497 1 a_saiptiisupp.htm PUTNAM ASSET ALLOCATION FUNDS
Statement of Additional Information Supplement March 9, 2023

 

SUPPLEMENT TO THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OF ALL PUTNAM MUTUAL FUNDS

 

Effective immediately, the sub-section “Officers” in the section MANAGEMENT is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

Officers

 

The other officers of the fund, in addition to Robert L. Reynolds, the fund’s President, 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, Position(s) Held with Fund

Length of Service with the Putnam Funds2

 

Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Position(s) with Fund’s Investment Adviser and Distributor3
Jonathan S. Horwitz4 (Born 1955) Executive Vice President, Principal Executive Officer, and Compliance Liaison Since 2004 Executive Vice President, Principal Executive Officer, and Compliance Liaison, The Putnam Funds.

Stephen J. Tate (Born 1974)

Vice President and Chief Legal Officer

Since 2021

General Counsel, Putnam Investments, Putnam Management and Putnam Retail Management

(2021 – Present).

Deputy General Counsel and related positions, Putnam Investments, Putnam Management and Putnam Retail Management (2004-2021).

James F. Clark3 (Born 1974)

Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer

Since 2016

Chief Compliance Officer, Putnam Investments and Putnam Management (2016 – Present).

Associate General Counsel, Putnam Investments, Putnam Management and Putnam Retail Management (2003-2015).

Michael J. Higgins4 (Born 1976)

Vice President, Treasurer, and Clerk

Since 2010 Vice President, Treasurer, and Clerk, The Putnam Funds.

Richard T. Kircher (Born 1962)

Vice President and BSA Compliance Officer

Since 2019 Assistant Director, Operational Compliance, Putnam Investments and Putnam Retail Management (2015 – Present).  Sr. Manager, Operational Compliance, Putnam Investments and Putnam Retail Management (2004-2015).

Janet C. Smith (Born 1965)

Vice President, Principal Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer, and Assistant Treasurer

Since 2007 Head of Fund Administration Services, Putnam Investments and Putnam Management.

Susan G. Malloy (Born 1957)

Vice President and Assistant Treasurer

Since 2007 Head of Accounting, Middle Office, and Control Services, Putnam Investments, and Putnam Management.
Mark C. Trenchard (Born 1962) Vice President Since 2002 Director of Operational Compliance, Putnam Investments and Putnam Retail Management.
Alan G. McCormack5 (Born 1964) Vice President and Derivatives Risk Manager Since 2022 Head of Quantitative Equities and Risk, Putnam Investments.

Martin Lemaire5 (Born 1984)

Vice President and Derivatives Risk Manager

Since 2022

Risk Manager, Putnam Investments

(2020 – Present).

Risk Analyst, Putnam Investments

(2016 – 2020).

Nancy E. Florek4 (Born 1957)

Vice President, Assistant Clerk, and Assistant Treasurer

Since 2000 Vice President, Assistant Clerk, and Assistant Treasurer, The Putnam Funds.

Denere P. Poulack4 (Born 1968)

Assistant Vice President, Assistant Clerk, and Assistant Treasurer

Since 2004 Assistant Vice President, Assistant Clerk, and Assistant Treasurer, The Putnam Funds.

 

 

1The address of each Officer is 100 Federal Street, Boston, MA 02110.

 

2Each officer serves for an indefinite term, until his or her resignation, retirement, death or removal.

 

3Prior positions and/or officer appointments with the fund or the fund’s investment adviser and distributor have been omitted.

 

4Officers 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 in certain cases where a fund has a unitary fee and/or expense limitation arrangement whereby Putnam Management is responsible for all or a portion of these individuals’ compensation. Effective 3/31/23, Ms. Florek will no longer be an officer of the funds.

 

5 Messrs. McCormack and Lemaire each serve as Vice President and Derivatives Risk Manager for the funds, except Putnam Government Money Market Fund, Putnam Money Market Fund and Putnam VT Money Market Fund.

 

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.

 

_________________________________

 

 

Effective immediately, the section PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

 

The Trustees of the Putnam Funds have delegated proxy voting authority for the securities held in the funds’ portfolios to Putnam Management and have approved Putnam Management’s current proxy voting guidelines and procedures. Putnam Management has retained an independent proxy voting service to assist in vote analysis, implementation, recordkeeping and reporting services. The proxy voting guidelines summarize Putnam Management’s positions on various issues of concern to investors and provide direction to the proxy voting service as to how fund portfolio securities should be voted on proposals dealing with particular issues. The proxy voting procedures explain the role of Putnam Management personnel and the proxy voting service 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. Putnam Management’s proxy voting guidelines and procedures are included in this SAI as Appendix A. The Trustees will review the funds’ proxy voting from time to time and will review annually Putnam Management’s proxy voting guidelines and procedures. Information regarding how the funds’ proxies relating to portfolio securities were voted during the 12-month period ended June 30, 2022 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 Putnam Management’s proxy voting guidelines and procedures by calling Putnam’s Shareholder Services at 1-800-225-1581.

_________________________________

 

Effective immediately, Appendix A is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

 

 

Appendix A

 

January 27, 2023

 

 

Putnam Investments

 

Proxy Voting Procedures

 

 

Introduction and Summary

 

Many of Putnam’s investment management clients have delegated to Putnam the authority to vote proxies for shares in the client accounts Putnam manages. Putnam believes that the voting of proxies can be an important tool for institutional investors to promote best practices in corporate governance and votes all proxies in the best interests of its clients as investors. In Putnam’s view, strong corporate governance policies, most notably oversight by an independent board of qualified directors, best serve investors’ interests. Putnam will vote proxies and maintain records of voting of shares for which Putnam has proxy voting authority in accordance with its fiduciary obligations and applicable law.

 

Putnam’s voting policies are rooted in our views that (1) strong, independent corporate governance is important to long-term company financial performance, and (2) long-term investors’ active engagement with company management, including through the proxy voting process, strengthens issuer accountability and overall market discipline, potentially reducing risk and improving returns over time. Our voting program is offered as a part of our investment management services, at no incremental fee to Putnam, and, while there can be no guarantees, it is intended to offer potential investment benefits over a long-term horizon. Our voting policies are designed with investment considerations in mind, not as a means to pursue particular political, social, or other goals. As a result, we may not support certain proposals whose costs to the issuer (including implementation costs, practicability, and other factors), in Putnam’s view, outweigh their investment merits.

 

This memorandum sets forth Putnam’s policies for voting proxies. It covers all accounts for which Putnam has proxy voting authority. These accounts include the Putnam Mutual Funds[1] and Putnam Exchange-Traded Funds, US and international institutional accounts and funds managed or sub-advised by The Putnam Advisory Company, LLC, Putnam Investments Limited and Putnam Fiduciary Trust Company, LLC. In addition, the policies include US mutual funds and other accounts sub-advised by Putnam Investment Management, LLC.

 

 

 

 

Proxy Committee

 

Putnam has a Proxy Committee composed of senior professionals, including from the Investment Division and the Sustainability Strategy group. The heads of the Investment Division appoint the members of the Proxy Committee from the Investment Division. The Proxy Committee is responsible for setting general policy as to proxies. Specifically, the Committee:

 

  1. Reviews these procedures and the Proxy Voting Guidelines annually and approves any amendments considered to be advisable.

 

  1. Considers special proxy issues as they may from time to time arise.

 

  1. Must approve all vote overrides recommended by investment professionals.

 

 

Proxy Voting Administration

 

The Putnam Legal and Compliance Department administers Putnam’s proxy voting through a Proxy Voting Team. Under the supervision of senior members of the Legal and Compliance Department, the Proxy Voting Team has the following duties:

 

  1. Annually prepares the Proxy Voting Guidelines and distributes them to the Proxy Committee for review.

 

  1. Coordinates the Proxy Committee’s review of any new or unusual proxy issues and serves as Secretary thereto.

 

  1. Manages the process of referring issues to portfolio managers for voting instructions.

 

  1. Oversees the work of any third-party vendor hired to process proxy votes (as of the date of these procedures Putnam has engaged Glass Lewis & Co. (Glass Lewis) to process proxy votes) and the process of setting up the voting process with Glass Lewis and custodial banks for new clients.

 

5.Coordinates responses to investment professionals’ questions on proxy issues and proxy policies, including forwarding specialized proxy research from Glass Lewis and other vendors and forwards information to investment professionals prepared by other areas at Putnam.

 

  1. Implements the exception process with respect to referred items on securities held solely in accounts managed by the Global Asset Allocation (“GAA”) team described in more detail in the Proxy Referral section below. 

 

7.Maintains required records of proxy votes on behalf of the appropriate Putnam client accounts.

 

8.Prepares and distributes reports required by Putnam clients.

 

 

Proxy Voting Guidelines

 

Putnam maintains written voting guidelines (“Guidelines”) setting forth voting positions determined by the Proxy Committee on those issues believed most likely to arise day to day. The Guidelines may call for votes to be cast normally in favor of or opposed to a matter or may deem the matter an item to be referred to investment professionals on a case-by-case basis. A copy of the Guidelines is attached to this memorandum as Exhibit A.

