As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
October 29 , 1999
Registration No. 33-56339
811-7237
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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FORM N-1A
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REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 / X /
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Pre-Effective Amendment No. / /
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Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 / X /
and ----
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REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY / X /
ACT OF 1940 ----
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Amendment No. 25 / X /
(Check appropriate box or boxes) ----
PUTNAM INVESTMENT FUNDS
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
One Post Office Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02109
(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code
(617) 292-1000
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It is proposed that this filing will become effective
(check appropriate box)
/ / immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
/ X / on November 1, 1999 pursuant to paragraph (b)
/ / 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a) (1)
/ / on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a) (1)
/ / 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a) (2)
/ / on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a) (2) of Rule 485.
If appropriate, check the following box:
/ / this post-effective amendment designates a new
effective date for a previously filed post-effective
amendment.
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JOHN R. VERANI, Vice President
PUTNAM INVESTMENT FUNDS
One Post Office Square
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
(Name and address of agent for service)
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Copy to:
JOHN W. GERSTMAYR, Esquire
ROPES & GRAY
One International Place
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
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This Post-Effective Amendment relates solely to the Registrant's
Putnam Mid-Cap Value Fund series. Information contained in the
Registrant's Registration Statement relating to any other series
of the Registrant is neither amended nor superseded hereby.
Prospectus
NOVEMBER 1 , 1999
PUTNAM MID-CAP VALUE FUND
CLASS A SHARES
INVESTMENT CATEGORY: GROWTH AND INCOME
This prospectus explains what you should know about this mutual
fund before you invest. Please read it carefully.
Putnam Investment Management, Inc. (Putnam Management), which has
managed mutual funds since 1937, manages the fund.
These securities have not been approved or disapproved by the
Securities and Exchange Commission nor has the Commission passed
upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any statement
to the contrary is a crime.
CONTENTS
2 FUND SUMMARIES
2 Goals
2 Main investment strategies
2 Main risks
2 Fees and expenses
4 WHAT ARE THE FUND'S MAIN INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RELATED RISKS?
6 WHO MANAGES THE FUND?
7 HOW DOES A FUND PRICE ITS SHARES?
7 HOW DO I BUY FUND SHARES?
9 HOW DO I SELL FUND SHARES?
10 HOW DO I EXCHANGE FUND SHARES?
11 FUND DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
s
BOSTON ( LONDON ( TOKYO
FUND SUMMARIES
GOAL
The fund seeks capital appreciation and, as a secondary objective,
current income.
MAIN INVESTMENT STRATEGIES - VALUE STOCKS.
We invest mainly in common stocks of U.S. companies, with a
focus on value stocks. Value stocks , we believe, are
currently undervalued by the market. If we are correct and
other investors recognize the value of the company , the
price of the stock may rise. We invest mainly in medium-
sized companies.
MAIN RISKS
The main risks that could adversely affect the value of the fund's
shares and the total return on your investment include
* The risk that the stock price of one or more of the companies in
the fund's portfolio will fall, or will fail to rise . Many
factors can adversely affect a stock's performance, including
general financial market conditions and factors related to a
specific company or industry. This risk is greater for small and
medium-sized companies, which tend to be more vulnerable to
adverse developments.
* The risk that movements in the securities markets will adversely
affect the price of the fund's investments, regardless of how well
the companies in the which we invest. The market as a whole
may not favor the types of investment we make.
You can lose money by investing in the fund. The fund may not
achieve its goals, and is not intended as a complete investment
program. An investment in the fund is NOT a deposit in a
bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
FEES AND EXPENSES
This table summarizes the fees and expenses you may pay if you
invest in the fund. Expenses represent estimates for the fund's
first full fiscal year.
SHAREHOLDER FEES (fees paid directly from your investment)
CLASS A
MAXIMUM SALES CHARGE (LOAD) IMPOSED
ON PURCHASES (AS A PERCENTAGE OF
THE OFFERING PRICE) 5.75%
MAXIMUM DEFERRED SALES CHARGE (LOAD)
(AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE ORIGINAL
PURCHASE PRICE OR REDEMPTION
PROCEEDS, WHICHEVER IS LOWER) NONE*
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES**
(expenses that are deducted from fund assets)
TOTAL
ANNUAL FUND
MANAGEMENT OTHER OPERATING EXPENSE NET
FEES EXPENSES EXPENSES REIMBURSEMENT EXPENSES
0.70% 0.50% 1.20% (0.20%) 1.00%
* A deferred sales charge of up to 1% may be imposed on certain
redemptions of class A shares bought without an initial sales
charge.
** Reflects Putnam Management's contractual obligation to limit
the fund's expenses through August 31, 2000.
EXAMPLE
This example translates the expenses shown in the preceding
table into dollar amounts. By doing this, you can more easily
compare the cost of investing in the fund to the cost of investing
in other mutual funds. The example makes certain assumptions. It
assumes that you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods
shown and then redeem all your shares at the end of those periods.
It also assumes a 5% return on your investment each year and that
the fund's operating expenses remain the same. The example is
hypothetical; your actual costs and returns may be higher or
lower.
1 YEAR 3 YEARS
$671 $915
WHAT ARE THE FUND'S MAIN INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RELATED RISKS?
Any investment carries with it some level of risk that generally
reflects its potential for reward. We pursue the fund's
goal by investing mainly in value stocks. We will
consider, among other things, a company's financial strength,
competitive position in its industry and projected future earnings
and dividends when deciding whether to buy or sell investments. A
description of the risks associated with the fund's main
investment strategies follows.
> COMMON STOCKS. Common stock represents ownership
interest in a company .
The value of a company's stock may fall as a result of factors
relating directly to that company, such as decisions made by its
management or lower demand for the company's products or services.
A stock's value may also fall because of factors,
affecting not just the company, but also companies in
the same industry or in a number of different
industries , such as increases in production costs . The
value of a company's stock may also be affected by changes in
financial market conditions that are relatively unrelated to the
company or its industry, such as changes in interest rates or
currency exchange rates. In addition, a company's stock generally
pays dividends only after the company invests in its own
business and makes required payments to holders of its bonds
and other debt. For this reason, the value of a company's
stock will usually react more strongly than the bonds and other
debt to actual or perceived changes in the company's financial
condition or prospects. Stocks of smaller companies may be
more vulnerable to adverse developments that those of larger
companies.
* VALUE STOCKS. These are stocks of companies whose stock
we believe is undervalued by the market , often
because the market has overreacted to adverse developments, or has
failed to appreciate positive changes. These companies may have
experienced adverse business developments or may be subject to
special risks that have caused their stocks to be out of favor.
If our assessment of a company's prospects is wrong,
of if other investors do not come to similarly
recognize the value of the company, then the price of the
company's stock may fall or may not approach the value that
we have placed on it.
* MEDIUM-SIZED COMPANIES. We will ordinarily invest in
medium-sized companies, which normally means companies with market
capitalizations in the same range as those found in
the Russell Mid-Cap Index. As of the date of this prospectus,
this range was about $1 billion to about $11 billion. Medium-
sized or "middle-capitalization" companies are more likely than
larger companies to have limited product lines, markets or
financial resources, or to depend on a small, inexperienced
management group. Stocks of these companies may trade less
frequently and in limited volume, and their prices may fluctuate
more than stocks of larger companies. Stocks of these companies
may therefore be more vulnerable to adverse developments than
those of larger companies.
* FOREIGN INVESTMENTS. We may invest in securities of
foreign issuers. Foreign investments involve certain special
risks. For example, their values may decline in response to
changes in currency exchange rates, unfavorable political and
legal developments, unreliable or untimely information, and
economic and financial instability. In addition, the liquidity of
these investments may be more limited than for U.S.
investments, which means the fund may at times be unable to sell
them at desirable prices. Foreign settlement procedures may also
involve additional risks. These risks are generally greater in the
case of developing (also known as emerging) markets with
less developed legal and financial systems.
Certain of these risks may also apply to some extent to
U.S. investments that are denominated in foreign currencies
or that are traded in foreign markets, or to securities of U.S.
companies that have significant foreign operations.
* FREQUENT TRADING. We may buy or sell investments
relatively often, which involves higher brokerage commissions and
other expenses, and may increase the amount of taxes payable by
shareholders.
* OTHER INVESTMENTS. In addition to the main investment strategies
described above, we may make other
investments, such as investments in preferred stocks,
convertible investments and derivatives, which may be
subject to other risks, as described in the funds' statement of
additional information (SAI).
* ALTERNATIVE STRATEGIES. At times we may judge that market
conditions make pursuing the fund's investment strategies
inconsistent with the best interests of its shareholders.
We then may temporarily use alternative strategies that are
mainly designed to limit the fund's losses. However, we may
choose not to use these strategies, for a variety of
reasons, even in very volatile market conditions. These strategies
may cause the fund to miss out on investment opportunities, and
may prevent the fund from achieving its goal .
* CHANGES IN POLICIES. The fund's Trustees may change the fund's
goal, investment strategies and other policies without shareholder
approval, except as otherwise indicated.
WHO MANAGES THE FUND?
The fund's Trustees oversee the general conduct of the fund's
business. The Trustees have retained Putnam Management to be the
fund's investment manager, responsible for making investment
decisions for the fund and managing the fund's other affairs and
business. The fund pays Putnam Management a quarterly management
fee for these services based on the fund's average net assets, at
the annual rate of 0.70% of the first $500 million of the fund's
average net assets, 0.60% of the next $500 million, 0.55% of the
next $500 million, 0.50% of the next $5 billion, 0.475% of the
next $5 billion, 0.455% of the next $5 billion, 0.44% of the next
$5 billion and 0.43% thereafter. Putnam Management's address is
One Post Office Square, Boston, MA 02109.
In order to limit the fund's expenses during its start-up period,
Putnam Management has agreed to limit its compensation (and, to
the extent necessary, bear other expenses of the fund) through
August 31, 2000 to the extent that the expenses of the fund
(exclusive of brokerage, interest, taxes, deferred organizational
and extraordinary expense, and payments under the fund's
distribution plan) would exceed an annual rate of 1.00% of the
fund's average net assets. For the purpose of determining such
limitation on Putnam Management's compensation, expenses of the
fund do not reflect the application of commissions or cash
management credits that may reduce designated fund expenses. With
Trustee approval, this expense limitation may be terminated
earlier, in which event shareholders would be notified and this
prospectus would be revised.
The following officer of Putnam Management has had
primary responsibility for the day-to-day management of the fund's
portfolio since the years shown below. His experience as
a portfolio manager or investment analyst
over at least the last five years is also shown.
MANAGER SINCE EXPERIENCE
Thomas J. Hoey 1999 Employed by Putnam Management since 1996.
Vice President Prior to April 1996, Mr. Hoey was employed
at Driehaus Capital Management.
_______________________________________________________________
(YEAR 2000 ISSUES. The fund could be adversely affected if the
computer systems used by Putnam Management and the fund's other
service providers do not properly process and calculate date-
related information relating to the end of this century and the
beginning of the next. While year 2000-related computer problems
could have a negative effect on the fund, both in its operations
and in its investments, Putnam Management is working to avoid such
problems and to obtain assurances from service providers that they
are taking similar steps. No assurances, though, can be provided
that the fund will not be adversely impacted by these
matters.
HOW DOES THE FUND PRICE ITS SHARES?
The price of the fund's shares is based on its net asset value
(NAV). The NAV per share equals the total value of the fund's
assets, less its liabilities, divided by the number of its
outstanding shares. Shares are only valued as of the close of
regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange the day the
exchange is open.
The fund values its investments for which market quotations are
readily available at market value. It values short-term
investments that will mature within 60 days at amortized cost,
which approximates market value. It values all other investments
and assets at their fair value.
The fund translates prices for its investments quoted in foreign
currencies into U.S. dollars at current exchange rates. As a
result, changes in the value of those currencies in relation to
the U.S. dollar may affect the fund's NAV. Because foreign markets
may be open at different times than the New York Stock Exchange,
the value of the fund's shares may change on days when
shareholders are not able to buy or sell them. If events
materially affecting the values of the fund's foreign investments
occur between the close of foreign markets and the close of
regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange, these investments
will be valued at their fair value.
HOW DO I BUY FUND SHARES?
You can open a fund account with as little as $500 and make
additional investments at any time with as little as $50 ($25
through systematic investing) . The fund sells its shares at
the offering price, which is the NAV plus any applicable sales
charge. Your financial advisor or Putnam Investor Services
generally must receive your completed buy order before the close
of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange for your shares
to be bought at that day's offering price.
YOU CAN BUY SHARES
* THROUGH A FINANCIAL ADVISOR Your advisor will be responsible for
furnishing all necessary documents to Putnam Investor Services,
and may charge you for his or her services.
* THROUGH SYSTEMATIC INVESTING You can make regular investments of
$25 or more per month through automatic deductions from your bank
checking or savings account. Application forms are available
through your advisor or Putnam Investor Services at 1-800-225-
1581.
You may also complete an order form and write a check for the
amount you wish to invest, payable to the fund. Return the check
and completed form to Putnam Mutual Funds.
The fund may periodically close to new purchases of shares or
refuse any order to buy shares if the fund determines that doing
so would be in the best interests of the fund and its
shareholders.
INITIAL SALES CHARGES FOR CLASS A SHARES
CLASS A SALES CHARGE
AS A PERCENTAGE OF:
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AMOUNT OF PURCHASE NET AMOUNT OFFERING
AT OFFERING PRICE ($) INVESTED PRICE*
Under 50,000 6.10% 5.75%
50,000 but under 100,000 4.71 4.50
100,000 but under 250,000 3.63 3.50
250,000 but under 500,000 2.56 2.50
500,000 but under 1,000,000 2.04 2.00
1,000,000 and above NONE NONE
* Offering price includes sales charge.
DEFERRED SALES CHARGES FOR CERTAIN CLASS A SHARES. A deferred
sales charge of up to 1% may apply to class A shares purchased
without an initial sales charge, if redeemed within two years
after purchase.
* YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR REDUCTIONS AND WAIVERS OF SALES CHARGES.
Sales charges may be reduced or waived under certain circumstances
and for certain groups. Information about reductions and waivers
of sales charges is included in the SAI. You may consult your
financial advisor or Putnam Mutual Funds for assistance.
* DISTRIBUTION (12B-1) PLANS. The fund has adopted a distribution
plan to pay for the marketing of fund shares and for services
provided to shareholders, although the fund is not currently
making any payments pursuant to the plan. The plan provides for
payments at an annual rate (based on average net assets) of up to
0.35%. Should the Trustees decide in the future to approve
payments under the plan, shareholders will be notified and this
prospectus will be revised.
HOW DO I SELL FUND SHARES?
You can sell your shares back to the fund any day the New York
Stock Exchange is open, either through your financial advisor or
directly to the fund. Payment for redemption may be delayed until
the fund collects the purchase price of shares, which may take up
to 15 calendar days after the purchase date.
* SELLING SHARES THROUGH YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR. Your advisor must
receive your request in proper form before the close of regular
trading on the New York Stock Exchange for you to receive that
day's NAV, less any applicable deferred sales charge. Your advisor
will be responsible for furnishing all necessary documents to
Putnam Investor Services on a timely basis and may charge you for
his or her services.
* SELLING SHARES DIRECTLY TO THE FUND. Putnam Investor Services
must receive your request in proper form before the close of
regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange in order to receive
that day's NAV, less any applicable sales charge.
BY MAIL. Send a signed letter of instruction to Putnam Investor
Services.
BY TELEPHONE. You may use Putnam's Telephone Redemption Privilege
to redeem shares valued at less than $100,000 unless you have
notified Putnam Investor Services of an address change within the
preceding 15 days. Unless you indicate otherwise on the account
application, Putnam Investor Services will be authorized to accept
redemption and transfer instructions received by telephone. The
Telephone Redemption Privilege may be modified or terminated
without notice.
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS. If you
(sell shares with a value of $100,000 or more,
(want your redemption proceeds sent to an address other than your
address as it appears on Putnam's records, or
(have notified Putnam of a change in address within the preceding
15 days,
the signatures of registered owners or their legal representatives
must be guaranteed by a bank, broker-dealer or certain other
financial institutions. Stock power forms are available from your
financial advisor, Putnam Investor Services and many commercial
banks.
Putnam Investor Services usually requires additional documents for
the sale of shares by a corporation, partnership, agent or
fiduciary, or a surviving joint owner. Contact Putnam Investor
Services for details.
* WHEN WILL THE FUND PAY ME? The fund generally sends you payment
for your shares the business day after your request is received.
Under unusual circumstances, the fund may suspend redemptions, or
postpone payment for more than seven days, as permitted by federal
securities law.
* REDEMPTION BY THE FUND. If you own fewer shares than the minimum
set by the Trustees (presently 20 shares), the fund may redeem
your shares without your permission and send you the proceeds. The
fund may also redeem shares if you own more than a maximum amount
set by the Trustees. There is presently no maximum, but the
Trustees could set a maximum that would apply to both present and
future shareholders.
HOW DO I EXCHANGE FUND SHARES?
If you want to switch your investment from one Putnam fund to
another, you can exchange your fund shares for shares of the same
class of another Putnam fund at NAV. Not all Putnam funds offer
all classes of shares or are open to new investors. If you
exchange shares subject to a deferred sales charge, the
transaction will not be subject to the deferred sales charge. When
you redeem the shares acquired through the exchange, the
redemption may be subject to the deferred sales charge, depending
upon when you originally purchased the shares. The deferred sales
charge will be computed using the schedule of any fund into or
from which you have exchanged your shares that would result in
your paying the highest deferred sales charge applicable to your
class of shares. For purposes of computing the deferred sales
charge, the length of time you have owned your shares will be
measured from the date of original purchase and will not be
affected by any exchange.
To exchange your shares, complete an Exchange Authorization Form
and send it to Putnam Investor Services. The form is available
from Putnam Investor Services. A Telephone Exchange Privilege is
currently available for amounts up to $500,000. Ask your
financial advisor or Putnam Investor Services for prospectuses of
other Putnam funds. Some Putnam funds are not available in all
states.
The exchange privilege is not intended as a vehicle for short-term
trading. Excessive exchange activity may interfere with portfolio
management and have an adverse effect on all shareholders. In
order to limit excessive exchange activity and otherwise to
promote the best interests of the fund, the fund reserves the
right to revise or terminate the exchange privilege, limit the
amount or number of exchanges or reject any exchange. The fund
into which you would like to exchange may also reject your
exchange. These actions may apply to all shareholders or only to
those shareholders whose exchanges Putnam Management determines
are likely to have a negative effect on the fund or other Putnam
funds. Consult Putnam Investor Services before requesting an
exchange.
FUND DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
The fund distributes any net investment income quarterly and any
net realized capital gains at least once a year. You may choose
to:
* reinvest all distributions in additional shares;
* receive any distributions from net investment income in cash
while reinvesting capital gains distributions in additional
shares; or
* receive all distributions in cash.
If you do not select an option when you open your account, all
distributions will be reinvested. If you do not cash a
distribution check within a specified period or notify Putnam
Investor Services to issue a new check, the distribution will be
reinvested in the fund. You will not receive any interest on
uncashed distribution or redemption checks. Similarly, if any
correspondence sent by the fund or Putnam Investor Services is
returned as "undeliverable," fund distributions will automatically
be reinvested in the fund or in another Putnam fund.
For federal income tax purposes, distributions of investment
income are taxable as ordinary income. Taxes on distributions of
capital gains are determined by how long the fund owned the
investments that generated them, rather than how long you have
owned your shares. Distributions are taxable to you even if they
are paid from income or gains earned by the fund before your
investment (and thus were included in the price you paid).
Distributions of gains from investments that the fund owned for
more than one year will be taxable as capital gains. Distributions
of gains from investments that the fund owned for one year or less
will be taxable as ordinary income. Distributions are taxable
whether you received them in cash or reinvested them in additional
shares.
The fund's investments in foreign securities may be subject to
foreign withholding taxes. In that case, the fund's yield on
those securities would be decreased. Shareholders generally will
not be entitled to claim a credit or deduction with respect to
foreign taxes. In addition, the fund's investment in foreign
securities or foreign currencies may increase the amount of taxes
payable by shareholders.
Any gain resulting from the sale or exchange of your shares will
generally also be subject to tax. You should consult your tax
advisor for more information on your own tax situation, including
possible foreign, state and local taxes.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PUTNAM MID-CAP VALUE FUND
The fund's statement of additional information (SAI) includes
additional information about the fund. The SAI is incorporated by
reference into this prospectus, which means it is part of this
prospectus for legal purposes. You may get free copies of the
fund's SAI, request other information about a fund and other
Putnam funds, or make shareholder inquiries, by contacting your
financial advisor or Putnam's Web site, or by calling Putnam toll-
free at 1-800-225-1581.
You may review and copy information about the fund, including its
SAI, at the Securities and Exchange Commission's public reference
room in Washington, D.C. You may call the Commission at 1-800-SEC-
0330 for information about the operation of the public reference
room. You may also access reports and other information about the
fund on the Commission's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. You
may get copies of this information, with payment of a duplication
fee, by writing the Public Reference Section of the Commission,
Washington, D.C. 20549-6009. You may need to refer to the fund's
file number.
PUTNAM INVESTMENTS
One Post Office Square
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
1-800-225-1581
ADDRESS CORRESPONDENCE TO
PUTNAM INVESTOR SERVICES
P.O. Box 989
Boston, MA 02103
www.putnaminv.com
File No: 811-7237
Putnam Mid-Cap Value Fund (a series of Putnam Investment
Funds)
PUTNAM MID-CAP VALUE FUND
A SERIES OF PUTNAM INVESTMENT FUNDS
FORM N-1A
PART B
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ("SAI")
NOVEMBER 1, 1999
This SAI is not a prospectus and is only authorized for
distribution when accompanied or preceded by the prospectus of the
fund dated November 1, 1999 , as revised from time to time.
This SAI contains information that may be useful to investors but
that is not included in the prospectus. If the fund has more than
one form of current prospectus, each reference to the prospectus
in this SAI shall include all of the fund's prospectuses, unless
otherwise noted. The SAI should be read together with the
applicable prospectus. For a free copy of the fund's prospectus,
call Putnam Investor Services at 1-800-225-1581 or write Putnam
Investor Services, Mailing address: P.O. Box 41203, Providence, RI
02940-1203.
Part I of this SAI contains specific information about the fund.
Part II includes information about the fund and the other Putnam
funds.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I
FUND ORGANIZATION AND CLASSIFICATION I- 4
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS I- 4
CHARGES AND EXPENSES I- 6
ADDITIONAL OFFICERS I- 9
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS I-10
PART II
MISCELLANEOUS INVESTMENTS, INVESTMENT PRACTICES AND RISKS II-1
TAXES.... II-25
MANAGEMENT II-28
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE II-36
HOW TO BUY SHARES II-37
DISTRIBUTION PLANS II- 47
INVESTOR SERVICES II- 51
SIGNATURE GUARANTEES II- 55
SUSPENSION OF REDEMPTIONS II- 55
SHAREHOLDER LIABILITY II- 56
STANDARD PERFORMANCE MEASURES II- 56
COMPARISON OF PORTFOLIO PERFORMANCE II- 57
SECURITIES RATINGS II- 60
DEFINITIONS II- 65
SAI
PART I
FUND ORGANIZATION AND CLASSIFICATION
Putnam Mid-Cap Value Fund is a series of Putnam Investment Funds
(the "Trust"), a Massachusetts business trust organized on October
31, 1994. A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, which
is governed by Massachusetts law, is on file with the Secretary of
State of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The fund is an open-end management investment company with an
unlimited number of authorized shares of beneficial interest. The
Trustees may, without shareholder approval, create two or more
series of shares representing separate investment portfolios. Any
such series of shares may be divided without shareholder approval
into two or more classes of shares having such preferences and
special or relative rights and privileges as the Trustees
determine. The fund may offer classes of shares with different
sales charges and expenses. Because of these different sales
charges and expenses, the investment performance of the classes
will vary. For more information, including your eligibility to
purchase certain classes of shares, contact your investment dealer
or Putnam Mutual Funds (at 1-800-225-1581).
Each share has one vote, with fractional shares voting
proportionally. Shares of all classes will vote together as a
single class except when otherwise required by law or as
determined by the Trustees. Shares are freely transferable, are
entitled to dividends as declared by the Trustees, and, if the
fund were liquidated, would receive the net assets of the fund.
The fund may suspend the sale of shares at any time and may refuse
any order to purchase shares. Although the fund is not required
to hold annual meetings of its shareholders, shareholders holding
at least 10% of the outstanding shares entitled to vote have the
right to call a meeting to elect or remove Trustees, or to take
other actions as provided in the Agreement and Declaration of
Trust.
The fund is a "diversified" investment company under the
Investment Company Act of 1940. This means that with respect to
75% of its total assets, the fund may not invest more than 5% of
its total assets in the securities of any one issuer (except U.S.
government securities). The remaining 25% of its total assets is
not subject to this restriction. To the extent the fund invests a
significant portion of its assets in the securities of a
particular issuer, it will be subject to an increased risk of loss
if the market value of such issuer's securities declines.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
AS FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS, WHICH MAY NOT BE CHANGED
WITHOUT A VOTE OF A MAJORITY OF THE OUTSTANDING VOTING SECURITIES,
THE FUND MAY NOT AND WILL NOT:
(1) Borrow money in excess of 33 1/3% of the value of its total
assets (not including the amount borrowed) at the time the
borrowing is made.
(2) Underwrite securities issued by other persons except to the
extent that, in connection with the disposition of its portfolio
investments, it may be deemed to be an underwriter under certain
federal securities laws.
(3) Purchase or sell real estate, although it may purchase
securities of issuers which deal in real estate, securities which
are secured by interests in real estate, and securities which
represent interests in real estate, and it may acquire and dispose
of real estate or interests in real estate acquired through the
exercise of its rights as a holder of debt obligations secured by
real estate or interests therein.
(4) Purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts, except
that the fund may purchase and sell financial futures contracts
and options and may enter into foreign exchange contracts and
other financial transactions not involving physical commodities.
(5) Make loans, except by purchase of debt obligations in which
the fund may invest consistent with its investment policies
(including without limitation debt obligations issued by other
Putnam funds), by entering into repurchase agreements, or by
lending its portfolio securities.
(6) With respect to 75% of its total assets, invest in securities
of any issuer if, immediately after such investment, more than 5%
of the total assets of the fund (taken at current value) would be
invested in the securities of such issuer; provided that this
limitation does not apply to obligations issued or guaranteed as
to interest or principal by the U.S. government or its political
subdivisions.
(7) With respect to 75% of its total assets, acquire more than
10% of the voting securities of any issuer.
(8) Purchase securities (other than securities of the U.S.
government, its agencies or instrumentalities) if, as a result of
such purchase, more than 25% of the fund's total assets would be
invested in any one industry.
(9) Issue any class of securities which is senior to the fund's
shares of beneficial interest, except for permitted borrowings.
Although certain of the fund's fundamental investment restrictions
permit it to borrow money to a limited extent, the fund does not
currently intend to do so and did not do so last year.
The Investment Company Act of 1940 provides that a "vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities" of the fund means
the affirmative vote of the lesser of (1) more than 50% of the
outstanding fund shares, or (2) 67% or more of the shares present
at a meeting if more than 50% of the outstanding fund shares are
represented at the meeting in person or by proxy.
IT IS CONTRARY TO THE FUND'S PRESENT POLICY, WHICH MAY BE CHANGED
WITHOUT SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL, TO:
(1) Invest in (a) securities which are not readily marketable, (b)
securities restricted as to resale (excluding securities
determined by the Trustees of the fund (or the person designated
by the Trustees of the fund to make such determinations) to be
readily marketable), and (c) repurchase agreements maturing in
more than seven days, if, as a result, more than 15% of the fund's
net assets (taken at current value) would be invested in
securities described in (a), (b) and (c) above.
---------------------------------
All percentage limitations on investments (other than pursuant to
the non-fundamental restriction) will apply at the time of the
making of an investment and shall not be considered violated
unless an excess or deficiency occurs or exists immediately after
and as a result of such investment.
CHARGES AND EXPENSES
MANAGEMENT FEES
Under a Management Contract dated September 10 , 1999 the
fund pays a quarterly fee to Putnam Management based on the
average net assets of the fund, as determined at the close of each
business day during the quarter, at the annual rate of 0.70% of
the first $500 million of the fund's average net assets, 0.60% of
the next $500 million, 0.55% of the next $500 million, 0.50% of
the next $5 billion, 0.475% of the next $5 billion, 0.455% of the
next $5 billion, 0.44% of the next $5 billion and 0.43%
thereafter.
EXPENSE LIMITATION. In order to limit the fund's expenses, Putnam
Management has agreed to limit its compensation (and, to the
extent necessary, bear other expenses of the fund) through August
31, 2000 to the extent that expenses of the fund (exclusive of
brokerage, interest, taxes, deferred organizational and
extraordinary expenses, and payments under the fund's distribution
plan) would exceed an annual rate of 1.00% of the fund's average
net assets. For the purpose of determining any such limitation on
Putnam Management's compensation, expenses of the fund do not
reflect the application of commissions or cash management credits
that may reduce designated fund expenses.
TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITIES AND FEES
The Trustees are responsible for generally overseeing the conduct
of fund business. Subject to such policies as the Trustees may
determine, Putnam Management furnishes a continuing investment
program for the fund and makes investment decisions on its behalf.
Subject to the control of the Trustees, Putnam Management also
manages the fund's other affairs and business.
Each Trustee receives a fee for his or her services. Each Trustee
also receives fees for serving as Trustee of other Putnam funds.
The Trustees periodically review their fees to assure that such
fees continue to be appropriate in light of their responsibilities
as well as in relation to fees paid to trustees of other mutual
fund complexes. The Trustees meet monthly over a two-day period,
except in August. The Board Policy Committee, which consists
solely of Trustees not affiliated with Putnam Management and is
responsible for recommending Trustee compensation, estimates that
Committee and Trustee meeting time together with the appropriate
preparation requires the equivalent of at least three business
days per Trustee meeting. The following table shows the year each
Trustee was first elected a Trustee of the Putnam funds, the
estimated fees to be paid to each Trustee by the fund for its
first full fiscal year end and the fees paid to each
Trustee by all of the Putnam funds during calendar year 1998:
<TABLE><CAPTION>
COMPENSATION TABLE
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Estimated Estimated pension or Estimated Total
aggregate retirement annual benefits compensation
compensation benefits accrued from all from all
from the as part of Putnam funds Putnam
Trustees/Year fund(1) fund expenses upon retirement(2) funds(3)
Jameson A. Baxter/1994 $130 $0 $95,000 $207,000 (4)
Hans H. Estin/1972 122 0 95,000 182,500
John A. Hill/1985(5) 130 0 115,000 200,500 (4)
Ronald J. Jackson/1996(4) 131 0 95,000 200,500 (4)
Paul L. Joskow/1997(4) 122 0 95,000 180,500 (4)
Elizabeth T. Kennan/1992 128 0 95,000 200,500
Lawrence J. Lasser/1992 121 0 95,000 178,500
John H. Mullin, III/1997(4) 127 0 95,000 180,500(4)
Robert E. Patterson/1984 121 0 95,000 181,500
William F. Pounds/1971(5) 122 0 115,000 215,000
George Putnam/1957 121 0 95,000 179,500
George Putnam, III/1984 121 0 95,000 181,500
A.J.C. Smith/1986 118 0 95,000 176,500
W. THOMAS STEPHENS/1997(4) 121 0 95,000 181,500(4)
W. NICHOLAS THORNDIKE/1992 122 0 95,000 182,500
</TABLE>
(1) Includes an annual retainer and an attendance fee for each
meeting attended.
(2) Assumes that each Trustee retires at the normal retirement
date. Estimated benefits for each Trustee are based on Trustee
fee rates in effect during calendar 1998.
(3) As of December 31, 1998, there were 113 funds in the Putnam
family.
(4) Includes compensation deferred pursuant to a Trustee
Compensation Deferral Plan.
(5) Includes additional compensation for service as Vice Chairman
of the Putnam funds.
Under a Retirement Plan for Trustees of the Putnam funds (the
"Plan"), each Trustee who retires with at least five years of
service as a Trustee of the funds is entitled to receive an annual
retirement benefit equal to one-half of the average annual
compensation paid to such Trustee for the last three years of
service prior to retirement. This retirement benefit is payable
during a Trustee's lifetime, beginning the year following
retirement, for a number of years equal to such Trustee's years of
service. A death benefit, also available under the Plan, assures
that the Trustee and his or her beneficiaries will receive benefit
payments for the lesser of an aggregate period of (i) ten years or
(ii) such Trustee's total years of service.
The Plan Administrator (a committee comprised of Trustees that are
not "interested persons" of the fund, as defined in the Investment
Company Act of 1940) may terminate or amend the Plan at any time,
but no termination or amendment will result in a reduction in the
amount of benefits (i) currently being paid to a Trustee at the
time of such termination or amendment, or (ii) to which a current
Trustee would have been entitled had he or she retired immediately
prior to such termination or amendment.
For additional information concerning the Trustees, see
"Management" in Part II of this SAI.
SHARE OWNERSHIP
As of the date of this SAI, Putnam Investments, Inc., owned 100%
of the shares of the fund. Putnam Investments, Inc. is
incorporated in Massachusetts, and its parent corporation, Marsh &
McLennan Companies, Inc., is incorporated in Delaware. The
address of Putnam Investments, Inc. is One Post Office Square,
Boston, MA 02109.
ADDITIONAL OFFICERS
In addition to the persons listed as fund officers in Part II of
this SAI, each of the following persons is also a Vice President
of the fund and certain of the other Putnam funds, the total
number of which is noted parenthetically. Officers of Putnam
Management hold the same offices in Putnam Management's parent
company, Putnam Investments, Inc.
OFFICER NAME (AGE) (NUMBER OF FUNDS)
EDWARD T. SHADEK, JR. (38) (2 funds), Managing Director of Putnam
Management. Prior to March 1997, Mr. Shadek was employed at
Newbold's Asset Management Co.
THOMAS J. HOEY (39) (1 funds), Vice President of Putnam
Management. Prior to April 1996, Mr. Hoey was employed at
Driehaus Capital Management.
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
KPMG LLP, 99 High Street, Boston, MA 02110 are the
fund's independent accountants, providing audit services, tax
return review and other tax consulting services and assistance and
consultation in connection with the review of various Securities
and Exchange Commission filings.
