Overview
- Headquarters
- Boston, MA
- Total Firm Assets
- $117.2 billion
- Average High-Net-Worth Client Portfolio Size
- $31.8 million
- Stated Minimum Account Size
- $50,000
Fee Disclosure
FTPPG COMBINED SMA BROCHURE DECEMBER 2025
| Min | Max | Disclosed Annual Rate |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $1,000,000 | 0.60% |
| $1,000,001 | $3,000,000 | 0.55% |
| $3,000,001 | $10,000,000 | 0.50% |
| $10,000,001 | and above | 0.45% |
Estimated Annual Fees (Based on ADV disclosures. Where a range is given, we use the upper rate)
| Portfolio Value | Estimated Annual Fee | Effective Fee Rate |
|---|---|---|
| $1 million | $6,000 | 0.60% |
| $5 million | $27,000 | 0.54% |
| $10 million | $52,000 | 0.52% |
| $50 million | $232,000 | 0.46% |
| $100 million | $457,000 | 0.46% |
Clients
- High-Net-Worth Share of Firm Assets
- 0.52%
- Number of High-Net-Worth Clients
- 19
- Total Client Accounts
- 16,432
- Discretionary Accounts
- 16,412
- Non-Discretionary Accounts
- 20
Services Offered
Services: Portfolio Management for Individuals, Portfolio Management for Companies, Portfolio Management for Pooled Investment Vehicles
Regulatory Filings
- SEC CRD Number
- 106629
Additional Brochure: PUTNAM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC FORM ADV PART 2A - SEPTEMBER 2026 (2026-09-16)
View Document Text
September 16, 2026
Form ADV Part 2A
Putnam Investment Management, LLC
100 Federal St.
Boston, MA 02110
617-292-1000
www.putnam.com
This brochure provides information about the qualifications and business practices of Putnam Investment Management, LLC. The
information herein about primarily focuses on the investment advisory services Putnam Investment Management, LLC provides to clients
who do not participate in third-party investment adviser, broker-dealer and other financial services firm separately managed accounts,
unified managed accounts or other wrap fee programs (collectively, “SMA Programs”). With respect to SMA Programs, effective January
1, 2025, Putnam Investment Management, LLC acts as a sub-adviser to an affiliated registered investment adviser, Franklin Templeton
Private Portfolio Group, LLC (“FTPPG”). A combined brochure containing information about our SMA Program sub-advisory services, and
FTPPG’s brochure (the “SMA Program Brochure”) is available upon request. If you have any questions about the contents of this brochure,
please contact James Clark, Chief Compliance Officer, at james.f.clark@franklintempleton.com. The information in this brochure has not
been approved or verified by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or by any state securities authority. Additional
information about Putnam Investment Management, LLC also is available on the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. Clients should
note that SEC registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
Item 2: Material Changes
While not considered a material change, edits have been made throughout the Brochure to reflect the name change
of Franklin Resources,
Inc.
to Franklin Templeton,
Inc. which occurred on August 17, 2026.
2 Putnam Investment Management, LLC
Item 3: Table of Contents
Item 2: Material Changes
2
Item 3: Table of Contents
3
Item 4: Advisory Business
4
Item 5: Fees and Compensation
7
Item 6: Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side Management
10
Item 7: Types of Clients
12
Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss
12
Item 9: Disciplinary Information
27
Item 10: Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
28
Item 11: Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading
30
Item 12: Brokerage Practices
37
Item 13: Review of Accounts
45
Item 14: Client Referrals and Other Compensation
45
Item 15: Custody
46
Item 16: Investment Discretion
46
Item 17: Voting Client Securities
48
Item 18: Financial Information
53
3 Putnam Investment Management, LLC
Item 4: Advisory Business
Introduction to Putnam
Putnam Investment Management, LLC ("PIM") has been registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (‘SEC”) as an investment adviser since 1971.
On January 1, 2024, a subsidiary of Franklin Templeton, Inc. (“Franklin Templeton”) acquired Putnam U.S.
Holdings I, LLC, which does business as Putnam Investments (“Putnam” or “Putnam Investments”) in a
stock and cash transaction (the “Transaction”). As a result of the Transaction, PIM, a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Putnam, became an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Franklin Templeton.
Putnam, a Boston-based firm whose history reaches back to 1937, is an active asset manager providing
investment advice to individuals and institutions worldwide through separately managed accounts and pooled
investment funds.
Franklin Templeton is a holding company with subsidiaries that operate under the Franklin Templeton®
and/or subsidiary brand names. Franklin Templeton is a global investment management organization, and the
various distinct brand names it offers investment services and products under include, but are not limited
to, Alcentra®, Benefit Street Partners®, Brandywine Global Investment Management®, Canvas®, Clarion
Partners®, ClearBridge Investments®, Fiduciary Trust International™, Franklin®, Franklin Mutual Series®,
K2®, Legg Mason®, Lexington Partners®, Martin Currie®, O’Shaughnessy® Asset Management, Royce®
Investment Partners, Templeton®, and Western Asset Management Company®. Franklin Templeton,
through current and predecessor subsidiaries, has been engaged in the investment management and related
services business for over 75 years. Franklin Templeton’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock
Exchange under the ticker symbol “BEN” and is included in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.
PIM primarily manages Putnam’s open-end and closed-end registered investment companies, including
actively-managed exchange traded funds (the “Putnam Funds”).
PIM also sub-advises registered investment companies sponsored by other financial firms and manages assets
for institutional clients.
Effective January 1, 2025, PIM acts as sub-adviser to its affiliate FTPPG with respect to certain clients and
program sponsors (“Sponsors”) in connection with third-party investment adviser, broker-dealer and other
financial services firm separately managed accounts (“SMAs”), unified managed accounts (“UMAs”) or other
wrap fee programs (collectively, “SMA Programs”). Information about the provision of sub-advisory services
to FTPPG with respect to certain SMA Programs in the United States can be found in the combined SMA
Program Brochure, which is available upon request.
PIM is affiliated, through common ownership by Putnam Investments, with:
Putnam Fiduciary Trust Company, LLC (“PFTC”), a New Hampshire non-depository trust company
that manages assets through collective investment trusts and separate accounts, and also provides
trustee and custodial services pursuant to its banking and fiduciary powers, and
The Putnam Advisory Company, LLC (“PAC”), a registered investment adviser that manages assets for
institutional and international clients. PAC also manages various pooled investment funds, such as limited
liability companies, limited partnerships, and non-U.S. funds, and also sub-advises some Putnam Funds.
These three Putnam management companies generally market their services together (depending on the type
of client involved) under the Putnam brand. They are sometimes called “Putnam,” the “Putnam Advisers,” the
“Adviser” or simply “We” in this brochure.
4 Putnam Investment Management, LLC
Services of Other Affiliates
Franklin Templeton operates its investment management business through the Putnam Advisers, as well as
through multiple affiliates of the Putnam Advisers, some of which are investment advisers registered with the
SEC, some of which are registered with non-U.S. regulatory authorities, and some of which are registered
with multiple regulatory authorities. A Putnam Adviser uses the services of appropriate personnel of one or
more of its affiliates for investment advice, portfolio execution and trading, administrative services (such as
middle office or back-office services), and/or client servicing in their local or regional markets or in their areas
of special expertise, except to the extent restricted by the client under its investment management
agreement, or if inconsistent with applicable law. Arrangements among affiliates take a variety of forms,
including delegation arrangements, formal sub- advisory arrangements, and servicing agreements. Certain
employees and officers of Franklin Templeton and its subsidiaries who engage in investment advisory
services may also be appointed to serve as officers and/or authorized persons of a Putnam Adviser
and, in that capacity, may provide investment research, investment recommendations and other services
to a Putnam Adviser from time to time. In each of these circumstances, the Putnam Adviser remains fully
responsible for the account from a legal and contractual perspective. No additional fees are charged for the
affiliates’ services except as disclosed in the investment management agreement. Please see Item 10 (“Other
Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations”) for more details.
Investment Management Services
Putnam offers professional, active investment management to investors worldwide, with a focus on a
diversified set of equity strategies.
Putnam is primarily a discretionary asset manager and does not routinely provide general investment advice
or planning services to its clients. As of September 30, 2025, PIM had approximately $110.56 billion in
discretionary net assets under management1 and approximately $6.68billion in non-discretionary assets under
management. Non-discretionary assets under management include accounts such as model portfolios offered
in SMA Programs or on a standalone basis.
PIM manages the Putnam Funds in accordance with their written investment objectives, strategies and
guidelines, as disclosed in their SEC registration statements. The investment program of a Putnam Fund cannot
be tailored to the individual needs of any particular investor. Investment in a Putnam Fund does not create
an advisory client relationship between the investor and Putnam. Therefore, investors should consult their
financial representatives and consider whether a Putnam Fund meets their investment objectives and risk
tolerance prior to investing.
PIM manages other discretionary advisory clients’ assets based on the individual needs of the client, which
are stated in the written objectives and guidelines of the client’s account. In a typical discretionary separate
account relationship (that is, an investment portfolio pursuing a particular investment strategy, established in
the client’s name at its custodian), the client authorizes PIM to supervise, manage and direct the investment
of the assets of the portfolio without prior consultation with the client. For non-discretionary accounts,
which are less common, PIM must consult with the client prior to implementing any investment decisions.
In addition to the Putnam Funds, PIM may also manage or sub-advise other pooled investment funds. These
funds include privately-offered funds exempt from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940
pursuant to its Sections 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7), bank trusts for pension and profit-sharing plans, and non-U.S.
investment funds. Some non-U.S. funds may be offered in the United States to “qualified purchasers,” but
others are available only in specific non-U.S. countries.
Like separate accounts, investment funds are managed in accordance with written investment objectives,
strategies and guidelines. However, a fund is a pooled vehicle, and its investment program cannot be tailored
to the individual needs of any particular investor. Investment in a fund (including receipt of this brochure as
an investor) does not create an advisory client relationship between the investor and Putnam. Therefore,
investors should consult their consultant or financial representative and consider whether a fund meets their
5
Putnam Investment Management,
investment objectives and risk tolerance prior to investing. Investors in pooled funds receive an offering
memorandum, prospectus, or similar document that describes the fund, including its risks, fees, and the
qualifications needed to invest. Some investment funds may be offered on a private placement or other limited
basis and may not be available to, or appropriate for, all prospective investors.
Index Products
From time-to-time PIM engages in other business activities related to its core investment business, including
licensing of intellectual property with respect to, for example, the development of methodologies for
compiling and calculating a benchmark index. We license or sell our intellectual property rights in these
methodologies to third parties who use these methodologies to create and issue investment products that
are based on such indices and/or correlated to the underlying components of such indices. In connection
with such indices, we may retain third parties as calculation agents and/or license the third parties’ underlying
intellectual property, to the extent used in constructing our indices.
Sales and Marketing Activities
In order to promote our products and services, Putnam and its affiliates engage in sales and marketing activities,
including responding to client requests for proposals (RFPs) and presenting or making available information on
our investment capabilities and pooled fund products, as well as sharing education materials, market
commentary, white papers, investment and portfolio analysis tools and models, and other resources. Clients
and prospective clients should be aware that neither Putnam nor any of its affiliates will be considered an
investment advice fiduciary in connection with selling and distributing our products and services, including
under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 or any similar law. When we or our affiliates
discuss a possible investment with Putnam with a prospective or current client, we and they do not undertake
to provide impartial investment advice, or to give advice in a fiduciary capacity in connection with any related
investment decision or transaction. This is because providing such advice could involve an inherent conflict of
interest, since Putnam earns fees, such as the management fees discussed in Item 5 of this brochure, when
clients invest with us. We earn our fees in connection with selecting portfolio investments for our clients
within a specific investment discipline or fund strategy; in contrast, we do not provide advice, and do not earn
fees for providing advice, on the selection of investment advisers (such as Putnam and its competitors) or
investment funds (such as our managed funds and those offered by other asset managers). We offer and sell
only our own products and services, and do so on an arm’s length basis.
Clients and prospects who want professional guidance on whether or not to hire Putnam, or whether or not
to invest in a particular Putnam offering, should seek independent advice.
Limitations on Services
As an asset manager, PIM provides a specific service. PIM does not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice,
and clients should note that, unless otherwise specifically agreed or disclosed in writing, PIM will not take tax
considerations into account in managing a client’s portfolio. In addition, for clients other than our managed
funds, we do not advise on or take any action in any legal proceedings on their behalf, including bankruptcies
or class actions involving securities or other investments held or formerly held in a client’s account or the
issuers of those securities, except where specifically agreed with the client in writing.
For Putnam-sponsored pooled investment funds, Putnam manages portfolio cash as part of its overall
investment services or arranges for cash to be managed through its affiliate Franklin Advisers, Inc. (See
“Services of Other Affiliates” above.) Cash arrangements for other clients, such as separate accounts or sub-
advised clients, vary depending on the client’s preferences and the account documents. Where the short-
term investment fund (STIF) or similar vehicle offered by a client’s custodian is used for residual cash
investment (for example, where a client directs that all cash be swept daily to the STIF), clients should note
that the STIF involve additional credit, market and other risks beyond the securities managed directly by
Putnam. Clients interested in greater detail about their custodian’s STIF should contact their custodian for
more information.
6
Putnam Investment Management,
Item 5: Fees and Compensation
Putnam’s management fees are set forth in the client’s investment management agreement. Putnam generally
charges management fees to its discretionary account clients in accordance with its standard fee schedules in
effect when the management agreement is signed. Management fees are negotiated with some clients, so fees
vary from the standard schedules. Other investment advisers may charge higher or lower fees for comparable
services than Putnam charges.