 

In light of our views on the importance of issuer governance and investor engagement, which we believe are applicable across our various strategies and clients, regardless of a specific portfolio’s investment objective, Putnam will vote all proxies in accordance with the Guidelines, subject to two exceptions as follows:

 

  1. If the portfolio managers of client accounts holding the stock of a company with a proxy vote believe that following the Guidelines in any specific case would not be in the clients’ best interests, they may request the Proxy Voting Team not to follow the guidelines in such case. The request must be in writing and include an explanation of the rationale for doing so. The Proxy Voting Team will review any such request with a senior member of the Legal and Compliance Department and with the Proxy Committee (or, in cases with limited time, with the Chair of the Proxy Committee acting on the Proxy Committee’s behalf) prior to implementing the request.

 

  1. Putnam may accept instructions to vote proxies under client specific guidelines subject to review and acceptance by the Investment Division and the Legal and Compliance Department.

 

Other

 

  1. Putnam may elect not to vote when the security is no longer held.

 

  1. Putnam will abstain on items that require case-by-case review when a vote recommendation from the appropriate investment professional(s) cannot be obtained due to restrictive voting deadlines or other prohibitive operational or administrative requirements.

 

  1. Where securities held in Putnam client accounts, including the Putnam mutual funds, have been loaned to third parties in connection with a securities lending program administered by Putnam (through securities lending agents overseen by Putnam), Putnam has instructed lending agents to recall U.S. securities on loan to vote proxies, in accordance with Putnam’s securities lending procedures. Due to differences in non-U.S. markets, Putnam does not currently seek to recall non-U.S. securities on loan. In addition, where Putnam does not administer a client’s securities lending program, this recall policy does not apply, since Putnam generally does not have information on loan details or authority to effect recalls in those cases. It is possible that, for impracticability or other reasons, a recalled security may not be returned to the relevant custodian in time to allow Putnam to vote the relevant proxy.

 

  1. Putnam will make its reasonable best efforts to vote all proxies except when impeded by circumstances that are reasonably beyond its control and responsibility, such as custodial proxy voting services, in part or whole, not available or not established by a client, or custodial error.

 

 

Proxy Voting Referrals

 

Under the Guidelines, certain proxy matters will be referred to the Investment Division. The Portfolio Manager receiving the referral request may delegate the vote decision to an appropriate Analyst from among a list of eligible analysts (such list to be approved by the Chief Investment Officer, Equities and Director of Equity Research). The Analyst will be required to make the affirmation and disclosures identified in (3) below. Normally specific referral items will be referred to the portfolio team leader (or another member of the portfolio team he or she designates) whose accounts hold the greatest number of shares of the issuer of the proxies through the Proxy Referral Administration Database. The referral request contains (1) a field that will be used by the portfolio team leader or member for recommending a vote on each referral item, (2) a field for describing any contacts relating to the proxy referral item the portfolio team may have had with any Putnam employee outside Putnam’s Investment Division or with any person other than a proxy solicitor acting in the normal course of proxy solicitation, and (3) a field for portfolio managers to affirm that they are making vote recommendations in the best interest of client accounts and have disclosed to Compliance any potential conflicts of interest relevant to their vote recommendation.

 

Putnam may vote any referred items on securities held solely in accounts managed by the Global Asset Allocation (“GAA”) team (and not held by any other investment product team) in accordance with the recommendation of Putnam’s third-party proxy voting service provider. The Proxy Voting Team will first give the relevant portfolio manager(s) on the GAA team the opportunity to review the referred items and vote on them. If the portfolio manager(s) on the GAA team do not decide to make any active voting decision on any of the referred items, the items will be voted in accordance with the service provider’s recommendation.  If the security is also held by other investment teams at Putnam, the items will be referred to the largest holder who is not a member of the GAA team.

 

The portfolio team leader or members who have been requested to provide a recommendation on a proxy referral item will complete the referral request. Upon receiving each completed referral request from the Investment Division, the Proxy Voting Team will review the completed request for accuracy and completeness, and will follow up with representatives of the Investment Division as appropriate.

 

Conflicts of Interest

 

A potential conflict of interest may arise when voting proxies of an issuer which has a significant business relationship with Putnam. For example, Putnam could manage a defined benefit or defined contribution pension plan for the issuer. Putnam’s policy is to vote proxies based solely on the investment merits of the proposal. In order to guard against conflicts, the following procedures have been adopted:

 

1.The Proxy Committee is composed of senior professionals, including from the Investment Division and Sustainability Strategy group. Proxy administration is in the Legal and Compliance Department. Neither the Investment Division nor the Legal and Compliance Department report to Putnam’s marketing businesses.

 

2.No Putnam employee outside the Investment Division or Sustainability Strategy Group may contact any portfolio manager about any proxy vote without first contacting the Proxy Voting Team or a senior lawyer in the Legal and Compliance Department. There is no prohibition on Putnam employees seeking to communicate investment-related information to investment professionals except for Putnam’s restrictions on dissemination of material, non-public information. However, the Proxy Voting Team will coordinate the delivery of such information to investment professionals to avoid appearances of conflict.

 

3.Investment professionals responding to referral requests must disclose any contacts with third parties other than normal contact with proxy solicitation firms and must affirm that they are making vote recommendations in the best interest of client accounts and have disclosed to Compliance any potential conflicts of interest relevant to their vote recommendation.

 

4.The Proxy Voting Team will review the name of the issuer of each proxy that contains a referral item against various sources of Putnam business relationships maintained by the Legal and Compliance Department or Client Service for potential material business relationships (i.e., conflicts of interest). For referrals, the Proxy Voting Team will complete the Proxy Voting Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form (attached as Exhibit B and C) via the Proxy Referral Administration Database and will prepare a quarterly report for the Chief Compliance Officer identifying all completed Conflict of Interest Disclosure forms. The Proxy Voting Team will provide the information contained in each Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form to The Office of the Trustees of The Putnam Funds prior to the submission of any related vote.

 

5.Putnam’s Proxy Voting Guidelines may only be overridden with the written recommendation from a member of the Investment Division and concurrence of the Legal and Compliance Department and the Proxy Committee (or, in cases with limited time, with the Chair of the Proxy Committee on the Proxy Committee’s behalf).

 

Recordkeeping

 

The Legal and Compliance Department will retain copies of the following books and records:

 

1.A copy of the Proxy Voting Procedures and Guidelines as are from time to time in effect;

 

2.A copy of each proxy statement received with respect to securities in client accounts;

 

3.Records of each vote cast for each client;

 

4.Internal documents generated in connection with a proxy referral to the Investment Division, such as emails, memoranda, etc.

 

5.Written reports to clients on proxy voting and all client requests for information and Putnam’s response.

 

All records will be maintained for seven years. A proxy vendor may on Putnam’s behalf maintain the records noted in 2 and 3 above if it commits to providing copies promptly upon request.

 

 

Exhibit A to Proxy Procedures

 

Putnam Investments Proxy Voting Guidelines

 

The proxy voting guidelines below summarize Putnam’s positions on various issues of concern to investors and indicate how client portfolio securities will be voted on proposals dealing with a particular issue. The proxy voting service is instructed to vote all proxies relating to client portfolio securities in accordance with these guidelines, except as otherwise instructed by the Proxy Voting Team.

 

Putnam’s voting policies are rooted in our views that (1) strong, independent corporate governance is important to long-term company financial performance, and (2) long-term investors’ active engagement with company management, including through the proxy voting process, strengthens issuer accountability and overall market discipline, potentially reducing risk and improving returns over time. Our voting program is offered as a part of our investment management services, at no incremental fee to Putnam, and, while there can be no guarantees, it is intended to offer potential investment benefits over a long-term horizon. Our voting policies are designed with investment considerations in mind, not as a means to pursue particular political, social, or other goals. As a result, we may not support certain proposals whose costs to the issuer (including implementation costs, practicability, and other factors), in Putnam’s view, outweigh their investment merits.

 

These proxy voting policies are intended to be decision-making guidelines. The guidelines are not exhaustive and do not include all potential voting issues. In addition, as contemplated by and subject to Putnam’s Proxy Voting Procedures, because proxy issues and the circumstances of individual companies are so varied, portfolio teams may recommend votes that may vary from the general policy choices set forth in the guidelines.

 

The following guidelines are grouped according to the types of proposals generally presented to shareholders. Part I deals with proposals which have been approved and recommended by a company’s board of directors. Part II deals with proposals submitted by shareholders for inclusion in proxy statements. Part III addresses unique considerations pertaining to non-US issuers.

 

I. Board-Approved Proposals

 

Proxies will be voted for board-approved proposals, except as follows:

 

 

A. Matters Relating to the Board of Directors

 

Uncontested Election of Directors

 

The board of directors has the important role of overseeing management and its performance on behalf of shareholders. Proxies will be voted for the election of the company’s nominees for directors (and/or subsidiary directors) and for board-approved proposals on other matters relating to the board of directors (provided that such nominees and other matters have been approved by an independent nominating committee), except as follows:

 

ØPutnam will withhold votes from the entire board of directors if:

 

  • The board does not have a majority of independent directors,

 

  • The board does not have nominating, audit and compensation committees composed solely of independent directors, or

 

  • The board has more than 15 members or fewer than five members, absent special circumstances.