<PAGE>
II-101
Oct/28/99
TABLE OF CONTENTS
MISCELLANEOUS INVESTMENTS, INVESTMENT PRACTICES AND RISKS II-1
TAXES.. II-25
MANAGEMENT II-28
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE II-36
HOW TO BUY SHARES II-37
DISTRIBUTION PLANS II-48
INVESTOR SERVICES II-52
SIGNATURE GUARANTEES II-56
SUSPENSION OF REDEMPTIONS II-56
SHAREHOLDER LIABILITY II-56
STANDARD PERFORMANCE MEASURES II-57
COMPARISON OF PORTFOLIO PERFORMANCE II-58
SECURITIES RATINGS II-61
DEFINITIONS II-66
THE PUTNAM FUNDS
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ("SAI")
PART II
As noted in the prospectus, in addition to the
principal investment strategies and the principal
risks described in the prospectus, the fund may
employ other investment practices and may be subject
to other risks, which are described below. Because
the following is a combined description of
investment strategies of all of the Putnam funds,
certain matters described herein may not apply to
your fund. Unless a strategy or policy described
below is specifically prohibited by the investment
restrictions explained in a fund's prospectus or
part I of this SAI, or by applicable law, the fund
may engage in each of the practices described below.
Shareholders who purchase shares at net asset value
through employer-sponsored defined contribution
plans should also consult their employer for
information about the extent to which the matters
described below apply to them.
MISCELLANEOUS INVESTMENTS, INVESTMENT PRACTICES AND RISKS
FOREIGN INVESTMENTS
The fund may invest in securities of foreign
issuers. These foreign investments involve certain
special risks described below.
Foreign securities are normally denominated and
traded in foreign currencies. As a result, the value
of the fund's foreign investments and the value of
its shares may be affected favorably
or unfavorably by changes in currency exchange rates
relative to the U.S. dollar. There may be less
information publicly available about a foreign issuer
than about a U.S. issuer, and foreign issuers are not
generally subject to accounting, auditing and
financial reporting standards and practices
comparable to those in the United States. The
securities of some foreign issuers are less liquid
and at times more volatile than securities of
comparable U.S. issuers. Foreign brokerage
commissions and other fees are also generally higher
than in the United States. Foreign settlement
procedures and trade regulations may involve certain
risks (such as delay in payment or delivery of
securities or in the recovery of the fund's assets
held abroad) and expenses not present in the
settlement of investments in U.S. markets.
In addition, the fund's investments in foreign
securities may be subject to the risk of
nationalization or expropriation of assets,
imposition of currency exchange controls, foreign
withholding taxes or restrictions on the repatriation
of foreign currency, confiscatory taxation, political
or financial instability and diplomatic developments
which could affect the value of the fund's
investments in certain foreign countries. Dividends
or interest on, or proceeds from the sale of, foreign
securities may be subject to foreign withholding
taxes, and special U.S. tax considerations may apply.
Legal remedies available to investors in certain
foreign countries may be more limited than those
available with respect to investments in the United
States or in other foreign countries. The laws of
some foreign countries may limit the fund's ability
to invest in securities of certain issuers organized
under the laws of those foreign countries.
The risks described above, including the risks of
nationalization or expropriation of assets, are
typically increased in connection with investments in
"emerging markets." For example, political and
economic structures in these countries may be in
their infancy and developing rapidly, and such
countries may lack the social, political and economic
stability characteristic of more developed countries.
Certain of these countries have in the past failed to
recognize private property rights and have at times
nationalized and expropriated the assets of private
companies. High rates of inflation or currency
devaluations may adversely affect the economies and
securities markets of such countries. Investments in
emerging markets may be considered speculative.
The currencies of certain emerging market countries
have experienced a steady devaluation relative to the
U.S. dollar, and continued devaluations may adversely
affect the value of a fund's assets denominated in
such currencies. Many emerging market companies have
experienced substantial, and in some periods
extremely high, rates of inflation or deflation for
many years, and continued inflation may adversely
affect the economies and securities markets of such
countries.
In addition, unanticipated political or social
developments may affect the value of the fund's
investments in emerging markets and the availability
to the fund of additional investments in these
markets. The small size, limited trading volume and
relative inexperience of the securities markets in
these countries may make the fund's investments in
securities traded in emerging markets illiquid and
more volatile than investments in securities traded
in more developed countries, and the fund may be
required to establish special custodial or other
arrangements before making investments in securities
traded in emerging markets. There may be little
financial or accounting information
available with respect to issuers of emerging market
securities, and it may be difficult as a result to
assess the value of prospects of an investment in
such securities.
Certain of the foregoing risks may also apply to some
extent to securities of U.S. issuers that are
denominated in foreign currencies or that are traded
in foreign markets, or securities of U.S. issuers
having significant foreign operations.
FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS
The fund may engage without limit in currency
exchange transactions, including purchasing and
selling foreign currency, foreign currency options,
foreign currency forward contracts and foreign
currency futures contracts and related options, to
manage its exposure to foreign currencies. In
addition, the fund may write covered call and put
options on foreign currencies for the purpose of
increasing its current return.
Generally, the fund may engage in both "transaction
hedging" and "position hedging." The fund may also
engage in foreign currency transactions for non-
hedging purposes, subject to applicable law. When it
engages in transaction hedging, the fund enters into
foreign currency transactions with respect to
specific receivables or payables, generally arising
in connection with the purchase or sale of portfolio
securities. The fund will engage in transaction
hedging when it desires to "lock in" the U.S. dollar
price of a security it has agreed to purchase or
sell, or the U.S. dollar equivalent of a dividend or
interest payment in a foreign currency. By
transaction hedging the fund will attempt to protect
itself against a possible loss resulting from an
adverse change in the relationship between the U.S.
dollar and the applicable foreign currency during the
period between the date on which the security is
purchased or sold, or on which the dividend or
interest payment is earned, and the date on which
such payments are made or received.
The fund may purchase or sell a foreign currency on a
spot (or cash) basis at the prevailing spot rate in
connection with the settlement of transactions in
portfolio securities denominated in that foreign
currency. If conditions warrant, for transaction
hedging purposes the fund may also enter into
contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies at a
future date ("forward contracts") and purchase and
sell foreign currency futures contracts. A foreign
currency forward contract is a negotiated agreement
to exchange currency at a future time at a rate or
rates that may be higher or lower than the spot rate.
Foreign currency futures contracts are standardized
exchange-traded contracts and have margin
requirements. In addition, for transaction hedging
purposes the fund may also purchase or sell exchange-
listed and over-the-counter call and put options on
foreign currency futures contracts and on foreign
currencies.
The fund may also enter into contracts to purchase
or sell foreign currencies at a future date
("forward contracts") and purchase and sell foreign
currency futures contracts.
For transaction hedging purposes the fund may also
purchase exchange-listed and over-the-counter call
and put options on foreign currency futures
contracts and on foreign currencies. A put option
on a futures contract gives the fund the right to
assume a short position in the futures contract
until the expiration of the option. A put option on
a currency gives the fund the right to sell the
currency at an exercise price until the expiration
of the option. A call option on a futures contract
gives the fund the right to assume a long position
in the futures contract until the expiration of the
option. A call
option on a currency gives the fund the right to
purchase the currency at the exercise price until the
expiration of the option.
The fund may engage in position hedging to protect
against a decline in the value relative to the U.S.
dollar of the currencies in which its portfolio
securities are denominated or quoted (or an increase
in the value of the currency in which the securities
the fund intends to buy are denominated, when the
fund holds cash or short-term investments). For
position hedging purposes, the fund may purchase or
sell, on exchanges or in overthe-counter markets,
foreign currency futures contracts, foreign currency
forward contracts and options on foreign currency
futures contracts and on foreign currencies. In
connection with position hedging, the fund may also
purchase or sell foreign currency on a spot basis.
It is impossible to forecast with precision the
market value of portfolio securities at the
expiration or maturity of a forward or futures
contract. Accordingly, it may be necessary for the
fund to purchase additional foreign currency on the
spot market (and bear the expense of such purchase)
if the market value of the security or securities
being hedged is less than the amount of foreign
currency the fund is obligated to deliver and a
decision is made to sell the security or securities
and make delivery of the foreign currency.
Conversely, it may be necessary to sell on the spot
market some of the foreign currency received upon the
sale of the portfolio security or securities if the
market value of such security or securities exceeds
the amount of foreign currency the fund is obligated
to deliver.
Transaction and position hedging do not eliminate
fluctuations in the underlying prices of the
securities which the fund owns or intends to purchase
or sell. They simply establish a rate of exchange
which one can achieve at some future point in time.
Additionally, although these techniques tend to
minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the
value of the hedged currency, they tend to limit any
potential gain which might result from the increase
in value of such currency. See "Risk factors in
options transactions."
The fund may seek to increase its current return or
to offset some of the costs of hedging against
fluctuations in current exchange rates by writing
covered call options and covered put options on
foreign currencies. The fund receives a premium from
writing a call or put option, which increases the
fund's current return if the option expires
unexercised or is closed out at a net profit. The
fund may terminate an option that it has written
prior to its expiration by entering into a closing
purchase transaction in which it purchases an option
having the same terms as the option written.
The fund's currency hedging transactions may call for
the delivery of one foreign currency in exchange for
another foreign currency and may at times not involve
currencies in which its portfolio securities are then
denominated. Putnam Management will engage in such
"cross hedging" activities when it believes that such
transactions provide significant hedging
opportunities for the fund. Cross hedging
transactions by the fund involve the risk of
imperfect correlation between changes in the values
of the currencies to which such transactions relate
and changes in the value of the currency or other
asset or liability which is the subject of the hedge.
The fund may also engage in non-hedging currency
transactions. For example, Putnam Management may
believe that exposure to a
currency is in the fund's best interest but that
securities denominated in that currency are
unattractive. In that case the fund may purchase a
currency forward contract or option in order to
increase its exposure to the currency. In accordance
with SEC regulations, the fund will segregate liquid
assets in its portfolio to cover forward contracts
used for non-hedging purposes.
The value of any currency, including U.S. dollars and
foreign currencies, may be affected by complex
political and economic factors applicable to the
issuing country. In addition, the exchange rates of
foreign currencies (and therefore the values of
foreign currency options, forward contracts and
futures contracts) may be affected significantly,
fixed, or supported directly or indirectly by U.S.
and foreign government actions. Government
intervention may increase risks involved in
purchasing or selling foreign currency options,
forward contracts and futures contracts, since
exchange rates may not be free to fluctuate in
response to other market forces.
The value of a foreign currency option, forward
contract or futures contract reflects the value of an
exchange rate, which in turn reflects relative values
of two currencies, the U.S. dollar and the foreign
currency in question. Because foreign currency
transactions occurring in the interbank market
involve substantially larger amounts than those that
may be involved in the exercise of foreign currency
options, forward contracts and futures contracts,
investors may be disadvantaged by having to deal in
an odd-lot market for the underlying foreign
currencies in connection with options at prices that
are less favorable than for round lots. Foreign
governmental restrictions or taxes could result in
adverse changes in the cost of acquiring or disposing
of foreign currencies.
There is no systematic reporting of last sale
information for foreign currencies and there is no
regulatory requirement that quotations available
through dealers or other market sources be firm or
revised on a timely basis. Available quotation
information is generally representative of very large
round-lot transactions in the interbank market and
thus may not reflect exchange rates for smaller odd-
lot transactions (less than $1 million) where rates
may be less favorable. The interbank market in
foreign currencies is a global, around-the-clock
market. To the extent that options markets are
closed while the markets for the underlying
currencies remain open, significant price and rate
movements may take place in the underlying markets
that cannot be reflected in the options markets.
The decision as to whether and to what extent the
fund will engage in foreign currency exchange
transactions will depend on a number of factors,
including prevailing market conditions, the
composition of the fund's portfolio and the
availability of suitable transactions. Accordingly,
there can be no assurance that the fund will engage
in foreign currency exchange transactions at any
given time or from time to time.
CURRENCY FORWARD AND FUTURES CONTRACTS. A forward
foreign currency contract involves an obligation to
purchase or sell a specific currency at a future
date, which may be any fixed number of days from the
date of the contract as agreed by the parties, at a
price set at the time of the contract. In the case
of a cancelable forward contract, the holder has the
unilateral right to cancel the contract at maturity
by paying a specified fee.
The contracts are traded in the interbank market
conducted directly between currency traders (usually
large commercial banks) and their customers. A
forward contract generally has no
deposit requirement, and no commissions are charged at
any stage for trades. A foreign currency futures
contract is a standardized contract for the future
delivery of a specified amount of a foreign currency
at a price set at the time of the contract. Foreign
currency futures contracts traded in the United States
are designed by and traded on exchanges regulated by
the CFTC, such as the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts differ
from foreign currency futures contracts in certain
respects. For example, the maturity date of a forward
contract may be any fixed number of days from the date
of the contract agreed upon by the parties, rather
than a predetermined date in a given month. Forward
contracts may be in any amount agreed upon by the
parties rather than predetermined amounts. Also,
forward foreign exchange contracts are traded directly
between currency traders so that no intermediary is
required. A forward contract generally requires no
margin or other deposit.
At the maturity of a forward or futures contract, the
fund either may accept or make delivery of the
currency specified in the contract, or at or prior to
maturity enter into a closing transaction involving
the purchase or sale of an offsetting contract.
Closing transactions with respect to forward contracts
are usually effected with the currency trader who is a
party to the original forward contract. Closing
transactions with respect to futures contracts are
effected on a commodities exchange; a clearing
corporation associated with the exchange assumes
responsibility for closing out such contracts.
Positions in the foreign currency futures contracts
may be closed out only on an exchange or board of
trade which provides a secondary market in such
contracts. Although the fund intends to purchase or
sell foreign currency futures contracts only on
exchanges or boards of trade where there appears to be
an active secondary market, there is no assurance that
a secondary market on an exchange or board of trade
will exist for any particular contract or at any
particular time. In such event, it may not be
possible to close a futures position and, in the event
of adverse price movements, the fund would continue to
be required to make daily cash payments of variation
margin.
FOREIGN CURRENCY OPTIONS. In general, options on
foreign currencies operate similarly to options on
securities and are subject to many of the risks
described above. Foreign currency options are traded
primarily in the over-the-counter market, although
options on foreign currencies are also listed on
several exchanges. Options are traded not only on the
currencies of individual nations, but also on the
euro, the joint currency of most countries in the
European Union.
The fund will only purchase or write foreign currency
options when Putnam Management believes that a liquid
secondary market exists for such options. There can
be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will
exist for a particular option at any specific time.
Options on foreign currencies are affected by all of
those factors which influence foreign exchange rates
and investments generally.
SETTLEMENT PROCEDURES. Settlement procedures relating
to the fund's investments in foreign securities and to
the fund's foreign currency exchange transactions may
be more complex than settlements with respect to
investments in debt or equity securities of U.S.
issuers, and may involve certain risks not present in
the fund's domestic investments. For example,
settlement of transactions involving foreign
securities or
foreign currencies may occur within a foreign country,
and the fund may be required to accept or make
delivery of the underlying securities or currency in
conformity with any applicable U.S. or foreign
restrictions or regulations, and may be required to
pay any fees, taxes or charges associated with such
delivery. Such investments may also involve the risk
that an entity involved in the settlement may not meet
its obligations.
FOREIGN CURRENCY CONVERSION. Although foreign
exchange dealers do not charge a fee for currency
conversion, they do realize a profit based on the
difference (the "spread") between prices at which they
are buying and selling various currencies. Thus, a
dealer may offer to sell a foreign currency to the
fund at one rate, while offering a lesser rate of
exchange should the fund desire to resell that
currency to the dealer.
OPTIONS ON SECURITIES
WRITING COVERED OPTIONS. The fund may write covered
call options and covered put options on optionable
securities held in its portfolio, when in the opinion
of Putnam Management such transactions are consistent
with the fund's investment objective(s) and policies.
Call options written by the fund give the purchaser
the right to buy the underlying securities from the
fund at a stated exercise price; put options give the
purchaser the right to sell the underlying securities
to the fund at a stated price.
The fund may write only covered options, which means
that, so long as the fund is obligated as the writer
of a call option, it will own the underlying
securities subject to the option (or comparable
securities satisfying the cover requirements of
securities exchanges). In the case of put options,
the fund will hold cash and/or high-grade short-term
debt obligations equal to the price to be paid if the
option is exercised. In addition, the fund will be
considered to have covered a put or call option if and
to the extent that it holds an option that offsets
some or all of the risk of the option it has written.
The fund may write combinations of covered puts and
calls on the same underlying security.
The fund will receive a premium from writing a put or
call option, which increases the fund's return on the
underlying security in the event the option expires
unexercised or is closed out at a profit. The amount
of the premium reflects, among other things, the
relationship between the exercise price and the
current market value of the underlying security, the
volatility of the underlying security, the amount of
time remaining until expiration, current interest
rates, and the effect of supply and demand in the
options market and in the market for the underlying
security. By writing a call option, the fund limits
its opportunity to profit from any increase in the
market value of the underlying security above the
exercise price of the option but continues to bear the
risk of a decline in the value of the underlying
security. By writing a put option, the fund assumes
the risk that it may be required to purchase the
underlying security for an exercise price higher than
its then-current market value, resulting in a
potential capital loss unless the security
subsequently appreciates in value.
The fund may terminate an option that it has written
prior to its expiration by entering into a closing
purchase transaction, in which it purchases an
offsetting option. The fund realizes a profit or loss
from a closing transaction if the cost of the
transaction (option premium plus transaction costs) is
less or more than the premium received from writing
the option. If the
fund writes a call option but does not own the
underlying security, and when it writes a put option,
the fund may be required to deposit cash or securities
with its broker as "margin," or collateral, for its
obligation to buy or sell the underlying security. As
the value of the underlying security varies, the fund
may have to deposit additional margin with the broker.
Margin requirements are complex and are fixed by
individual brokers, subject to minimum requirements
currently imposed by the Federal Reserve Board and by
stock exchanges and other self-regulatory
organizations.
PURCHASING PUT OPTIONS. The fund may purchase put
options to protect its portfolio holdings in an
underlying security against a decline in market value.
Such protection is provided during the life of the put
option since the fund, as holder of the option, is
able to sell the underlying security at the put
exercise price regardless of any decline in the
underlying security's market price. In order for a
put option to be profitable, the market price of the
underlying security must decline sufficiently below
the exercise price to cover the premium and
transaction costs. By using put options in this
manner, the fund will reduce any profit it might
otherwise have realized from appreciation of the
underlying security by the premium paid for the put
option and by transaction costs.
PURCHASING CALL OPTIONS. The fund may purchase call
options to hedge against an increase in the price of
securities that the fund wants ultimately to buy.
Such hedge protection is provided during the life of
the call option since the fund, as holder of the call
option, is able to buy the underlying security at the
exercise price regardless of any increase in the
underlying security's market price. In order for a
call option to be profitable, the market price of the
underlying security must rise sufficiently above the
exercise price to cover the premium and transaction
costs.
RISK FACTORS IN OPTIONS TRANSACTIONS
The successful use of the fund's options strategies
depends on the ability of Putnam Management to
forecast correctly interest rate and market movements.
For example, if the fund were to write a call option
based on Putnam Management's expectation that the
price of the underlying security would fall, but the
price were to rise instead, the fund could be required
to sell the security upon exercise at a price below
the current market price. Similarly, if the fund were
to write a put option based on Putnam Management's
expectation that the price of the underlying security
would rise, but the price were to fall instead, the
fund could be required to purchase the security upon
exercise at a price higher than the current market
price.
When the fund purchases an option, it runs the risk
that it will lose its entire investment in the option
in a relatively short period of time, unless the fund
exercises the option or enters into a closing sale
transaction before the option's expiration. If the
price of the underlying security does not rise (in the
case of a call) or fall (in the case of a put) to an
extent sufficient to cover the option premium and
transaction costs, the fund will lose part or all of
its investment in the option. This contrasts with an
investment by the fund in the underlying security,
since the fund will not realize a loss if the
security's price does not change.
The effective use of options also depends on the
fund's ability to terminate option positions at times
when Putnam Management deems it desirable to do so.
There is no assurance that the fund
will be able to effect closing transactions at any
particular time or at an acceptable price.
If a secondary market in options were to become
unavailable, the fund could no longer engage in
closing transactions. Lack of investor interest might
adversely affect the liquidity of the market for
particular options or series of options. A market may
discontinue trading of a particular option or options
generally. In addition, a market could become
temporarily unavailable if unusual events -- such as
volume in excess of trading or clearing capability --
were to interrupt its normal operations.
A market may at times find it necessary to impose
restrictions on particular types of options
transactions, such as opening transactions. For
example, if an underlying security ceases to meet
qualifications imposed by the market or the Options
Clearing Corporation, new series of options on that
security will no longer be opened to replace expiring
series, and opening transactions in existing series
may be prohibited. If an options market were to
become unavailable, the fund as a holder of an option
would be able to realize profits or limit losses only
by exercising the option, and the fund, as option
writer, would remain obligated under the option until
expiration or exercise.
Disruptions in the markets for the securities
underlying options purchased or sold by the fund could
result in losses on the options. If trading is
interrupted in an underlying security, the trading of
options on that security is normally halted as well.
As a result, the fund as purchaser or writer of an
option will be unable to close out its positions until
options trading resumes, and it may be faced with
considerable losses if trading in the security reopens
at a substantially different price. In addition, the
Options Clearing Corporation or other options markets
may impose exercise restrictions. If a prohibition on
exercise is imposed at the time when trading in the
option has also been halted, the fund as purchaser or
writer of an option will be locked into its position
until one of the two restrictions has been lifted. If
the Options Clearing Corporation were to determine
that the available supply of an underlying security
appears insufficient to permit delivery by the writers
of all outstanding calls in the event of exercise, it
may prohibit indefinitely the exercise of put options.
The fund, as holder of such a put option, could lose
its entire investment if the prohibition remained in
effect until the put option's expiration.
Foreign-traded options are subject to many of the same
risks presented by internationally-traded securities.
In addition, because of time differences between the
United States and various foreign countries, and
because different holidays are observed in different
countries, foreign options markets may be open for
trading during hours or on days when U.S. markets are
closed. As a result, option premiums may not reflect
the current prices of the underlying interest in the
United States.
Over-the-counter ("OTC") options purchased by the fund
and assets held to cover OTC options written by the
fund may, under certain circumstances, be considered
illiquid securities for purposes of any limitation on
the fund's ability to invest in illiquid securities.
INVESTMENTS IN MISCELLANEOUS FIXED-INCOME SECURITIES
If the fund may invest in inverse floating
obligations, premium securities, or interest-only or
principal-only classes of mortgage-backed securities
(IOs and POs), it may do so without
limit. The fund, however, currently does not intend
to invest more than 15% of its assets in inverse
floating obligations or more than 35% of its assets in
IOs and POs under normal market conditions.
LOWER-RATED SECURITIES
The fund may invest in lower-rated fixed-income
securities (commonly known as "junk bonds"). The
lower ratings of certain securities held by the fund
reflect a greater possibility that adverse changes in
the financial condition of the issuer or in general
economic conditions, or both, or an unanticipated rise
in interest rates, may impair the ability of the
issuer to make payments of interest and principal.
The inability (or perceived inability) of issuers to
make timely payment of interest and principal would
likely make the values of securities held by the fund
more volatile and could limit the fund's ability to
sell its securities at prices approximating the values
the fund had placed on such securities. In the
absence of a liquid trading market for securities held
by it, the fund at times may be unable to establish
the fair value of such securities.
Securities ratings are based largely on the issuer's
historical financial condition and the rating
agencies' analysis at the time of rating.
Consequently, the rating assigned to any particular
security is not necessarily a reflection of the
issuer's current financial condition, which may be
better or worse than the rating would indicate. In
addition, the rating assigned to a security by Moody's
Investors Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor's (or by
any other nationally recognized securities rating
agency) does not reflect an assessment of the
volatility of the security's market value or the
liquidity of an investment in the security. See
"Securities ratings."
Like those of other fixed-income securities, the
values of lowerrated securities fluctuate in response
to changes in interest rates. A decrease in interest
rates will generally result in an increase in the
value of the fund's assets. Conversely, during
periods of rising interest rates, the value of the
fund's assets will generally decline. The values of
lower-rated securities may often be affected to a
greater extent by changes in general economic
conditions and business conditions affecting the
issuers of such securities and their industries.
Negative publicity or investor perceptions may also
adversely affect the values of lower-rated securities.
Changes by nationally recognized securities rating
agencies in their ratings of any fixed-income security
and changes in the ability of an issuer to make
payments of interest and principal may also affect the
value of these investments. Changes in the value of
portfolio securities generally will not affect income
derived from these securities, but will affect the
fund's net asset value. The fund will not necessarily
dispose of a security when its rating is reduced below
its rating at the time of purchase. However, Putnam
Management will monitor the investment to determine
whether its retention will assist in meeting the
fund's investment objective(s).
Issuers of lower-rated securities are often highly
leveraged, so that their ability to service their debt
obligations during an economic downturn or during
sustained periods of rising interest rates may be
impaired. Such issuers may not have more traditional
methods of financing available to them and may be
unable to repay outstanding obligations at maturity by
refinancing. The risk of loss due to default in
payment of interest or repayment of principal by such
issuers is significantly greater because such
securities frequently are
unsecured and subordinated to the prior payment of
senior indebtedness.
At times, a substantial portion of the fund's assets
may be invested in securities of which the fund, by
itself or together with other funds and accounts
managed by Putnam Management or its affiliates, holds
all or a major portion. Although Putnam Management
generally considers such securities to be liquid
because of the availability of an institutional
market for such securities, it is possible that, under
adverse market or economic conditions or in the event
of adverse changes in the financial condition of the
issuer, the fund could find it more difficult to sell
these securities when Putnam Management believes it
advisable to do so or may be able to sell the
securities only at prices lower than if they were more
widely held. Under these circumstances, it may also
be more difficult to determine the fair value of such
securities for purposes of computing the fund's net
asset value. In order to enforce its rights in the
event of a default of such securities, the fund may be
required to participate in various legal proceedings
or take possession of and manage assets securing the
issuer's obligations on such securities. This could
increase the fund's operating expenses and adversely
affect the fund's net asset value. In the case of tax-
exempt funds, any income derived from the fund's
ownership or operation of such assets would not be tax-
exempt. The ability of a holder of a tax-exempt
security to enforce the terms of that security in a
bankruptcy proceeding may be more limited than would
be the case with respect to securities of private
issuers. In addition, the fund's intention to qualify
as a "regulated investment company" under the Internal
Revenue Code may limit the extent to which the fund
may exercise its rights by taking possession of such
assets.
Certain securities held by the fund may permit the
issuer at its option to "call," or redeem, its
securities. If an issuer were to redeem securities
held by the fund during a time of declining interest
rates, the fund may not be able to reinvest the
proceeds in securities providing the same investment
return as the securities redeemed.
The fund may invest without limit in so-called "zero-
coupon" bonds and "payment-in-kind" bonds. Zero-
coupon bonds are issued at a significant discount from
their principal amount in lieu of paying interest
periodically. Payment-in-kind bonds allow the issuer,
at its option, to make current interest payments on
the bonds either in cash or in additional bonds.
Because zero-coupon and payment-in-kind bonds do not
pay current interest in cash, their value is subject
to greater fluctuation in response to changes in
market interest rates than bonds that pay interest
currently. Both zero-coupon and payment-in-kind bonds
allow an issuer to avoid the need to generate cash to
meet current interest payments. Accordingly, such
bonds may involve greater credit risks than bonds
paying interest currently in cash. The fund is
required to accrue interest income on such investments
and to distribute such amounts at least annually to
shareholders even though such bonds do not pay current
interest in cash.
Thus, it may be necessary at times for the fund to
liquidate investments in order to satisfy its dividend
requirements.
To the extent the fund invests in securities in the
lower rating categories, the achievement of the fund's
goals is more dependent on Putnam Management's
investment analysis than would be the case if the fund
were investing in securities in the higher rating
categories. This may be particularly true with
respect to taxexempt securities, as the amount of
information about the financial condition of an issuer
of tax-exempt securities may not
be as extensive as that which is made available by
corporations whose securities are publicly traded.
LOAN PARTICIPATIONS
The fund may invest in "loan participations." By
purchasing a loan participation, the fund acquires
some or all of the interest of a bank or other lending
institution in a loan to a particular borrower. Many
such loans are secured, and most impose restrictive
covenants which must be met by the borrower.
The loans in which the fund may invest are typically
made by a syndicate of banks, represented by an agent
bank which has negotiated and structured the loan and
which is responsible generally for collecting
interest, principal, and other amounts from the
borrower on its own behalf and on behalf of the other
lending institutions in the syndicate and for
enforcing its and their other rights against the
borrower. Each of the lending institutions, including
the agent bank, lends to the borrower a portion of the
total amount of the loan, and retains the
corresponding interest in the loan.
The fund's ability to receive payments of principal
and interest and other amounts in connection with loan
participations held by it will depend primarily on the
financial condition of the borrower. The failure by
the fund to receive scheduled interest or principal
payments on a loan participation would adversely
affect the income of the fund and would likely reduce
the value of its assets, which would be reflected in a
reduction in the fund's net asset value. Banks and
other lending institutions generally perform a credit
analysis of the borrower before originating a loan or
participating in a lending syndicate. In selecting
the loan participations in which the fund will invest,
however, Putnam Management will not rely solely on
that credit analysis, but will perform its own
investment analysis of the borrowers. Putnam
Management's analysis may include consideration of the
borrower's financial strength and managerial
experience, debt coverage, additional borrowing
requirements or debt maturity schedules, changing
financial conditions, and responsiveness to changes in
business conditions and interest rates. Because loan
participations in which the fund may invest are not
generally rated by independent credit rating agencies,
a decision by the fund to invest in a particular loan
participation will depend almost exclusively on Putnam
Management's, and the original lending institution's,
credit analysis of the borrower.
Loan participations may be structured in different
forms, including novations, assignments, and
participating interests.
In a novation, the fund assumes all of the rights of a
lending institution in a loan, including the right to
receive payments of principal and interest and other
amounts directly from the borrower and to enforce its
rights as a lender directly against the borrower. The
fund assumes the position of a co-lender with other
syndicate members. As an alternative, the fund may
purchase an assignment of a portion of a lender's
interest in a loan. In this case, the fund may be
required generally to rely upon the assigning bank to
demand payment and enforce its rights against the
borrower, but would otherwise be entitled to all of
such bank's rights in the loan. The fund may also
purchase a participating interest in a portion of the
rights of a lending institution in a loan. In such
case, it will be entitled to receive payments of
principal, interest, and premium, if any, but will not
generally be entitled to enforce its rights directly
against the agent bank or the borrower, but must rely
for that purpose on the lending institution. The fund
may also acquire a
loan participation directly by acting as a member of
the original lending syndicate.
The fund will in many cases be required to rely upon
the lending institution from which it purchases the
loan participation to collect and pass on to the fund
such payments and to enforce the fund's rights under
the loan. As a result, an insolvency, bankruptcy, or
reorganization of the lending institution may delay or
prevent the fund from receiving principal, interest,
and other amounts with respect to the underlying loan.
When the fund is required to rely upon a lending
institution to pay to the fund principal, interest,
and other amounts received by it, Putnam Management
will also evaluate the creditworthiness of the lending
institution.
The borrower of a loan in which the fund holds a
participation interest may, either at its own election
or pursuant to terms of the loan documentation, prepay
amounts of the loan from time to time. There is no
assurance that the fund will be able to reinvest the
proceeds of any loan prepayment at the same interest
rate or on the same terms as those of the original
loan participation.
Corporate loans in which the fund may purchase a loan
participation are made generally to finance internal
growth, mergers, acquisitions, stock repurchases,
leveraged buy-outs, and other corporate activities.
Under current market conditions, most of the corporate
loan participations purchased by the fund will
represent interests in loans made to finance highly
leveraged corporate acquisitions, known as "leveraged
buy-out" transactions. The highly leveraged capital
structure of the borrowers in such transactions may
make such loans especially vulnerable to adverse
changes in economic or market conditions. In addition,
loan participations generally are subject to
restrictions on transfer, and only limited
opportunities may exist to sell such participations in
secondary markets. As a result, the fund may be
unable to sell loan participations at a time when it
may otherwise be desirable to do so or may be able to
sell them only at a price that is less than their fair
market value.
Certain of the loan participations acquired by the
fund may involve revolving credit facilities under
which a borrower may from time to time borrow and
repay amounts up to the maximum amount of the
facility. In such cases, the fund would have an
obligation to advance its portion of such additional
borrowings upon the terms specified in the loan
participation. To the extent that the fund is
committed to make additional loans under such a
participation, it will at all times hold and maintain
in a segregated account liquid assets in an amount
sufficient to meet such commitments. Certain of the
loan participations acquired by the fund may also
involve loans made in foreign currencies. The fund's
investment in such participations would involve the
risks of currency fluctuations described above with
respect to investments in the foreign securities.
FLOATING RATE AND VARIABLE RATE DEMAND NOTES
Certain funds may purchase floating rate and variable
rate demand notes and bonds. These securities may have
a stated maturity in excess of one year, but permit a
holder to demand payment of principal plus accrued
interest upon a specified number of days notice.
Frequently, such obligations are secured by letters of
credit or other credit support arrangements provided
by banks. The issuer has a corresponding right, after
a given period, to prepay in its discretion the
outstanding principal of the
obligation plus accrued interest upon a specific
number of days notice to the holders. The interest
rate of a floating rate instrument may be based on a
known lending rate, such as a bank's prime rate, and
is reset whenever such rate is adjusted. The interest
rate on a variable rate demand note is reset at
specified intervals at a market rate.
MORTGAGE RELATED AND ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES
The fund may invest in mortgage-backed securities,
including collateralized mortgage obligations ("CMOs")
and certain stripped mortgage-backed securities. CMOs
and other mortgage-backed securities represent a
participation in, or are secured by, mortgage loans.
The fund may also invest in asset-backed securities.
Asset-backed securities are structured like mortgage-
backed securities, but instead of mortgage loans or
interests in mortgage loans, the underlying assets
may include such items as motor vehicle installment
sales or installment loan contracts, leases of various
types of real and personal property, and receivables
from credit card agreements. The ability of an issuer
of asset-backed securities to enforce its security
interest in the underlying assets may be limited.
Mortgage-backed securities have yield and maturity
characteristics corresponding to the underlying
assets. Unlike traditional debt securities, which may
pay a fixed rate of interest until maturity, when the
entire principal amount comes due, payments on certain
mortgage-backed securities include both interest and a
partial repayment of principal. Besides the scheduled
repayment of principal, repayments of principal may
result from the voluntary prepayment, refinancing, or
foreclosure of the underlying mortgage loans. If
property owners make unscheduled prepayments of their
mortgage loans, these prepayments will result in early
payment of the applicable mortgage-related securities.
In that event the fund may be unable to invest the
proceeds from the early payment of the mortgage-
related securities in an investment that provides as
high a yield as the mortgage-related securities.