Generally, PIM’s fund clients pay management fees to PIM out of fund assets. For separate account clients,
fees are billed to the client and are payable quarterly in arrears. Putnam does not require prepayment of
management fees.
Putnam must comply with SEC rules about “custody” of client assets (which can include automatic billing
arrangements). Clients other than registered investment companies who prefer that Putnam deduct fees
directly from their account will be required to make specific arrangements with a qualified custodian and to
provide Putnam with additional information (including confirmation that the custodian provides the client with
required account statements).
Except with respect to the Putnam Funds, fees, minimum account sizes, and fee breakpoints may be negotiated
or modified in Putnam’s discretion based on factors such as asset class, pre-existing fee schedules, account
size and overall size of the client relationship, , the client’s status as a “founder” or early investor in a given
strategy or pooled vehicle, portfolio complexity and customization requests (such as specific investment
restrictions requested by the client that cause the account to differ from similar accounts managed at Putnam),
service requirements (such as non-standard reporting and information requests), the country or market in
which a client is located, affiliate status, or other factors. Putnam sometimes also chooses to waive all or a
portion of negotiated fees for a period.
While we act as a fiduciary in managing client assets, not all our business decisions are fiduciary decisions.
Subject to applicable law and any contractual commitments, we may choose to charge different fees or
otherwise offer different levels of service to different clients for the same fee, depending on our own business
needs and market demands.
Putnam Fund Fees
PIM's fees under its investment management agreements with respect to the Putnam Funds (and, where
required by SEC rules, other registered investment company clients) are shown in the funds’ registration
statements, on file with the SEC.
First, a separate account client arranges for custody, recordkeeping and other service providers for its
portfolio on its own (and pays for these services separately). In contrast, Putnam Funds hire their own
service providers and pay the related operating costs. Depending on the fund and account documentation,
in some cases, Putnam bears some or all of these expenses. For details, please refer to the specific funds
or portfolio’s offering documents.
In addition, the management fees on a fund may also differ from the fees for similar separate accounts
depending, for example, on the specific services provided and Putnam’s related costs.
SMA Programs
With respect to Accounts for which PIM serves as a sub-adviser through an SMA Program, the timing of fee
payments will be negotiated with each client or the SMA Program sponsor. See the SMA Program Brochure,
which is available upon request, for more information regarding fees and compensation with respect to SMA
Programs.
7
Putnam Investment Management,
Performance Fees
Some Putnam clients, including some investment funds, pay performance-based fees. For more information
on these fees, please read Item 6 of this brochure.
Non-Discretionary Advice
In addition to discretionary asset management, Putnam may sometimes agree to provide non-discretionary
advice for a specific client portfolio in a particular asset class. Putnam does not act as general investment
counsel for these accounts, but instead makes specific, security-level recommendations for the client to
implement in its discretion. The fees for these services, or for any additional services such as unusual reporting
needs or other client-specific requirements, are determined on a case-by-case basis.
Account Termination
The terms and conditions of PIM’s services are specified in the investment management agreement between
PIM and the client. The management agreement generally allows either the client or PIM to terminate it at any
time on written notice (typically, of not less than 60 days).
Other Third-Party Fees and Expenses
In addition to the fees described above, clients of the Putnam Advisers typically bear other costs associated with
their accounts or portfolio investments. Depending on the type of investment account, vehicle or product
that a client is invested in these costs and expenses may include, but are not limited to: (i) custodial charges,
brokerage fees/costs, commissions, other transaction costs and related costs, certain consulting fees, auditing
fees, and transfer agency fees, (ii) interest expenses, (iii) taxes, duties and other governmental charges
(including regulatory, licensing and filing expenses and fees, costs and expenses for preparation therefor), (iv)
transfer and registration fees or similar expenses, (v) costs associated with foreign exchange transactions, (vi)
other portfolio expenses (including, without limitation, research, risk modelling and software expenses), (vii)
costs, expenses and fees (including investment advisory and other fees charged by the investment advisers of
funds in which the client invests) associated with products or services that may be related to such investments
and (viii) extraordinary expenses or costs that a client incurs from time to time. With respect to services used
in connection with making, holding and divesting investments (which, depending on the circumstances, include,
but are not limited to, custodial, securities lending, brokerage, futures, banking, consulting or third-party
advisory services), each client will be required to establish business and contractual relationships with relevant
service providers or other counterparties based on the client’s own credit standing. The Putnam Advisers will
not have any obligation to allow their credit to be used in connection with the establishment of such
relationships, nor is it expected that such service providers or counterparties will consider or rely on the
Putnam Advisers’ credit in evaluating the client’s creditworthiness. When the Putnam Advisers believe it is
beneficial for an account, an affiliate of the Putnam Advisers may be engaged to oversee the activities of an
unaffiliated service provider, such as in provision of administrative services. In these circumstances, the Putnam
Advisers’ affiliate generally collects the fees for such services from the client, retains a portion as compensation
for providing oversight activities, and remits the remainder of the fee to the unaffiliated service provider.
Clients will also generally incur brokerage costs. See Item 12 (“Brokerage Practices”) for discussion on
brokerage, including fees/costs associated therewith. In addition to the expenses listed above, Funds generally
bear their own operating and other expenses, including, but not limited to: (i) sales expenses, (ii) legal,
regulatory, reporting and compliance expenses, (iii) internal and external accounting, audit, valuation and tax
preparation expenses, (iv) insurance, (v) directors’ fees and other costs associated with professionals retained
by the Putnam Adviser or an affiliate to perform services on behalf of the Fund, (vi) fees, interest and other
costs related to the use of derivative instruments or other similar transactions, (vii) expenses related to credit
facilities, (viii) organizational and offering expenses, (ix) expenses related to the Putnam Adviser’s research,
due diligence, and monitoring of Fund investments,(x) fees and expenses related to any investments in other
funds or vehicles and (xi) all other expenses that the Putnam Adviser or its affiliates have not expressly agreed
to pay. Further details of these and certain other expenses (some of which are unique to a particular type of
Fund given its strategy) are described in the relevant Fund’s PPM and/or other offering documents.
8
Putnam Investment Management,
The Advisers that manage private Funds will use a master/feeder structure for certain private Funds, which
allows the Putnam Advisers to manage a single portfolio of investments at the master fund level and have one
or more feeder funds that invest substantially all of their respective assets into the master fund. Individual and
institutional investors typically invest in the feeder funds, or, under certain circumstances, in the master fund.
When applicable, a management fee and performance fee or carried interest is charged either at the master
fund level or the feeder fund level depending on the specific circumstances of the master/feeder fund.
Administrative and custodian fees (when all portfolio investments are held in the master fund) are often waived
at the feeder fund level and charged only at the master fund level. However, the feeder funds will indirectly
bear their pro rata share of all fees and expenses of the master fund in which they invest. Such fees and
expenses include, but are not limited to, the master fund’s administrative and custodian fees; expenses
incurred in connection with the master fund’s operations and trading activities, including brokerage and clearing
expenses, margin interest expenses, custodial expenses and routine legal, accounting, auditing, and tax
preparation fees and expenses; and extraordinary expenses. In addition, fees and expenses specific to a feeder
fund are usually charged only to that feeder fund.
Under certain circumstances, a Putnam Adviser will, on behalf of certain clients, invest in or recommend
pooled investment vehicles, including U.S.-registered Funds. Subject to applicable law and regulation and the
terms of their agreements, clients will generally bear the costs and expenses charged by these investment
vehicles to their investors, such as management and administrative fees, in addition to the Adviser’s
management fees (subject to any adjustment as described below). A Putnam Adviser may determine it is
appropriate to invest a portion of a client’s assets into other funds for which the Putnam Adviser or an affiliate
of the Putnam Adviser serves as investment adviser or sub-adviser (“Affiliated Funds”) This might be
appropriate where, for example, the Affiliated Fund provides a more efficient and cost-effective way to help
further diversify an account. Such an arrangement creates a conflict of interest for the Putnam Adviser to the
extent that the Putnam Adviser has an incentive to recommend investments in one of the Affiliated Funds
rather than in unaffiliated funds or other securities. The Putnam Adviser or its affiliates will, under certain
circumstances, receive investment advisory and other fees from the Affiliated Funds but not from unaffiliated
funds or other securities (although any investments in such securities would generally be subject to the advisory
fees applicable to the securities). The Putnam Advisers seek to mitigate the potential conflict by excluding any
assets invested in Affiliated Funds from the management fee charged by a Putnam Adviser to the account or
rebating the portion of such fee attributable to investments in Affiliated Funds, unless otherwise agreed with
a client (for example, where a client receives separate asset allocation or other advisory services at the
account level) or disclosed to a client and subject to applicable law. Those assets that are invested in Affiliated
Funds are instead subject to the Affiliated Fund’s fees and charges applicable to all investors in such fund, as
disclosed in the Affiliated Fund’s current prospectus or other relevant offering documents. As a result, the
Putnam Advisers or their affiliates will indirectly receive advisory and other fees paid by those clients as
investors of an Affiliated Fund. While the management fees charged to the account with respect to such assets
are excluded or rebated (unless otherwise agreed or disclosed), the client would generally still bear any
operating expenses of the Affiliated Fund investment. This and other conflicts as well as similar arrangements
with respect to investments in Affiliated Funds and conflicts associated therewith are further discussed in Item
11 (“Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading – Conflicts Related
to Investment in Affiliated Funds and Affiliated Accounts”).
Valuation of Portfolio Assets in Calculating Fees
Putnam’s management fees are based on the value and performance of the assets held in the client account.
Putnam generally does not act as an official record keeper or pricing agent for its client accounts. However, if
the investment management agreement provides that fees will be based on Putnam’s calculation of the
portfolio’s net assets or performance, or in the case of an investment fund managed by Putnam, Putnam’s
valuation of securities determines the fees that a client or fund investor pays. Although most investment types
are valued based on publicly available prices (such as equity closing prices), third party pricing sources, or
broker dealer prices, Putnam does have a role in determining asset values in some asset classes and
circumstances. For example, Putnam may be required to price a portfolio holding when a market price is not
readily available or when Putnam has reason to believe that the market price is inaccurate. To the extent
Putnam’s fees are based on the value or performance of client accounts, Putnam will benefit by receiving a fee
9
Putnam Investment Management,
based on the impact, if any, of the increased value of assets in an account. As a result, valuation of assets by
Putnam could involve a potential conflict of interest. Putnam has adopted detailed pricing procedures and
related oversight controls to assist in proper valuation of client investments.
The Putnam Funds have adopted their own pricing procedures; however, the Board of Trustees of the Putnam
Funds has also designated PIM as the “valuation designee” (as that term is defined in Rule 2a-5 under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) to perform fair valuation determinations for each Putnam
Fund managed by PIM with respect to assets for which a market quotation is not readily available.
Item 6: Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side
Management
The Putnam Advisers manage different types of accounts with a variety of fee arrangements and charge
performance-based fees or allocations with respect to certain clients in addition to management fees. These
are described in more detail in Item 5 (“Fees and Compensation”) above. U.S.-registered Funds, for example,
generally pay management fees based on a fixed percentage of assets under management, whereas separate
accounts and Private Funds typically have more varied fee structures, including potentially a combination of
asset- and performance-based compensation.
Side-by-side management by a Putnam Adviser of Funds, separate accounts and sub-advised accounts creates
potential conflicts of interest, including those associated with any differences in fee structures, as well as other
economic interests the Putnam Adviser or its supervised persons will, in certain circumstances, have in an
account managed by the Putnam Adviser.
When a Putnam Adviser receives performance-based fees or allocations, the reward for strong investment
returns can incentivize the Putnam Adviser to make investments that are riskier or more speculative than it
would otherwise make. The prospect of achieving higher compensation from a private Fund or separate
account that pays performance-based fees or allocations than from an account that does not pay such fees (e.g.,
U.S.-registered Funds) provides a Putnam Adviser with an incentive to favor the private Fund or separate
account when, for example, placing securities transactions that the Putnam Adviser believes could more likely
result in favorable performance. Similarly, a significant proprietary investment held by a Putnam Adviser or an
affiliate in an account creates an incentive for the Putnam Adviser to favor such account relative to other
accounts. In addition, the application of tax laws affecting performance-based fees or allocations can create
incentives and affect the behavior of a Putnam Adviser and its personnel with respect to holding or disposing
of account investments. Please see Item 11 (“Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions
and Personal Trading – Potential Conflicts Relating to Advisory and Other Activities – Allocation of Investment
Opportunities”) for more information regarding conflicts of interest related to allocation of investment
opportunities.
The Putnam Advisers seek to conduct their business by treating all clients equally and by appropriately
managing conflicts of interest that arise when conducting transactions involving multiple clients. The Putnam
Advisers do this by disclosing potential conflicts to their clients and by implementing policies and procedures
reasonably designed to address those conflicts. The Putnam Advisers have implemented a number of policies
and procedures designed to address side-by-side management and the potential conflicts of interest that arise
when a portfolio manager or different portfolio managers within a single investment adviser or investment
group manage multiple funds and investment accounts for advisory clients. Putnam Advisers with U.S.-
registered Funds as clients are subject to applicable law and/or policies and procedures with respect to such
clients that limit or prescribe practices related to side-by-side management. For example, the U.S.-registered
Funds are subject to restrictions relating to engaging in transactions with their affiliates, including restrictions
relating to engaging in transactions jointly with their affiliates. These restrictions will, under certain
circumstances, prohibit a U.S. Registered Fund from engaging in certain transactions alongside its affiliates.
Additional examples of situations that create the potential for conflicts of interest are discussed below.