 

ØPutnam may refrain from withholding votes from the board due to insufficient key committee independence due to director resignation, change in board structure, or other specific circumstances, provided that the company has stated (for example in an 8-K), or it can otherwise be determined, that the board will address committee composition to ensure compliance with the applicable corporate governance code in a timely manner after the shareholder meeting and the company has a history of appropriate 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 final 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 accepted directly or indirectly any consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fee (excluding immaterial fees for transactional services as defined by the NYSE Corporate Governance rules) from the company other than in his or her capacity as a member of the board of directors or any board committee. Putnam believes that the receipt of such compensation for services other than service as a director raises significant independence issues.

 

 

ØPutnam 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 for the provision of professional services (e.g., investment banking, consulting, legal or financial advisory fees).

 

ØPutnam will withhold votes from any nominee for director who attends fewer than 75% of board and committee meetings. Putnam may refrain from withholding votes on a case-by-case basis if a valid reason for the absence exists, such as illness, personal emergency, potential conflict of interest, etc.

 

ØPutnam will withhold votes from any incumbent nominee for director who served on a board that has not acted to implement a policy requested in a shareholder proposal that received the support of a majority of the votes actually cast on the matter at its previous two annual meetings, or

 

ØPutnam will withhold votes from any incumbent nominee for director who served on a board that adopted, renewed, or made a material adverse modification to a shareholder rights plan (commonly referred to as a “poison pill”) without shareholder approval during the current or prior calendar year. (This is applicable to any type of poison pill, for example, advance-warning type pill, EGM pill, and Trust Defense Plans in Japan.)

 

Putnam will refrain from opposing the board members who served at the time of the adoption of the poison pill if the duration is one year or less, if the plan contains other suitable restrictions; or if the company publicly discloses convincing rationale for its adoption and seeks shareholder approval of future renewals of the poison pill. (Suitable restrictions could include but are not limited to, a higher threshold for passive investors. Convincing rationale could include circumstances such as, but not limited to, extreme market disruption or conditions, stock volatility, substantial merger, active investor interest, or takeover attempts.)

 

ØNumerous studies of gender diversity on boards have shown that diverse boards are associated, over the long term, with, among other things, higher financial returns and lower volatility. Putnam will withhold votes from the chair of the Nominating Committee if:

 

·there are no women on the board, or
·in the case of a board of seven members or more, there are fewer than two women on the board, or
·there is no apparent racial or ethnic diversity on the board, and the board has not provided sufficient disclosure regarding its plans to achieve racial or ethnic diversity

 

ØPutnam will withhold votes from the Nominating Committee Chair for companies that have not provided any disclosure of both the board’s diversity (e.g., race or ethnicity) at the aggregate board or individual director level and the company’s policies, or plans to establish such policies, regarding the consideration of diversity in identifying director nominees.  Putnam expects companies to provide both disclosure of diversity within their current board composition as well as its policies regarding its approach to board diversity.

(Note: Gender diversity is addressed under a separate guideline.)

 

Putnam is 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.

 

 

ØPutnam will vote against any non-executive nominee for director who serves on more than four (4) public company boards, except where Putnam would otherwise be withholding votes for the entire board of directors. For the purpose of this guideline, boards of affiliated registered investment companies and other similar entities such as UCITS will count as one board. Generally, Putnam will withhold support from directors serving on more than four 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.

 

ØPutnam will withhold votes from any nominee for director who serves as an executive officer of any public company (“home company”) while serving on more than two (2) public company boards other than the home company board. (Putnam will withhold votes from the nominee at each company where Putnam client portfolios own shares.) In addition, if Putnam client portfolios are shareholders of the executive's home company, Putnam will withhold votes from members of the company's governance committee. For the purpose of this guideline, boards of affiliated registered investment companies and other similar entities such as UCITS will count as one board.

 

ØPutnam will withhold votes from any nominee for director of a public company (Company A) who is employed as a senior executive of another public company (Company B) if a director of Company B serves as a senior executive of Company A (commonly referred to as an “interlocking directorate”).

 

 

Board independence depends not only on its members’ individual relationships, but also the board’s overall attitude toward management. Independent boards are committed to good corporate governance practices and, by providing objective independent judgment, enhancing shareholder value. Putnam may withhold votes on a case-by-case basis from some or all directors that, through their lack of independence, have failed to observe good corporate governance practices or, through specific corporate action, have demonstrated a disregard for the interest of shareholders.

 

Note: Designation of executive director is based on company disclosure.

 

 

ØPutnam will vote against proposals that provide that a director may be removed only for cause. Putnam will generally vote for proposals that permit the removal of directors with or without cause.

 

ØPutnam will vote against proposals authorizing a board to fill a director vacancy without shareholder approval.

 

ØPutnam will vote on a case-by-case basis on subsidiary director nominees if Putnam will be voting against the nominees of the parent company’s board.

 

ØPutnam will vote on a case-by-case basis for director nominees, including nominees for positions on Supervisory Boards or Supervisory Committees, or similar board entities (depending on board structure), for (re)election when cumulative voting applies.

 

ØPutnam will vote for proposals to approve annual directors’ fees, except that Putnam will vote on a case-by-case basis if Putnam’s independent proxy voting service has recommended a vote against such proposal. Additionally, Putnam will vote for proposals to approve the grant of equity awards to directors, except that Putnam will consider these proposals on a case-by-case basis if Putnam’s proxy service provider is recommending a vote against the proposal.

 

Classified Boards

 

ØPutnam will vote against proposals to classify a board, absent special circumstances indicating that shareholder interests would be better served by this structure.

 

 

Ratification of Auditors

 

ØPutnam 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. (Otherwise, Putnam will vote for.)

 

Contested Elections of Directors

 

ØPutnam will vote on a case-by-case basis in contested elections of directors.

 

 

B. Executive Compensation

 

Putnam will vote on a case-by-case basis on board-approved proposals relating to executive compensation, except as follows:

 

ØPutnam 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), except where Putnam would otherwise be withholding votes for the entire board of directors in which case Putnam will evaluate the plans on a case-by-case basis.

 

ØPutnam 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 plans).

 

ØPutnam 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%.

 

·Additionally, if the annualized dilution cannot be calculated, Putnam will vote for plans where the Total Potential Dilution is 5% or less. If the annualized dilution cannot be calculated and the Total Potential Dilution exceeds 5%, then Putnam will vote against. Note: Such plans must first pass all of Putnam's other screens.

 

ØPutnam will vote proposals to issue equity grants to executives on a case-by-case basis.

 

ØPutnam will vote against stock option plans that permit replacing or repricing of underwater options (and against any proposal to authorize such replacement or repricing of underwater options).

 

ØPutnam will vote against stock option plans that permit issuance of options with an exercise price below the stock’s current market price.

 

ØPutnam will vote against stock option plans/ restricted stock plans with evergreen features providing for automatic share replenishment.

 

Ø  Putnam 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 as follows:

Vote on a case-by-case basis on such proposals if any of the following circumstances exist:

·the amount per employee under the plan is unlimited, or
·the maximum award pool is undisclosed, or
·the incentive bonus plan’s performance criteria are undisclosed, or
·the independent proxy voting service recommends a vote against.

 

ØPutnam will vote in favor of the annual presentation of advisory votes on executive compensation (Say-on-Pay).

 

ØPutnam will generally vote for advisory votes on executive compensation (Say-on-Pay). However, Putnam will vote against an advisory vote if the company fails (receives an F grade) to effectively link executive compensation to company performance according to benchmarking performed by the independent proxy voting service.

 

·Putnam will vote on a case-by-case basis if the company receives an F grade by the independent proxy voting service and the recommendation by that service is favorable.

 

·Additionally, if there is no grade attributed to the company's executive pay, Putnam will generally vote for, unless the recommendation of the independent proxy voting service is against, in which case Putnam will review the proposal on a case-by-case basis.

 

 

ØPutnam will vote on a case-by-case basis on severance agreements (e.g., golden and tin parachutes)

 

ØPutnam will withhold votes from members of a Board of Directors which has approved compensation arrangements Putnam’s investment personnel have determined are grossly unreasonable at the next election at which such director is up for re-election.

 

ØPutnam will vote for employee stock purchase plans that have 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.

 

ØPutnam will vote for Non-qualified Employee Stock Purchase Plans with all the following features:

 

1) Broad-based participation (i.e., all employees of the company with the exclusion of individuals with 5 percent or more of beneficial ownership of the company).

 

2) Limits on employee contribution, which may be a fixed dollar amount or expressed as a percent of base salary.

 

3) Company matching contribution up to 25 percent of employee's contribution, which is effectively a discount of 20 percent from market value.

 

4) No discount on the stock price on the date of purchase since there is a company matching contribution.

 

Putnam will vote against Non-qualified Employee Stock Purchase Plans when any of the plan

features do not meet the above criteria.

 

Putnam may vote against executive compensation proposals on a case-by-case basis where compensation is excessive by reasonable corporate standards, or where a company fails to provide transparent disclosure of executive compensation. In voting on proposals relating to executive compensation, Putnam will consider whether the proposal has been approved by an independent compensation committee of the board.

