securities ratings are based largely on the issuer's historical financial condition and the rating agencies' analysis at the time of rating. Consequently, the rating assigned to any particular security is not necessarily a reflection of the issuer's current financial condition, which may be better or worse than the rating would indicate. In addition, the rating assigned to a security by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor's (or by any other nationally recognized securities rating agency) does not reflect an assessment of the volatility of the security's market value or the liquidity of an investment in the security. See "SECURITIES RATINGS."

Like those of other fixed-income securities, the values of lower-rated securities fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates. A decrease in interest rates will generally result in an increase in the value of the fund's fixed-income assets. Conversely, during periods of rising interest rates, the value of the fund's fixed-income assets will generally decline. The values of lower-rated securities may often be affected to a greater extent by changes in general economic conditions and business conditions affecting the issuers of such securities and their industries. Negative publicity or investor perceptions may also adversely affect the values of lower-rated securities. Changes by nationally recognized securities rating agencies in their ratings of any fixed-income security and changes in the ability of an issuer to make payments of interest and principal may also affect the value of these investments. Changes in the value of portfolio securities generally will not affect income derived from these securities, but will affect the fund's net asset value. The fund will not necessarily dispose of a security when its rating is reduced below its rating at the time of purchase. However, Putnam Management will monitor the investment to determine whether its retention will assist in meeting the fund's goal(s).

Issuers of lower-rated securities are often highly leveraged, so that their ability to service their debt obligations during an economic downturn or during sustained periods of rising interest rates may be impaired. Such issuers may not have more traditional methods of financing available to them and may be unable to repay outstanding obligations at maturity by refinancing. The risk of loss due to default in payment of interest or repayment of principal by such issuers is significantly greater because such securities frequently are unsecured and subordinated to the prior payment of senior indebtedness.

At times, a substantial portion of the fund's assets may be invested in an issue of which the fund, by itself or together with other funds and accounts managed by Putnam Management or its affiliates, holds all or a major portion. Although Putnam Management generally considers such securities to be liquid because of the availability of an institutional market for such securities, it is possible that, under adverse market or economic conditions or in the event of adverse changes in the financial condition of the issuer, the fund could find it more difficult to sell these securities when Putnam Management believes it advisable to do so or may be able to sell the securities only at prices lower than if they were more widely held. Under these circumstances, it may also be more difficult to determine the fair value of such securities for purposes of computing the fund's net asset value. In order to enforce its rights in the event of a default, the fund may be required to participate in various legal proceedings or take possession of and manage assets securing the issuer's obligations on such securities. This could increase the fund's operating expenses and adversely affect the fund's net asset value. In the case of tax-exempt funds, any income derived from the fund's ownership or operation of such assets would not be tax-exempt. The ability of a holder of a tax-exempt security to enforce the terms of that security in a bankruptcy proceeding may be more limited than would be the case with respect to securities of private issuers. In addition, the fund's intention to qualify as a "regulated investment company" under the Code may limit the extent to which the fund may exercise its rights by taking possession of such assets.

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To the extent the fund invests in securities in the lower rating categories, the achievement of the fund's goals is more dependent on Putnam Management's investment analysis than would be the case if the fund were investing in securities in the higher rating categories.

Market Risk

The value of securities in a fund’s portfolio may fall or fail to rise over extended periods of time for a variety of 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, industry or sector. In addition, the increasing popularity of passive index-based investing may have the potential to increase security price correlations and volatility. (As passive strategies generally buy or sell securities based simply on inclusion and representation in an index, securities prices will have an increasing tendency to rise or fall based on whether money is flowing into or out of passive strategies rather than based on an analysis of the prospects and valuation of individual securities. This may result in increased market volatility as more money is invested through passive strategies). These and other factors may lead to increased volatility and reduced liquidity in the fund’s portfolio holdings. During those periods, the fund may experience high levels of shareholder redemptions, and may have to sell securities at times when it would otherwise not do so, and at unfavorable price.

Legal political, regulatory and tax changes also may cause fluctuations in markets and securities prices. In recent periods, governmental and non-governmental issuers have defaulted on, or have been forced to restructure, their debts, and many other issuers have faced difficulties obtaining credit. These market conditions may continue, worsen or spread, including, without limitation, in Europe or Asia. Defaults or restructurings by governments or others of their debts could have substantial adverse effects on economies, financial markets, and asset valuations around the world. In recent periods, financial regulators, including the U.S. Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank, have taken steps to maintain historically low interest rates, such as by purchasing bonds. Some governmental authorities have taken steps to devalue their currencies substantially or have taken other steps to counter actual or anticipated market or other developments. Steps by those regulators and authorities to implement, or to curtail or taper, these activities could have substantial negative effects on financial markets. The withdrawal of support, failure of efforts in response to a financial crisis, or investor perception that these efforts are not succeeding could negatively affect financial markets generally as well as the values and liquidity of certain securities.

In addition, the fund is subject to the risk that geopolitical events will disrupt securities markets and adversely affect global economies and markets. War, terrorism, and related geopolitical events have led, and in the future may lead, to increased short-term market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects on U.S. and world economies and markets generally. Likewise, natural and environmental disasters and systemic market dislocations may be highly disruptive to economies and markets. Those events as well as other changes in foreign and domestic economic and political conditions also could adversely affect individual issuers or related groups of issuers, securities markets, interest rates, credit ratings, inflation, investor sentiment, and other factors affecting the value of the fund’s investments. Given the increasing interdependence among global economies and markets, conditions in one country, market, or region might adversely affect markets, issuers, and/or foreign exchange rates in other countries, including the U.S. Any partial or complete dissolution of the Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union, or any increased uncertainty as to its status, could have significant adverse effects on currency and financial markets, and on the values of the fund’s investments. Securities and financial markets may be susceptible to market manipulation or other fraudulent trade practices, which could disrupt the orderly functioning of these markets or adversely affect the values of investments traded in these markets, including investments held by the fund. To the extent the fund has focused its investments in the market or index of a particular region, adverse geopolitical and other events could have a disproportionate impact on the fund.

Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs)

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A MLP generally is a publicly traded company organized as a limited partnership or limited liability company and treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. MLPs may derive income and gains from, among other things, the exploration, development, mining or production, processing, refining, transportation (including pipelines transporting gas, oil, or products thereof), or the marketing of any mineral or natural resources. MLPs generally have two classes of owners, the general partner and limited partners. The general partner of an MLP is typically owned by one or more of the following: a major energy company, an investment fund, or the direct management of the MLP. The general partner may be structured as a private or publicly traded corporation or other entity. The general partner typically controls the operations and management of the MLP through an up to 2% equity interest in the MLP plus, in many cases, ownership of common units and subordinated units. Limited partners own the remainder of the partnership through ownership of common units and have a limited role in the partnership’s operations and management.

MLP securities in which certain funds may invest can include, but are not limited to: (i) equity securities of MLPs, including common units, preferred units or convertible subordinated units; (ii) debt securities of MLPs, including debt securities rated below investment grade; (iii) securities of MLP affiliates; (iv) securities of open-end funds, closed-end funds or exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) that invest primarily in MLP securities; or (v) exchange-traded notes whose returns are linked to the returns of MLPs or MLP indices.

MLP common units represent an equity ownership interest in a partnership, providing limited voting rights and entitling the holder to a share of the company’s success through distributions and/or capital appreciation. Unlike shareholders of a corporation, common unit holders do not elect directors annually and generally have the right to vote only on certain significant events, such as mergers, a sale of substantially all of the assets, removal of the general partner or material amendments to the partnership agreement. In addition, state law governing partnerships is often less restrictive than state law governing corporations. Accordingly, there may be fewer protections afforded investors in an MLP than investors in a corporation.

Additional risks involved with investing in an MLP are risks associated with the specific industry or industries in which the partnership invests. For example, companies operating in the energy MLP sector are subject to risks that are specific to the industry in which they operate. MLPs and other companies that provide crude oil, refined product and natural gas services are subject to supply and demand fluctuations in the markets they serve which may be impacted by a wide range of factors including fluctuating commodity prices, weather, increased conservation or use of alternative fuel sources, increased governmental or environmental regulation, depletion, rising interest rates, declines in domestic or foreign production, accidents or catastrophic events, and economic conditions, among others. Energy MLP companies are subject to varying demand for oil, natural gas or refined products in the markets they serve, as well as changes in the supply of products requiring gathering, transport, processing, or storage due to natural declines in reserves and production in the supply areas serviced by the companies' facilities. Declines in oil or natural gas prices, as well as adverse regulatory decisions, may cause producers to curtail production or reduce capital spending for production or exploration activities, which may in turn reduce the need for the services provided by energy MLP companies. Lower prices may also create lower processing margins. Energy MLPs may also be subject to regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) with respect to tariff rates that these companies may charge for interstate pipeline transportation services. An adverse determination by FERC with respect to tariff rates of a pipeline MLP could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial conditions, result of operations, cash flows and prospects of that pipeline MLP and its ability to make cash distributions to its equity owners.

Money Market Instruments

Money market instruments, or short-term debt instruments, consist of obligations such as commercial paper, bank obligations ( i.e. , certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances), repurchase agreements and various government obligations, such as Treasury bills. These instruments have a remaining maturity of one year or less and are generally of high credit quality. Money market instruments may be structured to be, or may employ a trust or other form so that they are, eligible investments for money market funds. For example, put features can

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be used to modify the maturity of a security or interest rate adjustment features can be used to enhance price stability. If a structure fails to function as intended, adverse tax or investment consequences may result. Neither the IRS nor any other regulatory authority has ruled definitively on certain legal issues presented by certain structured securities. Future tax or other regulatory determinations could adversely affect the value, liquidity, or tax treatment of the income received from these securities or the nature and timing of distributions made by the funds.

Commercial paper is a money market instrument issued by banks or companies to raise money for short-term purposes. Unlike some other debt obligations, commercial paper is typically unsecured. Commercial paper may be issued as an asset-backed security (that is, backed by a pool of assets representing the obligations of a number of different issuers), in which case certain of the risks discussed in “Mortgage-backed and Asset-backed securities” would apply. Commercial paper is traded primarily among institutions.

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Putnam Money Market Fund may invest in bankers’ acceptances issued by banks with deposits in excess of $2 billion (or the foreign currency equivalent) at the close of the last calendar year. If the Trustees change this minimum deposit requirement, shareholders would be notified. Other Putnam funds may invest in bankers’ acceptances without regard to this requirement.

In accordance with rules issued by the SEC, the fund may from time to time invest all or a portion of its cash balances in money market and/or short-term bond funds advised by Putnam Management. In connection with such investments, Putnam Management may waive a portion of the advisory fees otherwise payable by the fund. See “Charges and expenses” in Part I of this SAI for the amount, if any, waived by Putnam Management in connection with such investments.

Mortgage-backed and Asset-backed Securities

Mortgage-backed securities, including collateralized mortgage obligations ("CMOs") and certain stripped mortgage-backed securities, represent a participation in, or are secured by, mortgage loans. Asset-backed securities are structured like mortgage-backed securities, but instead of mortgage loans or interests in mortgage loans, the underlying assets may include such items as motor vehicle installment sales or installment loan contracts, leases of various types of real and personal property and receivables from credit card agreements.

Mortgage-backed securities have yield and maturity characteristics corresponding to the underlying assets. Unlike traditional debt securities, which may pay a fixed rate of interest until maturity, when the entire principal amount comes due, payments on certain mortgage-backed securities include both interest and a partial repayment of principal. Besides the scheduled repayment of principal, repayments of principal may result from the voluntary prepayment, refinancing or foreclosure of the underlying mortgage loans. If property owners make unscheduled prepayments of their mortgage loans, these prepayments will result in early payment of the applicable mortgage-backed securities. In that event the fund may be unable to invest the proceeds from the early payment of the mortgage-backed securities in an investment that provides as high a yield as the mortgage-backed securities. Consequently, early payment associated with mortgage-backed securities may cause these securities to experience significantly greater price and yield volatility than that experienced by traditional fixed-income securities. The occurrence of mortgage prepayments is affected by factors including the level of interest rates, general economic conditions, the location and age of the mortgage and other social and demographic conditions. During periods of falling interest rates, the rate of mortgage prepayments tends to increase, thereby tending to decrease the life of mortgage-backed securities. During periods of rising interest rates, the rate of mortgage prepayments usually decreases, thereby tending to increase the life of mortgage-backed securities. If the life of a mortgage-backed security is inaccurately predicted, the fund may not be able to realize the rate of return it expected.

Adjustable rate mortgage securities (“ARMs”), like traditional mortgage-backed securities, are interests in pools of mortgage loans that provide investors with payments consisting of both principal and interest as mortgage loans in the underlying mortgage pool are paid off by the borrowers. Unlike fixed-rate mortgage-backed securities, ARMs are collateralized by or represent interests in mortgage loans with variable rates of interest. These interest rates are reset at periodic intervals, usually by reference to an interest rate index or market interest rate. Although the rate adjustment feature may act as a buffer to reduce sharp changes in the value of adjustable rate securities, these securities are still subject to changes in value based on, among other things, changes in market interest rates or changes in the issuer’s creditworthiness. If rates increase due to a reset, the risk of default by underlying borrowers may increase. Because the interest rates are reset only periodically, changes in the interest rate on ARMs may lag changes in prevailing market interest rates. Also, some ARMs (or the underlying mortgages) are subject to caps or floors that limit the maximum change in the interest rate during a specified period or over the life of the security. As a result, changes in the interest rate on an ARM may not fully reflect changes in prevailing market interest rates during certain periods. The fund may also invest in “hybrid” ARMs, whose underlying mortgages combine fixed-rate and adjustable rate features.

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Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities are less effective than other types of securities as a means of "locking in" attractive long-term interest rates. One reason is the need to reinvest prepayments of principal; another is the possibility of significant unscheduled prepayments resulting from declines in interest rates. These prepayments would have to be reinvested at lower rates. The automatic interest rate adjustment feature of mortgages underlying ARMs likewise reduces the ability to lock-in attractive rates. As a result, mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities may have less potential for capital appreciation during periods of declining interest rates than other securities of comparable maturities, although they may have a similar risk of decline in market value during periods of rising interest rates. Prepayments may also significantly shorten the effective maturities of these securities, especially during periods of declining interest rates. Conversely, during periods of rising interest rates, a reduction in prepayments may increase the effective maturities of these securities, subjecting them to a greater risk of decline in market value in response to rising interest rates than traditional debt securities, and, therefore, potentially increasing the volatility of the fund. In certain circumstances, the mishandling of related documentation may also affect the rights of the security holders in and to the underlying collateral.

At times, some mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities will have higher than market interest rates and therefore will be purchased at a premium above their par value. Prepayments may cause losses on securities purchased at a premium.

CMOs may be issued by a U.S. government agency or instrumentality or by a private issuer. Although payment of the principal of, and interest on, the underlying collateral securing privately issued CMOs may be guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities, these CMOs represent obligations solely of the private issuer and are not insured or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities or any other person or entity.

Prepayments could cause early retirement of CMOs. CMOs are designed to reduce the risk of prepayment for investors by issuing multiple classes of securities, each having different maturities, interest rates and payment schedules, and with the principal and interest on the underlying mortgages allocated among the several classes in various ways. Payment of interest or principal on some classes or series of CMOs may be subject to contingencies or some classes or series may bear some or all of the risk of default on the underlying mortgages. CMOs of different classes or series are generally retired in sequence as the underlying mortgage loans in the mortgage pool are repaid. If enough mortgages are repaid ahead of schedule, the classes or series of a CMO with the earliest maturities generally will be retired prior to their maturities. Thus, the early retirement of particular classes or series of a CMO would have the same effect as the prepayment of mortgages underlying other mortgage-backed securities. Conversely, slower than anticipated prepayments can extend the effective maturities of CMOs, subjecting them to a greater risk of decline in market value in response to rising interest rates than traditional debt securities, and, therefore, potentially increasing their volatility.

Prepayments could result in losses on stripped mortgage-backed securities. Stripped mortgage-backed securities are usually structured with two classes that receive different portions of the interest and principal distributions on a pool of mortgage loans. The yield to maturity on an interest only or “IO” class of stripped mortgage-backed securities is extremely sensitive not only to changes in prevailing interest rates but also to the rate of principal payments (including prepayments) on the underlying assets. A rapid rate of principal prepayments may have a measurable adverse effect on the fund's yield to maturity to the extent it invests in IOs. If the assets underlying the IO experience greater than anticipated prepayments of principal, the fund may fail to recoup fully its initial investment in these securities. Conversely, principal only or “POs” tend to increase in value if prepayments are greater than anticipated and decline if prepayments are slower than anticipated. The secondary market for stripped mortgage-backed securities may be more volatile and less liquid than that for other mortgage-backed securities, potentially limiting the fund's ability to buy or sell those securities at any particular time.

The risks associated with other asset-backed securities (including in particular the risks of issuer default and of early prepayment) are generally similar to those described above for CMOs. In addition, because asset-backed securities generally do not have the benefit of a security interest in the underlying assets that is comparable to a mortgage, asset-backed securities present certain additional risks that are not present with mortgage-backed securities. The ability of an issuer of asset-backed securities to enforce its security interest in the underlying

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assets may be limited. For example, revolving credit receivables are generally unsecured and the debtors on such receivables are entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer credit laws, many of which give debtors the right to set-off certain amounts owed, thereby reducing the balance due. Automobile receivables generally are secured, but by automobiles, rather than by real property.

Asset-backed securities may be collateralized by the fees earned by service providers. The value of asset-backed securities may be substantially dependent on the servicing of the underlying asset and are therefore subject to risks associated with negligence by, or defalcation of, their servicers. In certain circumstances, the mishandling of related documentation may also affect the rights of the security holders in and to the underlying collateral. The insolvency of entities that generate receivables or that utilize the assets may result in added costs and delays in addition to losses associated with a decline in the value of the underlying assets.

Options on Securities

Writing covered options. The fund may write covered call options and covered put options on optionable securities held in its portfolio or that it has an absolute and immediate right to acquire without additional cash consideration (or, if additional cash consideration is required, cash or other assets determined to be liquid by Putnam Management in accordance with procedures established by the Trustees, in such amount as are set aside on the fund’s books), when in the opinion of Putnam Management such transactions are consistent with the fund's goal(s) and policies. Call options written by the fund give the purchaser the right to buy the underlying securities from the fund at a stated exercise price; put options give the purchaser the right to sell the underlying securities to the fund at a stated price.

The fund may write only covered options, which means that, so long as the fund is obligated as the writer of a call option, it will own the underlying securities subject to the option (or comparable securities satisfying the cover requirements of securities exchanges) or have an absolute and immediate right to acquire without additional cash consideration (or, if additional cash consideration is required, cash or other assets determined to be liquid by Putnam Management in accordance with procedures established by the Trustees, in such amount as are set aside on the fund’s books). In the case of put options, the fund will set aside on its books assets determined to be liquid by Putnam Management in accordance with procedures established by the Trustees and equal in value to the price to be paid if the option is exercised. In addition, the fund will be considered to have covered a put or call option if and to the extent that it holds an option that offsets some or all of the risk of the option it has written. The fund may write combinations of covered puts and calls on the same underlying security.

The fund will receive a premium from writing a put or call option, which increases the fund's return in the event the option expires unexercised or is closed out at a profit. The amount of the premium reflects, among other things, the relationship between the exercise price and the current market value of the underlying security, the volatility of the underlying security, the amount of time remaining until expiration, current interest rates, and the effect of supply and demand in the options market and in the market for the underlying security. By writing a call option, if the fund holds the security, the fund limits its opportunity to profit from any increase in the market value of the underlying security above the exercise price of the option but continues to bear the risk of a decline in the value of the underlying security. If the fund does not hold the underlying security, the fund bears the risk that, if the market price exceeds the option strike price, the fund will suffer a loss equal to the difference at the time of exercise. By writing a put option, the fund assumes the risk that it may be required to purchase the underlying security for an exercise price higher than its then-current market value, resulting in a potential capital loss unless the security subsequently appreciates in value.

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The fund may terminate an option that it has written prior to its expiration by entering into a closing purchase transaction, in which it purchases an offsetting option. The fund realizes a profit or loss from a closing transaction if the cost of the transaction (option premium plus transaction costs) is less or more than the premium received from writing the option. If the fund writes a call option but does not own the underlying security, and when it writes a put option, the fund may be required to deposit cash or securities with its broker as "margin," or collateral, for its obligation to buy or sell the underlying security. As the value of the underlying security varies, the fund may have to deposit additional margin with the broker. Margin requirements are complex and are fixed by individual brokers, subject to minimum requirements currently imposed by the Federal Reserve Board and by stock exchanges and other self-regulatory organizations.

Purchasing put options. The fund may purchase put options to protect its portfolio holdings in an underlying security against a decline in market value. Such protection is provided during the life of the put option since the fund, as holder of the option, is able to sell the underlying security at the put exercise price regardless of any decline in the underlying security's market price. In order for a put option to be profitable, the market price of the underlying security must decline sufficiently below the exercise price to cover the premium and transaction costs. By using put options in this manner, the fund will reduce any profit it might otherwise have realized from appreciation of the underlying security by the premium paid for the put option and by transaction costs. The fund may also purchase put options for other investment purposes, including to take a short position in the security underlying the put option.

Purchasing call options. The fund may purchase call options to hedge against an increase in the price of securities that the fund wants ultimately to buy. Such hedge protection is provided during the life of the call option since the fund, as holder of the call option, is able to buy the underlying security at the exercise price regardless of any increase in the underlying security's market price. In order for a call option to be profitable, the market price of the underlying security must rise sufficiently above the exercise price to cover the premium and transaction costs. The fund may also purchase call options for other investment purposes.

Risk factors in options transactions. The successful use of the fund's options strategies depends on the ability of Putnam Management to forecast correctly interest rate and market movements. For example, if the fund were to write a call option based on Putnam Management's expectation that the price of the underlying security would fall, but the price were to rise instead, the fund could be required to sell the security upon exercise at a price below the current market price. Similarly, if the fund were to write a put option based on Putnam Management's expectation that the price of the underlying security would rise, but the price were to fall instead, the fund could be required to purchase the security upon exercise at a price higher than the current market price.

When the fund purchases an option, it runs the risk that it will lose its entire investment in the option in a relatively short period of time, unless the fund exercises the option or enters into a closing sale transaction before the option's expiration. If the price of the underlying security does not rise (in the case of a call) or fall (in the case of a put) to an extent sufficient to cover the option premium and transaction costs, the fund will lose part or all of its investment in the option. This contrasts with an investment by the fund in the underlying security, since the fund will not realize a loss if the security's price does not change.

The effective use of options also depends on the fund's ability to terminate option positions at times when Putnam Management deems it desirable to do so. There is no assurance that the fund will be able to effect closing transactions at any particular time or at an acceptable price. If a secondary market in options were to become unavailable, the fund could no longer engage in closing transactions. Lack of investor interest might adversely affect the liquidity of the market for particular options or series of options. A market may discontinue trading of a particular option or options generally. In addition, a market could become temporarily unavailable if unusual events -- such as volume in excess of trading or clearing capability -- were to interrupt its normal operations.

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A market may at times find it necessary to impose restrictions on particular types of options transactions, such as opening transactions. For example, if an underlying security ceases to meet qualifications imposed by the market or the Options Clearing Corporation, new series of options on that security will no longer be opened to replace expiring series, and opening transactions in existing series may be prohibited. If an options market were to become unavailable, the fund as a holder of an option would be able to realize profits or limit losses only by exercising the option, and the fund, as option writer, would remain obligated under the option until expiration or exercise.

Disruptions in the markets for the securities underlying options purchased or sold by the fund could result in losses on the options. For example, if a fund is unable to purchase a security underlying a put option it had purchased, the fund may be unable to exercise the put option. If trading is interrupted in an underlying security, the trading of options on that security is normally halted as well. As a result, the fund as purchaser or writer of an option will be unable to close out its positions until options trading resumes, and it may be faced with considerable losses if trading in the security reopens at a substantially different price. In addition, the Options Clearing Corporation or other options markets may impose exercise restrictions. If a prohibition on exercise is imposed at the time when trading in the option has also been halted, the fund as purchaser or writer of an option will be locked into its position until one of the two restrictions has been lifted. If the Options Clearing Corporation were to determine that the available supply of an underlying security appears insufficient to permit delivery by the writers of all outstanding calls in the event of exercise, it may prohibit indefinitely the exercise of put options. The fund, as holder of such a put option, could lose its entire investment if it is unable to exercise the put option prior to its expiration.

Foreign-traded options are subject to many of the same risks presented by internationally-traded securities. In addition, because of time differences between the United States and various foreign countries, and because different holidays are observed in different countries, foreign options markets may be open for trading during hours or on days when U.S. markets are closed. As a result, option premiums may not reflect the current prices of the underlying interest in the United States.

Over-the-counter ("OTC") options purchased by the fund and assets held to cover OTC options written by the fund may, under certain circumstances, be considered illiquid securities for purposes of any limitation on the fund's ability to invest in illiquid securities. The fund may use both European-style options, which are only exercisable immediately prior to their expiration, and American-style options, which are exercisable at any time prior to the expiration date.

In addition to options on securities and futures, the fund may also enter into options on futures, swaps, or other instruments as described elsewhere in this SAI.

Preferred Stocks and Convertible Securities

The fund may invest in preferred stocks or convertible securities. A preferred stock generally pays dividends at a specified rate and has preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of an issuer's assets but is junior to the debt securities of the issuer in those same respects. The market prices of preferred stocks are subject to changes in interest rates and are more sensitive to changes in an issuer's creditworthiness than are the prices of debt securities. Shareholders of preferred stock may suffer a loss of value if dividends are not paid. Under ordinary circumstances, preferred stock does not carry voting rights. In addition, many preferred stocks may be called or redeemed prior to their maturity by the issuer under certain conditions.

Convertible securities include bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stocks and other securities that may be converted into or exchanged for, at a specific price or formula within a particular period of time, a prescribed amount of common stock or other equity securities of the same or a different issuer. Convertible securities entitle the holder to receive interest paid or accrued on debt or dividends paid or accrued on preferred stock until the security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged.

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The market value of a convertible security is a function of its "investment value" and its "conversion value." A security's "investment value" represents the value of the security without its conversion feature ( i.e. , a nonconvertible fixed income security). The investment value may be determined by reference to its credit quality and the current value of its yield to maturity or probable call date. At any given time, investment value is dependent upon such factors as the general level of interest rates, the yield of similar nonconvertible securities, the financial strength of the issuer and the seniority of the security in the issuer's capital structure. A security's "conversion value" is determined by multiplying the number of shares the holder is entitled to receive upon conversion or exchange by the current price of the underlying security.

If the conversion value of a convertible security is significantly below its investment value, the convertible security will trade like nonconvertible debt or preferred stock and its market value will not be influenced greatly by fluctuations in the market price of the underlying security. Conversely, if the conversion value of a convertible security is near or above its investment value, the market value of the convertible security will be more heavily influenced by fluctuations in the market price of the underlying security. Convertible securities generally have less potential for gain than common stocks.

The fund's investments in convertible securities may at times include securities that have a mandatory conversion feature, pursuant to which the securities convert automatically into common stock or other equity securities at a specified date and a specified conversion ratio, or that are convertible at the option of the issuer. Because conversion of the security is not at the option of the holder, the fund may be required to convert the security into the underlying common stock even at times when the value of the underlying common stock or other equity security has declined substantially.

The fund's investments in preferred stocks and convertible securities, particularly securities that are convertible into securities of an issuer other than the issuer of the convertible security, may be illiquid. The fund may not be able to dispose of such securities in a timely fashion or for a fair price, which could result in losses to the fund.

Private Placements and Restricted Securities

The fund may invest in securities that are purchased in private placements and, accordingly, are subject to restrictions on resale as a matter of contract or under federal securities laws. Because there may be relatively few potential purchasers for such investments, especially under adverse market or economic conditions or in the event of adverse changes in the financial condition of the issuer, the fund could find it more difficult to sell such securities when Putnam Management believes it advisable to do so or may be able to sell such securities only at prices lower than if such securities were more widely held. At times, it may also be more difficult to determine the fair value of such securities for purposes of computing the fund's net asset value.

While such private placements may offer attractive opportunities for investment not otherwise available on the open market, the securities so purchased are often "restricted securities," i.e. , securities which cannot be sold to the public without registration under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) or the availability of an exemption from registration (such as Rules 144 or 144A), or which are "not readily marketable" because they are subject to other legal or contractual delays in or restrictions on resale.

The absence of a trading market can make it difficult to ascertain a market value for illiquid investments. Disposing of illiquid investments may involve time-consuming negotiation and legal expenses, and it may be difficult or impossible for the fund to sell them promptly at an acceptable price. The fund may have to bear the extra expense of registering such securities for resale and the risk of substantial delay in effecting such registration. In addition, market quotations are less readily available. The judgment of Putnam Management may at times play a greater role in valuing these securities than in the case of publicly traded securities. Generally speaking, restricted securities may be sold only to qualified institutional buyers, or in a privately negotiated transaction to a limited number of purchasers, or in limited quantities after they have been held for a specified period of time and other conditions are met pursuant to an exemption from registration, or in a public offering for which a registration statement is in effect under the Securities Act. The fund may be deemed to be an "underwriter" for purposes of the Securities Act when selling restricted securities to the public, and in such event

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the fund may be liable to purchasers of such securities if the registration statement prepared by the issuer, or the prospectus forming a part of it, is materially inaccurate or misleading. The SEC Staff currently takes the view that any delegation by the Trustees of the authority to determine that a restricted security is readily marketable (as described in the investment restrictions of the funds) must be pursuant to written procedures established by the Trustees and the Trustees have delegated such authority to Putnam Management.

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

The fund may invest in REITs. REITs are pooled investment vehicles that invest primarily in either real estate or real estate related loans. Like regulated investment companies such as the fund, REITs are not taxed on income distributed to shareholders provided that they comply with certain requirements under the Code. The fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any expenses paid by REITs in which it invests in addition to the fund’s own expenses.

REITs involve certain unique risks in addition to those risks associated with investing in the real estate industry in general (such as possible declines in the value of real estate, lack of availability of mortgage funds, or extended vacancies of property). REITs are generally classified as equity REITs, mortgage REITs or a combination of equity and mortgage REITs. Equity REITs invest the majority of their assets directly in real property and derive income primarily from the collection of rents. Equity REITs can also realize capital gains by selling properties that have appreciated in value. Mortgage REITs invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages and derive income from the collection of interest payments. Equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the REITs, while mortgage REITs may be affected by the risk of borrower default, the likelihood of which is increased for mortgage REITs that invest in sub-prime mortgages. REITs, and mortgage REITs in particular, are also subject to interest rate risk. REITs are dependent upon their operators’ management skills, are generally not diversified (except to the extent the Code requires), and are subject to heavy cash flow dependency and the risk of default by borrowers. REITs are also subject to the possibility of failing to qualify for the tax-advantaged treatment available to REITs under the Code or failing to maintain their exemptions from registration under the 1940 Act. REITs may have limited financial resources, may trade less frequently and in a limited volume, and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than more widely held securities.

The fund's investment in a REIT may result in the fund making distributions that constitute a return of capital to fund shareholders for federal income tax purposes. In addition, distributions by a fund from REITs will not qualify for the corporate dividends-received deduction, or, generally, for treatment as qualified dividend income.

Redeemable Securities

Certain securities held by the fund may permit the issuer at its option to "call" or redeem its securities. If an issuer were to redeem securities held by the fund during a time of declining interest rates, the fund may not be able to reinvest the proceeds in securities providing the same investment return as the securities redeemed.

Repurchase Agreements

Under normal circumstances, each fund may enter into repurchase agreements amounting to not more than 25% of its total assets, except that this 25% limitation does not apply to repurchase agreements entered into in connection with short sales and to investments by a money market fund and Putnam Short Term Investment Fund. Money market funds and Putnam Short Term Investment Fund may invest without limit in repurchase agreements. A repurchase agreement is a contract under which the fund, the buyer under the contract, acquires a security subject to the obligation of the seller (or repurchase agreement counterparty) to repurchase, and the fund to resell, the security at a fixed time and price, which represents the fund's cost plus interest (or, for repurchase agreements under which the fund acquires a security and then sells it short, the fund’s cost of “borrowing” the security). A repurchase agreement with a stated maturity of longer than one week is considered an illiquid investment. It is the fund's present intention to enter into repurchase agreements only with banks and registered

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broker-dealers. The fund may enter into repurchase agreements, including with respect to securities it wishes to sell short. See “Short Sales” in this SAI. Certain of the repurchase agreements related to securities sold short may provide that, at the option of the fund, settlement may be made by delivery of cash equal to the difference between (a) the sum of (i) the market value of the securities sold short at the time the repurchase agreement is closed out and (ii) transaction costs associated with the acquisition in the market by the repurchase agreement counterparty of the securities sold short and (b) the repurchase price specified in the repurchase agreement.

The fund may be exposed to the credit risk of the repurchase agreement counterparty (or seller) in the event that the counterparty is unable to close out the repurchase agreement in accordance with its terms. If the seller defaults, the fund could realize a loss on the sale of the underlying security to the extent that the proceeds of the sale including accrued interest are less than the resale price provided in the agreement including interest. In addition, if the seller should be involved in bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, the fund may incur delay and costs in selling the underlying security or may suffer a loss of principal and interest if the fund is treated as an unsecured creditor and required to return the underlying collateral to the seller's estate.

Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, the fund may transfer uninvested cash balances into a joint account, along with cash of other Putnam funds and certain other accounts. These balances may be invested in one or more repurchase agreements and/or short-term money market instruments.

The fund may also enter into reverse repurchase agreements. Under a reverse repurchase agreement, the fund sells portfolio assets subject to an agreement by the fund to repurchase the same assets at an agreed upon price and date. The fund can use the proceeds received from entering into a reverse repurchase agreement to make additional investments, which generally causes the fund’s portfolio to behave as if it were leveraged. If the buyer in a reverse repurchase agreement files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, the fund may be unable to recover the securities it sold and as a result would realize a loss equal to the difference between the value of those securities and the payment it received for them. The size of this loss will depend upon the difference between what the buyer paid for the securities the fund sold to it and the value of those securities (e.g., a buyer may pay $95 for a bond with a market value of $100). In the event of a buyer’s bankruptcy or insolvency, the fund’s use of proceeds from the sale of its securities may be restricted while the other party or its trustee or receiver determines whether to honor the fund’s right to repurchase the securities. The fund’s use of reverse repurchase agreements also subjects the fund to interest costs based on the difference between the sale and repurchase price of a security involved in such a transaction. Additionally, reverse repurchase agreements entail the same risks as over-the-counter derivatives. These include the risk that the counterparty to the reverse repurchase agreement may not be able to fulfill its obligations, as discussed above, that the parties may disagree as to the meaning or application of contractual terms, or that the instrument may not perform as expected.

Securities Loans

The fund may make secured loans of its portfolio securities, on either a short-term or long-term basis, amounting to not more than 25% of its total assets, thereby realizing additional income. The risks in lending portfolio securities, as with other extensions of credit, consist of possible delay in recovery of the securities or possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially. If a borrower defaults, the value of the collateral may decline before the fund can dispose of it. As a matter of policy, securities loans are made to broker-dealers pursuant to agreements requiring that the loans be continuously secured by collateral consisting of cash or short-term debt obligations at least equal at all times to the value of the securities on loan, "marked-to-market" daily. The borrower pays to the fund an amount equal to any dividends or interest received on securities lent. The fund retains all or a portion of the interest received on investment of the cash collateral or receives a fee from the borrower. Although voting rights, or rights to consent, with respect to the loaned securities may pass to the borrower, the fund retains the right to call the loans at any time on reasonable notice, and it will do so to enable the fund to exercise voting rights on any matters materially affecting the investment. The fund may also call such loans in order to sell the securities. The fund may pay fees in connection with arranging loans of its portfolio securities.

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Securities of Other Investment Companies

Securities of other investment companies, including shares of open- and closed-end investment companies and unit investment trusts (which may include ETFs), represent interests in collective investment portfolios that, in turn, invest directly in underlying instruments. The fund may invest in other investment companies when it has more uninvested cash than Putnam Management believes is advisable, when it receives cash collateral from securities lending arrangements, when there is a shortage of direct investments available, or when Putnam Management believes that investment companies offer attractive values.

Investment companies may be structured to perform in a similar fashion to a broad-based securities index or may focus on a particular strategy or class of assets. ETFs typically seek to track the performance or dividend yield of specific indexes or companies in related industries. These indexes may be broad-based, sector-based or international. Investing in investment companies involves substantially the same risks as investing directly in the underlying instruments, but also involves expenses at the investment company-level, such as portfolio management fees and operating expenses. These expenses are in addition to the fees and expenses of the fund itself, which may lead to duplication of expenses while the fund owns another investment company’s shares. In addition, investing in investment companies involves the risk that they will not perform in exactly the same fashion, or in response to the same factors, as the underlying instruments or index. To the extent the fund invests in other investment companies that are professionally managed, its performance will also depend on the investment and research abilities of investment managers other than Putnam Management.

Open-end investment companies typically offer their shares continuously at net asset value plus any applicable sales charge and stand ready to redeem shares upon shareholder request. The shares of certain other types of investment companies, such as ETFs and closed-end investment companies, typically trade on a stock exchange or over-the-counter at a premium or a discount to their net asset value. In the case of closed-end investment companies, the number of shares is typically fixed. The securities of closed-end investment companies and ETFs carry the risk that the price the fund pays or receives may be higher or lower than the investment company’s net asset value. ETFs and closed-end investment companies are also subject to certain additional risks, including the risks of illiquidity and of possible trading halts due to market conditions or other reasons, based on the policies of the relevant exchange. The shares of investment companies, particularly closed-end investment companies, may also be leveraged, which would increase the volatility of the fund’s net asset value.

The extent to which the fund can invest in securities of other investment companies, including ETFs, is generally limited by federal securities laws. For more information regarding the tax treatment of ETFs, please see “Taxes” below.

Short Sales

The fund may engage in short sales of securities either as a hedge against potential declines in value of a portfolio security or to realize appreciation when a security that the fund does not own declines in value. Short sales are transactions in which the fund sells a security it does not own to a third party by borrowing the security in anticipation of purchasing the same security at the market price on a later date to close out the short position. The fund may also engage in short sales by entering into a repurchase agreement with respect to the security it wishes to sell short. See “– Repurchase Agreements” in this SAI. The fund will incur a gain if the price of the security declines between the date of the short sale and the date on which the fund replaces the borrowed security (or closes out the related repurchase agreement); and the fund will incur a loss if the price of the security increases between those dates. Such a loss is theoretically unlimited since the potential increase in the market price of the security sold short is not limited. Until the security is replaced, the fund must pay the lender (or repurchase agreement counterparty) any dividends or interest that accrues during the period of the loan (or repurchase agreement). To borrow (or enter into a repurchase agreement with respect to) the security, the fund also may be required to pay a premium, which would increase the cost of the security sold. The fund’s successful use of short sales is subject to Putnam Management’s ability to accurately predict movements in the market price of the security sold short. Short selling may involve financial leverage because the fund is exposed both to changes in

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the market price of the security sold short and to changes in the value of securities purchased with the proceeds of the short sale, effectively leveraging its assets. Under adverse market conditions, a fund may have difficulty purchasing securities to meet its short sale delivery obligations, and may be required to close out its short position at a time when the fund would not choose to do so, and may therefore have to sell portfolio securities to raise the capital necessary to meet its short sale obligations at a time when fundamental investment considerations may not favor such sales. While the fund has an open short position, it will segregate, by appropriate notation on its books or the books of its custodian, cash or liquid assets at least equal in value to the market value of the securities sold short. The segregated amount will be “marked-to-market” daily. Because of this segregation, the fund does not consider these transactions to be “senior securities” for purposes of the 1940 Act. In connection with short sale transactions, the fund may be required to pledge certain additional assets for the benefit of the securities lender (or repurchase agreement counterparty) and the fund may, while such assets remain pledged, be limited in its ability to invest those assets in accordance with the fund’s investment strategies.

Certain of the repurchase agreements related to securities sold short may provide that, at the option of the fund, in lieu of delivering the securities sold short, settlement may be made by delivery of cash equal to the difference between (a) the sum of (i) the market value of the securities sold short at the time the repurchase agreement is closed out and (ii) transaction costs associated with the acquisition in the market by the repurchase agreement counterparty of the securities sold short and (b) the repurchase price specified in the repurchase agreement. Because that cash amount represents the fund’s maximum loss in the event of the insolvency of the counterparty, the fund will, except where the local market practice for foreign securities to be sold short requires payment prior to delivery of such securities, treat such amount, rather than the full notional amount of the repurchase agreement, as its “investment” in securities of the counterparty for purposes of all applicable investment restrictions, including its fundamental policy with respect to diversification.

Short-term Trading

In seeking the fund's objective(s), Putnam Management will buy or sell portfolio securities whenever Putnam Management believes it appropriate to do so. From time to time the fund will buy securities intending to seek short-term trading profits. A change in the securities held by the fund is known as "portfolio turnover" and generally involves some expense to the fund. This expense may include brokerage commissions or dealer markups and other transaction costs on both the sale of securities and the reinvestment of the proceeds in other securities. If sales of portfolio securities cause the fund to realize net short-term capital gains, such gains will be taxable as ordinary income when distributed to taxable individual shareholders. As a result of the fund's investment policies, under certain market conditions the fund's portfolio turnover rate may be higher than that of other mutual funds. Portfolio turnover rate for a fiscal year is the ratio of the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities to the monthly average of the value of portfolio securities -- excluding securities whose maturities at acquisition were one year or less. The fund's portfolio turnover rate is not a limiting factor when Putnam Management considers a change in the fund's portfolio.

Special Purpose Acquisition Companies

The fund may invest in stock, warrants, and other securities of special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”) or similar special purpose entities that pool funds to seek potential acquisition opportunities. Unless and until an acquisition is completed, a SPAC generally invests its assets (less a portion retained to cover expenses) in U.S. government securities, money market securities and cash; if an acquisition that meets the requirements for the SPAC is not completed within a pre-established period of time, the invested funds are returned to the entity’s shareholders. Because SPACs and similar entities are in essence blank check companies without an operating history or ongoing business other than seeking acquisitions, the value of their securities is particularly dependent on the ability of the entity’s management to identify and complete a profitable acquisition. Some SPACs may pursue acquisitions only within certain industries or regions, which may increase the volatility of their prices. In addition, these securities, which are typically traded in the over-the-counter market, may be considered illiquid and/or be subject to restrictions on resale.

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Structured Investments

A structured investment is a security having a return tied to an underlying index or other security or asset class. Structured investments generally are individually negotiated agreements and may be traded over-the-counter. Structured investments are organized and operated to restructure the investment characteristics of the underlying security. This restructuring involves the deposit with or purchase by an entity, such as a corporation or trust, or specified instruments (such as commercial bank loans) and the issuance by that entity or one or more classes of securities (“structured securities”) backed by, or representing interests in, the underlying instruments. The cash flow on the underlying instruments may be apportioned among the newly issued structured securities to create securities with different investment characteristics, such as varying maturities, payment priorities and interest rate provisions, and the extent of such payments made with respect to structured securities is dependent on the extent of the cash flow on the underlying instruments. Because structured securities typically involve no credit enhancement, their credit risk generally will be equivalent to that of the underlying instruments. Investments in structured securities are generally of a class of structured securities that is either subordinated or unsubordinated to the right of payment of another class. Subordinated structured securities typically have higher yields and present greater risks than unsubordinated structured securities. Structured securities are typically sold in private placement transactions, and there currently is no active trading market for structured securities. Investments in government and government-related and restructured debt instruments are subject to special risks, including the inability or unwillingness to repay principal and interest, requests to reschedule or restructure outstanding debt and requests to extend additional loan amounts.

Swap Agreements

The fund may enter into swap agreements and other types of over-the-counter transactions such as caps, floors and collars with broker-dealers or other financial institutions for hedging or investment purposes. A swap involves the exchange by the fund with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive cash flows, e.g. , an exchange of floating rate payments for fixed-rate payments. The purchase of a cap entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index or other underlying financial measure exceeds a predetermined value on a predetermined date or dates, to receive payments on a notional principal amount from the party selling the cap. The purchase of a floor entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index or other underlying financial measure falls or other underlying measure below a predetermined value on a predetermined date or dates, to receive payments on a notional principal amount from the party selling the floor. A collar combines elements of a cap and a floor.

Swap agreements and similar transactions can be individually negotiated and structured to include exposure to a variety of different types of investments or market factors. Depending on their structures, swap agreements may increase or decrease the fund's exposure to long-or short-term interest rates (in the United States or abroad), foreign currency values, mortgage securities, mortgage rates, corporate borrowing rates, or other factors such as security prices, inflation rates or the volatility of an index or one or more securities. For example, if the fund agrees to exchange payments in U.S. dollars for payments in a non-U.S. currency, the swap agreement would tend to decrease the fund's exposure to U.S. interest rates and increase its exposure to that non-U.S. currency and interest rates. The fund may also engage in total return swaps, in which payments made by the fund or the counterparty are based on the total return of a particular reference asset or assets (such as an equity or fixed-income security, a combination of such securities, or an index). A swap agreement may be structured with reference to an index of securities that is created and maintained by the swap counterparty. The fund may also enter into swap agreements on futures contracts including, but not limited to, index futures contracts. Swap agreements on futures contracts are generally subject to the same risks involved in the fund’s use of futures contracts, in addition to the risks involved in the fund’s use of swap agreements. See “—Futures Contracts and Related Options.” A total return swap, or a swap on a futures contract, may add leverage to a portfolio by providing investment exposure to an underlying asset or market where the fund does not own or take physical custody of such asset or invest directly in such market.

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The fund’s ability to realize a profit from such transactions will depend on the ability of the financial institutions with which it enters into the transactions to meet their obligations to the fund. If a counterparty's creditworthiness declines, the value of the agreement would be likely to decline, potentially resulting in losses. If a default occurs by the other party to such transaction, the fund will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction, which may be limited by applicable law in the case of a counterparty's insolvency. If the returns of an index upon which a swap is based are unavailable or cannot be calculated (including where the index is created and maintained by the swap counterparty), the fund may experience difficulty in valuing the swap or in determining the amounts owed to or by the counterparty, regardless of whether the counterparty has defaulted. Under certain circumstances, suitable transactions may not be available to the fund, or the fund may be unable to close out its position under such transactions at the same time, or at the same price, as if it had purchased comparable publicly traded securities.

The fund’s investments in swaps will generate ordinary income and losses for federal income tax purposes and may cause the fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to make the distributions necessary to qualify and be eligible for treatment as a regulated investment company and avoid a fund-level tax. The fund may therefore need to liquidate other investments, including when it is not advantageous to do so, to meet its distribution requirement. The fund is not permitted to carry forward any net ordinary losses it realizes in a taxable year to offset ordinary income it realizes in subsequent taxable years.

The fund may also enter into options on swap agreements ("swaptions"). A swaption is a contract that gives a counterparty the right (but not the obligation) to enter into a new swap agreement or to shorten, extend, cancel or otherwise modify an existing swap agreement, at some designated future time on specified terms. The fund may write (sell) and purchase put and call swaptions to the same extent it may make use of standard options on securities or other instruments. Swaptions are generally subject to the same risks involved in the fund’s use of options. See “—Options on Securities.”

A credit default swap is an agreement between the fund and a counterparty that enables the fund to buy or sell protection against a credit event related to a particular issuer. One party, acting as a “protection buyer,” makes periodic payments to the other party, a “protection seller,” in exchange for a promise by the protection seller to make a payment to the protection buyer if a negative credit event (such as a delinquent payment or default) occurs with respect to a referenced bond or group of bonds. Credit default swaps may also be structured based on the debt of a basket of issuers, rather than a single issuer, and may be customized with respect to the default event that triggers purchase or other factors (for example, the Nth default within a basket, or defaults by a particular combination of issuers within the basket, may trigger a payment obligation). The fund may enter into credit default swap contracts for investment purposes. As a credit protection seller in a credit default swap contract, the fund would be required to pay the par (or other agreed-upon) value of a referenced debt obligation to the counterparty in the event of a default by a third party, such as a U.S. or non-U.S. corporate issuer, on the debt obligation. In return for its obligation, the fund would receive from the counterparty a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided that no event of default has occurred. If no default occurs, the fund would keep the stream of payments and would have no payment obligations. As the seller, the fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap.

The fund may also purchase credit default swap contracts in order to hedge against the risk of default of the debt of a particular issuer or basket of issuers or profit from changes in the creditworthiness of the particular issuer(s) (also known as “buying credit protection”). In these cases, the fund would function as the counterparty referenced in the preceding paragraph. This would involve the risk that the investment may expire worthless and would only generate income in the event of an actual default by the issuer(s) of the underlying obligation(s) (or, as applicable, a credit downgrade or other indication of financial instability). It would also involve the risk that the seller may fail to satisfy its payment obligations to the fund in the event of a default. The purchase of credit default swaps involves costs, which will reduce the fund’s return.

Tax-exempt Securities

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General description. As used in this SAI, the term "Tax-exempt Securities" includes debt obligations issued by a state, its political subdivisions (for example, counties, cities, towns, villages, districts and authorities) and their agencies, instrumentalities or other governmental units, the interest from which is, in the opinion of bond counsel, exempt from federal income tax and (if applicable) the corresponding state’s personal income tax. Such obligations are issued to obtain funds for various public purposes, including the construction of a wide range of public facilities, such as airports, bridges, highways, housing, hospitals, mass transportation, schools, streets and water and sewer works. Other public purposes for which Tax-exempt Securities may be issued include the refunding of outstanding obligations or the payment of general operating expenses.

Short-term Tax-exempt Securities are generally issued by state and local governments and public authorities as interim financing in anticipation of tax collections, revenue receipts or bond sales to finance such public purposes.

In addition, certain types of "private activity" bonds may be issued by public authorities to finance projects such as privately operated housing facilities; certain local facilities for supplying water, gas or electricity; sewage or solid waste disposal facilities; student loans; or public or private institutions for the construction of educational, hospital, housing and other facilities. Such obligations are included within the term Tax-exempt Securities if the interest paid thereon is, in the opinion of bond counsel, exempt from federal income tax and (if applicable) state personal income tax (such interest may, however, be subject to federal alternative minimum tax). Other types of private activity bonds, the proceeds of which are used for the construction, repair or improvement of, or to obtain equipment for, privately operated industrial or commercial facilities, may also constitute Tax-exempt Securities, although the current federal tax laws place substantial limitations on the size of such issues.

Tax-exempt Securities share many of the structural features and risks of other bonds, as described elsewhere in this SAI. For example, the fund may purchase callable Tax-exempt Securities, zero-coupon Tax-exempt Securities, or “stripped” Tax-exempt Securities, which entail additional risks. The fund may also purchase structured or asset-backed Tax-exempt Securities, such as the securities (including preferred stock) of special purpose entities that hold interests in the Tax-exempt Securities of one or more issuers and issue “tranched” securities that are entitled to receive payments based on the cash flows from those underlying securities. See “—Redeemable securities,” “—Zero-coupon and Payment-in-kind Bonds,” “—Structured investments,” and “—Mortgage-backed and Asset-backed Securities” in this SAI. Structured Tax-exempt Securities may involve increased risk that the interest received by the fund may not be exempt from federal or state income tax, or that such interest may result in liability for the alternative minimum tax for shareholders of the fund. For example, in certain cases, the issuers of certain securities held by a special purpose entity may not have received an unqualified opinion of bond counsel that the interest from the securities will be exempt from federal income tax and (if applicable) the corresponding state’s personal income tax.

The amount of information about the financial condition of an issuer of Tax-exempt Securities may not be as extensive as that which is made available by corporations whose securities are publicly traded. As a result, the achievement of the fund's goals is more dependent on Putnam Management's investment analysis than would be the case if the fund were investing in securities of better-known issuers.

Escrow-secured or pre-refunded bonds. These securities are created when an issuer uses the proceeds from a new bond issue to buy high grade, interest-bearing debt securities, generally direct obligations of the U.S. government, in order to redeem (or “pre-refund”), before maturity, an outstanding bond issue that is not immediately callable. These securities are then deposited in an irrevocable escrow account held by a trustee bank to secure all future payments of principal and interest on the pre-refunded bond until that bond’s call date. Pre-refunded bonds often receive an ‘AAA’ or equivalent rating. Because pre-refunded bonds still bear the same interest rate, and have a very high credit quality, their price may increase. However, as the original bond approaches its call date, the bond's price will fall to its call price.

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Residual interest bonds. The fund may invest in residual interest bonds, which are created by depositing municipal securities in a trust and dividing the income stream of an underlying municipal bond in two parts, one, a variable rate security and the other, a residual interest bond. The interest rate for the variable rate security is determined by an index or a periodic auction process, while the residual interest bond holder receives the balance of the income from the underlying municipal bond less an auction fee. The market prices of residual interest bonds may be highly sensitive to changes in market rates and may decrease significantly when market rates increase.

Tobacco Settlement Revenue Bonds. The fund may invest in tobacco settlement revenue bonds, which are secured by an issuing state’s proportionate share of payments under the Master Settlement Agreement (“MSA”). The MSA is an agreement that was reached out of court in November 1998 between 46 states and six U.S. jurisdictions and tobacco manufacturers representing an overwhelming majority of U.S. market share. The MSA provides for annual payments by the manufacturers to the states and jurisdictions in perpetuity in exchange for releasing all claims against the manufacturers and a pledge of no further litigation. The MSA established a base payment schedule and a formula for adjusting payments each year. Tobacco manufacturers pay into a master escrow trust based on their market share, and each state receives a fixed percentage of the payment as set forth in the MSA. Within some states, certain localities may in turn be allocated a specific portion of the state’s MSA payment pursuant to an arrangement with the state.

A number of state and local governments have securitized the future flow of payments under the MSA by selling bonds pursuant to indentures, some through distinct governmental entities created for such purpose. The bonds are backed by the future revenue flow that is used for principal and interest payments on the bonds. Annual payments on the bonds, and thus risk to the fund, are dependent on the receipt of future settlement payments by the state or its instrumentality. The actual amount of future settlement payments may vary based on, among other things, annual domestic cigarette shipments, inflation, the financial capability of participating tobacco companies, and certain offsets for disputed payments. Payments made by tobacco manufacturers could be reduced if cigarette shipments continue to decline below the base levels used in establishing manufacturers’ payment obligations under the MSA. Demand for cigarettes in the U.S. could continue to decline based on many factors, including, without limitation, anti-smoking campaigns, tax increases, price increases implemented to recoup the cost of payments by tobacco companies under the MSA, reduced ability to advertise, enforcement of laws prohibiting sales to minors, elimination of certain sales venues such as vending machines, and the spread of local ordinances restricting smoking in public places.

Because tobacco settlement bonds are backed by payments from the tobacco manufacturers, and generally not by the credit of the state or local government issuing the bonds, their creditworthiness depends on the ability of tobacco manufacturers to meet their obligations. The bankruptcy of an MSA-participating manufacturer could cause delays or reductions in bond payments, which would affect the fund’s net asset value. Under the MSA, a market share loss by MSA-participating tobacco manufacturers to non-MSA participating manufacturers would also cause a downward adjustment in the payment amounts under some circumstances.

The MSA and tobacco manufacturers have been and continue to be subject to various legal claims, including, among others, claims that the MSA violates federal antitrust law. In addition, the United States Department of Justice has alleged in a civil lawsuit that the major tobacco companies defrauded and misled the American public about the health risks associated with smoking cigarettes. An adverse outcome to this lawsuit or to any other litigation matters or regulatory actions relating to the MSA or affecting tobacco manufacturers could adversely affect the payment streams associated with the MSA or cause delays or reductions in bond payments by tobacco manufacturers.

In addition to the risks described above, tobacco settlement revenue bonds are subject to other risks described in this SAI, including the risks of asset-backed securities discussed under “Mortgage-backed and Asset-backed Securities.”

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Participation interests (Money Market Funds only). The money market funds may invest in Tax-exempt Securities either by purchasing them directly or by purchasing certificates of accrual or similar instruments evidencing direct ownership of interest payments or principal payments, or both, on Tax-exempt Securities, provided that, in the opinion of counsel, any discount accruing on a certificate or instrument that is purchased at a yield not greater than the coupon rate of interest on the related Tax-exempt Securities will be exempt from federal income tax to the same extent as interest on the Tax-exempt Securities. The money market funds may also invest in Tax-exempt Securities by purchasing from banks participation interests in all or part of specific holdings of Tax-exempt Securities. These participations may be backed in whole or in part by an irrevocable letter of credit or guarantee of the selling bank. The selling bank may receive a fee from the money market funds in connection with the arrangement. The money market funds will not purchase such participation interests unless it receives an opinion of counsel or a ruling of the IRS that interest earned by it on Tax-exempt Securities in which it holds such participation interests is exempt from federal income tax. No money market fund expects to invest more than 5% of its assets in participation interests.

Stand-by commitments. When the fund purchases Tax-exempt Securities, it has the authority to acquire stand-by commitments from banks and broker-dealers with respect to those Tax-exempt Securities. A stand-by commitment may be considered a security independent of the Tax-exempt security to which it relates. The amount payable by a bank or dealer during the time a stand-by commitment is exercisable, absent unusual circumstances, would be substantially the same as the market value of the underlying Tax-exempt security to a third party at any time. The fund expects that stand-by commitments generally will be available without the payment of direct or indirect consideration. The fund does not expect to assign any value to stand-by commitments.

Yields. The yields on Tax-exempt Securities depend on a variety of factors, including general money market conditions, effective marginal tax rates, the financial condition of the issuer, general conditions of the Tax-exempt security market, the size of a particular offering, the maturity of the obligation and the rating of the issue. The ratings of nationally recognized securities rating agencies represent their opinions as to the credit quality of the Tax-exempt Securities which they undertake to rate. It should be emphasized, however, that ratings are general and are not absolute standards of quality. Consequently, Tax-exempt Securities with the same maturity and interest rate but with different ratings may have the same yield. Yield disparities may occur for reasons not directly related to the investment quality of particular issues or the general movement of interest rates and may be due to such factors as changes in the overall demand or supply of various types of Tax-exempt Securities or changes in the investment objectives of investors. Subsequent to purchase by the fund, an issue of Tax-exempt Securities or other investments may cease to be rated, or its rating may be reduced below the minimum rating required for purchase by the fund. Putnam Management will consider such an event in its determination of whether the fund should continue to hold an investment in its portfolio. Downgrades of Tax-exempt Securities held by a money market fund may require the fund to sell such securities, potentially at a loss.

"Moral obligation" bonds. The fund may invest in so-called “moral obligation” bonds, where repayment of the bond is backed by a moral (but not legally binding) commitment of an entity other than the issuer, such as a state legislature, to pay. Such a commitment may be in addition to the legal commitment of the issuer to repay the bond or may represent the only payment obligation with respect to the bond (where, for example, no amount has yet been specifically appropriated to pay the bond. See “—Municipal leases” below.)

Municipal leases. The fund may acquire participations in lease obligations or installment purchase contract obligations (collectively, “lease obligations”) of municipal authorities or entities. Lease obligations do not constitute general obligations of the municipality for which the municipality’s taxing power is pledged. Certain of these lease obligations contain “non-appropriation” clauses, which provide that the municipality has no obligation to make lease or installment purchase payments in future years unless money is appropriated for such purpose on a yearly basis. In the case of a “non-appropriation” lease, the fund’s ability to recover under the lease in the event of non-appropriation or default will be limited solely to the repossession of the leased property, and in any event, foreclosure of that property might prove difficult.

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Additional risks. Securities in which the fund may invest, including Tax-exempt Securities, are subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors, such as the federal Bankruptcy Code (including special provisions related to municipalities and other public entities), and laws, if any, that may be enacted by Congress or state legislatures extending the time for payment of principal or interest, or both, or imposing other constraints upon enforcement of such obligations. There is also the possibility that, as a result of litigation or other conditions, the power, ability or willingness of issuers to meet their obligations for the payment of interest and principal on their Tax-exempt Securities may be materially affected.

From time to time, legislation may be introduced or litigation may arise that may restrict or eliminate the federal income tax exemption for interest on debt obligations issued by states and their political subdivisions. Federal tax laws limit the types and amounts of tax-exempt bonds issuable for certain purposes, especially industrial development bonds and private activity bonds. Such limits may affect the future supply and yields of these types of Tax-exempt Securities. Further proposals limiting the issuance of Tax-exempt Securities may well be introduced in the future. If it appeared that the availability of Tax-exempt Securities for investment by the fund and the value of the fund's portfolio could be materially affected by such changes in law, the Trustees of the fund would reevaluate its goal and policies and consider changes in the structure of the fund or its dissolution. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors for the current law on tax-exempt bonds and securities.

Warrants

The fund may invest in warrants, which are instruments that give the fund the right to purchase certain securities from an issuer at a specific price (the “strike price”) for a limited period of time. The strike price of warrants typically is much lower than the current market price of the underlying securities, yet they are subject to similar price fluctuations. As a result, warrants may be more volatile investments than the underlying securities and may offer greater potential for capital appreciation as well as capital loss. Warrants do not entitle a holder to dividends or voting rights with respect to the underlying securities and do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuing company. Also, the value of the warrant does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities and a warrant ceases to have value if it is not exercised prior to the expiration date. These factors can make warrants more speculative than other types of investments.

In addition to warrants on securities, the fund may purchase put warrants and call warrants whose values vary depending on the change in the value of one or more specified securities indices ("index warrants"). Index warrants are generally issued by banks or other financial institutions and give the holder the right, at any time during the term of the warrant, to receive upon exercise of the warrant a cash payment from the issuer based on the value of the underlying index at the time of exercise. In general, if the value of the underlying index rises above the exercise price of the index warrant, the holder of a call warrant will be entitled to receive a cash payment from the issuer upon exercise based on the difference between the value of the index and the exercise price of the warrant; if the value of the underlying index falls, the holder of a put warrant will be entitled to receive a cash payment from the issuer upon exercise based on the difference between the exercise price of the warrant and the value of the index. The holder of a warrant would not be entitled to any payments from the issuer at any time when, in the case of a call warrant, the exercise price is greater than the value of the underlying index, or, in the case of a put warrant, the exercise price is less than the value of the underlying index. If the fund were not to exercise an index warrant prior to its expiration, then the fund would lose the amount of the purchase price paid by it for the warrant.

The fund will normally use index warrants in a manner similar to its use of options on securities indices. The risks of the fund's use of index warrants are generally similar to those relating to its use of index options. Unlike most index options, however, index warrants are issued in limited amounts and are not obligations of a regulated clearing agency, but are backed only by the credit of the bank or other institution which issues the warrant. Also, index warrants generally have longer terms than index options. Index warrants are not likely to be as liquid as

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certain index options backed by a recognized clearing agency. In addition, the terms of index warrants may limit the fund's ability to exercise the warrants at such time, or in such quantities, as the fund would otherwise wish to do.

Zero-coupon and Payment-in-kind Bonds

The fund may invest without limit in so-called "zero-coupon" bonds and "payment-in-kind" bonds. Zero-coupon bonds are issued at a significant discount from their principal amount in lieu of paying interest periodically. Payment-in-kind bonds allow the issuer, at its option, to make current interest payments on the bonds either in cash or in additional bonds. Because zero-coupon and payment-in-kind bonds do not pay current interest in cash, their value is subject to greater fluctuation in response to changes in market interest rates than bonds that pay interest currently. Both zero-coupon and payment-in-kind bonds allow an issuer to avoid the need to generate cash to meet current interest payments. Accordingly, such bonds may involve greater credit risks than bonds paying interest currently in cash. The fund is required to accrue interest income on such investments and to distribute such amounts at least annually to shareholders even though such bonds do not pay current interest in cash. Thus, it may be necessary at times for the fund to liquidate investments, including when it is not advantageous to do so, in order to satisfy its distribution requirements under the Code.

TAXES

The following discussion of U.S. federal income tax consequences is based on the Code, existing U.S. Treasury regulations, and other applicable authority, as of the date of this SAI. These authorities are subject to change by legislative or administrative action, possibly with retroactive effect. The following discussion is only a summary of some of the important U.S. federal income tax considerations generally applicable to investments in the fund. There may be other tax considerations applicable to particular shareholders. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisors regarding their particular situation and the possible application of foreign, state and local tax laws.

Taxation of the fund. The fund intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code. In order to qualify for the special tax treatment accorded regulated investment companies and their shareholders, the fund must, among other things:

(a) derive at least 90% of its gross income for each taxable year from (i) dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures, or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies, and (ii) net income from interests in “qualified publicly traded partnerships” (as defined below);

(b) diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of the fund’s taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the market value of the fund’s total assets is represented by cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and other securities limited in respect of any one issuer to a value not greater than 5% of the value of the fund’s total assets and not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of the fund’s total assets is invested, including through corporations in which the fund owns a 20% or more voting stock interest, (x) in the securities (other than those of the U.S. government or other regulated investment companies) of any one issuer or of two or more issuers which the fund controls and which are engaged in the same, similar, or related trades or businesses, or (y) in the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships (as defined below); and

(c) distribute with respect to each taxable year at least 90% of the sum of its investment company taxable income (as that term is defined in the Code without regard to the deduction for dividends paid—generally, taxable ordinary income and the excess, if any, of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses) and net tax-exempt interest income, for such year.

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In general, for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement described in paragraph (a) above, income derived from a partnership will be treated as qualifying income only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership which would be qualifying income if realized by the regulated investment company. However, 100% of the net income of a regulated investment company derived from an interest in a “qualified publicly traded partnership” (defined as a partnership (i) interests in which are traded on an established securities market or readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof, and (ii) that derives less than 90% of its income from the qualifying income described in paragraph (a)(i) above) will be treated as qualifying income. In general, such entities will be treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes because they meet the passive income requirement under Code section 7704(c)(2). In addition, although in general the passive loss rules of the Code do not apply to regulated investment companies, such rules do apply to a regulated investment company with respect to items attributable to an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership.

For purposes of the diversification test in paragraph (b) above, identification of the issuer (or, in some cases, issuers) of a particular fund investment will depend on the terms and conditions of that investment. In some cases, identification of the issuer (or issuers) is uncertain under current law, and an adverse determination or future guidance by the IRS with respect to issuer identification for a particular type of investment may adversely affect the fund’s ability to meet the diversification test in (b) above. Also, for the purposes of the diversification test in paragraph (b) above, the term “outstanding voting securities of such issuer” will include the equity securities of a qualified publicly traded partnership.

If the fund qualifies as a regulated investment company that is accorded special tax treatment, the fund will not be subject to U. S. federal income tax on income or gains distributed in a timely manner to its shareholders in the form of dividends (including Capital Gain Dividends, as defined below).

If the fund were to fail to meet the income, diversification or distribution test described above, the fund could in some cases cure such failure, including by paying a fund-level tax, paying interest, making additional distributions, or disposing of certain assets. If the fund were ineligible to or otherwise did not cure such failure for any year, or were otherwise to fail to qualify as a regulated investment company accorded special tax treatment in any taxable year, the fund would be subject to tax on its taxable income at corporate rates, and all distributions from earnings and profits, including any distributions of net tax-exempt income and net long-term capital gains, would be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. Some portions of such distributions may be eligible for the dividends received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders, and may be eligible to be treated as “qualified dividend income” in the case of shareholders taxed as individuals, provided, in both cases, that the shareholder meets certain holding period and other requirements in respect of the fund’s shares (as described below). In addition, the fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest and make substantial distributions before requalifying as a regulated investment company that is accorded special tax treatment.

The fund intends to distribute at least annually to its shareholders all or substantially all of its investment company taxable income (computed without regard to the dividends-paid deduction) and its net tax-exempt income (if any). The fund may distribute its net capital gain (that is, the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss, in each case determined with reference to any loss carryforwards). Investment company taxable income (which is retained by the fund) will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates. The fund may also retain for investment its net capital gain. If the fund retains any net capital gain, it will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained, but may designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gains in a notice to its shareholders who will be (i) required to include in income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their shares of such undistributed amount, and (ii) entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the tax paid by the fund on such undistributed amount against their U.S. federal income tax liabilities, if any, and to claim refunds on a properly-filed U.S. tax return to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. If the fund makes this designation, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the tax basis of shares owned by a shareholder of the fund will be increased by an amount equal to the difference between the amount of undistributed capital gains included in the shareholder’s gross income under clause (i) of the preceding sentence

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and the tax deemed paid by the shareholder under clause (ii) of the preceding sentence. The fund is not required to, and there can be no assurance the fund will, make this designation if it retains all or a portion of its net capital gain in a taxable year.

In determining its net capital gain, including in connection with determining the amount available to support a Capital Gain Dividend (as defined below), its taxable income and its earnings and profits, a regulated investment company generally may also elect to treat part or all of any post-October capital loss (defined as any net capital loss attributable to the portion, if any, of the taxable year after October 31 or, if there is no such loss, the net long-term capital loss or net short-term capital loss attributable to any such portion of the taxable year) or late-year ordinary loss (generally, the sum of its (i) net ordinary loss, if any, from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of property, attributable to the portion, if any, of the taxable year after October 31, and its (ii) other net ordinary loss, if any, attributable to the portion, if any, of the taxable year after December 31) as if incurred in the succeeding taxable year.

If the fund fails to distribute in a calendar year at least an amount equal to the sum of 98% of its ordinary income for such year and 98.2% of its capital gain net income for the one-year period ending October 31 of such year, plus any retained amount from the prior year, the fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax on the undistributed amounts. For these purposes, ordinary gains and losses from the sale, exchange, or other taxable disposition of property that would otherwise be properly taken into account after October 31 are treated as arising on January 1 of the following calendar year. For purposes of the excise tax, the fund will be treated as having distributed any amount on which it has been subject to corporate income tax in the taxable year ending within the calendar year. A dividend paid to shareholders in January of a year generally is deemed to have been paid by the fund on December 31 of the preceding year, if the dividend was declared and payable to shareholders of record on a date in October, November or December of that preceding year. The fund intends generally to make distributions sufficient to avoid imposition of the 4% excise tax, although there can be no assurance that it will be able to do so.

The fund distributes its net investment income and capital gains to shareholders as dividends at least annually to the extent required to qualify as a regulated investment company under the Code and generally to avoid U.S. federal income or excise tax. Under current law, provided it is not treated as a “personal holding company” for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the fund is permitted to treat the portion of redemption proceeds paid to redeeming shareholders that represents the redeeming shareholders’ portion of the fund’s accumulated earnings and profits as a dividend on the fund’s tax return. This practice, which involves the use of tax equalization, will have the effect of reducing the amount of income and gains that the fund is required to distribute as dividends to shareholders in order for the fund to avoid U. S. federal income tax and excise tax. This practice may also reduce the amount of distributions required to be made to non-redeeming shareholders and the amount of any undistributed income will be reflected in the value of the shares of the fund; the total return on a shareholder’s investment will not be reduced as a result of this distribution policy.

Fund distributions. Distributions from the fund (other than exempt-interest dividends, as discussed below) generally are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income to the extent derived from the fund’s investment income and net short-term capital gains. Distributions are taxable whether shareholders receive them in cash or reinvest them in additional shares of the fund or other Putnam funds.

Taxes on distributions of capital gains are determined by how long the fund owned (or is deemed to have owned) the investments that generated them, rather than how long a shareholder has owned his or her shares. In general, the fund will recognize long-term capital gain or loss on investments it has owned for more than one year, and short-term capital gain or loss on investments it has owned for one year or less. Tax rules can alter the fund’s holding period in investments and thereby affect the tax treatment of gain or loss on such investments. Distributions of net capital gain that are properly reported by the fund as capital gain dividends (“Capital Gain Dividends”) will be treated as long-term capital gains includible in net capital gain and taxed to individuals at reduced rates. Distributions from capital gains generally are made after applying any available capital loss carryforwards. Distributions of net short-term capital gain (as reduced by any net long-term capital loss for the

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taxable year) will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. Investors who purchase shares shortly before the record date of a distribution will pay the full price for the shares and then receive some portion of the price back as a taxable distribution.

Section 1411 of the Code generally imposes a 3.8% Medicare contribution tax on the net investment income of certain individuals, trusts and estates to the extent their income exceeds certain threshold amounts. For these purposes, “net investment income” generally includes, among other things, (i) distributions paid by the fund of net investment income and capital gains (other than exempt-interest dividends) as described herein, and (ii) any net gain from the sale, redemption, exchange or other taxable disposition of fund shares. Shareholders are advised to consult their tax advisers regarding the possible implications of this additional tax on their investment in the fund.

Distributions of investment income reported by the fund as “qualified dividend income” received by an individual will be taxed at the reduced rates applicable to net capital gain. In order for some portion of the dividends received by a fund shareholder to be qualified dividend income, the fund must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to some portion of the dividend-paying stocks in its portfolio and the shareholder must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to the fund’s shares. In general, a dividend will not be treated as qualified dividend income (at either the fund or shareholder level) (1) if the dividend is received with respect to any share of stock held for fewer than 61 days during the 121-day period beginning on the date which is 60 days before the date on which such share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend (or, on the case of certain preferred stock, 91 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date), (2) to the extent that the recipient is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property, (3) if the recipient elects to have the dividend income treated as investment interest, or (4) if the dividend is received from a foreign corporation that is (a) not eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the United States (with the exception of dividends paid on stock of such a foreign corporation readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States) or (b) treated as a passive foreign investment company. Each fund, other than fixed-income and money market funds, generally expects to report eligible dividends as qualified dividend income.

In general, distributions of investment income reported by the fund as derived from qualified dividend income will be treated as qualified dividend income by a shareholder taxed as an individual provided the shareholder meets the holding period and other requirements described above with respect to such fund’s shares. In any event, if the aggregate qualified dividends received by the fund during any taxable year are 95% or more of its gross income (excluding net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), then 100% of the fund’s dividends (other than dividends properly reported as Capital Gain Dividends) will be eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income.

In general, fixed-income and money market funds receive interest, rather than dividends, from their portfolio securities. As a result, it is not currently expected that any significant portion of such funds’ distributions to shareholders will be derived from qualified dividend income. For information regarding qualified dividend income received from underlying funds, see “Funds of funds” below.

In general, dividends of net investment income received by corporate shareholders of the fund will qualify for the 70% dividends-received deduction generally available to corporations only to the extent of the amount of eligible dividends received by the fund from domestic corporations for the taxable year. A dividend received by the fund will not be treated as a dividend eligible for the dividends-received deduction (1) if it has been received with respect to any share of stock that the fund has held for less than 46 days (91 days in the case of certain preferred stock) during the 91-day period beginning on the date which is 45 days before the date on which such share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend (during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date in the case of certain preferred stock) or (2) to the extent that the fund is under an obligation (pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property. Moreover, the dividends received deduction may otherwise be disallowed or reduced (1) if the

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corporate shareholder fails to satisfy the foregoing requirements with respect to its shares of the fund or (2) by application of various provisions of the Code (for instance, the dividends-received deduction is reduced in the case of a dividend received on debt-financed portfolio stock (generally, stock acquired with borrowed funds)). For information regarding eligibility for the dividends-received deduction of dividend income derived from an underlying fund, see “Funds of funds” below.

Exempt-interest dividends. A fund will be qualified to pay exempt-interest dividends to its shareholders if, at the close of each quarter of the fund’s taxable year, at least 50% of the total value of the fund’s assets consists of obligations the interest on which is exempt from federal income tax under Section 103(a) of the Code. In some cases, the fund may also pass through to its shareholders the tax-exempt character of any exempt-interest dividends it receives from underlying funds in which it invests (see “Funds of funds,” below). Distributions that the fund reports as exempt-interest dividends are treated as interest excludable from shareholders’ gross income for federal income tax purposes but may be taxable for federal alternative minimum tax (“AMT”) purposes and for state and local purposes. If the fund intends to qualify to pay exempt-interest dividends, the fund may be limited in its ability to enter into taxable transactions involving forward commitments, repurchase agreements, financial futures and options contracts on financial futures, tax-exempt bond indices and other assets.

Part or all of the interest on indebtedness, if any, incurred or continued by a shareholder to purchase or carry shares of the fund paying exempt-interest dividends is not deductible. The portion of interest that is not deductible is equal to the total interest paid or accrued on the indebtedness, multiplied by the percentage of the fund’s total distributions (not including distributions from net long-term capital gains) paid to the shareholder that are exempt-interest dividends. Under rules used by the IRS to determine when borrowed funds are considered used for the purpose of purchasing or carrying particular assets, the purchase of shares may be considered to have been made with borrowed funds even though such funds are not directly traceable to the purchase of shares.

In general, exempt-interest dividends, if any, attributable to interest received on certain private activity obligations and certain industrial development bonds will not be tax-exempt to any shareholders who are “substantial users” of the facilities financed by such obligations or bonds or who are “related persons” of such substantial users.

A fund that is qualified to pay exempt-interest dividends will notify its shareholders in a written statement of the portion of distributions for the taxable year that constitutes exempt-interest dividends.

Exempt-interest dividends may be taxable for purposes of the federal AMT. For individual shareholders, exempt-interest dividends that are derived from interest on private activity bonds that are issued after August 7, 1986 (other than a “qualified 501(c)(3) bond,” as such term is defined in the Code) generally must be included in an individual’s tax base for purposes of calculating the shareholder’s liability for U.S. federal AMT. Corporate shareholders will be required to include all exempt-interest dividends in determining their federal AMT. The AMT calculation for corporations is based, in part, on a corporation’s earnings and profits for the year. A corporation must include all exempt-interest dividends in calculating its earnings and profits for the year. Putnam AMT-Free Municipal Fund intends to distribute exempt-interest dividends that will not be taxable for federal AMT purposes for individuals. It intends to make such distributions by investing in Tax-exempt Securities other than private activity bonds that are issued after August 7, 1986 (other than “qualified 501(c)(3) bonds,” as such term is defined in the Code). Because corporate shareholders are required to include all exempt-interest dividends in determining their federal AMT, exempt-interest dividends distributed by Putnam AMT-Free Municipal Fund will be taxable for purposes of the federal AMT.

Funds of funds. If the fund invests in shares of underlying funds, a portion of its distributable income and gains will consist of distributions from the underlying funds and gains and losses on the disposition of shares of the underlying funds. To the extent that an underlying fund realizes net losses on its investments for a given taxable year, the fund will not be able to recognize its share of those losses (so as to offset distributions of net income or capital gains from other underlying funds) until and only to the extent that it disposes of shares of the underlying

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fund in a transaction qualifying for sale or exchange treatment or those losses reduce distributions required to be made by the underlying fund. Moreover, even when the fund does make such a disposition, a portion of its loss may be recognized as a long-term capital loss, which will not be treated as favorably for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a short-term capital loss or an ordinary deduction. In particular, the fund will not be able to offset any capital losses from its dispositions of underlying fund shares against its ordinary income (including distributions of any net short-term capital gains realized by an underlying fund).

In addition, in certain circumstances, the “wash sale” rules under Section 1091 of the Code may apply to the fund’s sales of underlying fund shares that have generated losses. A wash sale occurs if shares of an underlying fund are sold by the fund at a loss and the fund acquires additional shares of that same underlying fund 30 days before or after the date of the sale. The wash-sale rules could defer losses in the fund’s hands on sales of underlying fund shares (to the extent such sales are wash sales) for extended (and, in certain cases, potentially indefinite) periods of time.

