0000928816-16-002809.txt : 20160527 0000928816-16-002809.hdr.sgml : 20160527 20160527095608 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000928816-16-002809 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: N-Q PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20160331 FILED AS OF DATE: 20160527 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20160527 EFFECTIVENESS DATE: 20160527 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: PUTNAM VARIABLE TRUST CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000822671 IRS NUMBER: 046649095 STATE OF INCORPORATION: NY FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: N-Q SEC ACT: 1940 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 811-05346 FILM NUMBER: 161680382 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE POST OFFICE SQ STREET 2: MAILSTOP A 14 CITY: BOSTON STATE: MA ZIP: 02109 BUSINESS PHONE: 8002551581 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: PUTNAM CAPITAL MANAGER TRUST /MA/ DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920703 0000822671 S000003889 Putnam VT Global Utilities Fund C000010873 Class IA Shares C000010874 Class IB Shares N-Q 1 a_vtglobalutilities.htm PUTNAM VT GLOBAL UTILITIES FUND a_vtglobalutilities.htm


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

FORM N-Q

QUARTERLY SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY




Investment Company Act file number: (811-05346)
Exact name of registrant as specified in charter: Putnam Variable Trust
Address of principal executive offices: One Post Office Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02109
Name and address of agent for service: Robert T. Burns, Vice President
One Post Office Square
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
Copy to:         Bryan Chegwidden, Esq.
Ropes & Gray LLP
1211 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (617) 292-1000
Date of fiscal year end: December 31, 2016
Date of reporting period: March 31, 2016



Item 1. Schedule of Investments:














Putnam VT Global Utilities Fund

The fund's portfolio
3/31/16 (Unaudited)
COMMON STOCKS (95.7%)(a)
Shares Value

Diversified telecommunication services (2.2%)
Com Hem Holding AB (Sweden) 195,567 $1,802,043

1,802,043
Electric utilities (36.2%)
American Electric Power Co., Inc. 69,394 4,607,762
Duke Energy Corp. 46,100 3,719,348
Edison International 47,094 3,385,588
Entergy Corp. 4,914 389,582
Exelon Corp. 172,700 6,193,022
Iberdrola SA (Spain) 197,375 1,313,492
NextEra Energy, Inc. 53,900 6,378,526
SSE PLC (United Kingdom) 141,434 3,020,201

29,007,521
Gas utilities (1.3%)
Snam SpA (Italy) 166,374 1,040,635

1,040,635
Independent power and renewable electricity producers (14.1%)
Calpine Corp.(NON) 244,041 3,702,102
Dynegy, Inc.(NON) 41,716 599,459
EDP Renovaveis SA (Spain) 432,417 3,299,629
Electric Power Development Co., Ltd. (Japan) 41,100 1,283,633
NextEra Energy Partners LP 3,000 81,570
NRG Energy, Inc. 180,400 2,347,004

11,313,397
Media (1.5%)
Comcast Corp. Class A 7,000 427,560
Numericable SFR SA (France) 17,847 748,745

1,176,305
Multi-utilities (31.8%)
Centrica PLC (United Kingdom) 750,567 2,444,599
Dominion Resources, Inc. 10,800 811,296
ENGIE SA (France) 61,781 956,188
National Grid PLC (United Kingdom) 329,753 4,671,881
PG&E Corp. 105,899 6,324,288
Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc. 25,000 1,178,500
RWE AG (Germany) 26,269 339,698
Sempra Energy 36,337 3,780,865
Veolia Environnement SA (France) 178,933 4,306,602
WEC Energy Group, Inc. 11,608 697,293

25,511,210
Water utilities (8.6%)
American Water Works Co., Inc. 54,212 3,736,833
Severn Trent PLC (United Kingdom) 39,504 1,229,776
United Utilities Group PLC (United Kingdom) 146,798 1,941,382

6,907,991

Total common stocks (cost $57,077,176) $76,759,102

U.S. TREASURY OBLIGATIONS (0.2%)(a)
Principal amount Value

U.S. Treasury Inflation Protected Securities 2.125%, February 15, 2041(i) $99,520 $128,727