 

C. Capitalization

 

Putnam will vote on a case-by-case basis on board-approved proposals involving changes to a company’s capitalization, except as follows:

 

ØPutnam will vote for proposals relating to the authorization of additional common stock, except that Putnam will evaluate such proposals on a case-by-case basis if (i) they relate to a specific transaction or to common stock with special voting rights, (ii) the company has a non-shareholder approved poison pill in place, or (iii) the company has had sizeable stock placements to insiders within the past three years at prices substantially below market value without shareholder approval.

 

ØPutnam will vote for proposals to effect stock splits (excluding reverse stock splits.)

 

ØPutnam will vote for proposals authorizing share repurchase programs, except that Putnam will vote on a case-by-case basis if there are concerns that there may be abusive practices related to the share repurchase programs.

 

 

D.Acquisitions, Mergers, Reorganizations and

Other Transactions

 

Putnam will vote on a case-by-case basis on business transactions such as acquisitions, mergers, reorganizations involving business combinations, liquidations and sale of all or substantially all of a company’s assets.

 

E. Anti-Takeover Measures

 

Putnam will vote against board-approved proposals to adopt anti-takeover measures such as supermajority voting provisions, issuance of blank check preferred stock, the creation of a separate class of stock with disparate voting rights, control share acquisition provisions, targeted share placements, and ability to make greenmail payments, except as follows:

 

ØPutnam will vote on a case-by-case basis on proposals to ratify or approve shareholder rights plans;

 

ØPutnam will vote on a case-by-case basis on proposals to adopt fair price provisions.

 

ØPutnam will vote on a case-by-case basis on proposals to issue blank check preferred stock in the case of REITs (only).

 

ØPutnam will generally vote for proposals that enable or expand shareholders’ ability to take action by written consent.

 

ØPutnam will vote on a case-by-case basis on proposals to increase shares of an existing class of stock with disparate voting rights from another share class.

 

ØPutnam will vote on a case-by-case basis on shareholder or board-approved proposals to eliminate supermajority voting provisions at controlled companies (companies in which an individual or a group voting collectively holds a majority of the voting interest).

 

ØPutnam will vote on a case-by-case basis on board-approved proposals to adopt supermajority voting provisions at controlled companies (companies in which an individual or a group voting collectively holds a majority of the voting interest).

 

ØPutnam will vote on a case-by-case basis on proposals to issue blank check preferred stock if appropriate “de-clawed” language is present. Specifically, appropriate de-clawed language will include cases where the Company states (i.e., through 8-K, proxy statement or other public disclosure) it will not use the preferred stock for anti-takeover purposes, or in order to implement a shareholder rights plan, or discloses a commitment to submit any future issuances of preferred stock to be used in a shareholder rights plan/anti-takeover purpose to a shareholder vote prior to its adoption.

 

 

F. Other Business Matters

 

Putnam will vote for board-approved proposals approving routine business matters such as changing the company’s name and procedural matters relating to the shareholder meeting, except as follows:

 

ØPutnam will vote on a case-by-case basis on proposals to amend a company’s charter or bylaws (except for charter amendments necessary or to effect stock splits, to change a company’s name, to authorize additional shares of common stock or other matters which are considered routine (for example, director age or term limits), technical in nature, fall within Putnam’s guidelines (for example, regarding board size or virtual meetings), are required pursuant to regulatory and/or listing rules, have little or no economic impact or will not negatively impact shareholder rights).

 

ØAdditionally, Putnam believes the bundling of items, whether the items are

related or unrelated, is generally not in shareholders’ best interest. We may vote against the entire bundled proposal if we would normally vote against any of the items if presented individually. In these cases, we will review the bundled proposal on a case-by-case basis.

 

ØPutnam generally supports quorum requirements if the level is set high enough to ensure a broad range of shareholders is represented in person or by proxy but low enough so that the Company can transact necessary business. Putnam will vote on a case-by-case basis on proposals seeking to change quorum requirements; however, Putnam will normally support proposals that seek to comply with market or exchange requirements.

 

ØPutnam will vote on a case-by-case basis on proposals seeking to change a company’s state of incorporation. However, Putnam will vote for mergers and reorganizations involving business combinations designed solely to reincorporate a company in Delaware.

 

ØPutnam will vote against authorization to transact other unidentified, substantive business at the meeting.

 

ØPutnam will vote against proposals where there is a lack of information to make an informed voting decision.

 

ØPutnam will vote as follows on proposals to adjourn shareholder meetings:

 

If Putnam is withholding support for the board of the company at the meeting, any proposal to adjourn should be referred for case-by-case analysis.

 

If Putnam is not withholding support for the board, Putnam will vote in favor of adjourning, unless the vote concerns an issue that is being referred back to Putnam for case-by-case review. Under such circumstances, the proposal to adjourn should also be referred to Putnam for case-by-case analysis.

 

ØPutnam will vote against management proposals to adopt a specific state’s courts, or a specific U.S. district court as the exclusive forum for certain disputes, except that Putnam will vote for proposals adopting the State of Delaware, or the Delaware Chancery Court, as the exclusive forum, for corporate law matters for issuers incorporated in Delaware. Requiring shareholders to bring actions solely in one state may discourage the pursuit of derivative claims by increasing their difficulty and cost. However, Putnam’s guideline recognizes the expertise of the Delaware state court system in handling disputes involving Delaware corporations. In addition, Putnam will withhold votes from the chair of the Nominating/Governance committee if a company amends its Bylaws, or takes other actions, to adopt a specific state’s courts (other than Delaware courts, for issuers incorporated in Delaware) or a specific U.S. district court as the exclusive forum for certain disputes without shareholder approval.

 

ØPutnam will vote on a case-by-case basis on management proposals seeking to adopt a bylaw amendment allowing the company to shift legal fees and costs to unsuccessful plaintiffs in intra-corporate litigation (fee-shifting bylaw). Additionally, Putnam will vote against the Chair of the Nominating/Governance committee if a company adopts a fee-shifting bylaw amendment without shareholder approval.

 

ØPutnam will support management/shareholder proxy access proposals as long as the proposals align with the following principles for a shareholder (or up to 20 shareholders together as a group) to receive proxy access:

1)   The required minimum aggregate ownership of the Company’s outstanding common stock is no greater than 3%;

2)   The required minimum holding period for the shareholder proponent(s) is no greater than two years; and

3)   The shareholder(s) are permitted to nominate at least 20% of director candidates for election to the board.

 

Proposals requesting shares be held for 3 years will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.  Putnam will vote against proposals requesting shares be held for more than three years.  Proposals that meet Putnam’s stated criteria and include other requirements relating to issues such as, but not limited to, shares on loan or compensation agreements with nominees, will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

 

Additionally, shareholder proposals seeking an amendment to a company’s proxy access policy which include any one of the supported criteria under Putnam’s guidelines, for example, a 2-year holding period for shareholders, will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

 

ØPutnam supports management / shareholder proposals giving shareholders the right to call a special meeting as long as the ownership requirement in such proposals is at least 15% of the company's outstanding common stock and not more than 25%

 

In general, Putnam will vote for management or shareholder proposals to reduce the ownership requirement below a company’s existing threshold, as long as the new threshold is at least 15% and not greater than 25% of the company’s outstanding common stock.

 

Putnam will vote against any proposal with an ownership requirement exceeding 25% of the company’s common stock or an ownership requirement that is less than 15% of the company's outstanding common stock.

 

In cases where there are competing management and shareholder proposals giving shareholders the right to call a special meeting, Putnam will generally vote for the proposal which has the lower minimum shareholder ownership threshold, as long as that threshold is within Putnam’s recommended minimum/maximum thresholds.  If only one of the competing proposals has a threshold that falls within Putnam’s threshold range, Putnam will normally support that proposal as long as it represents an improvement (reduction) from the previous requisite ownership level.  Putnam will normally vote against both proposals if neither proposal has a requisite ownership level between 15% and 25% of the company’s outstanding common stock.

 

ØPutnam will generally vote for management or shareholder proposals to allow a company to hold virtual-only or hybrid shareholder meetings or to amend its articles/charter/by-laws to allow for virtual-only or hybrid shareholder meetings, provided the proposal does not preclude in-person meetings (at any given time), and does not otherwise limit or impair shareholder participation; and if the company has provided clear disclosure to ensure that shareholders can effectively participate in virtual-only shareholder meetings and meaningfully communicate with company management and directors.  Additionally, Putnam may consider the rationale of the proposal and whether there have been concerns about the company’s previous meeting practices.

 

Disclosure should address the following:

·the ability of shareholders to ask questions during the meeting
oincluding time guidelines for shareholder questions
orules around what types of questions are allowed
oand rules for how questions and comments will be recognized and disclosed to meeting participants
othe manner in which appropriate questions received during the meeting will be addressed by the board
·procedures, if any, for posting appropriate questions received during the meeting and the company’s answers on the investor page of their website as soon as is practical after the meeting
·technical and logistical issues related to accessing the virtual meeting platform; and
·procedures for accessing technical support to assist in the event of any difficulties accessing the virtual meeting

 

Putnam may vote against proposals that do not meet these criteria.

 

Additionally, Putnam may vote against the Chair of the Governance Committee when the board is planning to hold a virtual-only shareholder meeting and the company has not provided sufficient disclosure (as noted above) or shareholder access to the meeting.

