Putnam
Dividend
Income
Fund
SEMIANNUAL REPORT
December 31, 1996
[LOGO: BOSTON * LONDON * TOKYO]
Fund highlights
* "Exceptional returns from bank perpetual preferreds, continuing
developments in the electric utility industry, and a favorable
interest-rate environment during much of the period were the
principal factors behind the fund's solid performance over the
first half of fiscal 1997."
-- Jeanne L. Mockard, manager
Putnam Dividend Income Fund
CONTENTS
4 Report from Putnam Management
8 Fund performance summary
11 Portfolio holdings
15 Financial statements
From the Chairman
[GRAPHIC OMITTED: PHOTO OF GEORGE PUTNAM]
(copyright) Karsh, Ottawa
Dear Shareholder:
The confluence of three positive events during the first half of Putnam
Dividend Income Fund's fiscal 1997 -- a supportive market environment,
significant further deregulation of electric utilities, and the favorable
impact of a new type of security on the perpetual preferred market --
contributed to your fund's above-average results for the six months ended
December 31, 1996.
Approval and issue of new trust-preferred stocks provided a boost to the
fund's bank preferred holdings. In addition, regulatory easing is prompting
many electric utilities to expand into other areas -- a trend that has had a
favorable effect on the preferred stocks and other securities of many of these
companies. Consequently, by the end of the fiscal period, market conditions
had grown much more hospitable than they were at the time of our last report.
Fund Manager Jeanne Mockard sought maximum advantage from all three
circumstances during the period. She provides further details in the following
report on the fund's first-half performance and prospects for the rest of the
fiscal year.
Respectfully yours,
/S/George Putnam
George Putnam
Chairman of the Trustees
February 19, 1997
Report from the Fund Manager
Jeanne L. Mockard
Noteworthy developments in the preferred stock market helped provide a midyear
boost to Putnam Dividend Income Fund's performance, enabling it to complete
the first half of its 1997 fiscal year on December 31, 1996, by posting
market-beating results. Your fund's total returns of 8.30% at net asset value
and 12.85% at market price substantially outperformed the 5.31% return
measured by the Merrill Lynch Perpetual Preferred Index -- one of the fund's
key performance benchmarks and a commonly used yardstick for the preferred
stock market.
We attribute the fund's success to the impact of a new type of preferred stock
on one segment of the market in which your fund had sizable exposure, and to a
favorable market environment over most of the period. Please see pages 9 and
10 for more performance and dividend information.
* ISSUANCE OF TRUST-PREFERRED STOCK BOOSTS BANK PERPETUAL PREFERREDS
Perhaps the most significant development affecting the fund's performance
during the period was the issuance by banks and insurance companies of a new
type of preferred stock -- trust-preferred stock. Issued through trust company
subsidiaries, which accounts for its name, trust-preferred stock is classified
differently by the Federal Reserve and the Internal Revenue Service, which can
result in lower after-tax costs for the issuer.
In October, the Fed passed regulatory changes indicating that the capital from
these stocks should be classified as equity on banks' balance sheets. This is
consistent with the Fed's treatment of other types of preferred stock. The
IRS, meanwhile, currently treats trust-preferred stock as debt, allowing
issuers to account for the dividends paid on the securities as a
tax-deductible cost. Other types of preferred stock are typically viewed as
equity by the IRS, which prevents dividends paid from being treated as
tax-deductible interest. As a result, an issuer's after-tax costs for
trust-preferred stock can be significantly lower than those for other types of
preferred stock.
Thus, after the new regulations were announced, banks rushed to issue these
new securities. In addition, the expectation that the 1997 federal budget
authorization bill may include a measure outlawing the tax deductibility of
trust-preferred stock provided further impetus to banks to capitalize on this
window of opportunity. Bank issuance of trust-preferred stock, in turn,
bolstered the prices of other types of preferreds, giving them a degree of
scarcity value.
Your fund benefited from these developments because of its substantial
exposure to bank preferreds. At the end of the period, over 20% of the
portfolio was committed to bank preferreds. This is near the maximum
allocation the fund can have to any single industry outside of public
utilities and indicates that we took advantage of the rally to the greatest
possible extent.
* SUPPORTIVE MARKET BENEFITS PERPETUAL HOLDINGS
Following an extended period of rising interest rates and turbulence in the
fixed-income markets that continued through the first two months of the fiscal
year, your fund enjoyed a supportive market environment during the final four
months of the period. Long-term interest rates declined considerably, boosting
the values of all securities with fixed income streams, including preferred
stocks.