Consequently, early payment associated with mortgage-
related securities may cause these securities to
experience significantly greater price and yield
volatility than that experienced by traditional fixed
income securities. The occurrence of mortgage
prepayments is affected by factors including the level
of interest rates, general economic conditions, the
location and age of the mortgage and other social and
demographic conditions. During periods of falling
interest rates, the rate of mortgage prepayments tends
to increase, thereby tending to decrease the life of
mortgagerelated securities. During periods of rising
interest rates, the rate of mortgage prepayments
usually decreases, thereby tending to increase the
life of mortgage-related securities. If the life of a
mortgage-related security is inaccurately predicted,
the fund may not be able to realize the rate of return
it expected.
Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities are less
effective than other types of securities as a means of
"locking in" attractive long-term interest rates. One
reason is the need to reinvest prepayments of
principal; another is the possibility of significant
unscheduled prepayments resulting from declines in
interest rates. These prepayments would have to be
reinvested at lower rates. As a result, these
securities may have less potential for capital
appreciation during periods of declining interest
rates than other securities of comparable maturities,
although they may have a similar risk of decline in
market value during periods of rising interest rates.
Prepayments may also
significantly shorten the effective maturities of
these securities, especially during periods of
declining interest rates. Conversely, during periods
of rising interest rates, a reduction in prepayments
may increase the effective maturities of these
securities, subjecting them to a greater risk of
decline in market value in response to rising interest
rates than traditional debt securities, and,
therefore, potentially increasing the volatility of
the fund.
Prepayments may cause losses on securities purchased
at a premium. At times, some of the mortgage-backed
and asset-backed securities in which the fund may
invest will have higher than market interest rates and
therefore will be purchased at a premium above their
par value. Unscheduled prepayments, which are made at
par, will cause the fund to experience a loss equal to
any unamortized premium.
CMOs may be issued by a U.S. government agency or
instrumentality or by a private issuer. Although
payment of the principal of, and interest on, the
underlying collateral securing privately issued CMOs
may be guaranteed by the U.S. government or its
agencies or instrumentalities, these CMOs represent
obligations solely of the private issuer and are not
insured or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its
agencies or instrumentalities or any other person or
entity.
Prepayments could cause early retirement of CMOs.
CMOs are designed to reduce the risk of prepayment for
investors by issuing multiple classes of securities,
each having different maturities, interest rates and
payment schedules, and with the principal and interest
on the underlying mortgages allocated among the
several classes in various ways. Payment of interest
or principal on some classes or series of CMOs may be
subject to contingencies or some classes or series may
bear some or all of the risk of default on the
underlying mortgages. CMOS of different classes or
series are generally retired in sequence as the
underlying mortgage loans in the mortgage pool are
repaid.
If enough mortgages are repaid ahead of schedule, the
classes or series of a CMO with the earliest
maturities generally will be retired prior to their
maturities. Thus, the early retirement of particular
classes or series of a CMO held by the fund would have
the same effect as the prepayment of mortgages
underlying other mortgage-backed securities.
Conversely, slower than anticipated prepayments can
extend the effective maturities of CMOs, subjecting
them to a greater risk of decline in market value in
response to rising interest rates than traditional
debt securities, and, therefore, potentially
increasing the volatility of the fund.
Prepayments could result in losses on stripped
mortgage-backed securities. Stripped mortgage-backed
securities are usually structured with two classes
that receive different portions of the interest and
principal distributions on a pool of mortgage loans.
The fund may invest in both the interest-only or "IO"
class and the principal-only or "PO" class. The yield
to maturity on an IO class of stripped mortgage-backed
securities is extremely sensitive not only to changes
in prevailing interest rates but also to the rate of
principal payments (including prepayments) on the
underlying assets. A rapid rate of principal
prepayments may have a measurable adverse effect on
the fund's yield to maturity to the extent it invests
in IOs. If the assets underlying the IO experience
greater than anticipated prepayments of principal, the
fund may fail to recoup fully its initial investment
in these securities. Conversely, POs tend to increase
in value if prepayments are greater than anticipated
and decline if prepayments are slower than
anticipated.
The secondary market for stripped mortgage-backed
securities may be more volatile and less liquid than
that for other mortgagebacked securities, potentially
limiting the fund's ability to buy or sell those
securities at any particular time.
STRUCTURED NOTES
A fund may be able to invest in so-called structured
notes. These securities are generally derivative
instruments whose value is tied to an underlying index
or other security or asset class. Such structured
notes may include, for example, notes that allow a
fund to invest indirectly in certain foreign
investments which the fund would otherwise would not
be able to directly invest often because of
restrictions imposed by local laws.
TAX-EXEMPT SECURITIES
GENERAL DESCRIPTION. As used in this SAI, the term
"Tax-exempt securities" includes debt obligations
issued by a state, its political subdivisions (for
example, counties, cities, towns, villages, districts
and authorities) and their agencies, instrumentalities
or other governmental units, the interest from which
is, in the opinion of bond counsel, exempt from
federal income tax and the appropriate state's
personal income tax. Such obligations are issued to
obtain funds for various public purposes, including
the construction of a wide range of public facilities,
such as airports, bridges, highways, housing,
hospitals, mass transportation, schools, streets and
water and sewer works. Other public purposes for
which Tax-exempt securities may be issued include the
refunding of outstanding obligations or the payment of
general operating expenses.
Short-term Tax-exempt securities are generally issued
by state and local governments and public authorities
as interim financing in anticipation of tax
collections, revenue receipts, or bond sales to
finance such public purposes.
In addition, certain types of "private activity" bonds
may be issued by public authorities to finance
projects such as privately operated housing
facilities; certain local facilities for supplying
water, gas or electricity; sewage or solid waste
disposal facilities; student loans; or public or
private institutions for the construction of
educational, hospital, housing and other facilities.
Such obligations are included within the term Tax-
exempt securities if the interest paid thereon is, in
the opinion of bond counsel, exempt from federal
income tax and state personal income tax (such
interest may, however, be subject to federal
alternative minimum tax). Other types of private
activity bonds, the proceeds of which are used for the
construction, repair or improvement of, or to obtain
equipment for, privately operated industrial or
commercial facilities, may also constitute Tax-exempt
securities, although the current federal tax laws
place substantial limitations on the size of such
issues.
PARTICIPATION INTERESTS (MONEY MARKET FUNDS ONLY).
The Money Market Fund may invest in Tax-exempt
securities either by purchasing them directly or by
purchasing certificates of accrual or similar
instruments evidencing direct ownership of interest
payments or principal payments, or both, on Tax-exempt
securities, provided that, in the opinion of counsel
to the initial seller of each such certificate or
instrument, any discount accruing on a certificate or
instrument that is purchased at a yield not greater
than the coupon rate of interest on the related Tax-
exempt securities will be exempt from federal
income tax to the same extent as interest on the Tax-
exempt securities. The Money Market Fund may also
invest in Tax-exempt securities by purchasing from
banks participation interests in all or part of
specific holdings of Tax-exempt securities. These
participations may be backed in whole or in part by an
irrevocable letter of credit or guarantee of the
selling bank. The selling bank may receive a fee from
the Money Market Fund in connection with the
arrangement. The Money Market Fund will not purchase
such participation interests unless it receives an
opinion of counsel or a ruling of the Internal Revenue
Service that interest earned by it on Tax-exempt
securities in which it holds such participation
interests is exempt from federal income tax. The
Money Market Fund does not expect to invest more than
5% of its assets in participation interests.
STAND-BY COMMITMENTS. When the fund purchases Tax-
exempt securities, it has the authority to acquire
stand-by commitments from banks and broker-dealers
with respect to those Tax-exempt securities. A stand-
by commitment may be considered a security independent
of the Tax-exempt security to which it relates. The
amount payable by a bank or dealer during the time a
stand-by commitment is exercisable, absent unusual
circumstances, would be substantially the same as the
market value of the underlying Taxexempt security to a
third party at any time. The fund expects that stand-
by commitments generally will be available without the
payment of direct or indirect consideration. The fund
does not expect to assign any value to stand-by
commitments.
YIELDS. The yields on Tax-exempt securities depend on
a variety of factors, including general money market
conditions, effective marginal tax rates, the
financial condition of the issuer, general conditions
of the Tax-exempt security market, the size of a
particular offering, the maturity of the obligation
and the rating of the issue. The ratings of
nationally recognized securities rating agencies
represent their opinions as to the credit quality of
the Tax-exempt securities which they undertake to
rate. It should be emphasized, however, that ratings
are general and are not absolute standards of quality.
Consequently, Tax-exempt securities with the same
maturity and interest rate but with different ratings
may have the same yield. Yield disparities may occur
for reasons not directly related to the investment
quality of particular issues or the general movement
of interest rates and may be due to such factors as
changes in the overall demand or supply of various
types of Tax-exempt securities or changes in the
investment objectives of investors. Subsequent to
purchase by the fund, an issue of Tax-exempt
securities or other investments may cease to be rated,
or its rating may be reduced below the minimum rating
required for purchase by the fund. Neither event will
require the elimination of an investment from the
fund's portfolio, but Putnam Management will consider
such an event in its determination of whether the fund
should continue to hold an investment in its
portfolio.
"MORAL OBLIGATION" BONDS. The fund does not
currently intend to invest in so-called "moral
obligation" bonds, where repayment is backed by a
moral commitment of an entity other than the issuer,
unless the credit of the issuer itself, without regard
to the "moral obligation," meets the investment
criteria established for investments by the fund.
MUNICIPAL LEASES. The fund may acquire participations
in lease obligations or installment purchase contract
obligations (collectively, "lease obligations") of
municipal authorities or entities. Lease obligations
do not constitute general obligations of the
municipality for which the municipality's taxing power
is pledged. Certain of these lease obligations contain
"non-
appropriation" clauses, which provide that the
municipality has no obligation to make lease or
installment purchase payments in future years unless
money is appropriated for such purpose on a yearly
basis. In addition to the "non-appropriation" risk,
these securities represent a relatively new type of
financing that has not yet developed the depth of
marketability associated with more conventional bonds.
In the case of a "non-appropriation" lease,
the fund's ability to recover under the lease in the
event of nonappropriation or default will be limited
solely to the repossession of the leased property, and
in any event,
foreclosure of that property might prove difficult.
ADDITIONAL RISKS. Securities in which the fund may
invest, including Tax-exempt securities, are subject
to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency and other
laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors,
such as the federal Bankruptcy Code (including special
provisions related to municipalities and other public
entities), and laws, if any, that may be enacted by
Congress or state legislatures extending the time for
payment of principal or interest, or both, or imposing
other constraints upon enforcement of such
obligations. There is also the possibility that, as a
result of litigation or other conditions, the power,
ability or willingness of issuers to meet their
obligations for the payment of interest and principal
on their Tax-exempt securities may be materially
affected.
From time to time, proposals have been introduced
before Congress for the purpose of restricting or
eliminating the federal income tax exemption for
interest on debt obligations issued by states and
their political subdivisions. Federal tax laws limit
the types and amounts of tax-exempt bonds issuable for
certain purposes, especially industrial development
bonds and private activity bonds. Such limits may
affect the future supply and yields of these types of
Tax-exempt securities. Further proposals limiting the
issuance of tax-exempt bonds may well be introduced in
the future. If it appeared that the availability of
Tax-exempt securities for investment by the fund and
the value of the fund's portfolio could be materially
affected by such changes in law, the Trustees of the
fund would reevaluate its investment objective and
policies and consider changes in the structure of the
fund or its dissolution.
CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES
Convertible securities include bonds, debentures,
notes, preferred stocks and other securities that may
be converted into or exchanged for, at a specific
price or formula within a particular period of time, a
prescribed amount of common stock or other equity
securities of the same or a different issuer.
Convertible securities entitle the holder to receive
interest paid or accrued on debt or dividends paid or
accrued on preferred stock until the security matures
or is redeemed, converted or exchanged.
The market value of a convertible security is a
function of its "investment value" and its "conversion
value." A security's "investment value" represents
the value of the security without its conversion
feature (i.e., a nonconvertible fixed income
security). The investment value may be determined by
reference to its credit quality and the current value
of its yield to maturity or probable call date. At
any given time, investment value is dependent upon
such factors as the general level of interest rates,
the yield of similar nonconvertible securities, the
financial strength of the issuer and the seniority of
the security in the issuer's capital structure. A
security's "conversion value" is determined by
multiplying the number of
shares the holder is entitled to receive upon
conversion or exchange by the current price of the
underlying security.
If the conversion value of a convertible security is
significantly below its investment value, the
convertible security will trade like nonconvertible
debt or preferred stock and its market value will not
be influenced greatly by fluctuations in the market
price of the underlying security. Conversely, if the
conversion value of a convertible security is near or
above its investment value, the market value of the
convertible security will be more heavily influenced
by fluctuations in the market price of the underlying
security.
The fund's investments in convertible securities may
at times include securities that have a mandatory
conversion feature, pursuant to which the securities
convert automatically into common stock or other
equity securities at a specified date and a specified
conversion ratio, or that are convertible at the
option of the issuer. Because conversion of the
security is not at the option of the holder, the fund
may be required to convert the security into the
underlying common stock even at times when the value
of the underlying common stock or other equity
security has declined substantially.
The fund's investments in convertible securities,
particularly securities that are convertible into
securities of an issuer other than the issuer of the
convertible security, may be illiquid. The fund may
not be able to dispose of such securities in a timely
fashion or for a fair price, which could result in
losses to the fund.
PRIVATE PLACEMENTS
The fund may invest in securities that are purchased
in private placements and, accordingly, are subject to
restrictions on resale as a matter of contract or
under federal securities laws. Because there may be
relatively few potential purchasers for such
investments, especially under adverse market or
economic conditions or in the event of adverse changes
in the financial condition of the issuer, the fund
could find it more difficult to sell such securities
when Putnam Management believes it advisable to do so
or may be able to sell such securities only at prices
lower than if such securities were more widely held.
At times, it may also be more difficult to determine
the fair value of such securities for purposes of
computing the fund's net asset value.
While such private placements may often offer
attractive opportunities for investment not otherwise
available on the open market, the securities so
purchased are often "restricted securities," i.e.,
securities which cannot be sold to the public without
registration under the Securities Act of 1933 or the
availability of an exemption from registration (such
as Rules 144 or 144A), or which are "not readily
marketable" because they are subject to other legal or
contractual delays in or restrictions on resale.
The absence of a trading market can make it difficult
to ascertain a market value for illiquid investments.
Disposing of illiquid investments may involve time-
consuming negotiation and legal expenses, and it may
be difficult or impossible for the fund to sell them
promptly at an acceptable price. The fund may have to
bear the extra expense of registering such securities
for resale and the risk of substantial delay in
effecting such registration. Also market quotations
are less readily available. The judgment of Putnam
Management may at times play a greater role in valuing
these securities than in the case of unrestricted
securities.
Generally speaking, restricted securities may be sold
only to qualified institutional buyers, or in a
privately negotiated transaction to a limited number
of purchasers, or in limited quantities after they
have been held for a specified period of time and
other conditions are met pursuant to an exemption from
registration, or in a public offering for which a
registration statement is in effect under the
Securities Act of 1933. The funds may be deemed to be
an "underwriter" for purposes of the Securities Act of
1933 when selling restricted securities to the public,
and in such event the fund may be liable to purchasers
of such securities if the registration statement
prepared by the issuer, or the prospectus forming a
part of it, is materially inaccurate or misleading.
FUTURES CONTRACTS AND RELATED OPTIONS
Subject to applicable law the fund may invest without
limit in futures contracts and related options for
hedging and non-hedging purposes, such as to manage
the effective duration of the fund's portfolio or as a
substitute for direct investment. A financial futures
contract sale creates an obligation by the seller to
deliver the type of financial instrument called for in
the contract in a specified delivery month for a
stated price. A financial futures contract purchase
creates an obligation by the purchaser to take
delivery of the type of financial instrument called
for in the contract in a specified delivery month at a
stated price. The specific instruments delivered or
taken, respectively, at settlement date are not
determined until on or near that date. The
determination is made in accordance with the rules of
the exchange on which the futures contract sale or
purchase was made. Futures contracts are traded in
the United States only on commodity exchanges or
boards of trade -- known as "contract markets" --
approved for such trading by the Commodity Futures
Trading Commission (the "CFTC"), and must be executed
through a futures commission merchant or brokerage
firm which is a member of the relevant contract
market.
Although futures contracts (other than index futures)
by their terms call for actual delivery or acceptance
of commodities or securities, in most cases the
contracts are closed out before the settlement date
without the making or taking of delivery.
Closing out a futures contract sale is effected by
purchasing a futures contract for the same aggregate
amount of the specific type of financial instrument or
commodity with the same delivery date. If the price
of the initial sale of the futures contract exceeds
the price of the offsetting purchase, the seller is
paid the difference and realizes a gain. Conversely,
if the price of the offsetting purchase exceeds the
price of the initial sale, the seller realizes a loss.
If the fund is unable to enter into a closing
transaction, the amount of the fund's potential loss
is unlimited. The closing out of a futures contract
purchase is effected by the purchaser's entering into
a futures contract sale. If the offsetting sale price
exceeds the purchase price, the purchaser realizes a
gain, and if the purchase price exceeds the offsetting
sale price, he realizes a loss. In general, 40% of
the gain or loss arising from the closing out of a
futures contract traded on an exchange approved by the
CFTC is treated as short-term gain or loss, and 60% is
treated as long-term gain or loss.
Unlike when the fund purchases or sells a security, no
price is paid or received by the fund upon the
purchase or sale of a futures contract. Upon entering
into a contract, the fund is
required to deposit with its custodian in a segregated
account in the name of the futures broker an amount of
liquid assets. This amount is known as "initial
margin." The nature of initial margin in futures
transactions is different from that of margin in
security transactions in that futures contract margin
does not involve the borrowing of funds to finance the
transactions. Rather, initial margin is similar to a
performance bond or good faith deposit which is
returned to the fund upon termination of the futures
contract, assuming all contractual obligations have
been satisfied. Futures contracts also involve
brokerage costs.
Subsequent payments, called "variation margin" or
"maintenance margin," to and from the broker (or the
custodian) are made on a daily basis as the price of
the underlying security or commodity fluctuates,
making the long and short positions in the futures
contract more or less valuable, a process known as
"marking to the market." For example, when the fund
has purchased a futures contract on a security and the
price of the underlying security has risen, that
position will have increased in value and the fund
will receive from the broker a variation margin
payment based on that increase in value. Conversely,
when the fund has purchased a security futures
contract and the price of the underlying security has
declined, the position would be less valuable and the
fund would be required to make a variation margin
payment to the broker.
The fund may elect to close some or all of its futures
positions at any time prior to their expiration in
order to reduce or eliminate a hedge position then
currently held by the fund. The fund may close its
positions by taking opposite positions which will
operate to terminate the fund's position in the
futures contracts. Final determinations of variation
margin are then made, additional cash is required to
be paid by or released to the fund, and the fund
realizes a loss or a gain. Such closing transactions
involve additional commission costs.
The fund does not intend to purchase or sell futures
or related options for other than hedging purposes,
if, as a result, the sum of the initial margin
deposits on the fund's existing futures and related
options positions and premiums paid for outstanding
options on futures contracts would exceed 5% of the
fund's net assets.
OPTIONS ON FUTURES CONTRACTS. The fund may purchase
and write call and put options on futures contracts it
may buy or sell and enter into closing transactions
with respect to such options to terminate existing
positions. In return for the premium paid, options on
futures contracts give the purchaser the right to
assume a position in a futures contract at the
specified option exercise price at any time during the
period of the option. The fund may use options on
futures contracts in lieu of writing or buying options
directly on the underlying securities or purchasing
and selling the underlying futures contracts. For
example, to hedge against a possible decrease in the
value of its portfolio securities, the fund may
purchase put options or write call options on futures
contracts rather than selling futures contracts.
Similarly, the fund may purchase call options or write
put options on futures contracts as a substitute for
the purchase of futures contracts to hedge against a
possible increase in the price of securities which the
fund expects to purchase. Such options generally
operate in the same manner as options purchased or
written directly on the underlying investments.
As with options on securities, the holder or writer of
an option may terminate his position by selling or
purchasing an offsetting
option. There is no guarantee that such closing
transactions can be effected.
The fund will be required to deposit initial margin
and maintenance margin with respect to put and call
options on futures contracts written by it pursuant to
brokers' requirements similar to those described above
in connection with the discussion of futures
contracts.
RISKS OF TRANSACTIONS IN FUTURES CONTRACTS AND RELATED
OPTIONS. Successful use of futures contracts by the
fund is subject to Putnam Management's ability to
predict movements in various factors affecting
securities markets, including interest rates. Compared
to the purchase or sale of futures contracts, the
purchase of call or put options on futures contracts
involves less potential risk to the fund because the
maximum amount at risk is the premium paid for the
options (plus transaction costs). However, there may
be circumstances when the purchase of a call or put
option on a futures contract would result in a loss to
the fund when the purchase or sale of a futures
contract would not, such as when there is no movement
in the prices of the hedged investments. The writing
of an option on a futures contract involves risks
similar to those risks relating to the sale of futures
contracts.
The use of options and futures strategies also
involves the risk of imperfect correlation among
movements in the prices of the securities underlying
the futures and options purchased and sold by the
fund, of the options and futures contracts themselves,
and, in the case of hedging transactions, of the
securities which are the subject of a hedge. The
successful use of these strategies further depends on
the ability of Putnam Management to forecast interest
rates and market movements correctly.
There is no assurance that higher than anticipated
trading activity or other unforeseen events might not,
at times, render certain market clearing facilities
inadequate, and thereby result in the institution by
exchanges of special procedures which may interfere
with the timely execution of customer orders.
To reduce or eliminate a position held by the fund,
the fund may seek to close out such position. The
ability to establish and close out positions will be
subject to the development and maintenance of a liquid
secondary market. It is not certain that this market
will develop or continue to exist for a particular
futures contract or option. Reasons for the absence
of a liquid secondary market on an exchange include
the following: (i) there may be insufficient trading
interest in certain contracts or options; (ii)
restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening
transactions or closing transactions or both; (iii)
trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may
be imposed with respect to particular classes or
series of contracts or options, or underlying
securities; (iv) unusual or unforeseen circumstances
may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; (v)
the facilities of an exchange or a clearing
corporation may not at all times be adequate to handle
current trading volume; or (vi) one or more exchanges
could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be
compelled at some future date to discontinue the
trading of contracts or options (or a particular class
or series of contracts or options), in which event the
secondary market on that exchange for such contracts
or options (or in the class or series of contracts or
options) would cease to exist, although outstanding
contracts or options on the exchange that had been
issued by a clearing corporation as a result of trades
on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in
accordance with their terms.
U.S. TREASURY SECURITY FUTURES CONTRACTS AND OPTIONS.
U.S. Treasury security futures contracts require the
seller to deliver, or the purchaser to take delivery
of, the type of U.S. Treasury security called for in
the contract at a specified date and price. Options
on U.S. Treasury security futures contracts give the
purchaser the right in return for the premium paid to
assume a position in a U.S. Treasury security futures
contract at the specified option exercise price at any
time during the period of the option.
Successful use of U.S. Treasury security futures
contracts by the fund is subject to Putnam
Management's ability to predict movements in the
direction of interest rates and other factors
affecting markets for debt securities. For example,
if the fund has sold U.S. Treasury security futures
contracts in order to hedge against the possibility of
an increase in interest rates which would adversely
affect securities held in its portfolio, and the
prices of the fund's securities increase instead as a
result of a decline in interest rates, the fund will
lose part or all of the benefit of the increased value
of its securities which it has hedged because it will
have offsetting losses in its futures positions. In
addition, in such situations, if the fund has
insufficient cash, it may have to sell securities to
meet daily maintenance margin requirements at a time
when it may be disadvantageous to do so.
There is also a risk that price movements in U.S.
Treasury security futures contracts and related
options will not correlate closely with price
movements in markets for particular securities. For
example, if the fund has hedged against a decline in
the values of tax-exempt securities held by it by
selling Treasury security futures and the values of
Treasury securities subsequently increase while the
values of its taxexempt securities decrease, the fund
would incur losses on both
the Treasury security futures contracts written by it
and the taxexempt securities held in its portfolio.
INDEX FUTURES CONTRACTS. An index futures contract is
a contract to buy or sell units of an index at a
specified future date at a price agreed upon when the
contract is made. Entering into a contract to buy
units of an index is commonly referred to as buying or
purchasing a contract or holding a long position in
the index. Entering into a contract to sell units of
an index is commonly referred to as selling a contract
or holding a short position. A unit is the current
value of the index. The fund
may enter into stock index futures contracts, debt
index futures contracts, or other index futures
contracts appropriate to its objective(s). The fund
may also purchase and sell options on index futures
contracts.
For example, the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock
Price Index ("S&P 500") is composed of 500 selected
common stocks, most of which are listed on the New
York Stock Exchange. The S&P 500 assigns relative
weightings to the common stocks included in the Index,
and the value fluctuates with changes in the market
values of those common stocks. In the case of the S&P
500, contracts are to buy or sell 500 units. Thus, if
the value of the S&P 500 were $150, one contract would
be worth $75,000 (500 units x $150). The stock index
futures contract specifies that no delivery of the
actual stocks making up the index will take place.
Instead, settlement in cash must occur upon the
termination of the contract, with the settlement being
the difference between the contract price and the
actual level of the stock index at the expiration of
the contract. For example, if the fund enters into a
futures contract to buy 500 units of the
S&P 500 at a specified future date at a contract price
of $150 and the S&P 500 is at $154 on that future
date, the fund will gain $2,000 (500 units x gain of
$4). If the fund enters into a futures contract to
sell 500 units of the stock index at a specified
future date at a contract price of $150 and the S&P
500 is at $152 on that future date, the fund will lose
$1,000 (500 units x loss of $2).
There are several risks in connection with the use by
the fund of index futures. One risk arises because of
the imperfect correlation between movements in the
prices of the index futures and movements in the
prices of securities which are the subject of the
hedge. Putnam Management will, however, attempt to
reduce this risk by buying or selling, to the extent
possible, futures on indices the movements of which
will, in its judgment, have a significant correlation
with movements in the prices of the securities sought
to be hedged.
Successful use of index futures by the fund is also
subject to Putnam Management's ability to predict
movements in the direction of the market. For
example, it is possible that, where the fund has sold
futures to hedge its portfolio against a decline in
the market, the index on which the futures are written
may advance and the value of securities held in the
fund's portfolio may decline. If this occurred, the
fund would lose money on the futures and also
experience a decline in value in its portfolio
securities. It is also possible that, if the fund has
hedged against the possibility of a decline in the
market adversely affecting securities held in its
portfolio and securities prices increase instead, the
fund will lose part or all of the benefit of the
increased value of those securities it has hedged
because it will have offsetting losses in its futures
positions. In addition, in such situations, if the
fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell
securities to meet daily variation margin requirements
at a time when it is disadvantageous to do so.
In addition to the possibility that there may be an
imperfect correlation, or no correlation at all,
between movements in the index futures and the portion
of the portfolio being hedged, the prices of index
futures may not correlate perfectly with movements in
the underlying index due to certain market
distortions. First, all participants in the futures
market are subject to margin deposit and maintenance
requirements. Rather than meeting additional margin
deposit requirements, investors may close futures
contracts through offsetting transactions which could
distort the normal relationship between the index and
futures markets. Second, margin requirements in the
futures market are less onerous than margin
requirements in the securities market, and as a result
the futures market may attract more speculators than
the securities market does. Increased participation
by speculators in the futures market may also cause
temporary price distortions. Due to the possibility
of price distortions in the futures market and also
because of the imperfect correlation between movements
in the index and movements in the prices of index
futures, even a correct forecast of general market
trends by Putnam Management may still not result in a
profitable position over a short time period.
OPTIONS ON STOCK INDEX FUTURES. Options on index
futures are similar to options on securities except
that options on index futures give the purchaser the
right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a
position in an index futures contract (a long position
if the option is a call and a short position if the
option is a put) at a specified exercise price at any
time during the period of the option. Upon exercise
of the option, the delivery of the futures position by
the writer of the option to
the holder of the option will be accompanied by
delivery of the accumulated balance in the writer's
futures margin account which represents the amount by
which the market price of the index futures contract,
at exercise, exceeds (in the case of a call) or is
less than (in the case of a put) the exercise price of
the option on the index future. If an option is
exercised on the last trading day prior to its
expiration date, the settlement will be made entirely
in cash equal to the difference between the exercise
price of the option and the closing level of the index
on which the future is based on the expiration date.
Purchasers of options who fail to exercise their
options prior to the exercise date suffer a loss of
the premium paid.
OPTIONS ON INDICES
As an alternative to purchasing call and put options
on index futures, the fund may purchase and sell call
and put options on the underlying indices themselves.
Such options would be used in a manner identical to
the use of options on index futures.
INDEX WARRANTS
The fund may purchase put warrants and call warrants
whose values vary depending on the change in the value
of one or more specified securities indices ("index
warrants"). Index warrants are generally issued by
banks or other financial institutions and give the
holder the right, at any time during the term of the
warrant, to receive upon exercise of the warrant a
cash payment from the issuer based on the value of the
underlying index at the time of exercise. In general,
if the value of the underlying index rises above the
exercise price of the index warrant, the holder of a
call warrant will be entitled to receive a cash
payment from the issuer upon exercise based on the
difference between the value of the index and the
exercise price of the warrant; if the value of the
underlying index falls, the holder of a put warrant
will be entitled to receive a cash payment from the
issuer upon exercise based on the difference between
the exercise price of the warrant and the value of the
index. The holder of a warrant would not be entitled
to any payments from the issuer at any time when, in
the case of a call warrant, the exercise price is
greater than the value of the underlying index, or, in
the case of a put warrant, the exercise price is less
than the value of the underlying index. If the fund
were not to exercise an index warrant prior to its
expiration, then the fund would lose the amount of the
purchase price paid by it for the warrant.
The fund will normally use index warrants in a manner
similar to its use of options on securities indices.
The risks of the fund's use of index warrants are
generally similar to those relating to its use of
index options. Unlike most index options, however,
index warrants are issued in limited amounts and are
not obligations of a regulated clearing agency, but
are backed only by the credit of the bank or other
institution which issues the warrant. Also, index
warrants generally have longer terms than index
options. Although the fund will normally invest only
in exchange-listed warrants, index warrants are not
likely to be as liquid as certain index options backed
by a recognized clearing agency. In addition, the
terms of index warrants may limit the fund's ability
to exercise the warrants at such time, or in such
quantities, as the fund would otherwise wish to do.
SHORT-TERM TRADING
In seeking the fund's objective(s), Putnam Management
will buy or sell portfolio securities whenever Putnam
Management believes it
appropriate to do so. In deciding whether to sell a
portfolio security, Putnam Management does not
consider how long the fund has owned the security.
From time to time the fund will buy securities
intending to seek short-term trading profits. A
change in the securities held by the fund is known as
"portfolio turnover" and generally involves some
expense to the fund. This expense may include
brokerage commissions or dealer markups and other
transaction costs on both the sale of securities and
the reinvestment of the proceeds in other securities.
If sales of portfolio securities cause the fund to
realize net short-term capital gains, such gains will
be taxable as ordinary income. As a result of the
fund's investment policies, under certain market
conditions the fund's portfolio turnover rate may be
higher than that of other mutual funds. Portfolio
turnover rate for a fiscal year is the ratio of the
lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities
to the monthly average of the value of portfolio
securities -- excluding securities whose maturities at
acquisition were one year or less. The fund's
portfolio turnover rate is not a limiting factor when
Putnam Management considers a change in the fund's
portfolio.
SECURITIES LOANS
The fund may make secured loans of its portfolio
securities, on either a short-term or long-term basis,
amounting to not more than 25% of its total assets,
thereby realizing additional income. The risks in
lending portfolio securities, as with other extensions
of credit, consist of possible delay in recovery of
the securities or possible loss of rights in the
collateral should the borrower fail financially. As a
matter of policy, securities loans are made to broker-
dealers pursuant to agreements requiring that the
loans be continuously secured by collateral consisting
of cash or short-term debt obligations at least equal
at all times to the value of the securities on loan,
"marked-to-market" daily. The borrower pays to the
fund an amount equal to any dividends or interest
received on securities lent. The fund retains all or
a portion of the interest received on investment of
the cash collateral or receives a fee from the
borrower. Although voting rights, or rights to
consent, with respect to the loaned securities may
pass to the borrower, the fund retains the right to
call the loans at any time on reasonable notice, and
it will do so to enable the fund to exercise voting
rights on any matters materially affecting the
investment. The fund may also call such loans in
order to sell the securities.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
The fund (except for Putnam Money Market Fund) may
enter into repurchase agreements, amounting to not
more than 25% of its total assets. A repurchase
agreement is a contract under which the fund acquires
a security for a relatively short period (usually not
more than one week) subject to the obligation of the
seller to repurchase and the fund to resell such
security at a fixed time and price (representing the
fund's cost plus interest). It is the fund's present
intention to enter into repurchase agreements only
with commercial banks and registered broker-dealers
and only with respect to obligations of the U.S.
government or its agencies or instrumentalities.
Repurchase agreements may also be viewed as loans made
by the fund which are collateralized by the securities
subject to repurchase. Putnam Management will monitor
such transactions to ensure that the value of the
underlying securities will be at least equal at all
times to the total amount of the repurchase
obligation, including the interest factor. If the
seller defaults, the fund could realize a loss on the
sale of the underlying security to the
extent that the proceeds of the sale including accrued
interest are less than the resale price provided in
the agreement including interest. In addition, if the
seller should be involved in bankruptcy or insolvency
proceedings, the fund may incur delay and costs in
selling the underlying security or may suffer a loss
of principal and interest if the fund is treated as an
unsecured creditor and required to return the
underlying collateral to the seller's estate.
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the
Securities and Exchange Commission, the fund may
transfer uninvested cash balances into a joint
account, along with cash of other Putnam funds and
certain other accounts. These balances may be
invested in one or more repurchase agreements and/or
short-term money market instruments.
RESTRICTED SECURITIES
The SEC Staff currently takes the view that any
delegation by the Trustees of the authority to
determine that a restricted security is readily
marketable (as described in the investment
restrictions of the funds) must be pursuant to written
procedures established by the Trustees. It is the
present intention of the funds' Trustees that, if the
Trustees decide to delegate such determinations to
Putnam Management or another person, they would do so
pursuant to written procedures, consistent with the
Staff's position. Should the Staff modify its
position in the future, the Trustees would consider
what action would be appropriate in light of the
Staff's position at that time.
FORWARD COMMITMENTS
The fund may enter into contracts to purchase
securities for a fixed price at a future date beyond
customary settlement time ("forward commitments") if
the fund sets aside, on the books and records of its
custodian, liquid assets in an amount sufficient to
meet the purchase price, or if the fund enters into
offsetting contracts for the forward sale of other
securities it owns. In the case of to-be-announced
("TBA") purchase commitments, the unit price and the
estimated principal amount are established when the
fund enters into a contract, with the actual principal
amount being within a specified range of the estimate.