 

ØPutnam will vote for proposals to approve a company’s board-approved climate transition action plan (“say on climate” proposals in which the company’s board proposes that shareholders indicate their support for the company’s plan), unless the proxy voting service has recommended a vote against the proposal, in which case Putnam will vote on a case-by-case basis on the proposal.

 

ØPutnam will vote on a case-by-case basis on board-approved proposals that conflict with shareholder proposals.

 

 

 

II. Shareholder Proposals

 

Shareholder proposals are non-binding votes that are often opposed by management. Some proposals relate to matters that are financially immaterial to the company’s business, while others may be impracticable or costly for a company to implement. At the same time, well-crafted shareholder proposals may serve the purpose of raising issues that are material to a company’s business for management’s consideration and response. Putnam seeks to weigh the costs of different types of proposals against their expected financial benefits. More specifically:

 

Putnam will vote in accordance with the recommendation of the company’s board of directors on all shareholder proposals, except as follows:

 

 

ØPutnam will vote for shareholder proposals that are consistent with Putnam’s proxy voting guidelines for board-approved proposals.

 

ØPutnam 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.

 

ØPutnam will vote for shareholder proposals to require shareholder approval of shareholder rights plans.

 

ØPutnam 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 of the company in order to be (re) elected.

 

ØPutnam will review on a case-by-case basis, shareholder proposals requesting that the board adopt a policy whereby, in the event of a significant restatement of financial results or significant extraordinary write-off, the board will recoup, to the fullest extent practicable, for the benefit of the company, all performance-based bonuses or awards that were made to senior executives based on having met or exceeded specific performance targets to the extent that the specified performance targets were not met.

 

ØPutnam will vote for shareholder proposals urging the board to seek shareholder approval of any future supplemental executive retirement plan ("SERP"), or individual retirement arrangement, for senior executives that provides credit for additional years of service not actually worked, preferential benefit formulas not provided under the company's tax-qualified retirement plans, accelerated vesting of retirement benefits or retirement perquisites and fringe benefits that are not generally offered to other company employees. (Implementation of this policy shall not breach any existing employment agreement or vested benefit.)

 

ØPutnam will vote for shareholder proposals requiring companies to report on their executive retirement benefits. (Deferred compensation, split-dollar life insurance, SERPs and pension benefits)

 

ØPutnam will vote for shareholder proposals requesting that a company establish a pay-for-superior-performance standard whereby the company discloses defined financial and/or stock price performance criteria (along with the detailed list of comparative peer group) to allow shareholders to sufficiently determine the pay and performance correlation established in the company’s performance-based equity program. In addition, no multi-year award should be paid out unless the company’s performance exceeds, during the current CEO’s tenure (three or more years), its peer median or mean performance on selected financial and stock price performance criteria.

 

ØPutnam will vote for shareholder proposals urging the board to disclose in a separate report to shareholders, the Company’s relationships with its executive compensation consultants or firms. Specifically, the report should identify the entity that retained each consultant (the company, the board or the compensation committee) and the types of services provided by the consultant in the past five years (non-compensation-related services to the company or to senior management and a list of all public company clients where the Company’s executives serve as a director.)

 

ØPutnam 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.
ØPutnam will vote for shareholder proposals requiring that the chair’s position be filled by an independent director (separate chair/CEO). However, Putnam will vote on a case-by-case basis on such proposals when the company’s board has a lead-independent director (or already has an independent or separate chair) and Putnam is supporting the nominees for the board of directors.

 

ØPutnam will vote for shareholder proposals seeking the submission of golden coffins to a shareholder vote or the elimination of the practice altogether.

 

ØPutnam will vote for shareholder proposals seeking a policy that forbids any director who receives more than 25% withhold votes cast (based on for and withhold votes) from serving on any key board committee for two years and asking the board to find replacement directors for the committees if need be.

 

ØPutnam will vote for shareholder proposals urging the board to seek shareholder approval of severance agreements (e.g., golden and tin parachutes)

 

Putnam will vote on a case-by-case basis on approving such compensation arrangements.

 

Ø  Putnam 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 the change in control results in the termination of employment for the person receiving the severance payment.

 

Ø  Putnam 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 as well as proposals to limit income or other tax gross-up payments.

 

ØPutnam will vote in accordance with the recommendation of the company’s board of directors on shareholder proposals regarding corporate political spending, unless Putnam is voting against the directors, in which case the proposal would be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

 

ØPutnam will vote on a case-by-case basis on shareholder proposals that conflict with board-approved proposals.

 

 

Environmental and Social

 

ØPutnam believes that sustainable environmental practices and sustainable social policies are important components of long-term value creation.  Companies should evaluate the potential risks to their business operations that are directly related to environmental and social factors (among others).  In evaluating shareholder proposals relating to environmental and social initiatives, Putnam takes into account (1) the relevance and materiality of the proposal to the company’s business, (2) whether the proposal is well crafted (e.g., whether it references science-based targets, or standard global protocols), and (3) the practicality or reasonableness of implementing the proposal.

 

Putnam may support well-crafted and well-targeted proposals that request additional reporting or disclosure on a company’s plans to mitigate risk to the company related to the following issues and/or their strategies related to these issues:  Environmental issues, including but not limited to, climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy, and broader sustainability issues; and Social issues, including but not limited to, fair pay, employee diversity and development, safety, labor rights, supply chain management, privacy and data security.

 

Putnam will consider factors such as (i) the industry in which the company operates, (ii) the company's current level of disclosure, (iii) the company's level of oversight, (iv) the company’s management of risk arising out of these matters, (v) whether the company has suffered a material financial impact.  Other factors may also be considered. 

 

Putnam will consider the recommendation of its third-party proxy service provider and may consider other factors such as third-party evaluations of ESG performance.

 

Additionally, Putnam may vote on a case-by-case basis on proposals which ask a company to take action beyond reporting where our third-party proxy service provider has identified one or more reasons to warrant a vote FOR.

 

 

III. Voting Shares of Non-US Issuers

 

Many non-US jurisdictions impose material burdens on voting proxies. There are three primary types of limits as follows:

 

(1)Share blocking. Shares must be frozen for certain periods of time to vote via proxy.

 

(2)Share re-registration. Shares must be re-registered out of the name of the local custodian or nominee into the name of the client for the meeting and, in many cases, then re-registered back. Shares are normally blocked in this period.

 

(3)Powers of Attorney. Detailed documentation from a client must be given to the local sub-custodian. In many cases Putnam is not authorized to deliver this information or sign the relevant documents.

 

Putnam’s policy is to weigh the benefits to clients from voting in these jurisdictions against the detriments of not doing so. For example, in a share blocking jurisdiction, it will normally not be in a client’s interest to freeze shares simply to participate in a non- contested routine meeting. More specifically, Putnam will normally not vote shares in non-US jurisdictions imposing burdensome proxy voting requirements except in significant votes (such as contested elections and major corporate transactions) where directed by portfolio managers.

 

Putnam recognizes that the laws governing non-US issuers will vary significantly from US law and from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Accordingly, it may not be possible or even advisable to apply these guidelines mechanically to non-US issuers. However, Putnam believes that shareholders of all companies are protected by the existence of a sound corporate governance and disclosure framework. Accordingly, Putnam will vote proxies of non-US issuers in accordance with the foregoing guidelines where applicable, except as follows:

 

ØPutnam will vote for shareholder proposals calling for a majority of the directors to be independent of management.

 

 

ØPutnam 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.

 

ØPutnam will vote on a case-by-case basis on proposals relating to (1) the issuance of common stock in excess of 20% of a company’s outstanding common stock where shareholders do not have preemptive rights, or (2) the issuance of common stock in excess of 100% of a company’s outstanding common stock where shareholders have preemptive rights.

 

ØPutnam will vote for proposals to authorize share repurchase programs that are recommended for approval by Putnam’s proxy voting service provider, otherwise Putnam will vote against such proposals; except that Putnam will vote on a case-by-case basis if there are concerns that there may be abusive practices related to the share repurchase programs.

 

ØPutnam will vote against authorizations to repurchase shares or issue shares or convertible debt instruments with or without preemptive rights when such authorization can be used as a takeover defense without shareholder approval. Putnam will not apply this policy to a company with a shareholder who controls more than 50% of its voting rights.

 

ØPutnam will generally vote for proposals that include debt issuances, however substantive/non-routine proposals, and proposals that fall outside of normal market practice or reasonable standards, will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

 

ØPutnam will vote for board-approved routine, market-practice proposals. These proposals are limited to (1) those issues that will have little or no economic impact, such as technical, editorial, or mandatory regulatory compliance items, (2) those issues that will not adversely affect and/or which clearly improve shareholder rights/values, and which do not violate Putnam’s proxy voting guidelines, or (3) those issues that do not seek to deviate from existing laws or regulations. Examples include but are not limited to, related party transactions (non-strategic), profit-and-loss transfer agreements (Germany), authority to increase paid-in capital (Taiwan). Should any unusual circumstances be identified concerning a normally routine issue, such proposals will be referred back to Putnam for internal review.

 

ØPutnam will generally vote for proposals regarding amendments seeking to expand business lines or to amend the corporate purpose, provided the proposal would not include a significant or material departure from the company’s current business, and/or will provide the company with greater flexibility in the performance of its activities.