10 Putnam Investment Management,
A potential conflict of interest can arise if a Putnam Adviser sells short a security in one account while
simultaneously advising another account to hold the same security long. The Putnam Advisers may have a
legitimate reason for engaging in such inconsistent transactions. For example, the investment objectives of the
two accounts may differ. Nonetheless, the Putnam Advisers could be viewed as harming the performance of
the Account with the long position for the benefit of the account with the short position if the short sale
caused the market value of the security to drop. To alleviate this potential conflict of interest, the Putnam
Advisers have implemented policies and procedures to deny a short sale request in certain circumstances.
Moreover, Putnam Advisers with U.S.-registered Funds as clients are subject to applicable law with respect to
such clients that limit or prescribe practices related to short sales. Please see Item 11 (“Code of Ethics,
Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading”) for additional information regarding
conflicts arising from clients investing alongside other clients.
Cross trades are another area that can present potential conflicts of interest in that they may be viewed as
favoring one client over another. For example, a Putnam Adviser making a cross trade that is expected to
increase in value from an account (e.g., U.S.-registered Funds) with an asset-based fee to an account with a
performance fee could be perceived as doing so merely to increase the performance-based compensation it
receives from the account with a performance fee. The reverse is true with respect to securities expected to
decrease in value. The Putnam Advisers have implemented inter-account transaction procedures to address
these potential conflicts of interest by, among other things, requiring pre-clearance of all cross trades from the
Compliance Department. Putnam Advisers with U.S.-registered Funds as clients are also subject to applicable
law with respect to such clients that limit or prescribes practices related to cross trades. Please see Item 11
(“Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading”) for additional
information regarding conflicts of interest related to cross trades.
Aggregation and allocation of transactions and investment opportunities are other areas where potential
conflicts of interest will arise. The Putnam Advisers, from time to time, aggregate orders of their clients to
effect a larger transaction with the aim of reducing transaction costs. The Putnam Advisers must then allocate
the securities among the participating accounts. Although aggregation of transactions is permissible, potential
conflicts of interest exist in the aggregation and allocation of client transactions. For example, a Putnam Adviser
could be viewed as allocating securities that it anticipates will increase in value to certain favored clients,
especially those that pay a performance-based fee to that Putnam Adviser. Similarly, if a portfolio manager
identifies a limited investment opportunity that is suitable for several Funds or accounts, a single Fund or
account may not be able to take full advantage of that opportunity due to an allocation of that opportunity
across all eligible Funds and other accounts. In other limited investment opportunities, including some privately
offered investments, where the investment opportunity is suitable for multiple and different types of clients,
allocation will, from time to time, be based on alternative methodologies designed to comply with applicable
law and ensure fair and consistent treatment of such clients. The Putnam Advisers have implemented trade
aggregation and allocation procedures designed to address these potential conflicts of interest. These
procedures require that an average price be used for multiple executions of a particular security through the
same broker on the same terms on the same day and describe the allocation methodologies to be applied as
well as permissible exceptions from standard allocation methods that must be pre-approved by a designated
trading desk compliance officer. Please see Item 11 (“Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client
Transactions and Personal Trading – Potential Conflicts Relating to Advisory and Other Activities – Allocation
of Investment Opportunities”) for further discussions on conflicts of interest related to allocation of investment
opportunities and Item 12 (“Brokerage Practices – Aggregation and Allocation of Trades”) for further discussions
on aggregation and allocation of trades.
In addition, under our policies:
Performance fee accounts must be included in all standard trading and allocation procedures with all other
legacy Putnam accounts.
All accounts must be assigned to a specific category of account and trade together with allocations of accounts in their
categories.
All trading must be effected through normal queues and procedures must be followed (that is, no special treatment is
permitted for performance fee accounts or higher-fee accounts based on account fee structure).
Front running is prohibited.
11 Putnam Investment Management,
Without approval of the Chief Compliance Officer, no portfolio manager or team may be guaranteed or specifically
allocated any portion of a performance fee. Interested clients whose accounts bear performance fees should refer to
the documentation for their particular fund or account for more information.
As part of these policies, we have also implemented trade oversight and review procedures in order to monitor
whether particular accounts (including higher-fee accounts, performance fee accounts and affiliated accounts)
are being favored over time.
Although we believe our policies and procedures are reasonably designed, it is not possible to eliminate all the
potential risks of these conflicts. For more information about other potential conflicts of interest in trading
and managing client accounts, see Item 11.
Item 7: Types of Clients
PIM primarily manages the Putnam Funds. PIM also sub-advises other financial firms’ registered investment
companies and offers its advisory services to a wide variety of other institutional clients. Effective January 1,
2025, PIM also provides investment advisory services to individuals through its affiliate FTPPG, as described in
FAV’s SMA Program Brochure, which is available upon request. PIM generally requires an institutional separate
account, at or shortly after commencement, to have, depending on the product, minimum assets ranging from
$25 million to $100 million. Exceptions to account minimums may be made in some cases.
Item 8: Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies
and Risk of Loss
Methods of Analysis
Putnam is an active, long-term investment manager offering a variety of equity investment strategies.
Our analysis of the financial markets is generally based on fundamental analysis and research, but also includes
quantitative elements. Fundamental analysis attempts to measure the intrinsic value of a security by looking
at economic and financial factors (including the overall economy, industry conditions, and the financial
condition and management of the company itself) in order to determine if the company is underpriced or
overpriced. Quantitative analysis applies concepts of fundamental valuation and security selection via
computer models. These computer-based models are designed to analyze a variety of financial data from
various sources and generate investment selections.
We may consider, among other factors, a company’s valuation, financial strength, growth potential,
competitive position in its industry, projected future earnings, cash flows and dividends when deciding
whether to buy or sell equity investments.
As part of our investment analysis, depending on the strategy or portfolio in question, we may integrate
environmental, social, or governance (“ESG”) issues or considerations into our research and/or investment
decision-making. In our view, analysis of ESG issues is part of good investing, as these issues, like other, more
traditional areas of investment analysis, such as market position, growth prospects, and business strategy, have
the potential to impact risk and returns. For example, in the governance area, evaluation of the strength of a
company’s management has always been a critical consideration in our investment process. The relevance and
materiality of other ESG issues in our process will differ from strategy to strategy, from sector to sector, and
from portfolio manager to portfolio manager, and for some strategies, including those where we lack relevant
ESG data, depending on the strategy, ESG considerations may not be a material part of our process. It is also
important to note that consideration of ESG issues does not mean that a particular account pursues a specific
“ESG” or “sustainable” investment strategy, and, depending on the strategy, we sometimes make investment
12 Putnam Investment Management,
decisions notwithstanding the associated ESG considerations. In all cases, our task is to pursue the agreed-on
investment objective for a given account. In our view, pursuing that goal often requires appropriate
consideration of ESG matters, just as it does other investment factors.
Generally, Putnam research is focused on developing both a top-down view of broader market performance
and a bottom-up outlook for individual securities. Putnam relies significantly on research generated in-house
which is tailored to the precise needs of our investment professionals. External research is also used - for
example, to evaluate consensus views and to augment the research process. For more information, see Item
12 of this brochure.
Investment Strategies
Putnam offers a wide variety of investment strategies to its clients. In managing assets, Putnam has the
flexibility to invest in securities and other financial instruments of almost any type (including both cash
securities, such as stocks, and derivative instruments, such as swaps, futures, forwards, and options). This
flexibility is subject to the investment objectives and guidelines of each account, as agreed with the client.
Putnam’s equity mandates typically seek competitive results over time, backed by original, fundamental
research on a global scale. Putnam seeks to generate alpha though a bottom-up approach to investing,
seeking to identify the most attractive investment opportunities based on valuation and perceived quality
while considering overall portfolio construction. Portfolios are designed in an attempt to maximize alpha
from stock selection, and while individual portfolios vary, holdings tend to be broad based, which can help
dampen volatility over time, although there can be no guarantee of investment results. We employ global
sector coverage, with each team having extensive experience in researching their sectors.
Putnam’s primary equity strategies are listed below. Putnam may also manage or offer other products or
strategies not listed here, including private funds.
U.S. Large Cap Value
U.S. Large Cap Value Concentrated
Non-U.S. Value
U.S. Core
U.S. Core Concentrated
U.S. Research
Non-U.S. Core
Focused U.S.
Focused Non-U.S.
George Putnam Balanced*
Convertible Securities*
U.S. Large Cap Growth
U.S. Large Cap Growth Concentrated
Non-U.S. Durable
13 Putnam Investment Management,
U.S. Sustainable Future
U.S. Sustainable Leaders
Global Sustainable
Global Technology
Global Health Care
Business Development Companies
BioRevolution
Emerging Markets
Emerging Markets Small Cap
Emerging Markets ex China
U.S. Small Cap Growth
U.S. Small Cap Value
Non-U.S. Small Cap.
*These strategies also draw on personnel and resources at Franklin Advisers, Inc.
Equity investing involves many risks. See the “Risk of Loss” section below for more information.
Risk of Loss
While Putnam seeks to achieve a client’s stated investment objective, there is no guarantee that we will
succeed. Investing in securities and other financial instruments involves risk of loss that clients should be
prepared to bear. Our accounts may not perform as well as accounts managed by others or as well as their
benchmarks.
This section gives more information on the material risks that may apply to a client portfolio depending on
the asset class or classes in which it invests. These descriptions cover our most significant strategies, and they
focus on risks that are shared by most portfolios in a given asset class (such as equities or fixed- income).
Some specialized portfolios may be subject to additional risks. For example, our regional or sector strategies,
such as Emerging Markets Equity or Global Technology, will be subject to risks associated with focusing in one
geographic region or sector.
Of course, this section does not cover every possible risk, and Putnam sometimes buys investments that we
do not describe below. In addition, each specific account’s guidelines and strategy will determine the risks that
apply. For example, if you invest in a portfolio of mostly large-cap equities, the risks of small-cap investing may
not be significant. If you invest in a high yield bond portfolio, credit risk may be significant, but prepayment
risk may not be. If your account does not permit the use of derivatives, derivatives risks will not apply. For
more detailed information about your portfolio’s risks, please contact Putnam. Fund investors should also
refer to their fund’s offering materials for a more detailed discussion about risks.
14 Putnam Investment Management,
INVESTMENT RISKS
Particular investment strategies or investments in different types of securities or other investments involve
specific risks, including risk of loss, that clients should be prepared to bear. The risks involved, and their degree
of significance, for different accounts will vary based on each client’s investment strategy and the type of
securities or other investments held in the account. The following is a list of certain of the material risks, listed
alphabetically, related to the significant investment strategies used by the Putnam Advisers. Not all possible
risks are described below. For purposes of this section, the terms “Fund” and “Account” shall be
interchangeable.
Artificial Intelligence - We may use Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) in various areas of our business, including
informing economic views, assisting with security analysis, and enhancing portfolio analytics, and we expect to
expand its use over time. While AI can improve efficiency, it also presents risks, including inaccurate or biased
outputs, data security, privacy, intellectual property, regulatory compliance, and potential reputational harm.
These tools require ongoing oversight and controls. Limitations or failures in AI systems could affect our
analyses and recommendations and result in compliance or operational risks to our firm.
Asset Allocation – The Advisers’ ability to achieve their investment goal may depend upon their skill in
determining a portfolio’s asset allocation mix and/or selecting sub-advisers. There is the possibility that the
Advisers’ evaluations and assumptions regarding asset classes and the selected sub-advisers will not be
successful in view of actual market trends.
Asset-Backed Securities – Issuers of asset-backed securities may have limited ability to enforce the security
interest in the underlying assets, and credit enhancements provided to support the securities, if any, may be
inadequate to protect investors in the event of default. Asset-backed securities are subject to prepayment and
extension risks.
Blend Style Investing – A “blend” strategy results in investments in both growth and value stocks, or in
stocks with characteristics of both. Growth stock prices reflect projections of future earnings or revenues
and can fall dramatically if the company fails to meet those projections. With respect to value stocks, if other
investors fail to recognize the company’s value, or favor investing in faster-growing companies, value stocks
may not increase in value as anticipated by the Adviser or may decline even further.
Concentration – To the extent the Fund concentrates in a specific industry, a group of industries, sector or
type of investment, the Fund will carry much greater risks of adverse developments and price movements in
such industries, sectors or investments than a fund that invests in a wider variety of industries, sectors or
investments. There is also the risk that the Fund will perform poorly during a slump in demand for securities
of companies in such industries or sectors.
Convertible Securities – A convertible security is generally a debt obligation, preferred stock or other
security that pays interest or dividends and may be converted by the holder within a specified period of time
into common stock. The value of convertible securities may rise and fall with the market value of the underlying
stock or, like a debt security, vary with changes in interest rates and the credit quality of the issuer. A
convertible security tends to perform more like a stock when the underlying stock price is high relative to the
conversion price (because more of the security's value resides in the option to convert) and more like a debt
security when the underlying stock price is low relative to the conversion price (because the option to convert
is less valuable). Because its value can be influenced by many different factors, a convertible security is not as
sensitive to interest rate changes as a similar non-convertible debt security and generally has less potential for
gain or loss than the underlying stock.
Credit Facilities – Certain Private Funds may utilize credit facilities for short-term money management
purposes in connection with the receipt of subscription proceeds, redemption requests, or portfolio
reallocations. Such credit facilities may be provided at prevailing market rates by a Private Fund’s custodian or
its affiliates, or from unaffiliated third parties. Should such credit facilities be utilized, a Private Fund may be
subject to greater risk of loss than if it did not utilize such credit facilities and would incur additional interest
15 Putnam Investment Management,
and other expenses with respect to such facilities. A credit facility provider would be entitled to all or part of
the collateral posted by the applicable Private Fund should the Private Fund default on its obligations under the
agreement with such credit facility provider.