Forward commitments may be considered securities in
themselves, and involve a risk of loss if the value of
the security to be purchased declines prior to the
settlement date, which risk is in addition to the risk
of decline in the value of the fund's other assets.
Where such purchases are made through dealers, the
fund relies on the dealer to consummate the sale. The
dealer's failure to do so may result in the loss to
the fund of an advantageous yield or price. Although
the fund will generally enter into forward commitments
with the intention of acquiring securities for its
portfolio or for delivery pursuant to options
contracts it has entered into, the fund may dispose of
a commitment prior to settlement if Putnam Management
deems it appropriate to do so. The fund may realize
short-term profits or losses upon the sale of forward
commitments.
The fund may enter into TBA sale commitments to hedge
its portfolio positions or to sell securities it owns
under delayed delivery arrangements. Proceeds of TBA
sale commitments are not received until the
contractual settlement date. During the time a TBA
sale commitment is outstanding, equivalent deliverable
securities, or an offsetting TBA purchase commitment
deliverable on or before the sale commitment date, are
held as "cover" for the transaction. Unsettled TBA
sale commitments are valued at current market value of
the underlying securities. If the TBA
sale commitment is closed through the acquisition of
an offsetting purchase commitment, the fund realizes a
gain or loss on the commitment without regard to any
unrealized gain or loss on the underlying security.
If the fund delivers securities under the commitment,
the fund realizes a gain or loss from the sale of the
securities based upon the unit price established at
the date the commitment was entered into.
SWAP AGREEMENTS
The fund may enter into swap agreements and other
types of overthe-counter transactions with broker-
dealers or other financial institutions, in which its
investment return will depend on the change in value
of a specified security or index. The fund would
typically receive from the counterparty the amount of
any increase, and pay to the counterparty the amount
of any decrease, in the value of the underlying
security or index. The contracts would thus, absent
the failure of the counterparty to complete its
obligations, provide to the fund approximately the
same return as it would have realized if it had owned
the security or index directly.
The fund's ability to realize a profit from such
transactions will depend on the ability of the
financial institutions with which it enters into the
transactions to meet their obligations to the fund.
Under certain circumstances, suitable transactions may
not be available to the fund, or the fund may be
unable to close out its position under such
transactions at the same time, or at the same price,
as if it had purchased comparable publicly traded
securities.
DERIVATIVES
Certain of the instruments in which the fund may
invest, such as futures contracts, options and forward
contracts, are considered to be "derivatives."
Derivatives are financial instruments whose value
depends upon, or is derived from, the value of an
underlying asset, such as a security or an index.
Further information about these instruments and the
risks involved in their use is included elsewhere in
the prospectus or in this SAI. The fund's use of
derivatives may cause the fund to recognize higher
amounts of short-term capital gains, generally taxed
to shareholders at ordinary income tax rates.
YEAR 2000
Like other financial and business organizations, the
funds depend on the proper function of their service
providers' computer systems. To the extent that the
systems used by the funds or their service providers
cannot distinguish between the year 1900 and the year
2000 or have other operating difficulties as a result
of the year 2000, the operations of and services
provided to the funds and their shareholders could be
adversely impacted. Putnam Management and its
affiliates have reported that each expects to modify
its systems, as necessary, to address this socalled
"year 2000 problem," and will, on behalf of the funds,
inquire as to the year 2000 compliance of the funds'
other major service providers. However, there can be
no assurance that the operations of and services
provided to the funds and their shareholders will not
be adversely affected. Similarly, companies in which
the funds invest may also experience "year 2000
problems," which could ultimately result in losses to
a fund to the extent that the securities of any such
company decline in value as a result of a "year 2000
problem."
EURO CONVERSION
Eleven member countries of the European Economic and
Monetary Union (the "EMU") have qualified for
conversion of their national currencies to the euro on
January 1, 1999. The euro is a common currency that
is expected to eventually be used as the sole currency
for these countries and other EMU members that wish to
convert to the euro. National currencies will remain
for the converting countries through at least July of
2002 while the full transition to the euro in the
countries involved in the conversion occurs. Possible
consequences to funds that invest in securities
denominated in any of the national currencies affected
include the risks that: (i) the unification of
economic and monetary policies underpinning the
currency unification may increase the potential for
similarities in the movements of markets in the
European countries converting to the euro, (ii)
contracts (including contracts regarding currency
transactions) denominated in (or tied to) those
currencies may become more difficult to enforce, and
that (iii) companies in which the funds invest may be
adversely affected by their failure (or the failure of
other companies with which they do business) to
adequately address the operational aspects of the
conversion.
Like other financial and business organizations, the
funds depend on the proper function of their service
providers' computer and other systems. The funds
could be adversely affected if the computer or other
systems used by Putnam Management and the funds' other
service providers cannot appropriately account for the
conversion to the euro. Putnam Management and its
affiliates expect that their systems will be able to
address this issue without any material interruption
of service. However, there can be no assurance that
the operations of and services provided to the funds
and their shareholders will not be adversely affected.
Similarly, companies in which the funds invest may
also experience similar problems in dealing with the
conversion to the euro, which could result in losses
to the funds.
TAXES
TAXATION OF THE FUND. The fund intends to qualify
each year as a regulated investment company under
Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"). In order to qualify for the
special tax treatment accorded regulated investment
companies and their shareholders, the fund must, among
other things:
(a) Derive at least 90% of its gross income from
dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain
securities loans, and gains from the sale of stock,
securities and foreign currencies, or other income
(including but not limited to gains from options,
futures, or forward contracts) derived with respect to
its business of investing in such stock, securities,
or currencies;
(b) distribute with respect to each taxable year at
least 90% of the sum of its taxable net investment
income, its net tax-exempt income, and the excess, if
any, of net short-term capital gains over net long-
term capital losses for such year; and
(c) diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each
fiscal quarter, (i) at least 50% of the market value
of the fund's assets is represented by cash and cash
items, U.S. government securities, securities of other
regulated investment companies, and other securities
limited in respect of any one issuer to a value not
greater than 5% of the value of the fund's total
assets and to not more than 10% of the outstanding
voting securities of
such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the value
of its assets is invested in the securities (other
than those of the U.S. Government or other regulated
investment companies) of any one issuer or of two or
more issuers which the fund controls and which are
engaged in the same, similar, or related trades or
businesses.
If the fund qualifies as a regulated investment
company that is accorded special tax treatment, the
fund will not be subject to federal income tax on
income paid to its shareholders in the form of
dividends (including capital gain dividends).
If the fund failed to qualify as a regulated
investment company accorded special tax treatment in
any taxable year, the fund would be subject to tax on
its taxable income at corporate rates, and all
distributions from earnings and profits, including any
distributions of net tax-exempt income and net long-
term capital gains, would be taxable to shareholders
as ordinary income. In addition, the fund could be
required to recognize unrealized gains, pay
substantial taxes and interest and make substantial
distributions before requalifying as a regulated
investment company that is accorded special tax
treatment.
If the fund fails to distribute in a calendar year
substantially all of its ordinary income for such year
and substantially all of its capital gain net income
for the one-year period ending October 31 (or later if
the fund is permitted so to elect and so elects), plus
any retained amount from the prior year, the fund will
be subject to a 4% excise tax on the undistributed
amounts. A dividend paid to shareholders by the fund
in January of a year generally is deemed to have been
paid by the fund on December 31 of the preceding year,
if the dividend was declared and payable to
shareholders of record on a date in October, November
or December of that preceding year. The fund intends
generally to make distributions sufficient to avoid
imposition of the 4% excise tax.
FUND DISTRIBUTIONS. Distributions from the fund
(other than exempt-interest dividends, as discussed
below) will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary
income to the extent derived from the fund's
investment income and net short-term gains.
Distributions of net capital gains (that is, the
excess of net gains from capital assets held more than
one year over net losses from capital assets held for
not more than one year) will be taxable to
shareholders as such, regardless of how long a
shareholder has held the shares in the fund.
EXEMPT-INTEREST DIVIDENDS. The fund will be qualified
to pay exempt-interest dividends to its shareholders
only if, at the close of each quarter of the fund's
taxable year, at least 50% of the total value of the
fund's assets consists of obligations the interest on
which is exempt from federal income tax. Distributions
that the fund properly designates as exemptinterest
dividends are treated as interest excludable from
shareholders' gross income for federal income tax
purposes but may be taxable for federal alternative
minimum tax purposes and for state and local purposes.
If the fund intends to be qualified to pay exempt-
interest dividends, the fund may be limited in its
ability to enter into taxable transactions involving
forward commitments, repurchase agreements, financial
futures and options contracts on financial futures,
tax-exempt bond indices and other assets.
Part or all of the interest on indebtedness, if any,
incurred or continued by a shareholder to purchase or
carry shares of a fund paying exempt-interest
dividends is not deductible. The portion
of interest that is not deductible is equal to the
total interest paid or accrued on the indebtedness,
multiplied by the percentage of the fund's total
distributions (not including distributions from net
long-term capital gains) paid to the shareholder that
are exempt-interest dividends. Under rules used by
the Internal Revenue Service for determining when
borrowed funds are considered used for the purpose of
purchasing or carrying particular assets, the purchase
of shares may be considered to have been made with
borrowed funds even though such funds are not directly
traceable to the purchase of shares.
In general, exempt-interest dividends, if any,
attributable to interest received on certain private
activity obligations and certain industrial
development bonds will not be tax-exempt to any
shareholders who are "substantial users" of the
facilities financed by such obligations or bonds or
who are "related persons" of such substantial users.
A fund which is qualified to pay exempt-interest
dividends will inform investors within 60 days of the
fund's fiscal year-end of the percentage of its income
distributions designated as taxexempt. The percentage
is applied uniformly to all distributions
made during the year. The percentage of income
designated as taxexempt for any particular
distribution may be substantially different from the
percentage of the fund's income that was taxexempt
during the period covered by the distribution.
HEDGING TRANSACTIONS. If the fund engages in hedging
transactions, including hedging transactions in
options, futures contracts, and straddles, or other
similar transactions, it will be subject to special
tax rules (including constructive sale, mark-to-
market, straddle, wash sale, and short sale rules),
the effect of which may be to accelerate income to the
fund, defer losses to the fund, cause adjustments in
the holding periods of the fund's securities, convert
long-term capital gains into shortterm capital gains
or convert short-term capital losses into longterm
capital losses. These rules could therefore affect
the amount, timing and character of distributions to
shareholders.
The fund will endeavor to make any available
elections pertaining to such transactions in a manner
believed to be in the best interests of the fund.
Certain of the fund's hedging activities (including
its transactions, if any, in foreign currencies or
foreign currencydenominated instruments) are likely
to produce a difference between its book income and
its taxable income. If the fund's book income
exceeds its taxable income, the distribution (if any)
of such excess will be treated as (i) a dividend to
the extent of the fund's remaining earnings and
profits (including earnings and profits arising from
tax-exempt income), (ii) thereafter as a return of
capital to the extent of the recipient's basis in the
shares, and (iii) thereafter as gain from the sale or
exchange of a capital asset. If the fund's book
income is less than its taxable income, the fund
could be required to make distributions exceeding
book income to qualify as a regulated investment
company that is accorded special tax treatment.
RETURN OF CAPITAL DISTRIBUTIONS. If the fund makes a
distribution to you in excess of its current and
accumulated "earnings and profits" in any taxable
year, the excess distribution will be treated as a
return of capital to the extent of your tax basis in
your shares, and thereafter as capital gain. A return
of capital is not taxable, but it reduces your tax
basis in your shares, thus reducing any loss or
increasing any gain on a subsequent taxable
disposition by you of your shares.
Dividends and distributions on a fund's shares are
generally subject to federal income tax as described
herein to the extent they do not exceed the fund's
realized income and gains, even though such dividends
and distributions may economically represent a return
of a particular shareholder's investment. Such
distributions are likely to occur in respect of
shares purchased at a time when the fund's net asset
value reflects gains that are either unrealized, or
realized but not distributed.
SECURITIES ISSUED OR PURCHASED AT A DISCOUNT. The
fund's investment in securities issued at a discount
and certain other obligations will (and investments
in securities purchased at a discount may) require
the fund to accrue and distribute income not yet
received. In order to generate sufficient cash to
make the requisite distributions, the fund may be
required to sell securities in its portfolio that it
otherwise would have continued to hold.
CAPITAL LOSS CARRYOVER. Distributions from capital
gains are generally made after applying any available
capital loss
carryovers. The amounts and expiration dates of any
capital loss carryovers available to the fund are
shown in Note 1 (Federal income taxes) to the
financial statements included in Part I of this SAI
or incorporated by reference into this SAI.
FOREIGN CURRENCY-DENOMINATED SECURITIES AND RELATED
HEDGING TRANSACTIONS. The fund's transactions in
foreign currencies, foreign currency-denominated debt
securities and certain foreign currency options,
futures contracts and forward contracts (and similar
instruments) may give rise to ordinary income or loss
to the extent such income or loss results from
fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency
concerned.
If more than 50% of the fund's assets at year end
consists of the securities of foreign corporations,
the fund may elect to permit shareholders to claim a
credit or deduction on their income tax returns for
their pro rata portion of qualified taxes paid by the
fund to foreign countries in respect of foreign
securities the fund has held for at least the minimum
period specified in the Code. In such a case,
shareholders will include in gross income from
foreign sources their pro rata shares of such taxes.
A shareholder's ability to claim a foreign tax credit
or deduction in respect of foreign taxes paid by the
fund may be subject to certain limitations imposed by
the Code, as a result of which a shareholder may not
get a full credit or deduction for the amount of such
taxes. In particular, shareholders must hold their
fund shares (without protection from risk of loss) on
the ex-dividend date and for at least 15 additional
days during the 30-day period surrounding the ex-
dividend date to be eligible to claim a foreign tax
credit with respect to a given dividend.
Shareholders who do not itemize on their federal
income tax returns may claim a credit (but no
deduction) for such foreign taxes.
Investment by the fund in "passive foreign
investment companies" could subject the fund to a
U.S. federal income tax or other charge on the
proceeds from the sale of its investment in such a
company; however, this tax can be avoided by making
an election to mark such investments to market
annually or to treat the passive foreign investment
company as a "qualified electing fund."
A "passive foreign investment company" is any
foreign corporation: (i) 75 percent or more of the
income of which for the taxable year is passive
income, or (ii) the average
percentage of the assets of which (generally by value,
but by adjusted tax basis in certain cases) that
produce or are held for the production of passive
income is at least 50 percent. Generally, passive
income for this purpose means dividends, interest
(including income equivalent to interest), royalties,
rents, annuities, the excess of gains over losses from
certain property transactions and commodities
transactions, and foreign currency gains. Passive
income for this purpose does not include rents and
royalties received by the foreign corporation from
active business and certain income received from
related persons.
SALE OR REDEMPTION OF SHARES. The sale, exchange or
redemption of fund shares may give rise to a gain or
loss. In general, any gain or loss realized upon a
taxable disposition of shares will be treated as long-
term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held
for more than 12 months. Otherwise the gain or loss
on the sale, exchange or redemption of fund shares
will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss.
However, if a shareholder sells shares at a loss
within six months of purchase, any loss will be
disallowed for Federal income tax purposes to the
extent of any exempt-interest dividends received on
such shares. In addition, any loss (not already
disallowed as provided in the preceding sentence)
realized upon a taxable disposition of shares held for
six months or less will be treated as long-term,
rather than short-term, to the extent of any long-term
capital gain distributions received by the shareholder
with respect to the shares. All or a portion of any
loss realized upon a taxable disposition of fund
shares will be disallowed if other shares of the same
fund are purchased within 30 days before or after the
disposition. In such a case, the basis of the newly
purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the
disallowed loss.
SHARES PURCHASED THROUGH TAX-QUALIFIED PLANS. Special
tax rules apply to investments though defined
contribution plans and other tax-qualified plans.
Shareholders should consult their tax adviser to
determine the suitability of shares of a fund as an
investment through such plans and the precise effect
of an investment on their particular tax situation.
BACKUP WITHHOLDING. The fund generally is required to
withhold and remit to the U.S. Treasury 31% of the
taxable dividends and other distributions paid to any
individual shareholder who fails to furnish the fund
with a correct taxpayer identification number (TIN),
who has under-reported dividends or interest income,
or who fails to certify to the fund that he or she is
not subject to such withholding.
The Internal Revenue Service recently revised its
regulations affecting the application to foreign
investors of the back-up withholding and withholding
tax rules described above. The new regulations will
generally be effective for payments made after
December 31, 1999 (although transition rules will
apply). In some circumstances, the new rules will
increase the certification and filing requirements
imposed on foreign investors in order to qualify for
exemption from the 31% back-up withholding tax rates
under income tax treaties. Foreign investors in a
fund should consult their tax advisors with respect to
the potential application of these new regulations.
MANAGEMENT
TRUSTEES NAME (AGE)
*+GEORGE PUTNAM (72), Chairman and President.
Chairman and Director of Putnam Management and Putnam
Mutual Funds. Director, Freeport Copper and Gold,
Inc. (a mining and natural resource
company), Houghton Mifflin Company (a major publishing
company) and Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.
JOHN A. HILL (57), Vice Chairman. Chairman and
Managing Director, First Reserve Corporation (a
registered investment adviser investing in companies
in the world-wide energy industry on behalf of
institutional investors). Director of Snyder Oil
Corporation, TransMontaigne Oil Company and various
private companies owned by First Reserve Corporation,
such as James River Coal and Anker Coal Corporation.
+WILLIAM F. POUNDS (70), Vice Chairman. Professor
Emeritus of Management, Alfred P. Sloan School of
Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Director of IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. (a provider of
diagnostic products and services for the animal health
and food and environmental industries), Management
Sciences for Health, Inc. (a non-profit organization),
and Sun Company, Inc. (a petroleum refining and
marketing company).
JAMESON A. BAXTER (55), Trustee. President, Baxter
Associates, Inc. (a management consulting and private
investments firm). Director of MB Financial, Inc.,
ASHTA Chemicals, Inc., Banta Corporation (printing and
digital imaging), and Ryerson Tull, Inc. (America's
largest steel service corporation). Chairman Emeritus
of the Board of Trustees, Mount Holyoke College.
+HANS H. ESTIN (70), Trustee. Chartered Financial
Analyst and Vice Chairman, North American Management
Corp. (a registered investment adviser).
RONALD J. JACKSON (55), Trustee. Former Chairman,
President and Chief Executive Officer of Fisher-Price,
Inc. (a major toy manufacturer).
*PAUL L. JOSKOW (51), Trustee. Professor Emeritus of
Economics and Management and Director of the Center
for Energy and Environmental Policy Research,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Director, New
England Electric System (a public utility holding
company), State Farm Indemnity Company (an automobile
insurance company) and the Whitehead Institute for
Biomedical Research (a non-profit research
institution).
ELIZABETH T. KENNAN (61), Trustee. President Emeritus
and Professor, Mount Holyoke College. Director, Bell
Atlantic (a telecommunications company), the Kentucky
Home Life Insurance Companies, Bell Atlantic,
Northeast Utilities and Talbots (a distributor of
women's apparel).
*LAWRENCE J. LASSER (56), Trustee and Vice President.
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of
Putnam Investments, Inc. and Putnam Investment
Management, Inc. Director of Marsh & McLennan
Companies, Inc. and the United Way of Massachusetts
Bay.
JOHN H. MULLIN, III (57), Trustee. Chairman and CEO
of Ridgeway Farm, Director of ACX Technologies, Inc.
(a company engaged in the manufacture of industrial
ceramics and packaging products), Alex. Brown Realty,
Inc. and The Liberty Corporation (a company engaged in
the life insurance and broadcasting industries).
+ROBERT E. PATTERSON (53), Trustee. President and
Trustee of Cabot Industrial Trust (a publicly traded
real estate investment trust). Director of Brandywine
Trust Company.
*GEORGE PUTNAM III (47), Trustee. President, New
Generation Research, Inc. (a publisher of financial
advisory and other research services relating to
bankrupt and distressed companies)
and New Generation Advisers, Inc. (a registered
investment adviser). Director, Massachusetts Audubon
Society and The Boston Family Office, L.L.C. (a
registered investment advisor).
*A.J.C. SMITH (64), Trustee. Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer, Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.
Director, Trident Partnership (a $667 million 10-year
limited partnership with over 30 institutional
investors).
W. THOMAS STEPHENS (56), Trustee. President and Chief
Executive Officer of MacMillan Bloedel Ltd. (a major
forest products company). Director, Qwest
Communications (a fiber optics manufacturer) and New
Century Energies (a public utility company).
W. NICHOLAS THORNDIKE (65), Trustee. Director of
various corporations and charitable organizations,
including Courier Corporation (a book manufacturer),
Data General Corporation (a provider of customized
computer solutions), Bradley Real Estate, Inc., and
Providence Journal Co.
OFFICERS NAME (AGE)
CHARLES E. PORTER (60), Executive Vice President.
Managing Director of Putnam Investments, Inc. and
Putnam Management.
PATRICIA C. FLAHERTY (52), Vice President. Senior
Vice President of Putnam Investments, Inc. and Putnam
Management.
GORDON H. SILVER (51), Vice President. Director and
Senior Managing Director of Putnam Investments, Inc.
and Putnam Management.
BRETT C. BROWCHUK (36), Vice President. Managing
Director of Putnam Management.
IAN C. FERGUSON (41), Vice President. Senior Managing
Director of Putnam Investments, Inc. and Putnam
Management.
RICHARD A. MONAGHAN (44), Vice President. Managing
Director of Putnam Investments, Inc., Putnam
Management and Putnam Mutual Funds.
JOHN R. VERANI (59), Vice President. Senior Vice
President of Putnam Investments, Inc. and Putnam
Management.
JOHN D. HUGHES (64), Senior Vice President and
Treasurer.
*Trustees who are or may be deemed to be "interested
persons" (as defined in the Investment Company Act of
1940) of the fund, Putnam Management or Putnam Mutual
Funds.
Messrs. Putnam, Lasser and Smith are deemed
"interested persons" by virtue of their positions as
officers or shareholders of the fund, or directors of
Putnam Management, Putnam Mutual Funds, or Marsh &
McLennan Companies, Inc., the parent company of Putnam
Management and Putnam Mutual Funds.
Mr. George Putnam, III, Mr. Putnam's son, is also an
"interested person" of the fund, Putnam Management,
and Putnam Mutual Funds. Mr. Joskow is not currently
an "interested person" of the fund but could be deemed
by the Securities and Exchange Commission to be an
"interested person" on account of his prior consulting
relationship with National Economic Research
Associates, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marsh &
McLennan Companies, Inc., which was terminated as of
August 31, 1998. The balance of the
Trustees are not "interested persons."
+Members of the Executive Committee of the Trustees.
The Executive Committee meets between regular meetings
of the Trustees as may be required to review
investment matters and other affairs of the fund and
may exercise all of the powers of the Trustees.
-----------------
Certain other officers of Putnam Management are
officers of the fund. SEE "ADDITIONAL OFFICERS" IN
PART I OF THIS SAI. The mailing address of each of
the officers and Trustees is One Post Office Square,
Boston, Massachusetts 02109.
Except as stated below, 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. Prior to July, 1998, Mr. Joskow was
Chairman of the Department of Economics, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, and, prior to September,
1998, he was a consultant to National Economic
Research Associates. Prior to June, 1995, Dr. Kennan
was President of Mount Holyoke College. Prior to 1996,
Mr. Stephens was Chairman of the Board of Directors,
President and Chief Executive Officer of Johns
Manville Corporation. Prior to April, 1996, Mr.
Ferguson was CEO at Hong Kong Shanghai Banking
Corporation. Prior to February, 1998, Mr. Patterson
was Executive Vice President and Director of
Acquisitions of Cabot Partners Limited Partnership.
Prior to November, 1998, Mr. Monaghan was Managing
Director at Merrill Lynch.
Each Trustee of the fund receives an annual fee and an
additional fee for each Trustees' 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 and for special services rendered
in that connection. All of the Trustees are Trustees
of all the Putnam funds and each receives fees for his
or her services. FOR DETAILS OF TRUSTEES' FEES PAID
BY THE FUND AND INFORMATION CONCERNING RETIREMENT
GUIDELINES FOR THE TRUSTEES, SEE "CHARGES AND
EXPENSES" IN PART I OF THIS SAI.
The Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the fund
provides that the fund will indemnify its Trustees and
officers against liabilities and expenses incurred in
connection with litigation in which they may be
involved because of their offices with the fund,
except if it is determined in the manner specified in
the Agreement and Declaration of Trust that they have
not acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that
their actions were in the best interests of the fund
or that such indemnification would relieve any officer
or Trustee of any liability to the fund or its
shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad
faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his
or her duties. The fund, at its expense, provides
liability insurance for the benefit of its Trustees
and officers.
PUTNAM MANAGEMENT AND ITS AFFILIATES
Putnam Management is one of America's oldest and
largest money management firms. Putnam Management's
staff of experienced portfolio managers and research
analysts selects securities and constantly supervises
the fund's portfolio. By pooling an investor's money
with that of other investors, a greater variety of
securities can be purchased than would be the case
individually; the resulting diversification helps
reduce
investment risk. Putnam Management has been managing
mutual funds since 1937. Today, the firm serves as
the investment manager for the funds in the Putnam
Family, with nearly $222 billion in assets in nearly
11 million shareholder accounts at December 31, 1998.
An affiliate, The Putnam Advisory Company, Inc.,
manages domestic and foreign institutional accounts
and mutual funds, including the accounts of many
Fortune 500 companies. Another affiliate, Putnam
Fiduciary Trust Company, provides investment advice to
institutional clients under its banking and fiduciary
powers. At December 31, 1998, Putnam Management and
its affiliates managed over $294 billion in assets,
including over $20 billion in tax-exempt securities
and over $71 billion in retirement plan assets.
Putnam Management, Putnam Mutual Funds and Putnam
Fiduciary Trust Company are subsidiaries of Putnam
Investments, Inc., a holding company which in turn is,
except for a minority stake owned by employees, owned
by Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., a publiclyowned
holding company whose principal businesses are
international insurance and reinsurance brokerage,
employee benefit consulting and investment management.
Trustees and officers of the fund who are also
officers of Putnam Management or its affiliates or who
are stockholders of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.
will benefit from the advisory fees, sales
commissions, distribution fees, custodian fees and
transfer agency fees paid or allowed by the fund.
THE MANAGEMENT CONTRACT
Under a Management Contract between the fund and
Putnam Management, subject to such policies as the
Trustees may determine, Putnam Management, at its
expense, furnishes continuously an investment program
for the fund and makes investment decisions on behalf
of the fund. Subject to the control of the Trustees,
Putnam Management also manages, supervises and
conducts the other affairs and business of the fund,
furnishes office space and equipment, provides
bookkeeping and clerical services (including
determination of the fund's net asset value, but
excluding shareholder accounting services) and places
all orders for the purchase and sale of the fund's
portfolio securities. Putnam Management may place
fund portfolio transactions with broker-dealers which
furnish Putnam Management, without cost to it, certain
research, statistical and quotation services of value
to Putnam Management and its affiliates in advising
the fund and other clients. In so doing, Putnam
Management may cause the fund to pay greater brokerage
commissions than it might otherwise pay.
FOR DETAILS OF PUTNAM MANAGEMENT'S COMPENSATION UNDER
THE MANAGEMENT CONTRACT, SEE "CHARGES AND EXPENSES" IN
PART I OF THIS SAI. Putnam Management's compensation
under the Management Contract may be reduced in any
year if the fund's expenses exceed the limits on
investment company expenses imposed by any statute or
regulatory authority of any jurisdiction in which
shares of the fund are qualified for offer or sale.
The term "expenses" is defined in the statutes or
regulations of such jurisdictions, and generally
excludes brokerage commissions, taxes, interest,
extraordinary expenses and, if the fund has a
distribution plan, payments made under such plan.
Under the Management Contract, Putnam Management may
reduce its compensation to the extent that the fund's
expenses exceed such lower expense limitation as
Putnam Management may, by notice to the fund, declare
to be effective. The expenses subject to this
limitation are exclusive of brokerage commissions,
interest,
taxes, deferred organizational and extraordinary
expenses and, if the fund has a distribution plan,
payments required under such plan. For the purpose of
determining any such limitation on Putnam Management's
compensation, expenses of the fund shall not reflect
the application of commissions or cash management
credits that may reduce designated fund expenses. THE
TERMS OF ANY EXPENSE LIMITATION FROM TIME TO TIME IN
EFFECT ARE DESCRIBED IN THE PROSPECTUS AND/OR PART I
OF THIS SAI.
In addition to the fee paid to Putnam Management, the
fund reimburses Putnam Management for the compensation
and related expenses of certain officers of the fund
and their assistants who provide certain
administrative services for the fund and the other
Putnam funds, each of which bears an allocated share
of the foregoing costs. The aggregate amount of all
such payments and reimbursements is determined
annually by the Trustees.
THE AMOUNT OF THIS REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE FUND'S MOST
RECENT FISCAL YEAR IS INCLUDED IN "CHARGES AND
EXPENSES" IN PART I OF THIS SAI. Putnam Management
pays all other salaries of officers of the fund. The
fund pays all expenses not assumed by Putnam
Management including, without limitation, auditing,
legal, custodial, investor servicing and shareholder
reporting expenses. The fund pays the cost of
typesetting for its prospectuses and the cost of
printing and mailing any prospectuses sent to its
shareholders. Putnam Mutual Funds pays the cost of
printing and distributing all other prospectuses.
The Management Contract provides that Putnam
Management shall not be subject to any liability to
the fund or to any shareholder of the fund for any act
or omission in the course of or connected with
rendering services to the fund in the absence of
willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or
reckless disregard of its duties on the part of Putnam
Management.
The Management Contract may be terminated without
penalty by vote of the Trustees or the shareholders of
the fund, or by Putnam Management, on 30 days' written
notice. It may be amended only by a vote of the
shareholders of the fund. The Management Contract
also terminates without payment of any penalty in the
event of its assignment. The Management Contract
provides that it will continue in effect only so long
as such continuance is approved at least annually by
vote of either the Trustees or the shareholders, and,
in either case, by a majority of the Trustees who are
not "interested persons" of Putnam Management or the
fund. In each of the foregoing cases, the vote of the
shareholders is the affirmative vote of a "majority of
the outstanding voting securities" as defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940.
PERSONAL INVESTMENTS BY EMPLOYEES OF PUTNAM MANAGEMENT
Employees of Putnam Management are permitted to engage
in personal securities transactions, subject to
requirements and restrictions set forth in Putnam
Management's Code of Ethics.
The Code of Ethics contains provisions and
requirements designed to identify and address certain
conflicts of interest between personal investment
activities and the interests of investment advisory
clients such as the funds. Among other things, the
Code of Ethics, consistent with standards recommended
by the Investment Company Institute's Advisory Group
on Personal Investing, prohibits certain types of
transactions absent prior approval, imposes time
periods during which personal transactions may not be
made in certain securities, and requires the
submission of duplicate broker confirmations and
quarterly reporting of securities transactions.
Additional restrictions
apply to portfolio managers, traders, research
analysts and others involved in the investment
advisory process. Exceptions to these and other
provisions of the Code of Ethics may be granted in
particular circumstances after review by appropriate
personnel.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
INVESTMENT DECISIONS. Investment decisions for the
fund and for the other investment advisory clients of
Putnam Management and its affiliates are made with a
view to achieving their respective investment
objectives. Investment decisions are the product of
many factors in addition to basic suitability for the
particular client involved. Thus, a particular
security may be bought or sold for certain clients
even though it could have been bought or sold for
other clients at the same time. Likewise, a
particular security may be bought for one or more
clients when one or more other clients are selling the
security. In some instances, one client may sell a
particular security to another client. It also
sometimes happens that two or more clients
simultaneously purchase or sell the same security, in
which event each day's transactions in such security
are, insofar as possible, averaged as to price and
allocated between such clients in a manner which in
Putnam Management's opinion is equitable to each and
in accordance with the amount being purchased or sold
by each.
There may be circumstances when purchases or sales of
portfolio securities for one or more clients will have
an adverse effect on other clients.
BROKERAGE AND RESEARCH SERVICES. Transactions on U.S.
stock exchanges, commodities markets and futures
markets and other agency transactions involve the
payment by the fund of negotiated brokerage
commissions. Such commissions vary among different
brokers. A particular broker may charge different
commissions according to such factors as the
difficulty and size of the transaction. Transactions
in foreign investments often involve the payment of
fixed brokerage commissions, which may be higher than
those in the United States. There is generally no
stated commission in the case of securities traded in
the over-thecounter markets, but the price paid by the
fund usually includes an undisclosed dealer commission
or mark-up. In underwritten offerings, the price paid
by the fund includes a disclosed, fixed commission or
discount retained by the underwriter or dealer. It is
anticipated that most purchases and sales of
securities by funds investing primarily in tax-exempt
securities and certain other fixed-income securities
will be with the issuer or with underwriters of or
dealers in those securities, acting as principal.
Accordingly, those funds would not ordinarily pay
significant brokerage commissions with respect to
securities transactions. SEE "CHARGES AND EXPENSES"
IN PART I OF THIS SAI FOR INFORMATION CONCERNING
COMMISSIONS PAID BY THE FUND.
It has for many years been a common practice in the
investment advisory business for advisers of
investment companies and other institutional investors
to receive brokerage and research services (as defined
in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "1934 Act")) from broker-dealers that execute
portfolio transactions for the clients of such
advisers and from third parties with which such broker-
dealers have arrangements. Consistent with this
practice, Putnam Management receives brokerage and
research services and other similar services from many
broker-dealers with which Putnam Management places the
fund's portfolio transactions and from third parties
with which these broker-dealers have arrangements.
These services include such matters as general
economic and market reviews, industry and company
reviews, evaluations of investments, recommendations
as
to the purchase and sale of investments, newspapers,
magazines, pricing services, quotation services, news
services and personal computers utilized by Putnam
Management's managers and analysts. Where the services
referred to above are not used exclusively by Putnam
Management for research purposes, Putnam Management,
based upon its own allocations of expected use, bears
that portion of the cost of these services which
directly relates to their nonresearch use. Some of
these services are of value to Putnam Management and
its affiliates in advising various of their clients
(including the fund), although not all of these
services are necessarily useful and of value in
managing the fund. The management fee paid by the
fund is not reduced because Putnam Management and its
affiliates receive these services even though Putnam
Management might otherwise be required to purchase
some of these services for cash.