As a result of the foregoing rules, and certain other special rules, the amounts of net investment income and net capital gains that the fund will be required to distribute to shareholders may be greater than such amounts would have been had the fund invested directly in the securities held by the underlying funds, rather than investing in shares of the underlying funds. For similar reasons, the amount or timing of distributions from the fund qualifying for treatment as being of a particular character (e.g., as long-term capital gain, exempt interest, eligible for dividends-received deduction, etc.) will not necessarily be the same as it would have been had the fund invested directly in the securities held by the underlying funds.

If the fund receives dividends from an underlying fund that qualifies as a regulated investment company, and the underlying fund reports such dividends as “qualified dividend income,” then the fund may, in turn, report a portion of its distributions as “qualified dividend income” as well, provided the fund meets the holding period and other requirements with respect to shares of the underlying fund.

If the fund receives dividends from an underlying fund and the underlying fund reports such dividends as eligible for the dividends-received deduction, then the fund is permitted, in turn, to designate a portion of its distributions as eligible for the dividends-received deduction, provided the fund meets the holding period and other requirements with respect to shares of the underlying fund.

If the fund were to own 20% or more of the voting interests of an underlying fund, subject to a safe harbor in respect of certain fund of funds arrangements, the fund would be required to “look through” the underlying fund to its holdings and combine the appropriate percentage (as determined pursuant to the applicable Treasury Regulations) of the underlying fund’s assets with the fund’s assets for purposes of satisfying the 25% diversification test described above.

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If, at the close of each quarter of the fund’s taxable year, at least 50% of its total assets consists of interests in other regulated investment companies (such fund, a “qualified fund of funds”), the fund will be permitted to distribute exempt-interest dividends and thereby pass through to its shareholders the tax-exempt character of any exempt-interest dividends it receives from underlying funds in which it invests, or interest on any tax-exempt obligations in which it directly invests, if any. For further information regarding exempt-interest dividends, see “Exempt-interest dividends,” above.

If the fund is a qualified fund of funds, the fund will be entitled to elect to pass through to its shareholders a credit or deduction for foreign taxes (if any) borne in respect of foreign securities income earned by the fund, or by any underlying funds and passed through to the fund. If the fund so elects, shareholders will include in gross income from foreign sources their pro rata shares of such taxes, if any, treated as paid by the fund. Even if the fund is eligible to make such an election for a given year, it may determine not to do so. If the fund elects to pass through to its shareholders foreign tax credits or deductions, tax-exempt shareholders and those who invest in the fund through tax-advantaged accounts such as IRAs will not benefit from any such tax credit or deduction. See “Foreign taxes” below for more information.

Derivatives, hedging and related transactions; certain exposure to commodities. In general, option premiums received by the fund are not immediately included in the income of the fund. Instead, the premiums are recognized when the option contract expires, the option is exercised by the holder, or the fund transfers or otherwise terminates the option (e.g., through a closing transaction). If a call option written by the fund is exercised and the fund sells or delivers the underlying stock, the fund generally will recognize capital gain or loss equal to (a) the sum of the strike price and the option premium received by the fund minus (b) the fund’s basis in the stock. Such gain or loss generally will be short-term or long-term depending upon the holding period of the underlying stock. If securities are purchased by the fund pursuant to the exercise of a put option written by it, the fund generally will subtract the premium received for purposes of computing its cost basis in the securities purchased. Gain or loss arising in respect of a termination of the fund’s obligation under an option other than through the exercise of the option will be short-term gain or loss depending on whether the premium income received by the fund is greater or less than the amount paid by the fund (if any) in terminating the transaction. Thus, for example, if an option written by the fund expires unexercised, the fund generally will recognize short-term gain equal to the premium received.

Certain covered call writing activities of the fund may trigger the U.S. federal income tax straddle rules contained primarily in Section 1092 of the Code. Very generally, where applicable, Section 1092 requires (i) that losses be deferred on positions deemed to be offsetting positions with respect to “substantially similar or related property,” to the extent of unrealized gain in the latter, and (ii) that the holding period of such a straddle position that has not already been held for the long-term holding period be terminated and begin anew once the position is no longer part of a straddle. Options on single stocks that are not “deep in the money” may constitute qualified covered calls, which generally are not subject to the straddle rules; the holding period on stock underlying qualified covered calls that are “in the money” although not “deep in the money” will be suspended during the period that such calls are outstanding. Thus, the straddle rules and the rules governing qualified covered calls could cause gains that would otherwise constitute long-term capital gains to be treated as short-term capital gains, and distributions that would otherwise constitute “qualified dividend income” or qualify for the dividends-received deduction to fail to satisfy the holding period requirements and therefore to be taxed as ordinary income or to fail to qualify for the 70% dividends-received deduction, as the case may be.

In general, 40% of the gain or loss arising from the closing out of a futures contract traded on an exchange approved by the Commodities Futures Trading Commission is treated as short-term gain or loss, and 60% is treated as long-term gain or loss, although certain foreign currency gains and losses from such contracts may be treated as ordinary in character. Also, such contracts held by the fund at the end of each taxable year (and, for purposes of the 4% excise tax, on certain other dates as prescribed under the Code) are “marked to market” with the result that unrealized gains or losses are treated as though they were realized and the resulting gain or loss is treated as ordinary or 60/40 gain or loss, as applicable.

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The fund’s investment in swaps, if any, will generate ordinary income and losses for federal income tax purposes. The fund’s investments in futures and swaps may cause the fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to make the distributions necessary to qualify and be eligible for treatment as a regulated investment company and avoid a fund-level tax. The fund may therefore need to liquidate other investments, including when it is not advantageous to do so, to meet its distribution requirement. The fund is not permitted to carry forward any net ordinary losses it realizes in a taxable year to offset ordinary income it realizes in subsequent taxable years.

In addition to the special rules described above in respect of options, futures transactions and swaps, the fund’s derivative transactions, including transactions in options, futures contracts, straddles, securities loan and other similar transactions, including for hedging purposes, will be subject to special tax rules (including constructive sale, mark-to-market, straddle, wash sale, and short sale rules), the effect of which may be to accelerate income to the fund, defer losses to the fund, cause adjustments in the holding periods of the fund’s securities, convert long-term capital gains into short-term capital gains, short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses, or capital gains into ordinary income. These rules could therefore affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to shareholders. The fund may make any applicable elections pertaining to such transactions consistent with the interests of the fund.

Because these and other tax rules applicable to these types of transactions are in some cases uncertain under current law, an adverse determination or future guidance by the IRS with respect to these rules (which determination or guidance could be retroactive) may affect whether the fund has made sufficient distributions, and otherwise satisfied the relevant requirements, to maintain its qualification as a regulated investment company and avoid a fund-level tax.

A fund’s use of commodity-linked derivatives can be limited by the fund’s intention to qualify as a regulated investment company and can bear on its ability to so qualify. Income and gains from certain commodity-linked derivatives do not constitute qualifying income to a regulated investment company for purposes of the 90% gross income test described above. The tax treatment of certain other commodity-linked derivative instruments in which the fund might invest is not certain, in particular with respect to whether income or gains from such instruments constitute qualifying income to a regulated investment company. If the fund were to treat income or gain from a particular instrument as qualifying income and the income or gain were later determined not to constitute qualifying income and, together with any other nonqualifying income, caused the fund’s nonqualifying income to exceed 10% of its gross income in any taxable year, the fund would fail to qualify as a regulated investment company unless it is eligible to and does pay a tax at the fund level.

The tax rules are uncertain with respect to the treatment of income or gains arising in respect of commodity-linked exchange-traded notes (“ETNs”) and certain commodity-linked structured notes; also, the timing and character of income or gains arising from ETNs can be uncertain. An adverse determination or future guidance by the IRS (which determination or guidance could be retroactive) may affect the fund’s ability to qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company and to avoid a fund-level tax.

To the extent that, in order to achieve exposure to commodities, the fund invests in entities that are treated as pass-through vehicles for U.S. federal income tax purposes, including, for instance, certain ETFs (e.g., ETFs investing in gold bullion) and partnerships other than qualified publicly traded partnerships (as defined earlier), all or a portion of any income and gains from such entities could constitute non-qualifying income to the fund for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement described above. In such a case, the fund’s investments in such entities could be limited by its intention to qualify as a regulated investment company and could bear on its ability to so qualify. Certain commodities-related ETFs may qualify as qualified publicly traded partnerships. In such cases, the net income derived from such investments will constitute qualifying income for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement. If, however, such a vehicle were to fail to qualify as a qualified publicly traded partnership in a particular year, a portion of the gross income derived from it in such year could constitute non-qualifying income to the fund for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement and thus could adversely affect the fund’s ability to qualify as a regulated investment company for a particular year. In addition, the

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diversification requirement described above for regulated investment company qualification will limit the fund’s investments in one or more vehicles that are qualified publicly traded partnerships to 25% of the fund’s total assets as of the close of each quarter of the fund’s taxable year.

Each of Putnam PanAgora Managed Futures Strategy and Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund intends to gain exposure to commodities and commodity-related investments, in whole or in part, through each fund’s respective Subsidiary. A U.S. person who owns (directly, indirectly or constructively) 10 percent or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of a foreign corporation is a “United States Shareholder” for purposes of the CFC provisions of the Code. A foreign corporation is a CFC if, on any day of its taxable year, more than 50 percent of the voting power or value of its stock is owned (directly, indirectly or constructively) by “United States Shareholders.” Because each of Putnam PanAgora Managed Futures Strategy and Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund is a U.S. person that owns all of the stock of its respective Subsidiary, each of Putnam PanAgora Managed Futures Strategy and Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund is a “United States Shareholder” and each Subsidiary is a CFC. As a “United States Shareholder,” each of Putnam PanAgora Managed Futures Strategy and Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund is required to include in gross income for United States federal income tax purposes, as ordinary income, all of its Subsidiary’s “subpart F income,” whether or not such income is distributed by the applicable Subsidiary, which may increase the ordinary income recognized by the fund. “Subpart F income” generally includes interest, original issue discount, dividends, net gains from the disposition of stocks or securities, receipts with respect to securities loans and net payments received with respect to equity swaps and similar derivatives. “Subpart F income” also includes the excess of gains over losses from transactions (including futures, forward and similar transactions) in commodities. It is expected that all of the Subsidiaries’ income will be “subpart F income.” Each fund’s recognition of its Subsidiary’s “subpart F income” will increase such fund’s tax basis in its Subsidiary’s shares. Distributions by a Subsidiary to the applicable fund will be tax-free, to the extent of such Subsidiary’s previously undistributed “subpart F income,” and will correspondingly reduce the fund’s tax basis in its Subsidiary’s shares. “Subpart F income” is generally treated as ordinary income, regardless of the character of a Subsidiary’s underlying income. If a net loss is realized by a Subsidiary, such loss is generally not available to offset income or capital gain generated from the fund’s other investments. In addition, a Subsidiary is not permitted to carry forward any net ordinary losses it realizes in a taxable year to offset ordinary income it realizes in subsequent taxable years.

The rules regarding the extent to which such subpart F inclusions will be treated as "qualifying income" for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement described above are unclear and currently under consideration. In the absence of further guidance, Putnam PanAgora Managed Futures Strategy and Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund will seek to ensure that they satisfy the 90% gross income requirement, including but not limited to by ensuring that each Subsidiary timely distributes to the applicable fund an amount equal to such Subsidiary’s subpart F income by the end of the Subsidiary’s taxable year. In order to make such distributions, a Subsidiary may be required to sell investments, including at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. If either of Putnam PanAgora Managed Futures Strategy and Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund were to fail to meet the 90% gross income requirement or otherwise were to fail to qualify as a regulated investment company accorded special tax treatment in any taxable year, such fund would be subject to tax on its taxable income at corporate rates, and all distributions from earnings and profits, including any distributions of net tax-exempt income and net long-term capital gains, would be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. In addition, the fund could be required to pay substantial taxes, penalties and interest, and to make substantial distributions, in order to re-qualify for such special treatment.

Certain of the fund’s investments in derivative instruments and foreign currency-denominated instruments, and any of the fund's transactions in foreign currencies and hedging activities, are likely to produce a difference between its book income and its taxable income. If such a difference arises, and the fund’s book income is less than its taxable income (or, for tax-exempt funds, the sum of its net tax-exempt and taxable income), the fund could be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a regulated investment company that is accorded special tax treatment and to eliminate fund-level income tax. In the alternative, if the fund’s book income exceeds the sum of its taxable income and tax-exempt income, the distribution (if any) of such excess will be treated as (i) a dividend to the extent of the fund’s remaining earnings and profits (including earnings and

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profits arising from tax-exempt income), (ii) thereafter as a return of capital to the extent of the recipient’s basis in the shares, and (iii) thereafter as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset.

Investments in REITs. The fund’s investment in REIT equity securities may result in the fund’s receipt of cash in excess of the REIT’s earnings. If the fund distributes such amounts, such distribution could constitute a return of capital to the fund shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Dividends received by the fund from a REIT generally will not constitute qualified dividend income and will not qualify for the corporate dividends-received deduction.

Mortgage-related securities. The fund may invest in REITs, including REITs that hold residual interests in real estate mortgage investment conduits (“REMICs”) (including by investing in residual interests in collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”) with respect to which an election to be treated as a REMIC is in effect), REITs that are themselves taxable mortgage pools (“TMPs”) or REITs that invest in TMPs. Under a notice issued by the IRS in October 2006 and Treasury regulations that have not yet been issued, but apply retroactively, a portion of the fund’s income from a REIT that is attributable to the REIT’s residual interest in a REMIC or TMP (referred to in the Code as an “excess inclusion”) will be subject to U.S. federal income tax in all events. This notice also provides, and the regulations are expected to provide, that excess inclusion income of a regulated investment company, such as the fund, will be allocated to shareholders of the regulated investment company in proportion to the dividends received by such shareholders, with the same consequences as if the shareholders held the related REMIC or TMP residual interest directly. As a result, a fund investing in such interests may not be a suitable investment for charitable remainder trusts, as noted below.

In general, excess inclusion income allocated to shareholders (i) cannot be offset by net operating losses (subject to a limited exception for certain thrift institutions), (ii) will constitute unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”) to entities (including a qualified pension plan, an individual retirement account, a 401(k) plan, a Keogh plan or other tax-exempt entity) subject to tax on UBTI, thereby potentially requiring such an entity that is allocated excess inclusion income, and otherwise might not be required to file a tax return, to file a tax return and pay tax on such income, and (iii) in the case of a non-U.S. shareholder, will not qualify for any reduction in U.S. federal withholding tax. A shareholder will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such inclusions notwithstanding any exemption from such income tax otherwise available under the Code. Any investment in residual interests of CMO that has elected to be treated as a REMIC can create complex tax problems, especially if the fund has state or local governments or other tax-exempt organizations as shareholders.

Income of a fund that would be UBTI if earned directly by a tax-exempt entity generally will not constitute UBTI when distributed to a tax-exempt shareholder of the fund. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a tax-exempt shareholder will recognize UBTI by virtue of its investment in the fund if shares in the fund constitute debt-financed property in the hands of the tax-exempt shareholder within the meaning of Code Section 514(b). Furthermore, a tax-exempt shareholder may recognize UBTI if the fund recognizes excess inclusion income derived from direct or indirect investments in REMIC residual interests or TMPs if the amount of such income recognized by the fund exceeds the fund's investment company taxable income (after taking into account deductions for dividends paid by the fund).

Under legislation enacted in December 2006, a charitable remainder trust (“CRT”), as defined in Section 664 of the Code, that realizes UBTI for a taxable year must pay an excise tax annually of an amount equal to such UBTI. Under IRS guidance issued in October 2006, a CRT will not recognize UBTI solely as a result of investing in a fund that recognizes excess inclusion income. Rather, if at any time during any taxable year a CRT (or one of certain other tax-exempt shareholders, such as the United States, a state or political subdivision, or an agency or instrumentality thereof, and certain energy cooperatives) is a record holder of a share in a fund that recognizes excess inclusion income, then the fund will be subject to a tax on that portion of its excess inclusion income for the taxable year that is allocable to such shareholders at the highest federal corporate income tax rate. The extent to which this IRS guidance remains applicable in light of the December 2006 legislation is unclear. To the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the fund may elect to specially allocate any such tax to the applicable CRT, or other shareholder, and thus reduce such shareholder’s distributions for the year by the amount of the tax that

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relates to such shareholder’s interest in the fund. CRTs and other tax-exempt investors are urged to consult their tax advisors concerning the consequences of investing in the fund.

Return of capital distributions. If the fund makes a distribution in and with respect to any taxable year to a shareholder in excess of the fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, the excess distribution will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of such shareholder’s tax basis in its shares, and thereafter as capital gain. A return of capital is not taxable, but it reduces a shareholder’s tax basis in its shares, thus reducing any loss or increasing any gain on a subsequent taxable disposition by the shareholder of its shares.

Dividends and distributions on the fund’s shares generally are subject to federal income tax as described herein to the extent they do not exceed the fund’s realized income and gains, even though such dividends and distributions may economically represent a return of a particular shareholder’s investment. Such distributions are likely to occur in respect of shares purchased at a time when the fund’s net asset value reflects gains that are either unrealized, or realized but not distributed. Such realized income and gains may be required to be distributed even when the fund’s net asset value also reflects unrealized losses. Distributions are taxable to a shareholder even if they are paid from income or gains earned by the fund prior to the shareholder’s investment (and thus included in the price paid by the shareholder).

Securities issued or purchased at a discount. Some debt obligations with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance (and zero-coupon debt obligations with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance) that are acquired by the fund will be treated as debt obligations that are issued originally at a discount. Generally, the amount of the original issue discount (“OID”) is treated as interest income and is included in the fund’s income (and required to be distributed by the fund) over the term of the debt security, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, upon partial or full repayment or disposition of the debt security. In addition, payment-in-kind securities will give rise to income which is required to be distributed and is taxable even though the fund holding the security receives no interest payment in cash on the security during the year.

Some debt obligations with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance that are acquired by the fund in the secondary market may be treated as having “market discount.” Very generally, market discount is the excess of the stated redemption price of a debt obligation (or in the case of an obligation issued with OID, its “revised issue price”) over the purchase price of such obligation. Generally, any gain recognized on the disposition of, and any partial payment of principal on, a debt security having market discount is treated as ordinary income to the extent the gain, or principal payment, does not exceed the “accrued market discount” on such debt security. Alternatively, the fund may elect to accrue market discount currently, in which case the fund will be required to include the accrued market discount in the fund's income (as ordinary income) and thus distribute it over the term of the debt security, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, upon partial or full repayment or disposition of the debt security. The rate at which the market discount accrues, and thus is included in the fund's income, will depend upon which of the permitted accrual methods the Fund elects.

Some debt obligations with a fixed maturity date of one year or less from the date of issuance that are acquired by the fund may be treated as having “acquisition discount” (very generally, the excess of the stated redemption price over the purchase price) or OID. The fund will be required to include the acquisition discount or OID in income over the term of the debt security, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, usually when the debt security matures. The fund may make one or more of the elections applicable to debt obligations having acquisition discount or OID, which could affect the character and timing of recognition of income.

If the fund holds the foregoing kinds of obligations, or other obligations subject to special rules under the Code, it may be required to pay out as an income distribution each year an amount which is greater than the total amount of cash interest the fund actually received. Such distributions may be made from the cash assets of the fund or, if necessary, by disposition of portfolio securities including at a time when it may not be advantageous to do so. These dispositions may cause the fund to realize higher amounts of short-term capital gains (generally taxed to shareholders at ordinary income tax rates) and, in the event the fund realizes net capital gains from such

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transactions, its shareholders may receive a larger capital gain distribution than if the fund had not held such obligations.

Securities purchased at a premium. Very generally, where the fund purchases a bond at a price that exceeds the redemption price at maturity ( i . e ., a premium), the premium is amortizable over the remaining term of the bond. In the case of a taxable bond, if the fund makes an election applicable to all such bonds it purchases, which election is irrevocable without consent of the IRS, the fund reduces the current taxable income from the bond by the amortized premium and reduces its tax basis in the bond by the amount of such offset; upon the disposition or maturity of such bonds acquired on or after January 4, 2013, the fund is permitted to deduct any remaining premium allocable to a prior period. In the case of a tax-exempt bond, tax rules require the fund to reduce its tax basis by the amount of amortized premium.

Higher-Risk obligations. The fund may invest to a significant extent in debt obligations that are in the lowest rating categories or are unrated, including debt obligations of issuers not currently paying interest or who are in default. Investments in debt obligations that are at risk of or in default present special tax issues for the fund. Tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as whether the fund should recognize market discount on a debt obligation and, if so, the amount of market discount the fund should recognize; when the fund may cease to accrue interest, OID or market discount, when and to what extent deductions may be taken for bad debts or worthless securities and how payments received on obligations in default should be allocated between principal and income. These and other related issues will be addressed by the fund when, as and if it invests in such obligations, in order to seek to ensure that it distributes sufficient income to preserve its status as a regulated investment company and does not become subject to U.S. federal income or excise tax.

Capital loss carryforward. Distributions from capital gains generally are made after applying any available capital loss carryforwards. Capital loss carryforwards are reduced to the extent they offset current-year net realized capital gains, whether the fund retains or distributes such gains. If a fund incurs or has incurred capital losses in excess of capital gains (“net capital losses”) in taxable years beginning after December 22, 2010 (“post-2010 losses”), those losses will be carried forward to one or more subsequent taxable years; any such carryforward losses will retain their character as short-term or long-term. If the fund incurred net capital losses in a taxable year beginning on or before December 22, 2010 (“pre-2011 losses”), the fund is permitted to carry such losses forward for eight taxable years; in the year to which they are carried forward, such losses are treated as short-term capital losses that first offset any short-term capital gains, and then offset long-term capital gains. The fund must use any post 2010 losses, which will not expire, before it uses any pre-2011 losses. This increases the likelihood that pre-2011 losses will expire unused at the conclusion of the eight-year carryforward period. The amounts and expiration dates, if any, of any capital loss carryforwards available to the fund are shown in Note 1 (Federal income taxes) to the financial statements included in this Part II of the SAI or incorporated by reference into this SAI.

Foreign taxes. If more than 50% of the fund’s assets at taxable year end consists of the securities of foreign corporations, the fund may elect to permit shareholders to claim a credit or deduction on their income tax returns for their pro rata portion of qualified taxes paid by the fund to foreign countries in respect of foreign securities the fund has held for at least the minimum period specified in the Code. A qualified fund of funds also may elect to pass through to its shareholders foreign taxes it has paid or foreign taxes passed through to it by any underlying fund that itself elected to pass through such taxes to shareholders (see “Funds of funds” above). In such a case, shareholders will include in gross income from foreign sources their pro rata shares of such taxes. A shareholder’s ability to claim a foreign tax credit or deduction in respect of foreign taxes paid by the fund may be subject to certain limitations imposed by the Code, as a result of which a shareholder may not get a full credit or deduction for the amount of such taxes. In particular, shareholders must hold their fund shares (without protection from risk of loss) on the ex-dividend date and for at least 15 additional days during the 30-day period surrounding the ex-dividend date to be eligible to claim a foreign tax credit with respect to a given dividend. Shareholders who do not itemize on their U.S. federal income tax returns may claim a credit (but no deduction) for such foreign taxes. Even if the fund is eligible to make such an election for a given year, it may determine not to do so. However, even if the fund elects to pass through to its shareholders foreign tax credits or deductions,

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tax-exempt shareholders and those who invest in the fund through tax-advantaged accounts such as IRAs will not benefit from any such tax credit or deduction.

Passive Foreign Investment Companies. Investments treated as equity for federal income tax purposes in certain “passive foreign investment companies” (“PFICs”, as defined below) could subject the fund to a U.S. federal income tax (including interest charges) on distributions received from the company or on the proceeds from the disposition of its investment in such a company. This tax cannot be eliminated by making distributions to fund shareholders; however, this tax can be avoided by making an election to mark such investments to market annually or to treat the passive foreign investment company as a “qualified electing fund.” The QEF and mark-to-market elections may have the effect of accelerating the recognition of income (without the receipt of cash) and increasing the amount required to be distributed by the fund to avoid taxation. Making either of these elections therefore may require the fund to liquidate other investments to meet its distribution requirement, which may also accelerate the recognition of gain and affect the fund’s total return. Dividends paid by PFICs will not be eligible to be treated as “qualified dividend income.” If the fund indirectly invests in PFICs by virtue of the fund’s investments in other funds, it may not make such PFIC elections; rather, the underlying funds directly investing in the PFICs would decide whether to make such elections.

Because it is not always possible to identify a foreign corporation as a PFIC, the fund may incur the tax and interest charges described above in some instances.

A PFIC is any foreign corporation: (i) 75 percent or more of the income of which for the taxable year is passive income, or (ii) the average percentage of the assets of which (generally by value, but by adjusted tax basis in certain cases) that produce or are held for the production of passive income is at least 50 percent. Generally, passive income for this purpose means dividends, interest (including income equivalent to interest), royalties, rents, annuities, the excess of gains over losses from certain property transactions and commodities transactions, and foreign currency gains. Passive income for this purpose does not include rents and royalties received by the foreign corporation from active business and certain income received from related persons.

Foreign currency-denominated transactions and related hedging transactions. The fund’s transactions in foreign currencies, foreign currency-denominated debt obligations and certain foreign currency options, futures contracts and forward contracts (and similar instruments) may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency concerned. Any such net gains could require a larger dividend toward the end of the calendar year. Any such net losses generally will reduce and potentially require the recharacterization of prior ordinary income distributions. Such ordinary income treatment may accelerate fund distributions to shareholders and increase the distributions taxed to shareholders as ordinary income. Any net ordinary losses so created cannot be carried forward by the fund to offset income or gains earned in subsequent taxable years.

Sale, exchange or redemption of shares. The sale, exchange or redemption of fund shares may give rise to a gain or loss. In general, any gain or loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than 12 months. Otherwise the gain or loss on the sale, exchange or redemption of fund shares will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss. However, if a shareholder sells shares at a loss within six months of purchase, any loss generally will be disallowed for federal income tax purposes to the extent of any exempt-interest dividends received on such shares. This loss disallowance, however, does not apply with respect to redemptions of fund shares held for six months or less with respect to a regular exempt-interest dividend paid by the fund if such fund declares substantially all of its net tax-exempt income as exempt-interest dividends on a daily basis, and pays such dividends at least on a monthly basis. In addition, any loss (not already disallowed as provided in the preceding sentences) realized upon a taxable disposition of shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any Capital Gain Dividends received (or deemed received) by the shareholder with respect to the shares. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of fund shares will be disallowed if other shares of the same fund are purchased within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

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Cost basis reporting. Upon the redemption or exchange of a shareholder’s shares in the fund, the fund, or, if such shareholder’s shares are then held through a financial intermediary, the financial intermediary, will be required to provide the shareholder and the IRS with cost basis and certain other related tax information about the fund shares the shareholder redeemed or exchanged. This cost basis reporting requirement is effective for shares purchased, including through dividend reinvestment, on or after January 1, 2012. Shareholders can visit www.putnam.com/costbasis, or call the fund at 1-800-225-1581, or consult their financial representatives, as appropriate, for more information regarding available methods for cost basis reporting and how to select a particular method. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine which available cost basis method is best for them.

Shares purchased through tax-qualified plans. Special tax rules apply to investments through employer-sponsored retirement plans and other tax-qualified plans or tax-advantaged arrangements. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the suitability of shares of the fund as an investment through such plans and arrangements and the precise effect of an investment on their particular tax situation.

Backup withholding. The fund generally is required to withhold and remit to the U.S. Treasury a percentage of the taxable dividends and other distributions paid to any individual shareholder who fails to furnish the fund with a correct taxpayer identification number (TIN), who has under-reported dividends or interest income, or who fails to certify to the fund that he or she is not subject to such withholding. The backup withholding rules may also apply to distributions that are properly reported as exempt-interest dividends. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the appropriate information is furnished to the IRS.

In order for a foreign investor to qualify for exemption from the back-up withholding tax rates and for reduced withholding tax rates under income tax treaties, the foreign investor must comply with special certification and filing requirements. Foreign investors in a fund should consult their tax advisors in this regard.

Tax shelter reporting regulations. Under U.S. Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss on disposition of fund shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a regulated investment company are not excepted. Future guidance may extend the current exception from this reporting requirement to shareholders of most or all regulated investment companies. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.

Non-U.S. shareholders. Distributions by the fund to shareholders that are not “U.S. persons” within the meaning of the Code (“foreign shareholders”) properly reported by the fund as (1) Capital Gain Dividends, (2) interest-related dividends, (3) short-term capital gain dividends, each as defined below and subject to certain conditions described below, and (4) exempt-interest dividends generally are not subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax.

In general, the Code defines (1) “short-term capital gain dividends” as distributions of net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses and (2) “interest-related dividends” as distributions from U.S. source interest income of types similar to those not subject to U.S. federal income tax if earned directly by an individual foreign shareholder, in each case to the extent such distributions are properly reported as such by the fund in a written notice to shareholders. The exceptions to withholding for Capital Gain Dividends and short-term capital gain dividends do not apply to (A) distributions to an individual foreign shareholder who is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the distribution and (B) distributions attributable to gain that is treated as effectively connected with the conduct by the foreign shareholder of a trade or business within the United States under special rules regarding the disposition of U.S. real property interests as described below. The exception to withholding for interest-related

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dividends does not apply to distributions to a foreign shareholder (A) that has not provided a satisfactory statement that the beneficial owner is not a U.S. person, (B) to the extent that the dividend is attributable to certain interest on an obligation if the foreign shareholder is the issuer or is a 10% shareholder of the issuer, (C) that is within certain foreign countries that have inadequate information exchange with the United States, or (D) to the extent the dividend is attributable to interest paid by a person that is a related person of the foreign shareholder and the foreign shareholder is a controlled foreign corporation. If the fund invests in other regulated investment companies that pay Capital Gain Dividends, short-term capital gain dividends or interest-related dividends to the fund, such distributions retain their character as not subject to withholding if properly reported when paid by the fund to foreign shareholders. The fund is permitted to report such part of its dividends as interest-related and/or short-term capital gain dividends as are eligible, but is not required to do so. In the case of shares held through an intermediary, the intermediary may withhold even if the fund reports all or a portion of a payment as an interest-related or short-term capital gain dividend to shareholders.

The fact that a fund achieves its goals by investing in underlying funds generally does not adversely affect the fund’s ability to pass on to foreign shareholders the full benefit of the interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends that it receives from its investments in underlying funds, except possibly to the extent that (1) interest-related dividends received by the fund are offset by deductions allocable to the fund’s qualified interest income or (2) short-term capital gain dividends received by the fund are offset by the fund’s net short- or long-term capital losses, in which case the amount of a distribution from the fund to a foreign shareholder that is properly reported as either an interest-related dividend or a short-term capital gain dividend, respectively, may be less than the amount that such shareholder would have received had they invested directly in the underlying funds.

Distributions by the fund to foreign shareholders other than Capital Gain Dividends, interest-related dividends, and short-term capital gain dividends and exempt-interest dividends (e.g., dividends attributable to dividend and foreign-source interest income or to short-term capital gains or U.S.-source interest income to which the exception from withholding described above does not apply) are generally subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate).

Under U.S. federal tax law, a beneficial holder of shares who is a foreign shareholder is not, in general, subject to U.S. federal income tax on gains (and is not allowed a deduction for losses) realized on the sale of shares of the fund , unless (i) such gain is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business carried on by such holder within the United States; (ii) in the case of an individual holder, the holder is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the sale and certain other conditions are met; or (iii) the special rules relating to gain attributable to the sale or exchange of “U.S. real property interests” (“USRPIs”) apply to the foreign shareholder's sale of shares of the fund (as described below).

If a beneficial holder who is a foreign shareholder has a trade or business in the United States, and the dividends are effectively connected with the conduct by the beneficial holder of a trade or business in the United States, the dividend will be subject to U.S. federal net income taxation at regular income tax rates and, in the case of a foreign corporation, may also be subject to a branch profits tax. If a foreign shareholder is eligible for the benefits of a tax treaty, any effectively connected income or gain will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net basis only if it is also attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the shareholder in the United States. More generally, foreign shareholders who are residents in a country with an income tax treaty with the United States may obtain different tax results than those described herein, and are urged to consult their tax advisors.

Special rules would apply if the fund were a qualified investment entity (“QIE”) because it is either a “U.S. real property holding corporation” (“USRPHC”) or would be a USRPHC but for the operation of certain exceptions to the definition of USRPIs described below. Very generally, a USRPHC is a domestic corporation that holds USRPIs the fair market value of which equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market values of the corporation’s USRPIs, interests in real property located outside the United States, and other trade or business assets. USRPIs generally are defined as any interest in U.S. real property and any interest (other than solely as a

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creditor) in a USRPHC or, very generally, an entity that has been a USRPHC in the last five years. A fund that holds, directly or indirectly, significant interests in REITs may be a USRPHC. Interests in domestically controlled QIEs, including regulated investment companies and REITs that are QIEs, not-greater-than-10% interests in publicly traded classes of stock in REITs and not-greater-than-5% interests in publicly traded classes of stock in regulated investment companies generally are not USRPIs, but these exceptions do not apply for purposes of determining whether a fund is a QIE.

If an interest in the fund were a USRPI, the fund would be required to withhold U.S. tax on the proceeds of a share redemption by a greater-than-5% foreign shareholder, in which case such foreign shareholder generally would also be required to file U.S. tax returns and pay any additional taxes due in connection with the redemption.

If the fund were a QIE under a special “look-through” rule, any distributions by the fund to a foreign shareholder (including, in certain cases, distributions made by the fund in redemption of its shares) attributable directly or indirectly to (i) distributions received by the fund from a lower-tier regulated investment company or REIT that the fund is required to treat as USRPI gain in its hands and (ii) gains realized on the disposition of USRPIs by the fund would retain their character as gains realized from USRPIs in the hands of the fund’s foreign shareholders and would be subject to U.S. tax withholding. In addition, such distributions could result in the foreign shareholder being required to file a U.S. tax return and pay tax on the distributions at regular U.S. federal income tax rates. The consequences to a foreign shareholder, including the rate of such withholding and character of such distributions (e.g., as ordinary income or USRPI gain), would vary depending upon the extent of the foreign shareholder’s current and past ownership of the fund.

Foreign shareholders of the fund also may be subject to “wash sale” rules to prevent the avoidance of the tax-filing and -payment obligations discussed above through the sale and repurchase of fund shares.

Foreign shareholders should consult their tax advisers and, if holding shares through intermediaries, their intermediaries, concerning the application of these rules to their investment in the fund.

Other reporting and withholding requirements. Sections 1471-1474 of the Code and the U.S. Treasury and IRS guidance issued thereunder (collectively, “FATCA”) generally require a fund to obtain information sufficient to identify the status of each of its shareholders under FATCA or under an applicable intergovernmental agreement (an “IGA”) between the United States and a foreign government. If a shareholder fails to provide the requested information or otherwise fails to comply with FATCA or an IGA, the fund may be required to withhold under FATCA at a rate of 30% with respect to that shareholder on ordinary dividends it pays and 30% of the gross proceeds of share redemptions or exchanges and certain Capital Gain Dividends it pays on or after January 1, 2019. If a payment by the fund is subject to FATCA withholding, the fund is required to withhold even if such payment would otherwise be exempt from withholding under the rules applicable to foreign shareholders described above (e.g., Capital Gain Dividends, short-term capital gain dividends and interest-related dividends).

Each prospective investor is urged to consult its tax advisor regarding the applicability of FATCA and any other reporting requirements with respect to the prospective investor’s own situation, including investments through an intermediary.

General Considerations. The U.S. federal income tax discussion set forth above is for general information only. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisers regarding the specific federal tax consequences of purchasing, holding, and disposing of shares of the fund, as well as the effects of state, local and foreign tax law and any proposed tax law changes.

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MANAGEMENT

Trustees

Name, Address1 , Year of     
Birth, Position(s) Held with  Principal   
Fund and Length of Service  Occupation(s) During   
as a Putnam Fund Trustee2  Past 5 Years  Other Directorships Held by Trustee 
Liaquat Ahamed (Born  Author; won Pulitzer  Trustee of the Brookings Institution (a nonprofit 
1952), Trustee since 2012  Prize for Lords of  public policy organization). Mr. Ahamed is also a 
  Finance: The Bankers  director of the Rohatyn Group, an emerging-market 
  Who Broke the World.  fund complex that manages money for institutions. 
  Director of Aspen  Mr. Ahamed has 25 years experience in the 
  Insurance Co., a New  management of fixed income portfolios and was 
  York Stock Exchange  previously the Chief Executive Officer of Fischer 
  company and Chair of  Francis Trees & Watts, Inc., a fixed-income 
  the Aspen Board’s  investment management subsidiary of BNP Paribas. 
  Investment Committee.  Mr. Ahamed holds a B.A. in economics from Trinity 
    College, Cambridge University and an M.A. in 
    economics from Harvard University. 
Ravi Akhoury (Born 1947),  Served as Chairman and  Director of RAGE Frameworks, Inc. and English 
Trustee since 2009  CEO of MacKay Shields  Helper, Inc. (each a private software company). Mr. 
  (a multi-product  Akhoury previously served as Director of Jacob 
  investment management  Ballas Capital India (a non-banking finance company 
  firm) from 1992 to 2007.  focused on private equity advisory services) and a 
    member of its Compensation Committee. He also 
    served as Director and on the Compensation 
    Committee of MaxIndia/New York Life Insurance 
    Company in India. Mr. Akhoury is also a Trustee of 
    the Rubin Museum, serving on the Investment 
    Committee, and of American India Foundation. Mr. 
    Akhoury is a former Vice President and Investment 
    Policy Committee member of Fischer, Francis, Trees 
    and Watts (a fixed-income investment management 
    subsidiary of BNP Paribas). He previously served on 
    the Board of Bharti Telecom (an Indian 
    telecommunications company) and was a member of 
    its Audit and Compensation Committees. He also 
    served on the Board of Thompson Press (a publishing 
    company) and was a member of its Audit Committee. 
    Mr. Akhoury graduated from the Indian Institute of 
    Technology with a BS in Engineering and obtained 
    an MS in Quantitative Methods from SUNY at Stony 
    Brook. 

 

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Name, Address1 , Year of     
Birth, Position(s) Held with  Principal   
Fund and Length of Service  Occupation(s) During   
as a Putnam Fund Trustee2  Past 5 Years  Other Directorships Held by Trustee 
Barbara M. Baumann (Born  President of Cross Creek  Director of Buckeye Partners, L.P. (a publicly traded 
1955), Trustee since 2010  Energy Corporation, a  master limited partnership focused on pipeline 
  strategic consultant to  transport, storage and distribution of petroleum 
  domestic energy firms  products) and Devon Energy Corporation (a leading 
  and direct investor in  independent natural gas and oil exploration and 
  energy projects.  production company). She is the Chair of the Board 
    of Trustees of Mount Holyoke College, serves on the 
    board of The Denver Foundation, is a former Chair of 
    the Board, and a current Board member, of Girls Inc. 
    of Metro Denver (a nonprofit organization 
    benefitting young women), and serves on the Finance 
    Committee of the Children’s Hospital of Colorado. 
    Until September 2014, Ms. Baumann was a director 
    of UNS Energy Corporation (a publicly held electric 
    and gas utility in Arizona). Until May 2014, Ms. 
    Baumann was a Director of SM Energy Corporation 
    (a publicly held U.S. exploration and production 
    company). Until May 2012, Ms. Baumann was a 
    Director of CVR Energy, Inc. (a publicly held 
    petroleum refiner and fertilizer manufacturer). Prior 
    to 2003, she was Executive Vice President of 
    Associated Energy Managers, LLC (a domestic 
    private equity firm). From 1981 until 2000 she held a 
    variety of financial and operational management 
    positions with the global energy company Amoco 
    Corporation and its successor, BP. Ms. Baumann 
    holds a B.A. from Mount Holyoke College and an 
    MBA from The Wharton School of the University of 
    Pennsylvania. 
Jameson A. Baxter (Born  President of Baxter  Chair of the Mutual Fund Directors Forum; Director 
1943), Trustee since 1994,  Associates, Inc., (a  of the Adirondack Land Trust; and Trustee of The 
Vice Chair from 2005 to 2011  private investment firm).  Nature Conservancy’s Adirondack Chapter. Until 
and Chair since 2011    2011, Ms. Baxter was a Director of ASHTA 
    Chemicals Inc. Until 2007, Ms. Baxter was a 
    Director of Banta Corporation (a printing and supply 
    chain management company), Ryerson, Inc. (a 
    metals service company) and Advocate Health Care. 
    She has also served as a director on a number of other 
    boards including BoardSource (formerly the 
    National Center for Nonprofit Boards), Intermatic 
    Corporation (a manufacturer of energy control 
    products) and MB Financial. She is Chairman 
    Emeritus of the Board of Trustees, Mount Holyoke 
    College. Ms. Baxter is also a graduate of Mount 
    Holyoke College. 

 

October 27, 2017  II-79 

 


Name, Address1 , Year of     
Birth, Position(s) Held with  Principal   
Fund and Length of Service  Occupation(s) During   
as a Putnam Fund Trustee2  Past 5 Years  Other Directorships Held by Trustee 
Katinka Domotorffy (Born  Voting member of the  Director of Reach Out and Read of Greater New 
1975), Trustee since 2012  Investment Committees  York, an organization dedicated to promoting 
  of the Anne Ray  childhood literacy, of the Great Lakes Science 
  Foundation and Margaret  Center, and of College Now Greater Cleveland. Ms. 
  A. Cargill Foundation,  Domotorffy holds a BSc in Economics from the 
  part of the Margaret A.  University of Pennsylvania and an MSc in 
  Cargill Philanthropies.  Accounting and Finance from the London School of 
  Prior to 2012, Ms.  Economics. 
  Domotorffy was Partner,   
  Chief Investment   
  Officer, and Global Head   
  of Quantitative   
  Investment Strategies at   
  Goldman Sachs Asset   
  Management.   
Catharine Bond Hill (Born  Managing Director of  Director of Yale-NUS College; Alumni Fellow to the 
1954), Trustee since 2017  Ithaka S+R (a  Yale Corporation. Dr. Hill graduated from Williams 
  not-for-profit service that  College, earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s 
  helps the academic  degree at Brasenose College, Oxford University, and 
  community navigate  completed her doctorate in economics at Yale 
  economic and  University. 
  technological change).   
  From 2006 to 2016, Dr.   
  Hill served as the 10th   
  president of Vassar   
  College. Prior to 2006,   
  she was the provost of   
  Williams College.   

 

October 27, 2017  II-80 

 


Name, Address1 , Year of     
Birth, Position(s) Held with  Principal   
Fund and Length of Service  Occupation(s) During   
as a Putnam Fund Trustee2  Past 5 Years  Other Directorships Held by Trustee 
Paul L. Joskow (Born 1947),  President of the Alfred P.  Trustee of Yale University; a Director of Exelon 
Trustee since 1997  Sloan Foundation (a  Corporation (an energy company focused on power 
  philanthropic institution  services); and a Member of the Board of Overseers of 
  focused primarily on  the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Prior to April 2013, 
  research and education  he served as Director of TransCanada Corporation 
  on issues related to  and TransCanada Pipelines Ltd. (energy companies 
  science, technology and  focused on natural gas transmission, oil pipelines, 
  economic performance).  and power services.) Prior to August 2007, he served 
  He is the Elizabeth and  as a Director of National Grid (a U.K.-based holding 
  James Killian Professor  company with interests in electric and gas 
  of Economics, Emeritus  transmission and distribution and 
  at the Massachusetts  telecommunications infrastructure). Prior to July, 
  Institute of Technology  2006, he served as President of the Yale University 
  (“MIT”).  Council. Prior to February 2005, he served on the 
  Prior to 2007, he was the  board of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical 
  Director of the Center for  Research (a non-profit research institution). Prior to 
  Energy and  February 2002, he was a Director of State Farm 
  Environmental Policy  Indemnity Company (an automobile insurance 
  Research at MIT.  company), and prior to March 2000, he was a 
    Director of New England Electric System (a public 
    utility holding company). Dr. Joskow holds a Ph.D. 
    and a M.Phil. from Yale University and a B.A. from 
    Cornell University. 
Kenneth R. Leibler (Born  A founder and former  Until November 2010, Mr. Leibler was a Director of 
1949), Trustee since 2006 and  Chairman of the Boston  Ruder Finn Group (a global communications and 
Vice Chair since 2016  Options Exchange (an  advertising firm). Prior to December 2006, Mr. 
  electronic market place  Leibler served as a Director of the Optimum Funds 
  for the trading of listed  Group. Prior to October 2006, he served as a Director 
  derivatives securities).  of ISO New England (the organization responsible 
  He is currently Vice  for the operation of the electric generation system in 
  Chairman Emeritus of  the New England states). Prior to 2000, he was a 
  the Board of Trustees of  Director of the Investment Company Institute in 
  Beth Israel Deaconess  Washington, D.C. Prior to January 2005, Mr. Leibler 
  Hospital in Boston and a  served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of 
  former Director of Beth  the Boston Stock Exchange. Prior to January 2000, 
  Israel Deaconess Care  he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of 
  Organization, an  Liberty Financial Companies (a publicly traded 
  accountable care group  diversified asset management organization). Prior to 
  jointly owned by the  June 1990, he served as President and Chief 
  medical center and its  Operating Officer of the American Stock Exchange 
  affiliated physicians  (AMEX). Prior to serving as AMEX President, he 
  network. He is also  held the position of Chief Financial Officer, and 
  Director of Eversource  headed its management and marketing operations. 
  Corporation, which  Mr. Leibler graduated with a B.A. in Economics 
  operates New England’s  from Syracuse University. 
  largest energy delivery   
  system.   

 

October 27, 2017  II-81 

 


Name, Address1 , Year of     
Birth, Position(s) Held with  Principal   
Fund and Length of Service  Occupation(s) During   
as a Putnam Fund Trustee2  Past 5 Years  Other Directorships Held by Trustee 
Robert E. Patterson (Born  Prior to March 15, 2017,  Mr. Patterson is past Chairman and served as a 
1945), Trustee since 1984  Co-Chairman of Cabot  Trustee of the Joslin Diabetes Center. Prior to 
  Properties, Inc. (a private  December 2001, Mr. Patterson served as the 
  equity firm investing in  President and as a Trustee of Cabot Industrial Trust 
  commercial real estate)  (a publicly-traded real estate investment trust). He 
  and Chairman or  has also served as a Trustee of the Sea Education 
  Co-Chairman of the  Association. Prior to 1998, he was Executive Vice 
  Investment Committees  President and Director of Acquisitions of Cabot 
  for various Cabot Funds.  Partners Limited Partnership (a registered investment 
  He currently serves as  adviser involved in institutional real estate 
  Senior Advisor to these  investments). Prior to 1990, he served as Executive 
  entities.  Vice President of Cabot, Cabot & Forbes Realty 
    Advisers, Inc. (the predecessor company of Cabot 
    Partners). Mr. Patterson practiced law and held 
    various positions in state government, and was the 
    founding Executive Director of the Massachusetts 
    Industrial Finance Agency. Mr. Patterson is a 
    graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law 
    School. 
George Putnam, III (Born  Chairman of New  Director of The Boston Family Office, LLC (a 
1951), Trustee since 1984  Generation Research,  registered investment advisor), a Trustee of 
  Inc. (a publisher of  Epiphany School and a Trustee of the Marine 
  financial advisory and  Biological Laboratory. Until 2010, Mr. Putnam was a 
  other research services)  Trustee of St. Mark’s School. Until 2006, Mr. 
  and President of New  Putnam was a Trustee of Shore Country Day School. 
  Generation Advisors,  Until 2002, he was a Trustee of the Sea Education 
  LLC (a registered  Association. Mr. Putnam is a graduate of Harvard 
  investment adviser to  College, Harvard Business School and Harvard Law 
  private funds), which are  School. 
  firms he founded in   
  1986. Prior to June 2007,   
  Mr. Putnam was   
  President of the Putnam   
  Funds.   
Manoj P. Singh (Born 1952),  Until 2015, chief  Director of Abt Associates (a global research firm 
Trustee since 2017  operating officer and  working in the fields of health, social and 
  global managing director  environmental policy, and international 
  at Deloitte Touche  development); Trustee of Carnegie Mellon 
  Tohmatsu, Ltd. (a global  University; Trustee of the Rubin Museum; Director 
  professional services  of Pratham USA (an organization dedicated to 
  organization). He served  children’s education in India); member of the 
  on the Deloitte U.S.  advisory board of Altimetrik (a business 
  board of directors and the  transformation and technology solutions firm); and 
  boards of Deloitte  Director of DXC Technology (a global IT services 
  member firms in China,  and consulting company). Mr. Singh holds a 
  Mexico and Southeast  bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the 
  Asia.  Indian Institute of Technology and an MS in 
    industrial administration from Carnegie Mellon 
    University. 

 

October 27, 2017  II-82 

 


Name, Address1 , Year of     
Birth, Position(s) Held with  Principal   
Fund and Length of Service  Occupation(s) During   
as a Putnam Fund Trustee2  Past 5 Years  Other Directorships Held by Trustee 
 
Interested Trustees     
*Robert L. Reynolds (Born  President and Chief  Director of several not-for-profit boards, including 
1952), Trustee since 2008  Executive Officer of  West Virginia University Foundation, the Concord 
  Putnam Investments  Museum, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Boston 
  since 2008 and, since  Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the Chief 
  2014, President and  Executives Club of Boston, the National 
  Chief Executive Officer  Innovation Initiative, and the Council on 
  of Great-West Financial,  Competitiveness, and he is a former President of the 
  a financial services  Commercial Club of Boston. Prior to 2008, he served 
  company that provides  as a Director of FMR Corporation, Fidelity 
  retirement savings plans,  Investments Insurance Ltd., Fidelity Investments 
  life insurance, and  Canada Ltd., and Fidelity Management Trust 
  annuity and executive  Company and as a Trustee of the Fidelity Family of 
  benefits products, and of  Funds. Mr. Reynolds received a B.S. in Business 
  Great-West Lifeco U.S.  Administration with a major in Finance from West 
  Inc., a holding company  Virginia University. 
  that owns Putnam   
  Investments and   
  Great-West Financial.   
  Member of Putnam   
  Investments’ and   
  Great-West Financial’s   
  Board of Directors. Prior   
  to joining Putnam   
  Investments in 2008, Mr.   
  Reynolds was Vice   
  Chairman and Chief   
  Operating Officer of   
  Fidelity Investments   
  from 2000 to 2007.   

 

1 The address of each Trustee is One Post Office Square, Boston, MA 02109. As of December 31, 2016, there were 114 Putnam Funds.

2 Each Trustee serves for an indefinite term, until his or her resignation, retirement during the year he or she reaches age 75, death or removal.

* Trustee who is an “interested person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the fund and Putnam Management. Mr. Reynolds is deemed an “interested person” by virtue of his positions as an officer of the fund and Putnam Management. Mr. Reynolds is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Putnam Investments, LLC and President of your fund and each of the other Putnam funds.

Trustee Qualifications

Each of the fund’s Trustees, with the exception of Dr. Hill and Mr. Singh, was most recently elected by shareholders of the fund during 2014, although most of the Trustees have served on the Board for many years. The Board Policy and Nominating Committee is responsible for recommending proposed nominees for election

October 27, 2017  II-83 

 


to the full Board of Trustees for its approval. As part of its deliberative process, the Committee considers the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that it determines would benefit the Putnam funds at the time.

In recommending the election of the board members as Trustees, the Committee generally considered the educational, business and professional experience of each Trustee in determining his or her qualifications to serve as a Trustee of the fund, including the Trustee's record of service as a director or trustee of public and private organizations. (This included, but was not limited to, consideration of the specific experience noted in the preceding table.) In the case of most members of the Board, the Committee considered his or her previous service as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Putnam funds, which demonstrated a high level of diligence and commitment to the interests of fund shareholders and an ability to work effectively and collegially with other members of the Board.

The Committee also considered, among other factors, the particular attributes described below with respect to the various individual Trustees and considered the attributes as indicative of the person’s ability to deal effectively with the types of financial, regulatory, and/or investment matters that typically arise in the course of a Trustee’s work:

Liaquat Ahamed -- Mr. Ahamed’s experience as Chief Executive Officer of a major investment management organization and as head of the investment division at the World Bank, as well as his experience as an author of economic literature.

Ravi Akhoury -- Mr. Akhoury's experience as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of a major investment management organization.

Barbara M. Baumann -- Ms. Baumann’s experience in the energy industry as a consultant, an investor, and in both financial and operational management positions at a global energy company, and her service as a director of multiple NYSE companies.

Jameson A. Baxter -- Ms. Baxter's experience in corporate finance acquired in the course of her career at a major investment bank, her experience as a director and audit committee chair of two NYSE companies and her role as Chair of the Mutual Fund Directors Forum.

Katinka Domotorffy -- Ms. Domotorffy’s experience as Chief Investment Officer and Global Head of Quantitative Investment Strategies at a major asset management organization.

Catharine Bond Hill -- Dr. Hill’s education and experience as an economist and as president and provost of colleges in the United States.

Paul L. Joskow -- Dr. Joskow's education and experience as a professional economist familiar with financial economics and related issues and his service on multiple for-profit boards.

Kenneth R. Leibler -- Mr. Leibler's extensive experience in the financial services industry, including as Chief Executive Officer of a major asset management organization, and his service as a director of various public and private companies.

Robert E. Patterson -- Mr. Patterson’s training and experience as an attorney and his experience as president of a NYSE company.

George Putnam, III -- Mr. Putnam’s training and experience as an attorney, his experience as the founder and Chief Executive Officer of an investment management firm and his experience as an author of various publications on the subject of investments.

October 27, 2017  II-84 

 


Manoj P. Singh -- Mr. Singh’s experience as chief operating officer and global managing director of a global professional services organization that provided accounting, consulting, tax, risk management, and financial advisory services.

Interested Trustee

Robert L. Reynolds -- Mr. Reynolds’s extensive experience as a senior executive of one of the largest mutual fund organizations in the United States and his current role as President and Chief Executive Officer of Putnam Investments.

On March 23, 2016, Great-West Financial, a company under common control with Putnam Investments, LLC and of which Mr. Reynolds is the Chief Executive Officer, entered into a loan agreement as the lending party with Cabot Industrial Core Fund Operating Partnership, L.P (“Cabot OP”), the guarantor for a collection of six borrowing parties, each being a limited liability company wholly owned by Cabot OP. The loan is intended to provide long-term financing in the form of a 7 year loan totaling $72.25 million to Cabot Industrial Core Fund, L.P. (the “Cabot Fund”). Cabot OP is an entity through which the Cabot Fund holds certain investments. The interest rate for the loan is 3.48%. Mr. Patterson may be deemed to have had an indirect interest in the transaction, or an indirect relationship with Great-West Financial, through his former position as an officer of Cabot OP and as the former Co-Chairman of the Investment Committee of the Cabot Fund, which approved the proposed loan on behalf of the borrowing parties. Prior to his retirement on March 15, 2017, Mr. Patterson had an 18.3% ownership interest in Cabot Properties, Inc., the highest controlling entity of Cabot OP, and was also a 14.3% partner in Cabot Properties, L.P., the asset manager of the Cabot Fund. Upon his retirement, pursuant to the terms of the governing agreements of Cabot Properties, Inc. and Cabot Properties, L.P., Mr. Patterson ceased to have any rights as a stockholder or partner, except with respect to his right to receive payment.

Officers

In addition to Robert L. Reynolds, the fund’s President, the other officers of the fund are shown below. All of the officers of your fund are employees of Putnam Management or its affiliates or are members of the Trustees’ independent administrative staff.

Name, Address1 , Year of Birth,  Length of Service with  Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and 
Position(s) Held with Fund  the Putnam Funds2  Position(s) with Fund’s Investment Adviser and 
    Distributor3 
Jonathan S. Horwitz4 (Born 1955)  Since 2004  Executive Vice President, Principal Executive 
Executive Vice President, Principal    Officer, and Compliance Liaison, The Putnam Funds. 
Executive Officer, and Compliance     
Liaison     
Robert T. Burns (Born 1961)  Since 2011  General Counsel, Putnam Investments, Putnam 
Vice President and Chief Legal    Management and Putnam Retail Management. 
Officer     
James F. Clark3 (Born 1974)  Since 2016  Associate General Counsel, Putnam Investments, 
Vice President and Chief Compliance    Putnam Management and Putnam Retail 
Officer    Management (2003-2015). 
Michael J. Higgins4 (Born 1976)  Since 2010  Vice President, Treasurer, and Clerk, The Putnam 
Vice President, Treasurer, and Clerk    Funds 
Janet C. Smith (Born 1965)  Since 2007  Director of Fund Administration Services, Putnam 
Vice President, Principal Financial    Investments and Putnam Management. 
Officer, Principal Accounting Officer,     
and Assistant Treasurer     
Susan G. Malloy (Born 1957)  Since 2007  Director of Accounting and Control Services, Putnam 
Vice President and Assistant    Management. 
Treasurer     

 

October 27, 2017  II-85 

 


Name, Address1 , Year of Birth,  Length of Service with  Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and 
Position(s) Held with Fund  the Putnam Funds2  Position(s) with Fund’s Investment Adviser and 
    Distributor3 
Mark C. Trenchard (Born 1962)  Since 2002  Director of Operational Compliance, Putnam 
Vice President and BSA Compliance    Investments, Putnam Retail Management 
Officer     
Nancy E. Florek4 (Born 1957)  Since 2000  Vice President, Director of Proxy Voting and 
Vice President, Director of Proxy    Corporate Governance, Assistant Clerk, and 
Voting and Corporate Governance,    Assistant Treasurer, The Putnam Funds. 
Assistant Clerk, and Assistant     
Treasurer     
Denere P. Poulack4 (Born 1968)  Since 2004  Assistant Vice President, Assistant Clerk and 
Assistant Vice President, Assistant    Assistant Treasurer, The Putnam Funds. 
Clerk and Assistant Treasurer     

 

1 The address of each Officer is One Post Office Square, Boston, MA 02109.

2 Each officer serves for an indefinite term, until his or her resignation, retirement, death or removal.

3 Prior positions and/or officer appointments with the fund or the fund’s investment adviser and distributor have been omitted.

4 Officers of the fund indicated are members of the Trustees’ independent administrative staff. Compensation for these individuals is fixed by the Trustees and reimbursed to Putnam Management by the funds.

Except as stated above, the principal occupations of the officers and Trustees for the last five years have been with the employers as shown above, although in some cases they have held different positions with such employers.

Leadership Structure and Standing Committees of the Board of Trustees

For details regarding the number of times the standing committees of the Board of Trustees met during a fund's last fiscal year, see "Trustee responsibilities and fees" in Part I of this SAI.

Board Leadership Structure. Currently, 11 of the 12 Trustees of your fund are Independent Trustees, meaning that they are not considered "interested persons" of your fund or its investment manager. These Independent Trustees must vote separately to approve all financial arrangements and other agreements with your fund’s investment manager and other affiliated parties. The role of independent trustees has been characterized as that of a “watchdog” charged with oversight to protect shareholders’ interests against overreaching and abuse by those who are in a position to control or influence a fund. Your fund’s Independent Trustees meet regularly as a group in executive session (i.e., without representatives of your fund’s investment manager or its affiliates present). An Independent Trustee currently serves as chair of the Board.

Taking into account the number, the diversity and the complexity of the funds overseen by the Board and the aggregate amount of assets under management, your fund’s Trustees have determined that the efficient conduct of the Board's affairs makes it desirable to delegate responsibility for certain specific matters to committees of the Board. The Executive Committee, Audit, Compliance and Distributions Committee, and Board Policy and Nominating Committee are authorized to take action on certain matters as specified in their charters or in policies and procedures relating to the governance of the funds; with respect to other matters, these committees review and evaluate and make recommendations to the Trustees as they deem appropriate. The other committees also review and evaluate matters specified in their charters and make recommendations to the Trustees as they deem appropriate. Each committee may utilize the resources of your fund’s independent staff, counsel and independent registered public accountants as well as other experts. The committees meet as often as appropriate, either in conjunction with regular meetings of the Trustees or otherwise. The membership and chair of each committee

October 27, 2017  II-86 

 


are appointed by the Trustees upon recommendation of the Board Policy and Nominating Committee. Each committee is chaired by an Independent Trustee and, except as noted below, the membership and chairs of each committee consist exclusively of Independent Trustees.

The Trustees have determined that this committee structure also allows the Board to focus more effectively on the oversight of risk as part of its broader oversight of the fund's affairs. While risk management is the primary responsibility of the fund's investment manager, the Trustees receive reports regarding investment risks, compliance risks and other risks. The Board and certain committees also meet periodically with the funds’ Chief Compliance Officer to receive compliance reports. In addition, the Board and its Investment Oversight Committees meet periodically with the portfolio managers of the funds to receive reports regarding the management of the funds. The Board's committee structure allows separate committees to focus on different aspects of these risks and their potential impact on some or all of the funds and to discuss with the fund's investment manager how it monitors and controls risks.

The Board recognizes that the reports it receives concerning risk management matters are, by their nature, typically summaries of the relevant information. Moreover, the Board recognizes that not all risks that may affect your fund can be identified in advance; that it may not be practical or cost effective to eliminate or to mitigate certain risks; that it may be necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) in seeking to achieve your fund’s investment objectives; and that the processes, procedures and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness. As a result of the foregoing and for other reasons, the Board’s risk management oversight is subject to substantial limitations.

Audit, Compliance and Distributions Committee. The Audit, Compliance and Distributions Committee provides oversight on matters relating to the preparation of the funds’ financial statements, compliance matters, internal audit functions, and Codes of Ethics issues. This oversight is discharged by regularly meeting with management and the funds’ independent registered public accountants and keeping current on industry developments. Duties of this Committee also include the review and evaluation of all matters and relationships pertaining to the funds’ independent registered public accountants, including their independence. The Committee also oversees all dividends and distributions by the funds. The Committee makes recommendations to the Trustees of the funds regarding the amount and timing of distributions paid by the funds, and determines such matters when the Trustees are not in session. The Committee also oversees the policies and procedures pursuant to which Putnam Management prepares recommendations for distributions, and meets regularly with representatives of Putnam Management to review the implementation of these policies and procedures. The Committee reports to the Trustees and makes recommendations to the Trustees regarding these matters. The members of the Committee include only Independent Trustees. Each member of the Committee also is “independent,” as that term is interpreted for purposes of Rule 10A-3(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and the listing standards of the NYSE. The Board has adopted a written charter for the Committee, a current copy of which is available at putnam.com/about-putnam. The Committee currently consists of Mses. Baumann (Chairperson), Baxter and Domotorffy, and Messrs. Akhoury, Patterson and Singh.

Board Policy and Nominating Committee. The Board Policy and Nominating Committee reviews matters pertaining to the operations of the Board of Trustees and its Committees, the compensation of the Trustees and their staff, and the conduct of legal affairs for the funds. The Committee evaluates and recommends all candidates for election as Trustees and recommends the appointment of members and chairs of each board committee. The Committee will consider nominees for Trustee recommended by shareholders of a fund provided that such recommendations are submitted by the date disclosed in the fund’s proxy statement and otherwise comply with applicable securities laws, including Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act. The Committee also reviews policy matters affecting the operation of the Board and its independent staff. In addition, the Committee oversees the voting of proxies associated with portfolio investments of the funds with the goal of ensuring that these proxies are voted in the best interest of the funds’ shareholders. The Committee reports to the Trustees and makes recommendations to the Trustees regarding these matters. The Committee generally believes that the Board benefits from diversity of background, experience and views among its members, and considers

October 27, 2017  II-87 

 


this as a factor in evaluating the composition of the Board, but has not adopted any specific policy in this regard. The Committee is composed entirely of Independent Trustees and currently consists of Dr. Joskow (Chairperson), Messrs. Leibler, Patterson and Putnam, and Mses. Baxter and Baumann.

Brokerage Committee. The Brokerage Committee reviews the funds' policies regarding the execution of portfolio trades and Putnam Management's practices and procedures relating to the implementation of those policies. The Committee reviews periodic reports on the cost and quality of execution of portfolio transactions and the extent to which brokerage commissions have been used (i) by Putnam Management to obtain brokerage and research services generally useful to it in managing the portfolios of the funds and of its other clients, and (ii) by the funds to pay for certain fund expenses. The Committee reports to the Trustees and makes recommendations to the Trustees regarding these matters. The Committee currently consists of Messrs. Ahamed (Chairperson), Leibler and Putnam, and Drs. Hill and Joskow.

Contract Committee. The Contract Committee reviews and evaluates at least annually all arrangements pertaining to (i) the engagement of Putnam Management and its affiliates to provide services to the funds, (ii) the expenditure of the funds' assets for distribution purposes pursuant to Distribution Plans of the funds, and (iii) the engagement of other persons to provide material services to the funds, including in particular those instances where the cost of services is shared between the funds and Putnam Management and its affiliates or where Putnam Management or its affiliates have a material interest. The Committee also reviews the proposed organization of new fund products, proposed structural changes to existing funds and matters relating to closed-end funds. The Committee reports and makes recommendations to the Trustees regarding these matters. The Committee currently consists of Messrs. Putnam (Chairperson), Ahamed and Leibler, and Drs. Hill and Joskow.

Executive Committee. The functions of the Executive Committee are twofold. The first is to ensure that the funds’ business may be conducted at times when it is not feasible to convene a meeting of the Trustees or for the Trustees to act by written consent. The Committee may exercise any or all of the power and authority of the Trustees when the Trustees are not in session. The second is to review annual and ongoing goals, objectives and priorities for the Board and to facilitate coordination of all efforts between the Trustees and Putnam Management on behalf of the shareholders of the funds. The Committee currently consists of Mses. Baxter (Chairperson) and Baumann, and Messrs. Leibler and Putnam.

Investment Oversight Committees. The Investment Oversight Committees regularly meet with investment personnel of Putnam Management to review the investment performance and strategies of the funds in light of their stated goals and policies. The Committees seek to identify any compliance issues that are unique to the applicable categories of funds and work with the appropriate board committees to ensure that any such issues are properly addressed. Investment Oversight Committee A currently consists of Mses. Domotorffy (Chairperson) and Baumann, Messrs. Leibler and Putnam, and Drs. Hill and Joskow. Investment Oversight Committee B currently consists of Messrs. Akhoury (Chairperson), Ahamed, Patterson, Reynolds and Singh, and Ms. Baxter.

Pricing Committee. The Pricing Committee oversees the valuation of assets of the Putnam funds and reviews the funds’ policies and procedures for achieving accurate and timely pricing of fund shares. The Committee also oversees implementation of these policies, including fair value determinations of individual securities made by Putnam Management or other designated agents of the funds. The Committee also oversees compliance by money market funds with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act and the correction of occasional pricing errors. The Committee also reviews matters related to the liquidity of portfolio holdings. The Committee reports to the Trustees and makes recommendations to the Trustees regarding these matters. The Committee currently consists of Messrs. Singh (Chairperson), Akhoury and Patterson, and Mses. Baumann, Baxter and Domotorffy.

Indemnification of Trustees

The Agreement and Declaration of Trust of each fund provides that the fund will indemnify its Trustees and officers against liabilities and expenses incurred in connection with litigation in which they may be involved

October 27, 2017  II-88 

 


because of their offices with the fund, except if it has been finally adjudicated that (a) they have not acted in good faith, (b) they have not acted in the reasonable belief that their actions were (i) in the best interests of the fund or (ii) at least were not opposed to the best interests of the fund, (c) in the case of a criminal proceeding, they had reasonable cause to believe the action was unlawful or (d) they were liable to the fund or its shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties. The fund, at its expense, provides liability insurance for the benefit of its Trustees and officers.

For details of Trustees’ fees paid by the fund and information concerning retirement guidelines for the Trustees, see “Charges and expenses” in Part I of this SAI.

Putnam Management and its Affiliates

Putnam Management is one of America’s oldest and largest money management firms. Putnam Management’s staff of experienced portfolio managers and research analysts selects securities and constantly supervises the fund’s portfolio. By pooling an investor’s money with that of other investors, a greater variety of securities can be purchased than would be the case individually; the resulting diversification helps reduce investment risk. Putnam Management has been managing mutual funds since 1937.

Putnam Management is a subsidiary of Putnam Investments. Great-West Lifeco Inc., a financial services holding company with operations in Canada, the United States and Europe and a member of the Power Financial Corporation group of companies, owns a majority interest in Putnam Investments. Power Financial Corporation, a diversified management and holding company with direct and indirect interests in the financial services sector in Canada, the United States and Europe, is a subsidiary of Power Corporation of Canada, a diversified international management and holding company with interests in companies in the financial services, communications and other business sectors. The Desmarais Family Residuary Trust, a trust established pursuant to the Last Will and Testament of the Honourable Paul G. Desmarais, directly and indirectly controls a majority of the voting shares of Power Corporation of Canada.

Trustees and officers of the fund who are also officers of Putnam Management or its affiliates or who are stockholders of Putnam Investments or its parent companies will benefit from the advisory fees, sales commissions, distribution fees and transfer agency fees paid or allowed by the fund.

The Management Contract

Under a Management Contract between the fund and Putnam Management, subject to such policies as the Trustees may determine, Putnam Management, at its expense, furnishes continuously an investment program for the fund and makes investment decisions on behalf of the fund. Subject to the control of the Trustees, Putnam Management also manages, supervises and conducts the other affairs and business of the fund, furnishes office space and equipment, provides bookkeeping and clerical services (including determination of the fund’s net asset value, but excluding shareholder accounting services) and places all orders for the purchase and sale of the fund’s portfolio securities. Putnam Management may place fund portfolio transactions with broker-dealers that furnish Putnam Management, without cost to it, certain research, statistical and quotation services of value to Putnam Management and its affiliates in advising the fund and other clients. In so doing, Putnam Management may cause the fund to pay greater brokerage commissions than it might otherwise pay.

For details of Putnam Management’s compensation under the Management Contract, see “Charges and expenses” in Part I of this SAI. Putnam Management’s compensation under the Management Contract may be reduced in any year if the fund’s expenses exceed the limits on investment company expenses imposed by any statute or regulatory authority of any jurisdiction in which shares of the fund are qualified for offer or sale. The term “expenses” is defined in the statutes or regulations of such jurisdictions, and generally excludes brokerage commissions, taxes, interest, extraordinary expenses and, if the fund has a distribution plan, payments made under such plan.

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Fund-specific expense limitation. Under the Management Contract, Putnam Management may reduce its compensation to the extent that the fund’s expenses exceed such lower expense limitation as Putnam Management may, by notice to the fund, declare to be effective. For the purpose of determining any such limitation on Putnam Management’s compensation, expenses of the fund shall not reflect the application of commissions or cash management credits that may reduce designated fund expenses. The terms of any such expense limitation specific to a particular fund are described in the prospectus and/or Part I of this SAI .

General expense limitation.

For retail open-end funds except Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Equity Fund, Putnam Global Sector Fund, Putnam Mortgage Opportunities Fund, Putnam Retirement Income Fund Lifestyle 1, Putnam RetirementReady® Funds, and Putnam Short-Term Investment Fund. Through the expiration of the one-year period following the effective date of the annual update of each fund’s Registration Statement, Putnam Management will waive fees and/or reimburse expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to limit the cumulative expenses of the fund, exclusive of brokerage, interest, taxes, investment-related expenses (including borrowing costs, i.e., short selling and lines of credit costs), extraordinary expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, and payments under the fund’s investor servicing contract, the fund’s investment management contract (including any applicable performance-based upward or downward adjustment to a fund’s base management fee), and the fund’s distribution plans, to an annual (measured on a fiscal year basis) rate of 0.20% of the fund’s average net assets.

For Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Equity Fund Only: Putnam Management has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses of the fund through September 30, 2018 to the extent necessary to limit the cumulative expenses of the fund, exclusive of brokerage, interest, taxes, investment-related expenses (including borrowing costs, i.e., short selling and lines of credit costs), extraordinary expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, and payments under the fund’s investor servicing contract, the fund’s investment management contract, and the fund’s distribution plans, to an annual (measured on a fiscal year basis) rate of 0.02% of the fund’s average net assets.

For all funds: In addition to the fee paid to Putnam Management, the fund reimburses Putnam Management for the compensation and related expenses of certain officers of the fund and their assistants who provide certain administrative services for the fund and the other Putnam funds, each of which bears an allocated share of the foregoing costs. The aggregate amount of all such payments and reimbursements is determined annually by the Trustees.

The amount of this reimbursement for the fund’s most recent fiscal year is included in “Charges and expenses” in Part I of this SAI. Putnam Management pays all other salaries of officers of the fund. The fund pays all expenses not assumed by Putnam Management including, without limitation, auditing, legal, custodial, investor servicing and shareholder reporting expenses. The fund pays the cost of typesetting for its prospectuses and the cost of printing and mailing any prospectuses sent to its shareholders. Putnam Retail Management pays the cost of printing and distributing all other prospectuses.

The Management Contract provides that Putnam Management shall not be subject to any liability to the fund or to any shareholder of the fund for any act or omission in the course of or connected with rendering services to the fund in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its duties on the part of Putnam Management.

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The Management Contract may be terminated without penalty by vote of the Trustees or the shareholders of the fund, or by Putnam Management, on not less than 60 days’ written notice. It may be amended only by a vote of the shareholders of the fund. The Management Contract also terminates without payment of any penalty in the event of its assignment. The Management Contract provides that it will continue in effect only so long as such continuance is approved at least annually by vote of either the Trustees or the shareholders, and, in either case, by a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of Putnam Management or the fund. In each of the foregoing cases, the vote of the shareholders is the affirmative vote of a “majority of the outstanding voting securities” as defined in the 1940 Act.

Putnam Management has entered into a Master Sub-Accounting Services Agreement with State Street Bank and Trust Company ("State Street"), under which Putnam Management has delegated to State Street responsibility for providing certain administrative, pricing, and bookkeeping services for the fund. Putnam Management pays State Street a fee, monthly, based on a combination of fixed annual charges and charges based on the fund's assets and the number and types of securities held by the fund, and reimburses State Street for certain out-of-pocket expenses.

The Sub-Manager

If so disclosed in the fund’s prospectus, PIL, an affiliate of Putnam Management, has been retained as the sub-manager for a portion of the assets of the fund, as determined by Putnam Management from time to time, pursuant to a sub-management agreement between Putnam Management and PIL. Under the terms of the sub-management contract, PIL, at its own expense, furnishes continuously an investment program for that portion of each such fund that is allocated to PIL from time to time by Putnam Management and makes investment decisions on behalf of such portion of the fund, subject to the supervision of Putnam Management. Putnam Management may also, at its discretion, request PIL to provide assistance with purchasing and selling securities for the fund, including placement of orders with certain broker-dealers. PIL, at its expense, furnishes all necessary investment and management facilities, including salaries of personnel, required for it to execute its duties.

The sub-management contract provides that PIL shall not be subject to any liability to Putnam Management, the fund or any shareholder of the fund for any act or omission in the course of or connected with rendering services to the fund in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties on the part of PIL.

The sub-management contract may be terminated with respect to a fund without penalty by vote of the Trustees or the shareholders of the fund, or by PIL or Putnam Management, on not more than 60 days’ nor less than 30 days’ written notice. The sub-management contract also terminates without payment of any penalty in the event of its assignment. Subject to applicable law, it may be amended by a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of Putnam Management or the fund. The sub-management contract provides that it will continue in effect only so long as such continuance is approved at least annually by vote of either the Trustees or the shareholders, and, in either case, by a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of Putnam Management or the fund. In each of the foregoing cases, the vote of the shareholders is the affirmative vote of a “majority of the outstanding voting securities” as defined in the 1940 Act.

The Sub-Adviser

The Putnam Advisory Company, LLC

If so disclosed in the fund’s prospectus, PAC, an affiliate of Putnam Management, has been retained as a sub-adviser for a portion of the assets of the fund, as determined from time to time by Putnam Management or, with respect to portions of a fund’s assets for which PIL acts as sub-manager as described above, by PIL pursuant to a sub-advisory contract among Putnam Management, PIL and PAC. Under certain terms of the sub-advisory contract, PAC, at its own expense, furnishes continuously an investment program for that portion of each such

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fund that is allocated to PAC from time to time by Putnam Management or PIL, as applicable and makes investment decisions on behalf of such portion of the fund, subject to the supervision of Putnam Management or PIL, as the case may be. Putnam Management or PIL, as the case may be, may also, at its discretion, request PAC to provide assistance with purchasing and selling securities for the fund, including placement of orders with certain broker-dealers.

PAC, at its expense, furnishes all necessary investment and management facilities, including salaries of personnel, required for it to execute its duties. The sub-advisory contract provides that PAC shall not be subject to any liability to Putnam Management, PIL, the fund or any shareholder of the fund for any act or omission in the course of or connected with rendering services to the fund in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties on the part of PAC.

The sub-advisory contract may be terminated with respect to a fund without penalty by vote of the Trustees or the shareholders of the fund, or by PAC, PIL or Putnam Management, on not more than 60 days’ nor less than 30 days’ written notice. The sub-advisory contract also terminates without payment of any penalty in the event of its assignment. Subject to applicable law, it may be amended by a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of Putnam Management or the fund. The sub-advisory contract provides that it will continue in effect only so long as such continuance is approved at least annually by vote of either the Trustees or the shareholders, and, in either case, by a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of Putnam Management or the fund. In each of the foregoing cases, the vote of the shareholders is the affirmative vote of a “majority of the outstanding voting securities” as defined in the 1940 Act.

PanAgora

If so disclosed in the fund’s prospectus, PanAgora, an affiliate of Putnam Management, has been retained as the sub-adviser for a portion of the assets of the fund, as determined from time to time by Putnam Management, by Putnam Management pursuant to a sub-advisory agreement between Putnam Management and PanAgora.

PanAgora, a Delaware corporation, is located at 470 Atlantic Avenue, 8th Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02210. PanAgora was founded in 1989 and is jointly owned by Power Financial Corporation (through a series of subsidiaries, including Great West Lifeco Inc. and Putnam Investments, LLC), Nippon Life Insurance (“NLI”) of Japan, and certain key employees.

Under certain terms of the sub-advisory agreement, PanAgora, at its own expense, furnishes continuously an investment program for that portion of each such fund that is allocated to PanAgora from time to time by Putnam Management, and makes investment decisions on behalf of such portion of the fund, subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees and Putnam Management.

PanAgora, at its expense, furnishes all necessary investment and management facilities, including salaries of personnel, required for it to execute its duties. The sub-advisory agreement provides that PanAgora shall not be subject to any liability to Putnam Management, the fund or any shareholder of the fund for any act or omission in the course of or connected with rendering services to the fund in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties on the part of PanAgora.

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The sub-advisory agreement may be terminated with respect to a fund without penalty by vote of the Trustees or the shareholders of the fund, or by PanAgora or Putnam Management, on not more than 60 days’ nor less than 30 days’ written notice. The sub-advisory agreement also terminates without payment of any penalty in the event of its assignment. Subject to applicable law, it may be amended by a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of Putnam Management or the fund. The sub-advisory agreement provides that it will continue in effect only so long as such continuance is approved at least annually by vote of either the Trustees or the shareholders, and, in either case, by a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of Putnam Management or the fund. In each of the foregoing cases, the vote of the shareholders is the affirmative vote of a “majority of the outstanding voting securities” as defined in the 1940 Act.

Portfolio Transactions

Potential conflicts of interest in managing multiple accounts.

Putnam Management

Like other investment professionals with multiple clients, the fund’s Portfolio Manager(s) may face certain potential conflicts of interest in connection with managing both the fund and the other accounts listed under “ PORTFOLIO MANAGER(S)” “Other accounts managed” at the same time. The paragraphs below describe some of these potential conflicts, which Putnam Management believes are faced by investment professionals at most major financial firms. As described below, Putnam Management and the Trustees of the Putnam funds have adopted compliance policies and procedures that attempt to address certain of these potential conflicts.

