840 Putnam Utilities Growth and Income Fund attachment
4/30/06 Semi-annual

Regulatory matters and litigation

Putnam Management has entered into agreements with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and the Massachusetts
Securities Division settling charges connected with excessive
short-term trading by Putnam employees and, in the case of the
charges brought by the Massachusetts Securities Division, by
participants in some Putnam-administered 401(k) plans.
Pursuant to these settlement agreements, Putnam Management will
pay a total of $193.5 million in penalties and restitution, with
$153.5 million being paid to certain open-end funds and their
shareholders. The amount will be allocated to shareholders and
funds pursuant to a plan developed by an independent consultant,
and will be paid following approval of the plan by the SEC and
the Massachusetts Securities Division.

The Securities and Exchange Commissions and Massachusetts
Securities Divisions allegations and related matters also serve
as the general basis for numerous lawsuits, including purported
class action lawsuits filed against Putnam Management and
certain related parties, including certain Putnam funds. Putnam
Management will bear any costs incurred by Putnam funds in
connection with these lawsuits. Putnam Management believes that
the likelihood that the pending private lawsuits and purported
class action lawsuits will have a material adverse financial
impact on the fund is remote, and the pending actions are not
likely to materially affect its ability to provide investment
management services to its clients, including the Putnam funds.

Pursuant to a settlement with the Securities and Exchange
Commission relating to Putnam Managements brokerage allocation
practices, on October 13, 2005 the fund received $311,551 in
proceeds paid by Putnam Management. The fund had accrued a
receivable for this amount in the prior fiscal year.

In March 2006, the fund received $55,552 from Putnam to address
issues relating to the calculation of certain amounts paid by
the Putnam mutual funds to Putnam for transfer agent services.
This amount is included in Fees waived and reimbursed by Manager
or affiliate on the Statement of operations. Review of this
matter is ongoing and the amount received by the fund may be
adjusted in the future. Such adjustment is not expected to be
material.

Putnam Management and Putnam Retail Management are named as
defendants in a civil suit in which the plaintiffs allege that
the management and distribution fees paid by certain Putnam
funds were excessive and seek recovery under the Investment
Company Act of 1940. Putnam Management and Putnam Retail
Management have contested the plaintiffs claims and the matter
is currently pending in the U.S. District Court for the District
of Massachusetts. Based on currently available information,
Putnam Management believes that this action is without merit and
that it is unlikely to have a material effect on Putnam
Managements and Putnam Retail Managements ability to provide
services to their clients, including the fund.