Currency Management Strategies –Currency management strategies may substantially change the Fund's
exposure to currency exchange rates and could result in losses to the Fund if currencies do not perform as the
investment manager expects. In addition, currency management strategies, to the extent that they reduce the
Fund's exposure to currency risks, also reduce the Fund's ability to benefit from favorable changes in currency
exchange rates. There is no assurance that the investment manager's use of currency management strategies
will benefit the Fund or that they will be, or can be, used at appropriate times. Furthermore, there may not be a
perfect correlation between the amount of exposure to a particular currency and the amount of securities in
the Fund's portfolio denominated in that currency. Investing in foreign currencies for the purpose of gaining
from projected changes in exchange rates, as opposed to hedging currency risks applicable to the Fund's holdings,
further increases the Fund's exposure to foreign investment losses.
Cybersecurity Risks – Cybersecurity incidents, both intentional and unintentional, may allow an
unauthorized party to gain access to a client’s assets, Account or customer data (including private shareholder
information), or proprietary information, cause an Account, the Adviser and any sub-adviser and/or their
service providers (including, but not limited to, an Account’s accountants, custodians, sub-custodians, transfer
agents and financial intermediaries) to suffer data breaches, data corruption or loss of operational functionality
or prevent an Account’s clients from purchasing, redeeming or exchanging shares or receiving distributions.
An Adviser and any sub-adviser have limited ability to prevent or mitigate cybersecurity incidents affecting
third-party service providers, and such third-party service providers may have limited indemnification
obligations to a client, an Adviser or a sub-adviser. Cybersecurity incidents may result in financial losses to an
Account and its clients, and substantial costs may be incurred in an effort to prevent or mitigate future
cybersecurity incidents. Issuers of securities in which an Account invests are also subject to cybersecurity
risks, and the value of these securities could decline if the issuers experience cybersecurity incidents.
Because technology is frequently changing, new ways to carry out cyber-attacks are always developing.
Therefore, there is a chance that some risks have not been identified or prepared for, or that an attack may
not be detected, which puts limitations on an Adviser’s ability to plan for or respond to a cyber-attack against
an Account. Like other investment accounts and business enterprises, an Account, its Adviser and any sub-
adviser and their service providers are subject to the risk of cyber incidents occurring from time to time.
Derivative Instruments –The performance of derivative instruments depends largely on the performance
of an underlying instrument, such as a currency, security, interest rate, or index, and such instruments often
have risks similar to the underlying instrument, in addition to other risks. Derivative instruments involve costs
and can create economic leverage in the Fund’s portfolio, which may result in significant volatility and cause
the Fund to participate in losses (as well as gains) in an amount that significantly exceeds the Fund’s initial
investment. Other risks include illiquidity, mispricing or improper valuation of the derivative instrument, and
imperfect correlation between the value of the derivative and the underlying instrument so that the Fund may
not realize the intended benefits. Their successful use will usually depend on the investment manager’s ability
to accurately forecast movements in the market relating to the underlying instrument. Should a market or
markets, or prices of particular classes of investments move in an unexpected manner, especially in unusual
or extreme market conditions, the Fund may not realize the anticipated benefits of the transaction, and it may
realize losses, which could be significant. If the investment manager is not successful in using such derivative
instruments, the Fund’s performance may be worse than if the investment manager did not use such derivative
instruments at all. When a derivative is used for hedging, the change in value of the derivative instrument also
may not correlate specifically with the currency, security, interest rate, index or other risk being hedged.
There is also the risk, especially under extreme market conditions, that an instrument which usually would
operate as a hedge provides no hedging benefits at all.
Use of these instruments could also result in a loss if the counterparty to the transaction does not perform
as promised, including because of such counterparty’s bankruptcy or insolvency. This risk is heightened with
respect to over-the-counter (OTC) instruments, such as certain swap agreements, and may be greater during
16 Putnam Investment Management,
volatile market conditions. Other risks include the inability to close out a position because the trading market
becomes illiquid (particularly in the OTC markets) or the availability of counterparties becomes limited for a
period of time. In addition, the presence of speculators in a particular market could lead to price distortions.
To the extent that the Fund is unable to close out a position because of market illiquidity, the Fund may not
be able to prevent further losses of value in its derivatives holdings and the Fund’s liquidity may be impaired.
Some derivatives can be particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates or other market prices. Investors
should bear in mind that, while the Fund intends to use derivative strategies on a regular basis, it is not obligated
to actively engage in these transactions, generally or in any particular kind of derivative, if the investment
manager elects not to do so due to availability, cost or other factors.
Many swaps currently are, and others eventually are expected to be, required to be cleared through a central
counterparty. Central clearing is designed to reduce counterparty credit risk and increase liquidity compared
to OTC swaps, but it does not eliminate those risks completely. With cleared swaps, there is also a risk of
loss by the Fund of its initial and variation margin deposits in the event of bankruptcy of the futures commission
merchant (FCM) with which the Fund has an open position, or the central counterparty in a swap contract.
With cleared swaps, the Fund may not be able to obtain as favorable terms as it would be able to negotiate for
a bilateral, uncleared swap. In addition, an FCM may unilaterally amend the terms of its agreement with the
Fund, which may include the imposition of position limits or additional margin requirements with respect to the
Fund’s investment in certain types of swaps. The regulation of cleared and uncleared swaps, as well as other
derivatives, is a rapidly changing area of law and is subject to modification by government and judicial action.
In addition, the SEC, Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the exchanges are authorized to
take extraordinary actions in the event of a market emergency. It is not possible to predict fully the effects of
current or future regulation.
Certain types of derivatives require the Fund to post margin or collateral in a manner that satisfies contractual
undertakings and regulatory requirements. In order to satisfy margin or other requirements, the Fund may
need to sell securities from its portfolio or exit positions at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so.
The use of derivative strategies may also have a tax impact on the Fund. The timing and character of income,
gains or losses from these strategies could impair the ability of the investment manager to use derivatives when
it wishes to do so.
Developing Market Countries- The Fund's investments in securities of issuers in developing market
countries are subject to all of the risks of foreign investing generally and have additional heightened risks due
to a lack of established legal, political, business and social frameworks to support securities markets. Some of
the additional significant risks include:
less social, political and economic stability;
•
•
•
a higher possibility of the devaluation of a country’s currency, a downgrade in the credit ratings of issuers in such country,
or a decline in the value and liquidity of securities of issuers in that country if the United States, other nations or other
governmental entities (including supranational entities) impose sanctions on issuers that limit or restrict foreign
investment, the movement of assets or other economic activity in the country due to political, military or regional
conflicts or due to terrorism or war;
smaller securities markets with low or non-existent trading volume and greater illiquidity and price volatility;
• more restrictive national policies on foreign investment, including restrictions on investment in issuers or industries
deemed sensitive to national interests;
•
less transparent and established taxation policies;
•
less developed regulatory or legal structures governing private and foreign investment or allowing for judicial redress
for injury to private property, such as bankruptcy;
•
less familiarity with a capital market structure or market-oriented economy and more widespread corruption
and fraud;
•
less financial sophistication, creditworthiness and/or resources possessed by, and less government regulation of, the
financial institutions and issuers with which the Fund transacts;
•
less government supervision and regulation of business and industry practices, stock exchanges, brokers and listed
companies than in the U.S.;
17 Putnam Investment Management,
•
greater concentration in a few industries resulting in greater vulnerability to regional and global trade conditions;
•
higher rates of inflation and more rapid and extreme fluctuations in inflation rates;
•
greater sensitivity to interest rate changes (for example, a higher interest rate environment can make it more difficult for
developing market governments to service their existing debt);
•
increased volatility in currency exchange rates and potential for currency devaluations and/or currency controls;
•
greater debt burdens relative to the size of the economy;
• more delays in settling portfolio transactions and heightened risk of loss from share registration and custody practices; and
•
less assurance that when favorable economic developments occur, they will not be slowed or reversed by unanticipated
economic, political or social events in such countries.
Because of the above factors, the Fund's investments in developing market countries may be subject to greater
price volatility and illiquidity than investments in developed markets.
The definition of emerging market countries or companies as used in this prospectus may differ from the
definition of the same terms as used in other Franklin Templeton fund prospectuses.
Emerging Market Countries- The Fund's investments in securities of issuers in emerging market countries
are subject to all of the risks of foreign investing generally and have additional heightened risks due to a lack of
established legal, political, business and social frameworks to support securities markets. Some of the
additional significant risks include:
less social, political and economic stability;
•
•
•
a higher possibility of the devaluation of a country’s currency, a downgrade in the credit ratings of issuers in such country,
or a decline in the value and liquidity of securities of issuers in that country if the United States, other nations or other
governmental entities (including supranational entities) impose sanctions on issuers that limit or restrict foreign
investment, the movement of assets or other economic activity in the country due to political, military or regional
conflicts or due to terrorism or war;
smaller securities markets with low or non-existent trading volume and greater illiquidity and price volatility;
• more restrictive national policies on foreign investment, including restrictions on investment in issuers or industries
deemed sensitive to national interests;
•
less transparent and established taxation policies;
•
less developed regulatory or legal structures governing private and foreign investment or allowing for judicial redress
for injury to private property, such as bankruptcy;
•
less familiarity with a capital market structure or market-oriented economy and more widespread corruption
and fraud;
•
less financial sophistication, creditworthiness and/or resources possessed by, and less government regulation of, the
financial institutions and issuers with which the Fund transacts;
•
less government supervision and regulation of business and industry practices, stock exchanges, brokers and listed
companies than in the U.S.;
•
greater concentration in a few industries resulting in greater vulnerability to regional and global trade conditions;
higher rates of inflation and more rapid and extreme fluctuations in inflation rates;
•
•
greater sensitivity to interest rate changes (for example, a higher interest rate environment can make it more difficult for
emerging market governments to service their existing debt);
•
increased volatility in currency exchange rates and potential for currency devaluations and/or currency controls;
greater debt burdens relative to the size of the economy;
•
• more delays in settling portfolio transactions and heightened risk of loss from share registration and custody practices; and
•
less assurance that when favorable economic developments occur, they will not be slowed or reversed by unanticipated
economic, political or social events in such countries.
Because of the above factors, the Fund's investments in emerging market countries may be subject to greater
price volatility and illiquidity than investments in developed markets.
18 Putnam Investment Management,
The definition of emerging market countries or companies as used in this prospectus may differ from the
definition of the same terms as used in other Franklin Templeton fund prospectuses.
Dividend-Oriented Companies – Companies that have historically paid regular dividends to shareholders
may decrease or eliminate dividend payments in the future. A decrease in dividend payments by an issuer may
result in a decrease in the value of the issuer’s stock and less available income for the portfolio.
Equity Securities – Equity securities represent a proportionate share of the ownership of a company. Their
value is based on the success of the company’s business and the value of its assets, as well as general market
conditions, including changes in economic conditions, growth rates, profits, interest rates, and the market’s
perception of the company’s securities. The purchaser of an equity security typically receives an ownership
interest in the company as well as certain voting rights. The owner of an equity security may participate in a
company’s success through the receipt of dividends, which are distributions of earnings by the company to its
owners. Equity security owners may also participate in a company’s success or lack of success through increases
or decreases in the value of the company’s shares.
Equity-Linked Notes (ELNs) – Investments in ELNs often have risks similar to their underlying securities
or index, which could include management risk, market risk and as applicable, foreign securities and currency
risks. In addition, since ELNs are in note form, ELNs are also subject to certain debt securities risks, such as
interest rate and credit risks. Should the prices of the underlying securities or index move in an unexpected
manner, the Fund may not achieve the anticipated benefits of an investment in an ELN, and may realize losses,
which could be significant and could include the Fund’s entire principal investment. An investment in an ELN
is also subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the issuer of the ELN will default or become bankrupt,
and the Fund will have difficulty being repaid, or fail to be repaid, the principal amount of, or income from, its
investment. Investments in ELNs are also subject to liquidity risk, which may make ELNs difficult to sell and
value. In addition, ELNs may exhibit price behaviour that does not correlate with their underlying securities,
index or a fixed-income investment.
ESG Considerations – ESG considerations are one of a number of factors that the investment manager
examines when considering investments for the Fund’s portfolio. In light of this, the issuers in which the Fund
invests may not be considered ESG-focused issuers and may have lower or adverse ESG assessments.
Consideration of ESG factors may affect the Fund’s exposure to certain issuers or industries and may not
work as intended. In addition, ESG considerations assessed as part of the Fund’s investment process may vary
across types of eligible investments and issuers. In certain circumstances, there may be times when not every
investment is assessed for ESG factors and, when they are, not every ESG factor may be identified or evaluated.
The investment manager’s assessment of an issuer’s ESG factors is subjective and will likely differ from that of
investors, third party service providers (e.g., ratings providers) and other funds. As a result, securities selected
by the investment manager may not reflect the beliefs and values of any particular investor. The investment
manager also may be dependent on the availability of timely, complete and accurate ESG data reported by
issuers and/or third-party research providers, the timeliness, completeness and accuracy of which is out of
the investment manager’s control. ESG factors are often not uniformly measured or defined, which could
impact the investment manager’s ability to assess an issuer. While the investment manager views ESG
considerations as having the potential to contribute to the Fund’s long-term performance, there is no guarantee
that such results will be achieved.
Extension –The market value of some fixed rate debt securities (such as certain asset-backed and mortgage-
backed securities) will be adversely affected when bond calls or prepayments on underlying mortgages or
other assets are less or slower than anticipated, particularly when interest rates rise. When that occurs, the
effective maturity date of the Fund’s investment may be extended, resulting in an increase in interest rate
sensitivity to that of a longer-term instrument. Such extension may also effectively lock-in a below market
interest rate and reduce the value of the debt security.