[GRAPHIC HORIZONTAL BAR CHART OMITTED: COMPARATIVE PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION]
Top number of paired numbers indicates percentage at 6/30/96
Bottom number of paired numbers indicates percentage at 12/31/96
COMPARATIVE PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION*
Perpetual 61.2%
preferreds 67.0%
Adjustable-rate 21.7%
preferreds 19.1%
Sinking-fund 8.0%
preferreds 7.1%
Common 4.4%
Stocks 3.6%
Convertible 1.5%
securities 1.5%
Cash and short-term 5.7%
securities 1.7%
Footnote reads:
* Based on net assets as of 12/31/96. Composition will vary over time.
Because they behave like long-term bonds with no maturity dates, perpetual
preferreds benefit greatly when interest rates fall. These benefits
notwithstanding, declining rates also inevitably lead issuers to call in or
retire preferreds that carry dividend rates above prevailing interest rates.
In order to avoid a forced redemption of a number of perpetual preferred
holdings all at once, we attempted to manage the impact of calls on the
portfolio by trading securities in a staggered fashion as they approached
their first call dates.
* UTILITY DEREGULATION PROMPTS INCREASED MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS ACTIVITY
One of the more notable developments in the preferred market over the period
was the increase in mergers and acquisitions among electric utilities and
natural gas providers. Deregulation in the electric utility industry is
causing major operators to attempt to consolidate their control over
exploration, generation, and distribution of electric power. Various electric
utilities have merged with natural gas providers, believing they will compete
more effectively as combined rather than as separate entities. Several current
and former fund holdings are seeking to capitalize on this developing trend,
including Duke Power, which acquired PanEnergy, one of the country's largest
natural gas pipeline operators, during the period. While Duke Power was viewed
favorably at the end of the period, all portfolio holdings are subject to
review and adjustment in accordance with the fund's investment strategy and
may vary in the future.
* PORTFOLIO TURNOVER REMAINS HISTORICALLY LOW
We believe the Federal Reserve Board's attempts to control inflation by
adjusting monetary policy have been successful thus far. Indeed, with the
economy continuing to grow at a moderate rate and strong economic releases
frequently being offset by weaker ones, it is possible that Fed policy may
remain stable in the months ahead.
[GRAPHIC OMITTED:TOP 10 HOLDINGS]
TOP 10 HOLDINGS
McDermott Inc. Series B, $2.60 sinking-fund preferred
Petroleum services
Duke Power Co. Series W, $7.00 preferred
Electric utility
H. F. Ahmanson and Co. Series C, $2.10 deposit-shares preferred
Savings and loan
Provident Companies, Inc. $2.025 deposit-shares preferred
Life insurance
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. Series A, $2.25 deposit-shares preferred
Securities brokerage and investment-management services
New York State Electric & Gas Corp. Series B, $5.88
adjustable-rate preferred
Gas and electric utilities
Chase Manhattan Corp. Series L, $5.922 adjustable-rate preferred
Banking
Georgia Power Co. Series 93-2, $5.67 adjustable-rate preferred
Electric utility
Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. $6.99 preferred
Gas and electric utilities
Puget Sound Power & Light Co. Series B, $1.455
adjustable-rate preferred
Electric utility
Footnote reads:
* Top 10 holdings represent 26.8% of the fund's net assets as of 12/31/96.
Top holdings will vary over time.
Now that the election season has passed, Washington is again likely to float
the possibility of lowering the dividends-received deduction to 50% from the
current 70%. Although the probability of such a reduction is uncertain, it has
caused a slowdown in the overall issuance of preferreds. We believe,
therefore, that it is perhaps more advantageous than ever before to maintain a
portfolio of high-coupon securities and to hold these securities for as long
as possible. Consequently, portfolio turnover has been quite low relative to
the fund's history and we expect this to continue to be the case at least for
the next several months.
The views expressed here are exclusively those of Putnam Management. They are
not meant as investment advice. Although the described holdings were viewed
favorably as of 12/31/96, there is no guarantee the fund will continue to hold
these securities in the future.
Performance summary
Performance should always be considered in light of a fund's investment
strategy. Putnam Dividend Income Fund is designed for investors seeking a high
level of current income, consistent with preservation of capital.
This section provides, at a glance, information about your fund's performance.
Total return shows how the value of the fund's shares changed over time,
assuming you held the shares through the entire period and reinvested all
distributions in the fund.
TOTAL RETURN FOR PERIODS ENDED 12/31/96
Merrill Lynch
Perpetual
Market Preferred Consumer
NAV price Index Price Index
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 months 8.30% 12.85% 5.31% 1.21%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 year 10.07 11.04 7.44 3.32
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 years 58.29 44.95 50.99 15.01
Annual average 9.62 7.71 8.59 2.84
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Life of fund* 107.19 64.77 102.04 26.88
Annual average* 10.56 7.12 10.18 3.33
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Performance data represent past results, do not reflect future performance,
and will differ for each share class. They do not take into account any
adjustment for taxes payable on reinvested distributions. Investment returns
and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares, when sold,
may be worth more or less than their original cost.