The management of accounts with different advisory fee rates and/or fee structures, including accounts that pay advisory fees based on account performance (“performance fee accounts”), may raise potential conflicts of interest by creating an incentive to favor higher-fee accounts. These potential conflicts may include, among others:

• The most attractive investments could be allocated to higher-fee accounts or performance fee accounts.

• The trading of higher-fee accounts could be favored as to timing and/or execution price. For example, higher-fee accounts could be permitted to sell securities earlier than other accounts when a prompt sale is desirable or to buy securities at an earlier and more opportune time.

• The trading of other accounts could be used to benefit higher-fee accounts (front- running).

• The investment management team could focus their time and efforts primarily on higher-fee accounts due to a personal stake in compensation.

Putnam Management attempts to address these potential conflicts of interest relating to higher-fee accounts through various compliance policies that are generally intended to place all accounts, regardless of fee structure, on the same footing for investment management purposes. For example, under Putnam Management’s policies:

• Performance fee accounts must be included in all standard trading and allocation procedures with all other accounts.

• All accounts must be allocated to a specific category of account and trade in parallel with allocations of similar accounts based on the procedures generally applicable to all accounts in those groups (e.g., based on relative risk budgets of accounts).

• All trading must be effected through Putnam’s trading desks and normal queues and procedures must be followed (i.e., no special treatment is permitted for performance fee accounts or higher-fee accounts based on account fee structure).

• Front running is strictly prohibited.

• The fund’s Portfolio Manager(s) may not be guaranteed or specifically allocated any portion of a performance fee.

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As part of these policies, Putnam Management has also implemented trade oversight and review procedures in order to monitor whether particular accounts (including higher-fee accounts or performance fee accounts) are being favored over time.

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Potential conflicts of interest may also arise when the Portfolio Manager(s) have personal investments in other accounts that may create an incentive to favor those accounts. As a general matter and subject to limited exceptions, Putnam Management’s investment professionals do not have the opportunity to invest in client accounts, other than the Putnam funds. However, in the ordinary course of business, Putnam Management or related persons may from time to time establish “pilot” or “incubator” funds for the purpose of testing proposed investment strategies and products prior to offering them to clients. These pilot accounts may be in the form of registered investment companies, private funds such as partnerships or separate accounts established by Putnam Management or an affiliate. Putnam Management or an affiliate supplies the funding for these accounts. Putnam employees, including the fund’s Portfolio Manager(s), may also invest in certain pilot accounts. Putnam Management, and to the extent applicable, the Portfolio Manager(s) will benefit from the favorable investment performance of those funds and accounts. Pilot funds and accounts may, and frequently do, invest in the same securities as the client accounts. Putnam Management’s policy is to treat pilot accounts in the same manner as client accounts for purposes of trading allocation – neither favoring nor disfavoring them except as is legally required. For example, pilot accounts are normally included in Putnam Management’s daily block trades to the same extent as client accounts (except that pilot accounts do not participate in initial public offerings).

A potential conflict of interest may arise when the fund and other accounts purchase or sell the same securities. On occasions when the Portfolio Manager(s) consider the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interests of the fund as well as other accounts, Putnam Management’s trading desk may, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, aggregate the securities to be sold or purchased in order to obtain the best execution and lower brokerage commissions, if any. Aggregation of trades may create the potential for unfairness to the fund or another account if one account is favored over another in allocating the securities purchased or sold – for example, by allocating a disproportionate amount of a security that is likely to increase in value to a favored account. Putnam Management’s trade allocation policies generally provide that each day’s transactions in securities that are purchased or sold by multiple accounts are, insofar as possible, averaged as to price and allocated between such accounts (including the fund) in a manner which in Putnam Management’s opinion is equitable to each account and in accordance with the amount being purchased or sold by each account. Certain exceptions exist for specialty, regional or sector accounts. Trade allocations are reviewed on a periodic basis as part of Putnam Management’s trade oversight procedures in an attempt to ensure fairness over time across accounts.

“Cross trades,” in which one Putnam account sells a particular security to another account (potentially saving transaction costs for both accounts), may also pose a potential conflict of interest. Cross trades may be seen to involve a potential conflict of interest if, for example, one account is permitted to sell a security to another account at a higher price than an independent third party would pay, or if such trades result in more attractive investments being allocated to higher-fee accounts. Putnam Management and the fund’s Trustees have adopted compliance procedures that provide that any transactions between the fund and another Putnam-advised account are to be made at an independent current market price, as required by law.

Another potential conflict of interest may arise based on the different goals and strategies of the fund and other accounts. For example, another account may have a shorter-term investment horizon or different goals, policies or restrictions than the fund. Depending on goals or other factors, the Portfolio Manager(s) may give advice and make decisions for another account that may differ from advice given, or the timing or nature of decisions made, with respect to the fund. In addition, investment decisions are the product of many factors in addition to basic suitability for the particular account involved. Thus, a particular security may be bought or sold for certain accounts even though it could have been bought or sold for other accounts at the same time. More rarely, a particular security may be bought for one or more accounts managed by the Portfolio Manager(s) when one or more other accounts are selling the security (including short sales). There may be circumstances when purchases or sales of portfolio securities for one or more accounts may have an adverse effect on other accounts. As noted above, Putnam Management has implemented trade oversight and review procedures to monitor whether any account is systematically favored over time.

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Under federal securities laws, a short sale of a security by another client of Putnam Management or its affiliates (other than another registered investment company) within five business days prior to a public offering of the same securities (the timing of which is generally not known to Putnam in advance) may prohibit the fund from participating in the public offering, which could cause the fund to miss an otherwise favorable investment opportunity or to pay a higher price for the securities in the secondary markets.

The fund’s Portfolio Manager(s) may also face other potential conflicts of interest in managing the fund, and the description above is not a complete description of every conflict that could be deemed to exist in managing both the fund and other accounts. For information on restrictions imposed on personal securities transactions of the fund’s Portfolio Manager(s), please see “Personal Investments by Employees of Putnam Management and Putnam Retail Management and Officers and Trustees of the Fund.”

PanAgora

The portfolio managers’ management of other accounts may give rise to potential conflicts of interest in connection with their management of the fund’s investments, on the one hand, and the investments of the other accounts, on the other. The other accounts include retirement plans and separately managed accounts, as well as incubated accounts. The other accounts might have similar investment objectives as the fund, or hold, purchase or sell securities that are eligible to be held, purchased or sold by the fund. While the portfolio managers’ management of other accounts may give rise to the following potential conflicts of interest, PanAgora does not believe that the conflicts, if any, are material or, to the extent any such conflicts are material, PanAgora believes that it has designed policies and procedures to manage those conflicts in an appropriate way.

A potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the portfolio managers’ day-to-day management of the fund. Because of their positions with the fund, the portfolio managers know the size, timing and possible market impact of the fund’s trades. It is theoretically possible that the portfolio managers could use this information to the advantage of other accounts they manage and to the possible detriment of the fund. However, PanAgora has adopted policies and procedures reasonably designed to allocate investment opportunities on a fair and equitable basis over time.

A potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the portfolio managers’ management of the fund, and other accounts, which, in theory, may allow them to allocate investment opportunities in a way that favors other accounts over the fund. This conflict of interest may be exacerbated to the extent that PanAgora or the portfolio managers receive, or expect to receive, greater compensation from their management of the other accounts than the fund. Notwithstanding this theoretical conflict of interest, it is PanAgora’s policy to manage each account based on its investment objectives and related restrictions and, as discussed above, PanAgora has adopted policies and procedures reasonably designed to allocate investment opportunities on a fair and equitable basis over time and in a manner consistent with each account’s investment objectives and related restrictions. For example, while the portfolio managers may buy for other accounts securities that differ in identity or quantity from securities bought for the fund, such securities might not be suitable for the fund given its investment objective and related restrictions.

For information about other funds and accounts managed by the fund’s Portfolio Manager(s), please refer to “Who oversees and manages the fund(s)?” in the prospectus and “ PORTFOLIO MANAGER(S)” “Other accounts managed” in Part I of the SAI.

Brokerage and research services.

Transactions on stock exchanges, commodities markets and futures markets and other agency transactions involve the payment by the fund of negotiated brokerage commissions. Such commissions may vary among different brokers. A particular broker may charge different commissions according to such factors as execution venue and exchange. Although the fund does not typically pay commissions for principal transactions in the over-the-counter markets, such as the markets for most fixed income securities and certain derivatives, an undisclosed amount of profit or “mark-up” is included in the price the fund pays. In underwritten offerings, the

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price paid by the fund includes a disclosed, fixed commission or discount retained by the underwriter or dealer.

See "Charges and expenses" in Part I of this SAI for information concerning commissions paid by the fund.

It has for many years been a common practice in the investment advisory business for broker-dealers that execute portfolio transactions for the clients of advisers of investment companies and other institutional investors to provide those advisers with brokerage and research services, as defined in Section 28(e) of the Exchange Act. Consistent with this practice, Putnam Management receives brokerage and research services from broker-dealers with which Putnam Management places the fund's portfolio transactions. The services that broker-dealers may provide to Putnam Management’s managers and analysts include, among others, brokerage and trading systems, economic analysis, investment research, industry and company reviews, statistical information, market data, evaluations of investments, recommendations as to the purchase and sale of investments and performance measurement services. Some of these services are of value to Putnam Management and its affiliates in advising various of their clients (including the fund), although not all of these services are necessarily useful and of value in managing the fund. Research services provided by broker-dealers are supplemental to Putnam Management’s own research efforts and relieve Putnam Management of expenses it might otherwise have borne in generating such research. The management fee paid by the fund is not reduced because Putnam Management and its affiliates receive brokerage and research services even though Putnam Management might otherwise be required to purchase some of these services for cash. Putnam Management may also use portfolio transactions to generate “soft dollar” credits to pay for “mixed-use” services ( i.e. , products or services that may be used both for investment- and non-investment-related purposes), but in such instances Putnam Management uses its own resources to pay for that portion of the mixed-use product or service that in its good-faith judgment does not relate to investment or brokerage purposes. Putnam Management may also allocate trades to generate soft dollar credits for third-party investment research reports and related fundamental research.

Putnam Management places all orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio investments for the funds, and buys and sells investments for the funds, through a substantial number of brokers and dealers. In selecting broker-dealers to execute the funds’ portfolio transactions, Putnam Management uses its best efforts to obtain for each fund the most favorable price and execution reasonably available under the circumstances, except to the extent it may be permitted to pay higher brokerage commissions as described below. In seeking the most favorable price and execution and in considering the overall reasonableness of the brokerage commissions paid, Putnam Management, having in mind the fund's best interests, considers all factors it deems relevant, including, in no particular order of importance, and by way of illustration, the price, size and type of the transaction, the nature of the market for the security or other investment, the amount of the commission, the timing of the transaction taking into account market prices and trends, the reputation, experience and financial stability of the broker-dealer involved and the quality of service rendered by the broker-dealer in other transactions.

Putnam Management may cause the fund to pay a broker-dealer that provides "brokerage and research services" (as defined in the Exchange Act and as described above) to Putnam Management an amount of disclosed commission for effecting securities transactions on stock exchanges and other transactions for the fund on an agency basis in excess of the commission another broker-dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction. Putnam Management may also instruct an executing broker to “step out” a portion of the trades placed with a broker to other brokers that provide brokerage and research services to Putnam Management. Putnam Management's authority to cause the fund to pay any such greater commissions or to instruct a broker to “step out” a portion of a trade is subject to the requirements of applicable law and such policies as the Trustees may adopt from time to time. It is the position of the staff of the SEC that Section 28(e) of the Exchange Act does not apply to the payment of such greater commissions in "principal" transactions. Accordingly, Putnam Management will use its best effort to obtain the most favorable price and execution available with respect to such transactions, as described above.

The Trustees of the funds have directed Putnam Management, subject to seeking most favorable pricing and execution, to use its best efforts to allocate a portion of overall fund trades to trading programs which generate commission credits to pay fund expenses such as shareholder servicing and custody charges. The extent of any

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commission credits generated for this purpose may vary significantly from time to time and from fund to fund depending on, among other things, the nature of each fund's trading activities and market conditions.

The Management Contract provides that commissions, fees, brokerage or similar payments received by Putnam Management or an affiliate in connection with the purchase and sale of portfolio investments of the fund, less any direct expenses approved by the Trustees, shall be recaptured by the fund through a reduction of the fee payable by the fund under the Management Contract. Putnam Management seeks to recapture for the fund soliciting dealer fees on the tender of the fund's portfolio securities in tender or exchange offers. Any such fees which may be recaptured are likely to be minor in amount.

Principal Underwriter

Putnam Retail Management, located at One Post Office Square, Boston, MA 02109, is the principal underwriter of shares of the fund and the other continuously offered Putnam funds. Putnam Retail Management is not obligated to sell any specific amount of shares of the fund and will purchase shares for resale only against orders for shares. See “Charges and expenses” in Part I of this SAI for information on sales charges and other payments received by Putnam Retail Management.

Personal Investments by Employees of Putnam Management and Putnam Retail Management and Officers and Trustees of the Fund

Employees of Putnam Management, PIL, PAC, PanAgora and Putnam Retail Management and officers and Trustees of the fund are subject to significant restrictions on engaging in personal securities transactions. These restrictions are set forth in the Codes of Ethics adopted by Putnam Management, PIL, PAC and Putnam Retail Management (the “Putnam Investments Code of Ethics”), by PanAgora (the “PanAgora Code of Ethics”) and by the fund (the “Putnam Funds Code of Ethics” and each of the Putnam Investments Code of Ethics, the PanAgora Code of Ethics and the Putnam Funds Code of Ethics, a “Code of Ethics”). Each Code of Ethics, in accordance with Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act, contain provisions and requirements designed to identify and address certain conflicts of interest between personal investment activities and the interests of the fund.

The Putnam Investments Code of Ethics and, as applicable, the PanAgora Code of Ethics do not prohibit personnel from investing in securities that may be purchased or held by the fund. However, each Code of Ethics, consistent with standards recommended by the Investment Company Institute’s Advisory Group on Personal Investing and requirements established by Rule 17j-1 and rules adopted under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, among other things, prohibits personal securities investments without pre-clearance, imposes time periods during which personal transactions may not be made in certain securities by employees with access to investment information, and requires the timely submission of broker confirmations and quarterly reporting of personal securities transactions. Additional restrictions apply to portfolio managers, traders, research analysts and others involved in the investment advisory process.

The Putnam Funds Code of Ethics incorporates and applies the restrictions of the Putnam Investments Code of Ethics to officers and Trustees of the fund who are affiliated with Putnam Investments. The Putnam Funds Code of Ethics does not prohibit unaffiliated officers and Trustees from investing in securities that may be held by the fund; however, the Putnam Funds Code of Ethics regulates the personal securities transactions of unaffiliated Trustees of the fund, including limiting the time periods during which they may personally buy and sell certain securities and requiring them to submit reports of personal securities transactions under certain circumstances.

The fund’s Trustees, in compliance with Rule 17j-1, approved each Code of Ethics and are required to approve any material changes to each Code of Ethics. The Trustees also provide continued oversight of personal investment policies and annually evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of each Code of Ethics.

Investor Servicing Agent

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Putnam Investor Services, located at One Post Office Square, Boston, MA 02109, is the fund’s investor servicing agent (transfer, plan and dividend disbursing agent), for which it receives fees that are paid monthly by the fund.

Effective September 1, 2016, the fee paid to Putnam Investor Services with respect to assets attributable to non-defined contribution plan accounts (which include accounts maintained directly with the fund, accounts underlying omnibus accounts maintained by financial intermediaries with the fund, accounts of Section 529 college savings plans that are allocated to the fund and accounts of certain funds that operate as funds-of-funds (other than the Putnam RetirementReady Funds) that are allocated to the fund (collectively “retail accounts”)) holding class A, class B, class C, class M, class R, class T (effective March 1, 2017), class T1 and class Y shares, subject to certain limitations, is an annual fee that includes (1) a per account fee for each retail account of the fund that is applicable to the funds in its specified product category, and (2) a fee based on a specified rate of each fund’s average daily net assets that is based on the rate applicable to the funds in its specified product category. The fund categories used for purposes of calculating the per account fee described above are based on product type. The accounts of 529 plans and certain funds-of-funds (other than the Putnam RetirementReady Funds) are included in the determination of the number of accounts at the underlying fund level in proportion to the percentage of the investing fund’s net assets that are invested in the particular underlying fund.

For the Putnam RetirementReady Funds, the fees paid to Putnam Investor Services with respect to assets attributable to retail accounts holding class A, class B, class C, class M, class R, class T and class Y shares, are based on a specified rate of the fund’s average daily net assets attributable to such retail accounts.

The fees paid to Putnam Investor Services with respect to defined contribution plan accounts holding class A, class B, class C, class M, class R, class T, class T1 and class Y shares are based on a specified rate of the average of the net assets attributable to such defined contribution plan accounts invested in a fund as of the end of the month and the end of the prior month.

Putnam Investor Services has agreed, through August 31, 2018, that the aggregate investor servicing fees for each fund’s retail and defined contribution plan accounts will not exceed an annual rate of 0.250% of the fund’s average daily net assets attributable to such accounts.

The fee paid to Putnam Investor Services with respect to class R5 shares is based on an annual rate of 0.15% of each fund’s average daily net assets attributable to class R5 shares, except that an annual rate of 0.12% of each fund’s average daily net assets attributable to class R5 shares applies to Putnam American Government Income Fund, Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Conservative Fund, Putnam Global Income Trust and Putnam Income Fund.

The fee paid to Putnam Investor Services with respect to class R6 shares is based on an annual rate of 0.05% of each fund’s average daily net assets attributable to class R6 shares.

The fee paid to Putnam Investor Services with respect to class I, class G and class P shares is based on an annual rate of 0.01% of each fund’s average daily net assets attributable to class I shares, class G and class P shares, respectively.

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For the period from September 1, 2015 through August 31, 2016, the fee paid to Putnam Investor Services with respect to assets attributable to non-defined contribution plan accounts (which include accounts maintained directly with the fund, accounts underlying omnibus accounts maintained by financial intermediaries with the fund, accounts of Section 529 college savings plans that were allocated to the fund and accounts of certain funds that operate as funds-of-funds (including Putnam RetirementReady Funds) that were allocated to the fund (collectively “previously defined retail accounts”)) holding class A, class B, class C, class M, class R, class T1 and class Y shares, subject to certain limitations, was an annual fee that included (1) a per account fee for each previously defined retail account of the fund and each of the other funds in its specified category, which was totaled and then allocated among each of the funds in the category based on the average daily net assets of each fund, and (2) a fee based on a specified rate of each fund’s average daily net assets. The fund categories used for purposes of calculating the per account fee described above were based on product type. The accounts of 529 plans and certain funds-of-funds (including Putnam RetirementReady Funds) were included in the determination of the number of accounts at the underlying fund level in proportion to the percentage of the investing fund’s assets that were invested in the particular underlying fund.

Financial intermediaries (including brokers, dealers, banks, bank trust departments, registered investment advisers, financial planners, and retirement plan administrators) may own shares of the fund for the benefit of their customers in an omnibus account (including retirement plans). In these circumstances, the financial intermediaries or other third parties may provide certain sub-accounting and similar recordkeeping services for their customers’ accounts.

In recognition of these services, Putnam Investor Services may make payments to these financial intermediaries or other third parties. Payments may be based on the number of underlying accounts in an omnibus account or the assets or share class held in an account. Putnam Investor Services also makes payments to financial intermediaries that charge networking fees for certain services provided in connection with the maintenance of shareholder accounts. These payments are described above under the heading “Distribution Plans – Additional Dealer Payments.”

Custodian

State Street Bank and Trust Company, located at 2 Avenue de Lafayette, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, is the fund’s custodian and the custodian of each Subsidiary. State Street is responsible for safeguarding and controlling the fund’s cash and securities, handling the receipt and delivery of securities, collecting interest and dividends on the fund’s investments, serving as the fund’s foreign custody manager, providing reports on foreign securities depositaries, making payments covering the expenses of the fund and performing other administrative duties. State Street does not determine the investment policies of the fund or decide which securities the fund will buy or sell. State Street has a lien on the fund’s assets to secure charges and advances made by it. The fund may from time to time enter into brokerage arrangements that reduce or recapture fund expenses, including custody expenses. The fund also has an offset arrangement that may reduce the fund’s custody fee based on the amount of cash maintained by its custodian.

Counsel to the Fund and the Independent Trustees

Ropes & Gray LLP serves as counsel to the fund and the Independent Trustees, and is located at Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02199.

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

The fund determines the net asset value per share of each class of shares once each day the NYSE is open. Currently, the NYSE is closed Saturdays, Sundays and the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The fund determines net asset value as of the close of regular trading on

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the NYSE, normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The net asset value per share of each class equals the total value of its assets, less its liabilities, divided by the number of its outstanding shares.

Assets of money market funds are valued at amortized cost pursuant to Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. For other funds, securities and other assets (“Securities”) for which market quotations are readily available are valued at prices which, in the opinion of Putnam Management, most nearly represent the market values of such Securities. Currently, prices for these Securities are determined using the last reported sale price (or official closing price for Securities listed on certain markets) or, if no sales are reported (as in the case of some Securities traded over-the-counter), the last reported bid price, except that certain Securities are valued at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. All other Securities are valued by Putnam Management or other parties at their fair value following procedures approved by the Trustees.

Reliable market quotations are not considered to be readily available for, among other Securities, long-term corporate bonds and notes, certain preferred stocks, tax-exempt securities, and certain foreign securities. These investments are valued at fair value, generally on the basis of valuations furnished by approved pricing services, which determine valuations for normal, institutional-size trading units of such securities using methods based on market transactions for comparable securities and various relationships between securities that are generally recognized by institutional traders. Other Securities, such as various types of options, are valued at fair value on the basis of valuations furnished by broker-dealers or other market intermediaries.

Putnam Management values all other Securities at fair value using its internal resources. The valuation procedures applied in any specific instance are likely to vary from case to case. However, consideration is generally given to the financial position of the issuer and other fundamental analytical data relating to the investment and to the nature of the restrictions on disposition of the Securities (including any registration expenses that might be borne by the fund in connection with such disposition). In addition, specific factors are also generally considered, such as the cost of the investment, the market value of any unrestricted Securities of the same class, the size of the holding, the prices of any recent transactions or offers with respect to such Securities and any available analysts’ reports regarding the issuer. In the case of Securities that are restricted as to resale, Putnam Management determines fair value based on the inherent worth of the Security without regard to the restrictive feature, adjusted for any diminution in value resulting from the restrictive feature.

Generally, trading in certain Securities (such as foreign securities) is substantially completed each day at various times before the close of the NYSE. The closing prices for these Securities in markets or on exchanges outside the U.S. that close before the close of the NYSE may not fully reflect events that occur after such close but before the close of the NYSE. As a result, the fund has adopted fair value pricing procedures, which, among other things, require the fund to fair value foreign equity securities if there has been a movement in the U.S. market that exceeds a specified threshold. Although the threshold may be revised from time to time and the number of days on which fair value prices will be used will vary, it is possible that fair value prices will be used by the fund to a significant extent. In addition, Securities held by some of the funds may be traded in foreign markets that are open for business on days that the fund is not, and the trading of such Securities on those days may have an impact on the value of a shareholder’s investment at a time when the shareholder cannot buy and sell shares of the fund.

Currency exchange rates used in valuing Securities are normally determined as of 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Occasionally, events affecting such exchange rates may occur between the time of the determination of exchange rates and the close of the NYSE, which, in the absence of fair valuation, would not be reflected in the computation of the fund’s net asset value. If events materially affecting the currency exchange rates occur during such period, then the exchange rates used in valuing affected Securities will be valued by Putnam Management at their fair value following procedures approved by the Trustees.

In addition, because of the amount of time required to collect and process trading information as to large numbers of securities issues, the values of certain Securities (such as convertible bonds, U.S. government securities and tax-exempt securities) are determined based on market quotations collected before the close of the

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NYSE. Occasionally, events affecting the value of such Securities may occur between the time of the determination of value and the close of the NYSE, which, in the absence of fair value prices, would not be reflected in the computation of the fund’s net asset value. If events materially affecting the value of such Securities occur during such period, then these Securities will be valued by Putnam Management at their fair value following procedures approved by the Trustees. It is expected that any such instance would be very rare.

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 at a given point in time and does not reflect an actual market price.

The fund may also value its Securities at fair value under other circumstances pursuant to procedures approved by the Trustees.

Money Market Funds

“Retail money market funds” and “government money market funds” each as defined by Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act generally value their portfolio securities at amortized cost according to Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act.

Since the net income of a money market fund is declared as a dividend each time it is determined, the net asset value per share of a retail money market fund and government money market fund typically remains at $1.00 per share immediately after such determination and dividend declaration. Any increase in the value of a shareholder’s investment in a money market fund representing the reinvestment of dividend income is reflected by an increase in the number of shares of that fund in the shareholder’s account on the last business day of each month. It is expected that a money market fund’s net income will normally be positive each time it is determined. However, if because of realized losses on sales of portfolio investments, a sudden rise in interest rates, or for any other reason the net income of a fund determined at any time is a negative amount, a money market fund may offset such amount allocable to each then shareholder’s account from dividends accrued during the month with respect to such account. If, at the time of payment of a dividend, such negative amount exceeds a shareholder’s accrued dividends, a money market fund may reduce the number of outstanding shares by treating the shareholder as having contributed to the capital of the fund that number of full and fractional shares which represent the amount of the excess. Each shareholder is deemed to have agreed to such contribution in these circumstances by his or her investment in a money market fund.

INVESTOR SERVICES

Shareholder Information

Each time shareholders buy or sell shares, a statement confirming the transaction and listing their current share balance will be made available for viewing electronically or delivered via mail. (Under certain investment plans, a statement may only be sent quarterly.) The fund also sends annual and semiannual reports that keep shareholders informed about its portfolio and performance, and year-end tax information to simplify their recordkeeping. To help shareholders take full advantage of their Putnam investment, publications covering many topics of interest to investors are available on our website or from Putnam Investor Services. Shareholders may call Putnam Investor Services toll-free weekdays at 1-800-225-1581 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time for more information, including account balances. Shareholders can also visit the Putnam website at http://www.putnam.com.

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Your Investing Account

The following information provides more detail concerning the operation of a Putnam Investing Account. For further information or assistance, investors should consult Putnam Investor Services. Shareholders who purchase shares through an employer-sponsored retirement plan should note that not all of the services or features described below may be available to them, and they should contact their employer for details.

A shareholder may reinvest a cash distribution without a front-end sales charge or without the reinvested shares being subject to a CDSC, as the case may be, by delivering to Putnam Investor Services the uncashed distribution check. Putnam Investor Services must receive the properly endorsed check within 1 year after the date of the check.

The Investing Account also provides a way to accumulate shares of the fund. In most cases, after an initial investment, a shareholder may send checks to Putnam Investor Services, made payable to the fund, to purchase additional shares at the applicable public offering price next determined after Putnam Investor Services receives the check. Checks must be drawn on a U.S. bank and must be payable in U.S. dollars.

Putnam Investor Services acts as the shareholder's agent whenever it receives instructions to carry out a transaction on the shareholder's account. Upon receipt of instructions that shares are to be purchased for a shareholder's account, shares will be purchased through the investment dealer designated by the shareholder. Shareholders may change investment dealers at any time by written notice to Putnam Investor Services, provided the new dealer has a sales agreement with Putnam Retail Management.

Shares credited to an account are transferable upon written instructions in good order to Putnam Investor Services and may be sold to the fund as described under "How do I sell or exchange fund shares?" in the prospectus. Putnam funds no longer issue share certificates. A shareholder may send to Putnam Investor Services any certificates which have been previously issued to enable more convenient maintenance of the account as a book-entry account.

Putnam Retail Management, at its expense, may provide certain additional reports and administrative material to qualifying institutional investors with fiduciary responsibilities to assist these investors in discharging their responsibilities. Institutions seeking further information about this service should contact Putnam Retail Management, which may modify or terminate this service at any time.

The fund pays Putnam Investor Services' fees for maintaining Investing Accounts.

Checkwriting Privilege. For those funds that allow shareholders, as disclosed in the prospectus, to redeem shares by check, Putnam is currently waiving the minimum per-check amount stated in the prospectus.

Reinstatement Privilege

An investor who has redeemed shares of the fund may reinvest within 90 days of such redemption the proceeds of such redemption in shares of the same class of the fund, or may reinvest within 90 days of such redemption the proceeds in shares of the same class of one of the other continuously offered Putnam funds (through the exchange privilege described in the prospectus), including, in the case of shares subject to a CDSC, the amount of CDSC charged on the redemption. Any such reinvestment would be at the net asset value of the shares of the fund(s) the investor selects, next determined after Putnam Retail Management receives a Reinstatement Authorization. The time that the previous investment was held will be included in determining any applicable CDSC due upon redemptions and, in the case of class B shares, the eight-year period for conversion to class A shares. Reinstatements into class B, class C or class M shares may be permitted even if the resulting purchase would otherwise be rejected for causing a shareholder’s investments in such class to exceed the applicable investment maximum. Shareholders will receive from Putnam Retail Management the amount of any CDSC paid at the time of redemption as part of the reinstated investment, which may be treated as capital gains to the

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shareholder for tax purposes. Redemption orders for class B shares placed after March 31, 2017 will not be eligible for the reinstatement privilege.

Exercise of the Reinstatement Privilege does not alter the federal income tax treatment of any capital gains realized on a sale of fund shares, but to the extent that any shares are sold at a loss and the proceeds are reinvested in shares of the fund, some or all of the loss may be disallowed as a deduction. Consult your tax adviser. Investors who desire to exercise the Reinstatement Privilege should contact their investment dealer or Putnam Investor Services.

Exchange Privilege

Except as otherwise set forth in this section, by calling Putnam Investor Services, investors may exchange shares valued in the aggregate up to $500,000 between accounts with identical registrations, provided that no certificates are outstanding for such shares. During periods of unusual market changes and shareholder activity, shareholders may experience delays in contacting Putnam Investor Services by telephone to exercise the telephone exchange privilege.

Class T shares may not be exchanged for any other share class or for class T shares of another Putnam fund.

Putnam Investor Services also makes exchanges promptly after receiving a properly completed Exchange Authorization Form and, if issued, share certificates. If the shareholder is a corporation, partnership, agent, or surviving joint owner, Putnam Investor Services will require additional documentation of a customary nature. Because an exchange of shares involves the redemption of fund shares and reinvestment of the proceeds in shares of another Putnam fund, completion of an exchange may be delayed under unusual circumstances if the fund were to suspend redemptions or postpone payment for the fund shares being exchanged, in accordance with federal securities laws. Exchange Authorization Forms and prospectuses of the other Putnam funds are available from Putnam Retail Management or investment dealers having sales contracts with Putnam Retail Management. The prospectus of each fund describes its goal(s) and policies, and shareholders should obtain a prospectus and consider these objectives and policies carefully before requesting an exchange. Shares of certain Putnam funds are not available to residents of all states. The fund reserves the right to change or suspend the exchange privilege at any time. Shareholders would be notified of any change or suspension. Additional information is available from Putnam Investor Services at 1-800-225-1581.

Shareholders of other Putnam funds may also exchange their shares at net asset value for shares of the fund, as set forth in the current prospectus of each fund. Exchanges from Putnam Government Money Market Fund, Putnam Money Market Fund or Putnam Short Duration Income Fund into another Putnam fund may be subject to an initial sales charge. Generally, exchanges of class T shares of one Putnam fund for class T shares of another Putnam fund will be subject to the initial sales charge applicable to class T shares. As described in the prospectus, shareholders holding shares through certain financial intermediaries with whom Putnam Retail Management has entered into arrangements may be able to exchange into class T shares without being subject to an initial sales charge.

For federal income tax purposes, an exchange is a sale on which the investor generally will realize a capital gain or loss depending on whether the net asset value at the time of the exchange is more or less than the investor's basis.

Same-Fund Exchange Privilege. Class A shareholders who are eligible to purchase class R5, class R6, class T or class Y shares may exchange their class A shares for class R5, class R6, class T or class Y shares of the same fund, provided that such shares are offered to residents of the shareholder’s state, that the class A shares are no longer subject to a CDSC and, in the case of class R5, class R6 and class T shares, if applicable, the shares are available through the relevant retirement plan.

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Class C shareholders who are eligible to purchase class A shares without a sales charge because the shareholders are (i) clients of broker-dealers, financial institutions, financial intermediaries or registered investment advisors that are approved by Putnam Retail Management and charge a fee for advisory or investment services or (ii) clients of broker-dealers, financial institutions, or financial intermediaries that have entered into an agreement with Putnam Retail Management to offer shares through a fund ‘supermarket’ or retail self-directed brokerage account (with or without the imposition of a transaction fee) may exchange their class C shares for class A shares of the same fund, provided that (i) the class C shares are no longer subject to a CDSC and (ii) class A shares of such fund are offered to residents of the shareholder’s state.

Class C shareholders who are eligible to purchase class T or class Y shares may exchange their class C shares for class T or class Y shares of the same fund, provided that the class C shares are no longer subject to a CDSC, class T or class Y shares of such fund are offered to residents of the shareholder’s state and, in the case of class T shares, if applicable, the shares are available through the relevant retirement plan .

Class M shareholders who are eligible to purchase class T or class Y shares may exchange their Class M shares for class T or class Y shares of the same fund, provided that class T or class Y shares of such fund are offered to residents of the shareholder’s state.

Class R shareholders who are eligible to purchase class R5 or class R6 shares may exchange their class R shares for class R5 or class R6 shares of the same fund, provided that such shares are offered to residents of the shareholder’s state and, in the case of class R5 and class R6 shares, the shares are available through the relevant retirement plan.

Class R5 shareholders who are eligible to purchase class A, class R, class R6 or class Y shares may exchange their class R5 shares for class A, class R, class R6, or class Y shares of the same fund, provided that such shares are offered to residents of the shareholder’s state and are available through the relevant retirement plan.

Class R6 shareholders who are eligible to purchase class A, class R, class R5 or class Y shares may exchange their class R6 shares for class A, class R, class R5 or class Y shares of the same fund, provided that such shares are offered to residents of the shareholder’s state and are available through the relevant retirement plan.

Class Y shareholders who are eligible to purchase class A, class C, class R5, class R6 or class T shares may exchange their class Y shares for class A, class C, class R5, class R6 or class T shares of the same fund, provided that such shares are offered to residents of the shareholder’s state and, in the case of class R5 and class R6 shares, the shares are available through the relevant retirement plan. Class Y shareholders should be aware that the financial institution or intermediary through which they hold class Y shares may have the authority under its account or similar agreement to exchange class Y shares for class A, class C or class T shares under certain circumstances, and none of the Putnam Funds, Putnam Retail Management or Putnam Investor Services are responsible for any actions taken by a shareholder’s financial institution or intermediary in this regard.

No sales charges or other charges will apply to any such exchange. For federal income tax purposes, a same-fund exchange is not expected to result in the realization by the investor of a capital gain or loss. Shareholders should be aware that (i) the same-fund exchange privilege may be effected only if permitted by a shareholder’s dealer of record, (ii) the same-fund exchange privilege may not be available for all accounts and may not be offered by all dealers, financial institutions and other intermediaries through which a shareholder may hold shares, and (iii) the dealer of record through whom a shareholder holds shares may be authorized (e.g., under its account or similar agreement with a shareholder) to reject any same-fund exchange. None of the Putnam funds, Putnam Retail Management or Putnam Investor Services are responsible for any determinations made, or any actions taken, by a shareholder’s dealer of record in respect of same-fund exchanges. To exchange shares under the same-fund exchange privilege, please contact your investment dealer or Putnam Investor Services.

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Dividends PLUS

Shareholders may invest the fund's distributions of net investment income or distributions combining net investment income and short-term capital gains in shares of the same class of another continuously offered Putnam fund (the "receiving fund") using the net asset value per share of the receiving fund determined on the date the fund's distribution is payable. No sales charge or CDSC will apply to the purchased shares. The prospectus of each fund describes its goal(s) and policies, and shareholders should obtain a prospectus and consider these goal(s) and policies carefully before investing their distributions in the receiving fund. Shares of certain Putnam funds are not available to residents of all states.

Shareholders of other Putnam funds may also use their distributions to purchase shares of the fund at net asset value.

For federal tax purposes, distributions from the fund which are reinvested in another fund are treated as paid by the fund to the shareholder and invested by the shareholder in the receiving fund and thus, to the extent composed of taxable income and deemed paid to a taxable shareholder, are taxable.

The Dividends PLUS program may be revised or terminated at any time.

Plans Available to Shareholders

The plans described below are fully voluntary and may be terminated at any time without the imposition by the fund or Putnam Investor Services of any penalty. All plans provide for automatic reinvestment of all distributions in additional shares of the fund at net asset value. The fund, Putnam Retail Management or Putnam Investor Services may modify or cease offering these plans at any time.

Systematic Withdrawal Plan ("SWP"). An investor who owns or buys shares of the fund valued at $5,000 or more at the current public offering price may open a SWP plan and have a designated sum of money ($50 or more) paid monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually to the investor or another person. (Payments from the fund can be combined with payments from other Putnam funds into a single check through a designated payment plan.) Shares are deposited in a plan account, and all distributions are reinvested in additional shares of the fund at net asset value (except where the plan is utilized in connection with a charitable remainder trust). Shares in a plan account are then redeemed at net asset value to make each withdrawal payment. Payment will be made to any person the investor designates; however, if shares are registered in the name of a trustee or other fiduciary, payment will be made only to the fiduciary, except in the case of a profit-sharing or pension plan where payment will be made to a designee. As withdrawal payments may include a return of principal, they cannot be considered a guaranteed annuity or actual yield of income to the investor. The redemption of shares in connection with a plan generally will result in a gain or loss for tax purposes. Some or all of the losses realized upon redemption may be disallowed pursuant to the so-called wash sale rules if shares of the same fund from which shares were redeemed are purchased (including through the reinvestment of fund distributions) within a period beginning 30 days before, and ending 30 days after, such redemption. In such a case, the basis of the replacement shares will be increased to reflect the disallowed loss. Continued withdrawals in excess of income will reduce and possibly exhaust invested principal, especially in the event of a market decline. The cost of administering these plans for the benefit of those shareholders participating in them is borne by the fund as an expense of all shareholders. The fund, Putnam Retail Management or Putnam Investor Services may terminate or change the terms of the plan at any time. A plan will be terminated if communications mailed to the shareholder are returned as undeliverable.

Investors should consider carefully with their own financial advisers whether the plan and the specified amounts to be withdrawn are appropriate in their circumstances. The fund and Putnam Investor Services make no recommendations or representations in this regard.

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Tax-favored plans. (Not offered by funds investing primarily in Tax-exempt Securities.) Investors may purchase shares of the fund through the following Tax Qualified Retirement Plans, available to qualified individuals or organizations:

Standard and variable profit-sharing (including 401(k)) and money purchase pension plans; and Individual Retirement Account Plans (IRAs), including SIMPLE IRAs, Roth IRAs, SEP IRAs; and Coverdell Education savings plans.

Forms and further information on these Plans are available from investment dealers or from Putnam Retail Management. In addition, plan administration arrangements are available on an optional basis; contact Putnam Investor Services at 1-866-207-7261.

Consultation with a competent financial and tax adviser regarding these Plans and consideration of the suitability of fund shares as an investment under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, or otherwise, is recommended.

Automatic Rebalancing Arrangements. Putnam Retail Management or Putnam Investor Services may enter into arrangements with certain dealers which provide for automatic periodic rebalancing of shareholders’ accounts in Putnam funds. For more information about these arrangements, please contact Putnam Retail Management or Putnam Investor Services.

SIGNATURE GUARANTEES

Requests to redeem shares having a net asset value of $100,000 or more, or to transfer shares or make redemption proceeds payable to anyone other than the registered account owners, must be signed by all registered owners or their legal representatives and must be guaranteed by a bank, broker/dealer, municipal securities dealer or broker, credit union, national securities exchange, registered securities association, clearing agency, savings association or trust company, provided such institution is authorized and acceptable under and conforms with Putnam Investor Services’ signature guarantee procedures. A copy of such procedures is available upon request. In certain situations, for example, if you want your redemption proceeds sent to an address other than your address as it appears on Putnam’s records, you may also need to provide a signature guarantee. Putnam Investor Services usually requires additional documentation for the sale of shares by a corporation, partnership, agent or fiduciary, or a surviving joint owner. Contact Putnam Investor Services at 1-800-225-1581 for more information on Putnam’s signature guarantee and documentation requirements.

REDEMPTIONS

Suspension of redemptions. The fund may not suspend shareholders’ right of redemption, or postpone payment for more than seven days, unless the Exchange is closed for other than customary weekends or holidays, or if permitted by the rules of the SEC during periods when trading on the Exchange is restricted or during any emergency which makes it impracticable for the fund to dispose of its securities or to determine fairly the value of its net assets, or during any other period permitted by order of the Commission for protection of investors.

In-kind redemptions. To the extent consistent with applicable laws and regulations, the fund will consider satisfying all or a portion of a redemption request by distributing securities or other property in lieu of cash (“in-kind” redemptions). Any transaction costs or other expenses involved in liquidating securities received in an in-kind redemption will be borne by the redeeming investor. For information regarding procedures for in-kind redemptions, please contact Putnam Retail Management.

POLICY ON EXCESSIVE SHORT-TERM TRADING

As disclosed in the prospectus of each fund other than Putnam Money Market Fund, Putnam Government Money Market Fund and Putnam Short Duration Income Fund, Putnam Management and the fund’s Trustees have

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adopted policies and procedures intended to discourage excessive short-term trading. Putnam Management’s Compliance Department currently uses multiple reporting tools in an attempt to detect short-term trading activity occurring in shareholder accounts. Putnam Management measures excessive short-term trading in the fund by the number of “round trip” transactions, as defined in the prospectus, above a specified dollar amount within a specified period of time. Generally, if an investor has been identified as having completed two “round trip” transactions with values of at least $25,000 within a rolling 90-day period, Putnam Management will issue the investor and/or his or her financial intermediary, if any, a written warning. To the extent that short-term trading activity continues, additional measures may be taken. Putnam Management’s practices for measuring excessive short-term trading activity and issuing warnings may change from time to time.

SHAREHOLDER LIABILITY

Under Massachusetts law, shareholders could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable for the obligations of the fund. However, the Agreement and Declaration of Trust disclaims shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the fund and requires that notice of such disclaimer be given in each agreement, obligation, or instrument entered into or executed by the fund or the Trustees. The Agreement and Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification out of fund property for all loss and expense of any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the fund. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which the fund would be unable to meet its obligations. The likelihood of such circumstances appears to be remote.

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO INFORMATION

The Trustees of the Putnam funds have adopted policies with respect to the disclosure of the fund’s portfolio holdings by the fund, Putnam Management, or their affiliates. These policies provide that information about the fund’s portfolio generally may not be released to any party prior to (i) the day after the posting of such information on the Putnam Investments website, (ii) the filing of the information with the SEC in a required filing, or (iii) the dissemination of such information to all shareholders simultaneously. Certain limited exceptions pursuant to the fund’s policies are described below. The Trustees will periodically receive reports from the fund’s Chief Compliance Officer regarding the operation of these policies and procedures, including any arrangements to make non-public disclosures of the fund’s portfolio information to third parties. Putnam Management and its affiliates are not permitted to receive compensation or other consideration in connection with disclosing information about the fund’s portfolio holdings to third parties.

Public Disclosures

The fund’s portfolio holdings are currently disclosed to the public through filings with the SEC and postings on the Putnam Investments website. The fund files its portfolio holdings with the SEC for each fiscal quarter on Form N-CSR (with respect to each annual period and semi-annual period) and Form N-Q (with respect to the first and third quarters of the fund’s fiscal year). In addition, money market funds file monthly reports of portfolio holdings on form N-MFP (with respect to the prior month). Shareholders may obtain the Form N-CSR, N-MFP and N-Q filings on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, Form N-CSR and N-Q filings may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Form N-CSR and N-Q filings are available upon filing and form N-MFP filings are available 60 days after each calendar month end. 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.

For Putnam Money Market Fund and Putnam Government Money Market Fund, the following information is publicly available on the Putnam Investments website, www.putnam.com/individual, as disclosed in the following table. This information will remain available on the website for six months thereafter, after which the information can be found on the SEC’s website.

 

 

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Information  Frequency of Disclosure  Date of Web Posting 
Full Portfolio Holdings Monthly  5 business days after the end of 
each month.

For Putnam Short Duration Income Fund, Putnam Management makes the fund’s portfolio information publicly available on the Putnam Investments website, www.putnam.com/individual, as disclosed in the following table.

Information  Frequency of Disclosure  Date of Web Posting 
Full Portfolio Holdings  Monthly  On or after 5 business days after 
    the end of each month. 

 

For all other funds, Putnam Management also currently makes the fund’s portfolio information publicly available on the Putnam Investments website, www.putnam.com/individual, as disclosed in the following table.

Information(1)  Frequency of Disclosure  Date of Web Posting 
Full Portfolio Holdings  Quarterly  Last business day of the month 
    following the end of each 
    calendar quarter 
Top 10 Portfolio Holdings and  Monthly  Approximately 15 days after the 
other portfolio statistics    end of each month 

 

(1) Putnam mutual funds that are not currently offered to the general public (“incubated” funds) do not post portfolio holdings on the Web, except to the extent required by applicable regulations. Full portfolio holdings for the Putnam RetirementReady® Funds, Retirement Income Fund Lifestyle 1, and Putnam Global Sector Fund, which invest solely in other Putnam funds, are posted on www.putnam.com/individual approximately 15 days after the end of each month. Please see these funds’ prospectuses for their target allocations.

The scope of the information relating to the fund’s portfolio that is made available on the website may change from time to time without notice. In addition, the posting of fund holdings may be delayed in some instances for technical reasons.

Putnam Management or its affiliates may include fund portfolio information that has already been made public through a Web posting or SEC filing in marketing literature and other communications to shareholders, advisors or other parties, provided that, in the case of information made public through the Web, the information is disclosed no earlier than the day after the date of posting to the website.

Other Disclosures

In order to address potential conflicts between the interest of fund shareholders, on the one hand, and those of Putnam Management, Putnam Retail Management or any affiliated person of those entities or of the fund, on the other hand, the fund’s policies require that non-public disclosures of information regarding the fund’s portfolio may be made only if there is a legitimate business purpose consistent with fiduciary duties to all shareholders of the fund. In addition, the party receiving the non-public information must sign a non-disclosure agreement unless otherwise approved by the Chief Compliance Officer of the fund. Arrangements to make non-public disclosures of the fund’s portfolio information must be approved by the Chief Compliance Officer of the fund. The Chief Compliance Officer will report on an ongoing basis to a committee of the fund’s Board of Trustees consisting only of Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the fund or Putnam Management regarding any such arrangement that the fund may enter into with third parties other than service providers to the fund.

The fund periodically discloses its portfolio information on a confidential basis to various service providers that require such information in order to assist the fund with its day-to-day business affairs. In addition to Putnam Management and its affiliates, including Putnam Investor Services and PRM, these service providers include the

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fund’s custodian (State Street Bank and Trust Company) and any sub-custodians (including one or more sub-custodians for each non-U.S. market in which the fund purchases securities), accounting providers (State Street Bank and Trust Company, SS&C Advent and BNY Mellon), pricing services (including IDC, Reuters, Markit, Statpro, Standard & Poors, Bloomberg, ICE ClearCredit, LCH Swapclear, PriceServ and CME Group), independent registered public accounting firm (KPMG LLP or PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP), legal counsel (Ropes & Gray LLP and, for funds sold in Japan, Mori Hamada & Matsumoto), financial printer and filing agent (McMunn Associates, Inc., Newsfile Corp.), proxy voting service (Glass, Lewis & Co), compliance limit monitoring (Consensys Limited) and securities lending agent (Goldman Sachs Bank USA). These service providers are required to keep such information confidential, and are prohibited from trading based on the information or otherwise using the information except as necessary in providing services to the fund.

The fund may also periodically provide non-public information about its portfolio holdings to rating and ranking organizations and other providers of industry data, such as Lipper Inc., Morningstar Inc., Bloomberg and Thomson Reuters, in connection with those firms’ research on and classification of the fund and in order to gather information about how the fund’s attributes (such as volatility, turnover, and expenses) compare with those of peer funds. The fund may also periodically provide non-public information about its portfolio holdings to consultants that provide portfolio analysis services or other investment research or trading analytics. Such recipients of portfolio holdings include Barclays, Factset, ITG, Trade Infomatics, ConsenSys, ENSO Financial Analytics, Bloomberg and Credit Suisse. Any such rating, ranking, or consulting or other firm would be required to keep the fund’s portfolio information confidential and would be prohibited from trading based on the information or otherwise using the information except as necessary in providing services to the fund. Such firms may receive portfolio holdings information only from certain funds (such as equity funds or fixed income funds) and such information may be provided in greater or lesser detail depending on the nature of the services provided by the relevant firm.

INFORMATION SECURITY RISKS

Cyber security risk. With the increased use of interconnected technologies such as the Internet and the dependence on computer systems to perform necessary business functions, investment companies such as the fund and its service providers may be prone to operational, information security and related risks resulting from third-party cyber-attacks and/or other technological malfunctions. Cyber-attacks may include stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, preventing legitimate users from accessing information or services on a website, releasing confidential information without authorization, and causing operational disruption. Successful cyber-attacks against, or security or technology breakdowns of, the fund or its adviser, custodian, transfer agent, or other affiliated or third-party service providers may adversely affect the fund and its shareholders. For example, cyber-attacks may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, impact the fund’s ability to calculate its net asset value, cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential fund information, impede trading, cause reputational damage, and subject the fund or others to regulatory fines, penalties or financial losses, reimbursement or other compensation costs, and additional compliance costs. Similar types of cyber security risks also are present for issuers of securities in which the fund invests, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers, and may cause the fund’s investment in such securities to lose value. The fund and Putnam Investments may have limited ability to prevent or mitigate cyber-attacks or security or technology breakdowns affecting the fund’s third-party service providers. While Putnam has established business continuity plans and systems designed to prevent or reduce the impact of cyber-attacks, such plans and systems are subject to inherent limitations.

PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES

The Trustees of the Putnam funds have established proxy voting guidelines and procedures that govern the voting of proxies for the securities held in the funds’ portfolios. The proxy voting guidelines summarize the funds’ positions on various issues of concern to investors, and provide direction to the proxy voting service used by the funds as to how fund portfolio securities should be voted on proposals dealing with particular issues. The proxy voting procedures explain the role of the Trustees, Putnam Management, the proxy voting service and the

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funds’ proxy manager in the proxy voting process, describe the procedures for referring matters involving investment considerations to the investment personnel of Putnam Management and describe the procedures for handling potential conflicts of interest. The Putnam funds’ proxy voting guidelines and procedures are included in this SAI as Appendix A. Information regarding how the funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the 12-month period ended June 30, 2016 is available on the Putnam Individual Investor website, www.putnam.com/individual, and on the SEC’s website at 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 by calling Putnam’s Shareholder Services at 1-800-225-1581.

SECURITIES RATINGS

The ratings of securities in which the fund may invest will be measured at the time of purchase and, to the extent a security is assigned a different rating by one or more of the various rating agencies, Putnam Management may use the highest rating assigned by any agency. Putnam Management will not necessarily sell an investment if its rating is reduced. Below are descriptions of ratings, as provided by the rating agencies, which represent opinions as to the quality of various debt instruments.

Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

Global Long-Term Rating Scale (original maturity of 1 year or more)

Aaa – Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.

Aa – Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

A – Obligations rated A are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

Baa – Obligations rated Baa are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

Ba – Obligations rated Ba are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.

B – Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

Caa – Obligations rated Caa are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

Ca – Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

C – Obligations rated C are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

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Note: Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category. Additionally, a “(hyb)” indicator is appended to all ratings of hybrid securities issued by banks, insurers, finance companies, and securities firms.

By their terms, hybrid securities allow for the omission of scheduled dividends, interest, or principal payments, which can potentially result in impairment if such an omission occurs. Hybrid securities may also be subject to contractually allowable write-downs of principal that could result in impairment. Together with the hybrid indicator, the long-term obligation rating assigned to a hybrid security is an expression of the relative credit risk associated with that security.

Global Short-Term Rating Scale (original maturity of 13 months or less)

P-1 – Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

P-2 – Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

P-3 – Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.

NP – Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

US Municipal Short-Term Obligation Ratings

MIG 1 – This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.

MIG 2 – This designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.

MIG 3 – This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.

SG – This designation denotes speculative grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.

US Municipal Demand Obligation Ratings

VMIG 1 – This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

VMIG 2 – This designation denotes strong credit quality. Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

VMIG 3 – This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

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SG – This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have an investment grade short-term rating or may lack the structural and/or legal protections necessary to ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

Standard & Poor’s

Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings (original maturity of one year or more)

AAA – An obligation rated ‘AAA’ has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.

AA – An obligation rated ‘AA’ differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.

A – An obligation rated ‘A’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.

BBB – An obligation rated ‘BBB’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

BB; B; CCC; CC and C – Obligations rated ‘BB’, ‘B’, ‘CCC’, ‘CC’, and ‘C’ are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. ‘BB’ indicates the lowest degree of speculation and ‘C’ the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.

BB – An obligation rated ‘BB’ is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

B – An obligation rated ‘B’ is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated ‘BB’, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

CCC – An obligation rated ‘CCC’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

CC – An obligation rated ‘CC’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. The ‘CC’ rating is used when a default has not yet occurred, but Standard & Poor’s expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.

C – An obligation rated ‘C’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared to obligations that are rated higher.

D – An obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made within five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or 30 calendar days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual

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certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. An obligation’s rating is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

NR – This indicates that no rating has been requested, or that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that Standard & Poor’s does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.

Note: The ratings from ‘AA’ to ‘CCC’ may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.

Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings (original maturity of 365 days or less)

A-1 – A short-term obligation rated’A-1’ is rated in the highest category by Standard & Poor’s. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.

A-2 – A short-term obligation rated ‘A-2’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.

A-3 – A short-term obligation rated ‘A-3’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

B – A short-term obligation rated ‘B’ is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.

C – A short-term obligation rated ‘C’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

D – A short-term obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the due date, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. An obligation’s rating is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

Municipal Short-Term Note Ratings (original maturity of 3 years or less)

SP-1 – Strong capacity to pay principal and interest. An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.

SP-2 – Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.

SP-3 – Speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

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Fitch Ratings

Long-Term Rating Scales

AAA – Highest credit quality. ‘AAA’ ratings denote the lowest expectation of default risk. They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

AA – Very high credit quality. ‘AA’ ratings denote expectations of very low default risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

A – High credit quality. ‘A’ ratings denote expectations of low default risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

BBB – Good credit quality. ‘BBB’ ratings indicate that expectations of default risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.

BB – Speculative. ‘BB’ ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to default risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial flexibility exists which supports the servicing of financial commitments.

B – Highly speculative. ‘B’ ratings indicate that material default risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is vulnerable to deterioration in the business and economic environment.

CCC – Substantial credit risk. Default is a real possibility.

CC – Very high levels of credit risk. Default of some kind appears probable.

C – Exceptionally high levels of credit risk. Default is imminent or inevitable, or the issuer is in standstill.

Conditions that are indicative of a ‘C’ category rating for an issuer include:

a. the issuer has entered into a grace or cure period following non-payment of a material financial obligation;

b. the issuer has entered into a temporary negotiated waiver or standstill agreement following a payment default on a material financial obligation; or

c. Fitch Ratings otherwise believes a condition of ‘RD’ or ‘D’ to be imminent or inevitable, including through the formal announcement of a distressed debt exchange.

RD – Restricted default. ‘RD’ ratings indicate an issuer that in Fitch Ratings’ opinion has experienced an uncured payment default on a bond, loan or other material financial obligation but which has not entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other formal winding-up procedure, and which has not otherwise ceased operating. This would include:

a. the selective payment default on a specific class or currency of debt;

b. the uncured expiry of any applicable grace period, cure period or default forbearance period following a payment default on a bank loan, capital markets security or other material financial obligation;

c. the extension of multiple waivers or forbearance periods upon a payment default on one or more material financial obligations, either in series or in parallel; or

d. execution of a distressed debt exchange on one or more material financial obligations.

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D – Default. ‘D’ ratings indicate an issuer that in Fitch Ratings’ opinion has entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other formal winding-up procedure, or which has otherwise ceased business.

Default ratings are not assigned prospectively to entities or their obligations; within this context, non-payment on an instrument that contains a deferral feature or grace period will generally not be considered a default until after the expiration of the deferral or grace period, unless a default is otherwise driven by bankruptcy or other similar circumstance, or by a distressed debt exchange.

“Imminent” default typically refers to the occasion where a payment default has been intimated by the issuer, and is all but inevitable. This may, for example, be where an issuer has missed a scheduled payment, but (as is typical) has a grace period during which it may cure the payment default. Another alternative would be where an issuer has formally announced a distressed debt exchange, but the date of the exchange still lies several days or weeks in the immediate future.

In all cases, the assignment of a default rating reflects the agency’s opinion as to the most appropriate rating category consistent with the rest of its universe of ratings, and may differ from the definition of default under the terms of an issuer’s financial obligations or local commercial practice.

Note: The modifiers “+” or “-” may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories. Such suffixes are not added to the ‘AAA’ Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) category, or to Long-Term IDR categories below ‘B’.

Short-Term Ratings

F1 – Highest short-term credit quality. Indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

F2 – Good short-term credit quality. Good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.

F3 – Fair short-term credit quality. The intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.

B – Speculative short-term credit quality. Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

C – High short-term default risk. Default is a real possibility.

RD – Restricted default. Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Typically applicable to entity ratings only.

D – Default. Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.

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Appendix A

Proxy voting guidelines of the Putnam funds 

 

The proxy voting guidelines below summarize the funds’ positions on various issues of concern to investors, and give a general indication of how fund portfolio securities will be voted on proposals dealing with particular issues. The funds’ proxy voting service is instructed to vote all proxies relating to fund portfolio securities in accordance with these guidelines, except as otherwise instructed by the Director of Proxy Voting and Corporate Governance (“Proxy Voting Director”), a member of the Office of the Trustees who is appointed to assist in the coordination and voting of the funds’ proxies.

The proxy voting guidelines are just that – guidelines. The guidelines are not exhaustive and do not address all potential voting issues. Because the circumstances of individual companies are so varied, there may be instances when the funds do not vote in strict adherence to these guidelines. For example, the proxy voting service is expected to bring to the Proxy Voting Director’s attention proxy questions that are company-specific and of a non-routine nature and that, even if covered by the guidelines, may be more appropriately handled on a case-by-case basis.

Similarly, Putnam Management’s investment professionals, as part of their ongoing review and analysis of all fund portfolio holdings, are responsible for monitoring significant corporate developments, including proxy proposals submitted to shareholders, and notifying the Proxy Voting Director of circumstances where the interests of fund shareholders may warrant a vote contrary to these guidelines. In such instances, the investment professionals submit a written recommendation to the Proxy Voting Director and the person or persons designated by Putnam Management’s Legal and Compliance Department to assist in processing referral items under the funds’ “Proxy Voting Procedures.” The Proxy Voting Director, in consultation with a senior member of the Office of the Trustees and/or the Chair of the Board Policy and Nominating Committee, as appropriate, will determine how the funds’ proxies will be voted. When indicated, the Chair of the Board Policy and Nominating Committee may consult with other members of the Committee or the full Board of Trustees.

The following guidelines are grouped according to the types of proposals generally presented to shareholders. Part I deals with proposals submitted by management and approved and recommended by a company’s board of directors. Part II deals with proposals submitted by shareholders. Part III addresses unique considerations pertaining to non-U.S. issuers.

The Trustees of the Putnam funds are committed to promoting strong corporate governance practices and encouraging corporate actions that enhance shareholder value through the judicious voting of the funds’ proxies. It is the funds’ policy to vote their proxies at all shareholder meetings where it is practicable to do so. In furtherance of this, the funds’ have requested that their securities lending agent recall each domestic issuer’s voting securities that are on loan, in advance of the record date for the issuer’s shareholder meetings, so that the funds may vote at the meetings.

The Putnam funds will disclose their proxy votes not later than August 31 of each year for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30, in accordance with the timetable established by SEC rules.

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I. BOARD-APPROVED PROPOSALS

The vast majority of matters presented to shareholders for a vote involve proposals made by a company itself (sometimes referred to as “management proposals”), which have been approved and recommended by its board of directors. In view of the enhanced corporate governance practices currently being implemented in public companies and of the funds’ intent to hold corporate boards accountable for their actions in promoting shareholder interests, the funds’ proxies generally will be voted for the decisions reached by majority independent boards of directors, except as otherwise indicated in these guidelines. Accordingly, the funds’ proxies will be voted for board-approved proposals, except as follows:

Matters relating to the Board of Directors 

 

Uncontested Election of Directors

The funds’ proxies will be voted for the election of a company’s nominees for the board of directors, except as follows:

►The funds will withhold votes from the entire board of directors if

• the board does not have a majority of independent directors,

• the board has not established independent nominating, audit, and compensation committees,

• the board has more than 19 members or fewer than five members, absent special circumstances,

• the board has not acted to implement a policy requested in a shareholder proposal that received the support of a majority of the shares of the company cast at its previous two annual meetings, or

• the board has adopted or renewed a shareholder rights plan (commonly referred to as a “poison pill”) without shareholder approval during the current or prior calendar year.

►The funds will on a case-by-case basis withhold votes from the entire board of directors, or from particular directors as may be appropriate, if the board has approved compensation arrangements for one or more company executives that the funds determine are unreasonably excessive relative to the company’s performance or has otherwise failed to observe good corporate governance practices.

 

 

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►The funds will withhold votes from any nominee for director:

• who is considered an independent director by the company and who has received compensation within the last three years from the company other than for service as a director (e.g., investment banking, consulting, legal, or financial advisory fees),

• who attends less than 75% of board and committee meetings without valid reasons for the absences (e.g., illness, personal emergency, etc.),

• of a public company (Company A) who is employed as a senior executive of another company (Company B), if a director of Company B serves as a senior executive of Company A (commonly referred to as an “interlocking directorate”),

• who serves on more than five unaffiliated public company boards (for the purpose of this guideline, boards of affiliated registered investment companies will count as one board),

• who serves as an executive officer of any company while serving on more than two public company boards (votes withheld only at the nominee’s outside boards), or

• who is a member of the governance or other responsible committee, if the company has adopted without shareholder approval a bylaw provision shifting legal fees and costs to unsuccessful plaintiffs in intra-corporate litigation.

Commentary:

Board independence: Unless otherwise indicated, for the purposes of determining whether a board has a majority of independent directors and independent nominating, audit, and compensation committees, an “independent director” is a director who (1) meets all requirements to serve as an independent director of a company under the NYSE Corporate Governance Rules (e.g., no material business relationships with the company and no present or recent employment relationship with the company including employment of an immediate family member as an executive officer), and (2) has not within the last three years accepted directly or indirectly any consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fee from the company other than in his or her capacity as a member of the board of directors or any board committee. The funds’ Trustees believe that the recent (i.e., within the last three years) receipt of any amount of compensation for services other than service as a director raises significant independence issues.

Board size: The funds’ Trustees believe that the size of the board of directors can have a direct impact on the ability of the board to govern effectively. Boards that have too many members can be unwieldy and ultimately inhibit their ability to oversee management performance. Boards that have too few members can stifle innovation and lead to excessive influence by management.

Time commitment: Being a director of a company requires a significant time commitment to adequately prepare for and attend the company’s board and committee meetings. Directors must be able to commit the time and attention necessary to perform their fiduciary duties in proper

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fashion, particularly in times of crisis. The funds’ Trustees are concerned about over-committed directors. In some cases, directors may serve on too many boards to make a meaningful contribution. This may be particularly true for senior executives of public companies (or other directors with substantially full-time employment) who serve on more than a few outside boards. Generally, the funds withhold support from directors serving on more than five unaffiliated public company boards, although an exception may be made in the case of a director who represents an investing firm with the sole purpose of managing a portfolio of investments that includes the company. The funds also withhold support from directors who serve as executive officers at a company and on the boards of more than two unaffiliated public companies (votes withheld at outside boards only). The funds may also withhold votes from such directors on a case-by-case basis where it appears that they may be unable to discharge their duties properly because of excessive commitments.

Interlocking directorships: The funds’ Trustees believe that interlocking directorships are inconsistent with the degree of independence required for outside directors of public companies.

Corporate governance practices: Board independence depends not only on its members’ individual relationships, but also on the board’s overall attitude toward management and shareholders. Independent boards are committed to good corporate governance practices and, by providing objective independent judgment, enhancing shareholder value. The funds may withhold votes on a case-by-case basis from some or all directors who, through their lack of independence or otherwise, have failed to observe good corporate governance practices or, through specific corporate action, have demonstrated a disregard for the interests of shareholders. Such instances may include cases where a board of directors has approved compensation arrangements for one or more members of management that, in the judgment of the funds’ Trustees, are excessive by reasonable corporate standards relative to the company’s record of performance. It may also represent a disregard for the interests of shareholders if a board of directors fails to register an appropriate response when a director who fails to win the support of a majority of shareholders in an election (sometimes referred to as a “rejected director”) continues to serve on the board. While the Trustees recognize that it may in some circumstances be appropriate for a rejected director to continue his or her service on the board, steps should be taken to address the concerns reflected by the shareholders’ lack of support for the rejected director. Adopting a fee-shifting bylaw provision without shareholder approval, which may discourage legitimate shareholders lawsuits as well as frivolous ones, is another example of disregard for shareholder interests.

Contested Elections of Directors

►The funds will vote on a case-by-case basis in contested elections of directors.

Classified Boards

►The funds will vote against proposals to classify a board, absent special circumstances indicating that shareholder interests would be better served by this structure.

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Commentary: Under a typical classified board structure, the directors are divided into three classes, with each class serving a three-year term. The classified board structure results in directors serving staggered terms, with usually only a third of the directors up for re-election at any given annual meeting. The funds’ Trustees generally believe that it is appropriate for directors to stand for election each year, but recognize that, in special circumstances, shareholder interests may be better served under a classified board structure.

Other Board-Related Proposals

The funds will generally vote for proposals that have been approved by a majority independent board, and on a case-by-case basis on proposals that have been approved by a board that fails to meet the guidelines’ basic independence standards (i.e., majority of independent directors and independent nominating, audit, and compensation committees).

Executive Compensation 

 

The funds generally favor compensation programs that relate executive compensation to a company’s long-term performance. The funds will vote on a case-by-case basis on board-approved proposals relating to executive compensation, except as follows:

►Except where the funds are otherwise withholding votes for the entire board of directors, the funds will vote for stock option and restricted stock plans that will result in an average annual dilution of 1.67% or less (based on the disclosed term of the plan and including all equity-based plans).

►The funds will vote against stock option and restricted stock plans that will result in an average annual dilution of greater than 1.67% (based on the disclosed term of the plan and including all equity-based plans).

►The funds will vote against any stock option or restricted stock plan where the company’s actual grants of stock options and restricted stock under all equity-based compensation plans during the prior three (3) fiscal years have resulted in an average annual dilution of greater than 1.67%.

►The funds will vote against stock option plans that permit the replacing or repricing of underwater options (and against any proposal to authorize a replacement or repricing of underwater options).

►The funds will vote against stock option plans that permit issuance of options with an exercise price below the stock’s current market price.

►Except where the funds are otherwise withholding votes for the entire board of directors, the funds will vote for an employee stock purchase plan that has the following features: (1) the shares purchased under the plan are acquired for no less than 85% of their market value; (2) the offering period under the plan is 27 months or less; and (3) dilution is 10% or less.

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►The funds will vote for proposals to approve a company’s executive compensation program (i.e.,“say on pay” proposals in which the company’s board proposes that shareholders indicate their support for the company’s compensation philosophy, policies, and practices), except that the funds will vote against the proposal if the company is assigned to the lowest category, through independent third party benchmarking performed by the funds’ proxy voting service, for the correlation of the company’s executive compensation program with its performance.

►The funds will vote for bonus plans under which payments are treated as performance-based compensation that is deductible under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, except that the funds will vote on a case-by-case basis if any of the following circumstances exist:

• the amount per employee under the plan is unlimited, or

• the plan’s performance criteria is undisclosed, or

• the company is assigned to the lowest category, through independent third party benchmarking performed by the funds’ proxy voting service, for the correlation of the company’s executive compensation program with its performance.

Commentary: Companies should have compensation programs that are reasonable and that align shareholder and management interests over the longer term. Further, disclosure of compensation programs should provide absolute transparency to shareholders regarding the sources and amounts of, and the factors influencing, executive compensation. Appropriately designed equity-based compensation plans can be an effective way to align the interests of long-term shareholders with the interests of management. However, the funds may vote against these or other executive compensation proposals on a case-by-case basis where compensation is excessive by reasonable corporate standards, where a company fails to provide transparent disclosure of executive compensation, or, in some instances, where independent third-party benchmarking indicates that compensation is inadequately correlated with performance, relative to peer companies. (Examples of excessive executive compensation may include, but are not limited to, equity incentive plans that exceed the dilution criteria noted above, excessive perquisites, performance-based compensation programs that do not properly correlate reward and performance, “golden parachutes” or other severance arrangements that present conflicts between management’s interests and the interests of shareholders, and “golden coffins” or unearned death benefits.) In voting on a proposal relating to executive compensation, the funds will consider whether the proposal has been approved by an independent compensation committee of the board.

Capitalization 

 

Many proxy proposals involve changes in a company’s capitalization, including the authorization of additional stock, the issuance of stock, the repurchase of outstanding stock, or the approval of a stock split. The management of a company’s capital structure involves a number of important issues, including cash flow, financing needs, and market conditions that are unique to the circumstances of the company. As a result, the funds will vote on a case-by-case basis on board-approved proposals involving changes to a company’s capitalization, except that where the funds are not otherwise withholding votes from the entire board of directors:

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►The funds will vote for proposals relating to the authorization and issuance of additional common stock (except where such proposals relate to a specific transaction).

►The funds will vote for proposals to effect stock splits (excluding reverse stock splits).

►The funds will vote for proposals authorizing share repurchase programs.

Commentary: A company may decide to authorize additional shares of common stock for reasons relating to executive compensation or for routine business purposes. For the most part, these decisions are best left to the board of directors and senior management. The funds will vote on a case-by-case basis, however, on other proposals to change a company’s capitalization, including the authorization of common stock with special voting rights, the authorization or issuance of common stock in connection with a specific transaction (e.g., an acquisition, merger or reorganization), or the authorization or issuance of preferred stock. Actions such as these involve a number of considerations that may affect a shareholder’s investment and that warrant a case-by-case determination.

Acquisitions, Mergers, Reincorporations, Reorganizations and Other Transactions 

 

Shareholders may be confronted with a number of different types of transactions, including acquisitions, mergers, reorganizations involving business combinations, liquidations, and the sale of all or substantially all of a company’s assets, which may require their consent. Voting on such proposals involves considerations unique to each transaction. As a result, the funds will vote on a case-by-case basis on board-approved proposals to effect these types of transactions, except as follows:

►The funds will vote for mergers and reorganizations involving business combinations designed solely to reincorporate a company in Delaware.

Commentary: A company may reincorporate into another state through a merger or reorganization by setting up a “shell” company in a different state and then merging the company into the new company. While reincorporation into states with extensive and established corporate laws – notably Delaware – provides companies and shareholders with a more well-defined legal framework, shareholders must carefully consider the reasons for a reincorporation into another jurisdiction, including especially an offshore jurisdiction.

Anti-Takeover Measures 

 

Some proxy proposals involve efforts by management to make it more difficult for an outside party to take control of the company without the approval of the company’s board of directors. These include the adoption of a shareholder rights plan, requiring supermajority voting on particular issues, the adoption of fair price provisions, the issuance of blank check preferred stock, and the creation of a separate class of stock with disparate voting rights. Such proposals may adversely affect shareholder rights, lead to management entrenchment, or create conflicts of interest. As a result, the funds will vote against board-approved proposals to adopt such anti-takeover measures, except as follows:

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►The funds will vote on a case-by-case basis on proposals to ratify or approve shareholder rights plans; and

►The funds will vote on a case-by-case basis on proposals to adopt fair price provisions.

Commentary: The funds’ Trustees recognize that poison pills and fair price provisions may enhance or protect shareholder value under certain circumstances. For instance, where a company has incurred significant operating losses, a shareholder rights plan may be appropriately tailored to protect shareholder value by preserving a company’s net operating losses. Thus, the funds will consider proposals to approve such matters on a case-by-case basis.

Other Business Matters 

 

Many proxies involve approval of routine business matters, such as changing a company’s name, ratifying the appointment of auditors, and procedural matters relating to the shareholder meeting. For the most part, these routine matters do not materially affect shareholder interests and are best left to the board of directors and senior management of the company. The funds will vote for board-approved proposals approving such matters, except as follows:

►The funds will vote on a case-by-case basis on proposals to amend a company’s charter or bylaws (except for charter amendments necessary to effect stock splits, to change a company’s name or to authorize additional shares of common stock).

►The funds will vote against authorization to transact other unidentified, substantive business at the meeting.

►The funds will vote on a case-by-case basis on proposals to ratify the selection of independent auditors if there is evidence that the audit firm’s independence or the integrity of an audit is compromised.

►The funds will vote on a case-by-case basis on other business matters where the funds are otherwise withholding votes for the entire board of directors.

Commentary: Charter and bylaw amendments (for example, amendments implementing proxy access proposals) and the transaction of other unidentified, substantive business at a shareholder meeting may directly affect shareholder rights and have a significant impact on shareholder value. As a result, the funds do not view these items as routine business matters. Putnam Management’s investment professionals and the funds’ proxy voting service may also bring to the Proxy Voting Director’s attention company-specific items that they believe to be non-routine and warranting special consideration. Under these circumstances, the funds will vote on a case-by-case basis.

The fund’s proxy voting service may identify circumstances that call into question an audit firm’s independence or the integrity of an audit. These circumstances may include recent material restatements of financials, unusual audit fees, egregious contractual relationships, and aggressive accounting policies. The funds will consider proposals to ratify the selection of auditors in these circumstances on a case-by-case basis. In all other cases, given the existence of rules that enhance the independence of audit committees and auditors by, for example, prohibiting auditors from

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performing a range of non-audit services for audit clients, the funds will vote for the ratification of independent auditors.

II. SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

SEC regulations permit shareholders to submit proposals for inclusion in a company’s proxy statement. These proposals generally seek to change some aspect of the company’s corporate governance structure or to change some aspect of its business operations. The funds generally will vote in accordance with the recommendation of the company’s board of directors on all shareholder proposals, except as follows:

►The funds will vote on a case-by-case basis on shareholder proposals requiring that the chairman’s position be filled by someone other than the chief executive officer.

►The funds will vote for shareholder proposals asking that director nominees receive support from holders of a majority of votes cast or a majority of shares outstanding in order to be (re)elected.

►The funds will vote for shareholder proposals to declassify a board, absent special circumstances which would indicate that shareholder interests are better served by a classified board structure.

►The funds will vote for shareholder proposals to eliminate supermajority vote requirements in the company’s charter documents.

►The funds will vote for shareholder proposals to require shareholder approval of shareholder rights plans.

►The funds will vote for shareholder proposals to amend a company’s charter documents to permit shareholders to call special meetings, but only if both of the following conditions are met:

• the proposed amendment limits the right to call special meetings to shareholders holding at least 15% of the company’s outstanding shares, and

• applicable state law does not otherwise provide shareholders with the right to call special meetings.

►The funds will vote on a case-by-case basis on shareholder proposals relating to proxy access.

►The funds will vote for shareholder proposals requiring companies to make cash payments under management severance agreements only if both of the following conditions are met:

• the company undergoes a change in control, and

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• the change in control results in the termination of employment for the person receiving the severance payment.

►The funds will vote for shareholder proposals requiring companies to accelerate vesting of equity awards under management severance agreements only if both of the following conditions are met:

• the company undergoes a change in control, and

• the change in control results in the termination of employment for the person receiving the severance payment.

►The funds will vote on a case-by-case basis on shareholder proposals to limit a company’s ability to make excise tax gross-up payments under management severance agreements.

►The funds will vote on a case-by-case basis on shareholder proposals requesting that the board adopt a policy to recoup, in the event of a significant restatement of financial results or significant extraordinary write-off, to the fullest extent practicable, for the benefit of the company, all performance-based bonuses or awards that were paid to senior executives based on the company having met or exceeded specific performance targets to the extent that the specific performance targets were not, in fact, met.

►The funds will vote for shareholder proposals calling for the company to obtain shareholder approval for any future golden coffins or unearned death benefits (payments or awards of unearned salary or bonus, accelerated vesting or the continuation of unvested equity awards, perquisites or other payments or awards in respect of an executive following his or her death), and for shareholder proposals calling for the company to cease providing golden coffins or unearned death benefits.

►The funds will vote for shareholder proposals requiring a company to report on its executive retirement benefits (e.g., deferred compensation, split-dollar life insurance, SERPs and pension benefits).

►The funds will vote for shareholder proposals requiring a company to disclose its relationships with executive compensation consultants (e.g., whether the company, the board or the compensation committee retained the consultant, the types of services provided by the consultant over the past five years, and a list of the consultant’s clients on which any of the company’s executives serve as a director).

►The funds will vote for shareholder proposals that are consistent with the funds’ proxy voting guidelines for board-approved proposals.

►The funds will vote on a case-by-case basis on other shareholder proposals where the funds are otherwise withholding votes for the entire board of directors.

Commentary: The funds’ Trustees believe that effective corporate reforms should be promoted by holding boards of directors – and in particular their independent directors – accountable for their actions, rather than by imposing additional legal restrictions on board governance through

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piecemeal proposals. As stated above, the funds’ Trustees believe that boards of directors and management are responsible for ensuring that their businesses are operating in accordance with high legal and ethical standards and should be held accountable for resulting corporate behavior. Accordingly, the funds will generally support the recommendations of boards that meet the basic independence and governance standards established in these guidelines. Where boards fail to meet these standards, the funds will generally evaluate shareholder proposals on a case-by-case basis. The funds will also consider proposals requiring that the chairman’s position be filled by someone other than the company’s chief executive officer on a case-by-case basis, recognizing that in some cases this separation may advance the company’s corporate governance while in other cases it may be less necessary to the sound governance of the company. The funds will take into account the level of independent leadership on a company’s board in evaluating these proposals.

However, the funds generally support shareholder proposals to implement majority voting for directors, observing that majority voting is an emerging standard intended to encourage directors to be attentive to shareholders’ interests. The funds also generally support shareholder proposals to declassify a board, to eliminate supermajority vote requirements, or to require shareholder approval of shareholder rights plans. The funds’ Trustees believe that these shareholder proposals further the goals of reducing management entrenchment and conflicts of interest, and aligning management’s interests with shareholders’ interests in evaluating proposed acquisitions of the company. The Trustees also believe that shareholder proposals to limit severance payments may further these goals in some instances. In general, the funds favor arrangements in which severance payments are made to an executive only when there is a change in control and the executive loses his or her job as a result. Arrangements in which an executive receives a payment upon a change of control even if the executive retains employment introduce potential conflicts of interest and may distract management focus from the long term success of the company.