 

ØPutnam will normally vote for management proposals concerning allocation of income and the distribution of dividends. However, Putnam portfolio teams will override this guideline when they conclude that the proposals are outside the market norms (i.e., those seen as consistently and unusually small or large compared to market practices).

 

 

ØPutnam will generally vote for proposals seeking to adjust the par value of common stock. However, non-routine, substantive proposals will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

 

ØPutnam will vote against proposals that would authorize the company to reduce the notice period for calling special or extraordinary general meetings to less than 21-Days.

 

ØPutnam will generally vote for proposals relating to transfer of reserves/increase of reserves (i.e., France, Japan). However, Putnam will vote on a case-by-case basis if the proposal falls outside of normal market practice.

 

ØPutnam will generally vote for proposals to increase the maximum variable pay ratio. However, Putnam will vote on a case-by-case basis if we are voting against a company’s remuneration report or if the proposal seeks an increase in excess of 200%.

 

ØPutnam will review stock option plans on a case-by-case basis which allow for the options exercise price to be reduced by dividend payments (if the plan would normally pass Putnam’s Guidelines).

 

ØPutnam will generally vote for requests to provide loan guarantees however, Putnam will vote on a case-by-case basis if the total amount of guarantees is in excess of 100% of the company’s audited net assets.

 

ØPutnam will generally support remuneration report/policy proposals (i.e., advisory/binding) where a company’s executive compensation is linked directly with the performance of the business and executive. Putnam will generally support compensation proposals which incorporate a mix of reasonable salary and performance based short- and long-term incentives. Companies should demonstrate that their remuneration policies are designed and managed to incentivize and retain executives while growing the company’s long-term shareholder value.

 

Generally, Putnam will vote against remuneration report/policy proposals (i.e., advisory/binding) in the following cases:

·Disconnect between pay and performance
·No performance metrics disclosed;
·No relative performance metrics utilized;
·Single performance metric was used and it was an absolute measure;
·Performance goals were lowered when management failed or was unlikely to meet original goals;
·Long Term Incentive Plan is subject to retesting (e.g., Australia);
·Service contracts longer than 12 months (e.g., United Kingdom);
·Allows vesting below median for relative performance metrics;
·Ex-gratia / non-contractual payments have been made (e.g., United Kingdom and Australia);
·Contains provisions to automatically vest upon change-of-control; or
·Other poor compensation practices or structures.
·Pension provisions for new executives is not at the same level as the majority of the wider workforce; pension provisions for incumbent executives are not set to decrease over time (United Kingdom)
·Proposed CEO salary increases are not justifiably appropriate in comparison to wider workforce or rationale for exception increases is not fully disclosed (United Kingdom)

 

ØPutnam will vote on a case-by-case basis on bonus payments to executive directors or senior management; however, Putnam will vote against payments that include outsiders or independent statutory auditors.

 

 

Matters Relating to Board of Directors

Uncontested Board Elections

 

Asia: China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand

ØPutnam will vote against 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, or
·the chair of the audit, compensation or nominating committee is not an independent director.

Commentary: Companies listed in China (or dual-listed in China and Hong Kong) often have a separate supervisory committee in addition to a standard board of directors containing audit, compensation, and nominating committees. The supervisory committee provides oversight of the financial affairs of the company and supervises members of the board and management, while the board of directors makes decisions related to the company's business and investment strategies. The supervisory committee normally comprises employee representatives and shareholder representatives. Shareholder representatives are elected by shareholders of the company while employee representatives are elected by the company's staff. Shareholder representatives may be independent or may be affiliated with the company or its substantial shareholders. Current laws and regulations neither provide a basis for evaluation of supervisor independence nor do they require a supervisor to be independent.

ØPutnam will generally vote in favor of nominees to the Supervisory Committee

 

Australia

ØPutnam will vote against the entire board of directors if

 

·fewer than a majority of the directors are independent, or

 

·the board has not established an audit committee composed solely of non-executive directors, a majority of whom, including the chair of the committee (who should not be the board chair), should be independent directors, or

 

·the board has not established nominating and compensation committees each composed of a majority of independent, non-executive directors, with an independent chair.

 

Brazil

ØPutnam will vote against proposals requesting cumulative voting unless there are more candidates than number of seats available, in which case vote for.

 

Ø  Putnam will vote for proposals for the proportional allocation of cumulative votes if Putnam is supporting the entire slate of nominees. Putnam will vote against such proposals if Putnam is not supporting the entire slate.

 

ØPutnam will abstain on individual director allocation proposals if Putnam is voting for the proportional allocation of cumulative votes. Putnam will vote on a case-by-case basis on individual director allocation proposals if Putnam is voting against the proportional allocation of votes.

 

Ø  Putnam will vote for proposals to cumulate votes of common and preferred shareholders if the nominees are known and Putnam is supporting the applicable nominees; Putnam will vote against such proposals if Putnam is not supporting the known nominees, or if the nominees are unknown.

 

ØPutnam will generally vote against proposals seeking the recasting of votes for amended slate (as new candidates could be included in the amended slate without prior disclosure to shareholders).

 

ØPutnam will vote against proposals regarding instructions if meeting is held on second call if election of directors is part of the recasting as the slate can be amended without (prior) disclosure to shareholders.

 

ØPutnam will vote against proposals regarding the casting of minority votes to the candidate with largest number of votes.

 

Canada

Canadian corporate governance requirements mirror corporate governance reforms that have been adopted by the NYSE and other U.S. national securities exchanges and stock markets. As a result, Putnam will vote on matters relating to the board of directors of Canadian issuers in accordance with the guidelines applicable to U.S. issuers.

 

Commentary: Like the UK’s Combined Code on Corporate Governance, the policies on corporate governance issued by Canadian securities regulators embody the “comply and explain” approach to corporate governance. Because Putnam believes that the board independence standards contained in the proxy voting guidelines are integral to the protection of investors in Canadian companies, these standards will be applied in a prescriptive manner.

 

 

Continental Europe (ex-Germany)

ØPutnam will vote against the entire board of directors if
·fewer than a majority of the directors are independent directors, or
·the board has not established audit, nominating and compensation committees each 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.

In France, Employee Representatives are employed by the company and represent rank and file employees. These representatives are elected by company employees.  The law also provides for the appointment of employee shareholder representatives, if the employee shareholdings exceed 3% of the share capital.  Employee shareholder representatives are elected by the company’s shareholders (via general meeting). 

 

Germany

ØFor companies subject to “co-determination,” Putnam will vote for the election of nominees to the supervisory board, except:
ØPutnam will vote against the Supervisory Board if
Øthe board has not established an audit committee comprising an Independent chair.
Øthe audit committee chair serves as board chair.
Øthe board contains more than two former management board members.
ØPutnam will vote against the election of a former member of the company’s managerial board to chair of the supervisory board.

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 practice is known as co-determination.

 

Israel

 

Non-Controlled Banks: Director elections at Non-Controlled banks are overseen by the Supervisor of the Banks and nominees for election as "other" (non-external) directors and external directors (under Companies Law and Directive 301) are put forward by an external and independent committee. As such,

 

ØPutnam’s guidelines regarding board Nominating Committees will not apply

 

ØPutnam will vote on a case-by-case on nominees when there are more nominees than seats available.

 

 

Italy

 

Election of directors and statutory auditors:

 

ØPutnam will apply the director guidelines to the majority shareholder supported list and vote accordingly (for or against) if multiple lists of director candidates are presented. If there is no majority shareholder supported slate of nominees, Putnam will support the shareholder slate of nominees that is recommended for approval by Putnam’s service provider.

 

ØPutnam will vote against the entire list of director nominees if the list is bundled as one proposal and if Putnam would otherwise be voting against any one director nominee.

 

ØPutnam will generally vote for the majority shareholder supported list of statutory auditor nominees.

 

Note: Pursuant to Italian law, directors and statutory auditors are elected through a slate voting system whereby candidates are presented in lists submitted by shareholders representing a minimum percentage of share capital.

 

ØPutnam will withhold votes from any director not identified in the proxy materials. (Example: Co-opted director nominees.)

 

 

 

 

 

Japan

 

ØFor companies that have established a U.S.-style corporate governance structure, Putnam 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,

 

·the board has not established an audit committee composed of a majority of independent directors, or

 

·the board does not have at least two independent directors for companies with a controlling shareholder.

 

ØFor companies that have established a statutory auditor board structure:

 

·Putnam will withhold votes from 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.

 

ØFor companies that have established a statutory auditor board structure, Putnam will withhold votes from the entire board of directors if:

 

·the board does not have at least two outside directors, or

 

·the board does not have at least two independent directors for companies with a controlling shareholder.

 

·Putnam will vote against any statutory auditor nominee who attends fewer than 75% of board and committee meeting without valid reasons for the absences (i.e., illness, personal emergency, etc.) (Note that Corporate Law requires disclosure of outsiders' attendance but not that of insiders, who are presumed to have no more important time commitments.)