*The Merrill Lynch Perpetual Preferred Index was introduced on 2/28/89.
PRICE AND DISTRIBUTION INFORMATION
6 months ended 12/31/96
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributions (common shares)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number 6
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income $0.39
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total $0.39
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Preferred shares Series A
(600 shares)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income $1,634.12
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total $1,634.12
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share value (common
shares): NAV Market price
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6/30/96 $10.54 $8.875
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12/31/96 10.97 9.625
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current return (common
shares): NAV Market price
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of period
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current dividend rate1 7.11% 8.10%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Taxable equivalent2 9.79 11.15
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Income portion of most recent distribution, annualized and divided by NAV or
market price at end of period.
2 Assumes a corporation taxed at the 35% federal tax rate and that 100% of the
fund's distributions qualify for the 70% corporate dividends-received
deduction. Investment income may be subject to the federal alternative minimum
tax.
TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
Net asset value (NAV) is the value of all your fund's assets, minus any
liabilities and the face amount of auction-rate preferred shares, divided by
the number of outstanding common shares.
Market price is the current trading price of one share of the fund. Market
prices are set by transactions between buyers and sellers on the New York
Stock Exchange.
COMPARATIVE BENCHMARKS
Merrill Lynch Perpetual Preferred Index is an unmanaged list of perpetual
preferred stocks that is commonly used as a general measure of performance for
the preferred-stock market. The index assumes reinvestment of all
distributions and does not take into account brokerage commissions or other
costs. The securities that make up the fund's portfolio do not match those in
the index. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.
Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a commonly used measure of inflation; it does
not represent an investment return.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Portfolio of investments owned
December 31, 1996 (Unaudited)
PREFERRED STOCKS (93.2%) *
NUMBER OF SHARES VALUE
Automobiles (4.9%)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
139,452 Ford Motor Co. Ser. B, $2.063 dep. shs. Preferred (pfd). $ 3,834,930
65,500 General Motors Corp. Ser. B, $2.281 dep. shs. pfd. 1,784,875
108,822 General Motors Corp. Ser. G, $2.275 dep. shs. pfd. 3,087,824
--------------
8,707,629
Banks (20.9%)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
194,000 Ahmanson (H.F.) & Co. Ser. C, $2.10 dep. shs. pfd. 5,044,000
70,800 Bank of Boston Corp. Ser. E, $2.125 dep. shs. pfd. 1,823,100
30,000 BankAmerica Corp. Ser. B, $6.00 Adjustable Rate
Preferred (ARP) 2,782,500
70,000 Bankamerica Corp. Ser M, $1.969 dep. shs. pfd. 1,793,750
70,000 Bankers Trust New York Corp. Ser. Q, $5.74560 ARP 1,583,750
50,000 Chase Manhattan Corp. Ser. L, $5.922 ARP 4,606,250
79,400 Chase Manhattan Corp. Ser. I, $1.98 dep. shs. pfd. 2,014,775
19,000 Chase Manhattan Corp. Ser. B, $2.44 pfd. 522,500
41,100 Chase Manhattan Corp. Ser. C, $2.71 pfd. 1,222,725
55,000 Chase Manhattan Corp. Ser. F, $2.08 pfd. 1,395,625
70,780 Chase Manhattan Corp. Ser. M, $2.10 pfd. 1,822,585
45,000 Citicorp Ser. 19, $1.3965 ARP 1,040,625
29,800 Citicorp Ser. 2, $6.00 ARP 2,778,850
13,000 Citicorp Ser. 3, $7.00 ARP 1,287,000
10,000 Citicorp Ser. 8-B, $8.25 pfd. 1,008,750
13,000 First Chicago NBD Corp. $2.1125 dep. shs. pfd. 333,125
110,566 Fleet Financial Group, Inc. Ser E $2.338 dep. shs. pfd. 3,082,027
38,500 Fleet Financial Group, Inc. Ser D $2.325 dep. shs. pfd. 1,010,625
26,100 Great Western Financial Corp. $2.075 dep. shs. pfd. 675,338
40,000 Sumitomo Bank Ltd. Ser. A, $2.03125 dep. shs. pfd. 1,025,000
19,570 US Bancorp Ser. A, $2.031 pfd. 496,589
--------------
37,349,489
Broadcasting (0.6%)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
49,000 Newscorp Overseas Corp. Ser. A, $2.156 pfd. 1,225,000