In evaluating shareholder proposals that address severance payments, the funds distinguish between cash and equity payments. The funds generally do not favor cash payments to executives upon a change in control transaction if the executive retains employment. However, the funds recognize that accelerated vesting of equity incentives, even without termination of employment, may help to align management and shareholder interests in some instances, and will evaluate shareholder proposals addressing accelerated vesting of equity incentive payments on a case-by-case basis.

When severance payments exceed a certain amount based on the executive’s previous compensation, the payments may be subject to an excise tax. Some compensation arrangements provide for full excise tax gross-ups, which means that the company pays the executive sufficient additional amounts to cover the cost of the excise tax. The funds are concerned that the benefits of providing full excise tax gross-ups to executives may be outweighed by the cost to the company of the gross-up payments. Accordingly, the funds will vote on a case-by-case basis on shareholder proposals to curtail excise tax gross-up payments. The funds generally favor arrangements in which severance payments do not trigger an excise tax or in which the company’s obligations with respect to gross-up payments are limited in a reasonable manner.

The funds’ Trustees believe that performance-based compensation can be an effective tool for aligning management and shareholder interests. However, to fulfill its purpose, performance compensation should only be paid to executives if the performance targets are actually met. A

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significant restatement of financial results or a significant extraordinary write-off may reveal that executives who were previously paid performance compensation did not actually deliver the required business performance to earn that compensation. In these circumstances, it may be appropriate for the company to recoup this performance compensation. The funds will consider on a case-by-case basis shareholder proposals requesting that the board adopt a policy to recoup, in the event of a significant restatement of financial results or significant extraordinary write-off, performance-based bonuses or awards paid to senior executives based on the company having met or exceeded specific performance targets to the extent that the specific performance targets were not, in fact, met. The funds do not believe that such a policy should necessarily disadvantage a company in recruiting executives, as executives should understand that they are only entitled to performance compensation based on the actual performance they deliver.

The funds’ Trustees disfavor golden coffins or unearned death benefits, and the funds will generally support shareholder proposals to restrict or terminate these practices. The Trustees will also consider whether a company’s overall compensation arrangements, taking all of the pertinent circumstances into account, constitute excessive compensation or otherwise reflect poorly on the corporate governance practices of the company. As the Trustees evaluate these matters, they will be mindful of evolving practices and legislation relevant to executive compensation and corporate governance.

The funds’ Trustees also believe that shareholder proposals that are intended to increase transparency, particularly with respect to executive compensation, without establishing rigid restrictions upon a company’s ability to attract and motivate talented executives, are generally beneficial to sound corporate governance without imposing undue burdens. The funds will generally support shareholder proposals calling for reasonable disclosure.

III. VOTING SHARES OF NON-U.S. ISSUERS

Many of the Putnam funds invest on a global basis, and, as a result, they may hold, and have an opportunity to vote, shares in non-U.S. issuers – i.e., issuers that are incorporated under the laws of foreign jurisdictions and whose shares are not listed on a U.S. securities exchange or the NASDAQ stock market.

In many non-U.S. markets, shareholders who vote proxies of a non-U.S. issuer are not able to trade in that company’s stock on or around the shareholder meeting date. This practice is known as “share blocking.” In countries where share blocking is practiced, the funds will vote proxies only with direction from Putnam Management’s investment professionals.

In addition, some non-U.S. markets require that a company’s shares be re-registered out of the name of the local custodian or nominee into the name of the shareholder for the shareholder to be able to vote at the meeting. This practice is known as “share re-registration.” As a result, shareholders, including the funds, are not able to trade in that company’s stock until the shares are re-registered back in the name of the local custodian or nominee following the meeting. In countries where share re-registration is practiced, the funds will generally not vote proxies.

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Protection for shareholders of non-U.S. issuers may vary significantly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Laws governing non-U.S. issuers may, in some cases, provide substantially less protection for shareholders than do U.S. laws. As a result, the guidelines applicable to U.S. issuers, which are premised on the existence of a sound corporate governance and disclosure framework, may not be appropriate under some circumstances for non-U.S. issuers. However, the funds will vote proxies of non-U.S. issuers in accordance with the guidelines applicable to U. S. issuers except as follows:

Uncontested Board Elections 

 

China, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand

►The funds will withhold votes from the entire board of directors if

• fewer than one-third of the directors are independent directors, or

• the board has not established audit, compensation and nominating committees each composed of a majority of independent directors.

Commentary: Whether a director is considered “independent” or not will be determined by reference to local corporate law or listing standards.

Europe ex-United Kingdom

►The funds will withhold votes from the entire board of directors if

• the board has not established audit and compensation committees each composed of a majority of independent, non-executive directors, or

• the board has not established a nominating committee composed of a majority of independent directors.

Commentary: An “independent director” under the European Commission’s guidelines is one who is free of any business, family or other relationship, with the company, its controlling shareholder or the management of either, that creates a conflict of interest such as to impair his judgment. A “non-executive director” is one who is not engaged in the daily management of the company.

Germany

►For companies subject to “co-determination,” the funds will vote for the election of nominees to the supervisory board, except that the funds will vote on a case-by-case basis for any nominee who is either an employee of the company or who is otherwise affiliated with the company (as determined by the funds’ proxy voting service).

►The funds will withhold votes for the election of a former member of the company’s managerial board to chair of the supervisory board.

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Commentary: German corporate governance is characterized by a two-tier board system—a managerial board composed of the company’s executive officers, and a supervisory board. The supervisory board appoints the members of the managerial board. Shareholders elect members of the supervisory board, except that in the case of companies with a large number of employees, company employees are allowed to elect some of the supervisory board members (one-half of supervisory board members are elected by company employees at companies with more than 2,000 employees; one-third of the supervisory board members are elected by company employees at companies with more than 500 employees but fewer than 2,000). This “co-determination” practice may increase the chances that the supervisory board of a large German company does not contain a majority of independent members. In this situation, under the Fund’s proxy voting guidelines applicable to U.S. issuers, the funds would vote against all nominees. However, in the case of companies subject to “co-determination” and with the goal of supporting independent nominees, the Funds will vote for supervisory board members who are neither employees of the company nor otherwise affiliated with the company.

Consistent with the funds’ belief that the interests of shareholders are best protected by boards with strong, independent leadership, the funds will withhold votes for the election of former chairs of the managerial board to chair of the supervisory board.

Hong Kong

►The funds will withhold votes from the entire board of directors if

• fewer than one-third of the directors are independent directors, or

• the board has not established audit, compensation and nominating committees each with at least a majority of its members being independent directors, or

• the chair of the audit, compensation or nominating committee is not an independent director.

Commentary. For purposes of these guidelines, an “independent director” is a director that has no material, financial or other current relationships with the company. In determining whether a director is independent, the funds will apply the standards included in the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited Section 3.13.

Italy

►The funds will withhold votes from any director not identified in the proxy materials.

Commentary: In Italy, companies have the right to nominate co-opted directors for election to the board at the next annual general meeting, but do not have to indicate, until the day of the annual meeting, whether or not they are nominating a co-opted director for election. When a company does not explicitly state in its proxy materials that co-opted directors are standing for election, shareholders will not know for sure who the board nominees are until the actual meeting occurs. The funds will withhold support from any such co-opted director on the grounds that there was insufficient information for evaluation before the meeting.

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Japan

►For companies that have established a U.S.-style corporate governance structure, the funds will withhold votes from the entire board of directors if

• the board does not have a majority of outside directors,

• the board has not established nominating and compensation committees composed of a majority of outside directors, or

• the board has not established an audit committee composed of a majority of independent directors.

►The funds will withhold votes for the appointment of members of a company’s board of statutory auditors if a majority of the members of the board of statutory auditors is not independent.

Commentary:

Board structure: Recent amendments to the Japanese Commercial Code give companies the option to adopt a U.S.-style corporate governance structure (i.e., a board of directors and audit, nominating, and compensation committees). The funds will vote for proposals to amend a company’s articles of incorporation to adopt the U.S.-style corporate structure.

Definition of outside director and independent director : Corporate governance principles in Japan focus on the distinction between outside directors and independent directors. Under these principles, an outside director is a director who is not and has never been a director, executive, or employee of the company or its parent company, subsidiaries or affiliates. An outside director is “independent” if that person can make decisions completely independent from the managers of the company, its parent, subsidiaries, or affiliates and does not have a material relationship with the company ( i.e. , major client, trading partner, or other business relationship; familial relationship with current director or executive; etc.). The guidelines have incorporated these definitions in applying the board independence standards above.

Korea

►The funds will withhold votes from the entire board of directors if

• fewer than half of the directors are outside directors,

• the board has not established a nominating committee with at least half of the members being outside directors, or

• the board has not established an audit committee composed of at least three members and in which at least two-thirds of its members are outside directors.

►The funds will vote withhold votes from nominees to the audit committee if the board has not established an audit committee composed of (or proposed to be composed of) at least

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three members, and of which at least two-thirds of its members are (or will be) outside directors.

Commentary: For purposes of these guidelines, an “outside director” is a director that is independent from the management or controlling shareholders of the company, and holds no interests that might impair the performance his or her duties impartially with respect to the company, management or controlling shareholder. In determining whether a director is an outside director, the funds will also apply the standards included in Article 415-2(2) of the Korean Commercial Code (i.e., no employment relationship with the company for a period of two years before serving on the committee, no director or employment relationship with the company’s largest shareholder, etc.) and may consider other business relationships that would affect the independence of an outside director.

Malaysia

►The funds will withhold votes from the entire board of directors if

• in the case of a board with an independent director serving as chair, fewer than one-third of the directors are independent directors; or, in the case of a board not chaired by an independent director, less than a majority of the directors are independent directors,

• the board has not established audit and nominating committees with at least a majority of the members being independent directors and all of the members being non-executive directors, or

• the board has not established a compensation committee with at least a majority of the members being non-executive directors.

Commentary. For purposes of these guidelines, an “independent director” is a director who has no material, financial or other current relationships with the company. In determining whether a director is independent, the funds will apply the standards included in the Malaysia Code of Corporate Governance, Commentary to Recommendation 3.1. A “non-executive director” is a director who does not take on primary responsibility for leadership of the company.

Russia

►The funds will vote on a case-by-case basis for the election of nominees to the board of directors.

Commentary: In Russia, director elections are typically handled through a cumulative voting process. Cumulative voting allows shareholders to cast all of their votes for a single nominee for the board of directors, or to allocate their votes among nominees in any other way. In contrast, in “regular” voting, shareholders may not give more than one vote per share to any single nominee. Cumulative voting can help to strengthen the ability of minority shareholders to elect a director.

In Russia, as in some other emerging markets, standards of corporate governance are usually behind those in developed markets. Rather than vote against the entire board of directors, as the

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funds generally would in the case of a company whose board fails to meet the funds’ standards for independence, the funds may, on a case by case basis, cast all of their votes for one or more independent director nominees. The funds believe that it is important to increase the number of independent directors on the boards of Russian companies to mitigate the risks associated with dominant shareholders.

Singapore

►The funds will withhold votes from the entire board of directors if

• in the case of a board with an independent director serving as chair, fewer than one-third of the directors are independent directors; or, in the case of a board not chaired by an independent director, fewer than half of the directors are independent directors,

• the board has not established audit and compensation committees, each with an independent director serving as chair, with at least a majority of the members being independent directors, and with all of the directors being non-executive directors, or

• the board has not established a nominating committee, with an independent director serving as chair, and with at least a majority of the members being independent directors.

Commentary: For purposes of these guidelines, an “independent director” is a director that has no material, financial or other current relationships with the company. In determining whether a director is independent, the funds will apply the standards included in the Singapore Code of Corporate Governance, Guideline 2.3. A “non-executive director” is a director who is not employed with the company.

United Kingdom

►The funds will withhold votes from the entire board of directors if

• fewer than half of the directors are independent non-executive directors,

• the board has not established a nomination committee composed of a majority of independent non-executive directors, or

• the board has not established compensation and audit committees composed of (1) at least three directors (in the case of smaller companies, two directors) and (2) solely independent non-executive directors, provided that, to the extent permitted under the United Kingdom’s Combined Code on Corporate Governance, the company chairman may serve on (but not serve as chairman of) the compensation and audit committees if the chairman was considered independent upon his or her appointment as chairman.

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►The funds will withhold votes from any nominee for director who is considered an independent director by the company and who has received compensation within the last three years from the company other than for service as a director, such as investment banking, consulting, legal, or financial advisory fees.

►The funds will vote for proposals to amend a company’s articles of association to authorize boards to approve situations that might be interpreted to present potential conflicts of interest affecting a director.

Commentary:

Application of guidelines: Although the United Kingdom’s Combined Code on Corporate Governance (“Combined Code”) has adopted the “comply and explain” approach to corporate governance, the funds’ Trustees believe that the guidelines discussed above with respect to board independence standards are integral to the protection of investors in U.K. companies. As a result, these guidelines will generally be applied in a prescriptive manner.

Definition of independence : For the purposes of these guidelines, a non-executive director shall be considered independent if the director meets the independence standards in section A.3.1 of the Combined Code (i.e., no material business or employment relationships with the company, no remuneration from the company for non-board services, no close family ties with senior employees or directors of the company, etc.), except that the funds do not view service on the board for more than nine years as affecting a director’s independence. Company chairmen in the U.K. are generally considered affiliated upon appointment as chairman due to the nature of the position of chairman. Consistent with the Combined Code, a company chairman who was considered independent upon appointment as chairman: may serve as a member of, but not as the chairman of, the compensation (remuneration) committee; and, in the case of smaller companies, may serve as a member of, but not as the chairman of, the audit committee.

Smaller companies: A smaller company is one that is below the FTSE 350 throughout the year immediately prior to the reporting year.

Conflicts of interest: The Companies Act 2006 requires a director to avoid a situation in which he or she has, or can have, a direct or indirect interest that conflicts, or possibly may conflict, with the interests of the company. This broadly written requirement could be construed to prevent a director from becoming a trustee or director of another organization. Provided there are reasonable safeguards, such as the exclusion of the relevant director from deliberations, the funds believe that the board may approve this type of potential conflict of interest in its discretion.

All other jurisdictions

►The funds will vote for supervisory board nominees when the supervisory board meets the funds’ independence standards, otherwise the funds will vote against supervisory board nominees.

Commentary: Companies in many jurisdictions operate under the oversight of supervisory boards. In the absence of jurisdiction-specific guidelines, the funds will generally hold supervisory boards to the same standards of independence as it applies to boards of directors in the United States.

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Contested Board Elections 

 

Italy

►The funds will vote for the management- or board-sponsored slate of nominees if the board meets the funds’ independence standards, and against the management- or board-sponsored slate of nominees if the board does not meet the funds’ independence standards; the funds will not vote on shareholder-proposed slates of nominees.

Commentary: Contested elections in Italy may involve a variety of competing slates of nominees. In these circumstances, the funds will focus their analysis on the board- or management-sponsored slate.

Corporate Governance 

 

►The funds will vote for proposals to change the size of a board if the board meets the funds’ independence standards, and against proposals to change the size of a board if the board does not meet the funds’ independence standards.

►The funds will vote for shareholder proposals calling for a majority of a company’s directors to be independent of management.

►The funds will vote for shareholder proposals seeking to increase the independence of board nominating, audit, and compensation committees.

►The funds will vote for shareholder proposals that implement corporate governance standards similar to those established under U.S. federal law and the listing requirements of U.S. stock exchanges, and that do not otherwise violate the laws of the jurisdiction under which the company is incorporated.

Australia

►The funds will vote on a case-by-case basis on board spill resolutions.

Commentary: The Corporations Amendment (Improving Accountability on Director and Executive Compensation) Bill 2011 provides that, if a company’s remuneration report receives a “no” vote of 25% or more of all votes cast at two consecutive annual general meetings, at the second annual general meeting, a spill resolution must be proposed. If the spill resolution is approved (by simple majority), then a further meeting to elect a new board (excluding the managing director) must be held within 90 days. The funds will consider board spill resolutions on a case-by-case basis.

Europe

►The funds will vote for proposals to ratify board acts, except that the funds will consider these proposals on a case-by-case basis if the funds’ proxy voting service has recommended a vote against the proposal.

October 27, 2017  II-135 

 


Taiwan

►The funds will vote against proposals to release directors from their non-competition obligations (their obligations not to engage in any business that is competitive with the company), unless the proposal is narrowly drafted to permit directors to engage in a business that is competitive with the company only on behalf of a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company.

Compensation 

 

►The funds will vote for proposals to approve annual directors’ fees, except that the funds will consider these proposals on a case-by-case basis in each case in which the funds’ proxy voting service has recommended a vote against such a proposal.

►The funds will vote for non-binding proposals to approve remuneration reports, except that the funds will vote against proposals to approve remuneration reports that indicate that awards under a long-term incentive plan are not linked to performance targets.

Commentary: Since proposals relating to directors’ fees for non-U.S. issuers generally address relatively modest fees paid to non-executive directors, the funds generally support these proposals, provided that the fees are consistent with directors’ fees paid by the company’s peers and do not otherwise appear unwarranted. Consistent with the approach taken for U.S. issuers, the funds generally favor compensation programs that relate executive compensation to a company’s long-term performance and will support non-binding remuneration reports unless such a correlation is not made.

Europe and Asia ex-Japan

►In the case of proposals that do not include sufficient information for determining average annual dilution, the funds will vote for stock option and restricted stock plans that will result in an average gross potential dilution of 5% or less.

Commentary: Asia ex-Japan means China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. In these markets, companies may not disclose the life of the plan and there may not be a specific number of shares requested; therefore, it may not be possible to determine the average annual dilution related to the plan and apply the funds’ standard dilution test.

France

►The funds will vote for an employee stock purchase plan or share save scheme that has the following features: (1) the shares purchased under the plan are acquired for no less than 70% of their market value; (2) the vesting period is greater than or equal to 10 years; (3) the offering period under the plan is 27 months or less; and (4) dilution is 10% or less.

Commentary: To conform to local market practice, the funds support plans or schemes at French issuers that permit the purchase of shares at up to a 30% discount (i.e., shares may be purchased for no less than 70% of their market value). By comparison, for U.S. issuers, the funds do not support

October 27, 2017  II-136 

 


employee stock purchase plans that permit shares to be acquired at more than a 15% discount (i.e. , for less than 85% of their market value); in the United Kingdom, up to a 20% discount is permitted.

United Kingdom

►The funds will vote for an employee stock purchase plan or share save scheme that has the following features: (1) the shares purchased under the plan are acquired for no less than 80% of their market value; (2) the offering period under the plan is 27 months or less; and (3) dilution is 10% or less.

Commentary: These are the same features that the funds require of employee stock purchase plans proposed by U.S. issuers, except that, to conform to local market practice, the funds support plans or schemes at United Kingdom issuers that permit the purchase of shares at up to a 20% discount ( i.e. , shares may be purchased for no less than 80% of their market value). By comparison, for U.S. issuers, the funds do not support employee stock purchase plans that permit shares to be acquired at more than a 15% discount (i.e., for less than 85% of their market value).

Capitalization 

 

Unless a proposal is directly addressed by a country-specific guideline:

►The funds will vote for proposals

• to issue additional common stock representing up to 20% of the company’s outstanding common stock, where shareholders do not have preemptive rights, or

• to issue additional common stock representing up to 100% of the company’s outstanding common stock, where shareholders do have preemptive rights.

►The funds will vote for proposals to authorize share repurchase programs that are recommended for approval by the funds’ proxy voting service; otherwise, the funds will vote against such proposals.

Australia

►The funds will vote for proposals to carve out, from the general cap on non- pro rata share issues of 15% of total equity in a rolling 12-month period, a particular proposed issue of shares or a particular issue of shares made previously within the 12-month period, if the company’s board meets the funds’ independence standards; if the company’s board does not meet the funds’ independence standards, then the funds will vote against these proposals.

►The funds will vote for proposals to approve the grant of equity awards to directors, except that the funds will consider these proposals on a case-by-case basis if the funds’ proxy voting service has recommended a vote against the proposal.

October 27, 2017  II-137 

 


China

►The funds will vote for proposals to issue and/or to trade in non-convertible, convertible and/or exchangeable debt obligations, except that the funds will consider these proposals on a case-by-case basis if the funds’ proxy voting service has recommended a vote against the proposal.

Hong Kong

►The funds will vote for proposals to approve a general mandate permitting the company to engage in non- pro rata share issues of up to 20% of total equity in a year if the company’s board meets the funds’ independence standards; if the company’s board does not meet the funds’ independence standards, then the funds will vote against these proposals.

►The funds will for proposals to approve the reissuance of shares acquired by the company under a share repurchase program, provided that: (1) the funds supported (or would have supported, in accordance with these guidelines) the share repurchase program, (2) the reissued shares represent no more than 10% of the company’s outstanding shares (measured immediately before the reissuance), and (3) the reissued shares are sold for no less than 85% of current market value.

France

►The funds will vote for proposals to increase authorized shares, except that the funds will consider these proposals on a case-by-case basis if the funds’ proxy voting service has recommended a vote against the proposal.

►The funds will vote against proposals to authorize the issuance of common stock or convertible debt instruments and against proposals to authorize the repurchase and/or reissuance of shares where those authorizations may be used, without further shareholder approval, as anti-takeover measures.

New Zealand

►The funds will vote for proposals to approve the grant of equity awards to directors, except that the funds will consider these proposals on a case-by-case basis if the funds’ proxy voting service has recommended a vote against the proposal.

Commentary: In light of the prevalence of certain types of capitalization proposals in Australia, China, Hong Kong, France and New Zealand, the funds have adopted guidelines specific to those jurisdictions.

Other Business Matters 

 

►The funds will vote for proposals permitting companies to deliver reports and other materials electronically (e.g., via website posting).

October 27, 2017  II-138 

 


►The funds will vote for proposals permitting companies to issue regulatory reports in English.

►The funds will vote against proposals to shorten shareholder meeting notice periods to fourteen days.

Commentary: Under Directive 2007/36/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, companies have the option to request shareholder approval to set the notice period for special meetings at 14 days provided that certain electronic voting and communication requirements are met. The funds believe that the 14 day notice period is too short to provide overseas shareholders with sufficient time to analyze proposals and to participate meaningfully at special meetings and, as a result, have determined to vote against such proposals.

►The funds will vote for proposals to amend a company’s charter or bylaws, except that the funds will consider these proposals on a case-by-case basis if the funds’ proxy voting service has recommended a vote against the proposal.

Commentary: If the substance of any proposed amendment is covered by a specific guideline included herein, then that guideline will govern.

France

►The funds will vote for proposals to approve a company’s related party transactions, except that the funds will consider these proposals on a case-by-case basis if the funds’ proxy voting service has recommended a vote against the proposal.

►If a company has not proposed an opt-out clause in its articles of association and the implementation of double-voting rights has not been approved by shareholders, the funds will vote against the ratification of board acts for the previous fiscal year, will withhold votes from the re-election of members of the board’s governance committee (or in the absence of a governance committee, against the chair of the board or the next session board member up for re-election) and, if there is no opportunity to vote against ratification of board acts or to withhold votes from directors, will vote against the approval of the company’s accounts and reports.

Commentary: In France, shareholders are generally requested to approve any agreement between the company and: (i) its directors, chair of the board, CEO and deputy CEOs; (ii) the members of the supervisory board and management board, for companies with a dual structure; and (iii) a shareholder who directly or indirectly owns at least 10% of the company’s voting rights. This includes agreements under which compensation may be paid to executive officers after the end of their employment, such as severance payments, supplementary retirement plans and non-competition agreements. The funds will generally support these proposals unless the funds’ proxy voting service recommends a vote against, in which case the funds will consider the proposal on a case-by-case basis.

Under French law, shareholders of French companies with shares held in registered form under the same name for at least two years will automatically be granted double-voting rights, unless a company has amended its articles of association to opt out of the double-voting rights regime.

October 27, 2017  II-139 

 


Awarding double-voting rights in this manner is likely to disadvantage non-French institutional shareholders. Accordingly, the funds will take actions to signal disapproval of double-voting rights at companies that have not opted-out from the double-voting rights regime and that have not obtained shareholder approval of the double-voting rights regime.

Germany

►The funds will vote in accordance with the recommendation of the company’s board of directors on shareholder countermotions added to a company’s meeting agenda, unless the countermotion is directly addressed by one of the funds’ other guidelines.

Commentary: In Germany, shareholders are able to add both proposals and countermotions to a meeting agenda. Countermotions, which must correspond to a proposal on the agenda, generally call for shareholders to oppose the existing proposal, although they may also propose separate voting decisions. Countermotions may be proposed by any shareholder and they are typically added throughout the period between the publication of the meeting agenda and the meeting date. This guideline reflects the funds’ intention to focus on the original proposal, which is expected to be presented a reasonable period of time before the shareholder meeting so that the funds will have an appropriate opportunity to evaluate it.

►The funds will vote for proposals to approve profit-and-loss transfer agreements between a controlling company and its subsidiaries.

Commentary: These agreements are customary in Germany and are typically entered into for tax purposes. In light of this and the prevalence of these proposals, the funds have adopted a guideline to vote for this type of proposal.

Taiwan

►The funds will vote for proposals to amend a Taiwanese company’s procedural rules.

Commentary: Since procedural rules, which address such matters as a company’s policies with respect to capital loans, endorsements and guarantees, and acquisitions and disposal of assets, are generally adopted or amended to conform to changes in local regulations governing these transactions, the funds have adopted a guideline to vote for these transactions.

As adopted January 27, 2017

October 27, 2017  II-140 

 


Proxy voting procedures of The Putnam Funds 

 

The proxy voting procedures below explain the role of the funds’ Trustees, proxy voting service and Director of Proxy Voting and Corporate Governance (“Proxy Voting Director”), as well as how the process works when a proxy question needs to be handled on a case-by-case basis, or when there may be a conflict of interest.

The role of the funds’ Trustees

The Trustees of The Putnam Funds exercise control of voting proxies through their Board Policy and Nominating Committee, which is composed entirely of independent Trustees. The Board Policy and Nominating Committee oversees the proxy voting process and participates, as needed, in the resolution of issues that need to be handled on a case-by-case basis. The Committee annually reviews and recommends, for Trustee approval, guidelines governing the funds’ proxy votes, including how the funds vote on specific proposals and which matters are to be considered on a case-by-case basis. The Trustees are assisted in this process by their independent administrative staff (“Office of the Trustees”), independent legal counsel, and an independent proxy voting service. The Trustees also receive assistance from Putnam Investment Management, LLC (“Putnam Management”), the funds’ investment adviser, on matters involving investment judgments. In all cases, the ultimate decision on voting proxies rests with the Trustees, acting as fiduciaries on behalf of the shareholders of the funds.

The role of the proxy voting service

The funds have engaged an independent proxy voting service to assist in the voting of proxies. The proxy voting service is responsible for coordinating with the funds’ custodian(s) to ensure that all proxy materials received by the custodians relating to the funds’ portfolio securities are processed in a timely fashion. To the extent applicable, the proxy voting service votes all proxies in accordance with the proxy voting guidelines established by the Trustees. The proxy voting service will refer proxy questions to the Proxy Voting Director for instructions under circumstances where: (1) the application of the proxy voting guidelines is unclear; (2) a particular proxy question is not covered by the guidelines; or (3) the guidelines call for specific instructions on a case-by-case basis. The proxy voting service is also requested to call to the attention of the Proxy Voting Director specific proxy questions that, while governed by a guideline, appear to involve unusual or controversial issues. The funds also utilize research services relating to proxy questions provided by the proxy voting service and by other firms.

The role of the Proxy Voting Director

The Proxy Voting Director, a member of the Office of the Trustees, assists in the coordination and voting of the funds’ proxies. The Proxy Voting Director deals directly with the proxy voting service and, in the case of proxy questions referred by the proxy voting service, solicits voting recommendations and instructions from the Office of the Trustees, the Chair of the Board Policy and Nominating Committee, and Putnam Management’s investment professionals, as appropriate. The Proxy Voting Director is responsible for ensuring that these questions and referrals are

October 27, 2017  II-141 

 


responded to in a timely fashion and for transmitting appropriate voting instructions to the proxy voting service. In addition, the Proxy Voting Director is the contact person for receiving recommendations from Putnam Management’s investment professionals with respect to any proxy question in circumstances where the investment professional believes that the interests of fund shareholders warrant a vote contrary to the fund’s proxy voting guidelines.

On occasion, representatives of a company in which the funds have an investment may wish to meet with the company’s shareholders in advance of the company’s shareholder meeting, typically to explain and to provide the company’s perspective on the proposals up for consideration at the meeting. As a general matter, the Proxy Voting Director will participate in meetings with these company representatives.

The Proxy Voting Director is also responsible for ensuring that the funds file the required annual reports of their proxy voting records with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Proxy Voting Director coordinates with the funds’ proxy voting service to prepare and file on Form N-PX, by August 31 of each year, the funds’ proxy voting record for the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30. In addition, the Proxy Voting Director is responsible for coordinating with Putnam Management to arrange for the funds’ proxy voting record for the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 to be available on the funds’ website.

Voting procedures for referral items

As discussed above, the proxy voting service will refer proxy questions to the Proxy Voting Director under certain circumstances. Unless the referred proxy question involves investment considerations ( i.e. , the proxy question might be seen as having a bearing on the economic interests of a shareholder in the company) and is referred to Putnam Management’s investment professionals for a voting recommendation as described below, the Proxy Voting Director will assist in interpreting the guidelines and, if necessary, consult with a senior staff member of the Office of the Trustees and/or the Chair of the Board Policy and Nominating Committee on how the funds’ shares will be voted.

The Proxy Voting Director will refer proxy questions that involve investment considerations, through an electronic request form, to Putnam Management’s investment professionals for a voting recommendation. These referrals will be made in cooperation with the person or persons designated by Putnam Management’s Legal and Compliance Department to assist in processing referral items. In connection with each item referred to Putnam Management’s investment professionals, the Legal and Compliance Department will conduct a conflicts of interest review, as described below under “Conflicts of interest,” and provide electronically a conflicts of interest report (the “Conflicts Report”) to the Proxy Voting Director describing the results of the review. After receiving a referral item from the Proxy Voting Director, Putnam Management’s investment professionals will provide a recommendation electronically to the Proxy Voting Director and the person or persons designated by the Legal and Compliance Department to assist in processing referral items. The recommendation will set forth (1) how the proxies should be voted; and (2) any contacts the investment professionals have had with respect to the referral item with non-investment personnel of Putnam Management or with outside parties (except for routine communications from proxy solicitors). The Proxy Voting Director will review the recommendation of Putnam Management’s investment professionals (and the related Conflicts

October 27, 2017  II-142 

 


Report) in determining how to vote the funds’ proxies. The Proxy Voting Director will maintain a record of all proxy questions that have been referred to Putnam Management’s investment professionals, the voting recommendation, and the Conflicts Report. An exception to this referral process is that the Proxy Voting Director will not refer proxy questions in respect of portfolio securities that are held only in funds sub-advised by PanAgora Asset Management, Inc.

In some situations, the Proxy Voting Director may determine that a particular proxy question raises policy issues requiring consultation with the Chair of the Board Policy and Nominating Committee, who, in turn, may decide to bring the particular proxy question to the Committee or the full Board of Trustees for consideration.

Conflicts of interest

Occasions may arise where a person or organization involved in the proxy voting process may have a conflict of interest. A conflict of interest may exist, for example, if Putnam Management has a business relationship with (or is actively soliciting business from) either the company soliciting the proxy or a third party that has a material interest in the outcome of a proxy vote or that is actively lobbying for a particular outcome of a proxy vote. Any individual with knowledge of a personal conflict of interest (e.g., familial relationship with company management or a significant personal investment in the company) relating to a particular referral item shall disclose that conflict to the Proxy Voting Director and the Legal and Compliance Department and may be asked to remove himself or herself from the proxy voting process. The Legal and Compliance Department will review each item referred to Putnam Management’s investment professionals to determine if a conflict of interest exists and will provide the Proxy Voting Director with a Conflicts Report for each referral item that: (1) describes any conflict of interest; (2) discusses the procedures used to address such conflict of interest; and (3) discloses any contacts from parties outside Putnam Management (other than routine communications from proxy solicitors) with respect to the referral item not otherwise reported in an investment professional’s recommendation. The Conflicts Report will also include written confirmation that any recommendation from an investment professional provided under circumstances where a conflict of interest exists was made solely on the investment merits and without regard to any other consideration.

As adopted March 11, 2005 and revised June 12, 2009, January 24, 2014 and June 23, 2017.

October 27, 2017  II-143 

 


Appendix B 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

October 27, 2017  II-144 

 


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Trustees and Shareholders of
George Putnam Balanced Fund:

In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio, and the related statements of operations and of changes in net assets and the financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of George Putnam Balanced Fund (the “Fund”) as of July 31, 2017, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements and financial highlights (hereafter referred to as “financial statements”) are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of July 31, 2017 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
September 8, 2017

George Putnam Balanced Fund 23 

 


The fund’s portfolio 7/31/17

COMMON STOCKS (61.5%)*  Shares  Value 
Basic materials (2.5%)     
Albemarle Corp.  12,874  $1,490,809 
Alcoa Corp.  67,096  2,442,294 
Calyxt, Inc. †  30,350  327,173 
CF Industries Holdings, Inc.  79,302  2,327,514 
Dow Chemical Co. (The)  86,640  5,565,754 
Evonik Industries AG (Germany)  29,551  1,007,496 
Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc. S   41,535  2,727,603 
Iluka Resources, Ltd. (Australia)  196,255  1,416,176 
LyondellBasell Industries NV Class A  11,163  1,005,675 
Sealed Air Corp.  48,055  2,090,873 
Sherwin-Williams Co. (The)  17,453  5,886,373 
W.R. Grace & Co.  55,215  3,807,626 
    30,095,366 
Capital goods (4.5%)     
Airbus SE (France)  36,158  3,021,952 
Caterpillar, Inc.  35,209  4,012,066 
Cummins, Inc.  25,947  4,356,501 
Dover Corp.  45,520  3,823,680 
Fortive Corp.  57,418  3,717,241 
Johnson Controls International PLC  100,729  3,923,395 
KION Group AG (Germany)  38,514  3,343,327 
Komatsu, Ltd. (Japan)  125,600  3,377,398 
L3 Technologies, Inc.  19,457  3,404,391 
Northrop Grumman Corp.  19,522  5,136,824 
Raytheon Co.  32,307  5,549,373 
Stericycle, Inc. †  22,052  1,699,768 
United Technologies Corp.  50,431  5,979,604 
Waste Connections, Inc. (Canada)  34,393  2,234,857 
    53,580,377 
Communication services (2.9%)     
American Tower Corp. R   23,616  3,219,569 
AT&T, Inc.  200,820  7,831,980 
Charter Communications, Inc. Class A †  18,391  7,207,617 
Comcast Corp. Class A  237,204  9,606,762 
DISH Network Corp. Class A †  32,985  2,112,030 
T-Mobile US, Inc. †  34,207  2,109,204 
Verizon Communications, Inc.  49,579  2,399,624 
    34,486,786 
Communications equipment (0.2%)     
Cisco Systems, Inc.  83,757  2,634,158 
    2,634,158 
Computers (2.7%)     
Apple, Inc.  177,389  26,383,066 
HP, Inc.  91,748  1,752,387 
RealPage, Inc. †  99,827  3,868,296 
Western Digital Corp.  9,150  778,848 
    32,782,597 

 

24 George Putnam Balanced Fund 

 


COMMON STOCKS (61.5%)* cont.  Shares  Value 
Conglomerates (0.8%)     
Danaher Corp.  71,094  $5,793,450 
Siemens AG (Germany)  25,298  3,436,508 
    9,229,958 
Consumer cyclicals (6.9%)     
Amazon.com, Inc. †  18,005  17,784,979 
Expedia, Inc.  24,927  3,900,328 
Hanesbrands, Inc. S   98,226  2,251,340 
Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc.  72,126  4,510,039 
Home Depot, Inc. (The)  87,202  13,045,419 
IHS Markit, Ltd. (United Kingdom) †  56,056  2,615,012 
L Brands, Inc.  34,487  1,599,852 
Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. † S   73,535  2,740,649 
MasterCard, Inc. Class A  34,540  4,414,212 
NIKE, Inc. Class B  46,959  2,772,929 
O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. †  12,598  2,573,771 
Penn National Gaming, Inc. † S   127,478  2,569,956 
Priceline Group, Inc. (The) †  3,074  6,235,609 
TJX Cos., Inc. (The)  54,084  3,802,646 
Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc.  28,606  832,435 
Vulcan Materials Co.  12,093  1,488,890 
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.  40,544  3,243,115 
Walt Disney Co. (The)  30,016  3,299,659 
Wynn Resorts, Ltd.  25,392  3,284,201 
    82,965,041 
Consumer staples (6.6%)     
Brown-Forman Corp. Class B  59,482  2,938,411 
Colgate-Palmolive Co.  32,940  2,378,268 
Constellation Brands, Inc. Class A  31,155  6,023,819 
Costco Wholesale Corp.  28,528  4,521,973 
CVS Health Corp.  36,401  2,909,532 
Delivery Hero Holding GmbH (acquired 6/12/15 cost $446,716) (Private)     
(Germany) † ∆∆ F  17,400  513,511 
Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, Inc.  14,208  1,295,201 
Edgewell Personal Care Co. †  25,710  1,856,262 
Kraft Heinz Co. (The)  90,118  7,881,720 
Kroger Co. (The)  145,215  3,560,672 
McCormick & Co., Inc. (non-voting shares)  35,982  3,429,085 
Molson Coors Brewing Co. Class B  32,625  2,902,973 
Mondelez International, Inc. Class A  119,094  5,242,518 
Monster Beverage Corp. †  24,979  1,317,642 
PepsiCo, Inc.  84,587  9,863,690 
Pinnacle Foods, Inc.  56,725  3,368,331 
Procter & Gamble Co. (The)  68,779  6,246,509 
Restaurant Brands International, Inc. (Canada)  45,201  2,693,076 
Simply Good Foods Co. (The) †  74,366  881,237 
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.  76,934  6,206,266 
Yum China Holdings, Inc. (China) †  80,604  2,884,817 
    78,915,513 

 

George Putnam Balanced Fund 25 

 


COMMON STOCKS (61.5%)* cont.  Shares  Value 
Electronics (2.7%)     
Agilent Technologies, Inc.  39,956  $2,388,969 
Broadcom, Ltd.  29,774  7,344,055 
Cavium, Inc. †  44,309  2,744,499 
NXP Semiconductor NV †  18,324  2,021,687 
Qorvo, Inc. †  48,488  3,324,337 
Qualcomm, Inc.  92,019  4,894,491 
Rockwell Automation, Inc.  25,818  4,260,745 
Texas Instruments, Inc.  74,822  6,089,014 
    33,067,797 
Energy (3.6%)     
Anadarko Petroleum Corp.  43,909  2,005,324 
Cenovus Energy, Inc. (Canada)  292,164  2,453,545 
Cheniere Energy, Inc. †  64,964  2,936,373 
ConocoPhillips  100,724  4,569,848 
EnCana Corp. (Canada)  102,630  1,033,091 
EOG Resources, Inc.  44,411  4,225,263 
EQT Corp.  25,572  1,628,936 
Exxon Mobil Corp.  22,582  1,807,463 
Halliburton Co.  74,622  3,166,958 
Marathon Oil Corp.  63,057  771,187 
Noble Energy, Inc.  66,139  1,912,078 
Pioneer Natural Resources Co.  29,483  4,808,677 
Plains All American Pipeline LP  39,787  1,049,183 
Plains GP Holdings LP Class A †  22,991  628,574 
Royal Dutch Shell PLC Class A (United Kingdom)  124,579  3,506,003 
Select Energy Services Class A †  112,596  1,748,616 
Seven Generations Energy, Ltd. (Canada) †  70,957  1,233,317 
Suncor Energy, Inc. (Canada)  103,221  3,367,153 
    42,851,589 
Financials (9.0%)     
American International Group, Inc.  87,815  5,747,492 
Assured Guaranty, Ltd.  103,779  4,671,093 
Bank of America Corp.  560,243  13,513,061 
BlackRock, Inc.  8,527  3,637,021 
Charles Schwab Corp. (The)  52,684  2,260,144 
Chubb, Ltd.  52,364  7,669,231 
Citigroup, Inc.  138,119  9,454,246 
E*Trade Financial Corp. †  49,632  2,034,912 
Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. R   79,139  3,002,534 
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)  23,760  5,353,841 
Hamilton Lane, Inc. Class A  93,883  2,108,612 
Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)  24,206  1,331,330 
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.  81,391  5,429,594 
Invesco, Ltd.  228,943  7,960,348 
Investment Technology Group, Inc.  143,354  3,163,823 
JPMorgan Chase & Co.  93,368  8,571,182 
KKR & Co. LP  170,366  3,301,693 
MBIA, Inc. † S   182,956  1,860,663 
MetLife, Inc.  44,963  2,472,965 

 

26 George Putnam Balanced Fund 

 


COMMON STOCKS (61.5%)* cont.  Shares  Value 
Financials cont.     
Oportun Financial Corp. (acquired 6/23/15, cost $386,984) (Private) † ∆∆ F  135,784  $327,825 
Prudential PLC (United Kingdom)  171,857  4,190,307 
Synchrony Financial  51,379  1,557,811 
Visa, Inc. Class A  86,590  8,620,900 
    108,240,628 
Health care (7.4%)     
Aetna, Inc.  5,143  793,616 
Amgen, Inc.  37,285  6,506,605 
Becton Dickinson and Co.  31,407  6,325,370 
Biogen, Inc. †  19,841  5,745,755 
Bioverativ, Inc. †  29,613  1,835,118 
Boston Scientific Corp. †  151,384  4,029,842 
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.  20,150  1,146,535 
C.R. Bard, Inc.  3,246  1,040,668 
Celgene Corp. †  35,718  4,836,574 
Cigna Corp.  22,042  3,825,610 
DENTSPLY Sirona, Inc.  54,925  3,406,998 
Gilead Sciences, Inc.  75,824  5,769,448 
Humana, Inc.  6,212  1,436,214 
Intuitive Surgical, Inc. †  3,104  2,912,359 
Jazz Pharmaceuticals PLC †  34,801  5,345,782 
Johnson & Johnson  99,569  13,214,798 
McKesson Corp.  9,678  1,566,578 
Merck & Co., Inc.  64,764  4,137,124 
Pfizer, Inc.  69,440  2,302,630 
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. †  5,073  2,493,988 
UnitedHealth Group, Inc.  34,912  6,696,471 
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. †  25,211  3,827,534 
    89,195,617 
Miscellaneous (—%)     
Gores Holdings II, Inc. (Units) †  51,253  534,569 
    534,569 
Semiconductor (0.4%)     
Applied Materials, Inc.  107,637  4,769,395 
    4,769,395 
Software (3.4%)     
Adobe Systems, Inc. †  32,417  4,748,766 
Everbridge, Inc. †  73,062  1,727,916 
Instructure, Inc. †  50,963  1,648,653 
Microsoft Corp.  309,749  22,518,752 
Oracle Corp.  63,289  3,160,020 
Tencent Holdings, Ltd. (China)  86,381  3,465,945 
Ubisoft Entertainment SA (France) †  50,064  3,166,571 
    40,436,623 
Technology services (5.0%)     
Alibaba Group Holding, Ltd. ADR (China) † S   28,807  4,463,645 
Alphabet, Inc. Class A †  24,469  23,135,440 
DXC Technology Co.  62,899  4,930,024 
Facebook, Inc. Class A †  94,013  15,911,700 

 

George Putnam Balanced Fund 27 

 


COMMON STOCKS (61.5%)* cont.  Shares  Value 
Technology services cont.     
Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.  37,189  $3,392,381 
GoDaddy, Inc. Class A †  41,640  1,789,687 
NCSoft Corp. (South Korea)  14,948  4,822,151 
salesforce.com, Inc. †  20,277  1,841,152 
    60,286,180 
Transportation (0.7%)     
American Airlines Group, Inc. S   70,571  3,559,601 
Norfolk Southern Corp.  39,545  4,451,976 
    8,011,577 
Utilities and power (2.2%)     
Ameren Corp.  33,622  1,886,194 
American Electric Power Co., Inc.  59,283  4,181,823 
American Water Works Co., Inc.  24,004  1,946,724 
Edison International  20,457  1,609,557 
Exelon Corp.  116,763  4,476,693 
Kinder Morgan, Inc.  32,122  656,252 
NextEra Energy, Inc.  21,736  3,175,412 
NRG Energy, Inc.  182,039  4,481,800 
PG&E Corp.  53,014  3,588,518 
    26,002,973 
Total common stocks (cost $640,151,688)    $738,086,744 
 
 
U.S. GOVERNMENT AND AGENCY  Principal   
MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS (13.4%)*  amount  Value 
U.S. Government Guaranteed Mortgage Obligations (2.4%)     
Government National Mortgage Association Pass-Through Certificates     
3.50%, with due dates from 2/20/43 to 11/20/45  $3,604,536  $3,761,036 
3.50%, TBA, 8/1/47  15,000,000  15,585,938 
3.00%, with due dates from 8/20/46 to 10/20/46  1,940,068  1,965,966 
3.00%, TBA, 8/1/47  7,000,000  7,101,172 
    28,414,112 
U.S. Government Agency Mortgage Obligations (11.0%)     
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Pass-Through Certificates     
6.00%, 3/1/35  1,735  1,971 
4.00%, with due dates from 7/1/42 to 9/1/45  4,687,165  4,968,081 
3.50%, with due dates from 12/1/42 to 1/1/47  11,466,780  11,869,949 
3.00%, 3/1/43  637,096  642,369 
Federal National Mortgage Association Pass-Through Certificates     
5.50%, with due dates from 7/1/33 to 11/1/38  2,294,409  2,546,908 
5.00%, with due dates from 8/1/33 to 1/1/39  647,649  709,970 
4.50%, TBA, 9/1/47  19,000,000  20,378,243 
4.50%, TBA, 8/1/47  19,000,000  20,398,282 
4.00%, with due dates from 9/1/45 to 7/1/56  11,526,360  12,209,643 
4.00%, TBA, 9/1/47  4,000,000  4,205,156 
4.00%, TBA, 8/1/47  4,000,000  4,211,562 
3.50%, with due dates from 5/1/43 to 1/1/47  13,596,172  14,057,844 
3.50%, TBA, 9/1/47  3,000,000  3,083,672 
3.50%, TBA, 8/1/47  8,000,000  8,236,250 

 

28 George Putnam Balanced Fund 

 


U.S. GOVERNMENT AND AGENCY  Principal   
MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS (13.4%)* cont.  amount  Value 
U.S. Government Agency Mortgage Obligations cont.     
Federal National Mortgage Association Pass-Through Certificates     
3.00%, with due dates from 2/1/43 to 3/1/47  $6,422,690  $6,468,865 
3.00%, TBA, 8/1/47  18,000,000  18,029,531 
    132,018,296 
Total U.S. government and agency mortgage obligations (cost $160,113,902)  $160,432,408 
 
 
  Principal   
U.S. TREASURY OBLIGATIONS (12.2%)*  amount  Value 
U.S. Treasury Bonds 2.75%, 8/15/42 ∆ Φ   $17,760,000  $17,404,800 
U.S. Treasury Notes     
2.00%, 2/15/22  5,880,000  5,936,733 
2.00%, 11/30/20  44,660,000  45,258,373 
1.875%, 11/30/21  6,480,000  6,512,653 
1.625%, 7/31/19  9,580,000  9,630,894 
1.375%, 9/30/18 ∆   23,230,000  23,253,139 
1.125%, 3/31/20  7,770,000  7,706,262 
1.125%, 12/31/19  31,470,000  31,263,478 
Total U.S. treasury obligations (cost $147,124,072)    $146,966,332 
 
 
  Principal   
CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (15.7%)*  amount  Value 
Basic materials (0.9%)     
Celanese US Holdings, LLC company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub.     
notes 4.625%, 11/15/22 (Germany)  $668,000  $725,615 
Eastman Chemical Co. sr. unsec. notes 3.80%, 3/15/25  760,000  783,194 
Georgia-Pacific, LLC sr. unsec. unsub. notes 7.75%, 11/15/29  850,000  1,195,060 
Glencore Funding, LLC 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub.     
notes 4.625%, 4/29/24  941,000  997,460 
Glencore Funding, LLC 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub.     
notes 4.00%, 4/16/25  638,000  647,663 
International Paper Co. sr. unsec. notes 8.70%, 6/15/38  10,000  14,754 
INVISTA Finance, LLC 144A company guaranty sr. notes     
4.25%, 10/15/19  356,000  363,120 
Sherwin-Williams Co. (The) sr. unsec. unsub. bonds 3.45%, 6/1/27  1,040,000  1,057,046 
Westlake Chemical Corp. company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub.     
notes 3.60%, 8/15/26  1,610,000  1,617,947 
WestRock MWV, LLC company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes     
8.20%, 1/15/30  1,265,000  1,789,292 
WestRock MWV, LLC company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes     
7.95%, 2/15/31  187,000  262,530 
Weyerhaeuser Co. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 7.375%, 3/15/32 R   553,000  766,066 
    10,219,747 
Capital goods (0.5%)     
Johnson Controls International PLC sr. unsec. unsub. bonds     
4.50%, 2/15/47  1,040,000  1,111,746 
L3 Technologies, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. bonds     
3.85%, 12/15/26  235,000  244,741 
Legrand France SA sr. unsec. unsub. notes 8.50%, 2/15/25 (France)  767,000  991,749 
Medtronic, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. sub. notes     
4.375%, 3/15/35  307,000  340,034 

 

George Putnam Balanced Fund 29 

 


  Principal   
CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (15.7%)* cont.  amount  Value 
Capital goods cont.     
Medtronic, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. sub. notes     
3.50%, 3/15/25  $327,000  $342,800 
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. company guaranty sr. unsec.     
unsub. notes 7.875%, 3/1/26  265,000  352,766 
Parker Hannifin Corp. sr. unsec. unsub. notes Ser. MTN,     
6.25%, 5/15/38  370,000  494,116 
Rockwell Collins, Inc. sr. unsec. bonds 4.35%, 4/15/47  1,758,000  1,845,747 
United Technologies Corp. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 5.70%, 4/15/40  100,000  125,685 
United Technologies Corp. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 4.50%, 6/1/42  225,000  245,208 
    6,094,592 
Communication services (1.4%)     
America Movil SAB de CV company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub.     
notes 6.125%, 3/30/40 (Mexico)  200,000  245,074 
American Tower Corp. sr. unsec. notes 4.00%, 6/1/25 R   335,000  347,660 
American Tower Corp. sr. unsec. unsub. bonds 3.55%, 7/15/27 R   555,000  551,209 
American Tower Corp. sr. unsec. unsub. bonds 3.375%, 10/15/26 R   500,000  494,236 
AT&T, Inc. sr. unsec. unsub. bonds 5.15%, 2/14/50  1,445,000  1,437,661 
AT&T, Inc. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 4.75%, 5/15/46  122,000  117,153 
AT&T, Inc. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 4.25%, 3/1/27  1,580,000  1,624,676 
CC Holdings GS V, LLC/Crown Castle GS III Corp. company guaranty     
sr. notes 3.849%, 4/15/23  240,000  253,085 
Charter Communications Operating, LLC/Charter     
Communications Operating Capital Corp. company guaranty sr.     
sub. bonds 6.484%, 10/23/45  1,159,000  1,366,234 
Charter Communications Operating, LLC/Charter     
Communications Operating Capital Corp. company guaranty sr.     
sub. notes 4.908%, 7/23/25  356,000  382,559 
Charter Communications Operating, LLC/Charter     
Communications Operating Capital Corp. 144A company guaranty     
sr. bonds 5.375%, 5/1/47  696,000  721,566 
Comcast Cable Communications Holdings, Inc. company     
guaranty sr. unsec. notes 9.455%, 11/15/22  645,000  866,587 
Comcast Corp. company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes     
6.50%, 11/15/35  268,000  357,971 
Comcast Corp. company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes     
3.15%, 3/1/26  610,000  617,457 
Cox Communications, Inc. 144A sr. unsec. bonds 3.50%, 8/15/27  825,000  819,804 
Crown Castle International Corp. sr. unsec. bonds 3.65%, 9/1/27 R   714,000  714,442 
Crown Castle International Corp. sr. unsec. notes 5.25%, 1/15/23 R   75,000  83,858 
Crown Castle International Corp. sr. unsec. notes 4.875%, 4/15/22 R   313,000  342,526 
Crown Castle International Corp. sr. unsec. notes 4.75%, 5/15/47 R   170,000  171,981 
Crown Castle Towers, LLC 144A company guaranty sr. notes     
4.883%, 8/15/20  710,000  756,801 
NBCUniversal Media, LLC company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub.     
notes 6.40%, 4/30/40  380,000  512,345 
Rogers Communications, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. bonds     
8.75%, 5/1/32 (Canada)  95,000  139,175 
Rogers Communications, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub.     
notes 4.50%, 3/15/43 (Canada)  215,000  221,566 

 

30 George Putnam Balanced Fund 

 


  Principal   
CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (15.7%)* cont.  amount  Value 
Communication services cont.     
Sprint Spectrum Co., LLC/Sprint Spectrum Co. II, LLC/     
Sprint Spectrum Co. III, LL 144A company guaranty sr. notes     
3.36%, 9/20/21  $955,000  $968,084 
Telecom Italia SpA 144A sr. unsec. notes 5.303%, 5/30/24 (Italy)  1,000,000  1,102,500 
Telefonica Emisiones SAU company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub.     
notes 7.045%, 6/20/36 (Spain)  355,000  463,265 
Verizon Communications, Inc. sr. unsec. unsub. notes     
4.522%, 9/15/48  252,000  234,104 
Verizon Communications, Inc. sr. unsec. unsub. notes     
4.125%, 3/16/27  610,000  627,197 
Videotron, Ltd./Videotron Ltee. 144A sr. unsec. notes 5.125%,     
4/15/27 (Canada)  700,000  721,000 
    17,261,776 
Conglomerates (0.1%)     
General Electric Co. jr. unsec. sub. FRB Ser. D, 5.00%,     
perpetual maturity  1,111,000  1,170,716 
    1,170,716 
Consumer cyclicals (1.7%)     
21st Century Fox America, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. notes     
7.85%, 3/1/39  190,000  274,496 
21st Century Fox America, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. notes     
7.75%, 1/20/24  1,045,000  1,307,270 
Alimentation Couche-Tard, Inc. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec.     
notes 3.55%, 7/26/27 (Canada)  720,000  725,279 
Autonation, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 4.50%, 10/1/25  330,000  349,521 
Autonation, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes     
5.50%, 2/1/20  847,000  909,595 
CBS Corp. company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. bonds     
2.90%, 1/15/27  374,000  357,212 
CBS Corp. company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes     
4.60%, 1/15/45  1,010,000  1,037,494 
CBS Corp. company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes     
3.50%, 1/15/25  477,000  484,869 
Dollar General Corp. sr. unsec. sub. notes 3.25%, 4/15/23  625,000  639,512 
Expedia, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes     
5.00%, 2/15/26  187,000  205,907 
Ford Motor Co. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 4.346%, 12/8/26  880,000  910,040 
General Motors Financial Co., Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec.     
notes 4.00%, 10/6/26  262,000  261,333 
General Motors Financial Co., Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec.     
unsub. notes 4.30%, 7/13/25  252,000  258,891 
General Motors Financial Co., Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec.     
unsub. notes 4.00%, 1/15/25  250,000  252,730 
Grupo Televisa SAB sr. unsec. unsub. bonds 6.625%,     
1/15/40 (Mexico)  300,000  352,135 
Grupo Televisa SAB sr. unsec. unsub. notes 5.00%, 5/13/45 (Mexico)  355,000  352,724 
Hilton Domestic Operating Co., Inc. 144A sr. unsec. sub. notes     
4.25%, 9/1/24  205,000  207,050 
Hilton Worldwide Finance, LLC/Hilton Worldwide Finance Corp.     
144A sr. unsec. bonds 4.875%, 4/1/27  1,200,000  1,251,000 

 

George Putnam Balanced Fund 31 

 


  Principal   
CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (15.7%)* cont.  amount  Value 
Consumer cyclicals cont.     
Historic TW, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. bonds     
9.15%, 2/1/23  $460,000  $593,209 
Host Hotels & Resorts LP sr. unsec. unsub. notes 6.00%, 10/1/21 R   320,000  357,334 
Host Hotels & Resorts LP sr. unsec. unsub. notes 5.25%, 3/15/22 R   150,000  163,629 
Hyatt Hotels Corp. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 3.375%, 7/15/23  200,000  204,715 
IHS Markit, Ltd. 144A company guaranty notes 4.75%, 2/15/25     
(United Kingdom)  1,285,000  1,352,463 
Lear Corp. company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes     
5.375%, 3/15/24  375,000  401,375 
Moody’s Corp. 144A sr. unsec. bonds 3.25%, 1/15/28  540,000  533,741 
NVR, Inc. sr. unsec. notes 3.95%, 9/15/22  435,000  456,938 
O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. notes     
3.85%, 6/15/23  195,000  203,743 
O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. sub. notes     
3.55%, 3/15/26  480,000  482,782 
Omnicom Group, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes     
3.60%, 4/15/26  540,000  547,894 
Priceline Group, Inc. (The) sr. unsec. notes 3.65%, 3/15/25  164,000  168,854 
QVC, Inc. company guaranty sr. notes 4.85%, 4/1/24  390,000  401,767 
S&P Global, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes     
4.40%, 2/15/26  670,000  723,909 
Sirius XM Radio, Inc. 144A sr. unsec. bonds 5.00%, 8/1/27  1,115,000  1,134,513 
Standard Industries, Inc. 144A sr. unsec. notes 5.00%, 2/15/27  1,195,000  1,232,344 
Time Warner, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. bonds     
2.95%, 7/15/26  79,000  75,321 
Vulcan Materials Co. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 4.50%, 4/1/25  175,000  186,877 
Wyndham Worldwide Corp. sr. unsec. unsub. bonds 4.50%, 4/1/27  530,000  550,420 
    19,908,886 
Consumer staples (1.3%)     
Anheuser-Busch InBev Finance, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec.     
unsub. bonds 4.90%, 2/1/46  1,947,000  2,186,615 
Anheuser-Busch InBev Finance, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec.     
unsub. bonds 3.65%, 2/1/26  428,000  442,689 
Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc. company guaranty sr.     
unsec. unsub. bonds 4.95%, 1/15/42  200,000  224,327 
Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc. company guaranty sr.     
unsec. unsub. notes 8.20%, 1/15/39  165,000  258,599 
Bacardi, Ltd. 144A unsec. notes 4.50%, 1/15/21 (Bermuda)  495,000  524,704 
Constellation Brands, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub.     
bonds 3.70%, 12/6/26  525,000  539,266 
CVS Health Corp. sr. unsec. notes 4.75%, 12/1/22  715,000  784,376 
CVS Pass-Through Trust 144A sr. mtge. notes 7.507%, 1/10/32  625,663  777,272 
CVS Pass-Through Trust 144A sr. mtge. notes 4.704%, 1/10/36  630,897  658,195 
Diageo Investment Corp. company guaranty sr. unsec. notes     
8.00%, 9/15/22  820,000  1,029,141 
ERAC USA Finance, LLC 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes     
7.00%, 10/15/37  1,434,000  1,871,630 
ERAC USA Finance, LLC 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes     
5.625%, 3/15/42  553,000  631,290 
Grupo Bimbo SAB de CV 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub.     
notes 4.875%, 6/27/44 (Mexico)  350,000  354,012 

 

32 George Putnam Balanced Fund 

 


  Principal   
CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (15.7%)* cont.  amount  Value 
Consumer staples cont.     
Kraft Heinz Co. (The) company guaranty sr. unsec. bonds     
4.375%, 6/1/46  $670,000  $651,007 
Kraft Heinz Co. (The) company guaranty sr. unsec. notes Ser. 144A,     
6.875%, 1/26/39  625,000  809,266 
Kraft Heinz Co. (The) company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes     
6.50%, 2/9/40  309,000  387,669 
Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec.     
unsub. notes 4.875%, 11/1/26  1,166,000  1,218,948 
Newell Brands, Inc. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 4.20%, 4/1/26  1,030,000  1,101,878 
Tyson Foods, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. bonds     
4.875%, 8/15/34  134,000  146,673 
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. sr. unsec. bonds 3.45%, 6/1/26  765,000  766,730 
    15,364,287 
Energy (1.3%)     
BG Energy Capital PLC 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub.     
notes 4.00%, 10/15/21 (United Kingdom)  250,000  265,643 
BP Capital Markets PLC company guaranty sr. unsec. bonds     
3.119%, 5/4/26 (United Kingdom)  670,000  670,826 
Canadian Natural Resources, Ltd. sr. unsec. unsub. bonds 3.85%,     
6/1/27 (Canada)  425,000  429,412 
Cenovus Energy, Inc. sr. unsec. bonds 6.75%, 11/15/39 (Canada)  459,000  495,720 
Cenovus Energy, Inc. 144A sr. unsec. notes 4.25%,     
4/15/27 (Canada)  700,000  684,052 
Cheniere Corpus Christi Holdings, LLC 144A company guaranty sr.     
bonds 5.125%, 6/30/27  565,000  588,306 
Concho Resources, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. notes     
4.375%, 1/15/25  925,000  953,906 
DCP Midstream Operating LP company guaranty sr. unsec. notes     
3.875%, 3/15/23  276,000  269,100 
DCP Midstream Operating LP company guaranty sr. unsec. notes     
2.70%, 4/1/19  225,000  223,594 
Devon Energy Corp. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 3.25%, 5/15/22  276,000  278,741 
EQT Midstream Partners LP company guaranty sr. unsec. sub.     
notes 4.00%, 8/1/24  575,000  584,447 
Hess Corp. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 7.30%, 8/15/31  388,000  459,529 
Lukoil International Finance BV 144A company guaranty sr. unsec.     
notes 4.563%, 4/24/23 (Russia)  315,000  320,119 
Marathon Petroleum Corp. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 6.50%, 3/1/41  175,000  205,782 
MPLX LP sr. unsec. unsub. notes 4.125%, 3/1/27  615,000  624,153 
Nabors Industries, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes     
4.625%, 9/15/21  600,000  574,500 
Noble Holding International, Ltd. company guaranty sr. unsec.     
unsub. notes 6.05%, 3/1/41  350,000  209,125 
Petroleos Mexicanos company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes     
4.50%, 1/23/26 (Mexico)  348,000  345,703 
Pride International, LLC company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes     
7.875%, 8/15/40  760,000  630,800 
Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC sr. bonds 4.20%, 3/15/28  225,000  228,539 
Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC sr. notes 5.00%, 3/15/27  1,280,000  1,370,765 
Statoil ASA company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 5.10%,     
8/17/40 (Norway)  480,000  555,578 

 

George Putnam Balanced Fund 33 

 


  Principal   
CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (15.7%)* cont.  amount  Value 
Energy cont.     
Tosco Corp. company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 8.125%, 2/15/30  $600,000  $833,837 
Transcanada Trust company guaranty jr. unsec. sub. FRB 5.30%,     
3/15/77 (Canada)  1,285,000  1,329,975 
Valero Energy Partners LP sr. unsec. unsub. notes     
4.375%, 12/15/26  427,000  442,008 
Williams Partners LP sr. unsec. sub. notes 4.30%, 3/4/24  1,022,000  1,076,926 
Williams Partners LP sr. unsec. sub. notes 3.60%, 3/15/22  250,000  257,545 
Williams Partners LP/ACMP Finance Corp. sr. unsec. sub. notes     
4.875%, 3/15/24  342,000  358,306 
    15,266,937 
Financials (5.4%)     
Aflac, Inc. sr. unsec. notes 6.45%, 8/15/40  82,000  107,583 
Air Lease Corp. sr. unsec. notes 3.75%, 2/1/22  410,000  428,176 
Air Lease Corp. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 3.375%, 6/1/21  630,000  648,462 
Ally Financial, Inc. sub. unsec. notes 5.75%, 11/20/25  705,000  754,350 
American Express Co. jr. unsec. sub. FRN Ser. C, 4.90%,     
perpetual maturity  310,000  316,975 
American Express Co. sr. unsec. notes 7.00%, 3/19/18  650,000  671,987 
American International Group, Inc. jr. unsec. sub. FRB     
8.175%, 5/15/58  856,000  1,168,440 
Aon PLC company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes     
4.25%, 12/12/42  1,150,000  1,130,022 
Assurant, Inc. sr. unsec. notes 6.75%, 2/15/34  198,000  243,210 
Australia & New Zealand Banking Group, Ltd./United     
Kingdom 144A jr. unsec. sub. FRB 6.75%, perpetual maturity     
(United Kingdom)  200,000  223,741 
Aviation Capital Group Corp. 144A sr. unsec. unsub. notes     
7.125%, 10/15/20  265,000  301,546 
AXA SA 144A jr. unsec. sub. FRN 6.463%, perpetual     
maturity (France)  550,000  568,563 
AXA SA 144A jr. unsec. sub. FRN 6.379%, perpetual     
maturity (France)  135,000  152,719 
Banco del Estado de Chile 144A sr. unsec. notes 2.00%,     
11/9/17 (Chile)  400,000  399,996 
Bank of America Corp. jr. unsec. sub. FRN Ser. AA, 6.10%,     
perpetual maturity  314,000  346,185 
Bank of America Corp. unsec. sub. FRN 2.006%, 9/15/26  275,000  257,994 
Bank of America Corp. unsec. sub. notes 6.11%, 1/29/37  600,000  734,957 
Barclays Bank PLC 144A unsec. sub. notes 10.179%, 6/12/21     
(United Kingdom)  321,000  402,183 
Bear Stearns Cos., LLC (The) sr. unsec. unsub. notes 7.25%, 2/1/18  331,000  340,091 
Berkshire Hathaway Finance Corp. company guaranty sr. unsec.     
notes 4.30%, 5/15/43  703,000  751,782 
BGC Partners, Inc. sr. unsec. notes 5.125%, 5/27/21  155,000  163,464 
BPCE SA 144A unsec. sub. notes 5.15%, 7/21/24 (France)  810,000  870,091 
BPCE SA 144A unsec. sub. notes 4.50%, 3/15/25 (France)  1,060,000  1,099,197 
Camden Property Trust sr. unsec. unsub. notes 4.875%, 6/15/23 R   1,213,000  1,323,916 
Cantor Fitzgerald LP 144A unsec. notes 6.50%, 6/17/22  1,020,000  1,141,931 
Capital One Bank USA NA unsec. sub. notes 3.375%, 2/15/23  462,000  468,880 
Capital One Financial Corp. unsec. sub. notes 4.20%, 10/29/25  295,000  300,675 

 

34 George Putnam Balanced Fund 

 


  Principal   
CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (15.7%)* cont.  amount  Value 
Financials cont.     
CBRE Services, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. notes     
5.25%, 3/15/25  $257,000  $282,648 
CBRE Services, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes     
4.875%, 3/1/26  708,000  765,003 
Citigroup, Inc. jr. unsec. sub. FRB Ser. P, 5.95%, perpetual maturity  956,000  1,026,744 
Citigroup, Inc. jr. unsec. sub. FRN 5.875%, perpetual maturity  402,000  422,603 
Citigroup, Inc. unsec. sub. bonds 4.75%, 5/18/46  1,400,000  1,485,961 
CNO Financial Group, Inc. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 5.25%, 5/30/25  345,000  366,563 
Cooperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank BA/     
Netherlands company guaranty unsec. sub. notes 4.625%,     
12/1/23 (Netherlands)  250,000  271,112 
Cooperatieve Rabobank UA 144A jr. unsec. sub. FRN 11.00%,     
perpetual maturity (Netherlands)  718,000  831,157 
Cooperative Rabobank UA company guaranty unsec. sub. notes     
3.75%, 7/21/26 (Netherlands)  285,000  289,028 
Credit Agricole SA 144A unsec. sub. notes 4.375%, 3/17/25 (France)  255,000  265,087 
Credit Suisse Group AG 144A sr. unsec. bonds 4.282%,     
1/9/28 (Switzerland)  1,770,000  1,852,896 
Credit Suisse Group AG 144A unsec. sub. notes 6.50%,     
8/8/23 (Switzerland)  729,000  825,880 
Fairfax US, Inc. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes     
4.875%, 8/13/24  300,000  312,350 
Fifth Third Bancorp jr. unsec. sub. FRB 5.10%, perpetual maturity  217,000  224,053 
Five Corners Funding Trust 144A sr. unsec. bonds 4.419%, 11/15/23  425,000  461,511 
GE Capital International Funding Co. Unlimited Co. company     
guaranty sr. unsec. bonds 4.418%, 11/15/35 (Ireland)  1,962,000  2,124,169 
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The) sr. unsec. unsub. notes     
3.85%, 1/26/27  1,835,000  1,872,342 
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The) unsec. sub. notes 6.75%, 10/1/37  282,000  368,978 
Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (The) sr. unsec. unsub.     
notes 6.625%, 3/30/40  1,495,000  2,020,196 
Healthcare Realty Trust, Inc. sr. unsec. unsub. notes     
3.875%, 5/1/25 R   555,000  561,711 
Hospitality Properties Trust sr. unsec. unsub. notes     
4.50%, 3/15/25 R   250,000  258,230 
HSBC Bank USA NA/New York NY unsec. sub. notes Ser. BKNT,     
5.625%, 8/15/35 (United Kingdom)  250,000  303,915 
HSBC Bank USA, NA unsec. sub. notes 7.00%, 1/15/39  342,000  483,673 
HSBC Holdings PLC unsec. sub. notes 6.50%, 5/2/36     
(United Kingdom)  800,000  1,023,866 
HSBC Holdings PLC unsec. sub. notes 4.25%, 8/18/25     
(United Kingdom)  455,000  472,185 
HSBC USA, Inc. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 3.50%, 6/23/24  105,000  108,267 
ING Bank NV 144A unsec. sub. notes 5.80%, 9/25/23 (Netherlands)  2,225,000  2,536,983 
JPMorgan Chase & Co. jr. unsec. sub. FRB Ser. Z, 5.30%,     
perpetual maturity  1,110,000  1,162,725 
KKR Group Finance Co., LLC 144A company guaranty sr. unsec.     
unsub. notes 6.375%, 9/29/20  555,000  622,804 
Liberty Mutual Group, Inc. 144A company guaranty jr. unsec. sub.     
bonds 7.80%, 3/15/37  785,000  985,175 

 

George Putnam Balanced Fund 35 

 


  Principal   
CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (15.7%)* cont.  amount  Value 
Financials cont.     
Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. 144A unsec. sub. notes     
7.697%, 10/15/97  $340,000  $481,871 
Liberty Property LP sr. unsec. unsub. notes 3.375%, 6/15/23 R   100,000  101,460 
Lloyds Bank PLC company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes 2.70%,     
8/17/20 (United Kingdom)  220,000  224,156 
Lloyds Banking Group PLC unsec. sub. bonds 5.30%, 12/1/45     
(United Kingdom)  304,000  350,295 
Lloyds Banking Group PLC unsec. sub. notes 4.50%, 11/4/24     
(United Kingdom)  530,000  553,959 
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. 144A unsec. sub. notes     
8.875%, 6/1/39  1,290,000  2,095,846 
MetLife Capital Trust IV 144A jr. unsec. sub. notes 7.875%, 12/15/37  2,564,000  3,438,965 
Mid-America Apartments LP sr. unsec. notes 4.30%, 10/15/23 R   285,000  303,280 
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 3.85%,     
3/1/26 (Japan)  640,000  670,857 
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. 144A unsec. sub. notes     
8.25%, 12/1/31  415,000  597,753 
Neuberger Berman Group, LLC/Neuberger Berman Finance Corp.     
144A sr. unsec. notes 4.875%, 4/15/45  840,000  806,400 
OneAmerica Financial Partners, Inc. 144A sr. unsec. notes     
7.00%, 10/15/33  370,000  468,064 
Pacific LifeCorp 144A sr. unsec. notes 6.00%, 2/10/20  365,000  396,047 
Peachtree Corners Funding Trust 144A company guaranty sr.     
unsec. unsub. bonds 3.976%, 2/15/25  140,000  143,232 
Primerica, Inc. sr. unsec. notes 4.75%, 7/15/22  213,000  230,511 
Prudential Financial, Inc. jr. unsec. sub. FRN 5.625%, 6/15/43  359,000  393,105 
Prudential Financial, Inc. jr. unsec. sub. FRN 5.20%, 3/15/44  1,153,000  1,222,180 
Realty Income Corp. sr. unsec. notes 4.65%, 8/1/23 R   1,045,000  1,135,234 
Royal Bank of Canada unsec. sub. notes Ser. GMTN, 4.65%,     
1/27/26 (Canada)  420,000  451,587 
Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC sr. unsec. unsub. notes 3.875%,     
9/12/23 (United Kingdom)  200,000  205,082 
Santander Issuances SAU company guaranty unsec. sub. notes     
5.179%, 11/19/25 (Spain)  1,200,000  1,298,749 
Santander UK PLC 144A unsec. sub. notes 5.00%, 11/7/23     
(United Kingdom)  430,000  466,912 
Select Income REIT sr. unsec. unsub. notes 3.60%, 2/1/20 R   290,000  294,401 
Select Income REIT sr. unsec. unsub. notes 2.85%, 2/1/18 R   290,000  291,120 
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. 144A unsec. sub. bonds     
4.436%, 4/2/24 (Japan)  412,000  436,931 
Teachers Insurance & Annuity Association of America 144A unsec.     
sub. notes 6.85%, 12/16/39  263,000  359,542 
TIERS Trust/United States 144A sr. bonds stepped-coupon zero %     
(8.125%, 9/15/17), 3/15/46 ††  570,000  698,250 
Toronto-Dominion Bank (The) unsec. sub. FRB 3.625%,     
9/15/31 (Canada)  659,000  654,156 
Travelers Property Casualty Corp. company guaranty sr. unsec.     
unsub. bonds 7.75%, 4/15/26  295,000  396,458 
UBS AG unsec. sub. notes 5.125%, 5/15/24 (Switzerland)  2,640,000  2,843,122 
VEREIT Operating Partnership LP company guaranty sr. unsec.     
notes 4.60%, 2/6/24 R   720,000  755,464 

 

36 George Putnam Balanced Fund 

 


  Principal   
CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (15.7%)* cont.  amount  Value 
Financials cont.     
Wells Fargo & Co. jr. unsec. sub. FRB Ser. U, 5.875%,     
perpetual maturity  $580,000  $643,075 
Willis Towers Watson PLC company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub.     
notes 5.75%, 3/15/21  710,000  783,138 
WP Carey, Inc. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 4.60%, 4/1/24 R   787,000  822,652 
    64,918,785 
Government (0.4%)     
International Bank for Reconstruction & Development sr. unsec.     
unsub. bonds 7.625%, 1/19/23 (Supra-Nation)  4,000,000  5,118,816 
    5,118,816 
Health care (0.7%)     
AbbVie, Inc. sr. unsec. notes 3.60%, 5/14/25  194,000  199,936 
Allergan Funding SCS company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 4.75%,     
3/15/45 (Luxembourg)  125,000  136,199 
Allergan Funding SCS company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 3.45%,     
3/15/22 (Luxembourg)  186,000  193,519 
Anthem, Inc. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 4.625%, 5/15/42  205,000  220,810 
Becton Dickinson and Co. sr. unsec. unsub. bonds 4.669%, 6/6/47  1,136,000  1,189,681 
Becton Dickinson and Co. sr. unsec. unsub. bonds 3.70%, 6/6/27  976,000  989,806 
HCA, Inc. company guaranty sr. bonds 5.25%, 6/15/26  185,000  200,263 
HCA, Inc. company guaranty sr. sub. bonds 5.50%, 6/15/47  245,000  256,638 
HCA, Inc. company guaranty sr. sub. notes 5.00%, 3/15/24  430,000  456,445 
Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec.     
bonds 5.25%, 1/15/26 R   510,000  540,600 
Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec.     
notes 4.50%, 4/1/27 R   145,000  145,725 
Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec.     
unsub. notes 4.95%, 4/1/24 R   659,000  690,150 
Quest Diagnostics, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. notes     
4.75%, 1/30/20  121,000  128,425 
Shire Acquisitions Investments Ireland DAC company guaranty sr.     
unsec. unsub. notes 3.20%, 9/23/26 (Ireland)  748,000  737,598 
Shire Acquisitions Investments Ireland DAC company guaranty sr.     
unsec. unsub. notes 2.875%, 9/23/23 (Ireland)  458,000  457,144 
Teva Pharmaceutical Finance Netherlands III BV company     
guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. bonds 3.15%, 10/1/26 (Netherlands)  1,062,000  1,016,224 
UnitedHealth Group, Inc. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 4.625%, 11/15/41  300,000  332,826 
    7,891,989 
Technology (0.6%)     
Apple, Inc. sr. unsec. notes 3.45%, 5/6/24  215,000  224,997 
Apple, Inc. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 4.375%, 5/13/45  297,000  322,812 
Apple, Inc. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 3.85%, 5/4/43  421,000  420,172 
Broadcom Corp./Broadcom Cayman Finance, Ltd. 144A company     
guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes 3.875%, 1/15/27  1,077,000  1,105,406 
Diamond 1 Finance Corp./Diamond 2 Finance Corp. 144A     
company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 7.125%, 6/15/24  813,000  904,705 
Diamond 1 Finance Corp./Diamond 2 Finance Corp. 144A sr. bonds     
8.35%, 7/15/46  271,000  353,937 
Diamond 1 Finance Corp./Diamond 2 Finance Corp. 144A sr. notes     
5.45%, 6/15/23  1,231,000  1,356,808 

 

George Putnam Balanced Fund 37 

 


  Principal   
CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (15.7%)* cont.  amount  Value 
Technology cont.     
Jabil Circuit, Inc. sr. unsec. sub. notes 8.25%, 3/15/18  $162,000  $168,278 
Microsoft Corp. sr. unsec. unsub. bonds 2.40%, 8/8/26  925,000  892,483 
Oracle Corp. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 2.65%, 7/15/26  1,475,000  1,436,985 
    7,186,583 
Transportation (0.2%)     
Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC sr. unsec. notes 5.40%, 6/1/41  454,000  554,861 
Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC sr. unsec. unsub. notes     
5.75%, 5/1/40  109,000  137,272 
Continental Airlines, Inc. Pass-Through Trust pass-through     
certificates Ser. 97-4, Class A, 6.90%, 1/2/18  7,120  7,191 
Continental Airlines, Inc. Pass-Through Trust pass-through     
certificates Ser. 98-1, Class A, 6.648%, 9/15/17  15,618  15,699 
Norfolk Southern Corp. sr. unsec. unsub. bonds 6.00%, 5/23/11  390,000  486,067 
Penske Truck Leasing Co. LP/PTL Finance Corp. 144A sr. unsec.     
bonds 3.40%, 11/15/26  540,000  536,162 
Southwest Airlines Co. Pass Through Trust pass-through     
certificates Ser. 07-1, Class A, 6.15%, 8/1/22  547,619  603,824 
United Airlines, Inc. Pass-Through Trust pass-through certificates     
Ser. 14-2, Class A, 3.75%, 9/3/26  205,602  212,248 
    2,553,324 
Utilities and power (1.2%)     
Appalachian Power Co. sr. unsec. unsub. notes Ser. L,     
5.80%, 10/1/35  510,000  613,768 
Arizona Public Services Co. sr. unsec. notes 4.50%, 4/1/42  138,000  150,992 
Boardwalk Pipelines LP company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. FRB     
4.45%, 7/15/27  240,000  247,177 
Commonwealth Edison Co. sr. mtge. bonds 5.875%, 2/1/33  595,000  721,326 
Consolidated Edison Co. of New York, Inc. sr. unsec. unsub. notes     
4.20%, 3/15/42  220,000  230,950 
Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC sr. mtge. notes 4.25%, 12/15/41  450,000  487,085 
EDP Finance BV 144A sr. unsec. unsub. notes 5.25%,     
1/14/21 (Netherlands)  365,000  392,390 
El Paso Natural Gas Co., LLC company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub.     
notes 8.375%, 6/15/32  490,000  639,286 
Emera US Finance LP company guaranty sr. unsec. notes     
3.55%, 6/15/26  437,000  443,191 
Enbridge, Inc. sr. unsec. unsub. bonds 4.25%, 12/1/26 (Canada)  540,000  570,257 
Enel Finance International SA 144A company guaranty sr. unsec.     
unsub. notes 5.125%, 10/7/19 (Netherlands)  360,000  384,536 
Energy Transfer Partners LP sr. unsec. unsub. bonds     
4.20%, 4/15/27  115,000  115,498 
Energy Transfer Partners LP sr. unsec. unsub. notes 7.60%, 2/1/24  470,000  556,081 
Energy Transfer Partners LP sr. unsec. unsub. notes 6.50%, 2/1/42  766,000  860,389 
Energy Transfer Partners LP sr. unsec. unsub. notes 5.20%, 2/1/22  240,000  260,363 
FirstEnergy Corp. sr. unsec. unsub. bonds Ser. B, 3.90%, 7/15/27  86,000  86,683 
FirstEnergy Corp. sr. unsec. unsub. bonds Ser. C, 4.85%, 7/15/47  144,000  147,290 
FirstEnergy Transmission, LLC 144A sr. unsec. unsub. notes     
5.45%, 7/15/44  1,120,000  1,302,721 
Iberdrola International BV company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub.     
bonds 6.75%, 7/15/36 (Spain)  185,000  237,087 

 

38 George Putnam Balanced Fund 

 


  Principal   
CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (15.7%)* cont.  amount  Value 
Utilities and power cont.     
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP company guaranty sr. unsec.     
notes 5.40%, 9/1/44  $179,000  $183,527 
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP company guaranty sr. unsec.     
notes 3.50%, 3/1/21  420,000  431,234 
Kinder Morgan, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes     
3.05%, 12/1/19  235,000  239,282 
Oncor Electric Delivery Co., LLC sr. notes 7.00%, 9/1/22  445,000  537,887 
Pacific Gas & Electric Co. sr. unsec. notes 6.35%, 2/15/38  418,000  558,078 
Pacific Gas & Electric Co. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 5.80%, 3/1/37  140,000  178,228 
PPL Capital Funding, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub.     
notes 4.20%, 6/15/22  145,000  156,433 
Puget Sound Energy, Inc. jr. unsec. sub. FRN Ser. A, 6.974%, 6/1/67  656,000  629,760 
Texas Gas Transmission, LLC 144A sr. unsec. notes 4.50%, 2/1/21  623,000  654,774 
Texas-New Mexico Power Co. 144A 1st sr. bonds Ser. A,     
9.50%, 4/1/19  889,000  990,183 
WEC Energy Group jr. unsec. sub. FRN 3.294%, 5/15/67  1,945,000  1,887,195 
    14,893,651 
Total corporate bonds and notes (cost $175,794,670)    $187,850,089 
 
 
  Principal   
MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (0.9%)*  amount  Value 
Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust Ser. 14-GC21, Class AS,     
4.026%, 5/10/47  $520,000  $542,542 
COMM Mortgage Trust     
FRB Ser. 12-LC4, Class C, 5.589%, 12/10/44  500,000  543,200 
FRB Ser. 14-CR18, Class C, 4.735%, 7/15/47  2,392,000  2,435,534 
Ser. 13-CR13, Class AM, 4.449%, 12/10/23  777,000  839,160 
Ser. 12-CR1, Class AM, 3.912%, 5/15/45  1,046,000  1,100,915 
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Structured Agency     
Credit Risk Debt FRN Ser. 16-HQA2, Class M1, 2.432%, 11/25/28  121,778  122,171 
Federal National Mortgage Association     
Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 16-C05, Class 2M1,     
2.582%, 1/25/29  16,003  16,134 
Ser. 01-79, Class BI, IO, 0.298%, 3/25/45  883,525  8,145 
FIRSTPLUS Home Loan Owner Trust Ser. 97-3, Class B1, 7.79%,     
11/10/23 (In default) †  194,241  19 
JPMBB Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust FRB Ser. 13-C14,     
Class C, 4.569%, 8/15/46  683,000  693,286 
JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust     
FRB Ser. 12-C6, Class D, 5.136%, 5/15/45  772,000  796,936 
Ser. 04-LN2, Class A2, 5.115%, 7/15/41  3,767  3,778 
FRB Ser. 13-C13, Class C, 4.053%, 1/15/46  450,000  452,477 
JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust 144A FRB     
Ser. 12-C8, Class D, 4.652%, 10/15/45  404,000  399,637 
LB Commercial Mortgage Trust 144A Ser. 99-C1, Class G,     
6.41%, 6/15/31  103,777  105,728 
Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust 144A FRB Ser. 12-C4, Class D,     
5.421%, 3/15/45  1,794,000  1,835,621 

 

George Putnam Balanced Fund 39 

 


      Principal   
MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (0.9%)* cont.      amount  Value 
TIAA Real Estate CDO, Ltd. 144A Ser. 03-1A, Class E,         
8.00%, 12/28/38      $2,082,436  $150,560 
WF-RBS Commercial Mortgage Trust Ser. 14-C19, Class C,       
4.646%, 3/15/47      394,000  409,169 
Total mortgage-backed securities (cost $11,081,622)      $10,455,012 
 
 
INVESTMENT COMPANIES (0.7%)*      Shares  Value 
SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF S       160,792  $8,759,948 
Total investment companies (cost $8,983,428)        $8,759,948 
 
 
CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCKS (0.1%)*      Shares  Value 
Oportun Financial Corp. Ser. A-1, 8.00% cv. pfd. (acquired 6/23/15, cost       
$1,057) (Private) † ∆∆ F      371  $896 
Oportun Financial Corp. Ser. B-1, 8.00% cv. pfd. (acquired 6/23/15, cost       
$20,210) (Private) † ∆∆ F      6,416  17,121 
Oportun Financial Corp. Ser. C-1, 8.00% cv. pfd. (acquired 6/23/15, cost       
$47,464) (Private) † ∆∆ F      9,325  40,208 
Oportun Financial Corp. Ser. D-1, 8.00% cv. pfd. (acquired 6/23/15, cost       
$68,847) (Private) † ∆∆ F      13,526  58,322 
Oportun Financial Corp. Ser. E-1, 8.00% cv. pfd. (acquired 6/23/15, cost       
$38,611) (Private) † ∆∆ F      7,033  32,709 
Oportun Financial Corp. Ser. F, 8.00% cv. pfd. (acquired 6/23/15, cost       
$116,544) (Private) † ∆∆ F      15,175  98,728 
Oportun Financial Corp. Ser. F-1, 8.00% cv. pfd. (acquired 6/23/15, cost       
$326,895) (Private) † ∆∆ F      114,700  276,921 
Oportun Financial Corp. Ser. G, 8.00% cv. pfd. (acquired 6/23/15, cost       
$413,355) (Private) † ∆∆ F      145,037  350,164 
Oportun Financial Corp. Ser. H, 8.00% cv. pfd. (acquired 2/6/15, cost       
$633,655) (Private) † ∆∆ F      222,546  536,781 
Total convertible preferred stocks (cost $1,666,638)      $1,411,850 
 
 
      Principal   
MUNICIPAL BONDS AND NOTES (0.1%)*      amount  Value 
CA State G.O. Bonds (Build America Bonds), 7.50%, 4/1/34    $215,000  $313,672 
North TX, Tollway Auth. Rev. Bonds (Build America Bonds),       
6.718%, 1/1/49      350,000  506,044 
OH State U. Rev. Bonds (Build America Bonds), 4.91%, 6/1/40    275,000  329,533 
Total municipal bonds and notes (cost $841,312)      $1,149,249 
 
 
  Expiration  Strike     
WARRANTS (0.0%)* †  date  price  Warrants  Value 
Simply Good Foods Co. (The)  7/10/22  $0.00  18,097  $44,881 
Total warrants (cost $36,366)        $44,881 
 
 
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (5.8%)*      Shares  Value 
Putnam Cash Collateral Pool, LLC 1.29% d       21,555,769  $21,555,769 
Putnam Short Term Investment Fund 1.15% L       48,130,013  48,130,013 
Total short-term investments (cost $69,685,782)      $69,685,782 
 
 
TOTAL INVESTMENTS         
Total investments (cost $1,215,479,480)        $1,324,842,295 

 

40 George Putnam Balanced Fund 

 


Key to holding’s abbreviations

ADR  American Depository Receipts: represents ownership of foreign securities on deposit with a 
  custodian bank 
BKNT  Bank Note 
DAC  Designated Activity Company 
ETF  Exchange Traded Fund 
FRB  Floating Rate Bonds: the rate shown is the current interest rate at the close of the reporting period 
FRN  Floating Rate Notes: the rate shown is the current interest rate or yield at the close of the 
  reporting period 
GMTN  Global Medium Term Notes 
G.O. Bonds  General Obligation Bonds 
IO  Interest Only 
MTN  Medium Term Notes 
SPDR  S&P Depository Receipts 
TBA  To Be Announced Commitments 

 

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 August 1, 2016 through July 31, 2017 (the reporting period). Within the following notes to the portfolio, references to “ASC 820” represent Accounting Standards Codification 820 Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, 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.