Total U.S. treasury obligations (cost $128,727) $128,727

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (4.0%)(a)
Principal amount/shares Value

Putnam Short Term Investment Fund 0.44%(AFF) Shares 2,951,274 $2,951,274
SSgA Prime Money Market Fund Class N 0.40%(P) Shares 120,000 120,000
U.S. Treasury Bills 0.30%, June 9, 2016(SEGSF) $131,000 130,954
U.S. Treasury Bills 0.32%, May 12, 2016(SEGSF) 10,000 9,999

Total short-term investments (cost $3,212,197) $3,212,227

TOTAL INVESTMENTS

Total investments (cost $60,418,100)(b) $80,100,056














FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACTS at 3/31/16 (aggregate face value $22,695,832) (Unaudited)


Unrealized
Contract Delivery Aggregate appreciation/
Counterparty Currency type date Value face value (depreciation)

Bank of America N.A.
British Pound Sell 6/15/16 $154,862 $150,140 $(4,722)
Barclays Bank PLC
Euro Buy 6/15/16 2,200,624 2,100,498 100,126
Hong Kong Dollar Buy 5/18/16 3,608,203 3,597,694 10,509
Japanese Yen Buy 5/18/16 169,933 158,272 11,661
Citibank, N.A.
Japanese Yen Sell 5/18/16 713,180 675,949 (37,231)
Credit Suisse International
Japanese Yen Buy 5/18/16 1,397,722 1,301,409 96,313
New Zealand Dollar Buy 4/20/16 397,240 385,117 12,123
Deutsche Bank AG
Australian Dollar Buy 4/20/16 212,179 198,011 14,168
Goldman Sachs International
Euro Buy 6/15/16 753,574 719,441 34,133
Japanese Yen Buy 5/18/16 1,754,937 1,633,813 121,124
HSBC Bank USA, National Association
Australian Dollar Buy 4/20/16 649,176 605,751 43,425
British Pound Sell 6/15/16 240,482 238,964 (1,518)
Euro Buy 6/15/16 601,331 574,069 27,262
JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.
British Pound Sell 6/15/16 236,747 231,819 (4,928)
Canadian Dollar Buy 4/20/16 1,210,360 1,131,081 79,279
Japanese Yen Buy 5/18/16 819,066 762,914 56,152
Swedish Krona Sell 6/15/16 1,743,763 1,651,362 (92,401)
State Street Bank and Trust Co.
British Pound Sell 6/15/16 2,945,401 2,884,309 (61,092)
Canadian Dollar Sell 4/20/16 243,242 227,214 (16,028)
Euro Sell 6/15/16 890,308 849,973 (40,335)
UBS AG
Australian Dollar Buy 4/20/16 775,717 723,949 51,768
British Pound Sell 6/15/16 1,933,911 1,894,083 (39,828)

Total $359,960













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 January 1, 2016 through March 31, 2016 (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.
(a) Percentages indicated are based on net assets of $80,219,562.
(b) The aggregate identified cost on a tax basis is $60,452,651, resulting in gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of $24,294,907 and $4,647,502, respectively, or net unrealized appreciation of $19,647,405.
(NON) This security is non-income-producing.
(AFF) Affiliated company. The rate quoted in the security description is the annualized 7-day yield of the fund at the close of the reporting period. Transactions during the period with Putnam Short Term Investment Fund, which is under common ownership and control, were as follows:
Name of affiliate Fair value at the beginning of the reporting period Purchase cost Sale proceeds Investment income Fair value at the end of the reporting period

Putnam Short Term Investment Fund* $2,796,632 $3,027,556 $2,872,914 $3,151 $2,951,274
* Management fees charged to Putnam Short Term Investment Fund have been waived by Putnam Management.