Combined Utilities (10.6%)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
40,000 Baltimore Gas & Electric Co. $ 6.99 pfd. 4,250,000
23,900 Baltimore Gas & Electric Co. Ser. 93, $7.125 pfd. 2,554,310
10,000 Baltimore Gas & Electric Co. Ser. 93, $6.70 pfd. 1,038,750
19,395 Baltimore Gas & Electric Co. Sinking Fund Ser. 87,
$6.75 pfd. 1,968,593
217,000 New York State Electric & Gas Corp. Ser. B, $5.88 ARP 4,774,000
25,000 Pacific Gas & Electric Co. Ser U $1.76 pfd. 646,875
6,750 Public Service Electric & Gas Co. $6.92 pfd. 693,563
19,000 Public Service Electric & Gas Co. Sinking Fund
$7.44 pfd. 1,959,375
7,000 Public Service of Colorado $7.15 pfd. 696,500
14,000 San Diego Gas & Electric Co. $1.7625 pfd. 362,250
--------------
18,944,216
Computer Software (0.3%)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24,000 IBM Corp. Ser. A, $1.875 dep. shs. pfd. 633,000
Electric Utilities (30.3%)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20,000 Appalachian Power Co. $5.92 pfd. 1,965,000
50,000 Connecticut Light & Power Co. Sinking Fund Ser. 92,
$3.615 pfd. 1,862,500
140,000 Detroit Edison Co. $1.9375 dep. shs. pfd. 3,482,500
8,000 Duke Power Co. Ser. S, $7.85 pfd. 874,000
50,000 Duke Power Co. Ser. W, $7.00 pfd. 5,356,250
7,109 Entergy Arkansas, Inc. $ 8.52 pfd. 710,011
8,916 Entergy Gulf States, Inc. $7.56 pfd. 851,478
9,000 Entergy Louisiana, Inc. $7.00 pfd. 882,000
20,000 Florida Power & Light Co. Ser. S, $6.98 pfd. 2,125,000
200,000 Georgia Power Co. Ser. 93-2 $5.67 ARP 4,525,000
50,000 Georgia Power Co. $1.9875 Pfd 1,268,750
11,000 Houston Light & Power $8.12 pfd. 1,089,000
50,000 Long Island Lighting Co. Sinking Fund Ser. NN,
$1.95 pfd. 1,150,000
20,000 Massachusetts Electric Co. $6.99 pfd. 2,092,500
15,200 Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. Ser A $1.625 pfd. 262,200
20,000 Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. $2.375 pfd. 490,000
6,600 Northern States Power Co. Ser. A, $5.50 ARP 630,300
14,100 Northern States Power Co. $5.50 ARP 1,318,350
753 PacifiCorp Sinking Fund $7.12 pfd. 76,430
5,000 Peco Energy $7.480 pfd. 509,375
6,637 Pennsylvania Power & Light Co. $6.75 pfd. 674,485
116,000 PSI Energy, Inc. $7.44 pfd. 2,914,500
175,000 Puget Sound Power & Light Co. Ser. B, $1.455 ARP 4,003,125
72,000 Puget Sound Power & Light Co. $1.96875 pfd. 1,818,000
67,000 San Diego Gas & Electric Co. $1.70 pfd. 1,725,250
21,400 Texas Utilities Electric Co. Ser. B, $7.00 ARP 2,049,050
75,580 Texas Utilities Electric Co. Ser. A, $1.875 dep. shs. pfd. 1,955,633
25,000 Texas Utilities Electric Co. Ser. B, $1.805 dep. shs. pfd. 643,750
10,000 Texas Utilities Electric Co. $6.375 pfd. 970,000
40,000 Texas Utility Electric Co. $6.50 pfd. 3,770,000
20,000 Virginia Electric & Power Co. $6.98 pfd. 2,122,500
--------------
54,166,937
Finance (6.7%)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
40,000 Bear Stearns & Co. Ser. A, $5.50 ARP 1,745,000
9,000 Bear Stearns & Co. Ser. B, $1.97 dep. shs. pfd. 228,375
99,669 Berkley (W.R.) Corp. Ser. A, $1.844 pfd. 2,529,101
40,000 MBNA Corp. Ser. B, $6.83 ARP 1,050,000
166,252 Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. Ser. A, $2.25 dep. shs. pfd. 4,862,871
30,000 Morgan Stanley $3.875 dep. shs. pfd. 1,616,250
--------------
12,031,597
Financial Services (1.1%)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
38,350 Household International, Inc. Ser. 92-A, $2.063
dep. shs. pfd. 1,030,656
20,000 J.P. Morgan & Co. Inc. Ser H $3.313 dep. shs. pfd. 1,025,000
--------------
2,055,656
Food Chains (1.5%)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
102,500 McDonalds Corp. Ser E $1.93 dep. shs. pfd. 2,600,938
Forest Products (1.8%)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
120,000 Boise Cascade Corp. Ser. F, $2.35 dep. shs. pfd. 3,135,000
Gas Utilities (1.2%)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
71,200 Phillips Gas Co. Ser. A, $2.23 pfd. 1,869,000
9,360 Washington Natural Gas Co. Ser. III, $2.125 pfd. 237,510
--------------
2,106,510
Health Care (0.6%)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 Rhone Poulenc Rorer Ser. 3, $5.84 dep. shs. pfd. 1,000,000
Insurance (5.9%)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
64,000 AON Corp. $2.00 pfd. 1,648,000
190,000 Provident Cos., Inc. $2.025 dep shs. pfd. 4,892,500
50,000 SunAmerica Inc. Ser. B, $2.3125 pfd. 1,275,000
108,000 Travelers Group. Ser. D, $2.313 dep. shs. pfd. 2,754,000
--------------
10,569,500
Oil Services (4.7%)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
111,000 LASMO PLC ADS Ser. A, $ 2.50 pfd.