* Percentages indicated are based on net assets of $1,200,203,979.

† This security is non-income-producing.

†† The interest rate and date shown parenthetically represent the new interest rate to be paid and the date the fund will begin accruing interest at this rate.

∆∆ 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 $2,253,186, or 0.2% of net assets.

∆ This security, in part or in entirety, was pledged and segregated with the custodian for collateral on certain derivative contracts at the close of the reporting period.

Φ This security, in part or in entirety, was pledged and segregated with the custodian for collateral on certain TBA commitments at the close of the reporting period.

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 may be classified as Level 2 or 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).

At the close of the reporting period, the fund maintained liquid assets totaling $63,708,076 to cover certain derivative contracts, and delayed delivery securities.

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.

See Note 1 to the financial statements regarding TBA commitments.

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

George Putnam Balanced Fund 41 

 


FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACTS at 7/31/17 (aggregate face value $46,958,944)   
            Unrealized 
    Contract  Delivery    Aggregate  appreciation/ 
Counterparty  Currency  type  date  Value  face value  (depreciation) 
Bank of America N.A.             
  British Pound  Sell  9/20/17  $5,559,582  $5,441,596  $(117,986) 
  Canadian Dollar  Sell  10/18/17  4,836,682  4,649,589  (187,093) 
Barclays Bank PLC             
  British Pound  Buy  9/20/17  3,395,510  3,332,110  63,400 
  Canadian Dollar  Sell  10/18/17  2,986,425  2,871,746  (114,679) 
Citibank, N.A.             
  Euro  Sell  9/20/17  13,254,128  12,571,212  (682,916) 
  Japanese Yen  Sell  8/16/17  2,323,550  2,290,418  (33,132) 
Credit Suisse International           
  British Pound  Sell  9/20/17  5,833,147  5,693,780  (139,367) 
  Canadian Dollar  Sell  10/18/17  1,780,887  1,712,349  (68,538) 
Goldman Sachs International           
  Japanese Yen  Sell  8/16/17  1,402,626  1,318,579  (84,047) 
JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.           
  Canadian Dollar  Sell  10/18/17  4,432,748  4,261,609  (171,139) 
  Swiss Franc  Buy  9/20/17  191,183  191,172  11 
  Swiss Franc  Sell  9/20/17  191,183  190,804  (379) 
UBS AG             
  Euro  Sell  9/20/17  2,561,666  2,433,980  (127,686) 
Total            $(1,663,551) 

 

TBA SALE COMMITMENTS OUTSTANDING at 7/31/17 (proceeds receivable $74,916,875)   
  Principal  Settlement   
Agency  amount  date  Value 
Federal National Mortgage Association, 4.50%, 8/1/47  $19,000,000  8/14/17  $20,398,282 
Federal National Mortgage Association, 4.00%, 8/1/47  4,000,000  8/14/17  4,211,562 
Federal National Mortgage Association, 3.50%, 8/1/47  5,000,000  8/14/17  5,147,656 
Federal National Mortgage Association, 3.00%, 9/1/47  18,000,000  9/13/17  18,002,812 
Federal National Mortgage Association, 3.00%, 8/1/47  18,000,000  8/14/17  18,029,531 
Government National Mortgage Association, 3.50%, 8/1/47  9,000,000  8/21/17  9,351,563 
Total      $75,141,406 

 

42 George Putnam Balanced 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*:       
Basic materials  $30,095,366  $—­  $—­ 
Capital goods  53,580,377  —­  —­ 
Communication services  34,486,786  —  —­ 
Conglomerates  9,229,958  —­  —­ 
Consumer cyclicals  82,965,041  —  —­ 
Consumer staples  78,402,002  —­  513,511 
Energy  42,851,589  —­  —­ 
Financials  107,912,803  —  327,825 
Health care  89,195,617  —­  —­ 
Miscellaneous  534,569  —­  —­ 
Technology  173,976,750  —­  —­ 
Transportation  8,011,577  —­  —­ 
Utilities and power  26,002,973  —­  —­ 
Total common stocks  737,245,408  —  841,336 
 
Convertible preferred stocks  —­  —­  1,411,850 
Corporate bonds and notes  —­  187,151,839  698,250 
Investment companies  8,759,948  —­  —­ 
Mortgage-backed securities  —­  10,455,012  —­ 
Municipal bonds and notes  —­  1,149,249  —­ 
U.S. government and agency mortgage obligations  —­  160,432,408  —­ 
U.S. treasury obligations  —­  146,966,332  —­ 
Warrants  44,881  —­  —­ 
Short-term investments  48,130,013  21,555,769  —­ 
Totals by level  $794,180,250  $527,710,609  $2,951,436 
 
    Valuation inputs  
Other financial instruments:  Level 1  Level 2  Level 3 
Forward currency contracts  $—­  $(1,663,551)  $—­ 
TBA sale commitments  —­  (75,141,406)  —­ 
Totals by level  $—­  $(76,804,957)  $—­ 

 

* 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, 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.

George Putnam Balanced Fund 43 

 


Statement of assets and liabilities 7/31/17

ASSETS   
Investment in securities, at value, including $20,991,950 of securities on loan (Note 1):   
Unaffiliated issuers (identified cost $1,145,793,698)  $1,255,156,513 
Affiliated issuers (identified cost $69,685,782) (Notes 1 and 5)  69,685,782 
Cash  5,324 
Foreign currency (cost $75) (Note 1)  76 
Dividends, interest and other receivables  4,068,764 
Receivable for shares of the fund sold  860,489 
Receivable for investments sold  17,539,738 
Receivable for sales of delayed delivery securities (Note 1)  54,665,847 
Unrealized appreciation on forward currency contracts (Note 1)  63,411 
Prepaid assets  57,859 
Total assets  1,402,103,803 
 
LIABILITIES   
Payable for investments purchased  18,624,965 
Payable for purchases of delayed delivery securities (Note 1)  80,729,181 
Payable for shares of the fund repurchased  1,902,953 
Payable for compensation of Manager (Note 2)  532,906 
Payable for custodian fees (Note 2)  22,434 
Payable for investor servicing fees (Note 2)  465,790 
Payable for Trustee compensation and expenses (Note 2)  665,835 
Payable for administrative services (Note 2)  4,939 
Payable for distribution fees (Note 2)  308,011 
Unrealized depreciation on forward currency contracts (Note 1)  1,726,962 
TBA sale commitments, at value (proceeds receivable $74,916,875) (Note 1)  75,141,406 
Collateral on securities loaned, at value (Note 1)  21,555,769 
Other accrued expenses  218,673 
Total liabilities  201,899,824 
 
Net assets  $1,200,203,979 
 
REPRESENTED BY   
Paid-in capital (Unlimited shares authorized) (Notes 1 and 4)  $1,505,022,923 
Undistributed net investment income (Note 1)  15,132,481 
Accumulated net realized loss on investments and foreign currency transactions (Note 1)  (427,427,205) 
Net unrealized appreciation of investments and assets and liabilities in foreign currencies  107,475,780 
Total — Representing net assets applicable to capital shares outstanding  $1,200,203,979 

 

(Continued on next page)

 

44 George Putnam Balanced 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   
($972,570,278 divided by 50,942,631 shares)  $19.09 
Offering price per class A share (100/94.25 of $19.09)*  $20.25 
Net asset value and offering price per class B share ($20,188,239 divided by 1,069,901 shares)**  $18.87 
Net asset value and offering price per class C share ($45,969,932 divided by 2,426,080 shares)**  $18.95 
Net asset value and redemption price per class M share ($70,918,910 divided by 3,767,393 shares)  $18.82 
Offering price per class M share (100/96.50 of $18.82)*  $19.50 
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per class R share   
($1,090,282 divided by 57,304 shares)  $19.03 
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per class R5 share   
($13,205 divided by 686 shares)  $19.24† 
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per class R6 share   
($11,737,598 divided by 612,263 shares)  $19.17 
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per class Y share   
($77,715,535 divided by 4,055,255 shares)  $19.16 

 

* 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.

George Putnam Balanced Fund 45 

 


Statement of operations Year ended 7/31/17

INVESTMENT INCOME   
Dividends (net of foreign tax of $114,027)  $13,902,058 
Interest (including interest income of $509,213 from investments in affiliated issuers) (Note 5)  13,624,500 
Securities lending (net of expenses) (Note 1)  108,983 
Total investment income  27,635,541 
 
EXPENSES   
Compensation of Manager (Note 2)  6,295,588 
Investor servicing fees (Note 2)  2,090,396 
Custodian fees (Note 2)  59,017 
Trustee compensation and expenses (Note 2)  71,950 
Distribution fees (Note 2)  3,542,500 
Administrative services (Note 2)  36,306 
Other  552,826 
Total expenses  12,648,583 
 
Expense reduction (Note 2)  (29,168) 
Net expenses  12,619,415 
 
Net investment income  15,016,126 
 
Net realized gain on securities from unaffiliated issuers (Notes 1 and 3)  84,278,412 
Net realized gain on forward currency contracts (Note 1)  420,697 
Net realized gain on foreign currency transactions (Note 1)  3,628 
Net realized gain on futures contracts (Note 1)  221,215 
Net unrealized appreciation of securities in unaffiliated issuers and TBA sale commitments   
during the year  27,336,494 
Net unrealized depreciation of forward currency contracts during the year  (2,279,062) 
Net unrealized appreciation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies during the year  2,310 
Net gain on investments  109,983,694 
 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations  $124,999,820 

 

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

 

46 George Putnam Balanced Fund 

 


Statement of changes in net assets

DECREASE IN NET ASSETS  Year ended 7/31/17  Year ended 7/31/16 
Operations     
Net investment income  $15,016,126  $16,191,101 
Net realized gain on investments     
and foreign currency transactions  84,923,952  6,509,085 
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments     
and assets and liabilities in foreign currencies  25,059,742  (1,159,527) 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations  124,999,820  21,540,659 
Distributions to shareholders (Note 1):     
From ordinary income     
Net investment income     
Class A  (11,235,571)  (11,362,355) 
Class B  (94,595)  (102,384) 
Class C  (197,342)  (196,107) 
Class M  (487,958)  (502,000) 
Class R  (6,751)  (5,030) 
Class R5  (565,801)  (1,028,461) 
Class R6  (155,643)  (366,668) 
Class Y  (947,277)  (1,303,237) 
Decrease from capital share transactions (Note 4)  (138,110,403)  (111,655,880) 
Total decrease in net assets  (26,801,521)  (104,981,463) 
 
NET ASSETS     
Beginning of year  1,227,005,500  1,331,986,963 
End of year (including undistributed net investment     
income of $15,132,481 and $13,015,690, respectively)  $1,200,203,979  $1,227,005,500 

 

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

 

George Putnam Balanced Fund 47 

 


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

  INVESTMENT OPERATIONS LESS DISTRIBUTIONS RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
 
                      Ratio   
      Net realized                of net investment   
  Net asset value,    and unrealized  Total from  From      Total return  Net assets,  Ratio of expenses  income (loss)   
  beginning  Net investment  gain (loss)  investment  net investment  Total  Net asset value,  at net asset value  end of period  to average  to average  Portfolio 
Period ended­  of period­  income (loss)a  on investments­  operations­  income­  distributions  end of period­  (%)b  (in thousands)  net assets (%)c  net assets (%)  turnover (%) 
Class A­                         
July 31, 2017­  $17.38­  .23­  1.69­  1.92­  (.21)  (.21)  $19.09­  11.14­  $972,570­  1.01­  1.29­  204­d 
July 31, 2016­  17.22­  .22­  .14­  .36­  (.20)  (.20)  17.38­  2.17­  953,549­  1.00­e  1.33­e  154­d 
July 31, 2015­  16.12­  .19­  1.10­  1.29­  (.19)  (.19)  17.22­  8.04­  999,928­  .97­  1.11­  130­d 
July 31, 2014­  14.81­  .23­  1.29­  1.52­  (.21)  (.21)  16.12­  10.37­  1,051,287­  .99­  1.52­  98­f 
July 31, 2013­  12.88­  .21­  1.92­  2.13­  (.20)  (.20)  14.81­  16.68­  1,030,545­  1.01­  1.56­  86­f 
Class B­                         
July 31, 2017­  $17.18­  .10­  1.67­  1.77­  (.08)  (.08)  $18.87­  10.33­  $20,188­  1.76­  .55­  204d 
July 31, 2016­  17.02­  .10­  .14­  .24­  (.08)  (.08)  17.18­  1.42­  21,592­  1.75­e  .58­e  154­d 
July 31, 2015­  15.94­  .06­  1.09­  1.15­  (.07)  (.07)  17.02­  7.21­  24,133­  1.72­  .36­  130­d 
July 31, 2014­  14.65­  .12­  1.27­  1.39­  (.10)  (.10)  15.94­  9.51­  24,881­  1.74­  .77­  98­f 
July 31, 2013­  12.74­  .11­  1.90­  2.01­  (.10)  (.10)  14.65­  15.83­  26,541­  1.76­  .82­  86­f 
Class C­                         
July 31, 2017­  $17.26­  .10­  1.67­  1.77­  (.08)  (.08)  $18.95­  10.29­  $45,970­  1.76­  .54­  204d 
July 31, 2016­  17.10­  .09­  .15­  .24­  (.08)  (.08)  17.26­  1.45­  41,700­  1.75­e  .58­e  154­d 
July 31, 2015­  16.01­  .06­  1.10­  1.16­  (.07)  (.07)  17.10­  7.26­  36,720­  1.72­  .36­  130­d 
July 31, 2014­  14.72­  .12­  1.27­  1.39­  (.10)  (.10)  16.01­  9.50­  29,091­  1.74­  .76­  98­f 
July 31, 2013­  12.80­  .11­  1.91­  2.02­  (.10)  (.10)  14.72­  15.85­  23,534­  1.76­  .81­  86­f 
Class M­                         
July 31, 2017­  $17.15­  .14­  1.66­  1.80­  (.13)  (.13)  $18.82­  10.53­  $70,919­  1.51­  .79­  204d 
July 31, 2016­  16.99­  .14­  .14­  .28­  (.12)  (.12)  17.15­  1.69­  66,779­  1.50­e  .83­e  154­d 
July 31, 2015­  15.90­  .10­  1.10­  1.20­  (.11)  (.11)  16.99­  7.56­  75,297­  1.47­  .61­  130­d 
July 31, 2014­  14.62­  .16­  1.26­  1.42­  (.14)  (.14)  15.90­  9.75­  77,338­  1.49­  1.02­  98­f 
July 31, 2013­  12.71­  .14­  1.90­  2.04­  (.13)  (.13)  14.62­  16.17­  74,636­  1.51­  1.06­  86­f 
Class R­                         
July 31, 2017­  $17.33­  .18­  1.70­  1.88­  (.18)  (.18)  $19.03­  10.90­  $1,090­  1.26­  .99­  204d 
July 31, 2016­  17.16­  .19­  .13­  .32­  (.15)  (.15)  17.33­  1.93­  409­  1.25­e  1.13­e  154­d 
July 31, 2015­  16.07­  .15­  1.09­  1.24­  (.15)  (.15)  17.16­  7.74­  1,102­  1.22­  .86­  130­d 
July 31, 2014­  14.77­  .20­  1.28­  1.48­  (.18)  (.18)  16.07­  10.08­  983­  1.24­  1.27­  98­f 
July 31, 2013­  12.84­  .18­  1.92­  2.10­  (.17)  (.17)  14.77­  16.44­  960­  1.26­  1.32­  86­f 
Class R5­                         
July 31, 2017­  $17.45­  .30­g  1.69­  1.99­  (.20)  (.20)  $19.24­  11.46­  $13­  .74­  1.71g  204d 
July 31, 2016­  17.28­  .26­  .16­  .42­  (.25)  (.25)  17.45­  2.49­  76,674­  .73­e  1.59­e  154­d 
July 31, 2015­  16.18­  .23­  1.11­  1.34­  (.24)  (.24)  17.28­  8.28­  71,647­  .72­  1.34­  130­d 
July 31, 2014†  15.28­  .18­  .85­  1.03­  (.13)  (.13)  16.18­  6.76*  11­  .48*  1.15*  98­f 

 

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

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

48 George Putnam Balanced Fund  George Putnam Balanced Fund 49 

 


Financial highlights cont.

  INVESTMENT OPERATIONS LESS DISTRIBUTIONS RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
 
                      Ratio   
      Net realized                of net investment   
  Net asset value,    and unrealized  Total from  From      Total return  Net assets,  Ratio of expenses  income (loss)   
  beginning  Net investment  gain (loss)  investment  net investment  Total  Net asset value,  at net asset value  end of period  to average  to average  Portfolio 
Period ended­  of period­  income (loss)a  on investments­  operations­  income­  distributions  end of period­  (%)b  (in thousands)  net assets (%)c  net assets (%)  turnover (%) 
Class R6­                         
July 31, 2017­  $17.45­  .30­  1.70­  2.00­  (.28)  (.28)  $19.17­  11.57­  $11,738­  .64­  1.64­  204d 
July 31, 2016­  17.28­  .28­  .15­  .43­  (.26)  (.26)  17.45­  2.58­  8,013­  .63­e  1.71­e  154­d 
July 31, 2015­  16.18­  .25­  1.10­  1.35­  (.25)  (.25)  17.28­  8.39­  8,239­  .62­  1.46­  130­d 
July 31, 2014†  15.28­  .19­  .85­  1.04­  (.14)  (.14)  16.18­  6.81*  7,100­  .42*  1.19 *  98­f 
Class Y­                         
July 31, 2017­  $17.45­  .28­  1.69­  1.97­  (.26)  (.26)  $19.16­  11.37­  $77,716­  .76­  1.54­  204d 
July 31, 2016­  17.28­  .26­  .15­  .41­  (.24)  (.24)  17.45­  2.48­  58,289­  .75­e  1.60­e  154­d 
July 31, 2015­  16.17­  .23­  1.11­  1.34­  (.23)  (.23)  17.28­  8.34­  114,920­  .72­  1.36­  130­d 
July 31, 2014­  14.86­  .27­  1.29­  1.56­  (.25)  (.25)  16.17­  10.61­  111,604­  .74­  1.77­  98­f 
July 31, 2013­  12.92­  .25­  1.92­  2.17­  (.23)  (.23)  14.86­  16.99­  106,794­  .76­  1.81­  86­f 

 

* Not annualized.

† For the period December 2, 2013 (commencement of operations) to July 31, 2014.

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 Portfolio turnover includes TBA purchase and sales transactions.

e 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 .01% as a percentage of average net assets per share for each class (Note 2).

f Portfolio turnover excludes TBA purchase and sale commitments. Including TBA purchase and sale commitments to conform with current year presentation, the portfolio turnover would have been the following:

July 31, 2014  142% 
July 31, 2013  186% 

 

g The net investment income ratio and per share amount shown for the period ended July 31, 2017 may not correspond with the expected class specific differences for the period due to the timing of redemptions of the class.

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

50 George Putnam Balanced Fund  George Putnam Balanced Fund 51 

 


Notes to financial statements 7/31/17

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 August 1, 2016 through July 31, 2017.

George Putnam Balanced 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 goal of the fund is to seek to provide a balanced investment composed of a well-diversified portfolio of stocks and bonds which produce both capital growth and current income. The fund invests mainly in a combination of bonds and common stocks (growth or value stocks or both) of large U.S. companies, with a greater focus on common stocks. For example, Putnam Management may purchase stocks of companies with stock prices that reflect a value lower than that which Putnam Management places on the company. Putnam Management may also consider other factors that Putnam Management believes will cause the stock price to rise. The fund buys bonds of governments and private companies that are mostly investment-grade in quality with intermediate- to long-term maturities (three years or longer). Putnam Management may consider, among other factors, a company’s valuation, financial strength, growth potential, competitive position in its industry, projected future earnings, cash flows and dividends when deciding whether to buy or sell equity investments, and, among other factors, credit, interest rate and prepayment risks, as well as general market conditions, when deciding whether to buy or sell fixed-income investments. The fund may also use derivatives, such as futures, options, warrants and swap contracts, for both hedging and non-hedging purposes.

The fund offers class A, class B, class C, class M, class R, class R5, class R6 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 April 1, 2017, 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 M, class R, class R5, class R6 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 do 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 R5, class R6 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 R5 and class R6 shares, bear a lower investor servicing fee, which is identified in Note 2. Class R5, class R6 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 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.

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

52 George Putnam Balanced Fund 

 


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.

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. Certain securities may be valued on the basis of a price provided by a single source. The fair value of securities is generally determined as

George Putnam Balanced Fund 53 

 


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 purchased or sold on a delayed delivery basis may be settled at a future date beyond customary settlement time; interest income is accrued based on the terms of the securities. Losses may arise due to changes in the fair value of the underlying securities or if the counterparty does not perform under the contract.

Stripped securities The fund may invest in stripped securities which represent a participation in securities that may be structured in classes with rights to receive different portions of the interest and principal. Interest-only securities receive all of the interest and principal-only securities receive all of the principal. If the interest-only securities experience greater than anticipated prepayments of principal, the fund may fail to recoup fully its initial investment in these securities. Conversely, principal-only securities increase in value if prepayments are greater than anticipated and decline if prepayments are slower than anticipated. The fair value of these securities is highly sensitive to changes in interest rates.

Foreign currency translation The accounting records of the fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. The fair value of foreign securities, currency holdings, and other assets and liabilities is recorded in the books and records of the fund after translation to U.S. dollars based on the exchange rates on that day. The cost of each security is determined using historical exchange rates. Income and withholding taxes are translated at prevailing exchange rates when earned or incurred. The fund does not isolate that portion of realized or unrealized gains or losses resulting from changes in the foreign exchange rate on investments from fluctuations arising from changes in the market prices of the securities. Such gains and losses are included with the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments. Net realized gains and losses on foreign currency transactions represent net realized exchange gains or losses on disposition of foreign currencies, currency gains and losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions and the difference between the amount of investment income and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the fund’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized appreciation and depreciation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities other than investments at the period end, resulting from changes in the exchange rate.

Futures contracts The fund uses futures contracts to equitize cash.

The potential risk to the fund is that the change in value of futures contracts may not correspond to the change in value of the hedged instruments. In addition, losses may arise from changes in the value of the underlying instruments, if there is an illiquid secondary market for the contracts, if interest or exchange rates move unexpectedly or if the counterparty to the contract is unable to perform. With futures, there is minimal counterparty credit risk to the fund since futures are exchange traded and the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange traded futures, guarantees the futures against default. Risks may exceed amounts recognized on the Statement of assets and liabilities. When the contract is closed, the fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.

Futures contracts are valued at the quoted daily settlement prices established by the exchange on which they trade. The fund and the broker agree to exchange an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in the value of the futures contract. Such receipts or payments are known as “variation margin.”

Futures contracts outstanding at period end, if any, are listed after the fund’s portfolio.

Forward currency contracts The fund buys and sells forward currency contracts, which are agreements between two parties to buy and sell currencies at a set price on a future date. These contracts are used to hedge foreign exchange risk.

54 George Putnam Balanced Fund 

 


The U.S. dollar value of forward currency contracts is determined using current forward currency exchange rates supplied by a quotation service. The fair value of the contract will fluctuate with changes in currency exchange rates. The contract is marked to market daily and the change in fair value is recorded as an unrealized gain or loss. The fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed when the contract matures or by delivery of the currency. The fund could be exposed to risk if the value of the currency changes unfavorably, if the counterparties to the contracts are unable to meet the terms of their contracts or if the fund is unable to enter into a closing position. Risks may exceed amounts recognized on the Statement of assets and liabilities.

Forward currency contracts outstanding at period end, if any, are listed after the fund’s portfolio.

TBA commitments The fund may enter into TBA (to be announced) commitments to purchase securities for a fixed unit price at a future date beyond customary settlement time. Although the unit price and par amount have been established, the actual securities have not been specified. However, it is anticipated that the amount of the commitments will not significantly differ from the principal amount. The fund holds, and maintains until settlement date, cash or high-grade debt obligations in an amount sufficient to meet the purchase price, or the fund may enter into offsetting contracts for the forward sale of other securities it owns. Income on the securities will not be earned until settlement date.

The fund may also enter into TBA sale commitments to hedge its portfolio positions, to sell mortgage-backed securities it owns under delayed delivery arrangements or to take a short position in mortgage-backed securities. Proceeds of TBA sale commitments are not received until the contractual settlement date. During the time a TBA sale commitment is outstanding, either equivalent deliverable securities or an offsetting TBA purchase commitment deliverable on or before the sale commitment date are held as “cover” for the transaction, or other liquid assets in an amount equal to the notional value of the TBA sale commitment are segregated. If the TBA sale commitment is closed through the acquisition of an offsetting TBA purchase commitment, the fund realizes a gain or loss. If the fund delivers securities under the commitment, the fund realizes a gain or a loss from the sale of the securities based upon the unit price established at the date the commitment was entered into.

TBA commitments, which are accounted for as purchase and sale transactions, may be considered securities themselves, and involve a risk of loss due to changes in the value of the security prior to the settlement date as well as the risk that the counterparty to the transaction will not perform its obligations. Counterparty risk is mitigated by having a master agreement between the fund and the counterparty.

Unsettled TBA commitments are valued at their fair value according to the procedures described under “Security valuation” above. The contract is marked to market daily and the change in fair value is recorded by the fund as an unrealized gain or loss. Based on market circumstances, Putnam Management will determine whether to take delivery of the underlying securities or to dispose of the TBA commitments prior to settlement.

TBA purchase commitments outstanding at period end, if any, are listed within the fund’s portfolio and TBA sale commitments outstanding at period end, if any, are listed after the fund’s portfolio.

Master agreements The fund is a party to ISDA (International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc.) Master Agreements that govern OTC derivative and foreign exchange contracts and Master Securities Forward Transaction Agreements that govern transactions involving mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities that may result in delayed delivery (Master Agreements) with certain counterparties entered into from time to time. The Master Agreements may contain provisions regarding, among other things, the parties’ general obligations, representations, agreements, collateral requirements, events of default and early termination. With respect to certain counterparties, in accordance with the terms of the Master Agreements, collateral posted to the fund is held in a segregated account by the fund’s custodian and, with respect to those amounts which can be sold or repledged, are presented in the fund’s portfolio.

Collateral pledged by the fund is segregated by the fund’s custodian and identified in the fund’s portfolio. Collateral can be in the form of cash or debt securities issued by the U.S. Government or related agencies or other securities as agreed to by the fund and the applicable counterparty. Collateral requirements are determined based on the fund’s net position with each counterparty.

With respect to ISDA Master Agreements, termination events applicable to the fund may occur upon a decline in the fund’s net assets below a specified threshold over a certain period of time. Termination events applicable to counterparties may occur upon a decline in the counterparty’s long-term or short-term credit ratings below a specified level. In each case, upon occurrence, the other party may elect to terminate early and cause settlement of all derivative and foreign exchange contracts outstanding, including the payment of any losses and costs

George Putnam Balanced Fund 55 

 


resulting from such early termination, as reasonably determined by the terminating party. Any decision by one or more of the fund’s counterparties to elect early termination could impact the fund’s future derivative activity.

At the close of the reporting period, the fund had a net liability position of $1,663,551 on open derivative contracts subject to the Master Agreements. Collateral posted by the fund at period end for these agreements totaled $1,512,334 and may include amounts related to unsettled agreements.

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 $21,555,769 and the value of securities loaned amounted to $20,991,950.

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 the higher of (1) the Federal Funds rate and (2) the overnight LIBOR plus 1.25% 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.

The fund may also be subject to taxes imposed by governments of countries in which it invests. Such taxes are generally based on either income or gains earned or repatriated. The fund accrues and applies such taxes to net investment income, net realized gains and net unrealized gains as income and/or capital gains are earned. In some cases, the fund may be entitled to reclaim all or a portion of such taxes, and such reclaim amounts, if any, are reflected as an asset on the fund’s books. In many cases, however, the fund may not receive such amounts for an extended period of time, depending on the country of investment.

56 George Putnam Balanced Fund 

 


At July 31, 2017, the fund had a capital loss carryover of $424,406,218 available to the extent allowed by the Code to offset future net capital gain, if any. For any carryover, the amount of the carryover and that carryover’s expiration date is:

Loss carryover 
Short-term  Long-term  Total  Expiration 
$424,406,218  N/A  $424,406,218  July 31, 2018 

 

Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010, the fund will be permitted to carry forward capital losses incurred in taxable years beginning after December 22, 2010 for an unlimited period. However, any losses incurred will be required to be utilized prior to the losses incurred in pre-enactment tax years. As a result of this ordering rule, pre-enactment capital loss carryforwards may be more likely to expire unused. Additionally, post-enactment capital losses that are carried forward will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses rather than being considered all short-term as under previous law.

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. These differences include temporary and/or permanent differences from losses on wash sale transactions, from foreign currency gains and losses, from interest-only securities, and from corporate action adjustments to basis and income. 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. At the close of the reporting period, the fund reclassified $791,603 to increase undistributed net investment income, $173,577 to increase paid-in capital and $965,180 to increase accumulated net realized loss.

The tax basis components of distributable earnings and the federal tax cost as of the close of the reporting period were as follows:

Unrealized appreciation  $128,984,144 
Unrealized depreciation  (22,642,040) 
Net unrealized appreciation  106,342,104 
Undistributed ordinary income  13,469,129 
Capital loss carryforward  (424,406,218) 
Cost for federal income tax purposes  $1,218,499,936 

 

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:

0.680%  of the first $5 billion,  0.480%  of the next $50 billion, 
0.630%  of the next $5 billion,  0.460%  of the next $50 billion, 
0.580%  of the next $10 billion,  0.450%  of the next $100 billion and 
0.530%  of the next $10 billion,  0.445%  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 0.525% of the fund’s average net assets.

Putnam Management has contractually agreed, through November 30, 2018, 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

George Putnam Balanced Fund 57 

 


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 0.40% 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 R5 shares paid a monthly fee based on the average net assets of class R5 shares at an annual rate of 0.15%.

Class R6 shares paid a monthly fee based on the average net assets of class R6 shares at an annual rate of 0.05%.

Prior to September 1, 2016, 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 retail account of the fund and each of the other funds in its specified category, which was totaled and then allocated to each fund in the category based on its average daily net assets; (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. Prior to September 1, 2016, Putnam Investor Services, Inc. had agreed that the aggregate investor servicing fees for each fund’s retail and defined contribution accounts for these share classes would not exceed an annual rate of 0.320% of the fund’s average assets attributable to such accounts.

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

Class A  $1,681,006  Class R5  48,701 
Class B  37,246  Class R6  5,461 
Class C  77,169  Class Y  119,089 
Class M  120,424  Total  $2,090,396 
Class R  1,300     

 

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 $1,922 under the expense offset arrangements and by $27,246 under the brokerage/service arrangements.

Each Independent Trustee of the fund receives an annual Trustee fee, of which $883, 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.

58 George Putnam Balanced Fund 

 


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%  $2,379,541 
Class B  1.00%  1.00%  210,723 
Class C  1.00%  1.00%  437,017 
Class M  1.00%  0.75%  511,503 
Class R  1.00%  0.50%  3,716 
Total      $3,542,500 

 

For the reporting period, Putnam Retail Management Limited Partnership, acting as underwriter, received net commissions of $86,189 and $1,421 from the sale of class A and class M shares, respectively, and received $8,643 and $1,255 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 $39 on class A redemptions.

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, including TBA commitments (Long-term)  $2,294,483,303  $2,373,747,674 
U.S. government securities (Long-term)  49,285,287  61,403,383 
Total  $2,343,768,590  $2,435,151,057 

 

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.

 

George Putnam Balanced Fund 59 

 


Note 4: Capital shares

At the close of the reporting period, there were an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest authorized. Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

  YEAR ENDED 7/31/17  YEAR ENDED 7/31/16 
Class A  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount 
Shares sold  2,202,885  $39,786,938  2,585,466  $42,620,286 
Shares issued in connection with         
reinvestment of distributions  577,406  10,365,598  635,462  10,433,690 
  2,780,291  50,152,536  3,220,928  53,053,976 
Shares repurchased  (6,689,972)  (120,513,807)  (6,444,498)  (106,322,090) 
Net decrease  (3,909,681)  $(70,361,271)  (3,223,570)  $(53,268,114) 
 
  YEAR ENDED 7/31/17  YEAR ENDED 7/31/16 
Class B  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount 
Shares sold  132,514  $2,321,878  200,145  $3,264,784 
Shares issued in connection with         
reinvestment of distributions  5,079  90,067  5,963  97,029 
  137,593  2,411,945  206,108  3,361,813 
Shares repurchased  (324,166)  (5,782,170)  (367,448)  (5,977,728) 
Net decrease  (186,573)  $(3,370,225)  (161,340)  $(2,615,915) 
 
  YEAR ENDED 7/31/17  YEAR ENDED 7/31/16 
Class C  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount 
Shares sold  495,386  $8,850,728  885,692  $14,594,654 
Shares issued in connection with         
reinvestment of distributions  9,604  171,631  10,397  169,838 
  504,990  9,022,359  896,089  14,764,492 
Shares repurchased  (495,191)  (8,893,301)  (627,298)  (10,291,137) 
Net increase  9,799  $129,058  268,791  $4,473,355 
 
  YEAR ENDED 7/31/17  YEAR ENDED 7/31/16 
Class M  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount 
Shares sold  376,213  $6,667,677  291,292  $4,736,923 
Shares issued in connection with         
reinvestment of distributions  27,378  485,506  30,784  499,259 
  403,591  7,153,183  322,076  5,236,182 
Shares repurchased  (530,725)  (9,426,192)  (860,422)  (13,953,965) 
Net decrease  (127,134)  $(2,273,009)  (538,346)  $(8,717,783) 

 

60 George Putnam Balanced Fund 

 


  YEAR ENDED 7/31/17  YEAR ENDED 7/31/16 
Class R  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount 
Shares sold  52,756  $946,668  24,807  $410,071 
Shares issued in connection with         
reinvestment of distributions  362  6,562  305  4,969 
  53,118  953,230  25,112  415,040 
Shares repurchased  (19,404)  (347,705)  (65,752)  (1,077,168) 
Net increase (decrease)  33,714  $605,525  (40,640)  $(662,128) 
 
  YEAR ENDED 7/31/17  YEAR ENDED 7/31/16 
Class R5  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount 
Shares sold  301,981  $5,272,798  959,785  $15,911,788 
Shares issued in connection with         
reinvestment of distributions  32,489  565,801  62,403  1,028,461 
  334,470  5,838,599  1,022,188  16,940,249 
Shares repurchased  (4,727,649)  (83,905,117)  (773,902)  (12,818,389) 
Net increase (decrease)  (4,393,179)  $(78,066,518)  248,286  $4,121,860 
 
  YEAR ENDED 7/31/17  YEAR ENDED 7/31/16 
Class R6  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount 
Shares sold  518,751  $9,080,109  1,894,887  $30,556,270 
Shares issued in connection with         
reinvestment of distributions  8,584  155,643  22,331  366,668 
  527,335  9,235,752  1,917,218  30,922,938 
Shares repurchased  (374,138)  (6,771,775)  (1,934,837)  (32,250,486) 
Net increase (decrease)  153,197  $2,463,977  (17,619)  $(1,327,548) 
 
  YEAR ENDED 7/31/17  YEAR ENDED 7/31/16 
Class Y  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount 
Shares sold  1,534,355  $27,609,634  1,659,173  $27,671,572 
Shares issued in connection with         
reinvestment of distributions  50,154  905,205  76,694  1,262,449 
  1,584,509  28,514,839  1,735,867  28,934,021 
Shares repurchased  (869,848)  (15,752,779)  (5,045,595)  (82,593,628) 
Net increase (decrease)  714,661  $12,762,060  (3,309,728)  $(53,659,607) 

 

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

 

  Shares owned  Percentage of ownership  Value 
Class R5  686  100%  13,205 
Class R6  691  0.11  13,246 

 

George Putnam Balanced Fund 61 

 


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 7/31/16  Cost  Proceeds  Income  of 7/31/17 
Short-term investments           
Putnam Cash Collateral           
Pool, LLC*  $—  $288,536,119  $266,980,350  $188,102  $21,555,769 
Putnam Short Term           
Investment Fund**  85,041,084  229,421,466  266,332,537  509,213  48,130,013 
Total Short-term           
investments  $85,041,084  $517,957,585  $533,312,887  $697,315  $69,685,782 

 

* No management fees are charged to Putnam Cash Collateral Pool, LLC. 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. The fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in securitized debt instruments, including mortgage-backed and asset-backed investments. The yields and values of these investments are sensitive to changes in interest rates, the rate of principal payments on the underlying assets and the market’s perception of the issuers. The market for these investments may be volatile and limited, which may make them difficult to buy or sell.

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:

Futures contracts (number of contracts)  4 
Forward currency contracts (contract amount)  $50,100,000 
Warrants (number of warrants)  4,000 

 

62 George Putnam Balanced Fund 

 


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 
Foreign exchange         
contracts  Receivables  $63,411  Payables  $1,726,962 
Equity contracts  Investments  44,881    — 
Total    $108,292    $1,726,962 

 

The following is a summary of realized and change in unrealized gains or losses of derivative instruments in the Statement of operations for the reporting period (Note 1):

 

Amount of realized gain or (loss) on derivatives recognized in net gain or (loss) on investments   
Derivatives not accounted for as hedging    Forward currency   
instruments under ASC 815  Futures  contracts  Total 
Foreign exchange contracts  $—  420,697  $420,697 
Equity contracts  221,215  —  221,215 
Total  $221,215  $420,697  $641,912 
 
Change in unrealized appreciation or (depreciation) on derivatives recognized in net gain or (loss) 
on investments       
Derivatives not accounted for as hedging    Forward currency   
instruments under ASC 815  Warrants  contracts  Total 
Foreign exchange contracts  $—  (2,279,062)  $(2,279,062) 
Equity contracts  8,515  —  8,515 
Total  $8,515  $(2,279,062)  $(2,270,547) 

 

George Putnam Balanced Fund 63 

 


Note 8: Offsetting of financial and derivative assets and liabilities

The following table summarizes any derivatives, repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements, at the end of the reporting period, that are subject to an enforceable master netting agreement or similar agreement. For securities lending transactions or borrowing transactions associated with securities sold short, if any, see Note 1. For financial reporting purposes, the fund does not offset financial assets and financial liabilities that are subject to the master netting agreements in the Statement of assets and liabilities.

  Bank of America N.A. Barclays Bank PLC Citibank, N.A. Credit Suisse International Goldmann Sachs International JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. UBS AG Total
Assets:                 
Forward currency  $—  $63,400  $—  $—  $—  $11  $—  $63,411 
contracts #                 
Total Assets  $—  $63,400  $—  $—  $—  $11  $—  $63,411 
Liabilities:                 
Forward currency  305,079  114,679  716,048  207,905  84,047  171,518  127,686  1,726,962 
contracts #                 
Total Liabilities  $305,079  $114,679  $716,048  $207,905  $84,047  $171,518  $127,686  $1,726,962 
Total Financial                 
and Derivative  $(305,079)  $(51,279)  $(716,048)  $(207,905)  $(84,047)  $(171,507)  $(127,686)  $(1,663,551) 
Net Assets                 
Total collateral                 
received  $(305,079)  $(51,279)  $(637,313)  $(112,627)  $(62,540)  $(136,993)  $(115,153)   
(pledged)†##                 
Net amount  $—  $—  $(78,735)  $(95,278)  $(21,507)  $(34,514)  $(12,533)   

 

† Additional collateral may be required from certain brokers based on individual agreements.

# Covered by master netting agreement (Note 1).

## Any over-collateralization of total financial and derivative net assets is not shown. Collateral may include amounts related to unsettled agreements.

Note 9: New pronouncements

In October 2016, the SEC adopted amendments to rules under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“final rules”) intended to modernize the reporting and disclosure of information by registered investment companies. The final rules amend Regulation S-X and require funds to provide standardized, enhanced derivative disclosure in fund financial statements in a format designed for individual investors. The amendments to Regulation S-X also update the disclosures for other investments and investments in and advances to affiliates and amend the rules regarding the general form and content of fund financial statements. The compliance date for the amendments to Regulation S-X is August 1, 2017. Putnam Management has evaluated the amendments and its adoption will have no effect on the fund’s net assets or results of operations.

64 George Putnam Balanced Fund 

 


GEORGE PUTNAM BALANCED FUND 
 
FORM N-1A
PART C
 
OTHER INFORMATION 

 

Item 28. Exhibits

(a) Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated June 20, 2014 – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 108 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on November 25, 2014.

(b)(1) Amended and Restated Bylaws dated as of October 17, 2014 – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 108 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on November 25, 2014.

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(b)(2) Amendment to Amended and Restated Bylaws dated as of April 22, 2016 – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on November 25, 2016.

(c)(1) Portions of Agreement and Declaration of Trust Relating to Shareholders’ Rights – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 108 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on November 25, 2014.

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(c)(2) Portions of Bylaws Relating to Shareholders’ Rights – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 108 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on November 25, 2014.

(d)(1) Management Contract with Putnam Investment Management, LLC dated February 27, 2014 – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 108 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on November 25, 2014.

(d)(2) Sub-Management Contract between Putnam Investment Management, LLC and Putnam Investments Limited dated February 27, 2014; Schedule A amended as of October 27, 2016 – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on November 25, 2016.

(e)(1) Amended and Restated Distributor’s Contract with Putnam Retail Management Limited Partnership dated July 1, 2013 – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 106 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on November 26, 2013.

(e)(2)(i) Form of Dealer Sales Contract dated March 27, 2012 – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 104 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on November 28, 2012.

(e)(2)(ii) Schedule of Dealer Sales Contracts conforming in all material respects to the Form of Dealer Sales Contract filed as Exhibit (e)(2)(i) but which have not been filed as exhibits to the Registrant's Registration Statement in reliance on Rule 483(d)(2) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 110 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on November 27, 2015.


(e)(3)(i) Form of Financial Institution Sales Contract dated March 27, 2012 – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 104 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on November 28, 2012.

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(e)(3)(ii) Schedule of Financial Institution Sales Contracts conforming in all material respects to the Form of Financial Institution Sales Contract filed as Exhibit (e)(3)(i) but which have not been filed as exhibits to the Registrant's Registration Statement in reliance on Rule 483(d)(2) under the Securities Act of 1933, as Amended – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 110 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on November 27, 2015.

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(f) Trustee Retirement Plan dated October 4, 1996, as amended July 21, 2000 – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 94 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on November 26, 2004.

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(g)(1) Master Custodian Agreement with State Street Bank and Trust Company dated January 1, 2007; Appendix A amended as of July 24, 2017.

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(g)(2) Amendment to Master Custodian Agreement with State Street Bank and Trust Company dated August 1, 2013 – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 106 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on November 26, 2013.

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(h)(1) Amended & Restated Investor Servicing Agreement – Open-End Funds with Putnam Investment Management, LLC and Putnam Investor Services, Inc. dated July 1, 2013; Appendix A amended as of July 24, 2017.

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(h)(2) Letter of Indemnity with Putnam Investment Management, LLC dated December 18, 2003 – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 94 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on November 26, 2004.

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(h)(3) Liability Insurance Allocation Agreement dated December 18, 2003 – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 94 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on November 26, 2004.

(h)(4) Master Sub-Accounting Services Agreement between Putnam Investment Management, LLC and State Street Bank and Trust Company dated January 1, 2007; Appendix A amended as of July 24, 2017.

(h)(5) Amendment to Master Sub-Accounting Services Agreement between Putnam Investment Management, LLC and State Street Bank and Trust Company dated August 1, 2013 – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 106 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on November 26, 2013.

(h)(6) Master Interfund Lending Agreement with the Trusts party thereto and Putnam Investment Management, LLC dated July 16, 2010; Schedule A and B amended as of September 15, 2017.

</R>


(h)(7) Credit Agreement with State Street Bank and Trust Company and certain other lenders dated September 24, 2015 – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 110 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on November 27, 2015.

(h)(8) Joinder Agreement No. 1 to Credit Agreement with State Street Bank and Trust Company and certain other lenders dated August 29, 2016 – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on November 25, 2016.

(h)(9) Amendment No. 1 to Credit Agreement with State Street Bank and Trust Company, dated September 22, 2016 – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on November 25, 2016.

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(h)(10) Amendment No. 2 to Credit Agreement with State Street Bank and Trust Company, dated September 21, 2017.

(h)(11) Amended and Restated Uncommitted Line of Credit Agreement with State Street Bank and Trust Company dated September 24, 2015 – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 110 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on November 27, 2015.

(h)(12) First Amendment to Amended and Restated Uncommitted Line of Credit Agreement with State Street Bank and Trust Company, dated August 29, 2016 – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on November 25, 2016.

(h)(13) Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Uncommitted Line of Credit Agreement with State Street Bank and Trust Company, dated September 22, 2016 – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on November 25, 2016.

(h)(14) Third Amendment to Amended and Restated Uncommitted Line of Credit Agreement with State Street Bank and Trust Company, dated September 21, 2017.

(h)(15)(i) Form of Indemnification Agreement dated March 18, 2016 – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on November 25, 2016.

(h)(15)(ii) Schedule of Indemnification Agreements conforming in all material respects to the Form of Indemnification Agreement filed as Exhibit (h)(15)(i) but which have not been filed as exhibits to the Registrant's Registration Statement in reliance on Rule 483(d)(2) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on November 25, 2016.

(h)(16) Expense Limitation Agreement with Putnam Investment Management, LLC (“PIM”) dated June 23, 2017.

(h)(17) Expense Limitation Agreement with Putnam Investor Services, Inc. (“PSERV”) dated June 23, 2017.

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(i) Opinion of Ropes & Gray LLP, including consent – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on November 29, 1994.


(j) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

(k) Not applicable.

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(l) Investment Letter from Putnam Investments, LLC to the Registrant – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on September 29, 1992.

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(m)(1) Class A Distribution Plan and Agreement dated January 1, 1990, as amended April 24, 1992 – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on September 29, 1992.

(m)(2) Class B Distribution Plan and Agreement dated April 24, 1992 – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on September 29, 1992.

(m)(3) Class C Distribution Plan and Agreement dated July 16, 1999 – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 88 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on November 26, 1999.

(m)(4) Class M Distribution Plan and Agreement dated November 28, 1994 – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 84 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on November 29, 1995.

(m)(5) Class R Distribution Plan and Agreement dated November 15, 2002 – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 92 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on November 26, 2003.

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(m)(6) Class T Distribution Plan and Agreement dated February 22, 2017 – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 114 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on February 24, 2017.

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(m)(7)(i) Form of Dealer Service Agreement – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 86 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on November 26, 1997.

(m)(7)(ii) Schedule of Dealer Service Agreements conforming in all material respects to the Form of Dealer Service Agreement filed as Exhibit (m)(7)(i) but which have not been filed as exhibits to the Registrant's Registration Statement in reliance on Rule 483(d)(2) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 110 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on November 27, 2015.

(m)(8)(i) Form of Financial Institution Service Agreement – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 86 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on November 26, 1997.

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(m)(8)(ii) Schedule of Financial Institution Service Agreements conforming in all material respects to the Form of Financial Institution Service Agreement filed as Exhibit (m)(8)(i) but which have not been filed as exhibits to the Registrant's Registration Statement in reliance on Rule 483(d)(2) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 110 to the


Registrant's Registration Statement filed on November 27, 2015.


(n) Rule 18f-3 Plan dated November 1, 1999, as most recently amended amended January 27, 2017 – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 114 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on February 24, 2017.

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(p)(1) The Putnam Funds Code of Ethics dated June 24, 2016 – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on November 25, 2016.

(p)(2) Putnam Investments Code of Ethics dated July 2016 – Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to the Registrant's Registration Statement filed on November 25, 2016.

Item 29. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with the Fund

The Registrant is not controlled by or under common control with any other person.

Item 30. Indemnification

Reference is made to Article VIII, sections 1 through 3, of the Registrant’s Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, which is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 108 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (File No. 811-00058). In addition, the Registrant maintains a trustees and officers liability insurance policy under which the Registrant and its trustees and officers are named insureds. Certain service providers to the Registrant also have contractually agreed to indemnify and hold harmless the trustees against liability arising in connection with the service provider’s performance of services under the relevant agreement.

The Massachusetts business trusts comprising The Putnam Funds (each, a “Trust”) have also agreed to contractually indemnify each Trustee. The agreement between the Trusts and each Trustee, in addition to delineating certain procedural aspects relating to indemnification and advancement of expenses to the fullest extent permitted by the Registrant’s Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust and Amended and Restated Bylaws and the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as now or hereafter in force, provides that each Trust severally shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trustee against any and all expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the Trustee in any proceeding arising out of or in connection with the Trustee’s service to the Trust, unless the Trustee has been adjudicated in a final adjudication on the merits to have engaged in certain disabling conduct.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant by the Registrant pursuant to the Registrant’s organizational instruments or otherwise, the Registrant is aware that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and, therefore, is unenforceable.


Item 31. Business and Other Connections of the Investment Adviser

Except as set forth below, the directors and officers of each of Putnam Investment Management, LLC, the Registrant’s investment adviser (the “Investment Adviser”), Putnam Investments Limited, investment sub-manager to certain Putnam funds (the “Sub-Manager”), and The Putnam Advisory Company, LLC, investment sub-adviser to certain Putnam funds, have been engaged during the past two fiscal years in no business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature other than as directors or officers of the Investment Adviser, Sub-Manager, or certain of the Investment Adviser’s corporate affiliates. Certain officers of the Investment Adviser serve as officers of some or all of the Putnam funds. The address of the Investment Adviser, its corporate affiliates other than the Sub-Manager, and the Putnam funds is One Post Office Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02109. The address of the Sub-Manager is Cassini House, 57-59 St James’s Street, London, England, SW1A 1LD.

Name and Title  Non-Putnam business, profession, vocation or 
  employment 
N/A   

 

Item 32. Principal Underwriter

(a) Putnam Retail Management Limited Partnership is the principal underwriter for each of the following investment companies, including the Registrant:

<R>

George Putnam Balanced Fund, Putnam American Government Income Fund, Putnam Asset Allocation Funds, Putnam California Tax Exempt

Income Fund, Putnam Convertible Securities Fund, Putnam Diversified Income Trust, Putnam Equity Income Fund, Putnam Europe Equity Fund, Putnam Funds Trust, Putnam Global Equity Fund, Putnam Global Health Care Fund, Putnam Global Income Trust, Putnam Global Natural Resources Fund, Putnam Global Utilities Fund, Putnam High Yield Fund, Putnam Income Fund, Putnam International Equity Fund, Putnam Investment Funds, Putnam Investors Fund, Putnam Massachusetts Tax Exempt Income Fund, Putnam Minnesota Tax Exempt Income Fund, Putnam Money Market Fund, Putnam Mortgage Recovery Fund, Putnam Multi-Cap Growth Fund, Putnam New Jersey Tax Exempt Income Fund, Putnam New York Tax Exempt Income Fund, Putnam Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund, Putnam Pennsylvania Tax Exempt Income Fund, Putnam RetirementReady® Funds, Putnam Tax Exempt Income Fund, Putnam Tax-Free Income Trust, Putnam U.S. Government Income Trust and Putnam Variable Trust.

</R>

(b) The directors and officers of the Registrant's principal underwriter are listed below. Except as noted below, no officer of the Registrant’s principal underwriter is an officer of the Registrant.


The principal business address of each person listed below is One Post Office Square, Boston, MA 02109.

Name  Position and Office with the Underwriter 
Connolly, William T.  President 
<R>   
Ettinger, Robert D.  Vice President and Treasurer 
</R>   
Maher, Stephen B.  Assistant Treasurer 
Burns, Robert T.*  Secretary 
Ritter, Jesse D.  Assistant Secretary 
<R>   
</R>   
Clark, James F.**  Vice President and Assistant Secretary 
Trenchard, Mark C.***  Vice President 

 

*Mr. Burns is Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of the Registrant.
**Mr. Clark is Chief Compliance Officer of the Registrant.
***Mr. Trenchard is Vice President and BSA Compliance Officer of the Registrant.

Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records

Persons maintaining physical possession of accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Rules promulgated thereunder are the Registrant's Clerk, Michael J. Higgins; the Registrant's investment adviser, PIM; the Registrant's principal underwriter, Putnam Retail Management Limited Partnership ( PRM ); the Registrant's custodian, State Street Bank and Trust Company (which, in addition to its duties as custodian, also provides certain administrative, pricing and bookkeeping services); and the Registrant's transfer and dividend disbursing agent, Putnam Investor Services, Inc. The address of the Clerk, PIM, PRM and Putnam Investor Services, Inc. is One Post Office Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02109. State Street Bank and Trust Company is located at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110 and 2 Avenue de Lafayette, Boston, Massachusetts 02111.

Item 34. Management Services

None.

Item 35. Undertakings

None.


NOTICE 

 

A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of George Putnam Balanced Fund is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and notice is hereby given that this instrument is executed on behalf of the Registrant by an officer of the Registrant as an officer and not individually and the obligations of or arising out of this instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Registrant.


<R>

POWER OF ATTORNEY 

 

We, the undersigned Trustees of each of the funds listed on Schedule A hereto, hereby severally constitute and appoint Jameson A. Baxter, Kenneth R. Leibler, George Putnam III, Jonathan S. Horwitz, Michael J. Higgins, Bryan Chegwidden and James E. Thomas, and each of them singly, my true and lawful attorneys, with full power to them and each of them, to sign for me, and in my name and in the capacity indicated below, the Registration Statements on Form N-1A of each of the funds listed on Schedule A hereto and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to said Registration Statements and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto my said attorneys, and each of them acting alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, and hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys or any of them may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

WITNESS my hand and seal on the date set forth below.

Signature  Title  Date 
 
 
/s/ Jameson A. Baxter  Chair of the Board and Trustee  September 15, 2017 
Jameson A. Baxter     
 
 
/s/ Kenneth R. Leibler  Vice Chair of the Board and Trustee  September 15, 2017 
Kenneth R. Leibler     
 
 
/s/ Robert L. Reynolds  President and Trustee  September 15, 2017 
Robert L. Reynolds     
 
 
/s/ Jonathan S. Horwitz  Executive Vice President, Principal  September 15, 2017 
Jonathan S. Horwitz  Executive Officer and Compliance   
  Liaison   
 
 
/s/ Michael J. Higgins  Vice President, Treasurer and Clerk  September 15, 2017 
Michael J. Higgins     
 
 
/s/ Janet C. Smith  Vice President, Principal Financial  September 15, 2017 
Janet C. Smith  Officer, Principal Accounting   

 


  Officer and Assistant Treasurer   
 
 
/s/ Liaquat Ahamed  Trustee  September 15, 2017 
Liaquat Ahamed     
 
 
/s/ Ravi Akhoury  Trustee  September 15, 2017 
Ravi Akhoury     
 
 
/s/ Barbara M. Baumann  Trustee  September 15, 2017 
Barbara M. Baumann     
 
 
/s/ Katinka Domotorffy  Trustee  September 15, 2017 
Katinka Domotorffy     
 
 
/s/ Catharine Bond Hill  Trustee  September 15, 2017 
Catharine Bond Hill     
 
 
/s/ Paul L. Joskow  Trustee  September 15, 2017 
Paul L. Joskow     
 
 
/s/ Robert E. Patterson  Trustee  September 15, 2017 
Robert E. Patterson     
 
 
/s/ George Putnam, III  Trustee  September 15, 2017 
George Putnam, III     
 
 
/s/ Manoj P. Singh  Trustee  September 15, 2017 
Manoj P. Singh     

 


Schedule A

Putnam American Government Income Fund
Putnam Asset Allocation Funds
Putnam California Tax Exempt Income Fund
Putnam Convertible Securities Fund
Putnam Diversified Income Trust
Putnam Equity Income Fund
Putnam Europe Equity Fund
Putnam Funds Trust
George Putnam Balanced Fund
Putnam Global Equity Fund
Putnam Global Health Care Fund
Putnam Global Income Trust
Putnam Global Natural Resources Fund
Putnam Global Utilities Fund
Putnam High Yield Fund
Putnam Income Fund
Putnam International Equity Fund
Putnam Investment Funds
Putnam Investors Fund
Putnam Massachusetts Tax Exempt Income Fund
Putnam Minnesota Tax Exempt Income Fund
Putnam Money Market Fund
Putnam Multi-Cap Growth Fund
Putnam New Jersey Tax Exempt Income Fund
Putnam New York Tax Exempt Income Fund
Putnam Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund
Putnam Pennsylvania Tax Exempt Income Fund
Putnam RetirementReady® Funds
Putnam Tax Exempt Income Fund
Putnam Tax-Free Income Trust
Putnam U.S. Government Income Trust
Putnam Variable Trust
</R>


SIGNATURES 

 

<R>

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement under Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and has duly caused this Amendment to its Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Boston, and The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on the 22nd day of November, 2017.

</R>

George Putnam Balanced Fund 
 
By:  /s/ Jonathan S. Horwitz, Executive Vice President, Principal 
Executive Officer and Compliance Liaison 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated:

 

Signature  Title 
 
Jameson A. Baxter *  Chair, Board of Trustees 
 
Kenneth R. Leibler*  Vice Chair, Board of Trustees 
 
Robert L. Reynolds*  President and Trustee 
 
Jonathan S. Horwitz*  Executive Vice President, Principal Executive Officer 
  and Compliance Liaison 
<R>   
Janet C. Smith*  Vice President, Principal Financial Officer, Principal 
  Accounting Officer and Assistant Treasurer 
</R>   
Liaquat Ahamed*  Trustee 

 


Ravi Akhoury*  Trustee 
 
Barbara M. Baumann*  Trustee 
<R>   
</R>   
Katinka Domotorffy*  Trustee 
<R>   
Catharine Bond Hill*  Trustee 
</R>   
Paul L. Joskow*  Trustee 
 
Robert E. Patterson*  Trustee 
 
George Putnam, III*  Trustee 
<R>   
Manoj P. Singh*  Trustee 
</R>   

 

  By: /s/ Jonathan S. Horwitz, as Attorney-in-Fact 
<R>   
  November 22, 2017 
 
  * Signed pursuant to power of attorney filed herewith. 
</R>   

 


Exhibit Index 

 

Item 28. Exhibit

<R>

(g)(1) Master Custodian Agreement with State Street Bank and Trust Company dated January 1, 2007; Appendix A amended as of July 24, 2017.

(h)(1) Amended & Restated Investor Servicing Agreement – Open-End Funds with Putnam Investment Management, LLC and Putnam Investor Services, Inc. dated July 1, 2013; Appendix A amended as of July 24, 2017.

(h)(4) Master Sub-Accounting Services Agreement between Putnam Investment Management, LLC and State Street Bank and Trust Company dated January 1, 2007; Appendix A amended as of July 24, 2017.

(h)(6) Master Interfund Lending Agreement with the Trusts party thereto and Putnam Investment Management, LLC dated July 16, 2010; Schedules A and B amended as of September 15, 2017.

(h)(10) Amendment No. 2 to Credit Agreement with State Street Bank and Trust Company, dated September 21, 2017.

(h)(14) Third Amendment to Amended and Restated Uncommitted Line of Credit Agreement with State Street Bank and Trust Company, dated September 21, 2017.

(h)(16) Expense Limitation Agreement with Putnam Investment Management, LLC (“PIM”) dated June 23, 2017.

(h)(17) Expense Limitation Agreement with Putnam Investor Services, Inc. (“PSERV”) dated June 23, 2017.

(j) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

</R>

 EX-99.J OTHER OPININ 2 b_georgeex99j.htm EX-99.J OTHER OPININ b_georgeex99j.htm
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM 

 

We hereby consent to the use in this Registration Statement on Form N-1A (“Registration Statement”) of our report dated September 8, 2017, relating to the financial statements and financial highlights of George Putnam Balanced Fund, which appear in such Registration Statement. We also consent to the references to us under the headings Financial highlights and Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and Financial Statements in such Registration Statement.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Boston, Massachusetts
November 22, 2017

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11 
EXECUTION COPY 

 

MASTER CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT 

 

This Agreement is made as of January 1, 2007 by and among each management investment company identified on Appendix A hereto, each such investment company acting on its own behalf separately from all of the other investment companies and not jointly or jointly and severally with any of the other investment companies (each such investment company and each management investment company made subject to this Agreement in accordance with Section 21.5 below shall hereinafter be referred to as a “Fund”), and STATE STREET BANK and TRUST COMPANY , a Massachusetts trust company (the “Custodian”).

WITNESSETH: 

 

WHEREAS, each Fund is authorized to issue common stock or shares of beneficial interest (“Shares”), and some Funds are authorized to issue Shares in separate series, with each such series representing interests in a separate portfolio of securities and other assets, as more particularly identified on Appendix A hereto (each such series and each series made subject to this Agreement in accordance with Section 21.6 below shall hereinafter be referred to as a “Portfolio” with respect to that Fund, but for any Fund that does not have any separate series, then any reference to “Portfolio” is a reference to that Fund);

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

SECTION 1. EMPLOYMENT OF CUSTODIAN AND PROPERTY TO BE HELD BY IT

Each Fund hereby employs the Custodian as a custodian of assets of the Portfolios, including securities which the Fund, on behalf of the applicable Portfolio, desires to be held in places within the United States (“domestic securities”) and securities it desires to be held outside the United States (“foreign securities”). Each Fund, on behalf of its Portfolio(s), agrees to deliver to the Custodian all securities and cash of the Portfolios (other than any securities or cash of the Portfolios held by a futures commission merchant or commodity clearing organization pursuant to Rule 17f-6 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”)), and all payments of income, payments of principal or capital distributions received by it with respect to all securities owned by the Portfolio(s) from time to time, and the cash consideration received by it for such Shares as may be issued or sold from time to time. The Custodian shall not be responsible for any property of a Portfolio held or received by the Portfolio but not delivered to the Custodian or which is delivered out in accordance with Proper Instructions or Special Instructions (as such terms are defined in Section 7 hereof). With respect to uncertificated shares (the “Underlying Shares”) of registered “investment companies” (as defined in Section 3(a)(1) of the 1940 Act) (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the “Underlying Portfolios”), whether in the same “group of investment companies” (as defined in Section 12(d)(1)(G)(ii) of the 1940 Act) or otherwise, the holding of confirmation statements that identify the shares as being recorded in the Custodian’s name on behalf of the Portfolios will be deemed custody for purposes hereof.


Upon receipt of Proper Instructions, the Custodian shall on behalf of the applicable Portfolio(s) from time to time employ as its agent one or more sub-custodians located in the United States, but only in accordance with an applicable vote by the Board of Trustees or the Board of Directors of the Fund (as appropriate, and in each case, the “Board”) on behalf of the applicable Portfolio(s). The Custodian may place and maintain each Fund’s foreign securities with Eligible Foreign Custodians employed by the Custodian and/or Foreign Securities Systems, all as designated in Schedules A and B hereto, but only in accordance with the applicable provisions of Sections 3 and 4 hereof.

SECTION 2. DUTIES OF THE CUSTODIAN WITH RESPECT TO PROPERTY OF THE PORTFOLIOS TO BE HELD IN THE UNITED STATES

SECTION 2.1 HOLDING SECURITIES. The Custodian shall hold and physically segregate for the account of each Portfolio all non-cash property to be held by it in the United States, including all domestic securities owned by such Portfolio other than (a) securities which are maintained pursuant to Section 2.8 in a clearing agency which acts as a securities depository or in a book-entry system authorized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury (each, a “U.S. Securities System”) and (b) Underlying Shares owned by each Fund on behalf of a Portfolio which are maintained pursuant to Section 2.10 hereof in an account with State Street Bank and Trust Company or such other entity which may from time to time act as a transfer agent for the Underlying Portfolios and with respect to which the Custodian is provided with Proper Instructions (the “Underlying Transfer Agent”).

SECTION 2.2 DELIVERY OF SECURITIES. The Custodian shall release and deliver domestic securities owned by a Portfolio held by the Custodian, whether held by the Custodian, in a U.S. Securities System account of the Custodian or in an account at the Underlying Transfer Agent, only upon receipt of Proper Instructions on behalf of the applicable Portfolio, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, and only in the following cases:

1) Upon sale of such securities for the account of the Portfolio and receipt of payment therefor;

2) Upon the receipt of payment in connection with any repurchase agreement related to such securities entered into by the Portfolio;

3) In the case of a sale effected through a U.S. Securities System, in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.8 hereof;

4) To the depository agent in connection with tender or other similar offers for securities of the Portfolio;

5) To the issuer thereof or its agent when such securities are called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable; provided that, in any such case, the cash or other consideration is to be delivered to the Custodian;

6) To the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer into the name of the Portfolio or into the name of any nominee or nominees of the Custodian or into the name or nominee

2. 

 


name of any agent appointed pursuant to Section 2.7 or into the name or nominee name of any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Section 1; or for exchange for a different number of bonds, certificates or other evidence representing the same aggregate face amount or number of units; provided that, in any such case, the new securities are to be delivered to the Custodian;

7) Upon the sale of such securities for the account of the Portfolio, to the broker or its clearing agent, against a receipt, for examination in accordance with “street delivery” custom; provided that in any such case, the Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for any loss arising from the delivery of such securities prior to receiving payment for such securities except as may arise from the Custodian’s own negligence or willful misconduct;

8) For exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or readjustment of the securities of the issuer of such securities, or pursuant to provisions for conversion contained in such securities, or pursuant to any deposit agreement; provided that, in any such case, the new securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian;

9) In the case of warrants, rights or similar securities, the surrender thereof in the exercise of such warrants, rights or similar securities or the surrender of interim receipts or temporary securities for definitive securities; provided that, in any such case, the new securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian;

10) For delivery in connection with any loans of securities made by the Portfolio (a) against receipt of collateral as agreed from time to time by the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, except that in connection with any loans for which collateral is to be credited to the Custodian’s account in the book-entry system authorized by the U.S.

Department of the Treasury, the Custodian will not be held liable or responsible for the delivery of securities owned by the Portfolio prior to the receipt of such collateral or (b) to the lending agent, or the lending agent’s custodian, in accordance with written Proper Instructions (which may but need not provide for the receipt by the Custodian of collateral therefor) agreed upon from time to time by the Custodian and the Fund;

11) For delivery as security in connection with any borrowing by a Fund on behalf of a Portfolio requiring a pledge of assets by the Fund on behalf of such Portfolio but only against receipt of amounts borrowed;

12) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, the Custodian and a broker-dealer that is both registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and a member of The National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the “NASD”), relating to compliance with the rules of The Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange, or of any similar organization or

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organizations, regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Fund on behalf of a Portfolio;

13) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among a Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, the Custodian, and a futures commission merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange Act, relating to compliance with the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) and/or any contract market, or any similar organization or organizations, regarding account deposits in connection with transactions by the Fund on behalf of a Portfolio;

14) Upon the sale or other delivery of such investments, including, without limitation, to one or more (a) additional custodians appointed by the Fund, and communicated to the Custodian from time to time via a writing duly executed by an authorized officer of the Fund, for the purpose of engaging in repurchase agreement transactions(s), (each a “Repo Custodian”), or (b) Special Sub-Custodians, and prior to receipt of payment therefor, as set forth in written Proper Instructions (such delivery in advance of payment, along with payment in advance of delivery made in accordance with Section 2.6(7), as applicable, shall each be referred to herein as a “Free Trade”), provided that such Proper Instructions shall set forth (a) the securities of the Portfolio to be delivered and (b) the person(s) to whom delivery of such securities shall be made;

15) Upon receipt of Proper Instructions from the Fund or the Fund’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”) for delivery to such Transfer Agent or to the holders of Shares in connection with payments in kind, as may be described from time to time in the currently effective prospectus and statement of additional information of the Fund related to the Portfolio (the “Prospectus”), in satisfaction of requests by holders of Shares for repurchase or redemption;

16) In the case of a sale processed through the Underlying Transfer Agent of Underlying Shares, in accordance with Section 2.10 hereof;

17) For delivery as initial or variation margin in connection with futures or options on futures contracts entered into by the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio; and

18) For any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions from the Fund on behalf of the applicable Portfolio specifying (a) the securities of the Portfolio to be delivered and (b) the person or persons to whom delivery of such securities shall be made.

SECTION 2.3 REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES. Domestic securities held by the Custodian (other than bearer securities) shall be registered by the Custodian in the name of the Portfolio or in the name of any nominee of a Fund on behalf of the Portfolio or in the name of any nominee of the Custodian which nominee shall be assigned exclusively to the Portfolio, unless the Fund has authorized in writing the appointment of a nominee to be used in common with other registered

4. 

 


management investment companies having the same investment adviser as the Portfolio, or in the name or nominee name of any agent appointed pursuant to Section 2.7 or in the name or nominee name of any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Section 1. All securities accepted by the Custodian on behalf of the Portfolio under the terms of this Agreement shall be in “street name” or other good delivery form. If, however, a Fund directs the Custodian to maintain securities in “street name”, the Custodian shall utilize its best efforts only to timely collect income due the Fund on such securities and to notify the Fund on a best efforts basis only of relevant corporate actions including, without limitation, pendency of calls, maturities, tender or exchange offers.

SECTION 2.4 BANK ACCOUNTS. The Custodian shall open and maintain a separate bank account or accounts in the United States in the name of each Portfolio of each Fund, subject only to draft or order by the Custodian acting pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall hold in such account or accounts, subject to the provisions hereof, all cash received by it from or for the account of the Portfolio, other than cash maintained by the Portfolio in a bank account established and used in accordance with Rule 17f-3 under the 1940 Act. Cash held by the Custodian for a Portfolio may be deposited by it to its credit as Custodian in the banking department of the Custodian or in such other banks or trust companies as it may in its reasonable discretion deem necessary or desirable; provided, however, that every such bank or trust company shall be qualified to act as a custodian under the 1940 Act and that each such bank or trust company and the funds to be deposited therewith shall on behalf of each applicable Portfolio be approved by vote of a majority of the Board. Such cash shall be deposited by the Custodian only in its capacity as Custodian and shall be withdrawable by the Custodian only in that capacity.