Forward Trading – Certain Accounts may directly or indirectly engage in forward trading. Forward contracts
and options thereon, unlike futures contracts, are not traded on exchanges and are not standardized; rather,
banks and dealers act as principals in these markets, negotiating each transaction on an individual basis. Forward
19 Putnam Investment Management,
and “cash” trading is substantially unregulated, there is no limitation on daily price movements and position
limits are not applicable. The principals who deal in the forward markets are not required to continue to make
markets in the currencies or commodities they trade, and these markets can experience periods of illiquidity,
sometimes of significant duration. There have been periods during which certain participants in these markets
have been unable to quote prices for certain currencies or commodities or have quoted prices with an
unusually widespread between the price at which they were prepared to buy and that at which they were
prepared to sell.
Futures – Futures markets are highly volatile. Investing in the futures markets requires the ability to correctly
analyze such markets, which are influenced by, among other things: changing supply and demand relationships;
weather; governmental, agricultural, commercial, and trade programs and policies designed to influence
commodity prices; world political and economic events; and changes in interest rates. Moreover, investments
in futures involve additional risks including, without limitation, credit risk with respect to the contract
counterparty and from the use of leverage. The low initial margin deposits normally required in futures
contract trading permit an extremely high degree of leverage, which may lead to immediate and substantial
losses to an Account from a relatively small price movement. An Account’s futures positions may be illiquid
because certain commodity exchanges limit fluctuations in certain futures contract prices during a single day
by regulations referred to as “daily price fluctuation limits” or “daily limits.” Under such daily limits, during a
single trading day no trades may be executed at prices beyond the daily limits. Once the price of a contract
for a particular future has increased or decreased by an amount equal to the daily limit, positions in the future
can neither be taken nor liquidated unless traders are willing to effect trades at or within the limit. This could
prevent the Account from promptly liquidating unfavorable positions and subject it to substantial losses.
Growth Style Investing – Growth stock prices reflect projections of future earnings or revenues, and can,
therefore, fall dramatically if the company fails to meet those projections. Growth stocks may be more
expensive relative to their current earnings or assets compared to value or other stocks, and if earnings
growth expectations moderate, their valuations may return to more typical norms, causing their stock prices
to fall. Prices of these companies’ securities may be more volatile than other securities, particularly over the
short term. In addition, investment styles can go in and out of favor, which could cause additional volatility in
the prices of the Fund’s portfolio holdings.
Highly Volatile Markets – The prices of securities and derivative instruments, including futures and options
prices, may be highly volatile. Price movements of securities, forward contracts, futures contracts, and other
derivative contracts in which Accounts may directly or indirectly invest are influenced by, among other things:
interest rates; changing supply and demand relationships; trade, fiscal, monetary, regulatory and exchange
control programs and policies of governments; and U.S. and international political and economic events and
policies. In addition, governments from time to time intervene, directly and/or by regulation, in certain markets,
particularly those in currencies and interest rate related futures and options. Such intervention often is
intended directly to influence prices and may, together with other factors, cause all of such markets to move
rapidly in the same direction because of, among other things, interest rate fluctuations. Accounts also are
subject to the risk of the failure of any of the exchanges on which their positions trade or of their
clearinghouses.
Inflation – The market price of debt securities generally falls as inflation increases because the purchasing
power of the future income and repaid principal is expected to be worth less when received. Debt securities
that pay a fixed rather than variable interest rate are especially vulnerable to inflation risk because variable-rate
debt securities may be able to participate, over the long term, in rising interest rates which have historically
corresponded with long-term inflationary trends.
Interest Rate – Interest rate changes can be sudden and unpredictable, and are influenced by a number of
factors, including government policy, monetary policy, inflation expectations, perceptions of risk, and supply of
and demand for bonds. Changes in government or central bank policy, including changes in tax policy or
changes in a central bank’s implementation of specific policy goals, may have a substantial impact on interest
rates. There can be no guarantee that any particular government or central bank policy will be continued,
discontinued or changed, nor that any such policy will have the desired effect on interest rates. Debt securities
20 Putnam Investment Management,
generally tend to lose market value when interest rates rise and increase in value when interest rates fall. A rise
in interest rates also has the potential to cause investors to rapidly sell fixed income securities. A substantial
increase in interest rates may also have an adverse impact on the liquidity of a debt security, especially those
with longer maturities or durations. Securities with longer maturities or durations or lower coupons or that
make little (or no) interest payments before maturity tend to be more sensitive to interest rate changes.
Investing in Funds – Certain accounts may invest in shares of funds as part of their core investment strategy
or to gain exposure to certain asset classes. Funds are actively or passively managed portfolios that invest in a
particular strategy, index, asset class or other objective defined by each fund for a management fee. Investing
in funds generally carry the same risks as investing directly in the underlying assets but carry additional
expenses in the form of management fees, distribution fees, brokerage expenses, shareholder service fees
and/or other fees and expenses imposed or incurred by the funds, with a proportionate share borne by
investors. Performance will be reduced by these costs and other expenses, which clients typically pay in
addition to an Adviser’s advisory fees. Additionally, investments in ETFs may trade at a premium or discount
to the ETF’s net asset value or an ETF may not replicate exactly the performance of the benchmark index it
seeks to track.
Leverage – Certain Putnam Advisers will, from time to time, cause certain Accounts that they advise to
leverage their capital if the Putnam Advisers believe it may enable the Accounts to achieve a higher rate of
return. This is particularly true with respect to Accounts that are not U.S.-registered Funds, as they are not
generally subject to the regulatory restrictions that apply to borrowing by U.S.-registered Funds. However,
the use of leverage means that a decline in value of an Account’s investment could result in a substantial loss
that would be greater than if the Account were not leveraged. In addition, leveraging by means of borrowing
may exaggerate the effect of any increase or decrease in the value of portfolio securities on an Account’s net
asset value, and money borrowed will be subject to interest and other costs (which may include commitment
fees and/or the cost of maintaining minimum average balances), which may or may not exceed the income or
gains received from the securities purchased with borrowed assets.
Liquidity – Liquidity risk exists when the markets for particular securities or types of securities are or become
relatively illiquid so that it is or becomes more difficult to sell the security, partially or in full, at the price at
which the security was valued. Illiquidity may result from political, economic or issuer-specific events; changes
in a specific market’s size or structure, including the number of participants; or overall market disruptions.
Securities with reduced liquidity or that become illiquid involve greater risk than securities with more liquid
markets. Market quotations for illiquid securities may be volatile and/or subject to large spreads between bid
and ask prices. Reduced liquidity may have an adverse impact on market price and the ability to sell particular
securities when necessary to meet liquidity needs, which may arise or increase in response to a specific
economic event or because of a desire to purchase particular investments or a belief that a higher level of
liquidity would be advantageous. An investment may become illiquid if the Adviser and its affiliates receive
material non-public information about the issuer or the investment. To the extent that a significant portion of
an issuer’s outstanding securities is held, greater liquidity risk will exist than if the issuer’s securities were more
widely held.
Management – The Fund is actively managed and could experience losses (realized and unrealized) if the
investment manager’s judgment about markets, interest rates or the attractiveness, relative values, liquidity,
or potential appreciation of particular investments made for the Fund's portfolio prove to be incorrect. The
Fund could also experience losses if there are imperfections, errors or limitations in the models, tools, and
data used by the investment manager or if the investment manager’s techniques or investment decisions do
not produce the desired results. Additionally, legislative, regulatory, or tax developments may affect the
investment techniques available to the investment manager in connection with managing the Fund and may
also adversely affect the ability of the Fund to achieve its investment goal.
Market – The market values of securities or other investments owned by the Fund will go up or down,
sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The Fund’s investments may decline in value due to factors affecting
individual issuers (such as the results of supply and demand), or sectors within the securities markets. The
value of a security or other investment also may go up or down due to general market conditions that are
21 Putnam Investment Management,
not specifically related to a particular issuer, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes
in interest rates, inflation or exchange rates, or adverse investor sentiment generally. Furthermore, events
involving limited liquidity, defaults, non-performance or other adverse developments that affect one industry,
such as the financial services industry, or concerns or rumors about any events of these kinds, have in the
past and may in the future lead to market-wide liquidity problems, may spread to other industries, and could
negatively affect the value and liquidity of the Fund’s investments. In addition, unexpected events and their
aftermaths, such as the spread of diseases; natural, environmental or man-made disasters; financial, political
or social disruptions; terrorism and war; and other tragedies or catastrophes, can cause investor fear and
panic, which can adversely affect the economic prospects of many companies, sectors, nations, regions and
the market in general, in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen. During a general downturn in the securities
markets, multiple asset classes may decline in value. When markets perform well, there can be no assurance
that securities or other investments held by the Fund will participate in or otherwise benefit from the advance.
The long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its subsequent variants on economies, markets,
industries and individual issuers is not known. The U.S. government and the Federal Reserve, as well as certain
foreign governments and central banks, took extraordinary actions to support local and global economies and
the financial markets in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This and other government intervention into
the economy and financial markets have resulted in a large expansion of government deficits and debt, the
long-term consequences of which are not known.
The United States and various countries are currently involved in disputes over trade and other matters,
which may result in tariffs, investment restrictions and other adverse impacts on affected companies and
securities. Trade disputes may adversely affect the economies of the United States and its trading partners, as
well as companies directly or indirectly affected by tariffs or restrictions and financial markets generally. For
example, the United States has imposed tariffs and other trade barriers on Chinese exports, has restricted
sales of certain categories of goods to China, and has established barriers to investments in China. The United
States government has prohibited U.S. persons from investing in Chinese companies designated as related to
the Chinese military. These and possible future restrictions could limit the Fund’s opportunities for investment
and require the sale of securities at a loss or make them illiquid. Moreover, the Chinese government is involved
in a longstanding dispute with Taiwan that has included threats of invasion. If the political climate between the
United States and China does not improve or continues to deteriorate, if China were to attempt unification
of Taiwan by force, or if other geopolitical conflicts develop or get worse, economies, markets and individual
securities may be severely affected both regionally and globally, and the value of the Fund’s assets may go
down.
Stock prices tend to go up and down more dramatically than those of debt securities. A slower-growth or
recessionary economic environment could have an adverse effect on the prices of the various stocks held by
the Fund.
Merger Arbitrage Securities and Distressed Companies- Certain underlying funds may invest in
merger arbitrage securities and distressed companies. A merger or other restructuring, or a tender or
exchange offer, proposed or pending at the time an underlying fund invests in merger arbitrage securities
may not be completed on the terms or within the time frame contemplated, which may result in losses to the
underlying fund. Debt obligations of distressed companies typically are unrated, lower-rated, in default or close
to default and are generally more likely to become worthless than the securities of more financially stable
companies.
Multi-Manager Risk – Certain Putnam Advisers employ a multi-manager strategy where the Putnam Adviser
monitors each underlying manager in the arrangement as well as the overall management of the Account. In
such arrangements, the Adviser and each underlying manager make investment decisions for Accounts
independently from one another. It is possible that the investment styles used by an underlying manager will
not always be complementary to those used by other underlying managers, which could adversely affect the
performance of the Account. There can be no assurance that the use of a multi-manager approach will not
result in losses by certain underlying managers offsetting any profits achieved by others. In addition, underlying
managers may, from time to time, compete with the others for the same positions. Conversely, one underlying
22 Putnam Investment Management,
manager may buy the same securities that another underlying manager sells. Therefore, the client would bear
the cost of these trades without accomplishing any investment purpose.
Non-Diversification – A "non-diversified" fund generally invests a greater portion of its assets in the
securities of one or more issuers and invests overall in a smaller number of issuers than a diversified fund.
The Fund may be more sensitive to a single economic, business, political, regulatory or other occurrence than
a more diversified fund might be, which may negatively impact the Fund's performance and result in greater
fluctuation in the value of the Fund's shares and a greater risk of loss.
Non-U.S. Securities –Directly or indirectly investing in non-U.S. securities typically involves different risks
than investing in U.S. securities, and includes risks associated with: (i) internal and external political and
economic developments – e.g., the political, economic and social policies and structures of some foreign
countries may be less stable and more volatile than those in the U.S. or some foreign countries may be subject
to trading restrictions or economic sanctions; diplomatic and political developments could affect the
economies, industries, and securities and currency markets of the countries in which the Fund is invested,
which can include rapid and adverse political changes; social instability; regional conflicts; sanctions imposed
by the United States, other nations or other governmental entities, including supranational entities; terrorism;
and war; (ii) trading practices – e.g., government supervision and regulation of non-U.S. security and currency
markets, trading systems and brokers may be less than in the United States, (iii) availability of information –
non-U.S. issuers may not be subject to the same disclosure, accounting and financial reporting standards and
practices as U.S. issuers and information may be less timely and/or reliable than information provided by U.S.
issuers, (iv) limited markets – the securities of certain non-U.S. issuers may be less liquid (harder to sell) and
more volatile, and (v) currency exchange rate fluctuations and policies. In addition, there is risk of unfavorable
tax policies, including but not limited to, substantial, punitive or confiscatory tax increases; withholding and
other non-U.S. taxes on income (including capital gains or other amounts); taxation on a retroactive basis;
sudden or unanticipated changes in non-U.S. tax laws; financial transaction taxes; denial or delay of the
realization of tax treaty benefits; and the payment of non-U.S. taxes not available for credit or deduction when
passed through to shareholders. Although not typically subject to currency exchange rate risk, depositary
receipts may be subject to the same risks as non-U.S. securities generally. The risks of investments outside the
United States may be greater in developing countries or emerging market countries. Certain of the foregoing
risks also may apply to securities of U.S. companies with significant non-U.S. operations.