(United Kingdom) 2,816,625
190,537 McDermott Inc. Sinking Fund Ser. B, $2.60 pfd. 5,668,476
--------------
8,485,101
Oil and Gas (1.1%)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
40,000 El Paso Tennessee Pipeline Co. Ser. A, $4.125 pfd. 2,030,000
Paper (0.3%)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20,000 James River Corp. Ser. O, $2.0625 dep. shs. pfd. 510,000
Water Utilities (0.7%)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12,000 United Water Resources, Inc. Ser. B, $7.625 pfd. 1,180,500
--------------
Total Preferred Stocks (cost $165,276,029) $ 166,731,073
COMMON STOCKS (3.6%) *
NUMBER OF SHARES VALUE
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
50,000 Entergy Corp. $ 1,387,500
43,000 Pacific Gas & Electric Co. 903,000
19,100 Potomac Electric Power Co. 491,825
41,000 Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc. 1,117,250
56,000 Rochester Gas & Electric Corp. 1,071,000
34,000 Texas Utilities Electric Co. 1,385,500
--------------
Total Common Stocks (cost $6,116,882) $ 6,356,075
CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCKS (1.5%) * (cost $2,677,133)
NUMBER OF SHARES VALUE
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
109,270 Lehman Brothers Holding Inc. $1.955 cv. pfd. $ 2,745,409
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (1.7%) * (cost $2,981,538)
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT VALUE
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2,981,000 Interest in $378,760,000 joint repurchase agreement
dated December 31, 1996 with Morgan (J.P.) Co.,
due January 2, 1997 with respect to various
U.S. Treasury obligations -- maturity value
of $2,982,076 for an effective yield of 6.50% $ 2,981,538
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Investments (cost $177,051,562) *** $ 178,814,095
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Percentages indicated are based on net assets of $178,987,704.
*** The aggregate identified cost on a tax basis is 177,093,878,
resulting in gross unrealized appreciation and, depreciation of
$4,861,338 and $3,141,121, respectively, or net unrealized appreciation
of $1,720,217.
The accompanying notes are an intergral part of these financial statements.
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Statement of assets and liabilities
December 31, 1996 (Unaudited)
<S> <C>
Assets
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investments in securities, at value
(identified cost $177,051,562) (Note 1) $178,814,095
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash 542
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dividends and interest receivable 1,281,183
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total assets 180,095,820
Liabilities
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributions payable to shareholders 703,339
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Payable for compensation of Manager (Note 2) 329,664
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Payable for investor servicing and custodian fees (Note 2) 16,855
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Payable for compensation of Trustees (Note 2) 6,166
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Payable for administrative services (Note 2) 1,910
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other accrued expenses 50,182
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total liabilities 1,108,116
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets $178,987,704
Represented by
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Auction preferred shares, (600 shares issued and
outstanding at $100,000 per share liquidation preference) (Note 4) $ 60,000,000
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paid-in capital -- common shares (Unlimited shares authorized) (Note 1) 122,164,096
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Undistributed net investment income (Note 1) 181,125
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accumulated net realized loss on investment (Note 1) (5,120,050)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net unrealized appreciation of investments 1,762,533
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total -- Representing net assets applicable to
capital shares outstanding $178,987,704
Computation of net asset value
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Auction preferred shares $ 60,000,000
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cumulative undeclared dividends on remarketed preferred shares 270,000
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets allocated to remarketed preferred shares --
liquidation preference $ 60,270,000
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets available to common shares $118,717,704
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value per common shares
($118,717,704 divided by 10,821,255 shares) $10.97
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Statement of operations
Six months ended December 31, 1996 (Unaudited)
<S> <C>
Investment income:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dividend (net of foreign tax of $20,829) $ 6,464,211
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interest 127,607
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total investment income 6,591,818
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expenses:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Compensation of Manager (Note 2) 659,255
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investor servicing and custodian fees (Note 2) 64,386
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Compensation of Trustees (Note 2) 12,504
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Administrative services (Note 2) 3,754
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reports to shareholders 9,246
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Registration fees 275
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Auditing 17,163
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Legal 3,143
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Postage 4,732
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exchange listing fees 12,130
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Preferred share remarketing agent fees 76,671
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other 2,306
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total expenses 865,565
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expense reduction (Note 2) (7,766)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net expenses 857,799
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net investment income 5,734,019
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net realized gain on investments (Notes 1 and 3) 260,025
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net unrealized appreciation of investments during the period 4,130,194
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net gain on investments 4,390,219
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations $10,124,238
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Statement of changes in net assets
Six months ended Year ended
December 31 June 30
1996* 1996
----------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Increase in net assets
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operations:
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net investment income $ 5,734,019 $ 8,669,998
