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<PAGE> PAGE 2
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<PAGE> PAGE 3
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<PAGE> PAGE 4
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<PAGE> PAGE 6
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SIGNATURE PAUL BUCAVALAS
TITLE MANAGING DIRECTOR
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
Putnam New Opportunities Fund
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 5
<NAME> CLASS A
<S> <C>
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<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUN-30-1999
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1999
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<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (101,953,584)
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[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0
</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
Putnam New Opportunities Fund
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 5
<NAME> CLASS B
<S> <C>
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<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUN-30-1999
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1999
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</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
Putnam New Opportunities Fund
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 5
<NAME> CLASS C
<S> <C>
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<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 56,498,636
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</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
Putnam New Opportunities Fund
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 5
<NAME> CLASS M
<S> <C>
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<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUN-30-1999
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1999
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[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0
</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
Putnam New Opportunities Fund
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 5
<NAME> CLASS Y
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<EXPENSES-NET> 129,271,831
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (101,953,584)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 1,092,505,639
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 9,905,765,665
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 10,896,317,720
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (125,842,222)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 5,532,291
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (4,694,126)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 1,525,129
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 10,484,254,164
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 2,317,965,228
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 56,498,636
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 130,413,589
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 1,212,227,289
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 66.49
<PER-SHARE-NII> (.14)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 33.35
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (7.30)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 92.40
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .31
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0
</TABLE>
852 Putnam New Opportunities Fund
Class C Inception Date = 7/26/99
12B-1 fees = 11,254
Sales Charge Class C = 170