Options – Certain Accounts directly or indirectly invest in options. Purchasing put and call options, as well as
writing such options, are highly specialized activities and entail greater than ordinary investment risks. Although
an option buyer’s risk is limited to the amount of the original investment for the purchase of the option, an
investment in an option may be subject to greater fluctuation than is an investment in the underlying securities.
In theory, an uncovered call writer’s loss is potentially unlimited, but in practice the loss is limited by the term
of existence of the call. The risk for a writer of a put option is that the price of the underlying securities may
fall below the exercise price. The ability to trade in or exercise options may be restricted if trading in the
underlying securities interest becomes restricted. Unlike exchange-traded options, which are standardized
with respect to the underlying instrument, expiration date, contract size, and strike price, the terms of over-
the-counter options (options not traded on exchanges) are generally established through negotiation with the
other party to the option contract. While this type of arrangement allows greater flexibility to tailor an option
to its needs, over-the-counter options generally involve greater credit risk than exchange-traded options, which
are guaranteed by the clearing organization of the exchanges where they are traded.
OTC Transactions – Certain Accounts may directly or indirectly trade in derivative instruments that are not
traded on organized exchanges and, as such, are not standardized. These transactions are known as over-the-
counter (“OTC”) transactions. In general, there is less governmental regulation and supervision in the OTC
markets than there is with respect to transactions entered into on an organized exchange. In addition, many
of the protections afforded to participants on some organized exchanges, such as the performance guarantee
of an exchange clearinghouse, are not available in connection with OTC transactions. Moreover, while some
OTC markets are often highly liquid, transactions in OTC derivatives may involve greater risk than investing
in exchange traded instruments because there is no exchange market on which to close out an open position.
It may be impossible to liquidate an existing position, to assess the value of the position arising from an off-
23 Putnam Investment Management,
exchange transaction or to assess the exposure to risk. Bid and offer prices need not be quoted and, even
where they are, they will be established by dealers in these instruments and consequently it may be difficult
to establish what is a fair price.
Outbreaks, Pandemics and Other Public Health Issues – In general, unexpected local, regional or global
events, such as the spread of infectious illnesses or other public health issues and their aftermaths, could have
a significant adverse impact on the Advisers’ operations (including the ability of the Advisers to find and execute
suitable investments) and therefore the Accounts' potential returns. In addition, such infectious illness
outbreaks, as well as any restrictive measures implemented to control such outbreaks, could adversely affect
the economies of many nations or the entire global economy, the financial condition of individual issuers or
companies (including those that are held by, or are counterparties or service providers to, the Accounts) and
capital markets in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen, and such impact could be significant and long term.
Moreover, the impact of infectious illnesses in emerging market countries may be greater due to generally less
established healthcare systems. If such events occur, an Account’s exposure to a number of other risks
described elsewhere in this brochure can increase.
For example, an outbreak of an infectious respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus known as COVID-
19 was first detected in China in December 2019 and later detected globally, causing the World Health
Organization to declare it a pandemic. This coronavirus has caused global distress and market volatility and
uncertainty, and it resulted in travel restrictions, closed international borders, enhanced health screenings at
ports of entry and elsewhere, disruption of and delays in healthcare service preparation and delivery,
prolonged quarantines, cancellations of services, supply chain disruptions, volatility in consumer demand for
certain products, and disruptions or suspensions of business activities across a wide range of industries
(including causing the Advisers and other service providers to certain Accounts to implement business
contingency plans). As of the date of this brochure, the long-term economic fallout of COVID-19 is difficult
to predict, and the outbreak could adversely affect the Accounts’ investments and/or the Advisers’ operations.
Portfolio Turnover – The portfolio turnover rate in certain Accounts may exceed 100% per year because
of the anticipated use of certain investment strategies. Other Accounts may experience greater turnover rates
due to rebalancing services provided by an Adviser’s digital advisory program. Such frequent trading may affect
the Account’s investment performance, particularly through increased brokerage and other transaction costs
and taxes.
Private Investments in Public Equities (“PIPEs”) – Accounts investing in PIPE transactions invest
money in public corporations in exchange for shares of the company, usually unregistered under the Securities
Act. Often, warrants will be utilized to provide greater upside potential.
Quantitative Model Risk – When executing an investment strategy using various proprietary quantitative
or investment models, securities or other financial instruments selected can perform differently than expected,
or from the market as a whole, as a result of a model’s component factors, the weight placed on each factor,
changes from the factors’ historical trends, and technical issues in the construction, implementation and
maintenance of the models (e.g., data problems, software issues, etc.). A model’s assumptions or its data inputs
may be inaccurate from the outset or may become inaccurate as a result of many factors, such as changes in
market structure, increased government intervention in markets or growth in assets managed in accordance
with similar investment strategies. Moreover, the use of computers in collating information or developing and
operating a quantitative or investment model does not assure the success of the model because a computer is
merely an aid in compiling and organizing trade information. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that a
model will achieve its objective.
Real Estate Securities – Real estate values rise and fall in response to a variety of factors, including local,
regional and national economic conditions, interest rates, tax and insurance considerations, changes in zoning
laws, environmental regulations or hazards, or overbuilding, increases in property taxes and operating
expenses or value decline in a neighbourhood. When economic growth is slow, demand for property
decreases and prices may decline.
24 Putnam Investment Management,
REITs – A REIT’s performance depends on the types, values and locations of the properties and companies
it owns and how well those properties and companies are managed. A decline in rental income may occur
because of extended vacancies, increased competition from other properties, tenants’ failure to pay rent or
poor management. Because a REIT may be invested in a limited number of projects or in a particular market
segment, it may be more susceptible to adverse developments affecting a single project or market segment
than more broadly diversified investments. Loss of status as a qualified REIT under the U.S. federal tax laws could
adversely affect the value of a particular REIT or the market for REITs as a whole. These risks may also apply
to securities of REIT-like entities domiciled outside the U.S.
Risk of Loss – All investments involve the risk of the loss of capital. No guarantee or representation is made
that any Account will achieve its investment objective or avoid losses. The value of a security can go up or
down more than the market as a whole and can perform differently from the value of the market as a whole,
often due to disappointing earnings reports by an issuer, unsuccessful products or services, loss of major
customers, major litigation against the issuer, changes in government regulations affecting the issuer or the
competitive environment, or investor sentiment. While each Account has its own investment objectives and
strategies, there are risks associated with investing in general.
Risks Related to Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine – Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the
resulting responses by the United States and other countries, and the continued conflict has increased volatility
and uncertainty in the financial markets and adversely affected regional and global economies. The United States
and other countries and certain international organizations have imposed broad-ranging economic sanctions
on Russia and certain Russian individuals, banking entities and corporations as a response to Russia’s invasion
of Ukraine. The United States and other countries have also imposed economic sanctions on individuals and
corporations in other countries in connection with the conflict and may continue to do so. These sanctions, as
well as any other economic consequences related to the invasion, such as additional sanctions, boycotts or
changes in consumer or purchaser preferences or cyber-attacks on governments, companies or individuals,
may further decrease the value and liquidity of certain Russian securities and securities of issuers in other
countries that are subject to economic sanctions related to the invasion. To the extent that the Fund has
exposure to Russian investments or investments in countries affected by the invasion, the Fund’s ability to
price, buy, sell, receive or deliver such investments on behalf of an Account may be impaired. The Fund could
determine that affected securities of an Account have zero value. In addition, any exposure that the Fund may
have to counterparties in Russia or in countries affected by the invasion could negatively impact the Fund’s
portfolio. The extent and duration of Russia’s military actions and the repercussions of such actions (including
any retaliatory actions or countermeasures that may be taken by those subjects to sanctions) are impossible
to predict, but could result in significant market disruptions, including in the oil and natural gas markets, and
may negatively affect global supply chains, inflation and global growth. These and any related events could
significantly impact the Fund’s performance and the value of an investment in the Fund, even beyond any direct
exposure the Fund may have to Russian issuers or issuers in other countries affected by the invasion.
Securities Lending –To generate additional income, the Putnam Adviser may lend certain of an Account’s
portfolio securities to qualified borrowers, including banks and broker-dealers, in exchange for cash collateral
at least equal to the value of the security loaned that may then be invested while the loan is outstanding. If the
borrower defaults on its obligation to return the securities loaned because of insolvency or other reasons,
there could be delays and costs in recovering the securities loaned or in gaining access to the collateral. These
delays and costs could be greater for non-U.S. securities. If the Adviser is not able to recover the securities
loaned, it may sell the collateral and purchase a replacement investment in the market. Additional transaction
costs would result, and the value of the collateral could decrease below the value of the replacement investment
by the time the replacement investment is purchased. Until the replacement can be purchased, the Account
will not have the desired level of exposure to the security which the borrower failed to return. Cash received
as collateral through loan transactions may be invested in other eligible securities, including shares of a money
market fund. Investing this cash creates additional market risk, including losses on the collateral and, should
the Adviser need to look to the collateral in the event of the borrower's default, losses on the loan secured by
that collateral.
25 Putnam Investment Management,
Short Selling Risk – A short sale is where an Account borrows securities from a lender and sells them in
the open market. The Account must repurchase the securities at a later date in order to return them to the
lender. In the interim, the proceeds from the short sale are deposited with the lender and the Account pays
interest to the lender on the borrowed securities. If the value of the securities declines between the time of
the initial short sale and the time it repurchases and returns the securities, the Account makes a profit for the
difference (less any interest paid to the lender). If the price of the borrowed securities rises, however, a loss
results. There are risks associated with short selling, namely, that the borrowed securities will rise in value or
not decline enough to cover the borrowing costs. Any loss on short positions may or may not be offset by
investing short sale proceeds in other investments. In addition, the Account may experience difficulties in
repurchasing the borrowed securities if a liquid market for the securities does not exist. The lender from whom
the securities have been borrowed may also become bankrupt, causing the borrowing Account to lose the
collateral it deposited with the lender.
Small and Mid-Capitalization Companies – While small and mid-capitalization companies may offer
substantial opportunities for capital growth, they also may involve more risks than larger companies.
Historically, securities issued by small and mid-capitalization companies have been more volatile in price than
securities that are issued by larger companies, especially over the short term. Among the reasons for the
greater price volatility are the less certain growth prospects of small and mid-capitalization companies, the
lower degree of liquidity in the markets for such securities, and the greater sensitivity of small and mid-
capitalization companies to changing economic conditions.
In addition, small and mid-capitalization companies may lack depth of management, be unable to generate
funds necessary for growth or development, have limited product lines or be developing or marketing new
products or services for which markets are not yet established and may never become established. Small and
mid-capitalization companies may be particularly affected by interest rate increases, as they may find it more
difficult to borrow money to continue or expand operations, or may have difficulty in repaying loans,
particularly those with floating interest rates.
State and U.S. Territories – Certain Accounts may directly or indirectly invest predominantly in state-
specific municipal securities, in which case, events in that specific state are likely to affect the Account’s
investments and its performance by increasing price volatility, market yield and taxes owed on income earned.
These events may include economic or political policy changes, tax base erosion, state constitutional limits on
tax increases, budget deficits and other financial difficulties, and changes in the credit ratings assigned to
municipal issuers of that state.
Swaps – Certain Advisers enter into swap contracts for certain Accounts, including but not limited to, total
return, interest rate, basis, currency, credit default, and inflation. These Advisers may enter into swaps for
speculative or hedging purposes and therefore may increase or decrease exposure to the underlying
instrument, and these Advisers utilize swaps for certain Accounts where it believes such investments will further
the Account’s objectives. Notional amounts of swap transactions are not subject to any limitations, and swap
contracts may expose an Account to unlimited risk of loss. Swaps may be used as an alternative to futures
contracts. To the extent an Account directly or indirectly invests in repos, swaps, forwards, futures, options
and other “synthetic” or derivative instruments, the Account would be subject to counterparty risk. In
addition, certain Advisers may enter into swaps on securities, baskets of securities or securities indices and
they may use such swaps to gain investment exposure to the underlying security or securities where direct
ownership is either not legally possible or is economically unattractive. Certain Advisers may enter into swaps
to modify an Account’s exposure to particular currencies using currency swaps.
Tracking Error and ETF Management Risk – ETFs trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may
trade at prices above or below the ETF’s net asset value. ETF shares may be bought or sold throughout the
day at their market price on the exchange on which they are listed. However, there can be no guarantee that
an active trading market for ETF shares will develop or be maintained, or that their listing will continue or
remain unchanged. While the shares of ETFs are tradable on secondary markets, they may not readily trade
in all market conditions and may trade at significant discounts due to market forces. Certain ETFs are designed
to track a specified market index; however, in some cases an ETF’s return may deviate from the specified
26 Putnam Investment Management,
index. Other ETFs are actively managed and are therefore subject to management risk. Furthermore, unlike
traditional open-end funds, investors generally cannot purchase ETF shares from, or redeem ETF shares with,
the ETF sponsor. Rather, only specified large blocks of ETF shares called “creation units” can be purchased
from, or redeemed with, the ETF sponsor. For more information on any ETF, investors should carefully
consider the ETF’s investment goals, risks, sales charges and expenses before investing. An ETF’s prospectus
contains this and other information.