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net realized gain (loss) on investments 260,025 (1,398,610)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net unrealized appreciation of investments 4,130,194 1,735,330
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations 10,124,238 9,006,718
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributions to remarketed preferred shareholders:
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From net investment income (980,469) (708,750)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations
(excluding cumulative undeclared dividends on
auction preferred shares of $270,000
and $20,250, respectively) 9,143,769 8,297,968
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributions to common shareholders:
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From net investment income (4,220,003) (7,791,339)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Increase from capital share transactions -- 60,000,000
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Auction preferred share offering costs (Note 4) -- (800,000)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total increase in net assets 4,923,766 59,706,629
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beginning of period 174,063,938 114,357,309
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of period (including undistributed net investment
income of $181,125 and distributions in excess of
net investment income of $352,422, respectively) $178,987,704 $174,063,938
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of fund shares
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common shares outstanding at beginning and
end of period 10,821,255 10,821,255
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Auction preferred shares outstanding at
beginning and end of period 600 600
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Unaudited
The accompanying notes are an intergral part of these financial statements.
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Financial highlights
(For a common share outstanding throughout the period)
Six months
ended
December 31
(unaudited) Year ended June 30
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1996 1996 1995
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Net asset value, beginning of year (common shares) $10.54 $10.57 $10.84
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment operations
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net investment income .53 .80 .78
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments .40 .03 .01
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total from investment operations .93 .83 .79
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less distributions:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From net investment income --
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To preferred shareholders (.11) (.07) (.01)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To common shareholders (.39) (.72) (.78)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From net realized gains -- --
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To preferred shareholders -- -- (.06)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To common shareholders -- -- (.24)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total distributions (.50) (.79) (1.09)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Auction preferred share offering cost (.07) --
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Change in cumulative undeclared dividends on auction preferred shares -- -- .03
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of period (common shares) $10.97 $10.54 $10.57
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Market value, end of year (common shares) $9.625 $8.875 $9.250
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total investment return at market value (common shares) (%)(a) 12.85* 3.51 5.82
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets, end of year (total fund) (in thousands) $178,988 $174,064 $114,357
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)(b)(c) .75* 1.23 1.07
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)(b) 3.88* 6.88 7.39
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio turnover (%) 9.20* 35.13 27.39
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average commission rate paid (d) $.0500
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<CAPTION>
Financial highlights (continued)
(For a common share outstanding throughout the period)
Year ended June 30
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1994 1993 1992
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Net asset value, beginning of year (common shares) $12.39 $11.38 $10.21
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment operations
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net investment income 1.13 1.35 1.49
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments (1.13) .97 1.15
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total from investment operations -- 2.32 2.64
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less distributions:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From net investment income
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To preferred shareholders (.16) (.21) (.27)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To common shareholders (1.04) (1.08) (1.19)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From net realized gains
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To preferred shareholders -- -- --
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To common shareholders (.38) -- --
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total distributions (1.58) (1.29) (1.46)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Auction preferred share offering cost -- -- --
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Change in cumulative undeclared dividends on auction preferred share .03 (.02) (.01)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of period (common shares) $10.84 $12.39 $11.38
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Market value, end of year (common shares) $9.750 $11.875 $12.000
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total investment return at market value (common shares)(%)(a) (6.78) 8.27 28.71
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets, end of year (total fund) (in thousands) $142,629 $208,076 $196,725
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)(b)(c) 1.42 1.70 1.64
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)(b) 8.06 9.65 11.14
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio turnover (%) 73.63 166.44 160.44
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average commission rate paid (d)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Not annualized
(a) Total investment return assumes dividend reinvestment
and does not reflect the effect of sales charges.
(b) Ratios reflect net assets available to common shares only; net investment
income ratio also reflects reduction for dividend payments to preferred
shareholders.
(c) The ratio of expenses to average net assets for the year ended December 31, 1996
includes amounts paid through expense offset arrangements. Prior period ratios exclude these
amounts. (Note 2)
(d) Average commission rate paid on security trades is required for fiscal periods beginning on or
after September 1, 1995.