Putnam Management places all orders for the purchase
and sale of portfolio investments for the fund and
buys and sells investments for the fund through a
substantial number of brokers and dealers. In so
doing, Putnam Management uses its best efforts to
obtain for the fund the most favorable price and
execution available, except to the extent it may be
permitted to pay higher brokerage commissions as
described below. In seeking the most favorable price
and execution, Putnam Management, having in mind the
fund's best interests, considers all factors it deems
relevant, including, by way of illustration, price,
the size of the transaction, the nature of the market
for the security or other investment, the amount of
the commission, the timing of the transaction taking
into account market prices and trends, the reputation,
experience and financial stability of the broker
dealer involved and the quality of service rendered by
the brokerdealer in other transactions.
As permitted by Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act, and by
the Management Contract, Putnam Management may cause
the fund to pay
a broker-dealer which provides "brokerage and
research services" (as defined in the 1934 Act) to
Putnam Management an amount of disclosed commission
for effecting securities transactions on stock
exchanges and other transactions for the fund on an
agency basis in excess of the commission which
another broker-dealer would have charged for
effecting that transaction. Putnam Management's
authority to cause the fund to pay any such greater
commissions is also subject to such policies as the
Trustees may adopt from time to time. Putnam
Management does not currently intend to cause the
fund to make such payments. It is the position of
the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission
that Section 28(e) does not apply to the payment of
such greater commissions in "principal" transactions.
Accordingly Putnam Management will use its best
effort to obtain the most favorable price and
execution available with respect to such
transactions, as described above.
The Management Contract provides that commissions,
fees, brokerage or similar payments received by
Putnam Management or an affiliate in connection with
the purchase and sale of portfolio investments of the
fund, less any direct expenses approved by the
Trustees, shall be recaptured by the fund through a
reduction of the fee payable by the fund under the
Management Contract.
Putnam Management seeks to recapture for the fund
soliciting dealer fees on the tender of the fund's
portfolio securities in tender or exchange offers.
Any such fees which may be recaptured are likely to
be minor in amount.
Consistent with the Conduct Rules of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and subject
to seeking the most favorable price and execution
available and such other policies
as the Trustees may determine, Putnam Management may
consider sales of shares of the fund (and, if
permitted by law, of the other Putnam funds) as a
factor in the selection of brokerdealers to execute
portfolio transactions for the fund.
PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER
Putnam Mutual Funds is the principal underwriter of
shares of the fund and the other continuously offered
Putnam funds. Putnam Mutual Funds is not obligated
to sell any specific amount of shares of the fund and
will purchase shares for resale only against orders
for shares. SEE "CHARGES AND EXPENSES" IN PART I OF
THIS SAI FOR INFORMATION ON SALES CHARGES AND OTHER
PAYMENTS RECEIVED BY PUTNAM MUTUAL FUNDS.
INVESTOR SERVICING AGENT AND CUSTODIAN
Putnam Investor Services, a division of Putnam
Fiduciary Trust Company ("PFTC"), is the fund's
investor servicing agent (transfer, plan and dividend
disbursing agent), for which it receives fees which
are paid monthly by the fund as an expense of all its
shareholders. The fee paid to Putnam Investor
Services is determined on the basis of the number of
shareholder accounts, the number of transactions and
the assets of the fund. Putnam Investor Services has
won the DALBAR Service Award eight times in the past
nine years. In 1997 and 1998, Putnam was the only
company to win all three DALBAR Awards: for service
to investors, to financial advisors, and to variable
annuity contract holders. DALBAR, Inc. an independent
research firm, presents the awards to financial
services firms that provide consistently excellent
service.
PFTC is the custodian of the fund's assets. In
carrying out its duties under its custodian contract,
PFTC may employ one or more subcustodians whose
responsibilities include safeguarding and controlling
the fund's cash and securities, handling the receipt
and delivery of securities and collecting interest
and dividends on the fund's investments. PFTC and
any subcustodians employed by it have a lien on the
securities of the fund (to the extent permitted by
the fund's investment restrictions) to secure charges
and any advances made by such subcustodians at the
end of any day for the purpose of paying for
securities purchased by the fund. The fund expects
that such advances will exist only in unusual
circumstances. Neither PFTC nor any subcustodian
determines the investment policies of the fund or
decides which securities the fund will buy or sell.
PFTC pays the fees and other charges of any
subcustodians employed by it. The fund may from time
to time pay custodial expenses in full or in part
through the placement by Putnam Management of the
fund's portfolio transactions with the subcustodians
or with a thirdparty broker having an agreement with
the subcustodians. The fund pays PFTC an annual fee
based on the fund's assets, securities transactions
and securities holdings and reimburses PFTC for
certain out-of-pocket expenses incurred by it or any
subcustodian employed by it in performing custodial
services.
SEE "CHARGES AND EXPENSES" IN PART I OF THIS SAI FOR
INFORMATION ON FEES AND REIMBURSEMENTS FOR INVESTOR
SERVICING AND CUSTODY RECEIVED BY PFTC. THE FEES MAY
BE REDUCED BY CREDITS ALLOWED BY PFTC.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
The fund determines the net asset value per share of
each class of shares once each day the New York Stock
Exchange (the "Exchange") is open. Currently, the
Exchange is closed
Saturdays, Sundays and the following holidays: New
Year's Day, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,
Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, the
Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and
Christmas. The fund determines net asset value as of
the close of regular trading on the Exchange,
currently 4:00 p.m. However, equity options held by
the fund are priced as of the close of trading at
4:10 p.m., and futures contracts on U.S. government
and other fixed-income securities and index options
held by the fund are priced as of their close of
trading at 4:15 p.m.
Securities for which market quotations are readily
available are valued at prices which, in the opinion
of Putnam Management, most nearly represent the
market values of such securities.
Currently, such prices are 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, except that
certain securities are valued at the mean between the
last reported bid and asked prices. Short-term
investments having remaining maturities of 60 days or
less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates
market value. All other securities and assets are
valued at their fair value following procedures
approved by the Trustees. Liabilities are deducted
from the total, and the resulting amount is divided
by the number of shares of the class outstanding.
Reliable market quotations are not considered to be
readily available for long-term corporate bonds and
notes, certain preferred stocks, tax-exempt
securities, and certain foreign securities. These
investments are valued at fair value on the basis of
valuations furnished by pricing services, 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 which are
generally recognized by institutional traders.
If any securities held by the fund are restricted as
to resale, Putnam Management determines their fair
value following procedures approved by the Trustees.
The fair value of such securities is generally
determined as the amount which the fund could
reasonably expect to realize from an orderly
disposition of such securities over a reasonable
period of time. The valuation procedures applied in
any specific instance are likely to vary from case to
case. However, consideration is generally given to
the financial position of the issuer and other
fundamental analytical data relating to the
investment and to the nature of the restrictions on
disposition of the securities (including any
registration expenses that might be borne by the fund
in connection with such disposition). In addition,
specific factors are also generally considered, such
as the cost of the investment, the market value of
any unrestricted securities of the same class, the
size of the holding, the prices of any recent
transactions or offers with respect to such
securities and any available analysts' reports
regarding the issuer.
Generally, trading in certain securities (such as
foreign securities) is substantially completed each
day at various times prior to the close of the
Exchange. The values of these securities used in
determining the net asset value of the fund's shares
are computed as of such times. Also, because of the
amount of time required to collect and process
trading information as to large numbers of securities
issues, the values of certain securities (such as
convertible bonds, U.S. government securities, and
tax-exempt securities) are determined based on market
quotations collected earlier in the day at the latest
practicable time prior to the close of the Exchange.
Occasionally, events affecting the value of such
securities may occur between such times and the close
of the Exchange which will not be reflected in the
computation of the fund's net asset value. If events
materially affecting the value of such securities
occur during such period, then these securities will
be valued at their fair value following procedures
approved by the Trustees. In addition, securities
held by some of the funds may be traded in foreign
markets that are open for business on days that a
fund is not, and the trading of such securities on
those days may have an impact on the value of a
shareholder's investment at a time when the
shareholder cannot buy and sell shares of the fund.
Money market funds generally value their portfolio
securities at amortized cost according to Rule 2a-7
under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
HOW TO BUY SHARES
GENERAL
The prospectus contains a general description of how
investors may buy shares of the fund and states
whether the fund offers more than one class of
shares. This SAI contains additional information
which may be of interest to investors.
Class A shares and class M shares are generally sold
with a sales charge payable at the time of purchase
(except for class A shares and class M shares of
money market funds). As used in this SAI and unless
the context requires otherwise, the term "class A
shares" includes shares of funds that offer only one
class of shares. The prospectus contains a table of
applicable sales charges. For information about how
to purchase class A or class M shares of a Putnam
fund at net asset value through an employersponsored
retirement plan, please consult your employer.
Certain purchases of class A shares and class M
shares may be exempt from a sales charge or, in the
case of class A shares, may be subject to a
contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC"). See
"General-Sales without sales charges or contingent
deferred sales charges," "Additional Information
About Class A and Class M shares," and "Contingent
Deferred Sales Charges--Class A shares."
Class B shares and class C shares are sold subject to
a CDSC payable upon redemption within a specified
period after purchase. The prospectus contains a
table of applicable CDSCs.
Class B shares will automatically convert into class
A shares no later than the end of the month eight
years after the purchase date, and may, in the
discretion of the Trustees, convert to class A shares
earlier. Class B shares acquired by exchanging class
B shares of another Putnam fund will convert into
class A shares based on the time of the initial
purchase. Class B shares acquired through
reinvestment of distributions will convert into Class
A shares based on the date of the initial purchase to
which such shares relate. For this purpose, class B
shares acquired through reinvestment of distributions
will be attributed to particular purchases of class B
shares in accordance with such procedures as the
Trustees may determine from time to time. The
conversion of class B shares to class A shares is
subject to the condition that such conversions will
not constitute taxable events for Federal tax
purposes.
Class Y shares, which are not subject to sales
charges or a CDSC, are available only to certain
defined contribution plans. See the prospectus that
offers class Y shares for more information.
Certain purchase programs described below are not
available to defined contribution plans. Consult
your employer for information on how to purchase
shares through your plan.
The fund is currently making a continuous offering of
its shares. The fund receives the entire net asset
value of shares sold. The fund will accept
unconditional orders for shares to be executed at the
public offering price based on the net asset value
per share next determined after the order is placed.
In the case of class A shares and class M shares, the
public offering price is the net asset value plus the
applicable sales charge, if any. No sales charge is
included in the public offering price of other
classes of shares. In the case of orders for
purchase of shares placed through dealers, the public
offering price will be based on the net asset value
determined on the day the order is placed, but only
if the dealer receives the order before the close of
regular trading on the Exchange. If the dealer
receives the order after the close of the Exchange,
the price will be based on the net asset value next
determined. If funds for the purchase of shares are
sent directly to Putnam Investor Services, they will
be invested at the public offering price based on the
net asset value next determined after receipt.
Payment for shares of the fund must be in U.S.
dollars; if made by check, the check must be drawn on
a U.S. bank.
Initial and subsequent purchases must satisfy the
minimums stated in the prospectus, except that (i)
individual investments under certain employee benefit
plans or Tax Qualified Retirement Plans may be lower,
(ii) persons who are already shareholders may make
additional purchases of $50 or more by sending funds
directly to Putnam Investor Services (see "Your
investing account" below), and (iii) for investors
participating in systematic investment plans and
military allotment plans, the initial and subsequent
purchases must be $25 or more. Information about
these plans is available from investment dealers or
from Putnam Mutual Funds.
As a convenience to investors, shares may be
purchased through a systematic investment plan. Pre-
authorized monthly bank drafts for a fixed amount (at
least $25) are used to purchase fund shares at the
applicable public offering price next determined
after Putnam Mutual Funds receives the proceeds from
the draft.
A shareholder may choose any day of the month and, if
a given month (for example, February) does not
contain that particular date, or if the date falls on
a weekend or holiday, the draft will be processed on
the next business day. Further information and
application forms are available from investment
dealers or from Putnam Mutual Funds.
Except for funds that declare a distribution daily,
distributions to be reinvested are reinvested without
a sales charge in shares of the same class as of the
ex-dividend date using the net asset value determined
on that date, and are credited to a shareholder's
account on the payment date. Dividends for Putnam
money market funds are credited to a shareholder's
account on the payment date. Distributions for all
other funds that declare a distribution daily are
reinvested without a sales charge as of the last day
of the period for which distributions are paid using
the net asset value determined on that date, and are
credited to a shareholder's account on the payment
date.
PAYMENT IN SECURITIES. In addition to cash, the fund
may accept securities as payment for fund shares at
the applicable net asset value. Generally, the fund
will only consider accepting securities to increase
its holdings in a portfolio security, or if Putnam
Management determines that the offered securities are
a suitable investment for the fund and in a
sufficient amount for
efficient management.
While no minimum has been established, it is expected
that the fund would not accept securities with a
value of less than $100,000 per issue as payment for
shares. The fund may reject in whole or in part any
or all offers to pay for purchases of fund shares
with securities, may require partial payment in cash
for such purchases to provide funds for applicable
sales charges, and may discontinue accepting
securities as payment for fund shares at any time
without notice. The fund will value accepted
securities in the manner described in the section
"Determination of Net Asset Value" for valuing shares
of the fund. The fund will only accept securities
which are delivered in proper form. The fund will not
accept options or restricted securities as payment
for shares. The acceptance of securities by certain
funds in exchange for fund shares is subject to
additional requirements. For federal income tax
purposes, a purchase of fund shares with securities
will be treated as a sale or exchange of such
securities on which the investor will generally
realize a taxable gain or loss. The processing of a
purchase of fund shares with securities involves
certain delays while the fund considers the
suitability of such securities and while other
requirements are satisfied. For information
regarding procedures for payment in securities,
contact Putnam Mutual Funds.
Investors should not send securities to the fund
except when authorized to do so and in accordance
with specific instructions received from Putnam
Mutual Funds.
SALES WITHOUT SALES CHARGES OR CONTINGENT DEFERRED
SALES CHARGES. The fund may sell shares without a
sales charge or CDSC to:
(i) current and retired Trustees of the fund;
officers of the
fund; directors and current and retired U.S. full-
time employees of Putnam Management, Putnam Mutual
Funds, their parent corporations and certain
corporate affiliates; family members of and
employee benefit plans for the foregoing; and
partnerships, trusts or other entities in which
any of the foregoing has a substantial interest;
(ii) employer-sponsored retirement plans, for the
repurchase of shares in connection with repayment
of plan loans made to plan participants (if the
sum loaned was obtained by
redeeming shares of a Putnam fund sold with a sales
charge)
(not offered by tax-exempt funds);
(iii) clients of administrators of tax-qualified
employersponsored retirement plans which have
entered into agreements with Putnam Mutual Funds
(not offered by tax-exempt funds);
(iv) registered representatives and other
employees of brokerdealers having sales agreements
with Putnam Mutual Funds; employees of financial
institutions having sales agreements with Putnam
Mutual Funds or otherwise having an arrangement
with any such broker-dealer or financial
institution with respect to sales of fund shares;
and their spouses and children under age 21
(Putnam Mutual Funds is regarded as
the dealer of record for all such accounts);
(v) investors meeting certain requirements who
sold shares of certain Putnam closed-end funds
pursuant to a tender offer by such closed-end
fund;
(vi) a trust department of any financial
institution purchasing shares of the fund in its
capacity as trustee of any trust (other than a
tax-qualified retirement plan trust), through an
arrangement approved by Putnam Mutual Funds, if
the value of the shares of the fund and other
Putnam funds purchased or held by all such
trusts exceeds $1 million in the aggregate; and
(vii) "wrap accounts" maintained for clients of
brokerdealers, financial institutions or
financial intermediaries who have entered into
agreements with Putnam Mutual Funds with respect
to such accounts, which in all cases shall be
subject to a wrap fee economically comparable to
a sales charge. Fund shares offered pursuant to
this waiver may not be advertised as "no load,"
or otherwise offered for sale at NAV without a
wrap fee.
In addition, each of the Putnam funds may issue its
shares at net asset value without an initial sales
charge or a CDSC in connection with the acquisition
of substantially all of the securities owned by other
investment companies or personal holding companies,
and the CDSC will be waived on redemptions of shares
arising out of death or post-purchase disability of a
shareholder or settlor of a living trust account and
on redemptions in connection with certain withdrawals
from IRA or other retirement plans and on redemptions
to pay premiums for insurance under Putnam's insured
investor program. Up to 12% of the value of shares
subject to a systematic withdrawal plan may also be
redeemed each year without a CDSC. The fund may sell
class A or class M shares at net asset value to
members of qualified groups. See "Group purchases of
class A and class M shares" below. Class A and class
M shares are available without an initial sales
charge to "class A qualified benefit plans" and
"class M qualified benefit plans," respectively, as
described below. See "Qualified benefit plans;
Individual account plans" below.
PAYMENTS TO DEALERS. Putnam Mutual Funds may, at its
expense, pay concessions in addition to the payments
disclosed in the prospectus to dealers which satisfy
certain criteria established from time to time by
Putnam Mutual Funds relating to increasing net sales
of shares of the Putnam funds over prior periods, and
certain other factors.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT CLASS A AND CLASS M SHARES
The underwriter's commission is the sales charge
shown in the prospectus less any applicable dealer
discount. Putnam Mutual Funds will give dealers ten
days' notice of any changes in the dealer discount.
Putnam Mutual Funds retains the entire sales charge
on any retail sales made by it.
Putnam Mutual Funds offers several plans by which an
investor may obtain reduced sales charges on
purchases of class A shares and class M shares. The
variations in sales charges reflect the varying
efforts required to sell shares to separate
categories of purchasers. These plans may be altered
or discontinued at any time.
The public offering price of class A and class M
shares is the net asset value plus a sales charge
that varies depending on the size of your purchase.
The fund receives the net asset value. The sales
charge is allocated between your investment dealer
and Putnam Mutual Funds as shown in the following
table, except when Putnam Mutual Funds, in its
discretion, allocates the entire amount to your
investment dealer.
For Growth Funds, Growth and Income Funds and Asset
Allocation Funds only:
CLASS A CLASS M
AMOUNT OF AMOUNT OF
SALES CHARGE SALES CHARGE SALES CHARGE SALES CHARGE
AS A REALLOWED TO AS A REALLOWED TO
PERCENTAGE DEALERS AS A PERCENTAGE DEALERS AS A
AMOUNT OF TRANSACTION OF OFFERING PERCENTAGE OF OF OFFERING PERCENTAGE OF
AT OFFERING PRICE ($) PRICE OFFERING PRICE PRICE OFFERING PRICE
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under 50,000 5.75% 5.00% 3.50% 3.00%
50,000 but under 100,000 4.50 3.75 2.50 2.00
100,000 but under 250,000 3.50 2.75 1.50 1.00
250,000 but under 500,000 2.50 2.00 1.00 1.00
500,000 but under 1,000,000 2.00 1.75 NONE NONE
1,000,000 and above NONE NONE NONE NONE
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For Income Funds only (except for Putnam Intermediate
U.S. Government Income Fund and Putnam Preferred
Income Fund):
CLASS A CLASS M
AMOUNT OF AMOUNT OF
SALES CHARGE SALES CHARGE SALES CHARGE SALES CHARGE
AS A REALLOWED TO AS A REALLOWED TO
PERCENTAGE DEALERS AS A PERCENTAGE DEALERS AS A
AMOUNT OF TRANSACTION OF OFFERING PERCENTAGE OF OF OFFERING PERCENTAGE OF
AT OFFERING PRICE ($) PRICE OFFERING PRICE PRICE OFFERING PRICE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under 50,000 4.75% 4.25% 3.25% 3.00%
50,000 but under 100,000 4.50 4.00 2.25 2.00
100,000 but under 250,000 3.50 3.00 1.50 1.25
250,000 but under 500,000 2.50 2.25 1.00 1.00
500,000 but under 1,000,000 2.00 1.75 NONE NONE
1,000,000 and above NONE NONE NONE NONE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
For Putnam Intermediate U.S. Government Income Fund
and Putnam Preferred Income Fund only:
CLASS A CLASS M
AMOUNT OF AMOUNT OF
SALES CHARGE SALES CHARGE SALES CHARGE SALES CHARGE
AS A REALLOWED TO AS A REALLOWED TO
PERCENTAGE DEALERS AS A PERCENTAGE DEALERS AS A
AMOUNT OF TRANSACTION OF OFFERING PERCENTAGE OF OF OFFERING PERCENTAGE OF
AT OFFERING PRICE ($) PRICE OFFERING PRICE PRICE OFFERING PRICE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under 100,000 3.25% 3.00% 2.00% 1.80%
100,000 but under 250,000 2.50 2.25 1.50 1.30
250,000 but under 500,000 2.00 1.75 1.00 1.00
500,000 but under 1,000,000 1.50 1.25 NONE NONE
1,000,000 and above NONE NONE NONE NONE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
For Tax Free Funds only:
CLASS A CLASS M
AMOUNT OF AMOUNT OF
SALES CHARGE SALES CHARGE SALES CHARGE SALES CHARGE
AS A REALLOWED TO AS A REALLOWED TO
PERCENTAGE DEALERS AS A PERCENTAGE DEALERS AS A
AMOUNT OF TRANSACTION OF OFFERING PERCENTAGE OF OF OFFERING PERCENTAGE OF
AT OFFERING PRICE ($) PRICE OFFERING PRICE PRICE OFFERING PRICE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under 25,000 4.75% 4.50% 3.25% 3.00%
25,000 but under 50,000 4.50 4.25 3.25 3.00
50,000 but under 100,000 4.50 4.25 2.25 2.00
100,000 but under 250,000 3.75 3.50 1.50 1.25
250,000 but under 500,000 3.00 2.75 1.00 1.00
500,000 but under 1,000,000 2.00 1.85 NONE NONE
1,000,000 and above NONE NONE NONE NONE
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMBINED PURCHASE PRIVILEGE. The following persons
may qualify for the sales charge reductions or
eliminations shown in the prospectus by combining
into a single transaction the purchase of class A
shares or class M shares with other purchases of any
class of shares:
(i) an individual, or a "company" as defined in
Section 2(a)(8) of the Investment Company Act
of 1940 (which includes corporations which are
corporate affiliates of each other);
(ii) an individual, his or her spouse and their
children under twenty-one, purchasing for his,
her or their own account;
(iii) a trustee or other fiduciary purchasing
for a single trust estate or single fiduciary
account (including a pension, profit-sharing,
or other employee benefit trust created
pursuant to a plan qualified under Section 401
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"));
(iv) tax-exempt organizations qualifying under
Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
(not including taxexempt organizations
qualifying under Section 403(b)(7) (a "403(b)
plan") of the Code; and
(v) employee benefit plans of a single employer or of
affiliated employers, other than 403(b) plans.
A combined purchase currently may also include shares
of any class of other continuously offered Putnam
funds (other than money market funds) purchased at
the same time through a single investment dealer, if
the dealer places the order for such shares directly
with Putnam Mutual Funds.
CUMULATIVE QUANTITY DISCOUNT (RIGHT OF ACCUMULATION).
A purchaser of class A shares or class M shares may
qualify for a cumulative quantity discount by
combining a current purchase (or combined purchases
as described above) with certain other shares of any
class of Putnam funds already owned. The applicable
sales charge is based on the total of:
(i) the investor's current purchase; and
(ii) the maximum public offering price (at the close
of
business on the previous day) of:
(a) all shares held by the investor in
all of the Putnam funds (except money
market funds); and
(b) any shares of money market funds
acquired by exchange from other Putnam
funds; and
(iii) the maximum public offering price of all
shares described in paragraph (ii) owned by
another shareholder eligible to participate
with the investor in a "combined purchase" (see
above).
To qualify for the combined purchase privilege or to
obtain the cumulative quantity discount on a purchase
through an investment dealer, when each purchase is
made the investor or dealer must provide Putnam
Mutual Funds with sufficient information to verify
that the purchase qualifies for the privilege or
discount. The shareholder must furnish this
information to Putnam Investor Services when making
direct cash investments.
STATEMENT OF INTENTION. Investors may also obtain
the reduced sales charges for class A shares or class
M shares shown in the prospectus for investments of a
particular amount by means of a written Statement of
Intention, which expresses the investor's intention
to invest that amount (including certain "credits,"
as described below) within a period of 13 months in
shares of any class of the fund or any other
continuously offered Putnam fund (excluding money
market funds). Each purchase of class A shares or
class M shares under a Statement of Intention will be
made at the public offering price applicable at the
time of such purchase to a single transaction of the
total dollar amount indicated in the Statement of
Intention. A Statement of Intention may include
purchases of shares made not more than 90 days prior
to the date that an investor signs a Statement;
however, the 13-month period during which the
Statement of Intention is in effect will begin on the
date of the earliest purchase to be included.
An investor may receive a credit toward the amount
indicated in the Statement of Intention equal to the
maximum public offering
price as of the close of business on the previous day
of all shares he or she owns on the date of the
Statement of Intention which are eligible for
purchase under a Statement of Intention (plus any
shares of money market funds acquired by exchange of
such eligible shares). Investors do not receive
credit for shares purchased by the reinvestment of
distributions. Investors qualifying for the
"combined purchase privilege" (see above) may
purchase shares under a single Statement of
Intention.
The Statement of Intention is not a binding
obligation upon the investor to purchase the full
amount indicated. The minimum initial investment
under a Statement of Intention is 5% of such amount,
and must be invested immediately. Class A shares or
class M shares purchased with the first 5% of such
amount will be held in escrow to secure payment of
the higher sales charge applicable to the shares
actually purchased if the full amount indicated is
not purchased. When the full amount indicated has
been purchased, the escrow will be released. If an
investor desires to redeem escrowed shares before the
full amount has been purchased, the shares will be
released from escrow only if the investor pays the
sales charge that, without regard to the Statement of
Intention, would apply to the total investment made
to date.
To the extent that an investor purchases more than
the dollar amount indicated on the Statement of
Intention and qualifies for a further reduced sales
charge, the sales charge will be adjusted for the
entire amount purchased at the end of the 13-month
period, upon recovery from the investor's dealer of
its portion of the sales charge adjustment. Once
received from the dealer, which may take a period of
time or may never occur, the sales charge adjustment
will be used to purchase additional shares at the
then current offering price applicable to the actual
amount of the aggregate purchases. These additional
shares will not be considered as part of the total
investment for the purpose of determining the
applicable sales charge pursuant to the Statement of
Intention. No sales charge adjustment will be made
unless and until the investor's dealer returns any
excess commissions previously received.
To the extent that an investor purchases less than
the dollar amount indicated on the Statement of
Intention within the 13month period, the sales charge
will be adjusted upward for the entire amount
purchased at the end of the 13-month period. This
adjustment will be made by redeeming shares from the
account to cover the additional sales charge, the
proceeds of which will be paid to the investor's
dealer and Putnam Mutual Funds in accordance with the
prospectus. If the account exceeds an amount that
would otherwise qualify for a reduced sales charge,
that reduced sales charge will be applied.
Statements of Intention are not available for certain
employee benefit plans.
Statement of Intention forms may be obtained from
Putnam Mutual Funds or from investment dealers.
Interested investors should read the Statement of
Intention carefully.
GROUP PURCHASES OF CLASS A AND CLASS M SHARES.
Members of qualified groups may purchase class A
shares of the fund at a group sales charge rate of
4.50% of the public offering price (4.71% of the net
amount invested). The dealer discount on such sales
is 3.75% of the offering price. Members of qualified
groups may also purchase class M shares at net asset
value.
To receive the class A or class M group rate, group
members must
purchase shares through a single investment dealer
designated by the group. The designated dealer must
transmit each member's initial purchase to Putnam
Mutual Funds, together with payment and completed
application forms. After the initial purchase, a
member may send funds for the purchase of shares
directly to Putnam Investor Services. Purchases of
shares are made at the public offering price based on
the net asset value next determined after Putnam
Mutual Funds or Putnam Investor Services receives
payment for the shares. The minimum investment
requirements described above apply to purchases by
any group member. Only shares purchased under the
class A group discount are included in calculating
the purchased amount for the purposes of these
requirements.
Qualified groups include the employees of a
corporation or a sole proprietorship, members and
employees of a partnership or association, or other
organized groups of persons (the members of which may
include other qualified groups) provided that: (i)
the group has at least 25 members of which, with
respect to the class A discount only, at least 10
members participate in the initial purchase; (ii) the
group has been in existence for at least six months;
(iii) the group has some purpose in addition to the
purchase of investment company shares at a reduced
sales charge; (iv) the group's sole organizational
nexus or connection is not that the members are
credit card holders of a company, policy holders of
an insurance company, customers of a bank or broker
dealer, clients of an investment adviser or security
holders of a company; (v) with respect to the class A
discount only, the group agrees to provide its
designated investment dealer access to the group's
membership by means of written communication or
direct presentation to the membership at a meeting on
not less frequently than an annual basis; (vi) the
group or its investment dealer will provide annual
certification in form satisfactory to Putnam Investor
Services that the group then has at least 25 members
and, with respect to the class A discount only, that
at least ten members participated in group purchases
during the immediately preceding 12 calendar months;
and (vii) the group or its investment dealer will
provide periodic certification in form satisfactory
to Putnam Investor Services as to the eligibility of
the purchasing members of the group.
Members of a qualified group include: (i) any group
which meets the requirements stated above and which
is a constituent member of a qualified group; (ii)
any individual purchasing for his or her own account
who is carried on the records of the group or on the
records of any constituent member of the group as
being a good standing employee, partner, member or
person of like status of the group or constituent
member; or (iii) any fiduciary purchasing shares for
the account of a member of a qualified group or a
member's beneficiary. For example, a qualified group
could consist of a trade association which would have
as its members individuals, sole proprietors,
partnerships and corporations. The members of the
group would then consist of the individuals, the sole
proprietors and their employees, the members of the
partnerships and their employees, and the
corporations and their employees, as well as the
trustees of employee benefit trusts acquiring class A
shares for the benefit of any of the foregoing.
A member of a qualified group may, depending upon the
value of class A shares of the fund owned or proposed
to be purchased by the member, be entitled to
purchase class A shares of the fund at non-group
sales charge rates shown in the prospectus which may
be lower than the group sales charge rate, if the
member qualifies as a person entitled to reduced non-
group sales charges. Such a group member will be
entitled to purchase at the lower rate if,
at the time of purchase, the member or his or her
investment dealer furnishes sufficient information
for Putnam Mutual Funds or Putnam Investor Services
to verify that the purchase qualifies for the lower
rate.
Interested groups should contact their investment
dealer or Putnam Mutual Funds. The fund reserves the
right to revise the terms of or to suspend or
discontinue group sales at any time.
QUALIFIED BENEFIT PLANS; INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNT PLANS.
The terms "class A qualified benefit plan" and "class
M qualified benefit plan" mean any employer-sponsored
plan or arrangement, whether or not tax-
qualified and whether or not Putnam Fiduciary
Trust Company or its affiliates provide recordkeeping
or other services , that initially invest at least
$1 million or $500,000, respectively, in class A
shares or class M shares of the fund and other
Putnam funds.
The fund may sell class A shares at net asset value
to class A qualified benefit plans and may sell class
M shares at net asset value to class M qualified
benefit plans .
The table of sales charges in the prospectus applies
to sales to employer-sponsored retirement plans that
choose not to be treated as class A
qualified benefit plans, except that the fund may
sell class A shares at net asset value to employee
benefit plans, including plans with respect to
which separate accounts are maintained for each
participant , of employers or of affiliated (as
defined in Section 2(a)(3)(C) of the Investment
Company Act of 1940) employers which have at
least $1 million in assets to whom such plan
is made available, in connection with a payroll
deduction system of plan funding (or other system
acceptable to Putnam Investor Services) by which
contributions or account information for plan
participation are transmitted to Putnam Investor
Services by methods acceptable to Putnam Investor
Services.
Additional information about qualified benefit
plans is available from investment dealers or
from Putnam Mutual Funds.
CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGES; COMMISSIONS
CLASS A SHARES. Except as described below, a CDSC of
0.50% (0.75% in the case of plans with less
than $5 million in Putnam funds and other
investmentsmanaged by Putnam Management or its
affiliates) of the total amount redeemed is
imposed on redemptions of shares purchased by class A
qualified benefit plans if, within two years of a
plan's initial purchase of class A shares, it redeems
90% or more of its cumulative purchases. Thereafter,
such plan is no longer liable for any CDSC.
Class A qualified benefit plans whose dealer
of record has, with Putnam Mutual Funds' approval,
waived its commission or agreed to refund its
commission to Putnam Mutual Funds in the event a CDSC
would otherwise be applicable, are not subject to any
CDSC.
Similarly, class A shares purchased at net asset
value by any investor other than a class A qualified
benefit plan, including purchases pursuant to any
Combined Purchase Privilege, Right of Accumulation or
Statement of Intention, are subject to a CDSC of
1.00% or 0.50%, respectively, if redeemed within the
first or second year after purchase, unless the
dealer of record waived its commission with Putnam
Mutual Funds' approval. The class A CDSC is imposed
on the lower of the cost and the current net asset
value of the shares redeemed.
Except as described below for sales to class A
qualified benefit plans, Putnam Mutual Funds pays
investment dealers of record commissions on sales of
class A shares of $1 million or more ,
including purchases pursuant to any Combined Purchase
Privilege, Right of Accumulation or Statement of
Intention, during the one-year period beginning with
the date of the initial purchase at net asset value.
Each subsequent one-year measuring period for these
purposes will begin with the first net asset value
purchase following the end of the prior period. Such
commissions are paid at the rate of 1.00% of the
amount under $3 million, 0.50% of the next $47
million and 0.25% thereafter.
On sales at net asset value to a class A qualified
benefit plan, Putnam Mutual Funds pays commissions to
the dealer of record at the time of the sale on net
monthly purchases up to the following rates:
1.00% of the first $1 million, 0.75% of the next $1
million and 0.50% thereafter.
Different CDSC and commission rates may apply to
shares purchased prior to April 15, 1997 and to
shares purchased by investmentonly plans prior to
August 1, 1999 .
ALL SHARES. Investors who set up an Automatic Cash
Withdrawal Plan ("ACWP") for a share account (see
"Plans available to shareholders -- Automatic Cash
Withdrawal Plan") may withdraw through the ACWP up to
12% of the net asset value of the account (calculated
as set forth below) each year without incurring any
CDSC. Shares not subject to a CDSC (such as shares
representing reinvestment of distributions) will be
redeemed first and will count toward the 12%
limitation. If there are insufficient shares not
subject to a CDSC, shares subject to the lowest CDSC
liability will be redeemed next until the 12% limit
is reached. The 12% figure is calculated on a pro
rata basis at the time of the first payment made
pursuant to an ACWP and recalculated thereafter on a
pro rata basis at the time of each ACWP payment.
Therefore, shareholders who have chosen an ACWP based
on a percentage of the net asset value of their
account of up to 12% will be able to receive ACWP
payments without incurring a CDSC. However,
shareholders who have chosen a specific dollar amount
(for example, $100 per month from a fund that pays
income distributions monthly) for their periodic ACWP
payment should be aware that the amount of that
payment not subject to a CDSC may vary over time
depending on the net asset value of their account.