Unlisted Securities – Unlisted securities (i.e., securities not listed on a stock exchange or other markets
and for which no liquid secondary trading market exists) may involve a high degree of business and financial
risk and may result in substantial losses. The companies underlying such securities may have relatively limited
operating and profit histories. Many of these companies may also need substantial additional capital to support
expansion or to achieve or maintain a competitive position and there is no assurance that capital will be
available to finance such needs. In the absence of a liquid trading market for unlisted securities, they will be
difficult to value. It is also possible that such investments will be difficult to liquidate when desired, which may
limit the ability to realize their full value. Although it is generally desirable that unlisted securities become listed
in due course, there can be no assurance that this will be the case, or that sufficient liquidity for substantial
shareholdings will be available following listing. Additionally, companies whose securities are not publicly
traded generally are not subject to the same disclosure and investor protection requirements that apply to
publicly traded companies. As a consequence, the information available to security holders of such companies
about their business models, quality of management, earnings growth potential, and other criteria that are
normally considered when evaluating the investment prospects of such companies may be less complete and
less reliable than would be the case with a publicly traded company.
Valuation Risk – An Account may directly or indirectly invest in securities for which reliable market
quotations are not available. The process of valuing such securities is based on inherent uncertainties, and the
resulting values may differ from values that would have been determined had readily available market quotations
been available. As a result, the values placed on such securities by the Advisers may differ from values placed
on such securities by other investors or a client’s custodian and from prices at which such securities may
ultimately be sold. Where appropriate, third-party pricing information, which may be indicative of, or used as
an input in determining, fair value may be used, but such information may at times not be available regarding
certain assets or, if available, may not be considered reliable. Even if considered reliable, such third-party
information might not ultimately reflect the price obtained for that security in a market transaction, which
could be higher or lower than the third-party pricing information. In addition, an Account may rely on various
third-party sources to calculate its market value. As a result, the Account is subject to certain operational
risks associated with reliance on service providers and service providers’ data sources.
Value Style Investing – Value stock prices are considered "cheap" relative to the company's perceived value
and are often out of favor with other investors. The investment manager may invest in such stocks if it believes
the market may have overreacted to adverse developments or failed to appreciate positive changes. However,
if other investors fail to recognize the company's value (and do not become buyers, or if they become sellers
or favor investing in faster growing companies), value stocks may not increase in value as anticipated by the
investment manager and may even decline in value.
Item 9: Disciplinary Information
PIM entered into a Settlement Agreement with the SEC on September 27, 2018. The Settlement Agreement
states: (i) a trader formerly employed by Putnam engaged in prearranged trades in certain mortgage-backed
securities, (ii) as a result of these undisclosed prearranged trades PIM did not seek best execution, (iii) PIM
did not ensure compliance with applicable policies regarding cross-trades and failed to supervise the former
employee. The SEC found violations of Sections 203(e) (6), 206 (2) (4), and 207 of the Investment Advisers
Act, and Section 17(a) of the Investment Company Act. The SEC entered a cease and desist order, and Putnam
paid a $1,000,000 fine and agreed to reimburse the clients that participated in the relevant trades in an
aggregate amount of $1,095,006.10.
27 Putnam Investment Management,
Item 10: Other Financial Industry Activities and
Affiliations
The Putnam Advisers are indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of Franklin Templeton, a holding company with
its various subsidiaries that operate under the Franklin Templeton and/or subsidiary brand names. PIM has
certain business arrangements with related persons/companies that are material to its advisory business or to
PIM clients, including those described in this Item 10 (“Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations”). In
some cases, these business arrangements will, from time to time, create a potential conflict of interest, or the
appearance of a conflict of interest, between the Putnam Advisers and a client. Please see Item 4 (“Advisory
Business”) for additional information on services of affiliates.
Recognized conflicts of interest are discussed in Item 6 (“Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side
Management”) above and Item 11 (“Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal
Trading”) and Item 12 (“Brokerage Practices”) below. The Putnam Advisers have arrangements with one or
more of the following types of related persons that may be considered material to their advisory business or
to their clients.
Related Broker-Dealer
The Putnam Advisers are under common control with Franklin Distributors, LLC (“FD, LLC”), which is an
SEC registered broker-dealer and member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). FD, LLC
is also registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) as an introducing broker and
is a member of the National Futures Association (“NFA”).
FD, LLC is a limited purpose broker-dealer that serves as an underwriter and distributor for Franklin’s U.S.
registered funds and 529 college savings plan. Furthermore, FD, LLC serves as a placement agent for affiliated
private funds. FD, LLC also serves as broker-dealer of record on certain accounts of Putnam Fund shareholders
that are held directly with the Fund’s transfer agent. FD, LLC registered staff principally engage in wholesaling
and marketing activities. FD, LLC does not make recommendations to purchase or sell fund shares to retail
investors.
Underwriting and distribution fees are earned primarily by distributing Putnam Funds pursuant to distribution
agreements between FD, LLC and the Funds.
In addition, certain of the Putnam Advisers’ employees are registered representatives of FD, LLC. Please see
Item 11 (“Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading”) for a discussion
of the associated conflicts.
In addition to the above, certain non-U.S. affiliates of the Putnam Advisers promote the services and managed
funds of the Putnam Advisers outside the United States.
Clients and potential clients should be aware, in choosing to begin a client relationship with a Putnam Adviser
or invest in an investment fund offered by Putnam, that our affiliated sales personnel and various affiliated
companies are compensated for their distribution activities. This compensation may include commissions based
on the successful sale of particular Putnam funds or strategies/services. Accordingly, our personnel and our
affiliates’ personnel have an incentive to sell Putnam products and services.
Related Advisers
The Putnam Advisers will, under certain circumstances, enter into a sub-advisory arrangement with, or refer a client
to, an investment adviser affiliate, including from time to time another Putnam Adviser, capable of meeting the client’s
specific investment needs. One or more of these affiliated investment advisers may be serving as a commodity
trading advisor (“CTA”) and/or a commodity pool operator (“CPO”) that is either registered or exempt from
registration with the CFTC. The Putnam Advisers as well as other investment adviser affiliates are affiliated with
each other through the common control of Franklin Templeton, and certain of these advisory entities share certain
28 Putnam Investment Management,
supervised persons, portfolio management personnel and investment research with each other.
A Putnam Adviser uses the services of appropriate personnel of one or more of its affiliates for investment
advice, portfolio execution and trading, administrative services (such as middle office or back-office services),
and/or client servicing in their local or regional markets or in their areas of special expertise, except to the
extent restricted by the client under its investment management agreement, or if inconsistent with applicable
law. Arrangements among affiliates take a variety of forms, including delegation arrangements, formal sub-
advisory arrangements, and servicing agreements. Certain employees and officers of Franklin Templeton and
its subsidiaries who engage in investment advisory services may also be appointed to serve as officers
and/or authorized persons of a Putnam Adviser and, in that capacity, may provide investment research,
investment recommendations and other services to a Putnam Adviser from time to time. In each of these
circumstances, the Putnam Adviser remains fully responsible for the account from a legal and contractual
perspective. No additional fees are charged for the affiliates’ services except as disclosed in the investment
management agreement. These relationships will, from time to time, present potential conflicts of interest
relating to the Advisers’ activities. Please see Item 6 (“Performance-Based Fees and Side-By- Side Management”)
and Item 11 (“Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading”) for
additional information.
Affiliated Funds
Putnam also manages various affiliated funds, as described in Item 4. Putnam does not invest the assets of its
discretionary client accounts or Putnam funds in other funds managed by Putnam without consent of the
client or fund (which may, in some cases, be obtained through disclosure in the investment management
agreement or a fund’s offering documents), and generally structures these investments to avoid any duplication
of Putnam advisory fees (such as through waivers of Putnam fees at either the investing fund or underlying
fund level, depending on the specific facts). Subject to these requirements and any other applicable law, Putnam
may use affiliated funds to manage portfolio cash (including cash collateral) efficiently, as underlying “building
block” portfolios, or for other purposes.
Related Service Providers for Certain Separate Accounts and Model Programs
As described above in Item 4 (“Investment Advisory Services”), effective January 1, 2025, PIM acts as a
subadviser to its affiliate FTPPG in connection with SMA Programs. Under this engagement, FTPPG provides
operational support on behalf of PIM (the “Support Services”). FTPPG has retained Market Street Advisors,
Inc., dba “Archer,” a company not affiliated with PIM or FTPPG, to provide some or all of the Support Services
as its delegate with respect to separate accounts. PIM has engaged FTPPG to provide PIM with Support
Services with respect to PIM’s non-discretionary advisory arrangements for Model Portfolio programs. In
exchange for the Support Services for SMA Programs, PIM pays FTPPG a blended fee depending on the
account’s assets under management and account type. Such fees would be paid by PIM out of its own
resources.
Conflicts of Interest
Being part of a large corporate group could involve conflicts of interest if, for example, an asset manager were
to use affiliated products and services when those products and services may not be in its clients’ best
interests. Many U.S. and non-U.S. laws aim to limit these conflicts of interests – for example, by preventing a
money manager from entering into trades between its clients and its affiliates where the client might be
disadvantaged. At Putnam we have policies and procedures designed to comply with these laws. In addition,
we believe that our business relationships with our affiliates are carried out on market terms. In some key
areas where potential conflicts may arise, we do not currently deal with our affiliates. For example, Putnam
currently does not execute portfolio transactions for client accounts with any “affiliated” broker-dealers (as
defined under relevant securities laws), and we do not generally invest in the stocks of our corporate affiliates
that are public companies. We may, however, deal with or invest in companies whose relationship with
Putnam is immaterial (for example, where our parent company has a very small indirect interest that would
not make the company an “affiliate” under applicable law). While we do not expect our policies to have any
material impact on our management of client accounts, it is possible that refraining from investing in our
29 Putnam Investment Management,
affiliates could cause clients to forego attractive investment opportunities in some strategies.
Item 11: Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in
Client Transactions and Personal Trading
Code of Ethics Summary
PIM, an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Franklin Templeton, has adopted the Franklin Templeton Code
of Ethics and Business Conduct (the “Code of Ethics”), which is applicable to all officers, directors, and
employees of Franklin Templeton and its U.S. and non-U.S. subsidiaries and affiliates, including PIM (each,
an “Adviser” and collectively, the “Advisers”). The Advisers are also subject to the Franklin Templeton
Personal Investments and Insider Trading Policy (the “Personal Investments Policy”), which serves as a
code of ethics adopted by Franklin Templeton pursuant to Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act and Rule 17j-
1 of the 1940 Act. A brief description of the main provisions of the Personal Investments Policy follows.
The Personal Investments Policy states that the interests of the Advisers’ clients are paramount and come
before any employee. All Covered Employees (as defined below) are required to conduct themselves in a
lawful, honest and ethical manner in their business practices and to maintain an environment that fosters
fairness, respect and integrity.
“Covered Employees” include the Advisers’ partners, officers, directors (or other persons occupying a
similar status or performing similar functions), and employees, as well as any other person who provides
advice on behalf of the Advisers and are subject to the supervision and control of the Advisers. The personal
investment activities of Covered Employees must be conducted in a manner that avoids actual or potential
conflicts of interest with the clients of the Advisers. Covered Employees are required to use their positions
with the Advisers and any investment opportunities they learn of because of their positions with the Advisers
in a manner consistent with their fiduciary duties to use such opportunities and information for the benefit
of the Advisers’ clients and with applicable laws, rules and regulations. In addition, the Personal Investments
Policy states that information concerning the security holdings and financial circumstances of the Advisers’
clients is confidential and Covered Employees are required to safeguard this information.
Additionally, Access Persons, a subset of Covered Employees, are required to provide certain periodic reports
on their personal securities transactions and holdings. “Access Persons” are those persons who have access
to non-public information regarding the securities transactions of the Advisers’ funds or clients; are involved
in making securities recommendations to clients; have access to securities recommendations that are non-
public; or have access to non-public information regarding the portfolio holdings of funds for which an Adviser
serves as an investment adviser or a sub-adviser or any fund whose investment adviser or principal
underwriter controls an Adviser, is controlled by an Adviser or is under common control with an Adviser.
The Advisers’ Access Persons must obtain pre-clearance from the Compliance Department before buying or
selling any security (other than those not requiring pre-clearance under the Personal Investments Policy). The
Personal Investments Policy also requires pre-clearance before investing in a private investment or
purchasing securities in a limited offering. The Personal Investments Policy generally prohibits Access
Persons from investing in initial public offerings (“IPOs”); however, such investments may be permissible in
certain circumstances or jurisdictions with prior approval from the Compliance Department.
To avoid actual or potential conflicts of interest with the Advisers’ clients, certain transactions and practices
are prohibited by the Personal Investments Policy. These include front-running, trading parallel to a client,
trading against a client, using proprietary information for personal transactions, market timing, and short
selling Franklin Templeton stock and the securities of Franklin Templeton closed-end funds.
The Personal Investments Policy requires prompt internal reporting of suspected and actual violations of the
Personal Investments Policy. In addition, violations of the Personal Investments Policy are referred to the
Director of Global Compliance and/or the Chief Compliance Officer as well as the relevant management
30 Putnam Investment Management,
personnel.
The Advisers maintain a “restricted list” of securities in which the Advisers’ personnel generally may not trade.
The restricted list is updated as necessary and is intended to prevent the misuse of material, non- public
information by their employees. In addition to continuous monitoring, the Compliance Department will
conduct forensic testing or auditing of reported personal securities transactions to ensure compliance with
the Personal Investments Policy.
No Covered Employee or Access Person may trade while in possession of material, non-public information
(“MNPI”) or communicate MNPI to others.
Information is considered material if there is a substantial likelihood that a reasonable investor would
consider the information to be important in making his or her investment decision, or if it is reasonably
certain to have a substantial effect on the price of the company’s securities. Information is non-public until
it has been effectively communicated to the marketplace. If the information has been obtained from someone
who is betraying an obligation not to share the information (e.g., a company insider), that information is very
likely to be non-public.
The Advisers have implemented a substantial set of personal investing procedures designed to avoid violation
of the Personal Investments Policy.