</TABLE>
Notes to financial statements
December 30, 1996 (Unaudited)
Note 1
Significant accounting policies
Putnam Dividend Income Fund ("the fund") is registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended, as a diversified, closed-end management
investment company. The fund's objective is to seek high current income
eligible for the dividends received deduction allowed to corporations under
Section 243 of the Internal Revenue Code, consistent with preservation of
capital by investing in a portfolio of preferred and common equity securities.
The fund will invest at least 65% of its total assets in dividend-paying
securities. Preferred stocks will be rated "investment grade" at the time of
investment or, if not rated, will be of comparable quality as determined by
Putnam Investment Management, Inc. ("Putnam Management"), the fund's Manager,
a wholly-owned subsidiary of Putnam Investments, Inc. The fund may also use
leverage by issuing preferred shares in an effort to increase the income to
the common shares.
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently
followed by the fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The
preparation of financial statements is in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles and requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities. Actual
results could differ from those estimates.
A) Security valuation Investments for which market quotations are readily
available are stated at market value, which is determined using the last
reported sale price, or, if no sales are reported -- as in the case of some
securities traded over-the-counter -- the last reported bid price. Certain
preferred stocks for which reliable market quotations are not readily
available are stated at fair value on the basis of valuations furnished by
pricing services approved by the Trustees, which determine valuations for
normal, institutional-size trading units of such securities using methods
based on market transactions for comparable securities and various
relationships between securities that are generally recognized by
institutional traders. Short-term investments having remaining maturities of
60 days or less are stated at amortized cost, which approximates market value,
and other investments are stated at fair value following procedures approved
by the Trustees.
B) Joint trading account Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the
Securities and Exchange Commission, the fund may transfer uninvested cash
balances into a joint trading account along with the cash of other registered
investment companies and certain other accounts managed by Putnam Investment
Management, Inc. ("Putnam Management"), the fund's Manager, a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Putnam Investments, Inc.. These balances may be invested in one
or more repurchase agreements and/or short-term money market instruments.
C) Repurchase agreements The fund, or any joint trading account, through its
custodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities, the market value of
which at the time of purchase is required to be in an amount at least equal to
the resale price, including accrued interest. Putnam Management is responsible
for determining that the value of these underlying securities is at all times
at least equal to the resale price, including accrued interest.
D) Determination of net asset value Net asset value of the common shares is
determined by dividing the value of all assets of the fund (including accrued
interest and dividends), less all liabilities (including accrued expenses),
undeclared dividends on remarketed preferred shares and the liquidation value
of any outstanding remarketed preferred shares, by the total number of common
shares outstanding.
E) Security transactions and related investment income Security transactions
are accounted for on the trade date (date the order to buy or sell is
executed). Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividend income
is recorded on the ex-dividend date.
F) Federal taxes It is the policy of the fund to distribute all of its taxable
income within the prescribed time and otherwise comply with the provisions of
the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies. It is
also the intention of the fund to distribute an amount sufficient to avoid
imposition of any excise tax under Section 4982 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986. Therefore, no provision has been made for federal taxes on income,
capital gains or unrealized appreciation on securities held nor for excise tax
on income and capital gains.
At June 30, 1996, the fund had a capital loss carryover of approximately
$4,898,000 available to offset future net capital gain, if any. The amount of
the carryover and the expiration dates are:
Loss Carryover Expiration
- ---------------------------------
$ 366,000 June 30, 2003
4,532,000 June 30, 2004
G) Distributions to shareholders Distributions to common and preferred
shareholders are recorded by the fund on the ex-dividend date. Dividends on
remarketed preferred shares become payable when, as and if declared by the
Trustees. Each dividend period for the remarketed preferred shares is
generally a 49 day period. The applicable dividend rate for the remarketed
preferred shares on December 31, 1996 was 3.971%. The amount and character of
income and gains to be distributed are determined in accordance with income
tax regulations which may differ from generally accepted accounting
principles. Reclassifications are made to the fund's capital accounts to
reflect income and gains available for distribution (or available capital loss
carryovers) under income tax regulations.
Note 2
Management fee, administrative services and other transactions
Compensation of Putnam Management, for management and investment advisory
services is paid quarterly based on the average net assets of the fund. Such
fee is based on the following annual rates: 0.75% of the first $500 million,
0.65% of the next $500 million, 0.60% of the next $500 million, and 0.55% of
any amount over $1.5 billion.
The fund reimburses Putnam Management for the compensation and related
expenses of certain officers of the fund and their staff who provide
administrative services to the fund. The aggregate amount of all such
reimbursements is determined annually by the Trustees.