For example, if the net asset value of the account is
$10,000 at the time of payment, the shareholder will
receive $100 free of the CDSC (12% of $10,000 divided
by 12 monthly payments). However, if at the time of
the next payment the net asset value of the account
has fallen to $9,400, the shareholder will receive
$94 free of any CDSC (12% of $9,400 divided by 12
monthly payments) and $6 subject to the lowest
applicable CDSC. This ACWP privilege may be revised
or terminated at any time.
No CDSC is imposed on the redemption of shares
of any class subject to a CDSC to the extent
that the shares redeemed (i) are no longer
subject to the holding period therefor, (ii) resulted
from reinvestment of distributions , or (iii)
were exchanged for shares of another Putnam fund,
provided that the shares acquired in such exchange or
subsequent exchanges (including shares of a Putnam
money market fund) will continue to remain subject to
the CDSC, if applicable, until the applicable holding
period expires. In determining whether the CDSC
applies to each redemption , shares not
subject to a CDSC are redeemed first.
The fund will waive any CDSC on redemptions, in the
case of individual, joint or Uniform Transfers to Minors Act
accounts, in the event of death or post-purchase
disability of a shareholder, for the purpose of
paying benefits pursuant to tax-qualified retirement
plans ("Benefit Payments"), or, in the case of living
trust accounts, in the event of the death or post-
purchase disability of the settlor of the
trust . Benefit Payments currently
include, without limitation, (1) distributions from
an IRA due to death or disability, (2) a return of
excess contributions to an IRA or 401(k) plan, and
(3) distributions from retirement plans qualified
under Section 401(a) of the Code or from a 403(b)
plan due to death, disability, retirement or
separation from service. These waivers may be changed
at any time. Additional waivers may apply to IRA
accounts opened prior to February 1, 1994.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT CLASS B SHARES
Except as noted below, Putnam Mutual Funds will pay a
4% commission on sales of class B shares of a fund
only to those financial intermediaries who have
entered into service agreements with Putnam Mutual
Funds. For tax-exempt funds, this commission
includes a 0.20% pre-paid service fee (except for
Putnam Municipal Income Fund, which has a 0.25% pre-
paid service fee). For Putnam Intermediate U.S.
Government Income Fund, Putnam Mutual Funds will pay
a 2.75% commission to financial intermediaries
selling class B shares of the fund. For money market
funds, class B shares may only be purchased as part
of an exchange to class B shares of another Putnam
fund or from class B shares of another Putnam fund.
Class B share purchases for money market funds are
not subject to a separate CDSC, but a if a
shareholder exchanges class B shares from a non-money
market fund to a money market fund and then redeems
the class B shares of the money market fund, that
redemption will be subject to the CDSC applicable to
the class B shares of the non-money market fund.
Therefore no up-front commission is paid on sales of
class B shares for money market funds. Putnam Mutual
Funds will retain any contingent deferred sales
charges imposed on redemptions of class B shares to
compensate it for the cost of paying the upfront
commissions paid to financial intermediaries for
class B share sales.
DISTRIBUTION PLANS
If the fund or a class of shares of the fund has
adopted a distribution plan, the prospectus describes
the principal features of the plan. This SAI
contains additional information which may be of
interest to investors.
Continuance of a plan is subject to annual approval
by a vote of the Trustees, including a majority of
the Trustees who are not interested persons of the
fund and who have no direct or indirect interest in
the plan or related arrangements (the "Qualified
Trustees"), cast in person at a meeting called for
that purpose. All material amendments to a plan must
be likewise approved by the Trustees and the
Qualified Trustees. No plan may be amended in order
to increase materially the costs which the fund may
bear for distribution pursuant to such plan without
also being approved by a majority of the outstanding
voting securities of the fund or the relevant class
of the fund, as the case may be.
A plan terminates automatically in the event of its
assignment and may be terminated without penalty, at
any time, by a vote of a majority of the Qualified
Trustees or by a vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the fund or the
relevant class of the fund, as the case may be.
Putnam Mutual Funds compensates qualifying dealers
(including, for this purpose, certain financial institutions) for
sales of shares and the maintenance of shareholder
accounts.
Putnam Mutual Funds may suspend or modify its
payments to dealers. The payments are also subject
to the continuation of the relevant distribution
plan, the terms of the service agreements between the
dealers and Putnam Mutual Funds and any applicable
limits imposed by the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc.
Financial institutions receiving payments from Putnam
Mutual Funds as described above may be required to
comply with various state and federal regulatory
requirements, including among others those regulating
the activities of securities brokers or dealers.
Except as otherwise agreed between Putnam Mutual
Funds and a dealer, for purposes of determining the
amounts payable to dealers for shareholder accounts
for which such dealers are designated as the dealer
of record, "average net asset value" means the
product of (i) the average daily share balance in
such account(s) and (ii) the average daily net asset
value of the relevant class of shares over the
quarter.
CLASS A SHARES:
Putnam Mutual Funds makes quarterly payments to
dealers at the annual rates set forth below (as a
percentage of the average net asset value of class A
shares for which such dealers are designated the
dealer of record) except that payments to dealers for
shares held by class A qualified benefit plans may
be made at other rates, as described below. No
payments are made during the first year after
purchase on shares purchased at net asset value by
shareholders that invest at least $1 million
or that are class A qualified benefit plans,
unless the shareholder has made arrangements with
Putnam Mutual Funds and the dealer of record has
waived the sales commission.
Rate Fund
0.25% All funds currently making
payments under a class A
distribution plan, except for those listed
below
0.50% for shares purchased on Putnam Diversified Equity Trust
or before 7/1/95; 0.25% for
shares purchased after 7/1/95
0.20% Putnam Tax-Free High Yield Fund
Putnam Tax-Free Insured Fund
0.20% for shares purchased on Putnam Balanced Retirement Fund
or before 12/31/89; 0.25% for Putnam Convertible IncomeGrowth Trust
shares purchased after 12/31/89 The George Putnam Fund of Boston
Putnam Global Growth Fund
Putnam Global Natural Resources Fund
Putnam Health Sciences Trust The
Putnam Fund for Growth and Income
Putnam Investors Fund
Putnam Vista Fund
Putnam Voyager Fund
0.20% for shares purchased on Putnam High Yield Trust
or before 3/31/90; 0.25% for Putnam U.S. Government Income Trust
shares purchased after 3/31/90
0.20% for shares purchased on Putnam Income Fund
or before 3/31/91; 0.25% for
shares purchased after 3/31/91
0.20% for shares purchased on Putnam Municipal Income Fund
or before 5/7/92; 0.25% for
shares purchased after 5/7/92
0.15% for shares purchased on Putnam Michigan Tax Exempt Income Fund
or before 3/9/92; 0.20% for Putnam Minnesota Tax Exempt Income Fund
shares purchased after 3/9/92 Putnam Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund
0.15% for shares purchased on Putnam Massachusetts Tax Exempt Income Fund
or before 5/11/92; 0.20% for
shares purchased after 5/11/92
0.15% for shares purchased on Putnam New York Tax Exempt Opportunities Fund
or before 7/13/92; 0.20% for
shares purchased after 7/13/92
0.15% for shares purchased on Putnam California Tax Exempt Income Fund
or before 12/31/92; 0.20% for Putnam New Jersey Tax Exempt Income Fund
shares purchased after 12/31/92 Putnam New York Tax Exempt Income Fund
Putnam Tax Exempt Income Fund
0.15% for res purchased on Putnam Arizona Tax Exempt Income Fund
or before 3/5/93; 0.20% for
shares purchased after 3/5/93
0.15% for shares purchased on Putnam Florida Tax Exempt Income Fund
or before 7/8/93; 0.20% for Putnam Pennsylvania Tax Exempt Income Fund
shares purchased after 7/8/93
0.00% Putnam California Money Market Fund
Putnam Money Market Fund
Putnam New York Money
Market Fund Putnam
Preferred Income Fund
Putnam Tax Exempt Money Market Fund
Putnam Mutual Funds pays service fees to the dealer
of record for plans at the rate of up to 0.25%
of average net assets, depending on the level of
service provided by Putnam Fiduciary Trust Company or
its affiliates, by the dealer of record, and by third
parties. Service fees are paid quarterly to the
dealer of record for that quarter.
CLASS B SHARES:
Putnam Mutual Funds makes quarterly payments to
dealers at the annual rates set forth below (as a
percentage of the average net asset value of class B
shares for which such dealers are designated the
dealer of record).
Rate Fund
0.25% All funds currently making
payments under a class B
distribution plan, except for those listed below
0.25%, except that the first Putnam Municipal Income Fund
year's service fees of 0.25%
are prepaid at time of sale
0.25%, except that the first Putnam Arizona Tax Exempt Income Fund
year's service fees of 0.20% Putnam California Tax Exempt Income Fund
are prepaid at time of sale Putnam Florida Tax Exempt Income Fund
Putnam Massachusetts Tax Exempt Income Fund
Putnam Michigan Tax Exempt Income Fund
Putnam Minnesota Tax Exempt Income Fund
Putnam New Jersey Tax Exempt Income Fund
Putnam New York Tax Exempt Income Fund
Putnam New York Tax Exempt Opportunities Fund
Putnam Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund Putnam
Pennsylvania Tax Exempt Income Fund
Putnam Tax Exempt Income Fund
0.20% for shares purchased on Putnam Tax-Free Insured Fund
or before 3/31/90; 0.25% for Putnam Tax-Free High Yield
shares purchased after 3/31/90;
first year's service fees are prepaid
at time of sale
0.00% Putnam Money Market Fund
CLASS C SHARES:
Putnam Mutual Funds makes quarterly payments to
dealers at the annual rates set forth below (as a
percentage of the average net asset value of class C
shares for which such dealers are designated the
dealer of record).
Rate Fund
1.00% All funds currently making payments
under a class C distribution plan,
except the fund listed below
0.50% Putnam Money Market Fund
CLASS M SHARES:
Putnam Mutual Funds makes quarterly payments to
dealers at the annual rates set forth below (as a
percentage of the average net asset value of class M
shares for which such dealers are designated the
dealer of record).
Rate Fund
0.65% All growth and growth and
income funds currently making
payments under
a class M distribution plan
0.45% Putnam Diversified Income Trust
0.40% All income and money market
funds currently making
payments under a class
M distribution plan (except
for Putnam Diversified
Income Trust, Putnam
Preferred Income Fund and Putnam Money
Market Fund)
0.25% Putnam Preferred Income Fund
0.15% Putnam Money Market Fund
INVESTOR SERVICES
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
Each time shareholders buy or sell shares, they will
receive a statement confirming the transaction and
listing their current share balance. (Under certain
investment plans, a statement may only be sent
quarterly.) Shareholders will receive a statement
confirming reinvestment of distributions in
additional fund shares (or in shares of other Putnam
funds for Dividends Plus accounts) promptly following
the quarter in which the reinvestment occurs. To
help shareholders take full advantage of their Putnam
investment, they will receive a Welcome Kit and a
periodic publication covering many topics of interest
to investors. The fund also sends annual and
semiannual reports that keep shareholders informed
about its portfolio and performance, and year-end tax
information to simplify their recordkeeping. Easy-to-
read, free booklets on special subjects such as the
Exchange Privilege and IRAs are available from Putnam
Investor Services. Shareholders may call Putnam
Investor Services toll-free weekdays at 1-800-225-
1581 between 8:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Boston time for
more information, including account balances.
YOUR INVESTING ACCOUNT
The following information provides more detail
concerning the operation of a Putnam Investing
Account. For further information or assistance,
investors should consult Putnam Investor Services.
Shareholders who purchase shares through a defined
contribution plan should note that not all of the
services or features
described below may be available to them, and they
should contact their employer for details.
A shareholder may reinvest a cash distribution
without a frontend sales charge or without the
reinvested shares being subject to a CDSC, as the
case may be, by delivering to Putnam Investor
Services the uncashed distribution check, endorsed to
the order of the fund. Putnam Investor Services must
receive the properly endorsed check within 1 year
after the date of the check.
The Investing Account also provides a way to
accumulate shares of the fund. In most cases, after
an initial investment of $500, a shareholder may send
checks to Putnam Investor Services for $50 or more,
made payable to the fund, to purchase additional
shares at the applicable public offering price next
determined after Putnam Investor Services receives
the check. Checks must be drawn on a U.S. bank and
must be payable in U.S. dollars.
Putnam Investor Services acts as the shareholder's
agent whenever it receives instructions to carry out
a transaction on the shareholder's account. Upon
receipt of instructions that shares are to be
purchased for a shareholder's account, shares will be
purchased through the investment dealer designated by
the shareholder. Shareholders may change investment
dealers at any time by written notice to Putnam
Investor Services, provided the new dealer has a
sales agreement with Putnam Mutual Funds.
Shares credited to an account are transferable upon
written instructions in good order to Putnam Investor
Services and may be sold to the fund as described
under "How do I sell fund shares?" in the prospectus.
Money market funds and certain other funds will not
issue share certificates. A shareholder may send to
Putnam Investor Services any certificates which have
been previously issued for safekeeping at no charge
to the shareholder.
Putnam Mutual Funds, at its expense, may provide
certain additional reports and administrative
material to qualifying institutional investors with
fiduciary responsibilities to assist these investors
in discharging their responsibilities. Institutions
seeking further information about this service should
contact Putnam Mutual Funds, which may modify or
terminate this service at any time.
Putnam Investor Services may make special services
available to shareholders with investments exceeding
$1,000,000. Contact Putnam Investor Services for
details.
The fund pays Putnam Investor Services' fees for
maintaining Investing Accounts.
REINSTATEMENT PRIVILEGE
An investor who has redeemed shares of the fund may
reinvest (within 1 year) the proceeds of such sale in
shares of the same class of the fund, or may be able
to reinvest (within 1 year) the proceeds in shares of
the same class of one of the other continuously
offered Putnam funds (through the exchange privilege
described in the prospectus), including, in the case
of shares subject to a CDSC, the amount of CDSC
charged on the redemption. Any such reinvestment
would be at the net asset value of the shares of the
fund(s) the investor selects, next determined after
Putnam Mutual Funds receives a Reinstatement
Authorization. The time that the previous investment
was held will be included in determining any
applicable CDSC due upon redemptions and, in the case
of class B shares, the eight-year period for
conversion to
class A shares. Shareholders will receive from
Putnam Mutual Funds the amount of any CDSC paid at
the time of redemption as part of the reinstated
investment, which may be treated as capital gains to
the shareholder for tax purposes. Exercise of the
Reinstatement Privilege does not alter the federal
income tax treatment of any capital gains realized on
a sale of fund shares, but to the extent that any
shares are sold at a loss and the proceeds are
reinvested in shares of the fund, some or all of the
loss may be disallowed as a deduction. Consult your
tax adviser. Investors who desire to exercise the
Reinstatement Privilege should contact their
investment dealer or Putnam Investor Services.
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE
Except as otherwise set forth in this section, by
calling Putnam Investor Services, investors may
exchange shares valued up to $500,000 between
accounts with identical registrations, provided that
no certificates are outstanding for such shares and
no address change has been made within the preceding
15 days.
During periods of unusual market changes and
shareholder activity, shareholders may experience
delays in contacting Putnam Investor Services by
telephone to exercise the Telephone Exchange
Privilege.
Putnam Investor Services also makes exchanges
promptly after receiving a properly completed
Exchange Authorization Form and, if issued, share
certificates. If the shareholder is a corporation,
partnership, agent, or surviving joint owner, Putnam
Investor Services will require additional
documentation of a customary nature. Because an
exchange of shares involves the redemption of fund
shares and reinvestment of the proceeds in shares of
another Putnam fund, completion of an exchange may be
delayed under unusual circumstances if the fund were
to suspend redemptions or postpone payment for the
fund shares being exchanged, in accordance with
federal securities laws. Exchange Authorization
Forms and prospectuses of the other Putnam funds are
available from Putnam Mutual Funds or investment
dealers having sales contracts with Putnam Mutual
Funds. The prospectus of each fund describes its
investment objective(s) and policies, and
shareholders should obtain a prospectus and consider
these objectives and policies carefully before
requesting an exchange. Shares of certain Putnam
funds are not available to residents of all states.
The fund reserves the right to change or suspend the
Exchange Privilege at any time. Shareholders would
be notified of any change or suspension. Additional
information is available from Putnam Investor
Services.
Shareholders of other Putnam funds may also exchange
their shares at net asset value for shares of the
fund, as set forth in the current prospectus of each fund.
For federal income tax purposes, an exchange is a
sale on which the investor generally will realize a
capital gain or loss depending on whether the net
asset value at the time of the exchange is more or
less than the investor's basis. The Exchange
Privilege may be revised or terminated at any time.
Shareholders would be notified of any such change or
suspension.
DIVIDENDS PLUS
Shareholders may invest the fund's distributions of
net investment income or distributions combining net
investment income and short-term capital gains in
shares of the same class of another continuously
offered Putnam fund (the "receiving fund") using the
net asset value per share of the receiving fund
determined on the date the fund's distribution is
payable. No sales charge or CDSC will apply to the
purchased shares unless the fund paying the
distribution is a money market fund. The prospectus
of each fund describes its investment objective(s)
and policies, and shareholders should obtain a
prospectus and consider these objective(s) and
policies carefully before investing their
distributions in the receiving fund. Shares of
certain Putnam funds are not available to residents
of all states.
The minimum account size requirement for the
receiving fund will not apply if the current value of
your account in the fund paying the distribution is
more than $5,000.
Shareholders of other Putnam funds (except for money
market funds, whose shareholders must pay a sales
charge or become subject to a CDSC) may also use
their distributions to purchase shares of the fund at
net asset value.
For federal tax purposes, distributions from the fund
which are reinvested in another fund are treated as
paid by the fund to the shareholder and invested by
the shareholder in the receiving fund and thus, to
the extent comprised of taxable income and deemed
paid to a taxable shareholder, are taxable.
The Dividends PLUS program may be revised or
terminated at any time.
PLANS AVAILABLE TO SHAREHOLDERS
The plans described below are fully voluntary and may
be terminated at any time without the imposition by
the fund or Putnam Investor Services of any penalty.
All plans provide for automatic reinvestment of all
distributions in additional shares of the fund at net
asset value. The fund, Putnam Mutual Funds or Putnam
Investor Services may modify or cease offering these
plans at any time.
AUTOMATIC CASH WITHDRAWAL PLAN ("ACWP"). An investor
who owns or buys shares of the fund valued at $10,000
or more at the current public offering price may open
an ACWP plan and have a designated sum of money ($50
or more) paid monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or
annually to the investor or another person.
(Payments from the fund can be combined with payments
from other Putnam funds into a single check through a
designated payment plan.) Shares are deposited in a
plan account, and all distributions are reinvested in
additional shares of the fund at net asset value
(except where the plan is utilized in connection with
a charitable remainder trust). Shares in a plan
account are then redeemed at net asset value to make
each withdrawal payment. Payment will be made to any
person the investor designates; however, if shares
are registered in the name of a trustee or other
fiduciary, payment will be made only to the
fiduciary, except in the case of a profit-sharing or
pension plan where payment will be made to a
designee. As withdrawal payments may include a
return of principal, they cannot be considered a
guaranteed annuity or actual yield of income to the
investor.
The redemption of shares in connection with a plan
generally will result in a gain or loss for tax
purposes. Some or all of the losses realized upon
redemption may be disallowed pursuant to the so-
called wash sale rules if shares of the same fund
from which shares were redeemed are purchased
(including through the reinvestment of fund
distributions) within a period beginning 30 days
before, and ending 30 days after, such redemption.
In such a case, the basis of the replacement shares
will be increased to reflect the disallowed loss.
Continued withdrawals in excess of
income will reduce and possibly exhaust invested
principal, especially in the event of a market
decline. The maintenance of a plan concurrently with
purchases of additional shares of the fund would be
disadvantageous to the investor because of the sales
charge payable on such purchases. For this reason,
the minimum investment accepted while a plan is in
effect is $1,000, and an investor may not maintain a
plan for the accumulation of shares of the fund
(other than through reinvestment of distributions)
and a plan at the same time. The cost of
administering these plans for the benefit of those
shareholders participating in them is borne by the
fund as an expense of all shareholders. The fund,
Putnam Mutual Funds or Putnam Investor Services may
terminate or change the terms of the plan at any
time. A plan will be terminated if communications
mailed to the shareholder are returned as
undeliverable.
Investors should consider carefully with their own
financial advisers whether the plan and the specified
amounts to be withdrawn are appropriate in their
circumstances. The fund and Putnam Investor Services
make no recommendations or representations in this
regard.
TAX QUALIFIED RETIREMENT PLANS; 403(B) AND SEP PLANS.
(NOT OFFERED BY FUNDS INVESTING PRIMARILY IN TAX-
EXEMPT SECURITIES.) Investors may purchase shares of
the fund through the following Tax Qualified
Retirement Plans, available to qualified individuals
or organizations:
Standard and variable profit-sharing (including 401(k))
and money purchase pension plans; and
Individual Retirement Account Plans (IRAs).
Each of these Plans has been qualified as a prototype
plan by the Internal Revenue Service. Putnam
Investor Services will furnish services under each
plan at a specified annual cost. Putnam Fiduciary
Trust Company serves as trustee under each of these
Plans.
Forms and further information on these Plans are
available from investment dealers or from Putnam
Mutual Funds. In addition, specialized professional
plan administration services are available on an
optional basis; contact Putnam Defined Contribution
Plan Services at 1-800-225-2465, extension 8600.
A 403(b) Retirement Plan is available for employees
of public school systems and organizations which meet
the requirements of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code. Forms and further information on the
403(b) Plan are also available from investment
dealers or from Putnam Mutual Funds. Shares of the
fund may also be used in simplified employee pension
(SEP) plans. For further information on the Putnam
prototype SEP plan, contact an investment dealer or
Putnam Mutual Funds.
Consultation with a competent financial and tax
adviser regarding these Plans and consideration of
the suitability of fund shares as an investment under
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
or otherwise, is recommended.
SIGNATURE GUARANTEES
Redemption requests for shares having a net asset
value of $100,000 or more must be signed by the
registered owners or their legal representatives and
must be guaranteed by a bank, broker/dealer,
municipal securities dealer or broker, government
securities dealer or broker, credit union, national
securities
exchange, registered securities association, clearing
agency, savings association or trust company,
provided such institution is acceptable under and
conforms with Putnam Fiduciary Trust Company's
signature guarantee procedures. A copy of such
procedures is available upon request. If you want
your redemption proceeds sent to an address other
than your address as it appears on Putnam's records,
you must provide a signature guarantee. Putnam
Investor Services usually requires additional
documentation for the sale of shares by a
corporation, partnership, agent or fiduciary, or a
surviving joint owner. Contact Putnam Investor
Services for details.
SUSPENSION OF REDEMPTIONS
The fund may not suspend shareholders' right of
redemption, or postpone payment for more than seven
days, unless the Exchange is closed for other than
customary weekends or holidays, or if permitted by
the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission
during periods when trading on the Exchange is
restricted or during any emergency which makes it
impracticable for the fund to dispose of its
securities or to determine fairly the value of its
net assets, or during any other period permitted by
order of the Commission for protection of investors.
SHAREHOLDER LIABILITY
Under Massachusetts law, shareholders could, under
certain circumstances, be held personally liable for
the obligations of the fund. However, the Agreement
and Declaration of Trust disclaims shareholder
liability for acts or obligations of the fund and
requires that notice of such disclaimer be given in
each agreement, obligation, or instrument entered
into or executed by the fund or the Trustees. The
Agreement and Declaration of Trust provides for
indemnification out of fund property for all loss and
expense of any shareholder held personally liable for
the obligations of the fund. Thus, the risk of a
shareholder incurring financial loss on account of
shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in
which the fund would be unable to meet its
obligations. The likelihood of such circumstances is
remote.
STANDARD PERFORMANCE MEASURES
Yield and total return data for the fund may from
time to time be presented in Part I of this SAI and
in advertisements. In the case of funds with more
than one class of shares, all performance information
is calculated separately for each class. The data is
calculated as follows.
Total return for one-, five- and ten-year periods (or
for such shorter periods as the fund has been in
operation or shares of the relevant class have been
outstanding) is determined by calculating the actual
dollar amount of investment return on a $1,000
investment in the fund made at the beginning of the
period, at the maximum public offering price for
class A shares and class M shares and net asset value
for other classes of shares, and then calculating the
annual compounded rate of return which would produce
that amount. Total return for a period of one year
is equal to the actual return of the fund during that
period. Total return calculations assume deduction
of the fund's maximum sales charge or CDSC, if
applicable, and reinvestment of all fund
distributions at net asset value on their respective
reinvestment dates.
The fund's yield is presented for a specified thirty-
day period (the "base period"). Yield is based on the amount
determined by (i) calculating the aggregate amount of
dividends and interest earned by the fund during the
base period less expenses for that period, and (ii)
dividing that amount by the product of (A) the
average daily number of shares of the fund
outstanding during the base period and entitled to
receive dividends and (B) the per share maximum
public offering price for class A shares or class M
shares, as appropriate, and net asset value for other
classes of shares on the last day of the base period.
The result is annualized on a compounding basis to
determine the yield. For this calculation, interest
earned on debt obligations held by the fund is
generally calculated using the yield to maturity (or
first expected call date) of such obligations based
on their market values (or, in the case of
receivables-backed securities such as the Government
National Mortgage Association ("GNMAs"), based on
cost). Dividends on equity securities are accrued
daily at their stated dividend rates. The amount of
expenses used in determining the fund's yield
includes, in addition to expenses actually accrued by
the fund, an estimate of the amount of expenses that
the fund would have incurred if brokerage commissions
had not been used to reduce such expenses.
If the fund is a money market fund, yield is computed
by determining the percentage net change, excluding
capital changes, in the value of an investment in one
share over the seven-day period for which yield is
presented (the "base period"), and multiplying the
net change by 365/7 (or approximately 52 weeks).
Effective yield represents a compounding of the yield
by adding 1 to the number representing the percentage
change in value of the investment during the base
period, raising that sum to a power equal to 365/7,
and subtracting 1 from the result.
If the fund is a tax-exempt fund, the tax-equivalent
yield during the base period may be presented for
shareholders in one or more stated tax brackets. Tax-
equivalent yield is calculated by adjusting the tax-
exempt yield by a factor designed to show the
approximate yield that a taxable investment would
have to earn to produce an after-tax yield equal, for
that shareholder, to the tax-exempt yield. The tax-
equivalent yield will differ for shareholders in
other tax brackets.
At times, Putnam Management may reduce its
compensation or assume expenses of the fund in order
to reduce the fund's expenses. The per share amount
of any such fee reduction or assumption of expenses
during the fund's past five fiscal years (or for the
life of the fund, if shorter) is set forth in the
footnotes to the table in the section entitled
"Financial highlights" in the prospectus. Any such
fee reduction or assumption of expenses would
increase the fund's yield and total return for
periods including the period of the fee reduction or
assumption of expenses.
All data are based on past performance and do not
predict future results.
COMPARISON OF PORTFOLIO PERFORMANCE
Independent statistical agencies measure the fund's
investment performance and publish comparative
information showing how the fund, and other
investment companies, performed in specified time
periods. Three agencies whose reports are commonly
used for such comparisons are set forth below. From
time to time, the fund may distribute these
comparisons to its shareholders or to potential
investors. THE AGENCIES LISTED BELOW MEASURE
PERFORMANCE BASED ON THEIR OWN CRITERIA RATHER THAN
ON THE STANDARDIZED PERFORMANCE MEASURES DESCRIBED IN
THE PRECEDING SECTION.
LIPPER ANALYTICAL SERVICES, INC. distributes
mutual fund rankings monthly. The rankings
are based on total return performance
calculated by Lipper, generally reflecting
changes in net asset value adjusted for
reinvestment of capital gains and income
dividends. They do not reflect deduction of
any sales charges. Lipper rankings cover a
variety of performance periods, including year-
to-date, 1year, 5-year, and 10-year
performance. Lipper classifies mutual funds
by investment objective and asset category.
MORNINGSTAR, INC. distributes mutual fund
ratings twice a month. The ratings are
divided into five groups:
highest, above average, neutral, below average
and lowest. They represent a fund's historical
risk/reward ratio relative to other funds in
its broad investment class as determined by
Morningstar, Inc. Morningstar ratings cover a
variety of performance periods, including 1-
year, 3year, 5-year, 10-year and overall
performance. The performance factor for the
overall rating is a weightedaverage assessment
of the fund's 1-year, 3-year, 5-year, and 10-
year total return performance (if available)
reflecting deduction of expenses and sales
charges. Performance is adjusted using
quantitative techniques to reflect the risk
profile of the fund. The ratings are derived
from a purely quantitative system that does
not utilize the subjective criteria
customarily employed by rating agencies such
as Standard & Poor's and Moody's Investor
Service, Inc.
CDA/WIESENBERGER'S MANAGEMENT RESULTS
publishes mutual fund rankings and is
distributed monthly. The rankings are based
entirely on total return calculated by
Weisenberger for periods such as year-to-date,
1-year, 3year, 5-year and 10-year. Mutual
funds are ranked in general categories (e.g.,
international bond, international equity,
municipal bond, and maximum capital gain).
Weisenberger rankings do not reflect deduction
of sales charges or fees.
Independent publications may also evaluate the
fund's performance. The fund may from time to time
refer to results published in various periodicals,
including Barrons, Financial World, Forbes, Fortune,
Investor's Business Daily, Kiplinger's Personal
Finance Magazine, Money, U.S. News and World Report
and The Wall Street Journal.
Independent, unmanaged indexes, such as those listed
below, may be used to present a comparative
benchmark of fund performance. The performance
figures of an index reflect changes in market
prices, reinvestment of all dividend and interest
payments and, where applicable, deduction of foreign
withholding taxes, and do not take into account
brokerage commissions or other costs. Because the
fund is a managed portfolio, the securities it owns
will not match those in an index. Securities in an
index may change from time to time.
THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX, prepared by the U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, is a commonly used
measure of the rate of inflation. The index
shows the average change in the cost of
selected consumer goods and services and does
not represent a return on an investment
vehicle.
THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE is an index
of 30 common stocks frequently used as a
general measure of stock market performance.
THE DOW JONES UTILITIES AVERAGE is an index of 15 utility
stocks frequently used as a general measure of stock market
performance.
CS FIRST BOSTON HIGH YIELD INDEX is a market-weighted index
including publicly traded bonds having a rating below BBB by
Standard & Poor's and Baa by Moody's.
THE LEHMAN BROTHERS AGGREGATE BOND INDEX is an index
composed of securities from The Lehman Brothers
Government/Corporate Bond Index, The Lehman Brothers
Mortgage-Backed Securities Index and The Lehman Brothers
Asset-Backed Securities Index and is frequently used as a
broad market measure for fixed-income securities.
THE LEHMAN BROTHERS ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES INDEX is an
index composed of credit card, auto, and home equity loans.
Included in the index are pass-through, bullet
(noncallable), and controlled amortization structured debt
securities; no subordinated debt is included. All
securities have an average life of at least one year.
THE LEHMAN BROTHERS CORPORATE BOND INDEX is an index of
publicly issued, fixed-rate, non-convertible investmentgrade
domestic corporate debt securities frequently used as a
general measure of the performance of fixed-income
securities.
THE LEHMAN BROTHERS GOVERNMENT/CORPORATE BOND INDEX is an
index of publicly issued U.S. Treasury obligations, debt
obligations of U.S. government agencies (excluding mortgage-
backed securities), fixed-rate, non-convertible,
investment-grade corporate debt securities and U.S. dollar
denominated, SEC-registered non-convertible debt issued by
foreign governmental entities or international agencies used
as a general measure of the performance of fixedincome
securities.
THE LEHMAN BROTHERS INTERMEDIATE TREASURY BOND INDEX is an
index of publicly issued U.S. Treasury obligations with
maturities of up to ten years and is used as a general gauge
of the market for intermediate-term fixed-income securities.
THE LEHMAN BROTHERS LONG-TERM TREASURY BOND INDEX is an
index of publicly issued U.S. Treasury obligations
(excluding flower bonds and foreign-targeted issues) that
are U.S. dollar-denominated and have maturities of 10
years or greater.
THE LEHMAN BROTHERS MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES INDEX
includes 15- and 30-year fixed rate securities backed by
mortgage pools of the Government National Mortgage
Association, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, and
Federal National Mortgage Association.
THE LEHMAN BROTHERS MUNICIPAL BOND INDEX is an index of
approximately 20,000 investment-grade, fixed-rate tax
exempt bonds.
THE LEHMAN BROTHERS TREASURY BOND INDEX is an index of
publicly issued U.S. Treasury obligations (excluding
flower bonds and foreign-targeted issues) that are U.S.
dollar denominated, have a minimum of one year to
maturity, and are issued in amounts over $100 million.
THE MORGAN STANLEY CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL WORLD INDEX is an
index of approximately 1,482 equity securities listed on the
stock exchanges of the United States, Europe, Canada,
Australia, New Zealand and the Far East, with all values
expressed in U.S. dollars.
THE MORGAN STANLEY CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL EMERGING MARKETS
INDEX is an index of approximately 1,100 securities
representing 20 emerging markets, with all values expressed
in U.S. dollars.
THE MORGAN STANLEY CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL EMERGING MARKETS
FREE INDEX is an index of approximately 1,003 securities
available to non-domestic investors representing 26 emerging
markets, with all values expressed in U.S. dollars.
THE MORGAN STANLEY CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL EAFE INDEX is an
index of approximately 1,045 equity securities issued by
companies located in 18 countries and listed on the stock
exchanges of Europe, Australia, and the Far East. All
values are expressed in U.S. dollars.
THE MORGAN STANLEY CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL EUROPE INDEX is an
index of approximately 627 equity securities issued by
companies located in one of 13 European countries, with all
values expressed in U.S. dollars.
THE MORGAN STANLEY CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL PACIFIC INDEX is an
index of approximately 418 equity securities issued by
companies located in 5 countries and listed on the exchanges
of Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong,
Singapore/Malaysia. All values are expressed in U.S.
dollars.
THE NASDAQ INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE is an index of stocks traded
in The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. National Market System.
THE RUSSELL 1000 INDEX is composed of the 1,000 largest
companies in the Russell 3000 Index, representing
approximately 89% of the Russell 3000 total market
capitalization. The Russell 3000 Index is composed of the
3,000 largest U.S. companies ranked by total market
capitalization, representing approximately 98% of the U.S.
investable equity market.
THE RUSSELL 2000 INDEX is composed of the 2,000 smallest
companies in the Russell 3000 Index, representing
approximately 11% of the Russell 3000 total market
capitalization.