(SEGSF) 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.
(i) This security was pledged, or purchased with cash that was pledged, to the fund for collateral on certain derivative contracts.
(P) This security was pledged, or purchased with cash that was pledged, to the fund for collateral on certain derivative contracts. The rate quoted in the security description is the annualized 7-day yield of the fund at the close of the reporting period.
At the close of the reporting period, the fund maintained liquid assets totaling $164,929 to cover certain derivative contracts.
Unless otherwise noted, the rates quoted in Short-term investments security descriptions represent the weighted average yield to maturity.
Debt obligations are considered secured unless otherwise indicated.
The dates shown on debt obligations are the original maturity dates.

DIVERSIFICATION BY COUNTRY ⌂
Distribution of investments by country of risk at the close of the reporting period, excluding collateral received, if any (as a percentage of Portfolio Value):
United States 64.4%
United Kingdom 16.7
France 7.5
Spain 5.8
Sweden 2.3
Japan 1.6
Italy 1.3
Germany 0.4

Total 100.0%
⌂ Methodology differs from that used for purposes of complying with the fund's policy regarding investments in securities of foreign issuers, as discussed further in the fund's prospectus.

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 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 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. These 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. At the close of the reporting period, fair value pricing was used for certain foreign securities in the portfolio. 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. The fair value of securities is generally determined as the amount that the fund could reasonably expect to realize from an orderly disposition of such securities over a reasonable period of time. By its nature, a fair value price is a good faith estimate of the value of a security in a current sale and does not reflect an actual market price, which may be different by a material amount.
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 were used to hedge foreign exchange risk.
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.
For the fund's average contract amount on forward currency contracts, see the appropriate table at the end of these footnotes.
Master agreements: The fund is a party to ISDA (International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc.) Master Agreements (Master Agreements) with certain counterparties that govern OTC derivative and foreign exchange contracts 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, is presented in the fund's portfolio. Collateral posted to the fund which cannot be sold or repledged totaled $141,977 at the close of the reporting period.
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.
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 and 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 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 $159,408 on open derivative contracts subject to the Master Agreements. Collateral posted by the fund at period end for these agreements totaled $140,959 and may include amounts related to unsettled agreements.













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*:
    Consumer discretionary $427,560 $748,745 $—
    Telecommunication services 1,802,043
    Utilities 49,216,671 24,564,083
Total common stocks 49,644,231 27,114,871
U.S. treasury obligations 128,727
Short-term investments 3,071,274 140,953



Totals by level $52,715,505 $27,384,551 $—



Valuation inputs

Other financial instruments: Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Forward currency contracts $— $359,960 $—



Totals by level $— $359,960 $—


* Common stock classifications are presented at the sector level, which may differ from the fund's portfolio presentation.
During the reporting period, transfers within the fair value hierarchy, if any (other than certain transfers involving non-U.S. equity securities as described in the Security valuation note above), 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.

Fair Value of Derivative Instruments as of the close of the reporting period
Asset derivatives Liability derivatives

Derivatives not accounted for as hedging instruments under ASC 815 Fair value Fair value
Foreign exchange contracts $658,043 $298,083


Total $658,043 $298,083


The volume of activity for the reporting period for any derivative type that was held at the close of the period is listed below and was based on an average of the holdings of that derivative at the end of each fiscal quarter in the reporting period:
Forward currency contracts (contract amount)$24,200,000
   
  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, if applicable, see note "(d)" above, and for borrowing transactions associated with securities sold short, if applicable, see the "Short sales of securities" note above.
   
      Bank of America N.A. Barclays Bank PLC Citibank, N.A. Credit Suisse International Deutsche Bank AG Goldman Sachs International HSBC Bank USA, National Association JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. State Street Bank and Trust Co. UBS AG   Total
                             
  Assets:                          
  Forward currency contracts#   $—  $122,296  $—  $108,436  $14,168  $155,257  $70,687  $135,431  $—  $51,768    $658,043 
                             
  Total Assets   $—  $122,296  $—  $108,436  $14,168  $155,257  $70,687  $135,431  $—  $51,768    $658,043 
                             
  Liabilities:                          
  Forward currency contracts#   4,722  —  37,231  —  —  —  1,518  97,329  117,455  39,828    298,083 
                             