SECTION 2.5 COLLECTION OF INCOME. Except with respect to Portfolio property released and delivered pursuant to Section 2.2(14) or purchased and not held pursuant to Section 2.6(7), and subject to the provisions of Section 2.3, the Custodian shall collect on a timely basis all income and other payments with respect to (a) registered domestic securities held hereunder to which each Portfolio shall be entitled either by law or pursuant to custom in the securities business if, on the record date for payment by the issuer, such securities are held hereunder, and (b) bearer domestic securities if, on the date of payment by the issuer, such securities are held by the Custodian or its agent, and, with respect to (a) and (b) above, shall credit such income, on the designated settlement date, as predetermined income, to such Portfolio’s custodian account. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Custodian shall detach and present for payment all coupons and other income items requiring presentation as and when they become due and shall collect interest when due on securities held hereunder. Income due each Portfolio on securities loaned pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.2 (10) shall be the responsibility of the applicable Fund. The Custodian will have no duty or responsibility in connection therewith, other than to provide the Fund with such information or data as may be necessary to assist the Fund in arranging for the timely delivery to the Custodian of the income to which the Portfolio is properly entitled. The Fund, or its duly authorized investment manager, shall instruct the Custodian regarding all Fund or investment manager determinations that a portfolio security has been deemed worthless by such Fund.

SECTION 2.6 PAYMENT OF FUND MONIES. Upon receipt of Proper Instructions on behalf of the applicable Portfolio, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, the Custodian shall pay out monies of a Portfolio in the following cases only:

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1) Upon the purchase of domestic securities, options, futures contracts or options on futures contracts for the account of the Portfolio but only (a) against the delivery of such securities or evidence of title to such options, futures contracts or options on futures contracts to the Custodian (or any bank, banking firm or trust company doing business in the United States or abroad which is qualified under the 1940 Act to act as a custodian and has been designated by the Custodian as its agent for this purpose) registered in the name of the Portfolio or in the name of a nominee of the Custodian pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof or in proper form for transfer; (b) in the case of a purchase effected through a U.S. Securities System, in accordance with the conditions set forth in Section 2.8 hereof; (c) in the case of a purchase of Underlying Shares, in accordance with the conditions set forth in Section 2.10 hereof; (d) in the case of repurchase agreements entered into between the applicable Fund on behalf of a Portfolio and the Custodian, or another bank, or a broker-dealer which is a member of NASD, (i) against delivery of the securities either in certificate form or through an entry crediting the Custodian’s account at the Federal Reserve Bank with such securities or (ii) against delivery of the receipt evidencing purchase by the Portfolio of securities owned by the Custodian, or another bank, or a broker-dealer which is a member of NASD along with written evidence of the agreement by the Custodian, or another bank, or a broker-dealer which is a member of NASD to repurchase such securities from the Portfolio; or (e) for transfer to a time deposit account of the Fund in any bank, whether domestic or foreign; such transfer may be effected prior to receipt of a confirmation from a broker and/or the applicable bank pursuant to Proper Instructions from the Fund;

2) In connection with conversion, exchange or surrender of securities owned by the Portfolio as set forth in Section 2.2 hereof;

3) For the redemption or repurchase of Shares issued as set forth in Section 6 hereof;

4) For the payment of any expense or liability incurred by the Portfolio, including but not limited to the following payments for the account of the Portfolio: interest, taxes, management, accounting, audit, transfer agent and legal fees, and operating expenses of the Fund whether or not such expenses are to be in whole or part capitalized or treated as deferred expenses;

5) For the payment of any dividends on Shares declared pursuant to the Fund’s articles of incorporation or organization and by-laws or agreement or declaration of trust, as applicable, and Prospectus (collectively, “Governing Documents”);

6) For payment of the amount of dividends received in respect of securities sold short;

7) Upon the purchase of domestic investments including, without limitation, repurchase agreement transactions involving delivery of Portfolio monies to Repo Custodian(s), and prior to receipt of such investments, as set forth in written Proper Instructions

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(such payment in advance of delivery, along with delivery in advance of payment made in accordance with Section 2.2(14), as applicable, shall each be referred to herein as a “Free Trade”), provided that such Proper Instructions shall also set forth (a) the amount of such payment and (b) the person(s) to whom such payment is made;

8) For payment as initial or variation margin in connection with futures or options on futures contracts entered into by the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio; and

9) For any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions from the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio specifying (a) the amount of such payment and (b) the person or persons to whom such payment is to be made.

SECTION 2.7 APPOINTMENT OF AGENTS . The Custodian may at any time or times in its discretion appoint (and may at any time remove) one or more of its wholly-owned subsidiaries which is a bank or trust company and which is itself qualified under the 1940 Act to act as a custodian, as its agent to carry out such of the provisions of this Section 2 as the Custodian may from time to time direct; provided, however , that the appointment of any agent shall not relieve the Custodian of its responsibilities or liabilities hereunder. No Underlying Transfer Agent acting as such shall be deemed an agent or sub-custodian of the Custodian for purposes of this Section 2.7 or any other provision of this Agreement.

S ECTION 2.8 DEPOSIT OF FUND ASSETS IN U.S. SECURITIES SYSTEMS. The Custodian may deposit and/or maintain securities owned by a Portfolio in a U.S. Securities System in compliance with the conditions of Rule 17f-4 under the 1940 Act, as amended from time to time.

SECTION 2.9 SEGREGATED ACCOUNT. The Custodian shall upon receipt of Proper Instructions on behalf of each applicable Portfolio, establish and maintain a segregated account or accounts for and on behalf of each such Portfolio, into which account or accounts may be transferred cash and/or securities, including securities maintained in an account by the Custodian pursuant to Section 2.8 hereof, (a) in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, the Custodian and a broker-dealer registered under the Exchange Act and a member of the NASD (or any futures commission merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange Act), relating to compliance with the rules of The Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange (or the CFTC or any registered contract market), or of any similar organization or organizations, regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Portfolio, (b) for purposes of segregating cash or government securities in connection with swap arrangements of the Portfolio, options purchased, sold or written by the Portfolio or commodity futures contracts or options thereon purchased or sold by the Portfolio, (c) for the purposes of compliance by the Portfolio with the procedures required by Investment Company Act Release No. 10666, or any subsequent release of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), or interpretative opinion of the staff of the SEC, relating to the maintenance of segregated accounts by registered investment companies, and (d) for any other purpose in accordance with Proper Instructions.

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SECTION 2.10 DEPOSIT OF FUND ASSETS WITH THE UNDERLYING TRANSFER AGENT.

Underlying Shares beneficially owned by the Fund, on behalf of a Portfolio, shall be deposited and/or maintained in an account or accounts maintained with an Underlying Transfer Agent and the Custodian’s only responsibilities with respect thereto shall be limited to the following:

1) Upon receipt of a confirmation or statement from an Underlying Transfer Agent (copies of which the Custodian will maintain as may be required by Section 11 of this Agreement) that such Underlying Transfer Agent is holding or maintaining Underlying Shares in the name of the Custodian (or a nominee of the Custodian) for the benefit of a Portfolio, the Custodian shall identify by book-entry that such Underlying Shares are being held by it as custodian for the benefit of the Portfolio.

2) In respect of the purchase of Underlying Shares for the account of a Portfolio, upon receipt of Proper Instructions, the Custodian shall pay out monies of such Portfolio as so directed, and record such payment from the account of such Portfolio on the Custodian’s books and records.

3) In respect of the sale or redemption of Underlying Shares for the account of a Portfolio, upon receipt of Proper Instructions, the Custodian shall transfer such Underlying Shares as so directed, record such transfer from the account of such Portfolio on the Custodian’s books and records and, upon the Custodian’s receipt of the proceeds therefor, record such payment for the account of such Portfolio on the Custodian’s books and records.

The Custodian shall not be liable to the Fund for any loss or damage to the Fund or any Portfolio resulting from the maintenance of Underlying Shares with an Underlying Transfer Agent except for losses to the extent resulting from (i) the fraud, negligence, or willful misconduct of the Custodian or any of its agents or of any of its or their employees, (ii) violation of law applicable to the Custodian in its capacity as a custodian and that affects the Custodian’s performance of the Services hereunder, or (iii) material breach of this Agreement by the Custodian (provided, however, that the Custodian shall have the opportunity to cure, within thirty (30) days of its receipt of written notice from the Fund, solely those breaches capable of cure without material adverse impact to the Fund, provided, in each such instance where the Custodian is aware of an event related to such notice, the Custodian had previously informed the Fund promptly of such event; any such communication from the Custodian to the Fund shall not be used as or considered as an admission of fault and will be provided solely as an accommodation to the Fund).

SECTION 2.11 OWNERSHIP CERTIFICATES FOR TAX PURPOSES. The Custodian shall execute ownership and other certificates and affidavits for all federal and state tax purposes in connection with receipt of income or other payments with respect to domestic securities of each Portfolio held by it and in connection with transfers of securities.

SECTION 2.12 PROXIES. Except with respect to Portfolio property released and delivered pursuant to Section 2.2(14), or purchased and not held pursuant to Section 2.6(7), the Custodian

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shall, with respect to the domestic securities held hereunder, cause to be promptly executed by the registered holder of such securities, if the securities are registered otherwise than in the name of the Portfolio or a nominee of the Portfolio, all proxies, without indication of the manner in which such proxies are to be voted, and shall promptly deliver to the Fund or its duly authorized agent all proxies, all proxy soliciting materials and all notices relating to such securities.

SECTION 2.13 COMMUNICATIONS RELATING TO PORTFOLIO SECURITIES. Except with respect to Portfolio property released and delivered pursuant to Section 2.2(14), or purchased and not held pursuant to Section 2.6(7), and subject to the provisions of Section 2.3, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the applicable Fund for each Portfolio all written information (including, without limitation, pendency of calls and maturities of domestic securities and expirations of rights in connection therewith and notices of exercise of call and put options written by the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio and the maturity of futures contracts purchased or sold by the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio) received by the Custodian from issuers of the securities being held for the Portfolio. With respect to voluntary corporate actions such as tender or exchange offers, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the applicable Fund all written information received by the Custodian from issuers of the securities whose tender or exchange or other action is sought and from the party (or its agents) making the tender or exchange offer or other action. The Custodian shall also transmit promptly to the applicable Fund for each Portfolio all written information received by the Custodian regarding any class action or other litigation in connection with Portfolio securities or other assets issued in the United States and then held, or previously held, during the term of this Agreement by the Custodian for the account of the Fund for such Portfolio, including, but not limited to, opt-out notices and proof-of-claim forms. The Custodian shall not be liable for any untimely exercise of any tender, exchange or other right or power in connection with domestic securities or other property of the Portfolios at any time held by it unless (i) the Custodian is in actual possession of such domestic securities or property and (ii) the Custodian receives Proper Instructions with regard to the exercise of any such right or power, and both (i) and (ii) occur prior to such deadline established by the Custodian in its reasonable discretion as will give the Custodian sufficient time to take such action, which deadline shall in no event be longer than three (3) business days. The Custodian shall inform the Fund of pertinent deadlines in each case. For avoidance of doubt, upon and after the effective date of any termination of this Agreement, with respect to a Fund or its Portfolio(s), as may be applicable, the Custodian shall have no responsibility to so transmit any information under this Section 2.13.

SECTION 3. PROVISIONS RELATING TO RULES 17F-5 AND 17F-7

SECTION 3.1. DEFINITIONS. As used throughout this Agreement, the capitalized terms set forth below shall have the indicated meanings:

“Country Risk” means all factors reasonably related to the systemic risk of holding Foreign Assets in a particular country including, but not limited to, such country’s political environment, economic and financial infrastructure (including any Eligible Securities Depository operating in the country), prevailing or developing custody and settlement practices, and laws and regulations applicable to the safekeeping and recovery of Foreign Assets held in custody in that country.

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“Eligible Foreign Custodian” has the meaning set forth in section (a)(1) of Rule 17f-5, including a majority-owned or indirect subsidiary of a U.S. Bank (as defined in Rule 17f-5), a bank holding company meeting the requirements of an Eligible Foreign Custodian (as set forth in Rule 17f-5 or by other appropriate action of the SEC), or a foreign branch of a Bank (as defined in Section 2(a)(5) of the 1940 Act) meeting the requirements of a custodian under Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act; the term does not include any Eligible Securities Depository.

“Eligible Securities Depository” has the meaning set forth in section (b)(1) of Rule 17f-7.

“Foreign Assets” means any of the Portfolios’ investments (including foreign currencies) for which the primary market is outside the United States and such cash and cash equivalents as are reasonably necessary to effect the Portfolios’ transactions in such investments.

“Foreign Custody Manager” has the meaning set forth in section (a)(3) of Rule 17f-5.

“Rule 17f-5” means Rule 17f-5 promulgated under the 1940 Act.

“Rule 17f-7” means Rule 17f-7 promulgated under the 1940 Act.

SECTION 3.2. THE CUSTODIAN AS FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER.

3.2.1 DELEGATION TO THE CUSTODIAN AS FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER. Each Fund, by resolution adopted by its Board, hereby delegates to the Custodian, subject to Section (b) of Rule 17f-5, the responsibilities set forth in this Section 3.2 with respect to Foreign Assets of the Portfolios held outside the United States, and the Custodian hereby accepts such delegation as Foreign Custody Manager with respect to the Portfolios.

3.2.2 COUNTRIES COVERED. The Foreign Custody Manager shall be responsible for performing the delegated responsibilities defined below only with respect to the countries and custody arrangements for each such country listed on Schedule A to this Agreement, which list of countries may be amended from time to time by any Fund with the agreement of the Foreign Custody Manager. The Foreign Custody Manager shall list on Schedule A the Eligible Foreign Custodians selected by the Foreign Custody Manager to maintain the assets of the Portfolios, which list of Eligible Foreign Custodians may be amended from time to time in the sole discretion of the Foreign Custody Manager. The Foreign Custody Manager will provide amended versions of Schedule A in accordance with Section 3.2.5 hereof.

Upon the receipt by the Foreign Custody Manager of Proper Instructions to open an account or to place or maintain Foreign Assets in a country listed on Schedule A, and the fulfillment by each Fund, on behalf of the applicable Portfolio(s), of the applicable account opening requirements for such country, the Foreign Custody Manager shall be deemed to have been delegated by such Fund’s Board on behalf of such Portfolio(s) responsibility as Foreign Custody Manager with respect to that country and to have accepted such delegation. Execution of this Agreement by each Fund shall be deemed to be a Proper Instruction authorizing the Foreign Custody Manager to open an account, or to place or maintain Foreign Assets, with the Eligible Foreign Custodians identified in each country

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as listed on Schedule A, as required by each Portfolio from time to time. Following the receipt of Proper Instructions directing the Foreign Custody Manager to close the account of a Portfolio with the Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody Manager in a designated country, the delegation by the Board on behalf of such Portfolio to the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager for that country shall be deemed to have been withdrawn and the Custodian shall immediately cease to be the Foreign Custody Manager with respect to such Portfolio with respect to that country.

The Foreign Custody Manager may withdraw its acceptance of delegated responsibilities with respect to a designated country upon written notice to the Fund. Thirty days (or such longer period to which the parties agree in writing) after receipt of any such notice by the Fund, the Custodian shall have no further responsibility in its capacity as Foreign Custody Manager to the Fund with respect to the country as to which the Custodian’s acceptance of delegation is withdrawn.

3.2.3 SCOPE OF DELEGATED RESPONSIBILITIES

(a) SELECTION OF ELIGIBLE FOREIGN CUSTODIANS. Subject to the provisions of this Section 3.2, the Foreign Custody Manager may place and maintain the Foreign Assets in the care of the Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody Manager for each appropriate country as is listed on Schedule A, as amended from time to time. In performing its delegated responsibilities as Foreign Custody Manager to place or maintain Foreign Assets with an Eligible Foreign Custodian, the Foreign Custody Manager shall determine that the Foreign Assets will be subject to reasonable care, based on the standards applicable to custodians in the relevant market in which the Foreign Assets will be held by that Eligible Foreign Custodian, after considering all factors relevant to the safekeeping of such assets, including, without limitation the factors specified in Rule 17f-5(c)(1).

(b) CONTRACTS WITH ELIGIBLE FOREIGN CUSTODIANS. The Foreign Custody Manager shall determine that the contract governing the foreign custody arrangements with each Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody Manager will satisfy the requirements of Rule 17f-5(c)(2).

(c) MONITORING. In each case in which the Foreign Custody Manager maintains Foreign Assets with an Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody Manager, the Foreign Custody Manager shall establish a system to monitor (i) the appropriateness of maintaining the Foreign Assets with such Eligible Foreign Custodian and (ii) performance of the contract governing the custody arrangements established by the Foreign Custody Manager with the Eligible Foreign Custodian. In the event the Foreign Custody Manager determines that the custody arrangements with an Eligible Foreign Custodian it has selected are no longer appropriate, the Foreign Custody Manager shall reasonably promptly notify the Board in accordance with Section 3.2.5 hereunder.

3.2.4 GUIDELINES FOR THE EXERCISE OF DELEGATED AUTHORITY. For purposes of this Section 3.2, the Board, or at the Board’s delegation, a Fund’s investment adviser, shall be deemed to have considered and determined to accept, on behalf of the Fund, such Country Risk as is incurred by placing and maintaining the Foreign Assets in each country for which the Custodian is serving as Foreign Custody Manager of the Portfolios.

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3.2.5 REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. The Foreign Custody Manager shall report the withdrawal of the Foreign Assets from an Eligible Foreign Custodian and the placement of such Foreign Assets with another Eligible Foreign Custodian by providing to the Board an amended Schedule A at the end of each calendar quarter in which an amendment to such Schedule has occurred. The Foreign Custody Manager shall make written reports notifying the Board of any other material change in the foreign custody arrangements of the Portfolios described in this Section 3.2 reasonably promptly after the occurrence of the material change.

3.2.6 STANDARD OF CARE AS FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER OF A PORTFOLIO . In performing the responsibilities delegated to it, the Foreign Custody Manager agrees to exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence such as a person having responsibility for the safekeeping of assets of management investment companies registered under the 1940 Act would exercise.

3.2.7 REPRESENTATIONS WITH RESPECT TO RULE 17F-5. The Foreign Custody Manager represents to each Fund that it is a U.S. Bank as defined in section (a)(7) of Rule 17f-5. Each Fund represents to the Custodian that its Board has determined that it is reasonable for such Board to rely on the Custodian to perform the responsibilities delegated pursuant to this Agreement to the Custodian as the Foreign Custody Manager of the Portfolios.

3.2.8 EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERMINATION OF THE CUSTODIAN AS FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER. Each Board’s delegation to the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager of the Portfolios shall be effective as of the date hereof and shall remain in effect until terminated at any time, without penalty, by written notice from the terminating party to the non-terminating party. Termination will become effective thirty (30) days after receipt by the non-terminating party of such notice. The provisions of Section 3.2.2 hereof shall govern the delegation to and termination of the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager of the Portfolios with respect to designated countries.

SECTION 3.3 ELIGIBLE SECURITIES DEPOSITORIES.

3.3.1 ANALYSIS AND MONITORING. The Custodian shall (a) provide the Fund (or its duly-authorized investment manager or investment adviser) with an analysis of the custody risks associated with maintaining assets with the Eligible Securities Depositories set forth on Schedule B hereto in accordance with section (a)(1)(i)(A) of Rule 17f-7, and (b) monitor such risks on a continuing basis, and promptly notify the Fund (or its duly-authorized investment manager or investment adviser) of any material change in such risks, in accordance with section (a)(1)(i)(B) of Rule 17f-7.

3.3.2 STANDARD OF CARE. The Custodian agrees to exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence in performing the duties set forth in Section 3.3.1.

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SECTION 4. DUTIES OF THE CUSTODIAN WITH RESPECT TO PROPERTY OF THE PORTFOLIOS TO BE HELD OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES

SECTION 4.1 DEFINITIONS. As used throughout this Agreement, the capitalized terms set forth below shall have the indicated meanings:

“Foreign Securities System” means an Eligible Securities Depository listed on Schedule B hereto.

“Foreign Sub-Custodian” means a foreign banking institution serving as an Eligible Foreign Custodian.

SECTION 4.2. HOLDING SECURITIES. The Custodian shall identify on its books as belonging to the Portfolios the foreign securities held by each Foreign Sub-Custodian or Foreign Securities System. The Custodian may hold foreign securities for all of its customers, including the Portfolios, with any Foreign Sub-Custodian in an account that is identified as belonging to the Custodian for the benefit of its customers, provided however, that (i) the records of the Custodian with respect to foreign securities of the Portfolios which are maintained in such account shall identify those securities as belonging to the Portfolios and (ii), to the extent permitted and customary in the market in which the account is maintained, the Custodian shall require that securities so held by the Foreign Sub-Custodian be held separately from any assets of such Foreign Sub-Custodian or of other customers of such Foreign Sub-Custodian.

SECTION 4.3. FOREIGN SECURITIES SYSTEMS. Foreign securities shall be maintained in a Foreign Securities System in a designated country through arrangements implemented by the Custodian or a Foreign Sub-Custodian, as applicable, in such country.

SECTION 4.4. TRANSACTIONS IN FOREIGN CUSTODY ACCOUNT.

4.4.1. DELIVERY OF FOREIGN ASSETS. The Custodian or a Foreign Sub-Custodian shall release and deliver foreign securities of the Portfolios held by the Custodian or such Foreign Sub-Custodian, or in a Foreign Securities System account, only upon receipt of Proper Instructions, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, and only in the following cases:

(i) Upon the sale of such foreign securities for the Portfolio in accordance with commercially reasonable market practice in the country where such foreign securities are held or traded, including, without limitation: (A) delivery against expectation of receiving later payment; or (B) in the case of a sale effected through a Foreign Securities System, in accordance with the rules governing the operation of the Foreign Securities System;

(ii) In connection with any repurchase agreement related to foreign securities;

(iii) To the depository agent in connection with tender or other similar offers for foreign securities of the Portfolios;

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(iv) To the issuer thereof or its agent when such foreign securities are called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable;

(v) To the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer into the name of the Custodian (or the name of the respective Foreign Sub-Custodian or of any nominee of the Custodian or such Foreign Sub-Custodian) or for exchange for a different number of bonds, certificates or other evidence representing the same aggregate face amount or number of units;

(vi) To brokers, clearing banks or other clearing agents for examination or trade execution in accordance with market custom; provided that in any such case, the Foreign Sub-Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for any loss arising from the delivery of such foreign securities prior to receiving payment for such foreign securities except as may arise from the Foreign Sub-Custodian’s own negligence or willful misconduct;

(vii) For exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or readjustment of the securities of the issuer of such securities, or pursuant to provisions for conversion contained in such securities, or pursuant to any deposit agreement;

(viii) In the case of warrants, rights or similar foreign securities, the surrender thereof in the exercise of such warrants, rights or similar securities or the surrender of interim receipts or temporary securities for definitive securities;

(ix) For delivery as security in connection with any borrowing by a Fund on behalf of a Portfolio requiring a pledge of assets by the Fund on behalf of such Portfolio;

(x) In connection with trading in options and futures contracts, including delivery as original margin and variation margin;

(xi) Upon the sale or other delivery of such foreign securities (including, without limitation, to one or more Special Sub-Custodians or Repo Custodians) as a Free Trade, provided that applicable Proper Instructions shall set forth (A) the foreign securities to be delivered and (B) the person or persons to whom delivery shall be made;

(xii) In connection with the lending of foreign securities; and

(xiii) For any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions specifying (A) the foreign securities to be delivered and (B) the person or persons to whom delivery of such securities shall be made.

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4.4.2. PAYMENT OF PORTFOLIO MONIES. Upon receipt of Proper Instructions, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, the Custodian shall pay out, or direct the respective Foreign Sub-Custodian or the respective Foreign Securities System to pay out, monies of a Portfolio in the following cases only:

(i) Upon the purchase of foreign securities for the Portfolio in accordance with commercially reasonable market practice in the country where such foreign securities are held or traded, unless otherwise directed by Proper Instructions, by (A) delivering money to the seller thereof or to a dealer therefor (or an agent for such seller or dealer) against expectation of receiving later delivery of such foreign securities; or (B) in the case of a purchase effected through a Foreign Securities System, in accordance with the rules governing the operation of such Foreign Securities System;

(ii) In connection with the conversion, exchange or surrender of foreign securities of the Portfolio;

(iii) For the payment of any expense or liability of the Portfolio, including but not limited to the following payments: interest, taxes, investment advisory fees, transfer agency fees, fees under this Agreement, legal fees, audit or accounting fees, and other operating expenses;

(iv) For the purchase or sale of foreign exchange or foreign exchange contracts for the Portfolio, including transactions executed with or through the Custodian or its Foreign Sub-Custodians;

(v) In connection with trading in options and futures contracts, including delivery as original margin and variation margin;

(vi) Upon the purchase of foreign investments including, without limitation, repurchase agreement transactions involving delivery of Portfolio monies to Repo Custodian(s), as a Free Trade, provided that applicable Proper Instructions shall set forth (A) the amount of such payment and (B) the person or persons to whom payment shall be made;

(vii) For payment of part or all of the dividends received in respect of securities sold short;

(viii) In connection with the borrowing or lending of foreign securities; and

(ix) For any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions specifying (A) the amount of such payment and (B) the person or persons to whom such payment is to be made.

4.4.3. MARKET CUSTOMS. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, settlement and payment for Foreign Assets received for the account of the Portfolios and

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delivery of Foreign Assets maintained for the account of the Portfolios may be effected in accordance with the customary established securities trading or processing practices and procedures in the country or market in which the transaction occurs, including, without limitation, delivering Foreign Assets to the purchaser thereof or to a dealer therefor (or an agent for such purchaser or dealer) with the expectation of receiving later payment for such Foreign Assets from such purchaser or dealer.

The Custodian shall provide to each Board the information with respect to custody and settlement practices in countries in which the Custodian employs a Foreign Sub-Custodian described on Schedule C hereto at the time or times set forth on such Schedule. The Custodian may revise Schedule C from time to time, provided that no such revision shall result in a Board being provided with substantively less information than had been previously provided hereunder.

SECTION 4.5. REGISTRATION OF FOREIGN SECURITIES. The foreign securities maintained in the custody of a Foreign Sub-Custodian (other than bearer securities) shall be registered by the Custodian or the Foreign Sub-Custodian in the name of the applicable Portfolio or in the name of the Custodian or in the name of any Foreign Sub-Custodian or in the name of any nominee of the foregoing. The Custodian or a Foreign Sub-Custodian shall not be obligated to accept securities on behalf of a Portfolio under the terms of this Agreement unless the form of such securities and the manner in which they are delivered are in accordance with reasonable market practice.

SECTION 4.6 BANK ACCOUNTS. The Custodian shall identify on its books as belonging to the applicable Fund on behalf of a Portfolio cash (including cash denominated in foreign currencies) deposited with the Custodian. Cash maintained on the books of the Custodian (including its branches, subsidiaries and affiliates), regardless of currency denomination, is maintained in bank accounts established under, and subject to the laws of, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Where the Custodian is unable to maintain, or market practice does not readily allow the maintenance of, cash on the books of the Custodian, a bank account or bank accounts shall be opened and maintained outside the United States on behalf of the Portfolio with a Foreign Sub-Custodian. All accounts referred to in this section shall be subject only to draft or order by the Custodian (or, if applicable, such Foreign Sub-Custodian) acting pursuant to the terms of this Agreement to hold cash received by or from or for the account of the Portfolio.

SECTION 4.7. COLLECTION OF INCOME. The Custodian shall use reasonable commercial efforts to collect all income and other payments with respect to the Foreign Assets held hereunder to which the Portfolios shall be entitled and shall credit such income, as collected, to the applicable Portfolio. In the event that extraordinary measures are required to collect such income, the Fund and the Custodian shall consult as to such measures and as to the compensation and expenses of the Custodian relating to such measures.

SECTION 4.8 SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS. With respect to the foreign securities held pursuant to this Section 4, the Custodian shall use reasonable commercial efforts to facilitate the exercise of voting and other shareholder rights, subject always to the laws, regulations and practical constraints that may exist in the country where such securities are issued, which facilitation efforts may include endeavoring to (a) cause to be executed by the registered holder of such foreign securities (if such

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securities are registered otherwise than in the name of the Portfolio or a nominee of the Portfolio), all proxies, without indication of the manner in which such proxies are to be voted, and (b) deliver to the Fund or its agents all proxy soliciting materials and all notices relating to such securities. Each Fund acknowledges that local conditions, including lack of regulation, onerous procedural obligations, lack of notice and other factors may have the effect of severely limiting the ability of such Fund to exercise shareholder rights.

SECTION 4.9. COMMUNICATIONS RELATING TO FOREIGN SECURITIES. The Custodian shall transmit promptly to the applicable Fund written information with respect to materials received by the Custodian via the Foreign Sub-Custodians from issuers of the foreign securities being held for the account of the Portfolios (including, without limitation, pendency of calls and maturities of foreign securities and expirations of rights in connection therewith). With respect to voluntary corporate actions such as tender or exchange offers, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the applicable Fund written information with respect to materials so received by the Custodian from issuers of the foreign securities whose tender or exchange or other action is sought or from the party (or its agents) making the tender or exchange offer or other action. The Custodian shall also transmit promptly to the applicable Fund all written information received by the Custodian via the Foreign Sub-Custodians from issuers of the foreign securities being held for the account of the Portfolios regarding any class action or other litigation in connection with Portfolio foreign securities or other assets issued outside the United States and then held, or previously held, during the term of this Agreement by the Custodian via a Foreign Sub-Custodian for the account of the Fund for such Portfolio, including, but not limited to, opt-out notices and proof-of-claim forms. The Custodian shall not be liable for any untimely exercise of any tender, exchange or other right or power in connection with foreign securities or other property of the Portfolios at any time held by it unless (i) the Custodian or the respective Foreign Sub-Custodian is in actual possession of such foreign securities or property and (ii) the Custodian receives Proper Instructions with regard to the exercise of any such right or power, and both (i) and (ii) occur prior to such deadline established by the Custodian in its reasonable discretion as will give the Custodian (including any Foreign Sub-Custodian) sufficient time to take such action, which deadline shall in no event be longer than three (3) business days. The Custodian shall inform the Fund of pertinent deadlines in each case. For avoidance of doubt, upon and after the effective date of any termination of this Agreement, with respect to a Fund or its Portfolio(s), as may be applicable, the Custodian shall have no responsibility to so transmit any information under this Section 4.9.

SECTION 4.10. LIABILITY OF FOREIGN SUB-CUSTODIANS. Each agreement pursuant to which the Custodian employs a Foreign Sub-Custodian shall, to the extent possible, require the Foreign Sub-Custodian to exercise reasonable care in the performance of its duties, and to indemnify, and hold harmless, the Custodian from and against any loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim arising out of or in connection with the Foreign Sub-Custodian’s performance of such obligations. At a Fund’s election, its Portfolios shall be entitled to be subrogated to the rights of the Custodian with respect to any claims against a Foreign Sub-Custodian as a consequence of any such loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim if and to the extent that the Portfolios have not been made whole for any such loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim.

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SECTION 4.11 TAX LAW. The Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for any obligations now or hereafter imposed on any Fund, the Portfolios or the Custodian as custodian of the Portfolios by the tax law of the United States or of any state or political subdivision thereof. It shall be the responsibility of each Fund to notify the Custodian of the obligations imposed on such Fund with respect to the Portfolios or the Custodian as custodian of the Portfolios by the tax law of countries other than those mentioned in the above sentence, including responsibility for withholding and other taxes, assessments or other governmental charges, certifications and governmental reporting. The sole responsibilities of the Custodian with regard to such tax law shall be to use reasonable efforts to effect the withholding of local taxes and related charges with regard to market entitlement/payment in accordance with local law and subject to local market practice or custom and to assist the Fund with respect to any claim for exemption or refund under the tax law of countries for which such Fund has provided such information. Except as specifically provided in this Agreement or otherwise agreed to in writing by the Custodian, the Custodian shall have no independent obligation to determine the tax obligations now or hereafter imposed on any of the Funds by any taxing authority or to obtain or provide information relating thereto, and shall have no obligation or liability with respect to such tax obligations, it being specifically understood and agreed that the Custodian shall not thereby or otherwise be considered any Fund’s tax advisor or tax counsel.

SECTION 5. SPECIAL SUB-CUSTODIANS

Upon receipt of Special Instructions (as such term is defined in Section 7 hereof), the Custodian shall, on behalf of one or more Portfolios, appoint one or more banks, trust companies or other entities designated in such Special Instructions to act as a sub-custodian for the purposes of effecting such transaction(s) as may be designated by a Fund in Special Instructions. Each such designated sub-custodian is referred to herein as a “Special Sub-Custodian.” Each such duly appointed Special Sub-Custodian shall be listed on Schedule D hereto, as it may be amended from time to time by a Fund, with the acknowledgment of the Custodian. In connection with the appointment of any Special Sub-Custodian, and in accordance with Special Instructions, the Custodian shall enter into a sub-custodian agreement with the Fund and the Special Sub-Custodian in form and substance approved by such Fund, provided that such agreement shall in all events comply with the provisions of the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and the terms and provisions of this Agreement.

SECTION 6. PAYMENTS FOR SALES OR REPURCHASES OR REDEMPTIONS OF SHARES

The Custodian shall receive from the distributor of the Shares or from the Transfer Agent and deposit into the account of the appropriate Portfolio such payments as are received for Shares thereof issued or sold from time to time by the applicable Fund. The Custodian will provide timely notification to such Fund on behalf of each such Portfolio and the Transfer Agent of any receipt by it of payments for Shares of such Portfolio.

From such funds as may be available for the purpose, the Custodian shall, upon receipt of instructions from the Transfer Agent, make funds available for payment to holders of Shares who have delivered to the Transfer Agent a request for redemption or repurchase of their Shares. In

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connection with the redemption or repurchase of Shares, the Custodian is authorized upon receipt of instructions from the Transfer Agent to wire funds to or through a commercial bank designated by the redeeming shareholders. In connection with the redemption or repurchase of Shares, the Custodian shall honor checks drawn on the Custodian by a holder of Shares, which checks have been furnished by a Fund to the holder of Shares, when presented to the Custodian in accordance with such procedures and controls as are mutually agreed upon from time to time between such Fund and the Custodian.

SECTION 6A. INVESTMENT ADMINISTRATION SERVICES

Custodian shall provide Investment Administration Services to the Funds pursuant to the terms and conditions of the attached Investment Administration Services Addendum.

SECTION 7. PROPER INSTRUCTIONS AND SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

“Proper Instructions,” which may be standing instructions, shall mean instructions received by the Custodian from a Fund or a person or entity duly authorized by the Fund. Such instructions may be in writing signed by the authorized person or persons or may be in a tested communication or in a communication utilizing access codes effected between electro-mechanical or electronic devices or may be by such other means and utilizing such intermediary systems and utilities as may be agreed from time to time by the Custodian and the person(s) or entity giving such instruction, provided that such person(s) or entity has followed any security procedures agreed to from time to time by the applicable Fund and the Custodian including, but not limited to, the security procedures selected by the Fund via the form of Funds Transfer Addendum hereto. Oral instructions will be considered Proper Instructions if the Custodian reasonably believes them to have been given by a person authorized to provide such instructions with respect to the transaction involved; the Fund shall cause all oral instructions to be confirmed in writing. For purposes of this section, Proper Instructions shall include instructions received by the Custodian pursuant to any multi-party agreement which requires a segregated asset account in accordance with Section 2.9 hereof.

“Special Instructions,” as such term is used throughout this Agreement, means Proper Instructions countersigned or confirmed in writing by the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the applicable Fund or any other person designated in writing by the Treasurer of such Fund, which countersignature or confirmation shall be (a) included on the same instrument containing the Proper Instructions or on a separate instrument clearly relating thereto and (b) delivered by hand, by facsimile transmission, or in such other manner as the Fund and the Custodian agree in writing.

Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, and from time to time thereafter, as appropriate, each Fund shall deliver to the Custodian, duly certified by such Fund’s Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer, a certificate setting forth: (i) the names, titles, signatures and scope of authority of all persons authorized to give Proper Instructions or any other notice, request, direction, instruction, certificate or instrument on behalf of the Fund and (ii) the names, titles and signatures of those persons authorized to give Special Instructions. Such certificate may be accepted and relied upon by the Custodian as conclusive evidence of the facts set forth therein and shall be considered to be in full force and effect until receipt by the Custodian of notice to the contrary.

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SECTION 8. EVIDENCE OF AUTHORITY

Subject to Section 15, the Custodian shall be protected in acting upon any instructions, notice, request, consent, certificate or other instrument or paper reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been properly executed by or on behalf of the applicable Fund. The Custodian may receive and accept a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of any Fund as conclusive evidence (a) of the authority of any person to act in accordance with such resolution or (b) of any determination or of any action by the applicable Board as described in such resolution, and such resolution may be considered as in full force and effect until receipt by the Custodian of written notice to the contrary.

SECTION 9. ACTIONS PERMITTED WITHOUT EXPRESS AUTHORITY

The Custodian may in its discretion, without express authority from the applicable Fund on behalf of each applicable Portfolio:

1) Make payments to itself or others for minor expenses of handling securities or other similar items relating to its duties under this Agreement; provided that all such payments shall be accounted for to the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio;

2) Surrender securities in temporary form for securities in definitive form;

3) Endorse for collection, in the name of the Portfolio, checks, drafts and other negotiable instruments; and

4) In general, attend to all non-discretionary details in connection with the sale, exchange, substitution, purchase, transfer and other dealings with the securities and property of the Portfolio except as otherwise directed by the applicable Board.

SECTION 10. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

(1) The Custodian represents and warrants to each Fund that:

a. It is a Massachusetts trust company, duly organized and existing under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is qualified to conduct its business in every jurisdiction where its business is conducted except where the failure to be so qualified would not have a material adverse affect on the Custodian.

b. It has the power and authority to carry on its business in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and to enter into and perform this Agreement;

c. All requisite proceedings have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement;

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d. No legal or administrative proceedings have been instituted or threatened which would materially impair the Custodian’s ability to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement;

e. This Agreement constitutes its legal, valid, binding and enforceable agreement; and

f. Its entrance into this Agreement shall not cause a material breach or be in material conflict with any other agreement or obligation of the Custodian or any law or regulation applicable to it.

(2) Each Fund represents and warrants to the Custodian that:

a. It is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing in its state of organization as specified on Appendix A, and is qualified to conduct its business in every jurisdiction where its business is conducted except where the failure to be so qualified would not have a material adverse affect on the Fund;

b. It has the power and authority under applicable laws and its Governing Documents to enter into and perform this Agreement;

c. All requisite proceedings have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement;

d. No legal or administrative proceedings have been instituted or threatened which would materially impair the Fund’s ability to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement;

e. This Agreement constitutes its legal, valid, binding and enforceable agreement; and

f. Its entrance into this Agreement will not cause a material breach or be in material conflict with any other agreement or obligation of the Fund or any law or regulation applicable to it.

SECTION 11. RECORDS

The Custodian shall with respect to each Portfolio create and maintain all records relating to its activities and obligations under this Agreement in such manner as will meet the obligations of each Fund under the 1940 Act, with particular attention to section 31 thereof and Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 thereunder. All such records shall be the property of the Fund and shall at all times during the regular business hours of the Custodian be open for inspection by duly authorized officers, employees or agents of such Fund and employees and agents of the SEC. The Custodian shall, at a Fund’s request, supply the Fund with a tabulation of securities owned by each Portfolio and held by the Custodian and shall, when requested to do so by the Fund and for such compensation as shall be

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agreed upon between the Fund and the Custodian, include certificate numbers in such tabulations. Each Fund acknowledges that, in creating and maintaining the records as set forth herein with respect to Portfolio property released and delivered pursuant to Section 2.2(14), or purchased pursuant to Section 2.6(7) hereof, the Custodian is authorized and instructed to rely upon information provided to it by the Fund, the Fund’s counterparty(ies), or the agents of either of them. In addition to the foregoing, the Custodian shall provide storage for, during the term of this Agreement, historical records delivered to it by any prior custodian of the Funds and consult with the Funds in any event of the Custodian’s inability to do so; provided, that the parties hereby agree that the Custodian shall have no responsibility for the condition, accuracy, integrity, searchability, reconciliation or contents of such historical records.

SECTION 12. OPINION OF FUND’S I NDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT

The Custodian shall take all reasonable action, as a Fund with respect to a Portfolio may from time to time request, to obtain from year to year favorable opinions from the Fund’s independent accountants with respect to its activities hereunder in connection with the preparation of the Fund’s Form N-1A or Form N-2, as applicable, and Form N-SAR or other annual reports to the SEC and with respect to any other requirements thereof.

SECTION 13. REPORTS TO FUND BY INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

The Custodian shall provide each Fund, on behalf of each of its Portfolios, at such times as such Fund may reasonably require, with reports by independent public accountants on the accounting system, internal accounting control and procedures for safeguarding securities, futures contracts and options on futures contracts, including securities deposited and/or maintained in a U.S. Securities System or a Foreign Securities System (either, a “Securities System”), relating to the services provided by the Custodian under this Agreement; such reports shall be of sufficient scope and in sufficient detail as may reasonably be required by the Fund to provide reasonable assurance that any material inadequacies would be disclosed by such examination, and, if there are no such inadequacies, the reports shall so state.

SECTION 14. COMPENSATION OF CUSTODIAN

The Custodian shall be entitled to reasonable compensation for its services and expenses as Custodian, as agreed upon from time to time in writing between each Fund on behalf of each applicable Portfolio and the Custodian.

SECTION 15. RESPONSIBILITY OF CUSTODIAN

So long as and to the extent that it is in the exercise of reasonable care, the Custodian shall not be responsible for the title, validity or genuineness of any property or evidence of title thereto received by it or delivered by it pursuant to this Agreement and shall be held harmless in acting upon any notice, request, consent, certificate or other instrument reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to be signed by the proper party or parties, including any futures commission merchant acting pursuant to the terms of a three-party futures or options agreement. The Custodian shall be held to the

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exercise of reasonable care in carrying out the provisions of this Agreement, but shall be kept indemnified by and shall be without liability to any Fund for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith without negligence, bad faith, willful misconduct, violation of law applicable to the Custodian in its capacity as a custodian and that affects the Custodian’s performance of the Services hereunder, or material breach of this Agreement (provided, however, that the Custodian shall have the opportunity to cure, within thirty (30) days of its receipt of written notice from the Fund, solely those breaches capable of cure without material adverse impact to the Fund, provided, in each such instance where the Custodian is aware of an event related to such notice, the Custodian had previously informed the Fund promptly of such event; any such communication from the Custodian to the Fund shall not be used as or considered as an admission of fault and will be provided solely as an accommodation to the Fund), including, without limitation, acting in accordance with any Proper Instruction. It shall be entitled to rely on and may act upon advice of counsel (who may be counsel for the Fund) on all matters, and shall be without liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to such advice. The Custodian shall be without liability to any Fund or Portfolio for any loss, liability, claim or expense to the extent resulting from or caused by anything which is part of Country Risk (as defined in Section 3 hereof), including without limitation nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, or acts of war, revolution, riots or terrorism.

Except as may arise from the Custodian’s own negligence, bad faith, willful misconduct, violation of law applicable to the Custodian in its capacity as a custodian that affects the Custodian’s performance of the Services hereunder, or material breach of this Agreement (provided, however, that the Custodian shall have the opportunity to cure, within thirty (30) days of its receipt of written notice from the Fund, solely those breaches capable of cure without material adverse impact to the Fund, provided, in each such instance where the Custodian is aware of an event related to such notice, the Custodian had previously informed the Fund promptly of such event; any such communication from the Custodian to the Fund shall not be used as or considered as an admission of fault and will be provided solely as an accommodation to the Fund), or the negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of a sub-custodian or agent, the Custodian shall be without liability to any Fund for any loss, liability, claim or expense to the extent resulting from or caused by: (i) events or circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the Custodian or any sub-custodian or Securities System or any agent or nominee of any of the foregoing, including, without limitation, the interruption, suspension or restriction of trading on or the closure of any securities market, power or other mechanical or technological failures or interruptions, computer viruses or communications disruptions, work stoppages, natural disasters, or other similar events or acts; (ii) errors by any Fund or its duly authorized investment manager or investment adviser in its instructions to the Custodian provided such instructions have been in accordance with this Agreement; (iii) the insolvency of or acts or omissions by a Securities System; (iv) any act or omission of a Special Sub-Custodian including, without limitation, reliance on reports prepared by a Special Sub-Custodian ; (v) any delay or failure of any broker, agent or intermediary, central bank or other commercially prevalent payment or clearing system to deliver to the Custodian’s sub-custodian or agent securities purchased or in the remittance or payment made in connection with securities sold; (vi) any delay or failure of any company, corporation, or other body in charge of registering or transferring securities in the name of the Custodian, any Fund, the Custodian’s sub-custodians, nominees or agents or any consequential losses arising out of such delay or failure to transfer such securities including non-receipt of bonus, dividends and rights and other accretions or benefits; (vii) delays or inability to

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perform its duties due to any disorder in market infrastructure with respect to any particular security or Securities System; (viii) any provision of any present or future law or regulation or order of the United States of America, or any state thereof, or any other country, or political subdivision thereof or of any court of competent jurisdiction; and (ix) the Custodian acting in accordance with any Proper Instruction with respect to Free Trade.

In the event of equipment failure, work stoppage, governmental action, communication disruption or other impossibility of performance beyond the Custodian’s control, the Custodian shall take reasonable steps to minimize service interruptions. The Custodian shall enter into and shall maintain in effect, at all times during the term of this Agreement, with appropriate parties one or more agreements making reasonable provision for (i) periodic back-up of the computer files and data with respect to the Funds; and (ii) emergency use of electronic data processing equipment to provide services under this Agreement.

The Custodian shall have no more or less responsibility or liability to any Fund on account of any actions or omissions of any sub-custodian so employed than any such sub-custodian has to the Custodian. The Custodian shall be liable for the acts or omissions of a Foreign Sub-Custodian (as such term is defined in Section 4 hereof) to the same extent as set forth with respect to sub-custodians generally in this Agreement and, regardless of whether assets are maintained in the custody of a Foreign Sub-Custodian or a Foreign Securities System, the Custodian shall not be liable for any loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim to the extent resulting from nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, or acts of war or terrorism, or any other loss where the Sub-Custodian has otherwise acted with reasonable care. With respect to foreign securities maintained in the custody of a Foreign Sub-Custodian (other than bearer securities) which are registered in the name of the applicable Portfolio or in the name of the Custodian or in the name of any Foreign Sub-Custodian or in the name of any nominee of the foregoing in accordance with Section 4.5 of this Agreement, the applicable Fund on behalf of such Portfolio agrees to hold any such nominee harmless from any liability as a holder of record of such foreign securities.

If a Fund on behalf of a Portfolio requires the Custodian to take any action not otherwise addressed in this Agreement with respect to securities, which action involves the payment of money or which action may, in the reasonable opinion of the Custodian, result in the Custodian or its nominee assigned to the Fund or the Portfolio being liable for the payment of money or incurring liability of some other form, such Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, as a prerequisite to requiring the Custodian to take such action, shall provide indemnity to the Custodian in an amount and form satisfactory to it.

In the event a Fund requires the Custodian, its affiliates, subsidiaries or agents, to advance cash or securities for any purpose (including but not limited to securities settlements, predetermined income, foreign exchange contracts and assumed settlement) or in the event that the Custodian or its nominee shall incur or be assessed any taxes, charges, expenses, assessments, claims or liabilities in connection with the performance of this Agreement, except such as may arise from its or its nominee’s own negligent action, negligent failure to act or willful misconduct, any property at any time held for the account of the applicable Portfolio shall be security therefor and should the Fund fail to repay the Custodian promptly, the Custodian shall be entitled to utilize available cash and to dispose of such Portfolio’s assets to the extent necessary to obtain reimbursement. To the extent not

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inconsistent with market rules or practice, the Custodian shall first utilize available cash and thereafter such Portfolio’s other assets, it being specifically understood that any failure of the Custodian to so utilize or dispose shall in no way affect either the validity or priority of the Custodian’s security interest in such cash or assets. Further, and only to the extent practicable, the Custodian shall provide notice to the Fund prior to commencing such utilization or disposal, and, if such prior notice is not practicable, the Custodian shall provide notice to the Fund as soon as practicable thereafter, it being specifically understood that any failure of the Custodian to provide any such notice shall in no way affect the Custodian’s rights or remedies under this paragraph or applicable law.

In no event shall any party hereto be liable for indirect, special or consequential damages.

SECTION 16. EFFECTIVE PERIOD, TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT

(a) This Agreement shall become effective as of its execution and shall continue in full force and effect for an initial term of four (4) years from the date hereof, and shall automatically renew for additional consecutive three (3) year terms, unless either party gives one hundred eighty (180) days’ prior written notice to the other of its intent not to renew. If this Agreement is terminated (the effective date of such termination being referred to as the “Termination Date”), the Custodian shall, at the reasonable request of the Funds, and subject to the consent of the Custodian (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), continue to provide services hereunder for a period (the “Extension Period” ) not to exceed ninety (90) days from the Termination Date, and the compensation payable to the Custodian for its services and expenses during such Extension Period shall not exceed one hundred and five percent (105%) (per annum) of the compensation last agreed upon by each Fund and the Custodian and in effect immediately prior to the Termination Date.

(b) In the event that the Agreement is terminated by any Fund with respect to a Portfolio (the “Terminating Fund”), other than for cause, with respect to such Terminating Fund prior to the four (4) year anniversary of the date hereof (the “Anniversary Date”), and the Custodian has not terminated either this Agreement with respect to such Terminating Fund or any agreement pursuant to which the Custodian provides fund accounting services relative to such Terminating Fund, the Terminating Fund shall pay to the Custodian, in lieu of any other fees, expenses, termination penalties, damages or other amounts (except as identified in paragraph (c) below), an early termination fee equal to the present value, using a discount rate of seven percent (7%), compounded annually, of the remaining fees which would have been due by the Terminating Fund to the Custodian for the period from the Termination Date until the Anniversary Date if the Agreement had not been terminated (the “Remaining Fees”) which Remaining Fees shall be determined using the average monthly compensation for its services (prior to the application of any earnings credits) earned by the Custodian hereunder with respect to such Terminating Fund during the 12-month period (or if shorter, such lesser period of time) preceding such Termination Date (the “Early Termination Fee”).

For the avoidance of doubt, no Terminating Fund will be required to make any such Early Termination Fee payment (other than as set forth in paragraph (e) below) if this Agreement is

25. 

 


terminated on or after the Anniversary Date or by the Terminating Funds for cause at any time.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (b) above, no Early Termination Fee shall be payable in the event (each, a “Liquidation, Merger or Consolidation Event”) that a Fund or Portfolio is

(i) liquidated; or

(ii) merged into or consolidated with another Fund or Portfolio with respect to which the Custodian provides Services pursuant to this Agreement; or

(iii) merged into or consolidated with another investment company or series of an investment company (each series representing interests in a separate portfolio of securities and other assets) with respect to which the Custodian provides custody services,

provided, that in each case of (i) and (ii) above, the aggregate amount of fees for custody services provided by the Custodian with respect to all Funds and Portfolios covered by this Agreement immediately after, and taking into consideration the effect of, such Liquidation, Merger or Consolidation Event (the “Projected Fees”) shall be equal to or greater than the aggregate amount of fees for custody services provided by the Custodian pursuant to this Agreement, measured as of the date of this Agreement (the “Existing Fees”);

and further provided , that in each case of (iii) above, (A) the Projected Fees plus (B) the Incremental Fees (as defined below) shall be equal to or greater than the Existing Fees.

For purposes of this Section 16(c), the Projected Fees shall equal the custody fees, with respect to such Funds and Portfolios subject to this Agreement immediately after such Liquidation, Merger or Consolidation Event, projected to be earned by the Custodian on an annualized basis for the ensuing twelve-month period, with no adjustments for market fluctuations or subscription and redemption activity.

For purposes of this Section 16(c), the Existing Fees shall equal the custody fees, with respect to such Funds and Portfolios on the date of this Agreement, projected to be earned by the Custodian on an annualized basis for the ensuing twelve-month period, with no adjustments for market fluctuations or subscription and redemption activity.

For purposes of this Section 16(c), the “Other Contract” shall mean a contractual arrangement pursuant to which the Custodian provides custody services that may not be terminated earlier than the Anniversary Date and whose fee schedule is fixed until the Anniversary Date.

For purposes of this Section 16(c), the “Incremental Fees” shall mean (A) the custody fees with respect to custody services under the Other Contract that are projected to be earned by the Custodian on an annualized basis for the ensuing twelve-month period, with no adjustments for market fluctuations or subscription and redemption activity, immediately after such Liquidation, Merger or Consolidation Event, less (B) the custody fees with respect to custody services under the Other

26. 

 


Contract that were projected to have been earned by the Custodian on an annualized basis for the ensuing twelve-month period, with no adjustments for market fluctuations or subscription and redemption activity, immediately prior to such Liquidation, Merger or Consolidation Event.

(d) Upon any termination of this Agreement pursuant to paragraph (b) above and receipt of a final bill from the Custodian, the Terminating Fund shall pay to the Custodian all accrued and unpaid fees and expenses, whether the same have been billed or remain unbilled prior to delivery of such final bill, and shall reimburse the Custodian for any reasonable de-conversion costs associated with such termination.

(e) Notwithstanding any term herein to the contrary, termination of this Agreement with respect to a Terminating Fund shall in no way affect the rights and duties under this Agreement with respect to any other Fund or Portfolio.

(f) In the event of the appointment of a conservator or receiver for the Custodian by the Comptroller of the Currency or upon the happening of a like event at the direction of an appropriate regulatory agency or court of competent jurisdiction, any Fund on behalf of one or more of the Portfolios may at any time by action of its Board (i) substitute another bank or trust company for the Custodian by giving notice as described above to the Custodian, or (ii) immediately terminate this Agreement without penalty.

(g) This Agreement may be modified or amended from time to time by mutual written agreement of the parties hereto.

SECTION 17. SUCCESSOR CUSTODIAN

If a successor custodian for one or more Portfolios shall be appointed by the applicable Board, the Custodian shall, upon notice of such appointment and receipt of Proper Instructions, deliver to such successor custodian at the office of the Custodian, duly endorsed and in the form for transfer, as may be applicable, all securities, funds and other properties of each applicable Portfolio then held by it hereunder and shall transfer to an account of the successor custodian all of the securities of each such Portfolio held in a Securities System or at the Underlying Transfer Agent.

If no such successor custodian shall be appointed, the Custodian shall, in like manner, upon receipt of Proper Instructions, deliver at the office of the Custodian and transfer such securities, funds and other properties in accordance therewith.

In the event that no Proper Instructions designating a successor custodian or alternative arrangements shall have been delivered to the Custodian on or before the date when such termination shall become effective, then the Custodian shall have the right to deliver to a bank or trust company, which is a “bank” as defined in the 1940 Act, doing business in Boston, Massachusetts or New York, New York, of its own selection, having an aggregate capital, surplus, and undivided profits, as shown by its last published report, of not less than $25,000,000, all securities, funds and other properties held by the Custodian on behalf of each applicable Portfolio and all instruments held by the Custodian relative thereto and all other property held by it under this Agreement on behalf of each applicable

27. 

 


Portfolio, and to transfer to an account of such successor custodian all of the securities of each such Portfolio held in any Securities System or at the Underlying Transfer Agent. Thereafter, such bank or trust company shall be the successor of the Custodian under this Agreement.

In the event that securities, funds and other properties remain in the possession of the Custodian after the date of termination hereof owing to failure of any Fund to provide Proper Instructions as aforesaid, the Custodian shall be entitled to fair compensation for its services during such period as the Custodian retains possession of such securities, funds and other properties and the provisions of this Agreement relating to the duties and obligations of the Custodian shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 18. OVERSIGHT; AUDIT RIGHTS; ADDITIONAL SUB-CERTIFICATIONS AND REPORTS

SECTION 18.1 OVERSIGHT. The Custodian acknowledges that the Funds have informed the Custodian of their intent to engage Putnam Fiduciary Trust Company, a Massachusetts trust company (“PFTC”), or one of PFTC’s affiliates to perform custody oversight services on behalf of the Funds. Upon notice and instruction from the Funds that they have engaged PFTC or its affiliate regarding such custody oversight services, the Custodian shall, at the expense of the Funds, reasonably cooperate with such entity to provide such information regarding the Funds and such information regarding the Custodian’s performance of the services contemplated by this Agreement (the “Services”) to such entity as it may reasonably request from time to time.

SECTION 18.2 AUDIT RIGHTS.

(a) To the extent required by applicable law, rule or regulation and upon request of a Fund (which shall include reasonable advance notice), the Custodian shall allow such Fund’s regulators or supervisory authorities to perform periodic on-site audits as may be reasonably required to examine the Custodian’s performance of the Services. Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to the performance of any audits of the Custodian’s performance of the Services, the Fund will request that such regulator or supervisory authority to the extent possible shall coordinate such audit through the Custodian’s primary regulator, the United States Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

(b) Upon request of a Fund (which shall include reasonable advance notice), the Custodian shall allow such Fund and its duly-authorized agents, auditors (including internal audit staff and external auditors), and compliance personnel to perform periodic on-site audits as may be reasonably required to examine the Custodian’s performance of the Services.

(c) Notwithstanding the audit and inspection rights conferred by the foregoing subsection, the Custodian reserves the right to impose reasonable limitations on the number, frequency, timing and scope of audits and inspections requested by the Funds so as to prevent or minimize any potential impairment or disruption of its operations, distraction of its personnel or breaches of security or confidentiality; provided, however, that the Custodian may not limit the number, frequency or timing of audits and inspections by regulatory bodies with supervisory authority over a Fund or by a Fund resulting from a regulatory problem at the Custodian and affecting the Custodian’s ability to provide the Services hereunder or any material weakness or significant

28. 

 


deficiency in the Custodian’s internal controls. In addition, the Custodian shall be entitled to impose a commercially reasonable per person hourly charge for the cooperation and assistance of its personnel in connection with any audit in excess of one (1) in any twelve (12) month period; provided, however, that no such charge may be imposed in connection with any audit or inspection by any regulatory body with supervisory authority over a Fund or by a Fund resulting from a regulatory problem at the Custodian and affecting the Custodian’s ability to provide the Services hereunder or any material weakness or significant deficiency in the Custodian’s internal controls. Nothing contained in this section shall obligate the Custodian to provide access to or otherwise disclose: (i) any information that is unrelated to the relevant Fund and the provision of the Services to such Fund; (ii) any information which is treated as confidential under the Custodian’s corporate policies, including, without limitation, internal audit reports, compliance or risk management plans or reports, work papers and other reports and information relating to management functions; or (iii) any other documents, reports or other information that the Custodian is obligated to maintain in confidence as a matter of law or regulation. In addition, any access provided hereunder to technology shall be limited to a demonstration by the Custodian of the functionality thereof and a reasonable opportunity to communicate with the Custodian personnel regarding such technology.

SECTION 18.3 ADDITIONAL SUB-CERTIFICATIONS AND REPORTS

The Custodian shall provide to the Funds: (a) sub-certifications in connection with Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 certification requirements; and (b) periodic reports and reasonable documentation for delivery to the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer in connection with Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act with respect to the Services and the Custodian’s compliance with its operating policies and procedures related thereto.

SECTION 19. INCLUDED SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS.

If, in the ordinary course of its business, the Custodian enhances core system processing functionality that it uses in connection with the Services, the Custodian shall use such enhanced core system processing enhancements in performing the Services hereunder, at no additional charge to the Funds, as soon as the Custodian reasonably determines that such use is appropriate. To the extent the Custodian reasonably determines that such enhanced core system processing enhancements are relevant to the Funds’ receipt of the Services, the Custodian shall inform the Funds of such core system processing enhancements.

SECTION 20. CONFIDENTIALITY.

The parties hereto agree that each shall treat as confidential all information provided by a party (the “Disclosing Party”) to the other party (the “Recipient”) or to which the Recipient obtains access and that relates to the Disclosing Party, including information regarding its business, financial affairs, operations or otherwise, including without limitation, securities holdings and trading information of a Portfolio or Fund (“Confidential Information”). In maintaining the confidentiality of the Confidential Information of a Disclosing Party, each Recipient shall exercise the same degree of care that such person exercises with respect to its own Confidential Information of a similar nature, including the use of customary data protection procedures, and in no event less than a reasonable

29. 

 


degree of care. All Confidential Information of a Disclosing Party shall be used by a Recipient solely for the purpose of rendering or receiving services pursuant to this Agreement and shall not be disclosed to any party other than such Recipient’s (i) employees and contractors who have a need-to-know for purposes of performing such Recipient’s obligations under this Agreement, provided, that, such persons and entities are bound by confidentiality provisions at least as stringent as those contained herein, (ii) regulators or examiners, and (iii) auditors and legal counsel, to the extent required in connection with services provided by such parties to Recipient.

The Recipient shall notify the Disclosing Party of any unauthorized use or disclosure of Confidential Information of the Disclosing Party of which the Recipient becomes aware. The parties agree that disclosure of Confidential Information of a Disclosing Party may give rise to an irreparable injury to such Disclosing Party inadequately compensable in damages. Accordingly, the Disclosing Party may seek (without the posting of any bond or other security) injunctive relief against the breach of the foregoing undertaking of confidentiality and nondisclosure, in addition to any other legal remedies which may be available.

The foregoing obligations of confidentiality and non-disclosure shall not be applicable to any information that the Recipient demonstrates (i) is publicly available when provided or thereafter becomes publicly available, other than through disclosure by the Recipient or any of its affiliates, or that is independently derived by the Recipient without the use of any information provided by the Disclosing Party, (ii) that is required in any legal or regulatory proceeding, investigation, audit, examination, subpoena, civil investigative demand or other similar process, or by operation of law or regulation (collectively, “Legal Process”), or (iii) where the Recipient has received the prior written consent of the Disclosing Party. In the event that a Recipient is requested by or pursuant to, or required by, Legal Process to disclose any Confidential Information of any other party to this Agreement, such Recipient will, to the extent not legally prohibited, provide the applicable Disclosing Party with prompt notice of such Legal Process in order to enable the Disclosing Party, at its own expense, to seek an appropriate protective order or other remedy (and, if the Disclosing Party seeks such order, the Recipient will provide such cooperation as the Disclosing Party shall reasonably request at the Disclosing Party’s expense) to resist or narrow the scope of such request or legal process, or waive compliance, in whole or in part, with the terms of this Section 20. In the event that such protective order or other remedy is not obtained or the Disclosing Party waives such compliance, only that portion of the Confidential Information may be disclosed as the Recipient, as advised by counsel, is legally required to disclose and the Recipient will request that all such Confidential Information so disclosed will be accorded confidential treatment. Confidential Information disclosed in combination with other information that is not Confidential Information is not deemed to fall within one of the foregoing exceptions by reason of such combination.

Furthermore, and notwithstanding anything in this section to the contrary, the Custodian may aggregate Fund or Portfolio data with similar data of other customers of the Custodian (“Aggregated Data”) and may use Aggregated Data for purposes of constructing statistical models so long as such Aggregated Data represents a sufficiently large sample that no Fund or Portfolio data can be identified either directly or by inference or implication.

30. 

 


All of the undertakings and obligations relating to confidentiality and nondisclosure, whether contained in this Section or elsewhere in this Agreement or any schedule or exhibit hereto shall survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement for a period of three (3) years.

SECTION 21. GENERAL

SECTION 21.1 MASSACHUSETTS LAW TO APPLY. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof interpreted under and in accordance with laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

SECTION 21.2 PRIOR AGREEMENTS. This Agreement supersedes and terminates, as of the date hereof, any prior Agreements between each Fund on behalf of each of the Portfolios and the Custodian relating to the custody of such Fund’s assets.

SECTION 21.3 ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement may not be assigned by (a) any Fund without the written consent of the Custodian or (b) by the Custodian without the written consent of each applicable Fund.

SECTION 21.4 INTERPRETIVE AND ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS. In connection with the operation of this Agreement, the Custodian and each Fund on behalf of each of the Portfolios, may from time to time agree on such provisions interpretive of or in addition to the provisions of this Agreement as may in their joint opinion be consistent with the general tenor of this Agreement. Any such interpretive or additional provisions shall be in a writing signed by all parties and shall be annexed hereto, provided that no such interpretive or additional provisions shall contravene any applicable federal or state regulations or any provision of a Fund’s Governing Documents. No interpretive or additional provisions made as provided in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be an amendment of this Agreement.

SECTION 21.5 ADDITIONAL FUNDS. In the event that any management investment company advised by Putnam Investment Management, LLC or an affiliate thereof, in addition to those listed on Appendix A hereto desires to have the Custodian render services as custodian under the terms hereof, it shall so notify the Custodian in writing, and if the Custodian agrees in writing to provide such services, such management investment company shall become a Fund hereunder and the Custodian and the Fund shall be bound by all terms and conditions and provisions hereof.

SECTION 21.6 ADDITIONAL PORTFOLIOS. In the event that any Fund establishes one or more series of Shares in addition to those set forth on Appendix A hereto with respect to which it desires to have the Custodian render services as custodian under the terms hereof, it shall so notify the Custodian in writing, and if the Custodian agrees in writing to provide such services, such series of Shares shall become a Portfolio hereunder and the Custodian and the Fund shall be bound by all terms and conditions and provisions hereof with respect to such Portfolio.

SECTION 21.7 THE PARTIES. All references herein to the “Fund” are to each of the management investment companies listed on Appendix A hereto, and each management investment company made subject to this Agreement in accordance with Section 21.5 above, individually, as if

31. 

 


this Agreement were between such individual Fund and the Custodian. In the case of a series corporation, trust or other entity, all references herein to the “Portfolio” are to the individual series or portfolio of such corporation, trust or other entity, or to such corporation, trust or other entity on behalf of the individual series or portfolio, as appropriate. Any reference in this Agreement to “the parties” shall mean the Custodian and such other individual Fund as to which the matter pertains.

A copy of the Declaration of Trust of each Fund is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Notice is hereby given, and it is expressly agreed that the obligations under this Agreement of any such Fund shall not be binding upon any of the trustees, shareholders, nominees, officers, agents or employees of such Fund personally, but bind only the trust property of such Fund. In the case of each Fund, the execution and delivery of this Agreement on its behalf has been authorized by its trustees, and signed by an authorized officer, in each case acting in such capacity and not individually, and neither such authorization by the trustees nor such execution and delivery shall be deemed to have been made by any of them individually, but shall only bind the trust property of each Fund.

SECTION 21.8 REMOTE ACCESS SERVICES ADDENDUM . The Custodian and each Fund agree to be bound by the terms of the Remote Access Services Addendum hereto.

SECTION 21.9 NOTICES. Any notice, instruction or other instrument required to be given hereunder may be delivered in person to the offices of the parties as set forth herein during normal business hours or delivered prepaid registered mail, overnight courier or by telex, cable or telecopy to the parties at the following addresses or such other addresses as may be notified by any party from time to time.

To any Fund:  c/o PUTNAM FIDUCIARY TRUST COMPANY 
  1 Post Office Square 
  Boston, Massachusetts 02109 
 
  Attention: Judd Symon, Senior Vice President 
  Telephone: 617-760-5181 
  Telecopy: 617-760-5140 
 
with a copy to:  ROPES & GRAY 
Prudential Tower 
  800 Boylston Street 
  Boston, MA 02199-3600 
 
  Attention: John W. Gertsmayr 
  Telephone: 617-951-7393 
  Telecopy: 617-235-0040 

 

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To the Custodian:  STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY 
Lafayette Corporate Center 
  2 Avenue de Lafayette 
Boston, Massachusetts 02111 
 
  Attention: Robert F. Dame, Senior Vice President, LCC/2S 
  Telephone: 617-662-4036 
  Telecopy: 617-662-4040 

 

Such notice, instruction or other instrument shall be deemed to have been served in the case of a registered letter at the expiration of five business days after posting, in the case of overnight courier, upon receipt, in the case of cable twenty-four hours after dispatch and, in the case of telex or telecopy, immediately on dispatch and if delivered by cable, telex or telecopy outside normal business hours it shall be deemed to have been received at the next time after delivery when normal business hours commence. Evidence that the notice was properly addressed, stamped and put into the post shall be conclusive evidence of posting.

SECTION 21.10 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.

SECTION 21.11 SEVERABILITY; WAIVER. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, unlawful or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired. The failure of a party hereto to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement on any occasion or the failure of a party hereto to exercise or any delay in exercising any right or remedy under this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of any such term, right or remedy or a waiver of any other rights or remedies and no single or partial exercise of any right or remedy under this Agreement shall prevent any further exercise of the right or remedy or the exercise of any other right or remedy.

SECTION 21.12 REPRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS. This Agreement and all schedules, addenda, exhibits, appendices, attachments and amendments hereto may be reproduced by any photographic, photostatic, microfilm, micro-card, miniature photographic or other similar process. The parties hereto all/each agree that any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding, whether or not the original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by a party in the regular course of business, and that any enlargement, facsimile or further reproduction of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in evidence.

SECTION 21.13 SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS ELECTION. SEC Rule 14b-2 requires banks which hold securities for the account of customers to respond to requests by issuers of securities for the names, addresses and holdings of beneficial owners of securities of that issuer held by the bank unless the beneficial owner has expressly objected to disclosure of this information. In order to comply with the rule, the Custodian needs each Fund to indicate whether it authorizes the Custodian to provide such Fund’s name, address, and share position to requesting companies whose securities

33. 

 


the Fund owns. If a Fund tells the Custodian “no,” the Custodian will not provide this information to requesting companies. If a Fund tells the Custodian “yes” or does not check either “yes” or “no” below, the Custodian is required by the rule to treat the Fund as consenting to disclosure of this information for all securities owned by the Fund or any funds or accounts established by the Fund. For a Fund’s protection, the Rule prohibits the requesting company from using the Fund’s name and address for any purpose other than corporate communications. Please indicate below whether the Fund consents or objects by checking one of the alternatives below.

YES [ ] The Custodian is authorized to release the Fund’s name, address, and share positions.

NO [X] The Custodian is not authorized to release the Fund’s name, address, and share positions.

34. 

 


SIGNATURE PAGE
 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this instrument to be executed in 
its name and behalf by its duly authorized representative and its seal to be hereunder 
affixed as of the date first above-written.       
 
FUND SIGNATURE ATTESTED TO BY:  EACH OF THE ENTITIESSET 
  FORTH ON APPENDIX A 
  HERETO 
 
 
/s/ Robert T. Burns    /s/ Jonathan S. Horwitz 
By: Robert T. Burns_________________ By: Jonathan S. Horwitz 
Robert T. Burns    Jonathan S. Horwitz 
Managing Director,    Executive Vice President, 
Putnam Investments    Principal Executive 
    Officer, Treasurer and 
    Compliance Liaison 
 
 
 
 
SIGNATURE ATTESTED TO BY:  STATE STREET BANK AND
  TRUST COMPANY
 
 
/s/ Stephanie L. Poster    /s/ Joseph L. Hooley 
By: Stephanie L. Poster______________    By: Joseph L. Hooley 
Stephanie L. Poster    Joseph L. Hooley 
Vice President and Senior Managing Counsel    Executive Vice President 

 


APPENDIX A 
TO 
MASTER CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT 
 
As amended as of July 24, 2017 
 
Putnam American Government Income Fund 
 
Putnam Asset Allocation Funds 
-Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Balanced Fund 
-Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Conservative Fund 
-Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Growth Fund
Putnam California Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Convertible Securities Fund 
Putnam Diversified Income Trust 
Putnam Equity Income Fund 
Putnam Europe Equity Fund 
Putnam Funds Trust 
- Putnam Absolute Return 100 Fund 
- Putnam Absolute Return 300 Fund 
- Putnam Absolute Return 500 Fund 
- Putnam Absolute Return 700 Fund 
- Putnam Capital Spectrum Fund 
- Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Equity Fund
- Putnam Dynamic Risk Allocation Fund 
- Putnam Emerging Markets Equity Fund 
- Putnam Emerging Markets Income Fund 
- Putnam Equity Spectrum Fund 
- Putnam Floating Rate Income Fund 
- Putnam Global Consumer Fund 
- Putnam Global Financials Fund 
- Putnam Global Industrials Fund 
- Putnam Global Sector Fund 
- Putnam Global Technology Fund 
- Putnam Global Telecommunications Fund 
- Putnam Intermediate-Term Municipal Income Fund 
- Putnam International Value Fund 
- Putnam Low Volatility Equity Fund 
- Putnam Mortgage Opportunities Fund 
- Putnam Multi-Cap Core Fund 
- Putnam Short Duration Income Fund 
- Putnam Short Term Investment Fund 
- Putnam Short-Term Municipal Income Fund
- Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund 
George Putnam Balanced Fund 
Putnam Global Equity Fund 

 


Putnam Global Health Care Fund 
Putnam Global Income Trust 
Putnam Global Natural Resources Fund 
Putnam Global Utilities Fund 
Putnam High Income Securities Fund 
Putnam High Yield Fund 
Putnam Income Fund 
Putnam International Equity Fund 
Putnam Investment Funds 
-Putnam Capital Opportunities Fund 
-Putnam Government Money Market Fund
-Putnam Growth Opportunities Fund 
-Putnam International Capital Opportunities Fund 
-Putnam International Growth Fund 
-Putnam Multi-Cap Value Fund 
-Putnam PanAgora Managed Futures Strategy 
-Putnam PanAgora Market Neutral Fund
-Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund 
-Putnam Research Fund 
-Putnam Small Cap Value Fund 
Putnam Investors Fund 
Putnam Managed Municipal Income Trust 
Putnam Massachusetts Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Master Intermediate Income Trust 
Putnam Minnesota Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Money Market Fund 
Putnam Mortgage Recovery Fund 
Putnam Multi-Cap Growth Fund 
Putnam Municipal Opportunities Trust 
Putnam New Jersey Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam New York Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Pennsylvania Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Premier Income Trust 
Putnam RetirementReady® Funds 
-Putnam Retirement Income Fund Lifestyle 1 
-Putnam RetirementReady 2060 Fund 
-Putnam RetirementReady 2055 Fund 
-Putnam RetirementReady 2050 Fund 
-Putnam RetirementReady 2045 Fund 
-Putnam RetirementReady 2040 Fund 
-Putnam RetirementReady 2035 Fund 
-Putnam RetirementReady 2030 Fund 
-Putnam RetirementReady 2025 Fund 
-Putnam RetirementReady 2020 Fund 
Putnam Tax Exempt Income Fund 

 


Putnam Tax-Free Income Trust 
-Putnam AMT-Free Municipal Fund 
-Putnam Tax-Free High Yield Fund 
Putnam U.S. Government Income Trust 
Putnam Variable Trust 
-Putnam VT Absolute Return 500 Fund 
-Putnam VT American Government Income Fund 
-Putnam VT Capital Opportunities Fund
-Putnam VT Diversified Income Fund 
-Putnam VT Equity Income Fund 
-Putnam VT George Putnam Balanced Fund
-Putnam VT Global Asset Allocation Fund
-Putnam VT Global Equity Fund 
-Putnam VT Global Health Care Fund 
-Putnam VT Global Utilities Fund 
-Putnam VT Government Money Market Fund 
-Putnam VT Growth Opportunities Fund
-Putnam VT High Yield Fund 
-Putnam VT Income Fund 
-Putnam VT International Equity Fund 
-Putnam VT International Value Fund 
-Putnam VT International Growth Fund 
-Putnam VT Investors Fund 
-Putnam VT Multi-Cap Growth Fund 
-Putnam VT Multi-Cap Value Fund 
-Putnam VT Research Fund 
-Putnam VT Small Cap Value Fund 
 
 
7-24-17 

 

 EX-99.H OTH MAT CONT 7 a_invservmod4.htm a_invservmod4.htm
AMENDED & RESTATED INVESTOR SERVICING AGREEMENT — 
OPEN-END FUNDS

 

This AGREEMENT is made as of the 1st day of July, 2013, between each of the Putnam Funds listed in Appendix A hereto (as the same may from time to time be amended to add one or more additional Putnam Funds or to delete one or more of such Funds), each of such Funds acting severally on its own behalf and not jointly with any of such other Funds (each of such Funds being hereinafter referred to as the “Fund”), and Putnam Investment Management, LLC (the “Manager”), a Delaware limited liability company, and Putnam Investor Services, Inc. (the “Agent”), a Massachusetts corporation, and amends and restates the Amended and Restated Investor Servicing Agreement dated as of January 1, 2009 between each of the Funds, the Manager, and the Agent.

 

W I T N E S S E T H: 

 

WHEREAS, the Fund is an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940;

WHEREAS, Putnam Fiduciary Trust Company has transferred, with the consent of the trustees of the Fund (the “Trustees”), its investor servicing business for the Fund to the Agent effective as of January 1, 2009;

WHEREAS, the Fund desires to engage the Manager and the Agent to provide all services required by the Fund in connection with the establishment, maintenance and recording of shareholder accounts, including without limitation all related tax and other reporting requirements, and the implementation of investment and redemption arrangements offered in connection with the sale of the Fund’s shares;

WHEREAS, the Agent, an affiliate of the Manager, is willing to provide such services and implement and administer such regulatory obligations on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants set forth herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. APPOINTMENT.

The Fund hereby appoints the Agent as its “Investor Servicing Agent” on the terms and conditions set forth herein. In such capacity, the Agent shall act as transfer, distribution disbursing and redemption agent for the Fund and shall act as agent for the shareholders of the Fund in connection with the various shareholder investment and/or redemption plans from time to time made available to shareholders. The Agent hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the respective duties and functions of such offices in accordance with the terms of this agreement and in a manner generally consistent with the practices and standards customarily followed by other high quality investor servicing agents for registered investment companies.


Notwithstanding such appointment, however, the parties agree that the Manager may, upon thirty (30) days prior written notice to the Fund, assume such appointment and perform such duties and functions itself. Pending any such assumption, however, the Manager hereby guarantees the performance of the Agent hereunder and shall be fully responsible to the Fund, financially and otherwise, for the performance by the Agent of its agreements contained herein.

2. GENERAL AUTHORITY AND DUTIES.

By its acceptance of the foregoing appointment, the Agent shall be responsible for performing all functions and duties which, in the reasonable judgment of the Fund, are necessary or desirable in connection with the establishment, maintenance and recording of the Fund’s shareholder accounts and the conduct of its relations with shareholders with respect to their accounts. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Agent shall be responsible:

(a) as transfer agent, for performing all functions customarily performed by transfer agents for registered investment companies, including without limitation all functions necessary or desirable to establish and maintain accounts evidencing the ownership of securities issued by the Fund and, to the extent applicable, the issuance of certificates representing such securities, the recording of all transactions pertaining to such accounts, and effecting the issuance and redemption of securities issued by the Fund;

(b) as distribution disbursing agent, for performing all functions customarily performed by distribution disbursing agents for registered investment companies, including without limitation all functions necessary or desirable to effect the payment to shareholders of distributions declared from time to time by the Trustees;

(c) as redemption agent for the Fund, for performing all functions necessary or desirable to effect the redemption of securities issued by the Fund and payment of the proceeds thereof; and

(d) as agent for shareholders of the Fund, performing all functions necessary or desirable to maintain all plans or arrangements from time to time made available to shareholders to facilitate the purchase or redemption of securities issued by the Fund.

In performing its duties hereunder, in addition to the provisions set forth herein, the Agent shall comply with the terms of the Declaration of Trust, the Bylaws and the current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information of the Fund, and with the terms of votes adopted from time to time by the Trustees and shareholders of the Fund, relating to the subject matters of this Agreement, all as the same may be amended from time to time.