 

ØFor companies that have established an audit committee board structure (one-tier / one committee), Putnam will withhold votes from the entire board of directors if:

 

·the board does not have at least two outside directors,

 

·the board does not have at least two independent directors for companies with a controlling shareholder, or

 

·the board has not established an audit committee composed of a majority of independent directors

Election of Executive Director and Election of Supervisory Director - REIT

 

REITs have a unique two-tier board structure with generally one or more executive directors and two or more supervisory directors. The number of supervisory directors must be greater than, not equal to, the number of executive directors. Shareholders are asked to vote on both types of directors. Putnam will vote as follows, provided each board of executive / supervisory directors meets legal requirements.

 

ØPutnam will generally vote for the election of Executive Director
ØPutnam will generally vote for the election of Supervisory Directors

 

 

Commentary:

 

Definition of outside director and independent director:

The Japanese Companies Act focuses on two director classifications: Insider or Outsider. An outside director is a director who is not a director, executive, executive director, or employee of the company or its parent company, subsidiaries or affiliates. Further, a director, executive, executive director or employee, who have executive responsibilities, of the company or subsidiaries can regain eligibility ten years after his or her resignation, provided certain other requirements are met. An outside director is designated as an “independent” director based on the Tokyo Stock Exchange listing rules.  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

 

Putnam will withhold votes from the entire board of directors if:

 

  • For large companies (i.e., those with assets of at least KRW 2 trillion); the board does not have at least three independent directors or less than a majority of directors are independent directors,

 

  • For small companies (i.e., those with assets of less than KRW 2 trillion), fewer than one-fourth of the directors are independent 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 independent directors.

 

Commentary: For purposes of these guidelines, an “outside director” is a director who is independent from the management or controlling shareholders of the company and holds no interests that might impair performing his or her duties impartially from the company, management or controlling shareholder. In determining whether a director is an outside director, Putnam will also apply the standards included in Article 382 of the Korean Commercial Act, 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.

 

ØPutnam will generally vote for proposals to amend the Executive Officer Retirement Allowance Policy unless the recipients of the grants include non-executives; the proposal would have a negative impact on shareholders, or the proposal appear to be outside of normal market practice, in which case Putnam will vote against.

 

 

Malaysia

ØPutnam will vote against the entire board of directors if:
·less than 50% of the directors are independent directors, or less than a majority of the directors are independent directors for large companies,
·the board has not established an audit committee with all members being independent directors, including the committee chair,
·the board has not established a nominating committee with all members being non-executive directors, a majority of whom are independent, including the committee chair; the board chair should not serve as a member of the nomination committee, or
·the board has not established a compensation committee with all members being non-executive directors, a majority of whom are independent; the board chair should not serve as a member of the remuneration committee.

 

Nordic Markets – Finland, Norway, Sweden

ØPutnam will vote against the entire board of directors if:

 

Board Independence:

·The board does not have a majority of directors independent from the company and management. (Sweden, Finland, Norway)
·The board does not have at least two directors independent from the company and its major shareholders holding > 10% of the Company’s share capital. (Sweden, Finland, Norway)
·An executive director is a member of the board. (Norway)

 

Audit Committee:

·The audit committee does not consist of a majority of directors independent from the company and management. (Sweden, Finland)
·The audit committee does not have at least one director independent from the company and its major shareholders holding > 10% of the Company’s share capital. (Sweden, Finland)
·The audit committee is not majority independent. (Norway)

 

Remuneration Committee:

·The remuneration committee is not fully independent of the company, excluding the chair. (Sweden)
·The remuneration committee is not majority independent of the company. (Finland)
·The remuneration committee does not consist fully of non-executive directors. (Finland)
·The remuneration committee is not fully independent of management (Norway)
·The remuneration committee is not majority independent from the company and its major shareholders holding > 50% of the Company’s share capital. (Sweden, Finland, Norway)

 

Board Nomination Committee:

·The nomination committee does not consist of a majority of directors independent from the company. (Finland)
·An executive is a member of the nomination committee. (Finland)

 

External Nomination Committee: Vote against the establishment of the nomination committee and its guidelines when:

·The external committee is not majority independent of the company and management. (Sweden)
·The external committee does not have at least one director not affiliated to largest shareholder on the committee. (Sweden)
·The external committee does not meet best practice based on Glass Lewis analysis. (Finland)
·The external committee is not majority independent of the board and management. (Norway)
·The external committee has more than one member of the board of the directors sitting on the committee. (Norway)
·There is insufficient disclosure provided for new nominees (Norway)
·An executive is a member of the committee. (Norway)

 

Russia

ØPutnam will vote on a case-by-case basis for the election of nominees to the board of directors.

Commentary: In Russia, director elections are 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.

 

Singapore

ØPutnam will vote against 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.

 

United Kingdom, Ireland

 

Commentary:

 

Application of guidelines: Although the Combined Code has adopted the “comply and explain” approach to corporate governance, Putnam believes that the guidelines discussed above with respect to board independence standards are integral to the protection of investors in UK companies. As a result, these guidelines will 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 Putnam does not view service on the board for more than nine years as affecting a director’s independence.

 

Smaller companies: A smaller company is one that is below the FTSE 350 throughout the year immediately prior to the reporting year.

 

 

ØPutnam will withhold votes from the entire board of directors if:

 

  • the board, excluding the Non-Executive Chair, is not comprised of at least half independent non-executive directors,

 

  • the board has not established a Nomination committee composed of a majority of independent non-executive directors, excluding the Non-Executive Chair, or

 

  • the board has not established a Compensation committee composed of (1) at least three directors (in the case of smaller companies, as defined by the Combined Code, two directors) and (2) solely of independent non-executive directors. The company chair may be a member of, but not chair, the Committee provided he or she was considered independent on appointment as chair, or

 

  • The board has not established an Audit Committee composed of, (1) at least three directors (in the case of smaller companies as defined by the Combined Code, two directors) and (2) solely of independent non-executive directors. The board chair may not serve on the audit committee of large or small companies.

 

 

All other jurisdictions

ØIn the absence of jurisdiction specific guidelines, Putnam will vote as follows for boards/supervisory boards:
ØPutnam will vote against the entire board of directors if
§fewer than a majority of the directors are independent directors, or
§the board has not established audit, nominating and compensation committees each composed of a majority of independent directors.

 

Additional Commentary regarding all Non-US jurisdictions:

Whether a director is considered “independent” or not will be determined by reference to local corporate law or listing standards.

Some jurisdictions may legally require or allow companies to have a certain number of employee representatives, employee shareholder representatives (e.g., France) and/or shareholder representatives on their board.  Putnam generally does not consider these representatives independent.   The presence of employee representatives or employee shareholder representatives on the board and key committees is generally legally mandated.  In most markets, shareholders do not have the ability to vote on the election of employee representatives or employee shareholder representatives.  In some markets, significant shareholders have a legal right to nominate shareholder representatives.  Shareholders are required to approve the election of shareholder representatives to the board. Unlike employee representatives, there are no legal requirements regarding the presence of shareholder representatives on the board or its committees.

ØPutnam will not include employee or employee shareholder representatives in the independence calculation of the board or key committees, nor in the calculation of the size of the board.
ØPutnam will include shareholder representatives in the independence calculation of the board and key committees, and in the calculation of the size of the board.
ØPutnam will generally support shareholder or employee representatives if included in the agenda Putnam will vote on a case-by-case basis when there are more candidates than seats. Additionally, Putnam will vote against such nominees when there is insufficient information disclosed.
ØPutnam Investments’ policies regarding the provision of professional services and transactional relationship with regard to directors will apply.
ØPutnam will vote for independent nominees for alternate director, unless such nominees do not meet Putnam’s individual director standards.

Shareholder nominated directors/self-nominated directors

 

ØPutnam will vote against shareholder nominees if Putnam supports the board of directors.

 

ØPutnam will vote on a case-by case basis if Putnam will be voting against the current board.

 

ØPutnam will vote on a case-by-case basis if the proposal regarding a self-nominated/shareholder nominated director nominee would add an additional seat to the board if the nominee is approved.

 

 

Other Business Matters

 

Japan

 

A. Article Amendments

 

ØThe Japanese Companies Act gives companies the option to adopt a U.S.-Style corporate structure (i.e., a board of directors and audit, nominating, and compensation committees). Putnam will vote for proposals to amend a company’s articles of incorporation to adopt the U.S.-Style “Board with Committees” structure. However, the independence of the outside directors is critical to effective corporate governance under this new system. Putnam will, therefore, scrutinize the backgrounds of the outside director nominees at such companies, and will vote against the amendment where Putnam believes the board lacks the necessary level of independence from the company or a substantial shareholder.

 

ØPutnam will vote on a case-by-case basis on granting the board the authority to repurchase shares at its discretion.

 

ØPutnam will vote against amendments to delete a requirement directing the company to reduce authorized capital by the number of treasury shares cancelled. If issued share capital decreases while authorized capital remains unchanged, then the company will have greater leeway to issue new shares (for example as a private placement or a takeover defense).

 

ØPutnam will vote against proposals to authorize appointment of special directors. Under the new Corporate Law, companies are allowed to appoint, from among their directors, "special directors" who will be authorized to make decisions regarding the purchase or sale of important assets and major borrowing or lending, on condition that the board has at least six directors, including at least one non-executive director. At least three special directors must participate in the decision-making process and decisions shall be made by a majority vote of the special directors. However, the law does not require any of the special directors to be non-executives, so in effect companies may use this mechanism to bypass outsiders.