THE RUSSELL 2000 GROWTH INDEX is composed of securities with
greater-than-average growth orientation within the Russell
2000 Index. Each security's growth orientation is
determined by a composite score of the security's price-to
book ratio and forecasted growth rate. Growth stocks tend to
have higher price-to-book ratios and forecasted growth rates
than value stocks. This index is composed of approximately
1,310 companies from the Russell 2000 Index, representing
approximately 50% of the total market capitalization of the
Russell 2000 Index.
THE RUSSELL MIDCAP INDEX is composed of the 800 smallest
companies in the Russell 1000 Index, representing
approximately 35% of the Russell 1000 total market
capitalization.
THE RUSSELL MIDCAP GROWTH INDEX is composed of securities
with greater-than-average growth orientation within the
Russell Midcap Index. Each security's growth orientation is
determined by a composite score of the security's priceto-
book ratio and forecasted growth rate. Growth stocks tend
to have higher price-to-book ratios and forecasted growth
rates than value stocks. This index is composed of
approximately 450 companies from the Russell 1000 Growth
Index, representing 20% of the total market capitalization
of the Russell 1000 Growth Index.
THE SALOMON BROTHERS LONG-TERM HIGH-GRADE CORPORATE BOND
INDEX is an index of publicly traded corporate bonds
having a rating of at least AA by Standard & Poor's or Aa by
Moody's and is frequently used as a general measure of the
performance of fixed-income securities.
THE SALOMON BROTHERS LONG-TERM TREASURY INDEX is an index of
U.S. government securities with maturities greater than 10
years.
THE SALOMON BROTHERS WORLD GOVERNMENT BOND INDEX is an index
that tracks the performance of the 14 government bond
markets of Australia, Austria, Belgium Canada, Denmark,
France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden,
United Kingdom and the United States. Country eligibility is
determined by market capitalization and investability
criteria.
THE SALOMON BROTHERS WORLD GOVERNMENT BOND INDEX (non $U.S.)
is an index of foreign government bonds calculated to
provide a measure of performance in the government bond
markets outside of the United States.
STANDARD & POOR'S 500 COMPOSITE STOCK PRICE INDEX is an
index of common stocks frequently used as a general measure
of stock market performance.
STANDARD & POOR'S 40 UTILITIES INDEX is an index of 40
utility stocks.
STANDARD & POOR'S/BARRA VALUE INDEX is an index constructed
by ranking the securities in the Standard & Poor's 500
Composite Stock Price Index by price-to-book ratio and
including the securities with the lowest priceto-book ratios
that represent approximately half of the market
capitalization of the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock
Price Index.
In addition, Putnam Mutual Funds may distribute to shareholders or
prospective investors illustrations of the benefits of reinvesting
tax-exempt or tax-deferred distributions over specified time
periods, which may include comparisons to fully taxable
distributions. These illustrations use hypothetical rates of tax-
advantaged and taxable returns and are not intended to indicate
the past or future performance of any fund.
SECURITIES RATINGS
The ratings of securities in which the fund may invest will be
measured at the time of purchase and, to the extent a security is
assigned a different rating by one or more of the various rating
agencies, Putnam Management will use the highest rating assigned
by any agency. Putnam Management will not necessarily sell an
investment if its rating is reduced. The following rating
services describe rated securities as follows:
MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE, INC.
BONDS
AAA -- Bonds which are rated AAA are judged to be of the best
quality. They carry the smallest degree of investment risk and
are generally referred to as "gilt edged." Interest payments are
protected by a large or by an exceptionally stable margin and
principal is secure. While the various protective elements are
likely to change, such changes as can be visualized are most
unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such
issues.
AA -- Bonds which are rated AA are judged to be of high quality by
all standards. Together with the AAA group they comprise what are
generally known as high grade bonds. They are rated lower than
the best bonds because margins of protection may not be as large
as in AAA securities or fluctuation of protective elements may be
of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present which
make the long-term risk appear somewhat larger than the AAA
securities.
A -- Bonds which are rated A possess many favorable investment
attributes and are to be considered as upper-medium-grade
obligations. Factors giving security to principal and interest
are considered adequate, but elements may be present which suggest
a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.
BAA -- Bonds which are rated BAA are considered as medium grade
obligations, (i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly
secured). Interest payments and principal security appear
adequate for the present but certain protective elements may be
lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great
length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment
characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as
well.
BA -- Bonds which are rated BA are judged to have speculative
elements; their future cannot be considered as well-assured. Often
the protection of interest and principal payments may be very
moderate, and thereby not well safeguarded during both good and
bad times over the future. Uncertainty of position characterizes
bonds in this class.
B -- Bonds which are rated B generally lack characteristics of the
desirable investment. Assurance of interest and principal
payments or of maintenance of other terms of the contract over any
long period of time may be small.
CAA -- Bonds which are rated CAA are of poor standing. Such
issues may be in default or there may be present elements of
danger with respect to principal or interest.
CA -- Bonds which are rated CA represent obligations which are
speculative in a high degree. Such issues are often in default or
have other marked shortcomings.
C -- Bonds which are rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds,
and issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor
prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing.
NOTES (FOR MONEY MARKET FUNDS ONLY)
MIG 1/VMIG 1 -- This designation denotes best quality. There is
present strong protection by established cash flows, superior
liquidity support or demonstrated broad-based access to the market
for refinancing.
MIG 2/VMIG 2 -- This designation denotes high quality. Margins of
protection are ample although not so large as in the preceding
group.
COMMERCIAL PAPER (FOR MONEY MARKET FUNDS ONLY)
Issuers rated PRIME-1 (or supporting institutions) have a superior
ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations.
Prime-1 repayment ability will often be evidenced by the following
characteristics:
- -- Leading market positions in well established industries.
- -- High rates of return on funds employed.
- -- Conservative capitalization structure with moderate
reliance on debt and ample asset protection.
- -- Broad margins in earnings coverage of fixed financial
charges and high internal cash generation.
- -- Well established access to a range of financial markets
and assured sources of alternate liquidity.
Issuers rated PRIME-2 (or supporting institutions) have a strong
ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations. This
will normally be evidenced by many of the characteristics cited
above to a lesser degree. Earnings trends and coverage ratios,
while sound, may be more subject to variation. Capitalization
characteristics, while still appropriate, may be more affected by
external conditions. Ample alternate liquidity is maintained.
STANDARD & POOR'S
BONDS
AAA -- An obligation rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by
Standard & Poor's. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial
commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.
AA -- An obligation rated AA differs from the highest-rated
obligations only in small degree. The obligor's capacity to meet
its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.
A -- An obligation rated A is somewhat more susceptible to the
adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic
conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However,
the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the
obligation is still strong.
BBB -- An obligation rated BBB exhibits adequate protection
parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing
circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of
the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
Obligations rated BB, B, CCC, CC and C are regarded as having
significant speculative characteristics. BB indicates the lowest
degree of speculation and C the highest. While such obligations
will likely have some quality and protective characteristics,
these are outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to
adverse conditions.
BB -- An obligation rated BB is less vulnerable to nonpayment
than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing
uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or
economic conditions which could lead to the obligor's inadequate
capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
B -- An obligation rated B is more vulnerable to nonpayment than
obligations rated BB, but the obligor currently has the capacity
to meet its financial commitment on the obligations. Adverse
business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair
the obligor's capacity or willingness to meet its financial
commitment on the obligation.
CCC -- An obligation rated CCC is currently vulnerable to
nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial,
and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial
commitment on the obligation. In the event of adverse business,
financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to
have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the
obligation.
CC -- An obligation rated CC is currently highly vulnerable to
nonpayment.
C -- The C rating may be used to cover a situation where a
bankruptcy petition has been filed, or similar action has been
taken, but payments on this obligation are being continued.
D -- An obligation rated D is in payment default. The D rating
category is used when interest payments or principal payments are
not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has
not expired, unless Standard & Poor's believes that such payments
will be made during such grace period. The D rating also will be
used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition, or the taking of a
similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.
NOTES (FOR MONEY MARKET FUNDS ONLY)
SP-1 -- Strong capacity to pay principal and interest. Those
issues determined to possess overwhelming safety characteristics
are given a plus (+) designation.
SP-2 -- Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest.
SP-3 -- Speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.
COMMERCIAL PAPER (FOR MONEY MARKET FUNDS ONLY)
A-1 -- This highest category indicates that the degree of safety
regarding timely payment is strong. Those issues determined to
possess extremely strong safety characteristics are denoted with
a plus sign (+) designation.
A-2 -- Capacity for timely payment on issues with this
designation is satisfactory. However, the relative degree of
safety is not as high as for issues designated `A-1'.
A-3 -- Issues carrying this designation have adequate capacity
for timely payment. They are, however, more vulnerable to the
adverse effects of changes in circumstances than obligations
carrying the higher designations.
DUFF & PHELPS CORPORATION
LONG-TERM DEBT
AAA -- Highest credit quality. The risk factors are negligible,
being only slightly more than for risk-free U.S. Treasury debt.
AA+, AA, AA- -- High credit quality. Protection factors are
strong. Risk is modest but may vary slightly from time to time
because of economic conditions.
A+, A, A- -- Protection factors are average but adequate. However,
risk factors are more variable and greater in periods of economic
stress.
BBB+, BBB, BBB- -- Below-average protection factors but still
considered sufficient for prudent investment. Considerable
variability in risk during economic cycles.
BB+, BB, BB- -- Below investment grade but deemed likely to meet
obligations when due. Present or prospective financial protection
factors fluctuate according to industry conditions or company
fortunes. Overall quality may move up or down frequently within
this category.
B+, B, B- -- Below investment grade and possessing risk that
obligations will not be met when due. Financial protection
factors will fluctuate widely according to economic cycles,
industry conditions and/or company fortunes. Potential exists for
frequent changes in the rating within this category or into a
higher or lower rating grade.
CCC -- Well below investment-grade securities. Considerable
uncertainty exists as to timely payment of principal, interest or
preferred dividends. Protection factors are narrow and risk can
be substantial with unfavorable economic/industry conditions,
and/or with unfavorable company developments.
DD -- Defaulted debt obligations. Issuer failed to meet scheduled
principal and/or interest payments.
FITCH INVESTORS SERVICE, INC.
AAA -- Bonds considered to be investment grade and of the highest
credit quality. The obligor has an exceptionally strong ability
to pay interest and repay principal, which is unlikely to be
affected by reasonably foreseeable events.
AA -- Bonds considered to be investment grade and of very high
credit quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay
principal is very strong, although not quite as strong as bonds
rated AAA.
A -- Bonds considered to be investment grade and of high credit
quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay
principal is considered to be strong, but may be more vulnerable
to adverse changes in economic conditions and circumstances than
bonds with higher ratings.
BBB -- Bonds considered to be investment grade and of satisfactory
credit quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay
principal is considered to be adequate. Adverse changes in
economic conditions and circumstances, however, are more likely to
have adverse impact on these bonds, and therefore impair timely
payment. The likelihood that the ratings of these bonds will fall
below investment grade is higher than for bonds with higher
ratings.
BB -- Bonds considered to be speculative. The obligor's ability
to pay interest and repay principal may be affected over time by
adverse economic changes. However, business and financial
alternatives can be identified which could assist the obligor in
satisfying its debt service requirements.
B -- Bonds are considered highly speculative. Bonds in this class
are lightly protected as to the obligor's ability to pay interest
over the life of the issue and repay principal when due.
CCC -- Bonds have certain characteristics which, with passing of
time, could lead to the possibility of default on either principal
or interest payments.
CC -- Bonds are minimally protected. Default in payment of
interest and/or principal seems probable.
C -- Bonds are in actual or imminent default in payment of
interest or principal.
DDD -- Bonds are in default and in arrears in interest and/or
principal payments. Such bonds are extremely speculative and
should be valued only on the basis of their value in liquidation
or reorganization of the obligor.
DEFINITIONS
"Putnam Management" -- Putnam Investment
Management, Inc., the fund's
investment manager.
"Putnam Mutual Funds" -- Putnam Mutual Funds Corp.,
the fund's principal
underwriter.
"Putnam Fiduciary Trust -- Putnam Fiduciary Trust
Company,
Company" the fund's custodian.
"Putnam Investor Services" -- Putnam Investor Services, a
division of Putnam Fiduciary Trust
Company, the fund's investor
servicing agent.
PUTNAM INVESTMENT FUNDS PUTNAM MID-CAP VALUE FUND
FORM N-1A
PART C
OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 23. EXHIBITS
1. Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated October 31, 1994 --
Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Initial Registration
Statement.
2. By-Laws, -- Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Initial
Registration Statement.
3. Not applicable.
4a. Portions of Agreement and Declaration of Trust
Relating to Shareholders' Rights -- Incorporated by reference to
Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registrant's Registration
Statement.
4b. Portions of By-Laws Relating to Shareholders' Rights --
Incorporated by reference to Pre-Effective
Amendment No. 1 to Registrant's Registration Statement.
5a. Management Contract dated December 12,
1994, as revised July 14, 1995, December 1, 1995, March 6, 1998,
July 10, 1998, March 12, 1999 and September 10 , 1999 --
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amdnement No. 26 to
the Registrant's Registration Statement.
6a. Distributor's Contract dated December 2, 1994 -- Incorporated
by reference to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant's
Registration Statement.
6b. Form of Specimen Dealer Sales Contract -
Incorporated by reference to Pre-effective Amendment No. 1 to the
Registrant's Registration Statement.
6c. Form of Specimen Financial Institution Sales
Contract - Incorporated by reference to Pre-effective Amendment
No. 1 to the Registrant's Registration Statement.
7. Trustee Retirement Plan dated October 4, 1996 --
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 to
the Registrant's Registration Statement.
8. Custodian Agreement with Putnam Fiduciary Trust
Company dated May 3, 1991, as amended July 13, 1992 --
Incorporated by reference to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the
Registrant's Registration Statement.
9. Investor Servicing Agreement dated June 3, 1991
with Putnam Fiduciary Trust Company -- Incorporated by reference
to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant's Registration
Statement.
10. Opinion of Ropes & Gray, including consent --
Exhibit 1.
11. Not applicable.
12. Not applicable.
13. Investment Letter from Putnam Investments, Inc. to
the Registrant -- Incorporated by reference to Pre-Effective
Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant's Registration Statement.
13a. Class A Distribution Plan and Agreement-
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 24 to
the Registrant's Registration Statement.
13b. Class B Distribution Plan and Agreement-
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 24 to
the Registrant's Registration Statement.
13c. Class M Distribution Plan and Agreement -
Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 24 to
the Registrant's Registration Statement.
13d. Form of Specimen Dealer Service Agreement -
Incorporated by reference to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the
Registrant's Registration Statement.
13e. Form of Specimen Financial Institution Service
Agreement -- Incorporated by reference to Pre-Effective Amendment
No. 1 to the Registrant's Registration Statement.
14. Rule 18f-3 Plan -- Exhibit 2.
ITEM 24. PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH REGISTRANT
None
ITEM 25. INDEMNIFICATION
The information required by this item is incorporated herein by
reference from the Registrant's Initial Registration Statement on
Form N-1A under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (File No. 811-7237).
ITEM 26. BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF INVESTMENT ADVISER
Except as set forth below, the directors and officers of the
Registrant's investment adviser have been engaged during the past
two fiscal years in no business, vocation or employment of a
substantial nature other than as directors or officers of the
investment adviser or certain of its corporate affiliates.
Certain officers of the investment adviser serve as officers of
some or all of the Putnam funds. The address of the investment
adviser, its corporate affiliates and the Putnam Funds is one Post
Office Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02109.
Name
NON-PUTNAM BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS
Pankaj Aggrawal
Vice President
Prior to April 1998, Quantitative Analyst, Vestek Systems, 388
Market St., Suite 700, San Francisco, CA 94111
Michael R. Alexander
Vice President
Prior to February, 1998, Director - Business Operations, Comcast
Communications, 8031 Corporate Drive, Baltimore, MD 21236
Blake Anderson
Managing Director
Trustee, Salem Female Charitable Society, Salem MA 01970
Barry R. Allen
Vice Present
Prior to December 1997, Analyst/Director of Research, Harbor
Capital Management, 125 High St., Boston, MA 02110
Paul A. Astbury-Aston
Vice President
Prior to June, 1999, Senior Quantitative Strategist, Santander
Global Advisors, 28 State Street, Boston, MA 02109
Jeffrey B. Augustine
Senior Vice President
Prior to January 1998, Vice President, Investment Consulting,
Investor Tools, Inc., 100 Bridge St. Plaza, Yorkville, IL 60560
Robert R. Beck
Senior Vice President
Director, Charles Bridge Publishing, 85 Main St., Watertown, MA
02172; Board of Overseers, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center,
330 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215
Kirsten A. Bjerklie
Assistant Vice President
Prior to June 1998, Assistant Vice President, Scudder, Stevens &
Clark, Two International Place, Boston, MA 02110
Carl D. Bell
Vice President
Prior to January 1998, Principal, Smith Breedon Association, 100
Europa Drive, Suite 200, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Richard L. Block
Senior Vice President
Prior to June 1998, Principal, Head International Equity Trader,
Morgan Stanley Asset Management, 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New
York, NY 10036
Rob A. Bloemker
Senior Vice President
Prior to September 1999, Managing Director, Lehman Brothers, 555
California St., 30th floor, San Francisco, CA 94104
Claudio Brocado
Vice President
Prior to August 1999, independent consultant by Stires, O'Donnell
& Co. 12 East 44th St., New York, NY 10017; Prior to January 1999,
independent consultant by Coast Partners, 601 California St., San
Francisco, CA 94108; Prior to November 1997, Head of Latin America
Business Development, Dresdner RCM Global Investors, Four
Embarcadero Center, San Francisco, CA 94111
Anna Bulkovshteyn
Assistant Vice President
Prior to July 1999, Quantitative Analyst, Sun Life Investment
Management, 200 King Street West, Toronto, Ontario M5H 3T4 Canada
Robert W. Burke
Senior Managing Director
Member-Executive Committee, The Ridge Club, Country Club Road,
Sandwich, MA 02563; Member-Advisory Board, Cathedral High School,
74 Union Park St., So. Boston, MA 02118
David N. Burnham
Vice President
Prior to July 1998, Director - Finance, Fidelity Investments, 82
Devonshire Street, Boston, MA 02109
Richard P. Cervone
Vice President
Prior to August 1998, Equity Analyst, Loomis, Sayles & Co., One
Financial Center, Boston, MA, 02216.
Christopher Ceruolo
Assistant Vice President
Prior to July 1998, Associate, Ropes & Gray, One International
Place, Boston, MA 02110
Mark Chameih
Vice President
Prior to May 1999, Vice President, Chase Manhattan, 125 London
Wall, London, UK
Bihua Chen
Assistant Vice President
Prior to July 1998, Research Associate, ProNeuron, Inc., 1531 E.
Jefferson St., Rockville, MD 20847
C. Beth Cotner
Senior Vice President
Director, The Lyric Stage Theater, 140 Clarendon St., Boston, MA
02116
Stephen P. Cotto
Assistant Vice President
Prior to March 1998, Facilities Supervisor, Unicco Service Co., 4
Copley Place, Boston, MA 02116
Lindsey L. Curley
Assistant Vice President
Prior to June 1999, Portfolio Analyst, Standish, Ayer & Wood,
Inc., One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02110. Prior to March,
1998,. Fixed-Income Research Assistant, Invesco Management &
Research, Inc., 101 Federal St., Boston, MA 02110
Joseph F. Cushing
Assistant Vice President
Prior to June 1998, Investment Analyst - Fixed Income,
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, 334 Madison Avenue, Convent
Station, NJ 07961
John R.S. Cutler
Vice President
Member, Burst Media, L.L.C., 10 New England Executive Park,
Burlington, MA 01803
Kenneth Daly
Managing Director
President, Andover River Rd. TMA, River Road Transportation
Management Association, 7 Shattuck Rd., Andover, MA 01810
Donna M. Daylor
Vice President
Prior to April 1998, Director of Training, UniCare Life & Health
Ins. Co., 1350 Main St., Springfield, MA
John C. Delano
Assistant Vice President
Prior to July 1998, Senior Foreign Exchange Trader, Nationsbank,
233 So. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606
Edwin M. Denson
Vice President
Prior to November 1997, Vice President and Senior Economist
Primark Decision Economics, 260 Franklin St., Boston, MA 02110
Ralph C. Derbyshire
Senior Vice President
Prior to November 1997, Partner, Palmer & Dodge, One Beacon
Street, Boston, MA 02108; Board Member, MSPCC, 399 Boylston St.,
Boston, MA; Board Member, Winchester After School Program,
Skillings Rd., Winchester, MA
Stephen P. Dexter
Senior Vice President
Prior to June 1999, Senior Vice President and Senior Portfolio
Manger, Scudder Kemper, Inc. One International Place, Boston, MA
Michael G. Dolan
Assistant Vice President
Chairman-Finance Council, St. Mary's Parish, 44 Myrtle St.,
Melrose, MA 02176; Member, School Advisory Board, St. Mary's
School, 44 Myrtle St., Melrose, MA 02176
Edward Driscoll
Vice President
Prior to September 1999, Equity Trader, Fidelity Research and
Management, 82 Devonshire St., Boston, MA 02109
Emily Durbin
Vice President
Board of Directors, Family Service, Inc., Lawrence, MA 01840
Karnig H. Durgarian
Managing Director
Board Member, EBRI, Suite 600, 2121 K St., N.W., Washington, DC
20037-1896. Trustee, American Assembly, 122 C. St., N.W., Suite
350, Washington, DC 20001
Christine Durkee
Assistant Vice President
Prior to June 1998, Project Manager, Foundation Technologies,
Inc., 78 4th Ave., Waltham, MA 02451
Nathan Eigerman
Senior Vice President
Trustee, Flower Hill Trust, 298 Marlborough St., #4, Boston, MA
02116
Tony H. Elavia
Senior Vice President
Prior to September 1999, Executive Vice President, Voyageur Asset
Management, 90 S. 7th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55402
Lisa V. Emerick
Vice President
Prior to September 1998, Asian Sales Trader, BWZ Securities Asia,
Inc., Citibank Tower, 3 Garden Road, Hong Kong
Irene M. Esteves
Managing Director
Board of Director Member, American Management Association Finance
council, 1601 Broadway, New York, NY; Board of Director Member,
First Night Boston, 20 Park Plaza, Suite 927, Boston, MA; Board of
Director Member, SC Johnson Commercialmarkets, 8310 16th St.,
Stutevant, WI 53177; Board of Director Member, Massachusetts
Taxpayers Foundation, 24 Province St., Boston, MA; Board of
Director Member, Mrs. Bairds Bakeries, 515 Jones St., Suite 200,
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
Ian Ferguson
Senior Managing Director
Trustee, Park School, 171 Goddard Avenue, Brookline, MA 02146
John Ferry
Vice President
Prior to September 1998, Vice President, Scudder Kemper
Investments, 101 California St., San Francisco, CA 94111.
Edward R. Finch
Senior Vice President
Prior to December 1997, Managing Director, M.A. Weatherbie & Co.,
265 Franklin St., Boston, MA 02110
Kate Fleisher
Vice President
Prior to January 1998, Director of Human Resources, Laura Ashley,
6 St., James Ave. Suite 410, Boston, MA 02116
Peter M. Fleisher
Senior Vice President
Prior to July 1999, Senior Vice President, Fleet National Bank, 75
State Street, Boston, MA 02109
Henrietta Fraser
Vice President
Prior to October, 1998, Manager, Fleming Investment Management, 25
Copthall Ave., London EC2R 7DR
Karen T. Frost
Senior Vice President
Prior to February 1998, Vice President, Morgan Stanley
Organization, 25 Cabot Square, London, England E14 4QA
Stephen C. Gibbs
Vice President
Prior to June 1998, Senior Financial Analyst, Fidelity
Investments, 82 Devonshire St., Boston, MA 02109
Ken S. Gordon
Vice President
Prior to July, 1998, Vice President, Union Bank of Switzerland, 2-
2-2 Otemachi, Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo, Japan
J. Peter Grant
Senior Vice President
Trustee, The Dover Church, Dover, MA 02030
Patrice Graviere
Senior Vice President
Prior to March 1998, Regional Director for Latin America, MFS
International, LTD, Buenos Aires, Brazil
Paul E. Haagensen
Senior Vice President
Director, Haagensen Research Foundation, 630 West 168th St., New
York, NY 10032
Andrew J. Hachey
Assistant Vice President
Prior to July 1998. Associate, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher &
Flom, LLP, One Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108
David E. Hamlin
Senior Vice President
Prior to August 1998, Principal, The Vanguard Group, 100 Vanguard
Blvd., Valley Forge, PA 19355
Linda Harring
Senior Vice President
Prior to December 1997, Senior Vice President, Oppenheimer and
Company, Inc., CIBC Oppenheimer Tower, World Financial Center, New
York, NY 10281
Deborah R. Healey
Senior Vice President
Corporator, New England Baptist Hospital, 125 Parker Hill Ave.,
Boston, MA 02120; Director, NEB Enterprises, 125 Parket Hill Ave.,
Boston, MA 02120
Jonathan S. Horwitz
Senior Vice President
Prior to August 1998, Vice President - Corporate Planning,
Keystone Group, 200 Berkely St., Boston, MA 02116
Yoshiro Iino
Vice President
Prior to November 1997, Deputy Managing Director, Nomura
International PLC, 1 St. Martin's-le-Grand, London.
Jeffrey Kaufman
Senior Vice President
Prior to July 1998, Vice President and Portfolio Manager, MFS
Investment Management, 500 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02116
Ira C. Kalus-Bystricky
Vice President
Prior to March 1998, Consultant, Arthur D. Little, 25 Acorn Park,
Cambridge, MA 02114
Hiroshi Kato
Vice President
Prior to August 1998, Manager, Senior Analyst, Daiwa Institute of
Research, 15-6 Fuyuki, Koutou-ku, Tokyo, 135-8460
Kevin J. Keleher
Assistant Vice President
Prior to August 1998, Support Manager, Digital Equipment Co., 111
Powder Mill Rd., Maynard, MA 01754
William P. King
Vice President
Prior to November 1997, Portfolio Manager, TSA Global Asset
Management, 700 South Flower St., Los Angeles, CA 90017
Deborah F. Kuenstner
Managing Director
Director, Board of Pensions, Presbyterian Church, 1001 Market St.,
Philadelphia, PA
Leonard LaPorta, Jr.
Vice President
Prior to March 1998, Assistant Vice President, State Street Global
Advisors, Two International Place, Boston, MA 02110; Board of
Overseers', USS Constitution Museum, Charleston, MA
Lawrence J. Lasser
President, Director and Chief Executive
Director, Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., 1221 Avenue of the
Americas, New York, NY 10020; Board of Governors and Executive
Committee, Investment Company Institute, 1401 H. St., N.W. Suite
1200, Washington, DC 20005; Board of Overseers, Museum of Fine
Arts, 465 Huntington, Ave., Boston, MA 02115; Trustee, Beth Israel
Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA; Member
of the Council on Foreign Relations, 58 East 68th St., New York,
NY 10021; Member of the Board of Directors of the United Way of
Massachusetts Bay, 245 Summer St., Suite 1401, Boston, MA 02110;
Trustee of the Vineyard Open Land Foundation, RFD Box 319X,
Vineyard Haven, MA 02568
Gordon R. Lawrence
Assistant Vice President
Prior to July 1999, summer associate, J.P. Morgan Investment
Management, 522 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10009, Prior to July,
1997, Associate Lehman Brothers, 3 World Financial Center, New
York, NY 10285
Maura W. Leddy
Vice President
Prior to October 1998, Bookkeeper, Davol/Taunton Printing, 330
Winthrop Street Taunton, MA 02780.
Richard Leibovitch
Managing Director
Prior to February 1999, Managing Director, J.P. Morgan, 60 Wall
St., New York, NY 10260
Craig S. Lewis
Vice President
Prior to January 1998, Analyst, Keystone Investments, 200 Berkeley
Street, Boston, MA 02101
Mark G. Lohr
Managing Director
Prior to March 1998, Senior Vice President, Fidelity Investmetns,
82 Devonshire St., Boston, MA 02109
Elizabeth M. MacElwee Jones
Senior Vice President
Prior to January 1998, Principal, Morgan Stanley, 1155 Broadway,
New York, NY 10036
Noboru Machida
Vice President
Prior to October 1998, Senior Analyst, The Nikko Research Center
Ltd., Nihonbashi Kayabacho, Chuou-ku Tokyo, Japan 103
Kevin Maloney
Managing Director
Institutional Director, Financial Management Association,
University of South Florida, College of Business Administration,
Suite 3331, Tampa, FL 33620
Jabaz Mathai
Assistant Vice President
Prior to December 1997, Associate, Deutsche Morgan Grenfell, 31
West 52nd St., New York, NY 10019
Sarah Marshall
Vice President
Prior to August 1999, Associate, McKinsey & Company, Inc., 55 E.
52nd St., New York, NY 10010
Paul McHugh
Vice President
Prior to June, 1998, Principal, Robertson Stephens & Company, One
International Place, Boston, MA 02110
Nicholas Melhuish
Vice President
Prior to August 1999, Assistant Director of Schroder Investment
Management, 31 Gresham St., London, England ECZV8AQ
Krishna Memani
Managing Director
Prior to September 1998, Principal, Morgan Stanley & Co., 1585
Broadway, New York, NY 10039
Peter V. Meyer
Vice President
Prior to July 1999, Conseco Capital Management, 11825 N.
Pennsylvania Ave., Carmel, IN 46032
Paul K. Michaud
Vice President
Prior to December 1997, Assistant Vice President, Union Bank of
Switzerland, Bahnhofstrasse 45, 8021 Zurich, Switzerland
Christopher G. Miller
Vice President
Prior to January 1998, Portfolio Manager, Analytic TSA Global
Asset Management, 700 So. Flower St., Los Angeles, CA 90017
Jeanne L. Mockard
Senior Vice President
Trustee, The Bryn Mawr School, 109, W. Melrose Avenue, Baltimore,
MA 21210
Donald E. Mullin
Senior Vice President
Corporate Representative and Board Member, Delta Dental Plan of
Massachusetts, 10 Presidents Landing, P.O. Box 94104, Medford, MA
02155
Jennifer P. Murphy
Managing Director
Prior to September 1999, Managing Director, Morgan Stanley, 1585
Broadway, New York, NY 10036
Kenneth W. Murphy, Jr.
Assistant Vice President
Prior to May 1998, Senior Financial Analyst, Merck & Co., Inc.,
One Merck Drive, Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889
Philip M. Murphy
Assistant Vice President
Prior to June 1999, Marketing and Client Relations Association, GE
Investments, 3003 Summer Street, Stamford, CT 06904. Prior to
March 1998, Analyst, McLagan Partners, Inc., Four Stamford Plaza,
Suite 400, 107 Elm Street, Stamford, CT 06902
Toshio Nagashima
Managing Director
Prior to July 1999, General Manager, Product Dept., Investment
Trust Preparation, Sumitomo Bank, 1-3-2- Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku,
Tokyo 100-0005 Japan
Kimberly A.M. Page Nauen
Vice President
Prior to February 1998, Senior Consultant, Andersen Consulting,
100 Williams St., Wellesley, MA 02181
Maria Julia Nisbet
Assistant Vice President
Prior to May 1999, Project Manager, Cisalpina Gestioni, Via Boito,
10, Milan, Italy 20121
Stephen M. Oristaglio
Senior Managing Director
Prior to July 1998, Managing Director Global Head of Fixed Income,
Swiss Bank Corp/UBS Organization, 222 Broadway, New York, NY 10022
Margery C. Parker
Senior Vice President
Prior to December 1997, Vice President and Portfolio Manager,
Keystone Investments 200 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02101
Carlos Pampliega
Vice President
Prior to March 1998, Regional Manager, Massachusetts Financial
Services, 500 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02116
Jeffrey F. Peters
Managing Director
Prior to June 1999, Principal, McKinsey & Company, 75 Park Plaza,
Boston, MA 02116
Joseph P. Petitti
Vice President
Prior to May 1998, Senior Treasury Analyst, Liberty Mutual
Insurance Co., 175 Berkely St., Boston, MA 02122
Randolph Petralia
Senior Vice President
Prior to May 1998, First Vice President, Lehman Brothers, 3 World
Financial Center, New York, NY 10285
Robert A. Piepenburg
Vice President
Prior to December 1997, Assistant Vice President, BankBoston
Corp./Boston Security, 100 Federal St., Boston, MA 02106
Keith Plapinger
Vice President
Chairman and Trustee, Advent School, 17 Brimmer St., Boston, MA
02108
James A. Polk
Vice President
Prior to June 1998, Investment Officer, Massachusetts Financial
Services, 500 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02116
Charles E. Porter
Executive Vice President
Trustee, Anatolia College, 130 Bowdoin St., Suite 1201, Boston, MA
02108; Governor, Handel & Hayden Society, Horticulture Hall, 300
Massachusetts Ave., Boston, MA 02115
Elizabeth Price
Assistant Vice President
Prior to January 1998, Investment Analyst, Schroder Investment
Management Limited, 33 Gutter Lane, London, EC2V 8AS, England
Quintin R.S. Price
Managing Director
Prior to December 1998, Corporate Development Director, The Boots
Company PLC, Group Headquarters, Nottingham NG2 3AA England; Prior
to June 1998, Managing Director of Pan European Equities and
Global Head of Research, HSBC Investment Bank PLC, Thames
Exchange, 10 Queen St Place, London, EC4R 1BL
George Putnam
Chairman and Director
Chairman and Director, Putnam Mutual Funds Corp.; Director, The
Boston Company, Inc., One Boston Place, Boston, MA 02108;
Director, Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company, One Boston Place,
Boston, MA 02108; Director, Freeport-McMoRan, Inc., 200 Park
Avenue, New York, NY 10166; Director, General Mills, Inc., 9200
Wayzata Boulevard, Minneapolis, MN 55440; Director, Houghton
Mifflin Company, One Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108; Director,
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New
York, NY 10020; Director, Rockefeller Group, Inc., 1230 Avenue of
the Americas, New York, NY 10020; Trustee, Massachusetts General
Hospital, Fruit Street, Boston, Ma 02114; McLean Hospital 115 Mill
St., Belmont, MA 02178; The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Post
Office Box 1776, Williamsburg, VA 23187; The Museum of Fine Arts,
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115; WGBH Foundation, 125
Western Avenue, Boston, MA 02134; The Nature Conservancy, Post
Office Square Building, 79 Milk St., Suite 300, Boston, MA 02109;
Trustee, The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main St., Bar Harbor, ME
Edward Qian
Vice President
Prior to February 1998, Back Bay Advisors, 399 Boylston St.,
Boston, MA 02116
Keith Quinton
Senior Vice President
Director, Eleazar, Inc., West Wheelock St., Hanover, NH 03755
Nadine McQueen-Reed
Assistant Vice President
Prior to March, 1999, Key Account Executive, Fidelity Investments,
130 Tonbridge Road, Hildenborough, Kent, England, TN11 9DZ
Thomas V. Reilly
Managing Director
Trustee, Knox College, 2 East South St., Galesburg, IL 61401
Kevin J. Rogers
Senior Vice President
Prior to September 1998, Managing Director- Portfolio Manager,
Invesco, NY Organization, 1066 Avenue of the Americas, New York,
NY 10036
Michael V. Salm
Vice President
Prior to November 1997, Mortgage Analyst, Blackrock Financial 345
Park Ave., New York, NY 10010
Preeti Sayana
Assistant Vice President
Prior to January 1998, Director, Fidelity Investments, 82
Devonshire St., Boston, MA 02109
Saied Simozar
Senior Vice President
Prior to March 1998, Manager, Portfolio Analytics, DuPont Pension
fund Investment, One Righter Parkway, Suite 3200, Wilmington, DE
198903
Justin M. Scott
Managing Director
Director, DSI Proprieties (Neja) Ltd., Epping Rd., Reydon, Essex
CM19 5RD
Denise D. Selden
Senior Vice President
Prior to June 1998, Managing Director, Lehman Brothers, 260
Franklin St., Boston, MA 02110
Raj Ken Sharma
Vice President
Prior to January 1998, Vice President and Portfolio Manager, Fleet
Financial, 75 State Street, Boston, MA 02106
Jean I. Sievert
Senior Vice President
Prior to October 1998, Vice President, Salomon Smith Barney, Seven
World Trade Center, New York, NY 10048
Gordon H. Silver
Managing Director
Trustee, Wang Center for the Performing Arts, 270 Tremont St.,
Boston, MA 02116
David M. Silk
Senior Vice President
Member of Board of Directors, Jobs for Bay State Graduates, 451
Andover St., Suite 305, North Andover, MA 01845
Steven Spiegel
Senior Managing Director
Director, Ultra Diamond and Gold Outlet, 29 East Madison St.,
Suite 1800, Chicago, IL 60602; Director, FACES New York University
Medical Center, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016; Trustee,
Babson College, One College Drive, Wellesley, MA 02157
John Graham Spiers
Senior Vice President
Prior to January 1998, Managing Director, Quantitative Financial
Strategies, Inc., 100 Fourfalls Corporate Drive, Suite 314,
Conshohocken, PA 19428
Raman Srivastava
Assistant Vice President
Prior to July 1999, Market Risk Analyst, Bank of Nova Scotia, 20
King St., W., Toronto, ON
James St. John
Assistant Vice President
Prior to July 1998, Investment Analyst, University of Rochester,
Rochester, NY 14627
Loren Michael Starr
Managing Director
Prior to February 1998, Senior Vice President, Lehman Brothers, 3
World Financial Center, New York, NY 10285.