Custodial functions for the fund's assets are provided by Putnam Fiduciary
Trust Company (PFTC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Putnam Investments, Inc.
Investor servicing agent functions are provided by Putnam Investor Services, a
division of PFTC.
For the six months ended December 31, 1996, fund expenses were reduced by
$7,766 under expense offset arrangements with PFTC. Investor servicing and
custodian fees reported in the Statement of operations exclude these credits.
The fund could have invested the assets utilized in connection with the
expense offset arrangements in an income producing asset if it had not entered
into such arrangements.
Trustees of the fund receive an annual Trustees fee of $830 and an additional
fee for each Trustee's meeting attended. Trustees who are not interested
persons of Putnam Management and who serve on committees of the Trustees
receive additional fees for attendance at certain committee meetings.
The fund adopted a Trustee Fee Deferral Plan (the "Plan") which allows the
Trustees to defer the receipt of all or a portion of Trustees Fees payable on
or after July 1, 1995. The deferred fees remain in the fund and invested in
the fund or in other Putnam funds until distribution in accordance with the
Plan.
The fund has adopted an unfunded noncontributory defined benefit pension plan
(the "Pension Plan") covering all Trustees of the fund who have served as
Trustee for at least five years. Benefits under the Pension Plan are equal to
50% of the Trustee's average total retainer and meeting fees for the three
years preceding retirement. Pension expense for the fund is included in
Compensation of trustees in the Statement of operations. Accrued pension
liability is included in Payable for compensation of Trustees in the Statement
of assets and liabilities.
Note 3
Purchase and sales of securities
During the six months ended December 31, 1996, purchases and sales of
investment securities other than short-term investments aggregated $18,805,793
and $15,695,372, respectively. There were no purchases and sales of U.S.
government obligations. In determining the net gain or loss on securities
sold, the cost of securities has been determined on the identified cost basis.
Note 4
Auction rate preferred shares
The auction rate preferred shares are redeemable at the option of the fund on
any dividend payment date at a auction rate preferred price of $100,000 per
share, plus an amount equal to any dividends accumulated on a daily basis but
unpaid through the redemption date (whether or not such dividends have been
declared) and, in certain circumstances, a call premium.
It is anticipated that dividends paid to holders of auction rate preferred
shares will be eligible the Dividend Received Deduction under the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986. To the extent that the fund earns income and capital
gains that are ineligible for the Dividend Received Deduction, it will be
required to apportion to the holders of the auction rate preferred shares
throughout that year additional dividends as necessary to result in an
after-tax equivalent to the applicable dividend rate for the period.
Under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the fund is required to maintain
asset coverage of at least 200% with respect to the auction preferred shares
as of the last business day of each month in which any such shares are
outstanding. Additionally, the fund is required to meet more stringent asset
coverage requirements under terms of the auction preferred shares and the
shares' rating agencies. Should these requirements not be met, or should
dividends accrued on the auction rate preferred shares not be paid, the fund
may be restricted in its ability to declare dividends to common shareholders
or may be required to redeem certain of the auction rate preferred shares. At
December 31, 1996, no such restrictions have been placed on the fund.
Fund information
INVESTMENT MANAGER
Putnam Investment
Management, Inc.
One Post Office Square
Boston, MA 02109
MARKETING SERVICES
Putnam Mutual Funds Corp.
One Post Office Square
Boston, MA 02109
CUSTODIAN
Putnam Fiduciary Trust Company
LEGAL COUNSEL
Ropes & Gray
TRUSTEES
George Putnam, Chairman
William F. Pounds, Vice Chairman
Jameson Adkins Baxter
Hans H. Estin
John A. Hill
Ronald J. Jackson
Elizabeth T. Kennan
Lawrence J. Lasser
Robert E. Patterson
Donald S. Perkins
George Putnam, III
Eli Shapiro
A.J.C. Smith
W. Nicholas Thorndike
OFFICERS
George Putnam
President
Charles E. Porter
Executive Vice President
Patricia C. Flaherty
Senior Vice President
John D. Hughes
Senior Vice President and Treasurer
Lawrence J. Lasser
Vice President
Gordon H. Silver
Vice President
Peter Carman
Vice President
Brett Browchuk
Vice President
Thomas Reilly
Vice President
Jeanne L. Mockard
Vice President and Fund Manager
William N. Shiebler
Vice President
John R. Verani
Vice President
Paul M. O'Neil
Vice President
Beverly Marcus
Clerk and Assistant Treasurer
Call 1-800-225-1581 weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Eastern Time for up-to-date information about the fund's NAV.
PUTNAM INVESTMENTS
The Putnam Funds
One Post Office Square
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
- --------------------
Bulk Rate
U.S. Postage
PAID
Putnam
Investments
- --------------------
30600-056 2/97