3. DELEGATION OF CERTAIN REGULATORY OBLIGATIONS

3.1 As of the date hereof and through the term of this Agreement, the Agent shall (i) perform the Fund’s obligations under the Fund’s Anti-Money Laundering Program, including a Customer Identification Program (“CIP”) (the “AML Program”) in compliance with the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct

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Terrorism Act of 2001 (the “USA PATRIOT Act”), and (ii) perform the Fund’s obligations under the Fund’s policies and procedures to comply with the sanctions programs administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (“OFAC”), Rule 22c-2 promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“Rule 22c-2”), Regulation S-P adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and various state privacy requirements (collectively, “Reg S-P”), and the Federal Trade Commission’s (and by November 20, 2013, the SEC’s) Identity Theft Red Flags Rule (“Identity Theft Red Flags”).

3.2. The Agent shall provide the Fund and its agents with reasonable access to all records related to the establishment and maintenance of accounts that have been retained in compliance with the Fund’s CIP and shall take such further action as may be reasonably requested by the Fund in order to facilitate compliance with the Fund’s CIP. The Agent shall provide adequate notice to customers of the Fund that the Fund is requesting information to verify their identities.

3.3 In connection with applicable anti-money laundering laws (including the reporting, recordkeeping and compliance requirements of the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by the USA PATRIOT Act, their implementing regulations, and related SEC rules and regulations) and in connection with the Fund’s AML Program and CIP, the Fund and the Agent hereby agree and covenant that the Agent will permit federal examiners, regulators and personnel of the Fund to (i) obtain all information such federal examiners, regulators or personnel of the Fund consider necessary or appropriate relating to the Fund’s AML Program and CIP and (ii) inspect the Agent, including its facilities and records, with respect to the Fund AML Program and CIP.

3.4. The Agent shall provide the Fund and its agents with reasonable access to all records relating to its performance of the Fund’s OFAC, Rule 22c-2, Reg S-P, and Identity Theft Red Flags compliance programs, and will permit federal examiners, regulators, and personnel of the Fund to (i) obtain all information such federal examiners, regulators, or personnel of the Fund consider necessary or appropriate relating to such compliance programs and (ii) inspect the Agent, including its facilities and records, with respect to such compliance programs.

4. OTHER THIRD PARTY SERVICING ARRANGEMENTS

Servicing arrangements may currently exist or may in the future be established with various third parties (which may include entities affiliated with the Agent) who have agreed to provide services to shareholders or to retirement plans and their participants who invest in the Fund. The Agent, and not the Fund, shall be fully responsible for the payment of all amounts owing to such service providers and shall monitor the provision of such services to such shareholders or plans and participants, reporting to the Trustees at such times and in such manner as the Trustees may request from time to time.

5. STANDARD OF SERVICE; COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS.

The Agent will use its best efforts to provide high quality services to the Fund’s shareholders and in so doing will seek to take advantage of such innovations and technological improvements as may be appropriate or desirable with a view to improving the quality and,

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where possible, reducing the cost of its services to the Fund. In performing its duties hereunder, the Agent shall comply with the provisions of all applicable laws and regulations and shall comply with the requirements of any governmental authority having jurisdiction over the Agent or the Fund with respect to the duties of the Agent hereunder.

6. COMPENSATION.

The Fund shall pay to the Agent, for its services rendered and its costs incurred in connection with the performance of its duties hereunder, such compensation and reimbursements as may from time to time be approved by vote of the Trustees.

7. DUTY OF CARE; INDEMNIFICATION.

The Agent will at all times act in good faith and exercise reasonable care in performing its duties hereunder. The Agent will not be liable or responsible for delays or errors resulting from circumstances beyond its control, including acts of civil or military authorities, national emergencies, labor difficulties, fire, mechanical breakdown beyond its control, flood or catastrophe, acts of God, insurrection, war, riots or failure beyond its control of transportation, communication or power supply.

The Agent may rely on certifications of the Clerk, the President, the Vice Chairman, the Executive Vice President, the Senior Vice President or the Treasurer of the Fund as to any action taken by the shareholders or Trustees, and upon instructions not inconsistent with this Agreement received from the President, Vice Chairman, the Executive Vice President, the Senior Vice President or the Treasurer of the Fund. If any officer of the Fund shall no longer be vested with authority to sign for the Fund, written notice thereof shall forthwith be given to the Agent by the Fund and, until receipt of such notice by it, the Agent shall be entitled to recognize and act in good faith upon certificates or other instruments bearing the signatures or facsimile signatures of such officers. The Agent may request advice of counsel for the Fund, at the expense of the Fund, with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder.

The Fund will indemnify and hold the Agent harmless from any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) arising out of (i) any action taken by the Agent in good faith consistent with the exercise of reasonable care in accordance with such certifications, instructions or advice, (ii) any action taken by the Agent in good faith consistent with the exercise of reasonable care in reliance upon any instrument or certificate for securities believed by it (a) to be genuine, and (b) to be executed by any person or persons authorized to execute the same; provided, however, that the Agent shall not be so indemnified in the event of its failure to obtain a proper signature guarantee to the extent the same is required by the Declaration of Trust, Bylaws, current Prospectus or Statement of Additional Information of the Fund or a vote of the Trustees, and such requirement has not been waived by vote of the Trustees, or (iii) any other action taken by the Agent in good faith consistent with the exercise of reasonable care in connection with the performance of its duties hereunder.

In the event that the Agent proposes to assert the right to be indemnified under this

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Section 7 in connection with any action, suit or proceeding against it, the Agent shall promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of such action, suit or proceeding notify the Fund of the same, enclosing a copy of all papers served. In such event, the Fund shall be entitled to participate in such action, suit or proceeding, and, to the extent that it shall wish, to assume the defense thereof, and after notice from the Fund to the Agent of its election so to assume the defense thereof the Fund shall not be liable to the Agent for any legal or other expenses. The parties shall cooperate with each other in the defense of any such action, suit or proceeding. In no event shall the Fund be liable for any settlement of any action or claim effected without its consent.

8. MAINTENANCE OF RECORDS.

The Agent will maintain and preserve all records relating to its duties under this Agreement in compliance with the requirements of applicable statutes, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, Rule 31a-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Such records shall be the property of the Fund and shall at all times be available for inspection and use by the officers and agents of the Fund. The Agent shall furnish to the Fund such information pertaining to the shareholder accounts of the Fund and the performance of its duties hereunder as the Fund may from time to time request. The Agent shall notify the Fund promptly of any request or demand by any third party to inspect the records of the Fund maintained by it and will act upon the instructions of the Fund in permitting or refusing such inspection.

9. FUND ACCOUNTS.

All moneys of the Fund from time to time made available for the payment of distributions to shareholders or redemptions of shares, or otherwise coming into the possession or control of the Agent or its officers, shall be deposited and held in one or more accounts maintained by the Agent solely for the benefit of the Funds.

10. INSURANCE.

The Agent will at all times maintain in effect insurance coverage, including, without limitation, Errors and Omissions, Fidelity Bond and Electronic Data Processing coverages, at levels of coverage consistent with those customarily maintained by other high quality investor servicing agents for registered investment companies and with such policies as the Trustees may from time to time adopt.

11. EMPLOYEES.

The Agent shall be responsible for the employment, control and conduct of its agents and employees and for injury to such agents or employees or to others caused by such agents or employees. The Agent shall assume full responsibility for its agents and employees under applicable statutes and agrees to pay all applicable employer taxes thereunder with respect to such agents and employees, and such agents and employees shall in no event be considered to be agents or employees of the Fund.

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12. TERMINATION.

This Agreement shall continue indefinitely until terminated by not less than ninety (90) days prior written notice given by the Fund to the Agent, or by not less than six months prior written notice given by the Agent to the Fund.

In the event that in connection with any such termination a successor to any of the Agent’s duties or responsibilities hereunder is designated by the Fund by written notice to the Agent, the Agent will cooperate fully in the transfer of such duties and responsibilities, including provision for assistance by the Agent’s personnel in the establishment of books, records and other data by such successor. The Fund will reimburse the Agent for all expenses incurred by the Agent in connection with such transfer.

13. MISCELLANEOUS.

This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with and governed by the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no way define or limit any of the provisions of this Agreement or otherwise affect their construction or effect. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

A copy of the Declaration of Trust (including any amendments thereto) of the Fund is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this instrument is executed on behalf of the Trustees as trustees and not individually and that the obligations of or arising out of this instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees or officers or shareholders individually, but binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized officers as of the date and year first above written.

THE PUTNAM FUNDS, listed on Appendix A 
 
 
By  /s/ Jonathan S. Horwitz 
  Name: Jonathan S. Horwitz 
  Title:  Executive Vice President, Principal 
    Executive Officer and Compliance Liaison 
 
 
PUTNAM INVESTOR SERVICES, INC. 
 
 
By  /s/ Steven D. Krichmar 
  Name: Steven D. Krichmar 
  Title:  President 
 
 
PUTNAM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC 
 
 
By  /s/ James P. Pappas 
  Name: James P. Pappas 
  Title:  Director of Trustee Relations and 
    Authorized Person 

 

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APPENDIX A 

 

PUTNAM FUNDS 

 

As amended as of July 24, 2017

 

Putnam American Government Income Fund 
Putnam Asset Allocation Funds 
-Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Balanced Fund 
-Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Conservative Fund 
-Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Growth Fund
Putnam California Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Convertible Securities Fund 
Putnam Diversified Income Trust 
Putnam Equity Income Fund 
Putnam Europe Equity Fund 
Putnam Funds Trust 
-Putnam Absolute Return 100 Fund 
-Putnam Absolute Return 300 Fund 
-Putnam Absolute Return 500 Fund 
-Putnam Absolute Return 700 Fund 
-Putnam Capital Spectrum Fund 
-Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Equity Fund
-Putnam Dynamic Risk Allocation Fund 
-Putnam Emerging Markets Equity Fund 
-Putnam Emerging Markets Income Fund 
-Putnam Equity Spectrum Fund 
-Putnam Floating Rate Income Fund 
-Putnam Global Consumer Fund 
-Putnam Global Financials Fund 
-Putnam Global Industrials Fund 
-Putnam Global Sector Fund 
-Putnam Global Technology Fund 
-Putnam Global Telecommunications Fund 
-Putnam Intermediate-Term Municipal Income Fund 
-Putnam International Value Fund 
-Putnam Low Volatility Equity Fund 
-Putnam Mortgage Opportunities Fund 
-Putnam Multi-Cap Core Fund 
-Putnam Short Duration Income Fund 
-Putnam Short Term Investment Fund 
-Putnam Short-Term Municipal Income Fund 
-Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund 
 
George Putnam Balanced Fund 
Putnam Global Equity Fund 

 

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Putnam Global Health Care Fund 
Putnam Global Income Trust 
Putnam Global Natural Resources Fund 
Putnam Global Utilities Fund 
Putnam High Yield Fund 
Putnam Income Fund 
Putnam International Equity Fund 
Putnam Investment Funds 
-Putnam Capital Opportunities Fund 
-Putnam Government Money Market Fund
-Putnam Growth Opportunities Fund 
-Putnam International Capital Opportunities Fund 
-Putnam International Growth Fund 
-Putnam Multi-Cap Value Fund 
-Putnam PanAgora Managed Futures Strategy 
-Putnam PanAgora Market Neutral Fund
-Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund 
-Putnam Research Fund 
-Putnam Small Cap Value Fund 
Putnam Investors Fund 
Putnam Massachusetts Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Minnesota Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Money Market Fund 
Putnam Multi-Cap Growth Fund 
Putnam New Jersey Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam New York Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Pennsylvania Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam RetirementReady® Funds 
-Putnam Retirement Income Fund Lifestyle 1 
-Putnam RetirementReady 2060 Fund 
-Putnam RetirementReady 2055 Fund 
-Putnam RetirementReady 2050 Fund 
-Putnam RetirementReady 2045 Fund 
-Putnam RetirementReady 2040 Fund 
-Putnam RetirementReady 2035 Fund 
-Putnam RetirementReady 2030 Fund 
-Putnam RetirementReady 2025 Fund 
-Putnam RetirementReady 2020 Fund 
Putnam Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Tax-Free Income Trust 
-Putnam AMT-Free Municipal Fund 
-Putnam Tax-Free High Yield Fund 
Putnam U.S. Government Income Trust 

 

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Putnam Variable Trust 
-Putnam VT Absolute Return 500 Fund 
-Putnam VT American Government Income Fund 
-Putnam VT Capital Opportunities Fund
-Putnam VT Diversified Income Fund 
-Putnam VT Equity Income Fund 
-Putnam VT George Putnam Balanced Fund
-Putnam VT Global Asset Allocation Fund
-Putnam VT Global Equity Fund 
-Putnam VT Global Health Care Fund 
-Putnam VT Government Money Market fund 
-Putnam VT Global Utilities Fund 
 
-Putnam VT Growth Opportunities Fund
-Putnam VT High Yield Fund 
-Putnam VT Income Fund 
-Putnam VT International Equity Fund 
-Putnam VT International Growth Fund 
-Putnam VT International Value Fund 
-Putnam VT Investors Fund 
-Putnam VT Multi-Cap Growth Fund 
-Putnam VT Multi-Cap Value Fund 
-Putnam VT Research Fund 
-Putnam VT Small Cap Value Fund 

 

THE PUTNAM FUNDS, listed on Appendix A 
 
 
By:  /s/ Jonathan S. Horwitz 
  Name:  Jonathan S. Horwitz 
  Title:  Executive Vice President, Principal 
    Executive Officer and Compliance Liaison 

 

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PUTNAM INVESTOR SERVICES, INC. 
 
 
By:  /s/ Michael J. Woodall 
  Name:  Michael J. Woodall 
  Title:  President 
 
 
PUTNAM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC 
 
 
By:  /s/ Robert Burns 
  Name:  Robert Burns 
  Title:  Secretary 

 

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 EX-99.H OTH MAT CONT 8 a_ssbacctgmod3.htm a_ssbacctgmod3.htm
EXECUTION COPY 

 

MASTER SUB-ACCOUNTING SERVICES AGREEMENT 

 

This AGREEMENT is made as of January 1, 2007 by and between PUTNAM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, having its principal place of business at 1 Post Office Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02109 (the “Administrator”), and STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, a Massachusetts trust company, having its principal place of business at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110 (the "Sub-Accounting Agent").

 

WITNESSETH: 

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to various management or administration agreements (collectively, the “Administration Agreement”) by and between the Administrator and each management investment company party thereto (and each management investment company that becomes a party thereto), the Administrator has been retained to provide, and provides, certain fund accounting and recordkeeping services;

WHEREAS, the Administrator may contract, subcontract or otherwise arrange for the Sub-Accounting Agent’s provision of certain of the aforementioned services, including the fund accounting and recordkeeping services set forth below;

WHEREAS, the Administrator desires to retain the Sub-Accounting Agent to perform certain fund accounting and recordkeeping services with regard to each management investment company for which it provides fund accounting and recordkeeping services under the Administration Agreement, as more particularly identified on Appendix A hereto (each such management investment company and each management investment company made subject to this Agreement in accordance with Section 11.5 below shall hereinafter be referred to as a “Fund” and collectively as the “Funds”);

WHEREAS, each Fund is authorized to issue common stock or shares of beneficial interest (“Shares”), and some Funds are authorized to issue Shares in separate series, with each such series representing interests in a separate portfolio of securities and other assets, as more particularly identified on Appendix A hereto (each such series and each series made subject to this Agreement in accordance with Section 11.6 below shall hereinafter be referred to as “Portfolio” with respect to that Fund, but for any Fund that does not have any separate series, then any reference to the “Portfolio” is a reference to that Fund; and

WHEREAS, the Sub-Accounting Agent is willing to perform such services upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:


SECTION 1. DUTIES OF THE SUB-ACCOUNTING AGENT.

SECTION 1.1 BOOKS OF ACCOUNT.

The Sub-Accounting Agent shall maintain the books of account of each Portfolio and shall perform the duties described in Appendix B in the manner prescribed by such Portfolio’s currently effective prospectus, statement of additional information or other governing document, certified copies of which have been supplied to the Sub-Accounting Agent (a "governing document").

The Administrator shall provide timely prior notice to the Sub-Accounting Agent of any modification in the manner in which calculations are to be performed as prescribed in any revision to such Portfolio’s governing document and shall supply the Sub-Accounting Agent with certified copies of all amendments and/or supplements to the governing documents in a timely manner. For purposes of calculating the net asset value of a Portfolio, the Sub-Accounting Agent shall value each Portfolio’s portfolio securities utilizing prices obtained from sources designated by the Administrator (collectively, the “Authorized Price Sources”) on a price source authorization substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, as the same may be amended from time to time, or otherwise designated by means of Proper Instructions (as such term is defined in Section 2.2 below) (the “Price Source Authorization”). The Sub-Accounting Agent shall not be responsible for any revisions to calculation methods unless such revisions are communicated in writing by the Administrator to the Sub-Accounting Agent.

SECTION 1.2 RECORDS.

The Sub-Accounting Agent shall create and maintain all records relating to its activities and obligations under this Agreement in such a manner as will meet the obligations of the Administrator with respect to each Fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), specifically Section 31 thereof and Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 thereunder. All such records shall be the property of the applicable Fund and shall at all times during the regular business hours of the Sub-Accounting Agent be open for inspection by duly authorized officers, employees or agents of the applicable Fund and employees and agents of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Subject to Section 3 below, the Sub-Accounting Agent shall preserve for the period required by law the records required to be maintained thereunder.

The Administrator acknowledges that, in keeping the books of account of each Fund and/or making the calculations described herein with respect to Fund property released and delivered pursuant to Section 2.2(14), or purchased pursuant to Section 2.6(7) of such Fund’s custodial services agreement with State Street Bank and Trust Company (the “Custody Contract”), if any, or pursuant to comparable provisions of other custodial services agreements applicable to the Fund, the Sub-Accounting Agent is authorized and instructed to rely upon information provided to it by such Fund, such Fund’s counterparty(ies), or the agents of either of them.

2. 

 


SECTION 1.3 APPOINTMENT OF AGENTS.

The Sub-Accounting Agent may at its own expense employ one or more of its affiliates as agents in the performance of its duties and the exercise of its rights under this Agreement, provided that the employment of such agents shall not reduce the Sub-Accounting Agent’s obligations or liabilities hereunder.

SECTION 2. DUTIES OF THE ADMINISTRATOR.

SECTION 2.1 DELIVERY OF INFORMATION.

The Administrator shall provide, or shall cause a third party to provide, timely notice to the Sub-Accounting Agent of certain data as a condition to the Sub-Accounting Agent's performance described in Section 1 above. The data required to be provided pursuant to this section is set forth on Schedule A hereto, which schedule may be separately amended or supplemented by the parties from time to time.

The Sub-Accounting Agent is authorized and instructed to rely upon the information it receives from the Administrator or any third party designated by the Administrator to provide such information, including without limitation as set forth on Schedule A.

SECTION 2.2 PROPER INSTRUCTIONS.

The Administrator and any other person duly authorized by it shall communicate to the Sub-Accounting Agent by means of Proper Instructions. Proper Instructions shall mean (i) a writing signed or initialed by one or more persons as the Administrator shall have from time to time authorized in writing or (ii) communication effected directly between the Administrator or its third-party agents (each, a “Third Party Agent”) and the Sub-Accounting Agent by electro-mechanical or electronic devices, provided that the Administrator and the Sub-Accounting Agent agree to security procedures. The Sub-Accounting Agent may rely upon any Proper Instruction reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been properly issued by or on behalf of the Administrator. Oral instructions shall be considered Proper Instructions if the Sub-Accounting Agent reasonably believes them to have been given by a person authorized to give such instructions. The Administrator shall cause all oral instructions to be confirmed in accordance with clauses (i) or (ii) above, as appropriate. The Administrator shall give timely Proper Instructions to the Sub-Accounting Agent in regard to matters affecting accounting practices and the Sub-Accounting Agent's performance pursuant to this Agreement.

SECTION 3. STANDARD OF CARE; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.

The Sub-Accounting Agent shall be held to the exercise of reasonable care in carrying out the provisions of this Agreement, but shall be kept indemnified by and shall be without liability to the Administrator for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith without negligence, bad faith, willful misconduct, violation of law applicable to the Sub-Accounting Agent in its capacity as a fund accounting agent and that affects the Sub-Accounting Agent’s performance of the Services hereunder, or material breach of this Agreement (provided, however, that the Sub-

3. 

 


Accounting Agent shall have the opportunity to cure, within thirty (30) days of its receipt of written notice from the Administrator, solely those breaches capable of cure without material adverse impact to the Administrator, provided, in each such instance where the Sub-Accounting Agent is aware of an event related to such notice, the Sub-Accounting Agent had previously informed the Administrator promptly of such event; any such communication from the Sub-Accounting Agent to the Administrator shall not be used as or considered as an admission of fault and will be provided solely as an accommodation to the Administrator), including, without limitation, acting in accordance with any Proper Instruction. The Sub-Accounting Agent shall be entitled to rely on and may act upon the advice of counsel (who may be counsel for the Administrator or the Fund) on all matters, and shall be without liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to such advice. Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Sub-Accounting Agent shall in no event be liable for any loss or damage to the extent arising from causes beyond its control including, without limitation, delay or cessation of services hereunder or any damages resulting therefrom as a result of work stoppage, power or other mechanical failure, natural disaster, governmental action, communication disruption or other impossibility of performance, or causes commonly referred to as “Acts of God”.

In the event of equipment failure, work stoppage, governmental action, communication disruption or other impossibility of performance beyond the Sub-Accounting Agent’s control, the Sub-Accounting Agent shall take reasonable steps to minimize service interruptions. The Sub-Accounting Agent shall enter into and shall maintain in effect with appropriate parties one or more agreements making reasonable provision for (i) periodic back-up of the computer files and data with respect to the Funds; and (ii) emergency use of electronic data processing equipment to provide services under this Agreement.

The Sub-Accounting Agent shall not be liable for any special, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages of any kind whatsoever (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees) in any way due to the Administrator’s use of the accounting services or the performance of or failure to perform the Sub-Accounting Agent’s obligations under this Agreement. The Administrator shall not be liable for any special, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages of any kind whatsoever (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees) in any way due to the performance of or failure to perform the Administrator’s obligations under this Agreement. The aforementioned disclaimer applies without limitation to claims regardless of the form of action, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), strict liability or otherwise, and regardless of whether such damages are foreseeable.

The Administrator, any Third Party Agent or any Authorized Price Source from which the Sub-Accounting Agent shall receive or obtain certain records, reports and other data utilized or included in the sub-accounting services provided hereunder is solely responsible for the contents of such information including, without limitation, the accuracy thereof and the Administrator agrees to make no claim against the Sub-Accounting Agent arising out of the contents of such third-party data including, but not limited to, the accuracy thereof. Except as otherwise required by the Price Source Authorization with respect to the use of data obtained from Authorized Price Sources, the Sub-Accounting Agent shall have no responsibility to review, confirm or otherwise assume any duty with respect to the accuracy or completeness of any such information and, it shall be without liability for any loss or damage suffered as a result of the Sub-Accounting

4. 

 


Agent’s reliance on and utilization of such information. The Sub-Accounting Agent shall have no responsibility and shall be without liability for any loss or damage caused by the failure of the Administrator or any Third Party Agent to provide it with the information required by Section 2.1 above. Further, and without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Sub-Accounting Agent shall have no liability in respect of any loss, damage or expense suffered by the Administrator, any Fund or any third party, insofar as such loss, damage or expense arises from the performance of the Sub-Accounting Agent’s duties hereunder by reason of the Sub-Accounting Agent’s reliance upon records that were maintained for the Administrator or any Fund by any entity other than the Sub-Accounting Agent prior to the Administrator’s appointment of the Sub-Accounting Agent pursuant to this Agreement.

The Administrator agrees to indemnify and hold the Sub-Accounting Agent free and harmless from any expense, loss, damage or claim, including reasonable attorney's fees, suffered by the Sub-Accounting Agent and caused by or resulting from the acts or omissions of the Administrator or any third party whose services the Sub-Accounting Agent must rely upon in performing the services hereunder, except to the extent that any such expense, loss, damage or claim is caused by or results from the Sub-Accounting Agent’s own negligence, bad faith, willful misconduct, violation of law applicable to the Sub-Accounting Agent in its capacity as a fund accounting agent and that affects the Sub-Accounting Agent’s performance of the Services hereunder, or material breach of this Agreement (provided, however, that the Sub-Accounting Agent shall have the opportunity to cure, within thirty (30) days of its receipt of written notice from the Administrator, solely those breaches capable of cure without material adverse impact to the Administrator, provided, in each such instance where the Sub-Accounting Agent is aware of an event related to such notice, the Sub-Accounting Agent had previously informed the Administrator promptly of such event; any such communication from the Sub-Accounting Agent to the Administrator shall not be used as or considered as an admission of fault and will be provided solely as an accommodation to the Administrator).

The Administrator acknowledges and agrees that, with respect to investments any Portfolio maintains with an entity which may from time to time act as a transfer agent for uncertificated shares of registered investment companies (the “Underlying Transfer Agent”), such Underlying Transfer Agent is the sole source of information on the number of shares held by it on behalf of a Portfolio and that the Sub-Accounting Agent has the right to rely on holdings information furnished by the Underlying Transfer Agent to the Sub-Accounting Agent in performing its duties under this Agreement.

SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

The Administrator represents and warrants to the Sub-Accounting Agent that:

(a) It is duly incorporated or organized, validly existing and in good standing in its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization and is qualified to conduct its business in every jurisdiction where its business is conducted except where the failure to be so qualified would not have a material adverse affect on the Administrator;

5. 

 


(b) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, all documents and instruments to be delivered hereunder or thereunder and all transactions contemplated hereunder or thereunder have been duly authorized by all necessary action;

(c) The person executing this Agreement on its behalf has been duly authorized to act on its behalf;

(d) This Agreement constitutes its legal, valid, binding and enforceable agreement;

(e) It has obtained all authorizations, approvals and consents of any governmental body required in connection with this Agreement and all transactions contemplated hereunder and such authorizations are in full force and effect; and

(f) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the transactions hereunder will not violate any agreement, law, ordinance, charter, by-law, rule or regulation applicable to it or to any Fund, or by which it or any Fund is bound or by which any of its or any Fund’s assets are affected. Further, the Administrator hereby acknowledges and agrees that it shall promptly notify the Sub-Accounting Agent of any statute, regulation, rule, or other regulatory requirement or policy governing the Administrator or the Funds, and any change thereto, which may affect the Sub-Accounting Agent’s responsibilities under this Agreement.

The Sub-Accounting Agent represents and warrants to the Administrator that:

(a) It is a Massachusetts trust company, duly organized and existing under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is qualified to conduct its business in every jurisdiction where its business is conducted except where the failure to be so qualified would not have a material adverse affect on the Sub-Accounting Agent;

(b) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, all documents and instruments to be delivered hereunder or thereunder and all transactions contemplated hereunder or thereunder have been duly authorized by all necessary action;

(c) The person executing this Agreement on its behalf has been duly authorized to act on its behalf;

(d) This Agreement constitutes its legal, valid, binding and enforceable agreement;

(e) It has obtained all authorizations, approvals and consents of any governmental body required in connection with this Agreement and all transactions contemplated hereunder and such authorizations are in full force and effect; and

(f) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the transactions hereunder will not violate any agreement, law, ordinance, charter, by-law, rule or regulation applicable to it, or by which it is bound or by which any of its assets are affected. Further, the Sub-Accounting Agent hereby acknowledges and agrees that it shall promptly notify the Administrator of any statute, regulation, rule, or other regulatory requirement or policy governing the Sub-Accounting Agent,

6. 

 


and any change thereto, which may affect the Administrator’s responsibilities under this Agreement.

SECTION 5. COMPENSATION OF SUB-ACCOUNTING AGENT.

The Sub-Accounting Agent shall be entitled to reasonable compensation for its services and expenses as Sub-Accounting Agent, as agreed upon from time to time in writing between the Administrator and the Sub-Accounting Agent.

SECTION 6. TERM OF AGREEMENT.

(a) This Agreement shall become effective as of its execution and shall continue in full force and effect for an initial term of seven (7) years from the date hereof, and shall automatically renew for additional consecutive three (3) year terms, unless either party gives one hundred eighty (180) days’ prior written notice to the other of its intent not to renew. If this Agreement is terminated (the effective date of such termination being referred to as the “Termination Date”), the Sub-Accounting Agent shall, at the reasonable request of the Administrator, and subject to the consent of the Sub-Accounting Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), continue to provide services hereunder for a period (the “Extension Period”) not to exceed ninety (90) days from the Termination Date, and the compensation payable to the Sub-Accounting Agent for its services and expenses during such Extension Period shall not exceed one hundred and five percent (105%) (per annum) of the compensation last agreed upon by the Administrator and the Sub-Accounting Agent and in effect immediately prior to the Termination Date.

(b) In the event that the Agreement is terminated by the Administrator, other than for cause, either in its entirety, with respect to any particular Fund, or with respect to its applicability to any particular Portfolio, as may be applicable, prior to the five (5) year anniversary of the date hereof (the “Anniversary Date”), and the Sub-Accounting Agent has not terminated either this Agreement or any agreement pursuant to which the Sub-Accounting Agent provides custody services to the Funds, either in its entirety, with respect to such particular Fund, or with respect to its applicability to such particular Portfolio, as applicable, the Administrator shall pay to the Sub-Accounting Agent, in lieu of any other fees, expenses, termination penalties, damages or other amounts (except as identified in paragraph (c) below), an early termination fee equal to the present value, using a discount rate of seven percent (7%), compounded annually, of the remaining fees which would have been due by the Administrator to the Sub-Accounting Agent for Services provided to the Funds, to such particular Fund, or to such particular Portfolio, as applicable, for the period from the Termination Date until the Anniversary Date if the Agreement had not been terminated either in its entirety, with respect to such particular Fund, or with respect to its applicability to such particular Portfolio, as applicable (the “Remaining Fees”) which Remaining Fees shall be determined using the average monthly compensation for its services (prior to the application of any earnings credits) earned by the Sub-Accounting Agent hereunder with respect to all Funds, such particular Fund, or such particular Portfolio, as applicable, during the 12-month period (or if shorter, such lesser period of time) preceding such Termination Date (the “Early Termination Fee”).

7. 

 


For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrator will not be required to make any such Early Termination Fee payment (other than as set forth in paragraph (e) below) if this Agreement is terminated on or after the Anniversary Date or by the Administrator for cause at any time.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (b) above, no Early Termination Fee shall be payable in the event (each, a “Liquidation, Merger or Consolidation Event”) that a Fund or Portfolio is

(i) liquidated; or

(ii) merged into or consolidated with another Fund or Portfolio with respect to which the Sub-Accounting Agent provides Services pursuant to this Agreement; or

(iii) merged into or consolidated with another investment company or series of an investment company (each series representing interests in a separate portfolio of securities and other assets) with respect to which the Sub-Accounting Agent provides fund accounting services (either as an accounting agent or sub-accounting agent),

provided, that in each case of (i) and (ii) above, the aggregate amount of fees for fund accounting services provided by the Sub-Accounting Agent with respect to all Funds and Portfolios covered by this Agreement immediately after, and taking into consideration the effect of, such Liquidation, Merger or Consolidation Event (the “Projected Fees”) shall be equal to or greater than the aggregate amount of fees for fund accounting services provided by the Sub-Accounting Agent pursuant to this Agreement, measured as of the date of this Agreement (the “Existing Fees”);

and further provided, that in each case of (iii) above, (A) the Projected Fees plus (B) the Incremental Fees (as defined below), shall be equal to or greater than the Existing Fees.

For purposes of this Section 6(c), the Projected Fees shall equal the fund accounting fees, with respect to such Funds and Portfolios subject to this Agreement immediately after such Liquidation, Merger or Consolidation Event, projected to be earned by the Sub-Accounting Agent on an annualized basis for the ensuing twelve-month period, with no adjustments for market fluctuations or subscription and redemption activity.

For purposes of this Section 6(c), the Existing Fees shall equal the fund accounting fees, with respect to such Funds and Portfolios on the date of this Agreement, projected to be earned by the Sub-Accounting Agent on an annualized basis for the ensuing twelve-month period, with no adjustments for market fluctuations or subscription and redemption activity.

For purposes of this Section 6(c), the “Other Contract” shall mean a contractual arrangement pursuant to which the Sub-Accounting Agent provides fund accounting services that may not be terminated earlier than the Anniversary Date and whose fee schedule is fixed until the Anniversary Date.

For purposes of this Section 6(c), the “Incremental Fees” shall mean (A) the fund accounting fees with respect to fund accounting services under the Other Contract that are projected to be

8. 

 


earned by the Sub-Accounting Agent on an annualized basis for the ensuing twelve-month period, with no adjustments for market fluctuations or subscription and redemption activity, immediately after such Liquidation, Merger or Consolidation Event, less (B) the fund accounting fees with respect to fund accounting services under the Other Contract that were projected to have been earned by the Sub-Accounting Agent on an annualized basis for the ensuing twelve-month period, with no adjustments for market fluctuations or subscription and redemption activity, immediately prior to such Liquidation, Merger or Consolidation Event.

(d) Upon any termination of this Agreement pursuant to paragraph (b) above, the Administrator shall pay to the Sub-Accounting Agent all accrued and unpaid fees and expenses, whether the same have been billed or remain unbilled, and shall reimburse Sub-Accounting Agent for any reasonable de-conversion costs associated with such termination.

(e) Notwithstanding any term herein to the contrary, termination of this Agreement with respect to the coverage of any one particular Fund or Portfolio shall in no way affect the rights and duties under this Agreement with respect to any other Fund or Portfolio.

(f) Notwithstanding any term herein to the contrary, this Agreement may, at the sole option of the Sub-Accounting Agent, be terminated (in its entirety, with respect to any particular Fund, or with respect to its applicability to any particular Portfolio, as may be applicable) without prior notice by the Sub-Accounting Agent in the event of (i) any termination by a Fund of its custodial services agreement with State Street Bank and Trust Company (in each such case, in such agreement’s entirety, with respect to any particular Fund, or with respect to its applicability to any particular Portfolio, as may be applicable) or (ii) any termination of the Administration Agreement or the termination or resignation of the Administrator under the Administration Agreement (in each such case, in such agreement’s entirety, with respect to any particular Fund, or with respect to its applicability to any particular Portfolio, as may be applicable).

SECTION 7. SUCCESSOR AGENT.

If a successor fund accounting agent with respect to any Fund, or Portfolio thereof, shall be appointed by the Administrator, the Sub-Accounting Agent shall upon termination deliver to such successor agent at the office of the Sub-Accounting Agent all records of such Fund or Portfolio thereof, as applicable, held by it hereunder. If no such successor agent shall be appointed, the Sub-Accounting Agent shall have the right at its office to deliver such records to the Administrator.

SECTION 8. AUDIT RIGHTS; REPORTS TO ADMINISTRATOR BY INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

SECTION 8.1 AUDIT RIGHTS.

(a) To the extent required by applicable law, rule or regulation and upon request of the Administrator (which shall include reasonable advance notice), the Sub-Accounting Agent shall allow the Administrator’s regulators or supervisory authorities to perform periodic on-site audits as may be reasonably required to examine the Sub-Accounting Agent’s performance of the services contemplated by this Agreement (the “Services”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior

9. 

 


to the performance of any audits of the Sub-Accounting Agent’s performance of the Services, the Administrator will request that such regulator or supervisory authority to the extent possible shall coordinate such audit through the Sub-Accounting Agent’s primary regulator, the United States Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

(b) Upon request of the Administrator (which shall include reasonable advance notice), the Sub-Accounting Agent shall allow the Administrator and its auditors (including internal audit staff and external auditors) and compliance personnel to perform periodic on-site audits as may be reasonably required to examine the Sub-Accounting Agent’s performance of the Services.

(c) Notwithstanding the audit and inspection rights conferred by the foregoing subsection, the Sub-Accounting Agent reserves the right to impose reasonable limitations on the number, frequency, timing and scope of audits and inspections requested by the Administrator so as to prevent or minimize any potential impairment or disruption of its operations, distraction of its personnel or breaches of security or confidentiality; provided, however, that the Sub-Accounting Agent may not limit the number, frequency or timing of audits and inspections by regulatory bodies with supervisory authority over the Administrator or by the Administrator resulting from a regulatory problem at the Sub-Accounting Agent and affecting the Sub-Accounting Agent’s ability to provide the Services hereunder or any material weakness or significant deficiency in the Sub-Accounting Agent’s internal controls. In addition, the Sub-Accounting Agent shall be entitled to impose a commercially reasonable per person hourly charge for the cooperation and assistance of its personnel in connection with any audit in excess of one (1) in any twelve (12) month period; provided, however, that no such charge may be imposed in connection with any audit or inspection by any regulatory body with supervisory authority over the Administrator or by the Administrator resulting from a regulatory problem at the Sub-Accounting Agent and affecting the Sub-Accounting Agent’s ability to provide the Services hereunder or any material weakness or significant deficiency in the Sub-Accounting Agent’s internal controls. Nothing contained in this section shall obligate the Sub-Accounting Agent to provide access to or otherwise disclose: (i) any information that is unrelated to the Administrator or the Funds and the provision of the Services to the Administrator; (ii) any information which is treated as confidential under the Sub-Accounting Agent’s corporate policies, including, without limitation, internal audit reports, compliance or risk management plans or reports, work papers and other reports and information relating to management functions; or (iii) any other documents, reports or other information that the Sub-Accounting Agent is obligated to maintain in confidence as a matter of law or regulation. In addition, any access provided hereunder to technology shall be limited to a demonstration by the Sub-Accounting Agent of the functionality thereof and a reasonable opportunity to communicate with the Sub-Accounting Agent personnel regarding such technology.

10. 

 


SECTION 8.2 REPORTS TO ADMINISTRATOR BY INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

The Sub-Accounting Agent shall provide the Administrator, at such times as the Administrator may reasonably require, with reports by independent public accountants on the accounting system, internal accounting control and procedures relating to the services provided by the Sub-Accounting Agent under this Agreement; such reports shall be of sufficient scope and in sufficient detail as may reasonably be required by the Administrator to provide reasonable assurance that any material inadequacies would be disclosed by such examination, and, if there are no such inadequacies, the reports shall so state.

SECTION 8.3 ADDITIONAL SUB-CERTIFICATIONS AND REPORTS

The Sub-Accounting Agent shall provide to the Administrator: (a) sub-certifications in connection with Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 certification requirements; and (b) periodic reports and reasonable documentation for delivery to the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer in connection with Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act with respect to the Services and the Sub-Accounting Agent’s compliance with its operating policies and procedures related thereto.

SECTION 9. INCLUDED SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS.

If, in the ordinary course of its business, the Sub-Accounting Agent enhances core system processing functionality that it uses in connection with the Services, the Sub-Accounting Agent shall use such enhanced core system processing enhancements in performing the Services hereunder, at no additional charge to the Administrator, as soon as the Sub-Accounting Agent reasonably determines that such use is appropriate. To the extent the Sub-Accounting Agent reasonably determines that such enhanced core system processing enhancements are relevant to the Administrator’s receipt of the Services, the Sub-Accounting Agent shall inform the Administrator of such core system processing enhancements.

SECTION 10. CONFIDENTIALITY.

Each party hereto agrees that it shall treat as confidential all information provided by the other party (the “Disclosing Party”) to such party (the “Recipient”) or to which the Recipient obtains access and that relates to the Disclosing Party, including information regarding its business, financial affairs, operations or otherwise, including without limitation, securities holdings and trading information of a Portfolio or Fund (“Confidential Information”). In maintaining the confidentiality of the Confidential Information of a Disclosing Party, each Recipient shall exercise the same degree of care that such person exercises with respect to its own Confidential Information of a similar nature, including the use of customary data protection procedures, and in no event less than a reasonable degree of care. All Confidential Information of a Disclosing Party shall be used by the Recipient solely for the purpose of rendering or receiving services pursuant to this Agreement and shall not be disclosed to any party other than such Recipient’s (i) employees and contractors who have a need-to-know for purposes of performing such Recipient’s obligations under this Agreement, provided, that, such persons and entities are bound by confidentiality provisions at least as stringent as those contained herein, (ii) regulators or examiners, and (iii) auditors and legal counsel, to the extent required in connection with services provided by such parties to Recipient.

11. 

 


The Recipient shall notify the Disclosing Party of any unauthorized use or disclosure of Confidential Information of the Disclosing Party of which the Recipient becomes aware. The parties agree that disclosure of Confidential Information of a Disclosing Party may give rise to an irreparable injury to such Disclosing Party inadequately compensable in damages. Accordingly, the Disclosing Party may seek (without the posting of any bond or other security) injunctive relief against the breach of the foregoing undertaking of confidentiality and nondisclosure, in addition to any other legal remedies which may be available.

The foregoing obligations of confidentiality and non-disclosure shall not be applicable to any information that the Recipient demonstrates (i) is publicly available when provided or thereafter becomes publicly available, other than through disclosure by the Recipient or any of its affiliates, or that is independently derived by the Recipient without the use of any information provided by the Disclosing Party, (ii) that is required in any legal or regulatory proceeding, investigation, audit, examination, subpoena, civil investigative demand or other similar process, or by operation of law or regulation (collectively, “Legal Process”), or (iii) where the Recipient has received the prior written consent of the Disclosing Party. In the event that a Recipient is requested by or pursuant to, or required by, Legal Process to disclose any Confidential Information of any other party to this Agreement, such Recipient will, to the extent not legally prohibited, provide the Disclosing Party with prompt notice of such Legal Process in order to enable the Disclosing Party, at its own expense, to seek an appropriate protective order or other remedy (and, if the Disclosing Party seeks such order, the Recipient will provide such cooperation as the Disclosing Party shall reasonably request at the Disclosing Party’s expense) to resist or narrow the scope of such request or legal process, or waive compliance, in whole or in part, with the terms of this Section 10. In the event that such protective order or other remedy is not obtained or the Disclosing Party waives such compliance, only that portion of the Confidential Information may be disclosed as the Recipient, as advised by counsel, is legally required to disclose and the Recipient will request that all such Confidential Information so disclosed will be accorded confidential treatment. Confidential Information disclosed in combination with other information that is not Confidential Information is not deemed to fall within one of the foregoing exceptions by reason of such combination.

Furthermore, and notwithstanding anything in this section to the contrary, the Sub-Accounting Agent may aggregate Fund or Portfolio data with similar data of other customers of the Sub-Accounting Agent (“Aggregated Data”) and may use Aggregated Data for purposes of constructing statistical models so long as such Aggregated Data represents a sufficiently large sample that no Fund or Portfolio data can be identified either directly or by inference or implication.

All of the undertakings and obligations relating to confidentiality and nondisclosure, whether contained in this Section or elsewhere in this Agreement or any schedule or exhibit hereto shall survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement for a period of three (3) years.

SECTION 11. GENERAL.

SECTION 11.1 MASSACHUSETTS LAW TO APPLY. This Agreement shall be governed by, construed and the provisions thereof interpreted under and in accordance with laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts excluding that body of law applicable to conflicts of law.

12. 

 


SECTION 11.2 PRIOR AGREEMENTS. This Agreement supersedes and terminates, as of the date hereof, any prior agreements between the Administrator and the Sub-Accounting Agent relating to fund accounting and recordkeeping services regarding each Fund.

SECTION 11.3 ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement may not be assigned by (a) the Administrator without the prior written consent of the Sub-Accounting Agent or (b) by the Sub-Accounting Agent without the prior written consent of the Administrator, except that either party may, without such prior consent, assign to an entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with such party or to a successor of all of or a substantial portion of its business; however, such assignment shall not relieve the assigning party of its responsibilities hereunder.

SECTION 11.4 INTERPRETIVE AND ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS. In connection with the operation of this Agreement, the Sub-Accounting Agent and the Administrator may from time to time agree on such provisions interpretive of or in addition to the provisions of this Agreement as may in their joint opinion be consistent with the general tenor of this Agreement. Any such interpretive or additional provisions shall be in a writing signed by all parties and shall be annexed hereto, provided that no such interpretive or additional provisions shall contravene any applicable federal or state regulations or any provision of a Fund’s governing documents. No interpretive or additional provisions made as provided in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be an amendment of this Agreement.

SECTION 11.5 ADDITIONAL FUNDS. In the event that the Administrator desires to have the Sub-Accounting Agent render services hereunder with respect to any management investment company in addition to those listed on Appendix A hereto, it shall so notify the Sub-Accounting Agent in writing, and if the Sub-Accounting Agent agrees in writing to provide such services, such management investment company shall become a Fund hereunder and the Sub-Accounting Agent and the Administrator shall be bound by all terms and conditions and provisions hereof with respect to such Fund.

SECTION 11.6 ADDITIONAL PORTFOLIOS. In the event that any Fund establishes one or more series of Shares in addition to those set forth on Appendix A hereto with respect to which the Administrator desires to have the Sub-Accounting Agent render services as sub-accounting agent under the terms hereof, the Administrator shall so notify the Sub-Accounting Agent in writing, and if the Sub-Accounting Agent agrees in writing to provide such services, such series of Shares shall become a Portfolio hereunder and the Sub-Accounting Agent and the Administrator shall be bound by all terms and conditions and provisions hereof with respect to such Portfolio.

SECTION 11.7 REMOTE ACCESS SERVICES ADDENDUM. The Administrator and the Sub-Accounting Agent hereby agree to the terms of the Remote Access Services Addendum hereto.

SECTION 11.8 AMENDMENTS. This Agreement may be modified or amended from time to time only by mutual written agreement of the parties hereto.

13. 

 


SECTION 11.9 NOTICES. Any notice, instruction or other instrument required to be given hereunder may be delivered in person to the offices of the parties as set forth herein during normal business hours or delivered prepaid registered mail, overnight courier or by telex, cable or telecopy to the parties at the following addresses or such other addresses as may be notified by any party from time to time.

To the Administrator:  PUTNAM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC 
1 Post Office Square 
  Boston, Massachusetts 02109 
  Attention: Susan G. Malloy, Managing Director 
  Telephone: 617-760-5050 
 
with a copy to:  PUTNAM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC 
1 Post Office Square 
  Boston, Massachusetts 02109 
  Francis J. McNamara, III, Senior Managing Director and 
  General Counsel 
  Telephone: 617-760-1722 
 
To the Sub-Accounting Agent:  STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY 
  Lafayette Corporate Center 
2 Avenue de Lafayette 
  Boston, Massachusetts 02111 
  Attention: Robert F. Dame, Senior Vice President 
  Telephone: 617-662-4036 
  Telecopy: 617-662-4040 

 

Such notice, instruction or other instrument shall be deemed to have been served in the case of a registered letter at the expiration of five business days after posting, in the case of overnight courier, upon receipt, in the case of cable twenty-four hours after dispatch and, in the case of telex or telecopy, immediately on dispatch and if delivered by cable, telex or telecopy outside normal business hours it shall be deemed to have been received at the next time after delivery when normal business hours commence. Evidence that the notice was properly addressed, stamped and put into the post shall be conclusive evidence of posting.

SECTION 11.10 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

SECTION 11.11 SEVERABILITY; WAIVER. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, unlawful or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired. The failure of a party hereto to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement on any occasion or the failure of a party hereto to exercise or any delay in exercising any right or remedy under this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of any such term, right or remedy or a waiver of any other rights or

14. 

 


remedies and no single or partial exercise of any right or remedy under this Agreement shall prevent any further exercise of the right or remedy or the exercise of any other right or remedy.

SECTION 11.12 REPRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS. This Agreement and all schedules, addenda, exhibits, appendices, attachments and amendments hereto may be reproduced by any photographic, photostatic, microfilm, micro-card, miniature photographic or other similar process. The parties hereto all/each agree that any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding, whether or not the original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by a party in the regular course of business, and that any enlargement, facsimile or further reproduction of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in evidence.

REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK 

 

15. 

 


SIGNATURE PAGE 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this instrument to be executed in its name and behalf by its duly authorized representative under seal as of the date first above written.

 

SIGNATURE ATTESTED TO BY:  PUTNAM INVESTMENT 
  MANAGEMENT, LLC 
 
 
 
By:  Robert T. Burns  By:  Steven D. Krichmar 
Robert T. Burns  Steven D. Krichmar 
Managing Director  Chief of Operations, Senior 
  Managing Director 
 
 
SIGNATURE ATTESTED TO BY:  STATE STREET BANK AND 
  TRUST COMPANY 
 
 
 
By:  Stephanie L. Poster  By:  Joseph L. Hooley 
Stephanie L. Poster  Joseph L. Hooley 
Vice President and Senior Managing Counsel  Executive Vice President 

 


APPENDIX A 
TO
MASTER ACCOUNTING SERVICES AGREEMENT 

 

As amended as of July, 24, 2017

 

Putnam American Government Income Fund 
Putnam Asset Allocation Funds 
-Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Balanced Fund 
-Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Conservative Fund 
-Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Growth Fund
Putnam California Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Convertible Securities Fund 
Putnam Diversified Income Trust 
Putnam Equity Income Fund 
Putnam Europe Equity Fund 
Putnam Funds Trust 
- Putnam Absolute Return 100 Fund 
- Putnam Absolute Return 300 Fund 
- Putnam Absolute Return 500 Fund 
- Putnam Absolute Return 700 Fund 
- Putnam Capital Spectrum Fund 
- Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Equity Fund
- Putnam Dynamic Risk Allocation Fund 
- Putnam Emerging Markets Equity Fund 
- Putnam Emerging Markets Income Fund 
- Putnam Equity Spectrum Fund 
- Putnam Floating Rate Income Fund 
- Putnam Global Consumer Fund 
- Putnam Global Financials Fund 
- Putnam Global Industrials Fund 
- Putnam Global Sector Fund 
- Putnam Global Technology Fund 
- Putnam Global Telecommunications Fund 
- Putnam Intermediate-Term Municipal Fund 
- Putnam International Value Fund 
- Putnam Low Volatility Equity Fund 
- Putnam Mortgage Opportunities Fund 
- Putnam Multi-Cap Core Fund 
- Putnam Short Duration Income Fund 
- Putnam Short Term Investment Fund 
- Putnam Short-Term Municipal Income Fund
- Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund 
George Putnam Balanced Fund 
Putnam Global Equity Fund 
Putnam Global Health Care Fund 

 


Putnam Global Income Trust 
Putnam Global Natural Resources Fund 
Putnam Global Utilities Fund 
Putnam High Income Securities Fund 
Putnam High Yield Fund 
Putnam Income Fund 
Putnam International Equity Fund 
Putnam Investment Funds 
-Putnam Capital Opportunities Fund 
-Putnam Government Money Market Fund
-Putnam Growth Opportunities Fund 
-Putnam International Capital Opportunities Fund 
-Putnam International Growth Fund 
-Putnam Multi-Cap Value Fund 
-Putnam PanAgora Managed Futures Strategy 
-Putnam PanAgora Market Neutral Fund
-PanAgora Risk Parity Fund 
-Putnam Research Fund 
-Putnam Small Cap Value Fund 
Putnam Investors Fund 
Putnam Managed Municipal Income Trust 
Putnam Massachusetts Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Master Intermediate Income Trust 
Putnam Minnesota Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Money Market Fund 
Putnam Mortgage Recovery Fund 
Putnam Multi-Cap Growth Fund 
Putnam Municipal Opportunities Trust 
Putnam New Jersey Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam New York Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Pennsylvania Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Premier Income Trust 
Putnam RetirementReady® Funds 
-Putnam Retirement Income Fund Lifestyle 1 
-Putnam RetirementReady 2060 Fund 
-Putnam RetirementReady 2055 Fund 
-Putnam RetirementReady 2050 Fund 
-Putnam RetirementReady 2045 Fund 
-Putnam RetirementReady 2040 Fund 
-Putnam RetirementReady 2035 Fund 
-Putnam RetirementReady 2030 Fund 
-Putnam RetirementReady 2025 Fund 
-Putnam RetirementReady 2020 Fund 
Putnam Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Tax-Free Income Trust 

 


-Putnam AMT-Free Municipal Fund 
-Putnam Tax-Free High Yield Fund 
Putnam U.S. Government Income Trust 
Putnam Variable Trust 
-Putnam VT Absolute Return 500 Fund 
-Putnam VT American Government Income Fund 
-Putnam VT Capital Opportunities Fund
-Putnam VT Diversified Income Fund 
-Putnam VT Equity Income Fund 
-Putnam VT George Putnam Balanced Fund
-Putnam VT Global Asset Allocation Fund
-Putnam VT Global Equity Fund 
-Putnam VT Global Health Care Fund 
-Putnam VT Global Utilities Fund 
-Putnam VT Government Money Market Fund 
-Putnam VT Growth Opportunities Fund
-Putnam VT High Yield Fund 
-Putnam VT Income Fund 
-Putnam VT International Equity Fund 
-Putnam VT International Value Fund 
-Putnam VT International Growth Fund 
-Putnam VT Investors Fund 
-Putnam VT Multi-Cap Growth Fund 
-Putnam VT Multi-Cap Value Fund 
-Putnam VT Research Fund 
-Putnam VT Small Cap Value Fund 

 

7-24-17


APPENDIX B 
TO
MASTER ACCOUNTING SERVICES AGREEMENT 

 

DUTIES OF SUB-ACCOUNTING AGENT* 

 

(i)  Record each Portfolio’s investment, capital share and income and expense 
  activities; 
 
(ii)  Establish amortization calculations in accordance with Administrator’s amortization 
  authorizations; 
 
(iii)  Maintain ledgers for investment securities; 
 
(iv)  Maintain historical tax lots for each security; 
 
(v)  Reconcile cash and investment balances to the custodian’s records; 
 
(vi)  Post entries to and prepare each Portfolio’s daily trial balance; 
 
(vii)  Calculate fee-based expenses and set-up expense accruals; 
 
(viii)  Calculate capital gains and losses; 
 
(ix)  Calculate net income of each Portfolio; 
 
(x)  Pursuant to Price Source Authorization duly executed by Administrator, receive 
  quotes regarding portfolio investments; 
 
(xi)  Compute the net asset value (“NAV”) of each Portfolio daily; 
 
(xii)  Disseminate NAV, distribution and other Portfolio data as authorized by 
  Administrator; 
 
(xiii)  Compute each Portfolio’s yield and, if required by Administrator, portfolio 
  average dollar-weighted maturity; 
 
(xiv)  For multi-managed Portfolios, calculate NAV and maintain books, ledgers, and 
  capital at manager level (none of which in the capacity of an official book or 
  recordkeeper); 
 
(xv)  Maintain a separate portfolio to calculate a tax basis for each Portfolio’s 
  investments, as directed by Administrator (not in the capacity of an official book or 
  recordkeeper); 
 
(xvi)  Prepare a monthly proof package of accounting reports mutually agreed upon, 
  including, as applicable, the following: 
 
  Account Position Appraisal (details holdings, shares, value) 
  Trial balance reflecting all “as of” activity 
  Capital Stock Roll-forward 
  Base Equivalent Cash Statement 
  Detail Gains and Loss report 
  Cost of securities held 
  Accretion and amortization of cost 
  Open Trades 

 


  Forward contracts and swap receivables and payables 
  Income 
  Distributions 
  Paid In Capital 
  Unrealized Gains and Losses 
  Cost Roll Forward 
  Interest-only yield and impairment spreadsheets 
  Cash to Custodian reconciliations, as may be applicable; 
 
(xvii)  Prepare and transmit to Administrator, or such other entities or persons as the 
  Administrator may instruct from time to time, such quarterly reports of Portfolio 
  data as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto; and 
 
(xviii)  Daily portfolio reconciliation for attribution and performance. 

 

*  Details with respect to such duties may be set forth in mutually acceptable service level 
  documents. 

 


EXHIBIT A 
TO
MASTER ACCOUNTING SERVICES AGREEMENT 
 
Form of Price Source Authorization 

 


SCHEDULE A 
TO
MASTER ACCOUNTING SERVICES AGREEMENT 

 

INFORMATION REQUIRED TO BE SUPPLIED  RESPONSIBLE PARTY 
 
Portfolio Trade Authorizations  Investment Adviser 
Currency Transactions  Investment Adviser 
Cash Transaction Report  Custodian 
Portfolio Prices  Third Party Vendors/Investment Adviser 
Exchange Rates  Third Party Vendors/Investment Adviser 
Capital Stock Activity Report  Transfer Agent 
Dividend/Distribution Schedule  Investment Adviser 
Dividend/Distribution Declaration  Investment Adviser 
Dividend Reconciliation/Confirmation  Transfer Agent 
Corporate Actions  Third Party Vendors/Custodian 
Service Provider Fee Schedules  Investment Adviser 
Expense Budget  Investment Adviser/Administrator 
Amortization Policy  Investment Adviser 
Accounting Policy/Complex Investments  Investment Adviser 
Audit Management Letter  Auditor 
Annual Shareholder Letter  Investment Adviser 
Annual/Semi-Annual Reports  Investment Adviser/Administrator 

 

 EX-99.H OTH MAT CONT 9 a_intrfndmod5.htm a_intrfndmod5.htm
MASTER INTERFUND LENDING AGREEMENT 

 

This Master Interfund Lending Agreement (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Master Agreement”), dated as of July 16, 2010 (the “Effective Date”), is by and among each investment company listed on Schedule A or Schedule B hereto (collectively, the “Trusts,” and each portfolio series of a Trust (or if the relevant Trust has no portfolio series, then the relevant Trust) shall be referred to herein as a “Fund” and collectively as the “Funds”) and Putnam Investment Management, LLC (the “Adviser”).

WHEREAS, the Trusts and the Adviser have received an exemptive order (the “Order”) dated April 10, 2002 from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission permitting the Funds to participate in a joint lending and borrowing facility (the “Lending Facility”);

WHEREAS, the Funds listed on Schedule A hereto (as amended from time to time) are permitted to borrow cash in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Order to satisfy redemption requests, to cover unanticipated cash shortfalls such as a Sales Fail (defined below), or for other temporary purposes (each such borrowing Fund is hereinafter referred to as a “Borrower”);

WHEREAS, the Funds listed on Schedule B hereto (as amended from time to time) are permitted to lend cash to one or more Borrowers from time to time on the terms set forth below and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Order (each such lending Fund is hereinafter referred to as a “Lender”);

NOW THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Definitions. As used herein, the following terms shall have meanings assigned to them below:

“1940 Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

“Bank Loan Rate” for any day means the rate calculated by the Credit Facility Team according to a formula established by the Board of Trustees of each Trust intended to approximate the lowest interest rate at which bank short-term loans would be available to a Borrower.

“Borrowing Instructions” has the meaning specified in Section 3.1.1 hereof.

“Business Day” means a day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for the purpose of transacting business.

“Credit Arrangements” means the credit arrangements that a Fund may have for borrowing for temporary or emergency purposes, including borrowings from banks and other institutional lenders.

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“Credit Facility Team” means the officers and employees of the fund administration, middle office, trading and investment departments of the Adviser who are responsible for administering the Interfund Lending Facility.

“Interest Rate” means, for each date on which interest accrues hereunder, the average of (i) the higher of the OTD Rate and the Repo Rate and (ii) the Bank Loan Rate.

“Lending Instructions” has the meaning specified in Section 3.1.1 hereof.

“Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2 hereof.

“Loan Account” has the meaning specified in Section 3.5 hereof.

“Maximum Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2 hereof.

“Obligations” means all of the obligations (whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, primary or secondary, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising) of a Borrower to a Lender hereunder.

“OTD Rate” on any day means the highest interest rate available to a Lender from investment in overnight time deposits.

“Outstanding Secured Borrowing” means any loan made to a Fund either under this Master Agreement or under any other agreement that is secured by assets of the Fund.

“Prospectus” means with respect to each Borrower the prospectus required to be delivered by the Borrower to offerees of its securities pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

“Repo Rate” on any day means the highest interest rate available to a Lender from investment in overnight repurchase agreements.

“Sales Fail” in connection with the attempted sale of a security means the cash shortfall resulting from circumstances beyond the seller’s control, such as the delay in the delivery of cash to the seller’s custodian or improper delivery instructions by the broker effecting the transaction.

“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Secured Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2(e) hereof.

“Security Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 3.11(d) hereof.

“Statement of Additional Information” means with respect to each Borrower the Statement of Additional Information which must be provided by the Borrower to recipients of its Prospectus upon request pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the SEC.

“Unsecured Loan” means any Loan other than a Secured Loan.

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2. Lending Facility. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Master Agreement, each Lender may from time to time in its discretion loan its available cash to any Borrower (a “Loan”). Each Loan shall be made for a term no longer than the least of (a) the maximum term on any outstanding loan or advance to the Borrower under its Credit Arrangements; (b) seven (7) days; or (c) the number of days required for the Borrower to receive payment for securities sold at or prior to the time the Loan is made in an amount sufficient to repay the Loan. The maximum principal amount of all Loans outstanding with respect to any Borrower at any time shall not exceed the Maximum Amount the Borrower is permitted to borrow at such time under:

(a) applicable laws and regulations;

(b) the provisions of Section 5.2 hereof;

(c) agreements with federal, state, local or foreign governmental authorities or regulators applicable to the Borrower or limitations specified in the Order applicable to the Borrower’s borrowing and pledging activities, all as amended and in effect from time to time;

(d) limitations on borrowing adopted by the Borrower in its Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information or elsewhere, as amended and in effect from time to time; and

(e) in the case of Loans for which the Borrower is required to provide collateral pursuant to Section 3.11 hereof (“Secured Loans”), any limitations specified in the Security Agreement (as defined below) and any limitations on the pledging of assets adopted by the Borrower in its Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information or elsewhere.

As used herein, the term “Maximum Amount” means the maximum amount that the Borrower is permitted to borrow in accordance with the provisions of the preceding sentence.

3. Loan Requirements.

3.1 Procedural Requirements.All loans shall be requested and funded in accordance with the procedures set forth herein and such other procedures as may be approved and adopted from time to time by the Board of Trustees of the applicable Trust (the “Interfund Lending Procedures”), including a majority of the trustees who are not “interested persons” as that term is used in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act.

3.1.1 Borrowing and Lending Instructions . The Adviser’s investment personnel for each participating Fund shall provide the Credit Facility Team with standing instructions as to their desire to have the Fund act as a Lender when such Fund has uninvested cash balances (“Lending Instructions”). If the Chief Investment Officer of the Adviser or an alternative person as specified in the Interfund Lending Procedures (the “CIO”) determines that a Fund has borrowing needs that are not first met by borrowings under any custody agreement between the Borrower and the Borrower’s custodian that are secured by such custodian’s lien on assets of the Borrower, then the CIO shall instruct the Credit Facility Team as to such Fund’s desire to have the Fund act as a Borrower (“Borrowing Instructions”). The Adviser’s investment personnel may revoke or change

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Lending Instructions, and the CIO may revoke or change Borrowing Instructions, with respect to a Fund by notifying the Credit Facility Team.

3.1.2 Allocation Procedures. On each Business Day, the Credit Facility Team shall seek to collect data on the uninvested cash of Funds listed on Schedule B hereto from such Funds’ custodian. On each occasion that a Fund delivers Borrowing Instructions to the Credit Facility Team, the Credit Facility Team will seek to match the amount and term of the Fund’s borrowing needs with the cash available from the Funds that have provided Lending Instructions in accordance with allocation and administrative procedures established by the Board of Trustees. The Credit Facility Team shall allocate the borrowing demand and lending needs among the Funds on what the Credit Facility Team deems to be an equitable basis and in accordance with the Interfund Lending Procedures. The Credit Facility Team shall not solicit cash for Loans from any Funds or publish or disseminate the amount of any current borrowing demand to the Adviser’s investment personnel.

No Loan may be made unless the Interest Rate is more favorable for the Lender than both the OTD Rate and the Repo Rate and more favorable for the Borrower than the Bank Loan Rate.

3.1.3 Funding the Loans. If a Loan has been allocated to a Lender and Borrower pursuant to Section 3.1.2 hereof, and the Loan is otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in the Order, the Lender shall make such Loan to the Borrower. The proceeds of each Loan made by the Lender to the Borrower shall be wired (or transferred if Borrower and Lender have the same custodian) at the Borrower’s expense in accordance with the wiring instructions for each Fund, as in effect from time to time, to an account maintained on the Borrower’s behalf by its custodian.

3.1.4 Obligations Arising from Loan. Each Loan made by the Lender to Borrower shall:

(a) obligate the Borrower to borrow the principal amount of the Loan at the Interest Rate applicable thereto for the term thereof solely for use by the Borrower;

(b) constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower to the Lender that

(i) the Loan requested thereby

(A) is permitted under the Borrower’s most recent Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information,

(B) is in accordance with the requirements of the Order applicable to the Borrower,

(C) will not, when made, cause the aggregate indebtedness of the Borrower to exceed the Maximum Amount then in effect, and

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(D) will be used by the Borrower only in accordance with Section 3.7 hereof; and

(ii) all of the representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in Section 4 hereof are true and correct as of the date of such Loan as though made on and as of such date; and

(iii) all materials facts about the Borrower’s intended participation in the Lending Facility are fully disclosed in the Borrower’s Statement of Additional Information; and

(c) constitute a representation and warranty by the Lender to the Borrower that the Loan thereby

(i) is permitted under the Lender’s most recent Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information;

(ii) is in accordance with the requirements of the Order applicable to the Lender; and

(iii) all materials facts about the Lender’s intended participation in the Lending Facility are fully disclosed in the Lender’s Statement of Additional Information.

3.2 Repayment of Loans. The principal amount of each Loan shall be repaid by the Borrower from the assets of the Borrower on the earlier of one (1) Business Day after demand by the Lender or the expiration of the term of the Loan.

3.3 Interest. The outstanding principal amount of each Loan shall bear interest until maturity at the Interest Rate. Interest accrued on each Loan shall be paid by the Borrower upon the earlier of (a) mutually agreed times, or (b) the maturity of such Loan. Amounts overdue hereunder (including, without limitation, overdue principal, and, to the extent permitted by law, overdue interest, fees, charges and expenses) shall bear interest until paid at an annual rate equal to the sum of (i) the Interest Rate applicable to such Loan prior to its maturity and (ii) two percent (2%).

3.4 Prepayments. Loans may be prepaid in whole or in part prior to the date on which such Loan is due and payable without premium or penalty.

3.5 Loan Records Accounts. Promptly after a Loan has been made, the Credit Facility Team shall note on its records for the Borrower and Lender, confirming (a) the principal amount of such Loan, (b) the Interest Rate applicable thereto and (c) the maturity thereof. The Credit Facility Team will maintain a separate account on its books for each Lender and Borrower (a “ Loan Account ”) on which will be recorded, in accordance with the Adviser’s customary accounting practice, (a) all Loans made by a Lender to a Borrower, (b) all payments of such Loans made to a Lender, and (c) all other charges and expenses properly chargeable to the Borrower. The debit balance of each Fund’s Loan Account shall reflect the amount of the Borrower’s indebtedness from time to time to the Lenders hereunder. Any written statement

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maintained by the Credit Facility Team regarding the Loan shall, in the absence of manifest error, constitute conclusive evidence of the indebtedness of the Borrower to the Lender as of the date of such statement, provided, however, that the failure of the Credit Facility Team to make such statement shall not impair the validity or binding nature of the Borrower’s Obligations with respect to such Loan.

3.6 Computations. All computations hereunder shall be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed and a 360-day year.

3.7 Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of each Loan made hereunder with respect to any Fund shall be used only by such Fund in accordance with its Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information for temporary purposes to satisfy redemption requests, to cover unanticipated cash shortfalls such as a Sales Fail, or for other temporary purposes as permitted by the Interfund Lending Procedures.

3.8 Discretionary Facility. It is acknowledged and agreed by each Borrower that each Lender has no obligation to make any Loan hereunder unless it has issued Lending Instructions, and that the decision whether or not to issue Lending Instructions under this Master Agreement is within the sole and exclusive discretion of each Lender. It is acknowledged and agreed by each Lender that no Borrower is obligated to borrow money hereunder unless it has issued Borrowing Instructions.

3.9 Termination of Participation in the Lending Facility. Each Lender and each Borrower may terminate its participation in this Master Agreement at any time by written notice to the Credit Facility Team; provided that on or before the date of any termination the relevant Lender or Borrower has no Loans outstanding. The Adviser may at any time by delivery of a revised Schedule A or Schedule B, as applicable, to the Credit Facility Team add additional Funds that are eligible to rely on the Order as parties to this Master Agreement, whereupon those additional Funds shall be treated for all purposes as a Borrower and as a Lender, as applicable.

3.10 Recourse to Assets. Loans made to any Borrower shall be repaid solely from the assets of such Borrower, and a Lender shall have no right of recourse or offset against the assets of any other Fund with respect to such Loans or any default in respect thereto. Each Lender’s liability under this Master Agreement with respect to a Loan shall be solely limited to the Lender’s assets and each Borrower hereby waives any and all rights it may have against any other Funds with respect to such Loan or any default by Lender with respect thereto.

3.11 Collateral Security for Loans.

(a) As a condition precedent to making any Loan to any Borrower or continuing any Loan made to any Borrower, the Borrower covenants and agrees that in the event that (i) the Borrower’s outstanding borrowings from all sources immediately after the Loan would exceed 10% of its total assets, (ii) the Borrower’s outstanding borrowings from all sources exceed 10% of the Borrower’s total assets for any reason (such as a decline in net asset value or because of shareholder redemptions), or (iii) the Borrower has Outstanding Secured Borrowings, within one (1) Business Day (except as required by Section 3.11(b) below), the Borrower will

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(i) repay all its outstanding Loans;

(ii) reduce its outstanding indebtedness to 10% or less of its total assets; or

(iii) secure each outstanding Loan by the pledge of segregated collateral for such Loan and by transfer of such collateral into a segregated account in the name of the Lender or the entering into, by the Borrower, the Lender and the Borrower’s custodian, of a control agreement satisfactory to the Lender. The minimum market value of the stock and other portfolio securities of the Borrower required to be pledged as collateral to the Lender hereunder with respect to any Secured Loan shall be determined by the Lender in its discretion but, in all cases, will have a market value at least equal to 102% of the outstanding principal value of the loan.

Until each Loan that is outstanding at any time that a Borrower’s outstanding borrowings exceed 10% of its assets is repaid or the Borrower’s outstanding borrowings cease to exceed 10% of its total assets, the Borrower shall mark the value of the collateral to market each day and will pledge and transfer to a segregated account in the name of the Lender such additional collateral as is necessary to maintain the market value of the collateral that secures each outstanding Loan at least equal to 102% of the outstanding principal value of the Loan. Subject to Sections 3.11(b) and (c) hereof, once a Borrower’s outstanding borrowings cease to exceed 10% of its total assets, segregated collateral will no longer be required.

(b) Any Loan to a Borrower with Outstanding Secured Borrowings (i) will be at an interest rate equal to or lower than that of any outstanding bank loan, (ii) will be secured at least on an equal priority basis with at least an equivalent percentage of collateral to loan value as any outstanding bank loan that requires collateral, and (iii) will have a maturity no longer than any outstanding bank loan (and in any event not more than seven (7) days).

(c) Notwithstanding Sections 3.11(a) and (b), if any other lender to a Borrower imposes conditions with respect to the quality of or access to collateral securing a borrowing, the Borrower’s collateral for any Loan will be subject to the same conditions (if the other lender is another Fund) or the same or better conditions (in any other circumstance).

(d) Each pledge of collateral required pursuant to this Section 3.11 shall be made in accordance with and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the collateral security agreement dated as of the Effective Date and signed by each Trust, substantially in the form set forth in Schedule C hereto (the “Security Agreement”).

(e) If requested by the Lender, the Borrower agrees to enter into, and use reasonable efforts to cause its custodian to enter into, a control agreement with the Lender on terms satisfactory to the Lender.

3.12 Records and Reports. Each Fund will maintain and preserve for a period of not less than six years from the end of the fiscal year in which any transaction under this Master Agreement has occurred, the first two years in an easily accessible place, written records of all

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Loans to which it was a party setting forth: (i) a description of the terms of the transaction, including the amount, the maturity, and the rate of interest on the Loan, (ii) the rate of interest available at the time on short-term repurchase agreements and commercial bank borrowings, and (iii) a quarterly report of the Credit Facility Team to the applicable Board of Trustees and the other information presented to the applicable Board of Trustees related to their review of the Lending Facility. On a quarterly basis, the Credit Facility Team will prepare a report for the applicable Board of Trustees (i) concerning the participation of the Funds in the Lending Facility and the terms and other conditions of any extensions of credit under the Lending Facility and (ii) reporting on the operations of the Lending Facility.

4. Representations and Warranties

Each Borrower represents and warrants to each Lender and each Lender represents and warrants to each Borrower that:

(a) it is a series of the applicable Trust that is duly organized and validly existing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and is qualified to do business in every other jurisdiction where lack of such qualification would have a material adverse effect on its business, assets or condition (financial or otherwise);

(b) the applicable Trust is registered as an open-end management investment company under the 1940 Act;

(c) the execution, delivery and performance by the applicable Trust of this Master Agreement

(i) are within its power,

(ii) have been duly authorized by all necessary action, and

(iii) will not

(A) contribute to or result in a breach of or default under or conflict with any existing law, order, regulation or ruling of any governmental or regulatory agency or authority, any order, writ, injunction or ruling of any court or other tribunal, or any indenture, lease agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which the Trust is a party or by which it is or its property or assets may be bound or affected, or

(B) result in the imposition of any liens or encumbrances on any property or assets of the Trust (except as contemplated hereby), or

(C) require any additional approval or consent of, or filing with, shareholders of such Trust or any governmental or regulatory agency or authority bearing on the validity of any borrowing pursuant to this Master Agreement, or

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(D) violate any provision of the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust or any amendment thereof, any of its investment policies and limitations, or any provision of its most recent Prospectus or Statement of Additional Information;

(d) this Master Agreement is a legally valid and binding obligation of the applicable Trust, enforceable against the Fund in accordance with its terms except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws or equitable principles relating to or limiting the rights of creditors generally; and

(e) it is not in material violation of any material term of its most recent Prospectus or Statement of Additional Information, or of its organizational documents, or of any investment, borrowing or other similar type of policy or restriction to which it is subject, or of any material term of any material agreement or instrument to which it is a party, or, to the best of its knowledge, of any judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to it.

5. Covenants

5.1 Covenants in Effect Until Termination of Master Agreement. Until all of the obligations have been performed in full and its participation in the Lending Facility has been terminated as provided herein, each Borrower covenants that it will:

(a) maintain its legal existence and business; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Section 5.1(a) shall prohibit the merger or consolidation of any Borrower with or into another person upon written notice thereof to the Lenders under any Loans then outstanding, subject to the requirement that the surviving entity (if not previously a Borrower) be admitted as such in accordance with this Master Agreement, and subject to the further requirement that the surviving entity assumes all of the obligations of such Borrower under this Master Agreement, including, without limitation, the obligations of such Borrower with respect to any Loans outstanding to such Borrower at the time of such merger or consolidation;

(b) at any time and from time to time, at its own expense, promptly execute and deliver or file all further instruments and documents, and take all further action, that may be necessary or desirable, or that the Lender may request, in order to perfect, protect, validate or preserve any security interest granted or pledged to the Lender pursuant to Section 3.11 hereof or to enable the Lender to exercise and enforce its rights and remedies thereunder with respect thereto;

(c) file all federal and other tax returns, reports and declarations required by all relevant jurisdictions on or before the due dates for such returns, reports and declarations and will pay all taxes and other governmental assessments and charges as and when they become due;

(d) comply in all material respects with all of its investment policies and restrictions and all applicable statutes, rules, regulations and orders of, and all applicable restrictions

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imposed by, all governmental authorities in respect of the conduct of its business and the ownership of its properties; provided that such Borrower shall not be required by reason of this section to comply therewith at any time while such Borrower shall be contesting its obligations to do so in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly initiated and diligently conducted;

(e) promptly notify the Lender of any material change in its agreements with governmental authorities or regulators or its investment policies or restrictions or of any Credit Arrangements or modifications thereof; and

(f) upon request from the Lender from time to time, furnish to the Lender at reasonable times and intervals any information with respect to its financial standing and history or its property or business or prospects.

5.2 Covenants in Effect While Loans Are Outstanding.

The Borrower covenants that, so long as any principal of or interest on any Loan made to it is outstanding, it will:

(a) not, as long as any Unsecured Loan is outstanding hereunder, create or permit to exist any encumbrance in favor of any person or entity other than the Lender upon any of the assets of the Borrower other than (a) encumbrances created in connection with portfolio investments of the Borrower and (b) to secure the Borrower’s obligations under any Credit Arrangement by any assets not then pledged as collateral hereunder, in each case to the extent permitted by the provisions of its Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information;

(b) not take out any Loan that

(i) immediately after such Loan would cause the total of such loans to exceed 33 1/3% of the Borrower’s total assets, or

(ii) would cause such Borrower’s total loans to exceed 10% of such Borrower’s total assets unless any Loan hereunder is secured in accordance with Section 3.11 hereof;

(c) not, as long as any Loan made with respect to the Borrower is outstanding, allow the total amount of such Borrower’s Loans, as measured on the day when the most recent Loan was made, to exceed the greater of 125% of such Borrower’s total net cash redemptions for the preceding seven (7) calendar days and 102% of Sales Fails for the preceding seven (7) calendar days;

(d) notify the Lender if it draws on its Credit Arrangements, borrows from other Lenders under the Master Agreement, or borrows from other parties; and

(e) notify the Lender promptly of

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(i) any material changes in its method of business, Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information, and

(ii) the occurrence of any event which would make any of the representations and warranties contained herein, or in any document, instrument or certificate delivered in connection herewith, untrue or inaccurate in any material respect.

The Lender covenants that

(a) its Loans to a single Borrower will not exceed 5% of the Lender’s net assets; and

(b) its aggregate Loans to all Borrowers constitute 15% or less of the Lender’s net assets at the time of any Loan.

6. Documents to be Delivered Prior to Initial Loan. The Borrower shall deliver to the Lender prior to the first Loan between the parties any documents as the Lender shall have requested in order to comply with applicable rules and regulations promulgated by governmental and regulatory authorities.

7. Default

7.1 Events of Default. The occurrence of any one or more of the following events (“Events of Default”) shall constitute an immediate Event of Default with respect to the Borrower:

(a) The Borrower shall fail to pay principal of, or interest on, any Loan as and when due, or the Borrower shall fail to perform any of its other Obligations; or

(b) There shall be a default by the Borrower under any Credit Arrangement, whether such Credit Arrangement now exists or shall hereafter be created, which default extends beyond any period of grace provided with respect thereto and which default relates to

(i) the obligations to pay the principal of or interest on any such indebtedness under the Credit Arrangement, or

(ii) an obligation other than the obligation to pay the principal of or interest on any such indebtedness and the effect of such default is to cause, or to permit the lender under the Credit Arrangement to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity; or

(c) Any representation or warranty made by the Borrower in Section 4 of this Master Agreement, or in connection with any Loan made to or pledge of pledged collateral made by the Borrower, shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made; or

(d) The Borrower shall generally not pay its debts as such debts become due, or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally, or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or any governmental or public authority shall take over

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possession or control of a substantial part of the Borrower’s business; or any of the Borrower’s property shall become subject to attachment or other involuntary lien or levy; or any action or proceeding shall be commenced by the Borrower seeking to adjudicate it as bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief, or composition of it or its debts under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief or debtors, seeking the entry of an order for relief of the appointment of a receiver, trustee, or similar official for it or for any substantial part of its property, or any such proceeding is commenced against it which results in the entry of an order for such relief or such proceeding is not dismissed or stayed for a period of sixty (60) days following such commencement; or

(e) An event of default occurs under any agreement evidencing an outstanding bank loan to the Borrower; provided that, in such circumstance, that event of default will automatically (without need for action or notice by the Lender) constitute an immediate event of default entitling the Lender to call the Loan (and exercise all rights with respect to any collateral) and that such a call will be deemed made if the lending bank exercises its right to call its loan under its agreement with the Borrower.