Michael P. Stack
Senior Vice President
Prior to November 1997, Senior Vice President and Portfolio
Manager, Independence Investment Associates, 53 State St., Boston,
MA 02109
Toshifumi Sugimoto
Senior Vice President
Prior to October 1998, Portfolio Manager, Deputy General Manager,
Nikko Securities Investment Trust & Management, Fixed Income
Department, 4-3 Nihonbashi, Hakozakicho, Chuou-ku, Tokyo, Japan,
103-0015
William J. Sullivan
Senior Vice President
Prior to June 1999, Executive Director, SBC Warburg Dillion Read,
677 Washington Blvd, Stamford, CT, 06901
Robert E. Sweeney
Vice President
Prior to February 1998, Vice President, Corporate Research Smith
Barney, One New York Plaza, New York, NY 10004
Judith H. Swirbalus
Vice President
Prior to January 1998, Alex, Brown & Sons, One South St.,
Baltimore, MD 21202
Toshifumi Sugimoto
Senior Vice President
Prior to October 1998, Portfolio Manager, Deputy General Manager,
Nikko Securities Investment Trust & Management, Fixed Income
Department, 4-3 Nihonbashi, Hakozakicho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan,
103-001
John C. Talanian
Managing Director
Member of Board of Directors, the Japan Society of Boston, One
Milk Street, Boston, MA 02109
Nicole J. Thorpe
Assistant Vice President
Prior to February 1999, President/Owner, Thorpe Resources, P.O.
Box 1895, Brockton, MA 02301
John R. Tonkin
Assistant Vice President
Prior to January 1998, Analyst, Credit Suisse First Boston Celtic
Towers, The Terrace Wellington, New Zealand
Robert J. Ullman
Assistant Vice President
Prior to September, 1998, Assistant Vice President, State Street
Bank, Two International Place, Boston, MA 02109
Vincent Vliebergh
Vice President
Prior to May 1998, Senior Consultant, Garnett Consulting, 30
Monument Square, Concord, MA 01742
Christopher C. Watt
Vice President
Prior to July 1999, Finance Manager, Procter & Gamble, 1 Procter &
Gamble Plaza, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Eric Wetlaufer
Managing Director
President and Member of Board of Directors, The Boston Security
Analysts Society, Inc., 100 Boylston St., Suite 1050, Boston, MA
02110
Edward F. Whalen
Senior Vice President
Member of the Board of Directors, Hockomock Area YMCA, 300 Elmwood
St., North Attleboro, MA 02760
Edmund F. Wright Jr.
Assistant Vice President
Prior to July 1998, Controller, CBE Technologies, Inc., 50
Redfield St., Boston, MA 02122
Richard P. Wyke
Senior Vice President
Director, Salem YMCA, One Sewall St., Salem, MA 01970
ITEM 27. PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER
(a) Putnam Mutual Funds Corp. is the principal underwriter for
each of the following investment companies, including the
Registrant:
Putnam American Government Income Fund, Putnam Arizona Tax Exempt
Income Fund, Putnam Asia Pacific Growth Fund, Putnam Asset
Allocation Funds, Putnam Balanced Retirement Fund, Putnam
California Tax Exempt Income Fund, Putnam California Tax Exempt
Money Market Fund, Putnam Capital Appreciation Fund, Putnam
Convertible Income-Growth Trust, Putnam Diversified Income Trust,
Putnam Equity Income Fund, Putnam Europe Growth Fund, Putnam
Florida Tax Exempt Income Fund, Putnam Funds Trust, The George
Putnam Fund of Boston, Putnam Global Equity Fund, Putnam Global
Governmental Income Trust, Putnam Global Growth Fund, Putnam
Global Natural Resources Fund, The Putnam Fund for Growth and
Income, Putnam Growth and Income Fund II, Putnam Health Sciences
Trust, Putnam High Yield Trust, Putnam High Yield Advantage Fund,
Putnam Income Fund, Putnam Intermediate U.S. Government Income
Fund, Putnam International Growth Fund, Putnam Investment Funds,
Putnam Investors Fund, Putnam Massachusetts Tax Exempt Income
Fund, Putnam Michigan Tax Exempt Income Fund, Putnam Minnesota Tax
Exempt Income Fund, Putnam Money Market Fund, Putnam Municipal
Income Fund, Putnam New Jersey Tax Exempt Income Fund, Putnam New
Opportunities Fund, Putnam New York Tax Exempt Income Fund, Putnam
New York Tax Exempt Money Market Fund, Putnam New York Tax Exempt
Opportunities Fund, Putnam Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund, Putnam OTC
& Emerging Growth Fund, Putnam Pennsylvania Tax Exempt Income
Fund, Putnam Preferred Income Fund, Putnam Strategic Income Fund,
Putnam Tax Exempt Income Fund, Putnam Tax Exempt Money Market
Fund, Putnam Tax-Free Income Trust, Putnam Tax Smart Funds Trust,
Putnam U.S. Government Income Trust, Putnam Utilities Growth and
Income Fund, Putnam Variable Trust, Putnam Vista Fund, Putnam
Voyager Fund, Putnam Voyager Fund II.
(b) The directors and officers of the Registrant's principal
underwriter are listed below. None of the officers are officers
of the Registrant except:
Name Position and Offices with Registrant
Richard Monaghan Vice President
George Putnam Chairman and President
Gordon Silver Vice President
The principal business address of each person is One Post Office
Square, Boston, MA 02109:
NAME
POSITION AND OFFICES WITH UNDERWRITER
Adduci,John V. Vice President
Alberts,Richard W. Asst. Vice President
Alden,Donald F. Vice President
Alexander,Michael R. Vice President
Alpaugh,Christopher S. Vice President
Amisano,Paulette C. Vice President
Arends,Michael K. Senior Vice President
Asher,Steven E. Senior Vice President
Avery,Scott A. Senior Vice President
Aymond,Christian E. Senior Vice President
Aymond,Colin C. Vice President
Barnett,William E. Asst. Vice President
Barrett,Thomas Vice President
Battit,Suzanne J Vice President
Beatty,Steven M. Senior Vice President
Bent,John J. Vice President
Beringer,Thomas C. Vice President
Berka,Sharon A. Senior Vice President
Boneparth,John F. Managing Director
Bonfilio Jr.,Peter J. Asst. Vice President
Bouchard,Keith R. Senior Vice President
Bradford Jr.,Linwood E. Senior Vice President
Bresnahan,Leslee R. Managing Director
Brockelman,James D. Senior Vice President
Brookman,Joel S. Vice President
Brown,Timothy K. Senior Vice President
Buckner,Gail D. Senior Vice President
Burke,Robert W. Sr Managing Director
Burnham,David N. Vice President
Burrill,Gregory J. Vice President
Buzzell,Paul F. Asst. Vice President
Cabana,Susan D. Vice President
Cartwright,Patricia A. Asst. Vice President
Casey,David M. Vice President
Castle Jr.,James R. Vice President
Chamieh,Mark Vice President
Chapman,Frederick Vice President
Chapman,Thomas E. Vice President
Chase,Mary Claire Vice President
Chrostowski,Louis F. Senior Vice President
Church,Daniel J. Vice President
Clark,Richard B. Senior Vice President
Clermont,Mary Asst. Vice President
Clinton,John C. Asst. Vice President
Cohen,Jeff M. Asst. Vice President
Collman,Kathleen M. Sr Managing Director
Commane,Karen L. Asst. Vice President
Coneeny,Mark L. Senior Vice President
Connelly,Donald A. Senior Vice President
Connolly,William T. Managing Director
Cooper,John S. Vice President
Corbett,Dennis Vice President
Corvinus,F. Nicholas Senior Vice President
Cotto,Stephen P Asst. Vice President
Crane III,George H. Senior Vice President
Cristo,Chad H. Vice President
Curran,Peter J. Senior Vice President
Dahill,Jessica E. Vice President
Daly,Kenneth L. Managing Director
Daylor,Donna M. Vice President
Days,Nancy M. Asst. Vice President
Deluse,Laura R. Asst. Vice President
deMont,Lisa M. Vice President
Diaz,Roger Vice President
Dirstine,Michael T. Asst. Vice President
DiStasio,Karen E. Vice President
Divney,Kevin M. Vice President
Dolan,Michael G. Vice President
Donaldson,Scott M. Vice President
Dougherty,Thomas Vice President
Durbin,Emily J. Vice President
Durkee,Christine Asst. Vice President
Edlin,David B. Managing Director
Elder,Michael D. Vice President
Emhof,Joseph R. Vice President
English,James M. Senior Vice President
Esposito,Vincent Managing Director
Favaloro,Beth A. Vice President
Feldman,Susan H. Senior Vice President
Fisher,C. Nancy Managing Director
Fishman,Mitchell B. Senior Vice President
Fiumara,Joseph C. Vice President
Flaherty,Patricia C. Senior Vice President
Fleisher,Kate Vice President
Fleming,Ellen E. Asst. Vice President
Foley,Timothy P. Vice President
Frost,Karen T. Senior Vice President
Gaudette,Marjorie B. Vice President
Gibbs,Stephen C. Vice President
Gindel,Caroline E. Asst. Vice President
Goodfellow,Mark D. Vice President
Goodman,Robert Managing Director
Gould,Carol J. Asst. Vice President
Grace,Anthony J. Asst. Vice President
Grace,Linda K. Vice President
Graviere,Patrice Senior Vice President
Grey,Eric M. Vice President
Grossberg,Jill Asst. Vice President
Grove,Denise Vice President
Gubala,Jeffrey P. Vice President
Guerin,Donnalee Asst. Vice President
Hachey,Andrew J Asst. Vice President
Hall,Debra L. Vice President
Halloran,James E. Vice President
Halloran,Thomas W. Senior Vice President
Hansen,Christine M. Asst. Vice President
Harring,Linda Senior Vice President
Harrington,Shannon W. Vice President
Hartig,Robert Vice President
Hartigan,Craig W. Vice President
Hartley,Deborah M. Asst. Vice President
Hayes-Castro,Deanna R. Vice President
Hedstrom,Gayle A. Asst. Vice President
Heimanson,Susan M. Senior Vice President
Holmes,Maureen A. Asst. Vice President
Hooley,Daniel F Jr. Asst. Vice President
Horwitz,Jonathan S. Senior Vice President
Hotchkiss,Michael F. Senior Vice President
Hoyt,Paula J. Asst. Vice President
Hurley,William J. Managing Director & CFO
Hutchins,Robert B. Vice President
Iino,Yoshiro Vice President
Jacobsen,Dwight D. Managing Director
Kaminsky,Gregory C. Vice President
Kapinos,Peter J. Vice President
Keleher,Kevin J. Asst. Vice President
Kelley,Brian J. Vice President
Kelly,David Vice President
Kelly,Robin F. Asst. Vice President
Kennedy,Alicia C. Asst. Vice President
Kinsman,Anne Senior Vice President
Kirk,Deborah H. Senior Vice President
Koontz,Jill A. Senior Vice President
Kringdon,Joseph D. Senior Vice President
Landers,Bruce M. Vice President
Lane,Linda L. Asst. Vice President
LaPierre,Christopher W Asst. Vice President
Lathrop,James D. Senior Vice President
Lawlor,Stephanie T. Asst. Vice President
Leary,Joan M. Vice President
Ledbetter,Charles C. Vice President
Leddy,Maura W. Vice President
Leipsitz,Margaret Asst. Vice President
Lemire,Kevin Vice President
Levy,Eric S. Senior Vice President
Levy,Norman S. Vice President
Lewandowski Jr.,Edward V. Vice President
Lewandowski,Edward V. Senior Vice President
Li,Mei Asst. Vice President
Lieberman,Samuel L. Vice President
Lifsitz,David M. Vice President
Lilien,David R. Vice President
Link,Christopher H. Asst. Vice President
Linquata,Louis K. Asst. Vice President
Litant,Lisa M. Asst. Vice President
Lockwood,Maura A. Senior Vice President
Loew,Christopher R. Asst. Vice President
Lohr,Mark G. Managing Director
Lomba,Rufino R. Senior Vice President
Lucey,Robert F. Director
Lucey,Thomas J. Director
Lyons,Robert F. Asst. Vice President
Macdonald,Richard A. Senior Vice President
Maloof,Renee L. Asst. Vice President
Mancini,Dana Asst. Vice President
Mancini,Jane M. Managing Director
Manning,George J. Vice President
Manthorne,Heather M. Asst. Vice President
Maravel,Alexi A. Asst. Vice President
Maxwell,Scott M. Managing Director
McAvoy,Bridget Asst. Vice President
McCafferty,Karen A. Vice President
McCarthy,Anne B. Asst. Vice President
McConville,Paul D. Senior Vice President
McCracken,Brian Asst. Vice President
McCutcheon,Bruce A Senior Vice President
McDermott,Robert J. Vice President
McKenna,Mark J. Senior Vice President
McNamara,Laura Vice President
McNamee,Mary G. Asst. Vice President
Meagher,Dorothy B. Asst. Vice President
Mehta,Ashok Vice President
Metelmann,Claye A. Vice President
Michejda,Marek A. Vice President
Miller,Bart D. Senior Vice President
Miller,Gregory T. Vice President
Miller,Jeffrey M. Managing Director
Mills,Ronald K. Vice President
Minsk,Judith Asst. Vice President
Monaghan,Richard A. Director
Monahan,Kimberly A. Vice President
Moody,Paul R. Vice President
Moret,Mitchell L. Senior Vice President
Morey,John P. Senior Vice President
Mosher,Barry L. Asst. Vice President
Mullen,Donald E. Senior Vice President
Munson,Brian D. Vice President
Murphy Jr.,Kenneth W. Asst. Vice President
Murphy,Paul G. Vice President
Murray,Brendan R. Vice President
Nadherny,Robert Senior Vice President
Nagashima,Toshio Managing Director
Nauen,Kimberly Page Asst. Vice President
Neary,Ellen R. Vice President
Nelson,Andrew E. Vice President
Neutra,Colleen J. Asst. Vice President
Newell,Amy Jane Vice President
Nickodemus,John P. Senior Vice President
Nickse,Gail A. Asst. Vice President
Nicolazzo,Jon C. Vice President
Nisbet,M. Julia Asst. Vice President
O'Brien,Lois C. Vice President
O'Connell,Gayle M. Asst. Vice President
O'Connor,Brian P. Vice President
Onofrio,Ellen Asst. Vice President
Orr,Kevin Vice President
Palmer,Patrick J. Vice President
Pampliega,Carlos Vice President
Panessa,Brian Vice President
Papes,Scott A. Vice President
Parker,Michael T. Asst. Vice President
Patton,Robert J. Vice President
Peters,Jeffrey F. Managing Director
Petitti,Joseph P. Vice President
Petralia,Randolph S. Senior Vice President
Phoenix,John G. Senior Vice President
Phoenix,Joseph Senior Vice President
Pilibosian,George J. Vice President
Plapinger,Keith Senior Vice President
Powers,Brian S. Asst. Vice President
Present,Howard B Senior Vice President
Puddle,David G. Senior Vice President
Pulkrabek,Scott M. Vice President
Putnam,George Director
Reed,Nadine McQueen Asst. Vice President
Riley,Megan G. Asst. Vice President
Rodammer,Kris Vice President
Rogers,Deborah A. Vice President
Rowe,Robert B. Vice President
Ryan,Carolyn M. Asst. Vice President
Ryan,Deborah A. Vice President
Ryan,William M. Vice President
Saunders,Catherine A. Senior Vice President
Saur,Karl W. Vice President
Scanlon,Michael M. Vice President
Schlosberg,Alan R. Asst. Vice President
Schofield,Shannon D. Vice President
Schultz,Mitchell D. Managing Director
Scordato,Christine A. Senior Vice President
Segers,Elizabeth R. Senior Vice President
Selden,Denise D. Senior Vice President
Shamburg,John B. Vice President
Shanahan,Christopher W. Vice President
Sharpless,Kathy G. Managing Director
Shelby,Robert Vice President
Short,Jonathan D. Senior Vice President
Siebold,Mark J. Asst. Vice President
Siemon Jr.,Frank E. Asst. Vice President
Silva,J. Paul Vice President
Silver,Gordon H. Sr Managing Director
Skistimas Jr,John J. Vice President
Solan,Meenakshi Asst. Vice President
Soule,Scott W. Asst. Vice President
Spiegel,Steven Sr Managing Director
Sprague,David L. Vice President
Starishevsky,Daniel Vice President
Starr,Loren M. Managing Director
Statuta,Jason M. Vice President
Steinberg,Lauren B. Asst. Vice President
Stern,Derek A. Asst. Vice President
Stickney,Paul R. Senior Vice President
Strumpf,Casey Senior Vice President
Sugimoto,Toshifumi Senior Vice President
Sullivan,Brian L. Senior Vice President
Sullivan,Donna G Vice President
Sullivan,Elaine M. Senior Vice President
Sullivan,Maryann Asst. Vice President
Suzuki,Toshimi Senior Vice President
Sweeney,Janet C. Senior Vice President
Talanian,John C. Managing Director
Tanner,B Iris Vice President
Tavares,April M. Asst. Vice President
Telling,John R. Senior Vice President
Thorpe,Nicole J. Asst. Vice President
Tibbetts,Richard B. Managing Director
Tirado,Patrice M. Vice President
Toner,Robert J. Asst. Vice President
Troped Blacker,Bonnie Senior Vice President
Trowbridge,Wendy S. Asst. Vice President
Upham,Scott E. Vice President
Walsh,Stephen R. Vice President
Washburn,Andrew O. Vice President
Waters,Mitchell J. Vice President
Watt,Christopher C. Vice President
Whalen,Brian Vice President
Whalen,Edward F. Senior Vice President
Whitaker,J. Greg Vice President
White,J. Bennett Vice President
Wolfson,Jane Senior Vice President
Woodlock,Ronald J. Asst. Vice President
Woolverton,William H. Managing Director
Wright Jr.,Edmund F. Asst. Vice President
Yan,Yanfang Asst. Vice President
Young,Jason P. Vice President
Zografos,Laura J. Vice President
Zukowski,Virginia A. Senior Vice President
ITEM 28. LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS
Persons maintaining physical possession of accounts, books and
other documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules promulgated
thereunder are Registrant's Assistant Clerk, Judith Cohen;
Registrant's investment adviser, Putnam Investment Management,
Inc.; Registrant's principal underwriter, Putnam Mutual Funds
Corp.; Registrant's custodian, Putnam Fiduciary Trust Company
("PFTC"); and Registrant's transfer and dividend disbursing agent,
Putnam Investor Services, a division of PFTC. The address of the
Assistant Clerk, investment adviser, principal underwriter,
custodian and transfer and dividend disbursing agent is One Post
Office Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02109.
Item 29. Management Services
None.
Item 30. Undertakings
None.
NOTICE
A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of Putnam
Investment Funds is on file with the Secretary of State of The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts and notice is hereby given that this
instrument is executed on behalf of the Registrant by an officer
of the Registrant as an officer and not individually and the
obligations of or arising out of this instrument are not binding
upon any of the Trustees, officers or shareholders individually
but are binding only upon the assets and property of the
Registrant.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, the fund has duly caused this
Amendment to its Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Boston, and
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on the 29th day of
October , 1999.
PUTNAM INVESTMENT FUNDS
By: Gordon H. Silver, Vice President
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Amendment to the Registration Statement of Putnam Investment Funds
has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities
and on the dates indicated:
Signature Title
George Putnam President and Chairman of the Board; Principal
Executive Officer; Trustee
John D. Hughes Senior Vice President; Treasurer and Principal
Financial Officer
Paul G. Bucuvalas Assistant Treasurer and Principal Accounting
Officer
Jameson A. Baxter Trustee
Hans H. Estin Trustee
John A. Hill Trustee
Ronald J. Jackson Trustee
Paul L. Joskow Trustee
Elizabeth T. Kennan Trustee
Lawrence J. Lasser Trustee
John H. Mullin, III Trustee
Robert E. Patterson Trustee
William F. Pounds Trustee
George Putnam, III Trustee
A.J.C. Smith Trustee
W. Thomas Stephens Trustee
W. Nicholas Thorndike Trustee
By: Gordon H. Silver,
as Attorney-in-Fact
October 29 , 1999
EXHIBITS
10. Opinion of Ropes & Gray, including consent - -Exhibit 1.
14. Rule 18f-3 Plan -- Exhibit 2.
ROPES & GRAY
ONE INTERNATIONAL PLACE
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02110-2624
(617) 951-7000
FAX: (617) 951-7050
Putnam Investment Funds
One Post Office Square
Boston, MA 02109
Gentlemen:
We are furnishing this opinion in connection with the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (the "Registration
Statement") filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
by Putnam Investment Funds (the "Trust") for the registration of
an indefinite number of its shares of beneficial interest (the
"Shares"). The Shares are proposed to be sold pursuant to a
Distributor's Contract dated December 2, 1994 (the "Distributor's
Contract") between the Trust and Putnam Mutual Funds Corp.
We have acted as counsel for the Trust since its
organization. We are familiar with the action taken by its
Trustees to authorize this issuance of the Shares. We have
examined its records of Trustee and shareholder action, its
Bylaws, and its Agreement and Declaration of Trust on file at the
office of the Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts. We have examined copies of such Registration
Statement, in the form filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, and such other documents as we deem necessary for the
purpose of this opinion.
We assume that upon sale of the Shares the Trust will
receive the net asset value thereof.
We are of the opinion that the Shares are currently divided
into thirteen separate portfolio series, that the Trust is
authorized to issue an unlimited number of Shares of each of the
following series: Putnam Growth Opportunities Fund, Putnam
Capital Opportunities Fund, Putnam Balanced Fund, Putnam
Emerging Markets Fund, Putnam Global Growth and Income Fund,
Putnam International Fund, Putnam International New Opportunities
Fund, Putnam International Voyager Fund, Putnam Mid-Cap Value
Fund, Putnam New Value Fund, Putnam Research Fund, Putnam Small
Cap Value Fund and Putnam Worldwide Equity Fund; and that when
the Shares are issued and sold pursuant to the Distributor's
Contract, they will be validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable by the Trust.
The Trust is an entity of the type commonly known as a
"Massachusetts business trust." Under Massachusetts law,
shareholders could, under certain circumstances, be held
personally liable for the obligations of the Trust. However, the
Agreement and Declaration of Trust disclaims shareholder
liability for acts or obligations of the Trust and requires that
notice of such disclaimer by given in each agreement, obligation,
or instrument entered into or executed by the Trust or the
Trustees. The Agreement and Declaration of Trust provides for
allocation of the assets and liabilities of the Trust among its
portfolio series, and further provides for indemnification out of
the property of a portfolio series for all loss and expense of
any shareholder of the portfolio series held personally liable
solely by reason of his being or having been a shareholder.
Thus, the risk of a shareholder's incurring financial loss on
account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in
which the portfolio series itself would be unable to meet its
obligations.
We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to
such Registration Statement.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Ropes & Gray
Ropes & Gray
<PAGE>
PUTNAM FUNDS
PLAN PURSUANT TO RULE 18F-3(D) UNDER THE
INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 1, 1999
Each of the open-end investment companies managed by Putnam
Investment Management, Inc. (each a "Fund" and, together, the
"Funds") may from time to time issue one or more of the following
classes of shares: Class A shares, Class B shares, Class C
shares, Class M shares and Class Y shares. Each class is subject
to such investment minimums and other conditions of eligibility
as are set forth in the Funds' registration statements as from
time to time in effect. The differences in expenses among these
classes of shares, and the conversion and exchange features of
each class of shares, are set forth below in this Plan. Except
as noted below, expenses are allocated among the classes of
shares of each Fund based upon the net assets of each Fund
attributable to shares of each class. This Plan is subject to
change, to the extent permitted by law and by the Agreement and
Declaration of Trust and By-laws of each Fund, by action of the
Trustees of each Fund.
CLASS A SHARES
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE FEES
Class A shares pay distribution and service fees pursuant to
plans (the "Class A Plans") adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under
the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"). Class A
shares also bear any costs associated with obtaining shareholder
approval of the Class A Plans (or an amendment to a Class A
Plan). Pursuant to the Class A Plans, Class A shares may pay up
to 0.35% of the relevant Fund's average net assets attributable
to the Class A shares* (which percentage may be less for certain
Funds, as described in the Funds' registration statements as from
time to time in effect). Amounts payable under the Class A Plans
are subject to such further limitations as the Trustees may from
time to time determine and as set forth in the registration
statement of each Fund as from time to time in effect.
- ---------------------------
*Class A shares of Putnam Global Equity Fund may pay up to
0.65% of average net assets attributable to Class A shares.
CONVERSION FEATURES
Class A shares do not convert to any other class of shares.
EXCHANGE FEATURES
Class A shares of any Fund may be exchanged, at the holder's
option, for Class A shares of any other Fund that offers Class A
shares without the payment of a sales charge beginning 15 days
after purchase, provided that Class A shares of such other Fund
are available to residents of the relevant state. The holding
period for determining any contingent deferred sales charge (a
"CDSC") will include the holding period of the shares exchanged,
and will be calculated using the schedule of any Fund into or
from which shares have been exchanged that would result in the
highest CDSC applicable to such Class A shares.
INITIAL SALES CHARGE
Class A shares are offered at a public offering price that
is equal to their net asset value ("NAV") plus a sales charge of
up to 5.75% of the public offering price (which maximum may be
less for certain Funds, as described in each Fund's registration
statement as from time to time in effect). The sales charges on
Class A shares are subject to reduction or waiver as permitted by
Rule 22d-1 under the 1940 Act and as described in the Funds'
registration statements as from time to time in effect.
CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE
Purchases of Class A shares of $1 million or more that are
redeemed within two years of purchase are subject to a CDSC of up
to 1.00% of either the purchase price or the NAV of the shares
redeemed, whichever is less. Class A shares are not otherwise
subject to a CDSC.
The CDSC on Class A shares is subject to reduction or waiver
in certain circumstances, as permitted by Rule 6c-10 under the
1940 Act and as described in the Funds' registration statements
as from time to time in effect.
CLASS B SHARES
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE FEES
Class B shares pay distribution and service fees pursuant to
plans adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the
"Class B Plans"). Class B shares also bear any costs associated
with obtaining shareholder approval of the Class B Plans (or an
amendment to a Class B Plan). Pursuant to the Class B Plans,
Class B shares may pay up to 1.00% of the relevant Fund's average
net assets attributable to Class B shares (which percentage may
be less for certain Funds, as described in the Funds'
registration statements as from time to time in effect). Amounts
payable under the Class B Plans are subject to such further
limitations as the Trustees may from time to time determine and
as set forth in the registration statement of each Fund as from
time to time in effect.
CONVERSION FEATURES
Class B shares automatically convert to Class A shares of
the same Fund at the end of the month eight years after purchase
(or such earlier date as the Trustees of a Fund may authorize),
except that Class B shares purchased through the reinvestment of
dividends and other distributions on Class B shares convert to
Class A shares at the same time as the shares with respect to
which they were purchased are converted and Class B shares
acquired by the exchange of Class B shares of another Fund will
convert to Class A shares based on the time of the initial
purchase.
EXCHANGE FEATURES
Class B shares of any Fund may be exchanged, at the holder's
option, for Class B shares of any other Fund that offers Class B
shares without the payment of a sales charge beginning 15 days
after purchase, provided that Class B shares of such other Fund
are available to residents of the relevant state. The holding
period for determining any CDSC will include the holding period
of the shares exchanged, and will be calculated using the
schedule of any Fund into or from which shares have been
exchanged that would result in the highest CDSC applicable to
such Class B shares.
INITIAL SALES CHARGE
Class B shares are offered at their NAV, without an initial
sales charge.
CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE
Class B shares that are redeemed within 6 years of purchase
are subject to a CDSC of up to 5.00% of either the purchase price
or the NAV of the shares redeemed, whichever is less (which
period may be shorter and which percentage may be less for
certain Funds, as described in the Funds' registration statements
as from time to time in effect); such percentage declines the
longer the shares are held, as described in the Funds'
registration statements as from time to time in effect. Class B
shares purchased with reinvested dividends or capital gains are
not subject to a CDSC.
The CDSC on Class B shares is subject to reduction or waiver
in certain circumstances, as permitted by Rule 6c-10 under the
1940 Act and as described in the Funds' registration statements
as from time to time in effect.
CLASS C SHARES
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE FEES
Class C shares pay distribution and service fees pursuant to
plans adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the
"Class C Plans"). Class C shares also bear any costs associated
with obtaining shareholder approval of the Class C Plans (or an
amendment to a Class C Plan). Pursuant to the Class C Plans,
Class C shares may pay up to 1.00% of the relevant Fund's average
net assets attributable to the Class C shares (which percentage
may be less for certain Funds, as described in the Funds'
registration statements as from time to time in effect). Amounts
payable under the Class C Plans are subject to such further
limitations as the Trustees may from time to time determine and
as set forth in the registration statement of each Fund as from
time to time in effect.
CONVERSION FEATURES
Class C shares do not convert to any other class of shares.
EXCHANGE FEATURES
Class C shares of any Fund may be exchanged, at the holder's
option, for Class C shares of any other Fund that offers Class C
shares without the payment of a sales charge beginning 15 days
after purchase, provided that Class C shares of such other Fund
are available to residents of the relevant state. The holding
period for determining any CDSC will include the holding period
of the shares exchanged, and will be calculated using the
schedule of any Fund into or from which shares have been
exchanged that would result in the highest CDSC applicable to
such Class C shares.
INITIAL SALES CHARGE
Class C shares are offered at their NAV, without an initial
sales charge.
CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE
Class C shares are subject to a 1.00% CDSC if the shares are
redeemed within one year of purchase. The CDSC on Class C shares
is subject to reduction or waiver in certain circumstances, as
permitted by Rule 6c-10 under the 1940 Act and as described in
the Funds' registration statements as from time to time in
effect.
CLASS M SHARES
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE FEES
Class M shares pay distribution and service fees pursuant to
plans adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the
"Class M Plans"). Class M shares also bear any costs associated
with obtaining shareholder approval of the Class M Plans (or an
amendment to a Class M Plan). Pursuant to the Class M Plans,
Class M shares may pay up to 1.00% of the relevant Fund's average
net assets attributable to Class M shares (which percentage may
be less for certain Funds, as described in the Funds'
registration statements as from time to time in effect). Amounts
payable under the Class M Plans are subject to such further
limitations as the Trustees may from time to time determine and
as set forth in the registration statement of each Fund as from
time to time in effect.
CONVERSION FEATURES
Class M shares do not convert to any other class of shares.
EXCHANGE FEATURES
Class M shares of any Fund may be exchanged, at the holder's
option, for Class M shares of any other Fund that offers Class M
shares without the payment of a sales charge beginning 15 days
after purchase, provided that Class M shares of such other Fund
are available to residents of the relevant state.
INITIAL SALES CHARGE
Class M shares are offered at a public offering price that
is equal to their NAV plus a sales charge of up to 3.50% of the
public offering price (which maximum may be less for certain
Funds, as described in each Fund's registration statement as from
time to time in effect). The sales charges on Class M shares are
subject to reduction or waiver as permitted by Rule 22d-1 under
the 1940 Act and as described in the Funds' registration
statements as from time to time in effect.
CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE
Class M shares are not subject to any CDSC.
CLASS Y SHARES
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE FEES
Class Y shares do not pay a distribution fee.
CONVERSION FEATURES
Class Y shares do not convert to any other class of shares.
EXCHANGE FEATURES
Class Y shares of any Fund may be exchanged, at the holder's
option, for Class Y shares of any other Fund that offers Class Y
shares without the payment of a sales charge beginning 15 days
after purchase, provided that Class Y shares of such other Fund
are available to residents of the relevant state, and further
provided that shares of such other Fund are available through the
relevant employer's plan.
INITIAL SALES CHARGE
Class Y shares are offered at their NAV, without an initial
sales charge.
CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE
Class Y shares are not subject to any CDSC.