 

ØPutnam will generally vote for proposals to create new class of shares or to conduct a share consolidation of outstanding shares to squeeze out minority shareholders.

 

ØPutnam will vote against proposals seeking to enable companies to establish specific rules governing the exercise of shareholder rights. (Note: Such as, shareholders' right to submit shareholder proposals or call special meetings.)

 

B. Compensation Related Matters

 

ØPutnam will vote against option plans which allow the grant of options to suppliers, customers, and other outsiders.

 

ØPutnam will vote against stock option grants to independent internal statutory auditors. The granting of stock options to internal auditors, at the discretion of the directors, can compromise the independence of the auditors and provide incentives to ignore accounting problems, which could affect the stock price over the long term.

 

ØPutnam will vote against the payment of retirement bonuses to directors and statutory auditors when one or more of the individuals to whom the grants are being proposed has not served in an executive capacity for the company. Putnam will also vote against payment of retirement bonuses to any directors or statutory auditors who have been designated by the company as independent. Retirement bonus proposals are all-or-nothing, meaning that split votes against individual payments cannot be made. If any one individual does not meet Putnam’s criteria, Putnam will vote against the entire bundled item.

 

C. Other Business Matters

 

ØPutnam votes for mergers by absorptions of wholly-owned subsidiaries by their parent companies. These deals do not require the issuance of shares, and do not result in any dilution or new obligations for shareholders of the parent company. These transactions are routine.

 

ØPutnam will vote for the acquisition if it is between parent and wholly-owned subsidiary.

 

ØPutnam will vote for the formation of a holding company, if routine. Holding companies are once again legal in Japan and a number of companies, large and small, have sought approval to adopt a holding company structure. Most of the proposals are intended to help clarify operational authority for the different business areas in which the company is engaged and promote effective allocation of corporate resources. As most of the reorganization proposals do not entail any share issuances or any change in shareholders’ ultimate ownership interest in the operating units, Putnam will treat most such proposals as routine.

 

ØPutnam will vote against proposals that authorize the board to vary the AGM record date.

 

ØPutnam will vote for proposals to abolish the retirement bonus system

 

ØPutnam will vote for board-approved director/officer indemnification proposals

 

ØPutnam will vote on a case-by-case basis on private placements (Third-party share issuances). Where Putnam views the share issuance necessary to avoid bankruptcy or to put the company back on solid financial footing, Putnam will generally vote for. When a private placement allows a particular shareholder to obtain a controlling stake in the company at a discount to market prices, or where the private placement otherwise disadvantages ordinary shareholders, Putnam will vote against.

 

ØPutnam will generally vote against shareholder rights plans (poison pills). However, if all of the following criteria are met, Putnam will evaluate such poison pills on a case-by-case basis:

1) The poison pill must have a duration of no more than three years.

2) The trigger threshold must be no less than 20 percent of issued capital.

3) The company must have no other types of takeover defenses in place.

4) The company must establish a committee to evaluate any takeover offers, and the members of that committee must all meet Putnam’s' definition of independence.

5) At least 20 percent, and no fewer than two, of the directors must meet Putnam’s definition of independence. These independent directors must also meet Putnam’s guidelines on board meeting attendance.

6) The directors must stand for reelection on an annual basis.

7) The company must release its proxy materials no less than three weeks before the meeting date.

 

ØPutnam will vote against proposals to allow the board to decide on income allocation without shareholder vote.

 

ØPutnam will vote against proposals to limit the liability of External Audit Firms (“Accounting Auditors”)

 

ØPutnam will vote against proposals seeking a reduction in board size that eliminates all vacant seats.

 

ØPutnam may generally vote against proposals seeking an increase in authorized capital that leaves the company with as little as 25 percent of the authorized capital outstanding (general request). However, such proposals will be evaluated on a company specific basis, taking into consideration such factors as current authorization outstanding, existence (or lack thereof) of preemptive rights and rationale for the increase.

 

ØPutnam will vote for corporate split agreement and transfer of sales operations to newly created wholly-owned subsidiaries where the transaction is a purely internal one which does not affect shareholders' ownership interests in the various operations. All other proposals will be referred back to Putnam for case-by-case review. These reorganizations usually accompany the switch to a holding company structure, but may be used in other contexts.

 

 

United Kingdom

 

ØPutnam will not apply the U.S. standard 15% discount cap for employee share purchase schemes at U.K. companies. As such, Putnam will generally vote for ‘Save-As-You-Earn’ schemes in the U.K which allow for no more than a 20% purchase discount, and which otherwise comply with U.K. law and Putnam standards.

 

France

 

ØPutnam will not apply the U.S. standard 15% discount cap for employee share purchase schemes at French companies. As such, Putnam will generally vote for employee share purchase schemes in France that allow for no greater than a 30% purchase discount, or 40% purchase discount if the vesting period is equal to or greater than ten years, and which otherwise comply with French law and Putnam standards.

 

ØPutnam will generally vote for the Remuneration Report (established based on SRD II), however Putnam will vote on a case-by-case basis when Putnam is voting against both the ex-Post Remuneration Report (CEO) and ex-Ante Remuneration Policy (CEO, or proposal including CEO remuneration package) in the current year, and Putnam’s third party service provider(s) is recommending a vote against.

 

 

Canada

 

ØPutnam will generally vote for Advance Notice provisions for submitting director nominations not less than 30 days prior to the date of the annual meeting.  For Advance Notice provisions where the minimum number of days to submit a shareholder nominee is less than 30 days prior to the meeting date, Putnam will vote on a case-by-case basis.  Putnam will also vote on a case-by-case basis if the company's policy expressly prohibits the commencement of a new notice period in the event the originally scheduled meeting is adjourned or postponed.

 

 

Hong Kong

 

ØPutnam will vote for proposals to approve a general mandate permitting the company to engage in non-pro rata share issuances of up to 20% of total equity in a year if the company’s board meets Putnam’s independence standards; if the company’s board does not meet Putnam’s independence standards, then Putnam will vote against these proposals.

 

Additionally, Putnam will vote for proposals to approve the reissuance of shares acquired by the company under a share repurchase program, provided that: (1) Putnam 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.

 

This policy supplements policies regarding share issuances as stated above under section

III. Voting Shares of Non-US Issuers.

 

 

Taiwan

 

ØPutnam will vote against proposals to release the board of directors from the non-compete restrictions specified in Taiwanese Company Law. However, Putnam will vote for such proposals if the directors are engaged in activities with a wholly- owned subsidiary of the company.

 

 

Australia

 

ØPutnam 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 Putnam’s independence standards; if the company’s board does not meet Putnam’s independence standards, then Putnam will vote against these proposals.

 

ØPutnam will vote for proposals renewing partial takeover provisions.

 

ØPutnam will vote on a case-by-case basis on Board-Spill proposals.

 

 

Turkey

 

ØPutnam will vote on a case-by-case basis on proposals involving related party transactions. However, Putnam will vote against when such proposals do not provide information on the specific transaction(s) to be entered into with the board members or executives.

 

 

 

Exhibit B to Proxy Procedures

 

 

PUTNAM INVESTMENTS

PROXY VOTING CONFLICT

OF INTEREST DISCLOSURE FORM

 

  1. Company name:____________________________________________

 

  1. Date of Meeting: ___________________________________________

 

  1. Referral Item(s): ____________________________________________

 

  1. Description of Putnam’s Business Relationship with Issuer of Proxy which may give rise to a conflict of interest:________________________________
  1. _____________________________________________________________

 

  1. Describe procedures used to address any conflict of interest: Investment professional who was solicited to provide a recommendation was advised that the recommendation must be provided without regard to any client or other business relationship between Putnam and the company. In addition, Putnam has made arrangements that, unless authorized by Putnam's Legal and Compliance Department, contacts from outside parties, except for representatives of the issuing company, with respect to referral items will be handled by Putnam's Legal and Compliance Department to prevent any influence on the investment process. In the case of contact between Putnam investment professionals and representatives of issuing companies, any such contact will be documented and included in the proxy voting files.

 

  1. Describe 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:

_________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

CERTIFICATION

 

The undersigned officer of Putnam Investments certifies that, to the best of his or her knowledge, any recommendation of 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.

 

_______________________________

Name:

Proxy Voting Team

 

Exhibit C to Proxy Procedures

 

 

PUTNAM INVESTMENTS

PROXY VOTING CONFLICT

OF INTEREST DISCLOSURE FORM

 

 

  1. Company name: _______________________

 

  1. Date of Meeting: _______________________

 

  1. Referral Item(s): ___________________________________

 

  1. Description of Putnam’s Business Relationship with Issuer of Proxy which may give rise to a conflict of interest: None___________________________

 

  1. Describe procedures used to address any conflict of interest: N/A_________

 

  1. Describe 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:

 

None________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

CERTIFICATION

 

The undersigned officer of Putnam Investments certifies that, to the best of his or her knowledge, any recommendation of 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.

 

_______________________________

Name:

Proxy Voting Team

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


[1] Effective January 27, 2023, the Board of Trustees of the Putnam Mutual Funds delegated proxy voting authority to Putnam Investment Management, LLC, the investment manager to the Putnam Mutual Funds.