7.2 Remedies

7.2.1 Arbitration. In the event an Event of Default under Section 7.1(a) has occurred and not been cured within two Business Days from the Loan’s maturity or from the time the Lender makes a demand for payment (and none of the Events of Default specified in Section 7.1(d) has occurred), the Lender and the Borrower agree that such matter shall be submitted for binding arbitration to an independent arbitrator selected by the Board of Trustees of the Lender and Borrower. If the dispute involves a Lender and Borrower with different Boards of Trustees, the respective Boards of Trustees of the Lender and Borrower will select an independent arbitrator that is satisfactory to each party. Such independent arbitrator’s decision shall be binding and conclusive between the Lender and the Borrower. Such Arbitrator shall submit at least annually a written report of any dispute to the Boards of Trustees of the Funds describing the nature of any dispute and the actions taken by the Lender and Borrower to resolve the dispute.

7.2.2 Other Rights and Remedies. If an Event of Default has occurred and has not been resolved pursuant to Section 7.2.1, or any other Event of Default has occurred, then the Lender shall be entitled to exercise any and all rights and remedies available to it at law or in equity, including without limitation any rights and remedies that may be available to it under the Security Agreement referred to in Section 3.11 to the Master Agreement and, with respect to an Event of Default specified in Section 7.1(e), any rights and remedies available to it under Section 7.1(e), and the Borrower shall pay to the Lender all reasonable expenses and disbursements incurred by the Lender in connection with the enforcement of its rights and remedies under this Master Agreement including the reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of counsel for the Lender with respect thereto.

8. Notice. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all notices hereunder to any party shall be in writing and shall be delivered in hand, mailed by United States registered or certified first-class mail, postage prepaid or sent by fax, addressed to such party to the attention of the

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person specified in the following sentence at the address set forth for such party below, or to such other person or address as such party may designate to the other party hereto by notice delivered in accordance with this Section 8. All notices to the Borrower shall be addressed to the Treasurer of the Borrower and all notices from the Borrower to the Lender shall be addressed to the Treasurer of the Lender. Written notice to the Credit Facility Team shall be sent to the following address: Putnam Investment Management, LLC, One Post Office Square, Boston, MA 02109. The address for all Funds listed in this Master Agreement is: One Post Office Square, Boston, MA 02109.

9. Amendments. Neither this Master Agreement nor any provision hereof may be amended in any respect except by a statement in writing executed by the parties hereto.

10. Assignment. All of the terms of this Master Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided, that the Borrower shall not assign or transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Lender.

11. Survival of Covenants, Representations and Warranties. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made herein or in any documents or other papers delivered by or on behalf of the Borrowers, or any of them, pursuant hereto shall be deemed to have been relied upon by the Lenders, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Lenders and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Master Agreement and the making by the Lenders of the Loans as herein contemplated and shall continue in full force and effect so long as any Loan, Obligation or any other amount due under this Agreement remains outstanding and unpaid or unsatisfied.

12. Section Headings. The descriptive section headings in this Master Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed to limit or otherwise affect the construction of any provision thereof or hereof.

13. Counterparts. This Master Agreement and the documents contemplated hereby may be executed simultaneously in any number of counterparts each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which shall together constitute but one and the same document.

14. Severability. If any of the provisions of this Master Agreement or any instrument delivered hereunder or the application thereof to any party hereto or to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the remainder of this Master Agreement or such instrument and the application thereof to any party hereto or to any other person or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.

15. Governing Law. This Master Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law.

16. Entire Agreement. This Master Agreement and the other documents contemplated hereby and executed in connection herewith express the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby.

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17. Limitation of Liability of the Board of Trustees. A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of each Trust is on file with the Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this instrument is executed on behalf of the Trustees of each Trust as Trustees of such Trust and not individually and that the obligations of or arising out of this instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the applicable Trust.

[The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank.] 

 

14 

 


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Master Agreement to be duly executed as an instrument under seal by its duly authorized officer as of the date first written above.

ALL TRUSTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE A OR SCHEDULE B

By: /s/ Jonathan S. Horwitz 
Name: Jonathan S. Horwitz   
Title:  Executive Vice President, Principal Executive Officer and Compliance Liaison 

 

PUTNAM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC

By: /s/ James P. Pappas 
Name: James P. Pappas   
Title:  Director, Trustee Relations 

 


SCHEDULE A – Borrowing Funds
 
As amended as of September 15, 2017 
 
Except as otherwise indicated below, for each Fund, the Master Agreement was effective as 
of the Effective Date. 
 
Putnam American Government Income Fund 
Putnam Asset Allocation Funds 
           -Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Balanced Fund 
           -Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Conservative Fund 
           -Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Growth Fund 
Putnam California Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Convertible Securities Fund 
Putnam Diversified Income Trust 
Putnam Equity Income Fund 
Putnam Europe Equity Fund 
Putnam Funds Trust 
           -Putnam Absolute Return 100 Fund 
           -Putnam Absolute Return 300 Fund 
           -Putnam Absolute Return 500 Fund 
           -Putnam Absolute Return 700 Fund 
           -Putnam Capital Spectrum Fund 
           -Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Equity Fund 
           -Putnam Dynamic Risk Allocation Fund (effective 9/9/11) 
           -Putnam Emerging Markets Equity Fund 
           -Putnam Emerging Markets Income Fund (effective 12/14/12) 
           -Putnam Equity Spectrum Fund 
           -Putnam Floating Rate Income Fund 
           -Putnam Global Consumer Fund 
           -Putnam Global Financials Fund 
           -Putnam Global Industrials Fund 
           -Putnam Global Sector Fund 
           -Putnam Global Technology Fund 
           -Putnam Global Telecommunications Fund 
           -Putnam Intermediate-Term Municipal Income Fund (effective 12/14/12) 
           -Putnam International Value Fund 
           -Putnam Low Volatility Equity Fund (effective 12/14/12) 
           -Putnam Mortgage Opportunities Fund (effective 4/6/15) 
           -Putnam Multi-Cap Core Fund (effective 5/14/10) 
           -Putnam Short Duration Income Fund (effective 6/17/11) 
           -Putnam Short Term Municipal Income Fund (effective 12/14/12) 
           -Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund 
George Putnam Balanced Fund 
Putnam Global Equity Fund 
Putnam Global Health Care Fund 

 


Putnam Global Income Trust 
Putnam Global Natural Resources Fund 
Putnam Global Utilities Fund 
Putnam High Yield Fund 
Putnam Income Fund 
Putnam International Equity Fund 
Putnam Investment Funds 
           -Putnam Capital Opportunities Fund 
           -Putnam Growth Opportunities Fund 
           -Putnam International Capital Opportunities Fund 
           -Putnam International Growth Fund 
           -Putnam Multi-Cap Value Fund 
           -Putnam PanAgora Managed Futures Strategy (effective 6/23/17) 
           -Putnam PanAgora Market Neutral Fund (effective 6/23/17) 
           -Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund (effective 6/23/17)
           -Putnam Research Fund 
           -Putnam Small Cap Value Fund 
Putnam Investors Fund 
Putnam Massachusetts Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Minnesota Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Multi-Cap Growth Fund 
Putnam New Jersey Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam New York Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Pennsylvania Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam RetirementReady® Funds 
           -Putnam Retirement Income Fund Lifestyle 1 
           -Putnam RetirementReady 2060 Fund (effective 11/30/15)
           -Putnam RetirementReady 2055 Fund (effective 6/11/10)
           -Putnam RetirementReady 2050 Fund 
           -Putnam RetirementReady 2045 Fund 
           -Putnam RetirementReady 2040 Fund 
           -Putnam RetirementReady 2035 Fund 
           -Putnam RetirementReady 2030 Fund 
           -Putnam RetirementReady 2025 Fund 
           -Putnam RetirementReady 2020 Fund 
Putnam Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Tax-Free Income Trust 
           -Putnam AMT-Free Municipal Fund 
           -Putnam Tax-Free High Yield Fund 
Putnam U.S. Government Income Trust 

 


Putnam Variable Trust 
           -Putnam VT Absolute Return 500 Fund (effective 5/13/11) 
           -Putnam VT American Government Income Fund
           -Putnam VT Capital Opportunities Fund 
           -Putnam VT Diversified Income Fund 
           -Putnam VT Equity Income Fund 
           -Putnam VT George Putnam Balanced Fund 
           -Putnam VT Global Asset Allocation Fund 
           -Putnam VT Global Equity Fund 
           -Putnam VT Global Health Care Fund 
           -Putnam VT Global Utilities Fund 
           -Putnam VT Growth Opportunities Fund 
           -Putnam VT High Yield Fund 
           -Putnam VT Income Fund 
           -Putnam VT International Equity Fund 
           -Putnam VT International Growth Fund 
           -Putnam VT International Value Fund 
           -Putnam VT Investors Fund 
           -Putnam VT Multi-Cap Growth Fund 
           -Putnam VT Multi-Cap Value Fund 
           -Putnam VT Research Fund 
           -Putnam VT Small Cap Value Fund 

 

EACH TRUST LISTED ABOVE, ON BEHALF OF EACH OF ITS FUNDS LISTED ABOVE

By: /s/ Jonathan S. Horwitz 
Name: Jonathan S. Horwitz   
Title:  Executive Vice President, Principal Executive Officer and Compliance Liaison 

 

PUTNAM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC

By: /s/ Robert T. Burns 
Name: Robert T. Burns 
Title:   Secretary 

 


SCHEDULE B – Lending Funds
 
As amended as of September 15, 2017 
 
Except as otherwise indicated below, for each Fund, the Master Agreement was effective as 
of the Effective Date. 
 
Putnam American Government Income Fund 
Putnam Asset Allocation Funds 
           -Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Balanced Fund 
           -Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Conservative Fund 
           -Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Growth Fund 
Putnam Convertible Securities Fund 
Putnam Diversified Income Trust 
Putnam Equity Income Fund 
Putnam Europe Equity Fund 
Putnam Funds Trust 
           -Putnam Absolute Return 100 Fund 
           -Putnam Absolute Return 300 Fund 
           -Putnam Absolute Return 500 Fund 
           -Putnam Absolute Return 700 Fund 
           -Putnam Capital Spectrum Fund 
           -Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Equity Fund 
           -Putnam Dynamic Risk Allocation Fund (effective 9/9/11) 
           -Putnam Emerging Markets Equity Fund 
           -Putnam Emerging Markets Income Fund (effective 12/14/12) 
           -Putnam Equity Spectrum Fund 
           -Putnam Floating Rate Income Fund 
           -Putnam Global Consumer Fund 
           -Putnam Global Financials Fund 
           -Putnam Global Industrials Fund 
           -Putnam Global Sector Fund 
           -Putnam Global Technology Fund 
           -Putnam Global Telecommunications Fund 
           -Putnam Intermediate-Term Municipal Income Fund (effective 12/14/12) 
           -Putnam International Value Fund 
           -Putnam Low Volatility Equity Fund (effective 12/14/12) 
           -Putnam Mortgage Opportunities Fund (effective 4/6/15) 
           -Putnam Multi-Cap Core Fund (effective 5/14/10) 
           -Putnam Short Duration Income Fund (effective 6/17/11) 
           -Putnam Short Term Investment Fund (effective 11/9/12) 
           -Putnam Short Term Municipal Income Fund (effective 12/14/12) 
           -Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund 
 
George Putnam Balanced Fund 
Putnam Global Equity Fund 

 


Putnam Global Health Care Fund 
Putnam Global Income Trust 
Putnam Global Natural Resources Fund 
Putnam Global Utilities Fund 
Putnam High Income Securities Fund 
Putnam High Yield Fund 
Putnam Income Fund 
Putnam International Equity Fund 
Putnam Investment Funds 
           -Putnam Capital Opportunities Fund 
           -Putnam Government Money Market Fund (effective 10/16/15) 
           -Putnam Growth Opportunities Fund 
           -Putnam International Capital Opportunities Fund 
           -Putnam International Growth Fund 
           -Putnam Multi-Cap Value Fund 
           -Putnam PanAgora Managed Futures Strategy (effective 6/23/17) 
           -Putnam PanAgora Market Neutral Fund (effective 6/23/17) 
           -Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund (effective 6/23/17)
           -Putnam Research Fund 
           -Putnam Small Cap Value Fund 
Putnam Investors Fund 
Putnam Master Intermediate Income Trust 
Putnam Money Market Fund 
Putnam Multi-Cap Growth Fund 
Putnam Premier Income Trust 
Putnam RetirementReady® Funds 
           -Putnam Retirement Income Fund Lifestyle 1 
           -Putnam RetirementReady 2060 Fund (effective 11/30/15)
           -Putnam RetirementReady 2055 Fund (effective 6/11/10)
           -Putnam RetirementReady 2050 Fund 
           -Putnam RetirementReady 2045 Fund 
           -Putnam RetirementReady 2040 Fund 
           -Putnam RetirementReady 2035 Fund 
           -Putnam RetirementReady 2030 Fund 
           -Putnam RetirementReady 2025 Fund 
           -Putnam RetirementReady 2020 Fund 
Putnam U.S. Government Income Trust 

 


Putnam Variable Trust 
           -Putnam VT Absolute Return 500 Fund (effective 5/13/11) 
           -Putnam VT American Government Income Fund
           -Putnam VT Capital Opportunities Fund 
           -Putnam VT Diversified Income Fund 
           -Putnam VT Equity Income Fund 
           -Putnam VT George Putnam Balanced Fund 
           -Putnam VT Global Asset Allocation Fund 
           -Putnam VT Global Equity Fund 
           -Putnam VT Global Health Care Fund 
           -Putnam VT Global Utilities Fund 
           -Putnam VT Government Money Market Fund 
           -Putnam VT Growth Opportunities Fund 
           -Putnam VT High Yield Fund 
           -Putnam VT Income Fund 
           -Putnam VT International Equity Fund 
           -Putnam VT International Growth Fund 
           -Putnam VT International Value Fund 
           -Putnam VT Investors Fund 
           -Putnam VT Multi-Cap Growth Fund 
           -Putnam VT Multi-Cap Value Fund 
           -Putnam VT Research Fund 
           -Putnam VT Small Cap Value Fund 

 

EACH TRUST LISTED ABOVE, ON BEHALF OF EACH OF ITS FUNDS LISTED ABOVE

By:  /s/ Jonathan S. Horwitz 
  Name: Jonathan S. Horwitz 
  Title:  Executive Vice President, Principal Executive Officer and Compliance Liaison 

 

PUTNAM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC

By:  /s/ Robert T. Burns 
  Name: Robert T. Burns 
Title: Secretary 

 


SCHEDULE C
 
COLLATERAL SECURITY AGREEMENT 

 

This Collateral Security Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made this 16th day of July, 2010, by and among each investment company listed on the signature pages hereto (each, a “Trust” and collectively, the “Trusts”), on behalf of each Borrower and Lender (as such terms are defined in the Master Agreement (defined below)).

WHEREAS, each Trust, on behalf of each Borrower and Lender, have entered into a Master Interfund Lending Agreement dated as of July 16, 2010 by and among each Trust and Putnam Investment Management, LLC (the “Master Agreement”) in accordance with the terms of (i) the exemptive order from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission dated April 10, 2002 exempting such Borrowers and Lenders and Putnam Investment Management, LLC from certain provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; and (ii) the Interfund Lending Procedures, as in effect from time to time, for Loans by and among the Funds;

NOW, THEREFORE, each Borrower, in consideration of Loans heretofore, now or from time to time hereafter made, given or extended to the Borrower by a Lender, hereby agrees with the Lenders as follows:

1. Capitalized terms used herein which are not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Master Agreement.

2. Effective upon the transfer of collateral, pursuant to Section 3.11 of the Master Agreement, or as provided herein, to an account owned or controlled by a Lender, as security for the payment of any and all loans heretofore, now or from time to time hereafter made, given or extended to a Borrower by the Lender under and pursuant to the Master Agreement (which loans shall hereinafter be referred to collectively as the “Secured Liabilities” and each individually as a “Secured Liability”), the Lender shall have, and the Borrower hereby grants to the Lender, a security interest in (i) any and all securities and other instruments owned by the Borrower which have been or at any time shall be delivered to the Lender or its custodian by or on behalf of the Borrower or have or at any time shall otherwise come into the possession, custody or control of the Lender or its custodian, including securities and other instruments held in depository trust companies and other institutions and clearing agencies in segregated accounts in the name of the Lender; (ii) all right, title, interest and power (including the power of hypothecation and disposition) of the Borrower in, or in respect of any and all securities and other instruments owned by the Borrower which have or at any time shall come into the possession, custody or control of the Lender or its custodian in any way for any purpose whatsoever, whether or not the Lender shall have accepted said property for the purpose or purposes for which said property was delivered to or otherwise caused to come into the possession, custody or control of the Lender or its custodian; and (iii) all proceeds of any of the foregoing. All property shall be deemed to be in the possession, custody or control of the Lender as soon as it is transferred to the Lender or its custodian


or if the Lender and the Borrower enter into a control agreement satisfactory to the Lender with the Borrower’s custodian. If the Lender shall at any time deem itself insecure in respect of any Secured Liability, the Borrower will deliver to the Lender or its custodian upon demand additional collateral owned by the Borrower satisfactory to the Lender. The term “collateral” as hereinafter used shall mean and include the securities and other instruments, together with proceeds of the securities and other instruments, and any and all property, rights, titles, powers, sums, receivables or claims which by virtue of the provisions of this Agreement are or shall be at the time in question subject to a security interest in favor of the Lender.

3. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default (as defined in the Master Agreement), or any time or times thereafter, (i) the Lender may exercise any and all rights and remedies (a) granted to the Lender by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts or otherwise allowed at law, and/or (b) otherwise provided by this Agreement or the Master Agreement, and (ii) any and all Secured Liabilities of the Borrower shall, at the option of the Lender, become due and payable without notice or demand, notwithstanding any credit or time allowed to the Borrower by any instrument or other document evidencing the same or otherwise.

4. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Lender shall have full power and authority to sell any or all of the collateral of the Borrower. Except as required by law, such sale or other disposition may be made without advertisement or any notice to the Borrower or to any other person. Where reasonable notification of the time or place of such sale or other disposition is so required, such requirement shall be met if such notice is given in the manner prescribed in Paragraph 10 hereof at least five days before the time of such sale or other disposition to each person entitled to such notice, addressed, if to the Borrower, in the manner specified in said Paragraph 10, or, if to any person, to such person at such person’s last address known to the Lender. After deducting all costs and expenses of collection, storage, custody, sale or other disposition and delivery (including legal costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees) and all other charges against the collateral, the residue of the proceeds of any such sale or other disposition shall be applied to the payment of any and all of the Secured Liabilities, due or to become due, in such order of preference as the Lender may determine, proper allowance for interest on liabilities not then due being made, and, unless otherwise provided by law, any surplus shall be returned to the Borrower.

5. The Borrower will pay when due all taxes, assessments, liens, premiums or other charges against the collateral and, if the Borrower and the Lender agree it is appropriate, the Borrower will fully insure the same in favor and to the satisfaction of the Lender against loss by any risk to which the collateral or any part thereof may be subject and will on demand deposit with the Lender the policies covering any such insurance. Although under no obligation to do so, the Lender may at any time and from time to time pay any taxes, assessments, liens, premiums or other charges against the collateral, and may insure the same or otherwise protect the value thereof and the property represented


thereby, and in such event all expenditures so incurred shall be chargeable to the Borrower and secured by the collateral of the Borrower. The Lender shall be under no obligation to take any steps necessary to preserve rights in any collateral against prior parties but may do so at its option. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Lender may at any time and from time to time transfer into its own name or that of its nominee any securities constituting part of the collateral of the Borrower and receive the income thereon and hold the same as additional collateral or apply it to the payment of any or all of the Secured Liabilities and may at any time notify the obligor(s) on any collateral to make payment of the Lender of any amounts due or to become due thereon.

6. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Lender may, at any time and from time to time, transfer or assign the whole or any part of any Secured Liability and may transfer therewith, or assign to and set apart for the account of the transferee or assignee thereof, in either event as security therefor, the whole or any part of the collateral of the Borrower. If the Lender does so transfer or assign and set apart the whole or any part of the collateral, the transferee or assignee thereof, without notice to the Borrower, shall thereupon become vested with, and may thereafter exercise, every right and power hereby given to the Lender in respect thereof, and the Lender shall thereafter be forever relieved and fully discharged from any liability or responsibility in respect thereof, except that the Lender shall continue to use reasonable care in the custody and preservation of any collateral so assigned and set apart while such collateral remains in the possession of the Lender. Such transferee or assignee shall have no right or power in respect of any part of the collateral not so transferred or assigned and set apart, in respect whereof the Lender shall retain all rights and powers hereby given in respect thereof.

7. Except as provided in Paragraphs 4, 5 and 6 hereof, the Lender shall at no time transfer or assign the whole or any part of any Secured Liability or assign, transfer or set aside the whole or any part of the collateral held in security therefor except to an assignee of the Loans secured thereby.

8. Upon the request of the Borrower following the payment in full of all loans and Secured Liabilities and termination of the Master Agreement, the Lender shall (i) return or cause to be returned to the Borrower all collateral which shall remain in the possession, custody or control of the Lender or its custodian at such time, and (ii) shall deliver to the Borrower such instruments, UCC termination statements and other documents, and provide for delivery of such instructions to the custodian, in each case as the Borrower may reasonably request for the purpose of releasing (in fact and as a matter of record) the security interest created by this Agreement.

9. Except as is otherwise expressly provided herein or by law, the Borrower waives all demands and notices in connection with this Agreement or the enforcement of the Lender’s rights hereunder and also waives presentment, demand, notice, protest and all other demands and notices in connection with any Secured Liability or the enforcement of the Lender’s rights with respect thereto and hereby consents that the time


of payment of any Secured Liability may be extended from time to time and that no such extension or other indulgence granted to any other party primarily or secondarily liable on any Secured Liability, no discharge or release of any such party and no substitution, release or surrender of collateral of the Borrower shall discharge or otherwise affect the liability of the Borrower on or in respect of any Secured Liability. No delay or omission on the part of the Lender in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver of such right on any one occasion and shall not be construed as a bar to or waiver of any such right on any future occasion.

10. Any demand upon or notice to the Borrower permitted or required hereunder shall be sufficient if, and effective when, deposited in the mails, postage prepaid, addressed to the Borrower at One Post Office Square, Boston, MA 02109 or at such other address of the Borrower appearing on the first page of this Agreement or at such other address as the Borrower may furnish to the Lender as the address to which such demands, notices or other communications addressed to the Borrower shall be mailed or forwarded.

11. This Agreement may be terminated by the Borrower giving written notice of such termination to the Lender, provided, however, that such termination shall not be effective unless and until all loans and Secured Liabilities (including those contingent or not yet due) existing as of the time of receipt of such notice by the Lender have been paid in full.

12. The Borrower will pay on demand all costs and expenses (including legal costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred or paid by the Lender in collecting any loan or Secured Liability upon any default in respect thereof, and all costs and expenses so incurred shall be secured by the collateral.

13. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Lender, its successors and assigns, and shall be binding upon the Borrower, its successors and assigns.

14. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Massachusetts.

15. A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of each Trust is on file with the Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this instrument is executed on behalf of the Trustees of each Trust as Trustees of such Trust and not individually and that the obligations of or arising out of this instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the applicable Trust.

[Signature Page Follows] 

 


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first written above.

ALL TRUSTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE A OR SCHEDULE B TO THE MASTER

AGREEMENT, AS SUCH SCHEDULES ARE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME

By: /s/ Jonathan S. Horwitz 
Name: Jonathan S. Horwitz 
Title:  Executive Vice President, Principal Executive Officer and Compliance 
  Liaison 

 

 EX-99.H OTH MAT CONT 10 a_amndcmtdmod1.htm a_amndcmtdmod1.htm
EXECUTION COPY 

 

AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT 

 

AMENDMENT NO. 2 (this “Amendment”), dated as of September 21, 2017, to the Credit Agreement, dated as of September 24, 2015, among each trust company listed on Schedule A hereto, the Banks and other lending institutions party thereto, and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as Agent, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified by Joinder Agreement No. 1, dated as of August 29, 2016, Amendment No. 1, dated as of September 22, 2016, the notice letter, dated February 22, 2017 and the notice letter, dated April 19, 2017 (as the same has been or may be further amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”).

Recitals 

 

I. Each term that is defined in the Credit Agreement and not herein defined has the meaning ascribed thereto by the Credit Agreement when used herein.

II. On September 30, 2016, Putnam Mortgage Recovery Fund has been removed as a “Borrower” under the Loan Documents.

III. The Borrowers desire to add each Person listed on Schedule B hereto (each a “New Fund”) as a “Fund” for all purposes of the Loan Documents (the Related Company of each New Fund, acting on behalf of and for the account of such New Fund, a “New Borrower”; the Borrowers and the New Borrowers are herein collectively referred to as the “Amendment Borrowers”).

IV. The Borrowers desire to amend the Credit Agreement and the Banks have agreed thereto, in each case upon the terms and conditions herein contained.

Agreements 

 

Accordingly, in consideration of the Recitals and the covenants, conditions and agreements hereinafter set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by inserting the following new defined term in its appropriate alphabetical order:

“Limited Borrower” means each of the following Borrowers:

· Putnam Investment Funds, acting on behalf of and for the account of Putnam PanAgora Managed Futures Strategy

· Putnam Investment Funds, acting on behalf of and for the account of Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund

· Putnam Investment Funds, acting on behalf of and for the account of Putnam PanAgora Market Neutral Fund


2. The defined term “Adjusted Net Assets” contained in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

“Adjusted Net Assets” means with respect to each Borrower as at any date of determination and subject to Section 1.04 hereof, an amount equal to (a) the Asset Value of the Total Assets of such Borrower minus (b) the sum of, without duplication, (1) Total Liabilities of such Borrower that are not Senior Securities Representing Indebtedness, (2) the Asset Value of such Borrower’s investments in its Subsidiaries, and (3) the Asset Value of such Borrower’s investments in physical commodities. For purposes of calculating Adjusted Net Assets, the amount of any liability included in Total Liabilities shall be equal to the greater of (i) the outstanding amount of such liability and (ii) the fair market value of all assets pledged, hypothecated or otherwise segregated to secure such liability, provided, however, this clause (ii) shall not include any assets solely on account of such assets being subject to a first-priority lien granted in favor of State Street Bank and Trust Company as Custodian in the ordinary course of business.

3. The defined term “Applicable Percentage” contained in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by replacing “and (b)” with “(b) with respect to each Limited Borrower, 10% and (c)”.

4. The defined term “Restricted Borrower” contained in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by inserting the phrase“, other than a Limited Borrower,” immediately following the phrase “any Borrower”.

5. The defined term “Termination Date” contained in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by replacing the date “September 21, 2017” with the date “September [ 20 ], 2018”.

6. Section 2.02 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by replacing the phrase “Restricted Borrower” with “Restricted Borrower or a Limited Borrower”.

7. Exhibit B of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety in the form of Exhibit B hereto.

8. Schedule 2 to the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety in the form of Schedule 2 hereto.

9. The New Borrowers hereby join the Credit Agreement and, from and after the date hereof, each New Borrower is and shall be subject to and bound by, and shall be entitled to all of the benefits of, the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, all as if such New Borrower had been a “Borrower” (or any other relevant term used to describe the other Amendment Borrowers thereunder) party to the original execution and delivery thereof; and all references in the Loan Documents to a “Borrower” or the “Borrowers” (or any other relevant term used to describe the other Amendment Borrowers thereunder) shall hereafter be deemed to include such New Borrower.

10. Paragraphs 1 through 9 of this Amendment shall not be effective until the earliest

2 

 


date upon which each of the following conditions shall be satisfied (the “Amendment Effective Date”):

(a) the Agent shall have received from each Borrower and each Bank either (i) a counterpart of this Amendment executed on behalf of the such party or (ii) written evidence satisfactory to the Agent (which may include facsimile or electronic mail transmission (in printable format) of a signed signature page of this Amendment) that the each such party has executed a counterpart of this Amendment;

(b) the Agent shall have received from each Amendment Borrower a manually signed certificate from the Clerk, Secretary or Assistant Secretary (or other officer acceptable to the Agent) of such Borrower, dated the Amendment Effective Date, in all respects satisfactory to the Agent, (i) certifying as to the incumbency of authorized persons of each Borrower executing this Amendment, (ii) attaching true, complete and correct copies of the resolutions duly adopted by such Borrower’s Managing Body approving this Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereby, all of which are in full force and effect on the Amendment Effective Date, (iii)(X) with respect to each Amendment Borrower other than a New Borrower, certifying that such Borrower’s Charter Documents have not been amended, supplemented or otherwise modified since September 22, 2016 or, if so, attaching true, complete and correct copies of each such amendment, supplement or modification and (Y) with respect to each New Borrower, attaching a true complete and correct copy of all its Charter Documents (or certifying that each such Charter Document has previously been delivered), and (iv) attaching a copy of all of the Offering Documents, as of the Amendment Effective Date, of each New Borrower and such other material as accurately and completely sets forth all Investment Policies and Restrictions of such New Borrower not reflected in the Offering Documents;

(c) the Agent shall have received one or more opinions of counsel to the Amendment Borrowers covering such matters related to the transactions contemplated hereby as the Agent may request, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent;

(d) the Agent shall have received a copy of a Federal Reserve Form FR U-1 for each Bank, duly executed and delivered by each Amendment Borrower, in form and substance acceptable to the Agent;

(e) the Agent shall have received such information as the Agent, at the request of any Bank, shall have requested in order to comply with “know-your-customer” and other anti-terrorism, anti-money laundering and similar rules and regulations and related policies; and

(f) the Agent shall have received all (i) reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Agent (including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Agent) incurred in connection with the preparation, negotiation,

3 

 


execution and delivery of this Amendment on or prior to the Amendment Effective Date, and (ii) fees then payable hereunder or under a separate fee letter, if any.

11. Each Amendment Borrower (a) reaffirms and admits the validity and enforceability of each Loan Document to which it is a party and all of its obligations thereunder and agrees and admits that (i) it has no defense to any such obligation, and (ii) it shall not exercise any setoff or offset to any such obligation, and (b)(1) represents and warrants that, as of the Amendment Effective Date, no Default has occurred and is continuing, and (2) the representations and warranties by such Amendment Borrower contained in the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is or is becoming a party are true on and as of the Amendment Effective Date with the same force and effect as if made on and as of such date (or, if any such representation or warranty is expressly stated to have been made as of a specific date, as of such specific date).

12. In all other respects, the Loan Documents shall remain in full force and effect, and no amendment, supplement or other modification in respect of any term or condition of any Loan Document shall be deemed to be an amendment, supplement or other modification in respect of any other term or condition contained in any Loan Document.

13. This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. It shall not be necessary in making proof of this Amendment to produce or account for more than one counterpart executed and delivered (including by facsimile, or by e-mail transmission of a signed signature page of this Amendment) by the party to be charged.

14. THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAW OF THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION.

[the remainder of this page has been intentionally left blank] 

 

4 

 


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each party hereto has caused this Amendment No. 2 to be executed on its behalf by its duly authorized representative(s) as of the date first above written.

EACH TRUST LISTED ON SCHEDULE A 
HERETO 
 
By: __________________________________
Name: ________________________________ 
Title: _________________________________

 

Putnam Funds – Amendment No. 2 

 


STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST 
COMPANY, as Agent and as a Bank 
 
By: __________________________________
Name: ________________________________
Title: _________________________________

 

Putnam Funds – Amendment No. 2 

 


Schedule A
 
List of Trusts and Companies
 
Putnam American Government Income  Putnam Investors Fund 
Fund   
  Putnam Massachusetts Tax Exempt Income
Putnam Asset Allocation Funds  Fund
   
Putnam California Tax Exempt Income  Putnam Minnesota Tax Exempt Income 
Fund  Fund 
   
Putnam Convertible Securities Fund  Putnam Money Market Fund 
   
Putnam Diversified Income Trust  Putnam Multi-Cap Growth Fund 
   
Putnam Equity Income Fund  Putnam New Jersey Tax Exempt Income 
  Fund
Putnam Europe Equity Fund   
  Putnam New York Tax Exempt Income
Putnam Funds Trust  Fund
   
Putnam Global Equity Fund  Putnam Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund 
   
Putnam Global Health Care Fund  Putnam Pennsylvania Tax Exempt Income 
  Fund
Putnam Global Income Trust   
  Putnam Tax Exempt Income Fund
Putnam Global Natural Resources Fund   
  Putnam Tax-Free Income Trust
Putnam Global Utilities Fund   
  Putnam U.S. Government Income Trust
Putnam High Yield Fund   
  Putnam Variable Trust
Putnam Income Fund   
  George Putnam Balanced Fund
Putnam International Equity Fund 
 
Putnam Investment Funds   

 


Schedule B
 
New Funds
 
 
Company  Series 
  Putnam PanAgora Managed 
  Futures Strategy 
 
Putnam Investment Funds  Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity 
  Fund 
 
  Putnam PanAgora Market 
  Neutral Fund 

 


Putnam Family of Funds
 
EXHIBIT B
 
FORM OF
NOTICE OF BORROWING/REPAYMENT/ROLLOVER CERTIFICATE 

 

DATE: [Insert Date] (the “Notice Date”)

TO: STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, as Agent

Customer Service Unit
M/S CCB0900
One Iron Street
PO Box 5501
Boston, MA 02206-5501

Attn: Eduardo Chaves
Tel: (617) 662-8574
Fax: (617) 988-6677

Attn: Peter Connolly
Tel: (617) 662-8588
Fax: (617) 988-6677
Email: ais-loanops-csu@statestreet.com

FROM: [NAME OF COMPANY] (the “Company”) acting on behalf of and for the account of [_______________] (the “Fund”) (Fund # ___________) (DDA # ____________)

Reference is hereby made to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of September 24, 2015, among each trust company listed on Schedule A hereto, the Banks and other lending institutions party thereto, and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as Agent (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”). Each term that is defined in the Credit Agreement and not herein defined has the meaning ascribed thereto by the Credit Agreement when used herein.

1. The Company, acting on behalf of and for the account of the Fund (the Company, so acting, the “Applicable Borrower”), hereby requests (check only one, and complete if necessary):

____ Loan advance to the Applicable Borrower in the amount of $___________.

____ Loan repayment from the Applicable Borrower in the amount of $___________.

____ overnight rollover of the Loans previously made to the Applicable Borrower.

2. The Applicable Borrower (check only one):

□ is a Limited Borrower and, therefore, its Applicable Percentage is 10%

□ is a Restricted Borrower and, therefore, its Applicable Percentage is 25%

□ is neither a Restricted Borrower nor a Limited Borrower and, therefore, its Applicable Percentage is 33-1/3%


3. The proceeds of any requested Loan shall be used only to the extent consistent with and not prohibited by the Applicable Borrower’s Offering Document, the terms of the Credit Agreement and applicable laws and regulations, including, without limitation, Regulation U.

4. All of the representations and warranties of the Applicable Borrower under the Credit Agreement are true and correct on and as of the date hereof (or, if any such representation or warranty is expressly stated to have been made as of a specific date, as of such specific date).

5. Immediately before and immediately after giving effect to the advance, repayment or rollover requested herein, no Default with respect to such Applicable Borrower has occurred or would exist.

6. The following amounts and statements are true:

(a) Adjusted Net Assets of the Applicable Borrower:   
(i)  Total Assets of the Applicable Borrower  $ _____________
(ii)  Total Liabilities (excluding Senior Securities Representing   
  Indebtedness) of the Applicable Borrower1  $ _____________
(iii)  Asset Value of the Applicable Borrower’s investments in   
  Subsidiaries  $ _____________
(iv)  Asset Value of the Applicable Borrower’s investments in   
  physical commodities  $ _____________
(v)  item (a)(i) minus items (a)(ii), (iii) and (iv)  $ _____________
(b) Applicable Percentage multiplied by item (a)(v)  $ _____________
 
(c) (i)  Beginning Loan balance for Applicable Borrower:  $ _____________
(ii)  Repayment amount (if any):  $ _____________
(iii)  Requested Loan (if any):  $ _____________
(iv)  Requested Loans Balance ((i) minus (ii) plus (iii)):  $ _____________
 
(d) The aggregate outstanding principal amount of Debt for borrowed   
money of the Applicable Borrower other than the Loans as of the   
date hereof:  $ _____________
 
(e) Total Debt for borrowed money of the Applicable Borrower   
((c)(iv) plus (d)):  $ _____________

 

7. The amount set forth in 6(e) above does not exceed the lesser of (a) the amount set forth in 6(b) above, or (b) (i) the maximum amount of Debt that the Applicable Borrower would be permitted to incur pursuant to Applicable Law, including the Investment Company Act, (ii) the maximum amount of Debt that the Applicable Borrower would be permitted to incur pursuant to the limitations on borrowings in its Offering Document and its Investment Policies and Restrictions, (iii) in the event that the Applicable Borrower shall have entered into any agreement(s) with any Authority limiting the amount of Debt that the Applicable

_______________________________

1 For purposes of calculating Adjusted Net Assets for any Fund, the amount of any liability included in Total Liabilities shall be equal to the greater of (i) the outstanding amount of such liability and (ii) the fair market value of all assets pledged or otherwise segregated to secure such liability.


Borrower may create, incur, assume or suffer to exist, the maximum amount of Debt that the Applicable Borrower would be permitted to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist pursuant to such agreement(s), and (iv) the maximum amount of Debt that the Applicable Borrower would be permitted to incur without violating Section 5.19 of the Credit Agreement.

8. After giving effect to the requests of the Applicable Borrower herein made (a) the aggregate principal amount of all Loans outstanding to the Applicable Borrower shall not cause the Applicable Borrower to have an aggregate amount of Debt outstanding that is in excess of the Maximum Amount with respect to the Applicable Borrower, and (b) the aggregate principal amount of all Loans outstanding to all Borrowers shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitment Amount.

[the remainder of this page has been intentionally left blank] 

 


The undersigned is a duly authorized officer of the Applicable Borrower identified above with authority to execute and deliver this document to the Agent.

[COMPANY] 
 
 
By: __________________________________
Name: ________________________________
Title: _________________________________

 


Schedule A
 
List of Companies 
 

 


  Schedule 2   
   
 
List of Companies, Funds and Fiscal Year End Date 
 
Company  Fund  Fiscal Year End Date 
 
Putnam American  Putnam American Government   
Government  Income Fund  September 30 
Income Fund     
  Putnam Dynamic Asset  September 30 
  Allocation Balanced Fund   
 
 
Putnam Asset  Putnam Dynamic Asset  September 30 
Allocation Funds  Allocation Conservative   
  Fund   
 
  Putnam Dynamic Asset  September 30 
  Allocation Growth Fund   
  September 30 
Putnam California  Putnam California Tax Exempt   
Tax Exempt  Income Fund   
Income Fund     
Putnam Convertible  Putnam Convertible Securities  October 31 
Securities Fund  Fund   
Putnam Diversified  Putnam Diversified Income  September 30 
Income Trust  Trust   
Putnam Equity    November 30 
Income Fund  Putnam Equity Income Fund   
Putnam Europe    June 30 
Equity Fund  Putnam Europe Equity Fund   
 
Putnam Funds Trust  Putnam Absolute Return 100  October 31 
  Fund   
 
  Putnam Absolute Return 300  October 31 
  Fund   
 
  Putnam Absolute Return 500  October 31 
  Fund   
 
  Putnam Absolute Return 700  October 31 
  Fund   
 
  Putnam Dynamic Asset  May 31 
  Allocation Equity Fund   
 
  Putnam Capital Spectrum  April 30 
  Fund   
 
  Putnam Dynamic Risk  May 31 
  Allocation Fund   
 
  Putnam Emerging Markets  August 31 
  Equity Fund   
 
  Putnam Emerging Markets  November 30 
  Income Fund   
 
  Putnam Equity Spectrum Fund  April 30 
 
  Putnam Floating Rate Income  February 28 
  Fund   
 
  Putnam Global Consumer  August 31 
  Fund   

 


  Putnam Global Financials  August 31 
  Fund   
 
  Putnam Global Industrials  August 31 
  Fund   
 
  Putnam Global Technology  August 31 
  Fund   
 
  Putnam Global  August 31 
  Telecommunications Fund   
 
  Putnam Intermediate-Term  November 30 
  Municipal Income Fund   
 
  Putnam International Value  June 30 
  Fund   
 
  Putnam Low Volatility Equity  July 31 
  Fund   
 
  Putnam Mortgage  May 31 
Opportunities Fund   
  Putnam Multi-Cap Core Fund  April 30 
 
  Putnam Short Duration Income  July 31 
  Fund   
 
  Putnam Short-Term Municipal  November 30 
  Income Fund   
 
  Putnam Small Cap Growth  June 30 
  Fund   
Putnam Global    October 31 
Equity Fund     
Putnam Global    August 31 
Health Care Fund     
Putnam Global    October 31 
Income Trust     
Putnam Global    August 31 
Natural Resources     
Fund     
Putnam Global    August 31 
Utilities Fund     
Putnam High Yield    November 30 
Fund (formerly     
Putnam High     
Yield Advantage     
Fund)     
Putnam Income    October 31 
Fund     
Putnam International    June 30 
Equity Fund     
Putnam Capital Opportunities  April 30 
Fund   
 
Putnam Investment  Putnam Government Money  September 30 
Funds Market Fund   
 
  Putnam Growth Opportunities  July 31 
  Fund   

 


  Putnam International Capital  August 31 
Opportunities Fund   
  Putnam International Growth  September 30 
  Fund   
 
  Putnam Multi-Cap Value Fund  April 30 
 
  Putnam Research Fund  July 31 
 
  Putnam Small Cap Value Fund  February 28 
 
  Putnam PanAgora Managed  August 31 
  Futures Strategy   
 
  Putnam PanAgora Market  August 31 
  Neutral Fund   
 
  Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity  August 31 
  Fund   
Putnam Investors    July 31 
Fund  Putnam Investors Fund   
Putnam    May 31 
Massachusetts Tax  Putnam Massachusetts Tax   
Exempt Income  Exempt Income Fund   
Fund     
  May 31 
Putnam Minnesota Putnam Minnesota Tax   
Tax Exempt  Exempt Income Fund   
Income Fund     
Putnam Money    September 30 
Market Fund  Putnam Money Market Fund   
Putnam Multi-Cap  Putnam Multi-Cap Growth  June 30 
Growth Fund  Fund   
  May 31 
Putnam New Jersey Putnam New Jersey Tax   
Tax Exempt  Exempt Income Fund   
Income Fund     
  November 30 
Putnam New York Putnam New York Tax   
Tax Exempt  Exempt Income Fund   
Income Fund     
  May 31 
Putnam Ohio Tax Putnam Ohio Tax Exempt   
Exempt Income  Income Fund   
Fund     
Putnam    May 31 
Pennsylvania Tax  Putnam Pennsylvania Tax   
Exempt Income  Exempt Income Fund   
Fund     
Putnam Tax Exempt  Putnam Tax Exempt Income  September 30 
Income Fund  Fund   
  Putnam AMT-Free Municipal  July 31 
Putnam Tax-Free  Fund   
Income Trust 
Putnam Tax-Free High Yield  July 31 
  Fund   
  September 30 
Putnam U.S. Putnam U.S. Government   
Government  Income Trust   
Income Trust     

 


  Putnam VT Absolute Return  December 31 
  500 Fund   
 
  Putnam VT American  December 31 
  Government Income Fund   
 
  Putnam VT Capital  December 31 
Opportunities Fund   
  Putnam VT Diversified  December 31 
  Income Fund   
 
  Putnam VT Equity Income  December 31 
  Fund   
 
  Putnam VT Global Asset  December 31 
  Allocation Fund   
 
  Putnam VT Global Equity  December 31 
  Fund   
 
  Putnam VT Global Health  December 31 
  Care Fund   
 
  Putnam VT Global Utilities  December 31 
  Fund   
 
  Putnam VT Growth  December 31 
Putnam Variable  Opportunities Fund   
Trust
Putnam VT High Yield Fund  December 31 
 
  Putnam VT Income Fund  December 31 
 
  Putnam VT International  December 31 
  Equity Fund   
 
  Putnam VT International  December 31 
  Growth Fund   
 
  Putnam VT International  December 31 
  Value Fund   
 
  Putnam VT Investors Fund  December 31 
 
  Putnam VT Government  December 31 
Money Market Fund   
  Putnam VT Multi-Cap Growth  December 31 
  Fund   
 
  Putnam VT Multi-Cap Value  December 31 
  Fund   
 
  Putnam VT Research Fund  December 31 
 
  Putnam VT Small Cap Value  December 31 
  Fund   
 
  Putnam VT George Putnam  December 31 
  Balanced Fund   
George Putnam    July 31 
Balanced Fund  George Putnam Balanced Fund   

 

 EX-99.H OTH MAT CONT 11 a_amndunctdmod2.htm a_amndunctdmod2.htm

DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY

September 21, 2017 

 

Each of the Borrowers listed 
   on Appendix I hereto 
One Post Office Square 
Boston, MA 02109 
Attention:  Jonathan S. Horwitz, 
Executive Vice President, Principal Executive Officer 
Treasurer and Compliance Liaison 

 

RE:    Third Amendment to Putnam Funds Amended and Restated Uncommitted Line of Credit 

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Pursuant to an amended and restated letter agreement dated as of September 24, 2015 (as amended from time to time, the “Loan Agreement”) among State Street Bank and Trust Company (the “Bank”) and each of the management investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act listed on Appendix I attached thereto (each, a “Borrower”), the Bank has made available to each of the Borrowers, for itself or on behalf of designated fund series thereof, a $235,500,000 uncommitted, unsecured line of credit (the “Uncommitted Line”). The obligations of the Borrowers arising under the Uncommitted Line are evidenced by an amended and restated promissory note in the original principal amount of $235,500,000, dated September 24, 2015, executed by each of the Borrowers, for itself or on behalf of such designated fund series thereof, in favor of the Bank (as amended, the “Note”). Any capitalized term not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meaning as set forth in the Loan Agreement.

The Borrowers have requested, and the Bank has agreed, to make certain changes to the Loan Documents in connection therewith as set forth below. Therefore, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:

I. Amendments to Loan Documents

Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Loan Documents are hereby amended as follows:

1. Section I(1) of the Loan Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the first sentence in its entirety and substituting the following therefor: “The Uncommitted Line shall expire on September 20, 2018 (the “Expiration Date”), unless extended by mutual agreement of the Bank and the Borrowers or, with respect to any Fund, terminated by a Borrower on behalf of such Fund as provided herein.”


September 21, 2017
Page 2

2. Putnam PanAgora Managed Futures Strategy, Putnam PanAgora Market Neutral Fund and Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund, each a newly established portfolio series of Putnam Investment Funds (the “New Fund”), is each hereby added as a Fund for all purposes under the terms of the Loan Agreement and Note, and each of the Loan Agreement and Note is hereby deemed amended to reflect the foregoing. Putnam Investment Funds, for and on behalf of each of Putnam PanAgora Managed Futures Strategy, Putnam PanAgora Market Neutral Fund and Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund, hereby agree to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of the Loan Documents as a Fund thereunder for all purposes as if it had been an original Fund party thereto.

3. The Borrowers have informed the Bank of certain Fund terminations reflected in Appendix I attached hereto.

4. The Borrowers have further informed the Bank that Putnam High Yield Advantage Fund, a portfolio series of Putnam Funds Trust, has changed its name to Putnam High Yield Fund effective May 8, 2017. In furtherance of the foregoing, all references in the Loan Agreement, the Note and the other Loan Documents to Putnam High Yield Advantage Fund are hereby deleted in their entirety and replaced with references to Putnam High Yield Fund.

5. Section 16 of the Loan Agreement is hereby amended by amending and restating in its entirety the definition of “Adjusted Net Assets” to read as follows:

“Adjusted Net Assets” shall mean, as applied to any Fund at any time, (a) the value of the Total Assets of such Fund at such time, less (b) the sum of, without duplication, (1) Total Liabilities (excluding Indebtedness for borrowed money) of such Fund at such time, (2) the value of such Fund’s investments in any direct or indirect Subsidiaries (and including in any event, without duplication, the value of any such direct or indirect Subsidiaries), and (3) the value of any assets of such Fund constituting physical commodities. For purposes of calculating Adjusted Net Assets for any Fund, the amount of any liability included in Total Liabilities shall be equal to the greater of (i) the outstanding amount of such liability and (ii) the fair market value of all assets pledged, hypothecated or otherwise segregated to secure such liability, provided, however, this clause (ii) shall not include any assets solely on account of such assets being subject to a first-priority lien granted in favor of State Street Bank and Trust Company as Custodian in the ordinary course of business.

6. Section 16 of the Loan Agreement is hereby further amended by inserting the following new defined term in its appropriate alphabetical order:

“Limited Borrower” means each of the following Borrowers:

• Putnam Investment Funds, acting on behalf of 
   Putnam PanAgora Managed Futures Strategy
• Putnam Investment Funds, acting on behalf of


September 21, 2017
Page 3

  Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund
• Putnam Investment Funds, acting on behalf of 
   Putnam PanAgora Market Neutral Fund

7. The defined term “Applicable Percentage” contained in Section 16 of the Loan Agreement is hereby amended by replacing “and (b)” with “(b) with respect to each Limited Borrower, 10% and (c)”.

8. The defined term “Restricted Borrower” contained in Section 16 of the Loan Agreement is hereby amended by inserting the phrase “, other than a Limited Borrower,” immediately following the phrase “any Borrower”.

9. The Appendix I attached to the Loan Agreement and the Note and the Appendix I (or other applicable schedule, appendix or exhibit designation), as applicable, attached to each other certificate, agreement or form executed and/or delivered in connection with the Loan Agreement which includes such an Appendix I (or other applicable schedule, appendix or exhibit designation) listing the Borrowers and Funds, is hereby deleted and the Appendix I attached hereto is substituted in each instance therefor, such revised Appendix I reflecting the changes described in paragraphs 2-4 above.

II. Closing Fee

As a condition precedent to the effectiveness of this letter agreement, the Borrowers shall pay to the Bank a non-refundable fee of $94,200 for closing the renewal of the Uncommitted Line, which fee shall be non-refundable and deemed fully earned by the Bank upon the date of this letter agreement.

III. Miscellaneous

1. Other than as expressly amended hereby, all terms and conditions of the Loan Agreement, Note and all related Loan Documents shall remain unchanged and are hereby ratified and affirmed as of the date hereof.

2. Each of the Borrowers, for itself and on behalf of its respective Funds (including the New Funds), represents and warrants to the Bank as follows: (a) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date hereof under the Loan Documents; (b) each of the representations and warranties contained in the Loan Agreement is true and correct in all respects with respect to such Borrower, for itself and its respective Funds, on and as of the date of this letter amendment except to the extent such representation and warranty is made as of an earlier date; (c) the execution, delivery and performance of this letter amendment and the Loan Documents, as amended hereby (collectively, the “Amended Loan Documents”): (i) are, and will be, within such Borrower's power and authority, (ii) have been authorized by all necessary proceedings, (iii) do not, and will not, require any consent or approval from any governmental authority or any other party other than those which have been received, (iv) will not contravene any provision of, or exceed any limitation contained in, the declaration of trust, by-laws or other organizational documents or Prospectus of such Borrower or any law, rule or regulation applicable to such Borrower, and (v) do not constitute a default under any other agreement, order


September 21, 2017
Page 4

or undertaking binding on such Borrower; and (d) each of the Amended Loan Documents constitutes the legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligation of such Borrower, except as the same may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and by general equitable principles.

3. Upon receipt of a fully executed copy of this letter amendment and such other documents or instruments as the Bank may reasonably request, this letter amendment shall be deemed to be an instrument under seal and an amendment to the Loan Agreement to be governed by the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

4. A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of each Borrower, as amended or restated from time to time, is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Notice is hereby given, and it is expressly agreed, that the obligations of any such Borrower under this letter amendment, the Loan Agreement as amended by this letter amendment, and the other Loan Documents as amended by this letter amendment, shall not be binding upon any of the trustees, shareholders, nominees, officers, agents or employees of such Borrower personally, but bind only the trust property of such Borrower. Furthermore, notice is given that the assets and liabilities of each Fund are separate and distinct and that the obligations of or arising out of the Loan Agreement as amended by this letter amendment and the other Loan Documents as amended by this letter amendment with respect to each Fund are several and not joint. In the case of each Borrower, the execution and delivery of this letter amendment on its behalf has been authorized by its trustees, and this letter amendment has been executed and delivered by an authorized officer, in each case acting in such capacity and not individually, and neither such authorization by the trustees nor such execution and delivery shall be deemed to have been made by any of them individually, but shall bind only the trust property of such Borrower.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank] 

 


This letter amendment may be executed in counterparts each of which shall be deemed to be an original document.

Very truly yours, 
 
STATE STREET BANK AND 
   TRUST COMPANY, as Bank 
 
 
By:                                                                       
Janet B. Nolin   
Vice President   

 

Acknowledged and Accepted:

PUTNAM AMERICAN GOVERNMENT INCOME FUND

PUTNAM ASSET ALLOCATION FUNDS, on behalf of
its fund series as listed in Appendix I attached hereto

PUTNAM CALIFORNIA TAX EXEMPT INCOME FUND
PUTNAM CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES FUND
PUTNAM DIVERSIFIED INCOME TRUST
PUTNAM EQUITY INCOME FUND
PUTNAM EUROPE EQUITY FUND

PUTNAM FUNDS TRUST, on behalf of
its fund series as listed in Appendix I attached hereto

PUTNAM GLOBAL EQUITY FUND
PUTNAM GLOBAL HEALTH CARE FUND
PUTNAM GLOBAL INCOME TRUST
PUTNAM GLOBAL NATURAL RESOURCES FUND
PUTNAM GLOBAL UTILITIES FUND
PUTNAM HIGH YIELD TRUST
PUTNAM INCOME FUND
PUTNAM INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND

PUTNAM INVESTMENT FUNDS, on behalf of
its fund series as listed in Appendix I attached hereto

PUTNAM INVESTORS FUND
PUTNAM MASSACHUSETTS TAX EXEMPT INCOME FUND
PUTNAM MINNESOTA TAX EXEMPT INCOME FUND
PUTNAM MONEY MARKET FUND
PUTNAM MORTGAGE RECOVERY FUND


PUTNAM MULTI-CAP GROWTH FUND
PUTNAM NEW JERSEY TAX EXEMPT INCOME FUND
PUTNAM NEW YORK TAX EXEMPT INCOME FUND
PUTNAM OHIO TAX EXEMPT INCOME FUND
PUTNAM PANAGORA MANAGED FUTURES STRATEGY
PUTNAM PANAAGORA MARKET NEUTRAL FUND
PUTNAM PANAGORA RISK PARITY FUND
PUTNAM PENNSYLVANIA TAX EXEMPT INCOME FUND
PUTNAM TAX EXEMPT INCOME FUND

PUTNAM TAX-FREE INCOME TRUST, on behalf of
its fund series as listed in Appendix I attached hereto

PUTNAM US GOVERNMENT INCOME TRUST

PUTNAM VARIABLE TRUST, on behalf of
its fund series as listed in Appendix I attached hereto

GEORGE PUTNAM BALANCED FUND

By:                                                                                        
  Jonathan Horwitz 
  Executive Vice President, of each of the foregoing 

 

Acknowledged:

STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY,
as Custodian

By:                                                                                       
Name: 
Title: 

 


APPENDIX I
 
List of Borrowers and Funds 

 

PUTNAM AMERICAN GOVERNMENT INCOME FUND on behalf of:
Putnam American Government Income Fund

PUTNAM ASSET ALLOCATION FUNDS on behalf of:
Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Balanced Fund
Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Conservative Fund
Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Growth Fund

PUTNAM CALIFORNIA TAX EXEMPT INCOME FUND on behalf of:
Putnam California Tax Exempt Income Fund

PUTNAM CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES FUND on behalf of:
Putnam Convertible Securities Fund

PUTNAM DIVERSIFIED INCOME TRUST on behalf of:
Putnam Diversified Income Trust

PUTNAM EQUITY INCOME FUND on behalf of:
Putnam Equity Income Fund

PUTNAM EUROPE EQUITY FUND on behalf of:
Putnam Europe Equity Fund

PUTNAM FUNDS TRUST on behalf of:
Putnam Absolute Return 100 Fund
Putnam Absolute Return 300 Fund
Putnam Absolute Return 500 Fund
Putnam Absolute Return 700 Fund
Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Equity Fund
Putnam Capital Spectrum Fund
Putnam Dynamic Risk Allocation Fund
Putnam Emerging Markets Equity Fund
Putnam Emerging Markets Income Fund
Putnam Equity Spectrum Fund
Putnam Floating Rate Income Fund
Putnam Global Consumer Fund
Putnam Global Financials Fund
Putnam Global Industrials Fund
Putnam Global Technology Fund
Putnam Global Telecommunications Fund
Putnam Intermediate-Term Municipal Income Fund
Putnam International Value Fund
Putnam Low Volatility Equity Fund


Putnam Mortgage Opportunities Fund
Putnam Multi-Cap Core Fund
Putnam Short Duration Income Fund
Putnam Short-Term Municipal Income Fund
Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund

PUTNAM GLOBAL EQUITY FUND
PUTNAM GLOBAL HEALTH CARE FUND
PUTNAM GLOBAL INCOME TRUST
PUTNAM GLOBAL NATURAL RESOURCES FUND
PUTNAM GLOBAL UTILITIES FUND
PUTNAM HIGH YIELD FUND (FORMERLY PUTNAM HIGH YIELD ADVANTAGE
   FUND)
PUTNAM INCOME FUND
PUTNAM INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND

PUTNAM INVESTMENT FUNDS on behalf of:
Putnam Capital Opportunities Fund
Putnam Government Money Market Fund
Putnam Growth Opportunities Fund
Putnam International Capital Opportunities Fund
Putnam International Growth Fund
Putnam Multi-Cap Value Fund
Putnam PanAgora Managed Futures Strategy
Putnam PanAgora Market Neutral Fund
Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund

Putnam Research Fund
Putnam Small Cap Value Fund

PUTNAM INVESTORS FUND on behalf of:
Putnam Investors Fund

PUTNAM MASSACHUSETTS TAX EXEMPT INCOME FUND on behalf of:
Putnam Massachusetts Tax Exempt Income Fund

PUTNAM MINNESOTA TAX EXEMPT INCOME FUND on behalf of:
Putnam Minnesota Tax Exempt Income Fund

PUTNAM MONEY MARKET FUND on behalf of:
Putnam Money Market Fund

PUTNAM MULTI-CAP GROWTH FUND on behalf of:
Putnam Multi-Cap Growth Fund


PUTNAM NEW JERSEY TAX EXEMPT INCOME FUND on behalf of:
Putnam New Jersey Tax Exempt Income Fund

PUTNAM NEW YORK TAX EXEMPT INCOME FUND on behalf of:
Putnam New York Tax Exempt Income Fund

PUTNAM OHIO TAX EXEMPT INCOME FUND on behalf of:
Putnam Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund

PUTNAM PENNSYLVANIA TAX EXEMPT INCOME FUND on behalf of:
Putnam Pennsylvania Tax Exempt Income Fund

PUTNAM TAX EXEMPT INCOME FUND on behalf of:
Putnam Tax Exempt Income Fund

PUTNAM TAX-FREE INCOME TRUST on behalf of:
Putnam AMT-Free Municipal Fund
Putnam Tax-Free High Yield Fund

PUTNAM U.S. GOVERNMENT INCOME TRUST on behalf of:
Putnam U.S. Government Income Trust

PUTNAM VARIABLE TRUST on behalf of:
Putnam VT Absolute Return 500 Fund
Putnam VT American Government Income Fund
Putnam VT Capital Opportunities Fund
Putnam VT Diversified Income Fund
Putnam VT Equity Income Fund
Putnam VT Global Asset Allocation Fund
Putnam VT Global Equity Fund
Putnam VT Global Health Care Fund
Putnam VT Global Utilities Fund
Putnam VT Growth Opportunities Fund
Putnam VT High Yield Fund
Putnam VT Income Fund
Putnam VT International Equity Fund
Putnam VT International Growth Fund
Putnam VT International Value Fund
Putnam VT Investors Fund
Putnam VT Government Money Market Fund
Putnam VT Multi-Cap Growth Fund
Putnam VT Multi-Cap Value Fund
Putnam VT Research Fund
Putnam VT Small Cap Value Fund
Putnam VT George Putnam Balanced Fund

GEORGE PUTNAM BALANCED FUND on behalf of:


George Putnam Balanced Fund


EXHIBIT B
 
ADVANCE/PAYDOWN 
REQUEST FORM
(UNCOMMITTED LINE) 

 

DATE:     
 
TO:  STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY 
 
ATTN:  LOAN OPERATIONS CUSTOMER SERVICE UNIT 
  telephone 617-662-8574 or 617-662-8588; fax 617-988-6677 
  email ais-loanops-csu@statestreet.com 
 
FROM:  [BORROWER][ on behalf of [FUND]] 
 
  (Fund # ___________)              (DDA # ____________) 

 

In connection with the letter agreement dated September 24, 2015 and related documents currently in effect with State Street Bank and Trust Company (as amended, collectively, the “Agreement”), please increase/reduce (circle one) the outstanding balance on behalf of the above-indicated Fund by $__________. Any requested Loan should be recorded on the books of the Fund with the Bank and interest payable to the Bank should be recorded at the agreed upon rate.

1. This request is (check one): ___ Loan Advance ____ Paydown ____ Overnight Rollover ___

2. The proceeds of any requested Loan shall be used only to the extent consistent with and not prohibited by the Prospectus, the terms of the Agreement and applicable laws and regulations, including, without limitation, Federal Reserve Regulation U, and no Default of Event of Default has occurred under the Agreement.

4. All of the representations and warranties of the undersigned Borrower and Fund set forth in Section II(2) of the Agreement are true and correct on and as of the date hereof.

5. Each of the Borrower and the Fund is in compliance with all the terms and conditions in the Agreement (including the Maximum Amount and other borrowing limitations thereunder) and will remain in compliance therewith after giving effect to the making of any requested Loan.

6. The following amounts and statements are true in connection with any requested Loan:

(a) Adjusted Net Assets of the Fund:
(i) Total Assets of the Fund  $_____________ 
(ii) Total Liabilities (excluding Indebtedness   
      for borrowed money) of the Fund1  $_____________ 
(iii) the value of such Fund’s investments in any direct   
      or indirect Subsidiaries (and including in any event,   
      without duplication, the value of any such direct or   

 

 

                                                                                               
1 For purposes of calculating Adjusted Net Assets for any Fund, the amount of any liability included in Total Liabilities shall be equal to the greater of (i) the outstanding amount of such liability and (ii) the fair market value of all assets pledged, hypothecated or otherwise segregated to secure such liability.
 

      indirect Subsidiaries)  $_____________ 
(iv) asset value of such Fund constituting physical commodities  $_____________ 
(v) item (a)(i) less item (a)(ii), (iii), and (iv)  $_____________ 
(b) Applicable Percentage2 of item (a)(v)  $_____________ 

 

(c) (i) Beginning Loan Balance:  $_____________ 
  (ii) Paydown Amount (if any):  $_____________ 
  (iii) Requested Loan (if any)  $_____________ 
  (iv) Requested Loans Balance   
  ((i) minus (ii) or (i) plus (iii)):  $_____________ 

 

(d) The aggregate outstanding principal amount of   
Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Fund other   
than the Loans as of the date hereof (including any   
loans under the separate Syndicated Facility and including   
any Interfund Loans)  $_____________ 
 
(e) Total Indebtedness for borrowed money ((c)(iv) plus (d)):  $_____________ 

 

7. The amount set forth in 6(e) above does not exceed the lesser of (a) the amount set forth in 6(b) above, or (b) the maximum amount which the relevant Fund is permitted to borrow (after taking into account all outstanding Indebtedness) pursuant to its Prospectus, the Investment Company Act or any registration made thereunder, any vote of the shareholders of the applicable Borrower or such Fund, any agreement of such Borrower or Fund with any foreign, federal, state or local securities division to which such Borrower or Fund is subject, any other applicable agreement or document to which such Borrower or Fund, is a party or any law, rule or regulation applicable to such Borrower or Fund.

8. The amount set forth in 6(c)(iv) above does not exceed the Per Fund Limit Amount (defined as the lesser of (a) the Uncommitted Line Amount, and (b) the difference of (i) $200,000,000 minus (ii) the aggregate principal amount of all loans, if any, outstanding to the Fund under the Syndicated Facility). The aggregate principal amount of all Loans outstanding to all Borrowers on behalf of all Funds under the Agreement (after giving effect to the amount of any requested Loan) does not exceed the Uncommitted Line Amount.

9. The Fund for which any Loan is being requested hereby does not currently have outstanding any Interfund Loans made to such Fund as borrower which are secured by any collateral except to the extent permitted by Section II(1)(g) of the Agreement and does not currently have any outstanding Interfund Loans made by it as the lender.

10. The undersigned is a duly authorized officer of the Borrower identified above with authority to execute and deliver this document to the Bank and request the Loan described herein on behalf of the Fund identified above.

[BORROWER][, on behalf of [FUND]]   
 
  By:                                                                                       
  Name:                                                                                       
  Title                                                                                       
  Date:                                                                                       

 

                                                                                               
2 If the Borrower, acting on behalf of the Fund, is a (i) Limited Borrower, the Applicable Percentage is 10% or (ii) Restricted Borrower, the Applicable Percentage is 25%; in all other cases the Applicable Percentage is 33-1/3%.

 EX-99.H OTH MAT CONT 12 a_exlmtpimmod2.htm a_exlmtpimmod2.htm
One Post Office Square 
Boston, MA 02109 

[GRAPHIC OMITTED: PUTNAM INVESTMENTS LOGO]


June 23, 2017 

 

Putnam Funds 
One Post Office Square 
Boston, Massachusetts 02109 

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Putnam Investment Management, LLC (“PIM”) hereby contractually agrees, as of the date hereof, with respect to the funds specified below, to waive fees and reimburse certain expenses in the manner provided below:

1. Other expenses.

a. PIM agrees to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses of each open-end fund listed on Schedule A and each variable trust fund listed on Schedule B to the extent necessary to limit the cumulative expenses of the fund, exclusive of brokerage, interest, taxes, investment-related expenses (including borrowing costs, i.e., short selling and lines of credit costs), extraordinary expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, and payments under the fund’s investor servicing contract, the fund’s investment management contract (including any applicable performance-based upward or downward adjustment to a fund’s base management fee), and the fund’s distribution plans, to an annual (measured on a fiscal year basis) rate of 0.20% of the fund’s average net assets. This contractual waiver will remain in effect for a fund through the expiration of one year following the effective date of the next annual update of the fund’s registration statement.

b. PIM agrees to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses of Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Equity Fund to the extent necessary to limit the cumulative expenses of the fund, exclusive of brokerage, interest, taxes, investment-related expenses (including borrowing costs, i.e., short selling and lines of credit costs), extraordinary expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, and payments under the fund’s investor servicing contract, the fund’s investment management contract, and the fund’s distribution plans, to an annual (measured on a fiscal year basis) rate of 0.02% of the fund’s average net assets. This contractual waiver will remain in effect through the expiration of the one-year period following the effective date of the next annual update of the fund’s registration statement.

- 1 - 

 


2. Fund-specific expense limitations.

a. As set forth in the table below, PIM agrees to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses of each fund set forth below to the extent that the total annual fund operating expenses for the fund -- exclusive of payments under the fund’s distribution plans, any applicable performance-based upward or downward adjustment to the fund’s base management fee, brokerage, interest, taxes, investment-related expenses (including borrowing costs, i.e., short selling and lines of credit costs), extraordinary expenses, and acquired fund fees and expenses –would exceed the specified rate through the specified date, which is the expiration of the one-year period following the effective date of the next annual update of each fund’s registration statement:

Fund  Proposed  Expiration 
  Contractual   
  Limitation on Total   
  Fund Operating   
  Expenses   
Putnam Emerging Markets Income Fund  1.00%  March 30, 2019 
Putnam Global Dividend Fund  1.15%  March 30, 2019 
Putnam Intermediate-Term Municipal Income  0.60%  March 30, 2019 
Fund     
Putnam Low Volatility Equity Fund  0.95%  Nov. 30, 2018 
Putnam Short-Term Municipal Income Fund  0.35%  March 30, 2019 
Putnam Mortgage Opportunities Fund  0.05%*  Sept. 30, 2018 
Putnam Mortgage Opportunities Fund  0.47%†  Sept. 30, 2018 
Putnam VT Absolute Return 500 Fund  0.90%  April 30, 2019 

 

b. As set forth in the table below, PIM agrees to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses of each fund set forth below to the extent that the total annual fund operating expenses for the fund – exclusive of payments under the fund’s distribution plans, payments under the fund’s investor servicing contract, any applicable performance-based upward or downward adjustment to the fund’s base management fee, brokerage, interest, taxes, investment-related expenses (including borrowing costs, i.e., short selling and lines of credit costs), extraordinary expenses, and acquired fund fees and expenses – would exceed the specified rate through the specified date, which is the expiration of the one-year period following the effective date of the next annual update of each fund’s registration statement:

                                                  
* With respect to Putnam Mortgage Opportunities Fund, the 0.05% expense limitation applies to the total fund operating expenses excluding payments under the management contract; brokerage; interest; taxes; investment-related expenses; extraordinary expenses; and acquired fund fees and expenses.

† With respect to Putnam Mortgage Opportunities Fund, effective April 1, 2017, the 0.47% expense limitation applies to the total annual fund operating expenses excluding brokerage; interest; taxes; investment-related expenses; (including borrowing costs, i.e., short selling and lines of credit costs); extraordinary expenses; and acquired fund fees and expenses.

- 2 - 

 


Fund  Proposed  Expiration 
  Contractual   
  Limitation on Total   
  Fund Operating   
  Expenses   
Putnam Absolute Return 500 Fund  0.77%  Feb. 28, 2019 
Putnam Absolute Return 700 Fund  0.97%  Feb. 28, 2019 
Putnam Dynamic Risk Allocation Fund  0.70%  Sept. 30, 2018 
Putnam Short Duration Income Fund  0.24%  Nov. 30, 2018 

 

1. Putnam Short Term Investment Fund. PIM agrees to waive the contractual management fee of 0.25% for Putnam Short Term Investment Fund through November 30, 2018, the expiration of the one-year period following the effective date of the next annual update of the fund’s registration statement.

2. Fund of Funds. PIM agrees to reimburse the Putnam fund-of-funds specified below for all other expenses – exclusive of payments under the fund’s distribution plans, brokerage, interest, taxes, investment-related expenses, extraordinary expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses (and in the case of Putnam Retirement Income Fund Lifestyle 1 and the Putnam RetirementReady ® Funds, payments under the fund’s investor servicing contract) – through the dates indicated below, which, with the exception of Putnam RetirementReady® 2060 Fund, equate to the expiration of the one-year period following the effective date of the next annual update of each fund’s registration statement.

Fund  Expiration 
Putnam Global Sector Fund  Feb. 28, 2019 
Putnam Retirement Income Fund Lifestyle 1  Nov. 30, 2018 
Putnam RetirementReady® Funds*  Nov. 30, 2018 

 

* The expense limitation for Putnam RetirementReady® 2060 Fund expires on Nov. 30, 2027.

Effective June 23, 2017, this contractual undertaking supersedes any prior contractual expense limitation provisions between PIM and the funds. This undertaking shall be binding upon any successors and assignees of PIM.

A copy of the Declaration of Trust (including any amendments thereto) of each of The Putnam Funds is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this instrument is executed on behalf of the Trustees of each Putnam Fund as trustees and not individually and that the obligations of or arising out of this instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees or officers or shareholders individually, but binding only upon the assets and property of each Putnam Fund with respect to its obligations under this instrument. Furthermore, notice is given that the assets and liabilities of each series of each Putnam Fund that is a series company are separate and distinct and that the obligations of or arising out of this instrument are

- 3 - 

 


several and not joint or joint and several and are binding only on the assets of each series with respect to its obligations under this instrument. Each fund is acting on its own behalf separately from all of the other investment companies and not jointly or jointly and severally with any of the other investment companies.

Very truly yours, 
 
PUTNAM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC 
 
By:  /s/ Robert T. Burns 
  
Robert T. Burns 
Vice President and Chief Legal Officer 

 

Agreed and accepted by each Putnam fund listed on Schedule A, Schedule B and Schedule C

 

By:  /s/ Jonathan S. Horwitz 
 
 
  Jonathan S. Horwitz 
  Executive Vice President, Principal 
  Executive Officer, and Compliance 
  Liaison 

 

- 4 - 

 


Schedule A 

 

Putnam American Government Income Fund 
Putnam Arizona Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam California Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Convertible Securities Fund 
Putnam Diversified Income Trust 
Putnam Asset Allocation Funds 
- Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Balanced Fund 
- Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Conservative Fund 
- Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Growth Fund 
Putnam Equity Income Fund 
Putnam Europe Equity Fund 
Putnam Funds Trust 
- Putnam Absolute Return 100 Fund 
- Putnam Absolute Return 300 Fund 
- Putnam Absolute Return 500 Fund 
- Putnam Absolute Return 700 Fund 
- Putnam Capital Spectrum Fund 
- Putnam Dynamic Risk Allocation Fund 
- Putnam Emerging Markets Equity Fund 
- Putnam Emerging Markets Income Fund 
- Putnam Equity Spectrum Fund 
- Putnam Floating Rate Income Fund 
- Putnam Global Consumer Fund 
- Putnam Global Dividend Fund 
- Putnam Global Energy Fund 
- Putnam Global Financials Fund 
- Putnam Global Industrials Fund 
- Putnam Global Technology Fund 
- Putnam Global Telecommunications Fund 
- Putnam Intermediate-Term Municipal Income Fund 
- Putnam International Value Fund 
- Putnam Low Volatility Equity Fund 
- Putnam Multi-Cap Core Fund 
- Putnam Short Duration Income Fund 
- Putnam Short-Term Municipal Income Fund 
- Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund 
George Putnam Balanced Fund 
Putnam Global Equity Fund 
Putnam Global Health Care Fund 
Putnam Global Income Trust 
Putnam Global Natural Resources Fund 
Putnam Global Utilities Fund 
Putnam High Yield Fund 
Putnam Income Fund 
Putnam International Equity Fund 
Putnam Investment Funds 

 

- 5 - 

 


-Putnam Capital Opportunities Fund 
-Putnam Government Money Market Fund 
-Putnam Growth Opportunities Fund 
-Putnam International Capital Opportunities Fund 
-Putnam International Growth Fund 
-Putnam Multi-Cap Value Fund 
-Putnam Research Fund 
-Putnam Small Cap Value Fund 
Putnam Investors Fund 
Putnam Massachusetts Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Michigan Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Minnesota Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Money Market Fund 
Putnam Multi-Cap Growth Fund 
Putnam New Jersey Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam New York Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Pennsylvania Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Tax-Free Income Trust 
-Putnam AMT-Free Municipal Fund 
-Putnam Tax-Free High Yield Fund 
Putnam U.S. Government Income Trust 

 

- 6 - 

 


Schedule B 

 

Putnam Variable Trust 
-Putnam VT Absolute Return 500 Fund 
-Putnam VT American Government Income Fund 
-Putnam VT Capital Opportunities Fund 
-Putnam VT Diversified Income Fund 
-Putnam VT Equity Income Fund 
-Putnam VT George Putnam Balanced Fund 
-Putnam VT Global Asset Allocation Fund 
-Putnam VT Global Equity Fund 
-Putnam VT Global Health Care Fund 
-Putnam VT Global Utilities Fund 
-Putnam VT Growth Opportunities Fund 
-Putnam VT High Yield Fund 
-Putnam VT Income Fund 
-Putnam VT International Equity Fund 
-Putnam VT International Growth Fund 
-Putnam VT International Value Fund 
-Putnam VT Investors Fund 
-Putnam VT Government Money Market Fund 
-Putnam VT Multi-Cap Growth Fund 
-Putnam VT Multi-Cap Value Fund 
-Putnam VT Research Fund 
-Putnam VT Small Cap Value Fund 

 

- 7 - 

 


Schedule C 

 

Other Funds Subject to Expense Limitations

Putnam Global Sector Fund 
Putnam Funds Trust 
- Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Equity Fund 
- Putnam Short Term Investment Fund 
Putnam RetirementReady Funds 
- Putnam Retirement Income Fund Lifestyle 1 
- Putnam RetirementReady 2060 Fund 
- Putnam RetirementReady 2055 Fund 
- Putnam RetirementReady 2050 Fund 
- Putnam RetirementReady 2045 Fund 
- Putnam RetirementReady 2040 Fund 
- Putnam RetirementReady 2035 Fund 
- Putnam RetirementReady 2030 Fund 
- Putnam RetirementReady 2025 Fund 
- Putnam RetirementReady 2020 Fund 

 

- 8 - 

 

 EX-99.H OTH MAT CONT 13 a_exlmtpsrvmod2.htm a_exlmtpsrvmod2.htm
Exhibit B 

[GRAPHIC OMITTED: PUTNAM INVESTMENTS LOGO]


June 23, 2017 

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Putnam Investor Services, Inc. (“PSERV”) hereby contractually agrees, as of the date hereof, with respect to all Putnam-sponsored open-end registered investment companies, that the aggregate investor servicing fees attributable to DC Accounts or Non-DC Accounts for each fund will not exceed an annual rate of 0.250% of the fund’s average daily net assets attributable to DC Accounts or Non-DC Accounts (as determined before taking into account any expense reduction or other benefit attributable to balance credits or brokerage credits).

This contractual waiver will remain in effect for each fund through the later of one year following the effective date of the next annual update of the fund’s registration statement or August 31, 2018.

Any capitalized term not defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to the term in the Compensation Memorandum dated September 1, 2016.

Effective June 23, 2017, this contractual undertaking supersedes any prior contractual expense limitation provisions between PSERV and the funds. This undertaking shall be binding upon any successors and assignees of PSERV.

A copy of the Declaration of Trust (including any amendments thereto) of each of The Putnam Funds is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this instrument is executed on behalf of the Trustees of each Putnam Fund as trustees and not individually and that the obligations of or arising out of this instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees or officers or shareholders individually, but binding only upon the assets and property of each Putnam Fund with respect to its obligations under this instrument. Furthermore, notice is given that the assets and liabilities of each series of each Putnam Fund that is a series company are separate and distinct and that the obligations of or arising out of this instrument are several and not joint or joint and several and are binding only on the assets of each series with respect to its obligations under this instrument. Each fund is acting on its own behalf separately from all of the other investment companies and not jointly or jointly and severally with any of the other investment companies.

Very truly yours, 
 
PUTNAM INVESTOR SERVICES, INC. 
 
By:   /s/ Michael J. Woodall 
  
Michael J. Woodall 
President 

 


Exhibit B 

 

Agreed and accepted by each Putnam open-end fund and each variable trust fund

By:  /s/ Jonathan S. Horwitz 
 
 
  Jonathan S. Horwitz 
  Executive Vice President, Principal 
  Executive Officer, and Compliance 
  Liaison