  Total Liabilities   $4,722  $—  $37,231  $—  $—  $—  $1,518  $97,329  $117,455  $39,828    $298,083 
                             
  Total Financial and Derivative Net Assets   $(4,722) $122,296  $(37,231) $108,436  $14,168  $155,257  $69,169  $38,102  $(117,455) $11,940    $359,960 
  Total collateral received (pledged)##†   $—  $122,296  $—  $108,436  $10,000  $141,977  $—  $—  $(117,455) $—     
  Net amount   $(4,722) $—  $(37,231) $—  $4,168  $13,280  $69,169  $38,102  $—  $11,940     
                             
                             
                             
 Additional collateral may be required from certain brokers based on individual agreements.
                             
# Covered by master netting agreement.
                             
## Any over-collateralization of total financial and derivative net assets is not shown. Collateral may include amounts related to unsettled agreements.

For additional information regarding the fund please see the fund's most recent annual or semiannual shareholder report filed on the Securities and Exchange Commission's Web site, www.sec.gov, or visit Putnam's Individual Investor Web site at www.putnaminvestments.com



Item 2. Controls and Procedures:
(a) The registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded, based on their evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report, that the design and operation of such procedures are generally effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the registrant in this report is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission's rules and forms.

(b) Changes in internal control over financial reporting: Not applicable
Item 3. Exhibits:
Separate certifications for the principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the registrant as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, are filed herewith.

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

Putnam Variable Trust
By (Signature and Title):
/s/ Janet C. Smith
Janet C. Smith
Principal Accounting Officer
Date: May 27, 2016

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

By (Signature and Title):
/s/ Jonathan S. Horwitz
Jonathan S. Horwitz
Principal Executive Officer
Date: May 27, 2016

By (Signature and Title):
/s/ Steven D. Krichmar
Steven D. Krichmar
Principal Financial Officer
Date: May 27, 2016

EX-99.CERT 2 b_152certifications.htm CERTIFICATIONS b_152certifications.htm

Certifications

I, Jonathan S. Horwitz, the Principal Executive Officer of the funds listed on Attachment A, certify that:

1. I have reviewed each report on Form N-Q of the funds listed on Attachment A:

2. Based on my knowledge, each report does not contain any untrue statements of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by each report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the schedules of investments included in each report fairly present in all material respects the investments of the registrant as of the end of the fiscal quarter for which the report is filed;

4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrants and have:


a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which each report is being prepared;


b) designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;


c) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report, based on such evaluation; and


d) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed to each registrant's auditors and the audit committee of each registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):


a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect each registrant's ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and


b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in each registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

/s/ Jonathan S. Horwitz
_____________________________

Date: May 26, 2016
Jonathan S. Horwitz
Principal Executive Officer














Certifications

I, Steven D. Krichmar, the Principal Financial Officer of the funds listed on Attachment A, certify that:

1. I have reviewed each report on Form N-Q of the funds listed on Attachment A:

2. Based on my knowledge, each report does not contain any untrue statements of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by each report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the schedules of investments included in each report fairly present in all material respects the investments of the registrant as of the end of the fiscal quarter for which the report is filed;

4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrants and have:


a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which each report is being prepared;


b) designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;


c) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report, based on such evaluation; and


d) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed to each registrant's auditors and the audit committee of each registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):


a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect each registrant's ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and


b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in each registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

/s/ Steven D. Krichmar
_______________________________

Date: May 26, 2016
Steven D. Krichmar
Principal Financial Officer















Attachment A

NQ

Period (s) ended March 31, 2016
               Putnam Europe Equity Fund
               Putnam International Equity Fund
               Putnam Multi-Cap Growth Fund
               Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund
               Putnam International Value Fund

               Putnam VT Absolute 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 and Income 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 Value Fund
               Putnam VT Multi-Cap Growth Fund
               Putnam VT Research Fund
               Putnam VT Small Cap Value Fund
               Putnam VT Voyager Fund