Copies of the Personal Investments Policy are available to any client or prospective client upon request by
emailing GCSS at GlobalClientServiceSupportAmericas@franklintempleton.com.
Affiliated Accounts
The Advisers and their affiliates sometimes create “seed” or “incubator” funds and accounts in order to
develop a performance track record in new investment products and strategies before offering them to
clients. Franklin Templeton or a subsidiary funds these portfolios. Franklin Templeton employees also invest
in some seed portfolios. Franklin Templeton and its related companies and employees also invest in
registered investment companies and other investment funds that are offered to clients immediately from
inception. Franklin Templeton and any investing employees will benefit from the investment performance of
seed portfolios and other Franklin Templeton portfolios in which they invest. These two kinds of portfolios
are called “affiliated accounts” below. In some cases, Franklin Templeton and its affiliates and employees may
own all or a substantial portion of a particular fund or account for an extended period.
Affiliated accounts often invest in the same securities, at or around the same time, as client accounts. The
policy of the Putnam Advisers is to allocate trades to affiliated accounts in the same way as client accounts –
neither favoring nor disfavoring them except where legally required. Affiliated accounts are normally included
in a Putnam Adviser’s daily block trades to the same extent as client accounts, except that seed accounts do
not participate in initial public offerings. For more information, please read “Potential Conflicts of Interest in
Trading and Management” below.
Franklin Templeton employees may also invest in the Putnam Funds in accordance with the terms of the
prospectus.
Franklin Templeton or an affiliate may discuss with its clients potential investment in investment funds
for which a Putnam Adviser acts as an investment adviser and/or managing member/general partner or trustee.
POTENTIAL CONFLICTS RELATING TO ADVISORY AND OTHER ACTIVITIES
The Putnam Advisers and their affiliates engage in a broad range of activities, including investment activities for
their own account and for the accounts of others and providing transaction-related, investment advisory,
management and other services. In addition, while the Putnam Advisers are typically not themselves a general
partner of any limited partnership, one or more of their affiliates often serve as a manager, general partner or
31 Putnam Investment Management,
trustee or in a similar capacity of a partnership, trust or other collective investment vehicle in which the
Advisers’ clients are solicited to invest. In the ordinary course of an Adviser conducting its activities for a
client, the interests of a client will, from time to time, conflict with the interests of the Adviser, other clients
and/or their respective affiliates. Potential or actual conflicts of interest arise, from time to time, in (i) principal
transactions, (ii) cross trades, (iii) investments by the Putnam Advisers or their employees for their personal
accounts, (iv) client investment in entities affiliated with an Adviser or in which an Adviser or an affiliate has an
interest, (v) allocation of investment opportunities and expenses, (vi) diverse membership among investors in
a client account, and (vii) diversity of client base, among others. In addition, while the Advisers are part of the
Franklin Templeton organization, the Advisers have their own clients. Although an Adviser may focus primarily
on an investment strategy different from other Advisers, clients of the Adviser and such other Advisers will,
from time to time, invest in the same company or issuer, including in the same security or in different securities
of such company or issuer. In such circumstances, interests of the Adviser’s clients will, at times, therefore
conflict with the interests of the clients of the other Advisers. In addition, the interests of and between the
Advisers themselves will at times be in conflict. These and other conflicts of interest are more fully described
below.
The Putnam Advisers manage assets of clients in accordance with the investment mandate selected by the clients
and applicable law and will seek to give advice to, and make investment decisions for, such clients that the
Advisers reasonably believe to be in the best interests of such clients. The Advisers have implemented policies
and procedures that are reasonably designed to appropriately identify, disclose, limit and/or mitigate conflicts
of interest. Additional limits and mitigants of conflicts are identified below. Any review of a conflict of interest
will take into consideration the interests of the relevant accounts, the circumstances giving rise to the conflict,
applicable policies and procedures of the Advisers, and applicable laws.
The following discussion is not a complete list of conflicts to which the Putnam Advisers or clients are subject.
In addition, other conflicts are discussed elsewhere in this brochure.
Principal Transactions
From time to time the Putnam Advisers may recommend, to the extent permitted by law, that clients buy an
asset from, or sell an asset to, the Advisers or their affiliates. These transactions involving the purchase and
sale of assets are commonly referred to as “principal transactions.” A principal transaction may also be deemed
to occur if an Adviser and/or an affiliate owns a substantial portion of a Fund, and that Fund participates in a
transaction with another client. Principal transactions present an inherent conflict of interest because an
Adviser and/or one or more of its affiliates are on both sides of such transactions. To the extent that an Adviser
engages in a principal transaction covered by Section 206(3) of the Advisers Act, the Adviser will comply with
the requirements of Section 206(3) of the Advisers Act, including that the Adviser will notify the applicable
client (or an independent representative thereof) in writing of the transaction and obtain the client’s consent
(or the consent of an independent representative thereof). The Advisers seek to alleviate the conflict of
interest posed by principal transactions with procedures requiring pre-clearance of any principal transaction
by the Compliance Department and ensuring requisite client consent has been received.
On occasion and subject to applicable law and a private Fund’s governing documents, an Adviser that advises
a private Fund or a related person (including the Adviser’s affiliates, officers, directors or employees) may
purchase investments on behalf of and in anticipation of opening a Private Fund that will hold such investment.
Such investments are typically then transferred to the Private Fund.
Cross Trades
In certain circumstances, the Putnam Advisers will conclude that it is appropriate to sell securities held in one
account to another account. Consistent with its fiduciary duty to each client (including the duty to seek best
execution), an Adviser will, from time to time, (but is not required to) effect purchases and sales between
clients or clients of affiliates (“cross trades”) if the Adviser believes such transactions are appropriate based
on each client’s investment objectives, subject to applicable law and regulation.
32 Putnam Investment Management,
In a cross trade, a Putnam Adviser has a conflict of interest because the Adviser and/or one or more of its
affiliates represent the interests of both the selling party and the buying party in the same transaction. As a
result, accounts for whom the Advisers execute cross trades bear the risk that one or more other accounts
in the cross trade will be treated more favorably, particularly in cases where such other accounts pay a higher
management or performance-based fee or incentive allocation. The Advisers have established certain policies
and procedures as they relate to cross trades, under which certain cross trades are permitted when it is in
the best interest of each account. Cross trades also pose a risk that the price of a security or other instrument
bought or sold through a cross trade will not be as favorable as it might have been had the trade been executed
in the open market or that an account receives a security that is difficult to dispose of in a market transaction.
The Advisers seek to ensure that the price paid, or amount received by a client in a cross trade is fair and
appropriate, which is sometimes based on independent dealer quotes or information obtained from recognized
pricing services. Moreover, absent certain circumstances, if the Advisers are unable to obtain sufficient price
quotes or otherwise determine the security is illiquid, then the cross trade would not typically be executed.
In addition, the Advisers will not receive compensation (other than their normal advisory fee for managing
the Account), directly or indirectly, for effecting a cross trade between advisory clients, and accordingly will
not be deemed to have acted as a broker with respect to such transactions. Any cross trades effected with
respect to U.S.-registered Funds are subject to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act. Please also see Item 6
(“Performance-Based Fees and Side-by-Side Management”) for additional information.
Personal Trading
Management of personal accounts by a portfolio manager or other investment professionals will, from time to
time, give rise to potential conflicts of interest. The Putnam Advisers have adopted the Personal Investments
Policy, which they believe contains provisions reasonably designed to prevent a wide range of prohibited
activities by portfolio managers and others with respect to their personal trading activities, as well as certain
additional compliance procedures that are designed to address these and other types of conflicts. However,
there is no guarantee that the Personal Investment Policy or such additional compliance procedures will detect
and/or address all situations where an actual or potential conflict arises.
Conflicts Related to Investments in Securities of Companies in Which an Adviser, an Affiliate
or Another Account Holds Interests
The Putnam Advisers will, from time to time, recommend to clients, or buy or sell for accounts, securities in
which the Advisers or their affiliates have a material financial interest. Such financial interests include, among
other things, seed capital contributed by an Adviser or an affiliate to a Fund that such Adviser manages, or an
actual investment by an Adviser or an affiliate in the Fund or in third-party vehicles in which the Adviser or a
related person has a financial interest. The Advisers or their related persons may also purchase or sell for
themselves securities or other investments that one or more advisory clients own, previously owned, or may
own in the future, subject to the Personal Investments Policy, other policies and procedures of the Advisers,
and applicable law.
Under certain circumstances and to the extent permitted by applicable law, certain Accounts will invest
directly or indirectly in the securities of companies in which a related person of the Adviser, for itself or its
clients, has an equity, debt, or other interest. For example, an Adviser’s affiliate may have contributed seed
capital to a Private Fund or other Account that the Adviser concludes should co-invest in the same company
with another Private Fund or other Account managed by the Adviser. In addition, an affiliate or a related
person of an Adviser may make a strategic investment in a company (such as a company in the financial
technology industry) that an Adviser separately determines is a prudent investment for an Account to make.
Accordingly, an Adviser’s management of its client’s assets will, in certain circumstances, benefit the interests
of members of the Adviser and/or its affiliates.
With respect to a particular account, the Putnam Advisers are not obligated to recommend, buy or sell, or
to refrain from recommending, buying or selling any security that the Advisers and “access persons,” as defined
by applicable federal securities laws, may buy or sell for their own account or for the accounts of any other
fund. Additionally, the Advisers are permitted to invest in securities held by any Accounts they manage, subject
33 Putnam Investment Management,
to applicable policies and procedures adopted by the Advisers and applicable law.
Conflicts Related to Investing Alongside Other Accounts
Under certain circumstances, an account will make an investment in which one or more other accounts are
expected to participate, or already have made, or will seek to make, an investment in the same security. Such
Accounts may have conflicting interests and objectives in connection with such investments, including with
respect to views on the operations or activities of the issuer involved, the targeted returns from the
investment and the timeframe for, and method of, exiting the investment. When making such investments, an
Adviser may do so in a way that favors one account over another account, even if both accounts are investing
in the same security at the same time. For example, if two accounts have different time horizons, and the
account with a shorter time horizon sells its interest first, this sale could affect the value of the investment in
the company held by the account with the longer time horizon. There will also be cases where accounts invest
on a “parallel” basis (i.e., proportionately in all transactions at substantially the same time and on substantially
the same terms and conditions).
The Putnam Advisers have no obligation to provide the same investment advice or to purchase or sell the
same securities for each account. Differing facts and circumstances among accounts will, from time to time,
result in an Adviser and one or more of its related persons giving advice and taking action with respect to one
account they manage, or for their own account, that differs from action taken on behalf of other accounts
they manage. However, such differing actions are subject to applicable policies and procedures adopted by
the Advisers and are guided by the Advisers’ fiduciary duties to act in each account’s best interests. For
example, in certain circumstances, clients will seek to take an opposite investment position (e.g., a long position
versus a short position) in the same security held by other clients (or proprietary accounts), but policies and
procedures of the Advisers’ prohibit such opposite positions in certain circumstances.
The Putnam Advisers serve as sub-advisers to various sub-advised Accounts, some of which have an
investment goal and strategy similar to that of other types of client Accounts for which such Advisers serve as
investment adviser. Even when there is similarity in investment goal and strategy, investment performance and
portfolio holdings may vary between these accounts, potentially significantly, as a result of, among other things,
differences in: (i) inception dates, (ii) cash flows, (iii) asset allocation, (iv) security selection, (v) liquidity, (vi)
income distribution or income retention, (vii) fees, (viii) fair value pricing procedures, (ix) diversification
methodology, (x) use of different foreign exchange rates, (xi) use of different pricing vendors, (xii) ability to
access certain markets due to country registration requirements, (xiii) legal restrictions or custodial issues,
(xiv) legacy holdings in the account, (xv) availability of applicable trading agreements such as ISDAs, futures
agreements or other trading documentation, (xvi) restrictions placed on the account (including country,
industry or environmental and social governance restrictions) and (xvii) other operational issues that impact
the ability of an Account to trade in certain instruments or markets.
Please see Item 6 (“Performance-Based Fees and Side-By-Side Management”) for additional information
regarding conflicts related to side-by-side management of different Accounts.
Conflicts Related to Investing in Different Levels of the Capital Structure
Potential conflicts exist in certain uses of multiple strategies by a Putnam Adviser. For example, conflicts will
arise in cases where different accounts invest in different parts of an issuer’s capital structure, including
circumstances in which one or more accounts own private securities or obligations of an issuer and one or
more other accounts own or seek to acquire securities of the same issuer. For instance, an account may
acquire a loan, loan participation or a loan assignment of a particular borrower in which one or more other
accounts have an equity investment or may invest in senior debt obligations of an issuer for one account and
junior debt obligations or equity of the same issuer for another account. In such and other similar situations, an
Adviser may take actions with respect to the assets held by one account that are adverse to the other
accounts, for example, by foreclosing on loans, disposing of equity, or by exercising rights to purchase or sell
to an issuer, causing an issuer to take actions adverse to certain classes of securities. In these situations,
decisions over items such as whether to make the investment, exercise certain rights, or take or determine
34 Putnam Investment Management,
not to take an action, proxy voting, corporate reorganization, how to exit an investment, bankruptcy or similar
matters (including, for example, whether to trigger an event of default or the terms of any workout) will result
in conflicts of interest.
Conflicts Related to Use of Information
The Putnam Advisers receive and generate various kinds of portfolio company data and other information,
including those related to financial, industry, market, business operations, trends, budgets, customers,
suppliers, competitors and other metrics. This information may, in certain instances, include MNPI received
or generated in connection with efforts on behalf of an account’s investment (or prospective investment) to
better enable the Adviser to anticipate macroeconomic and other trends, and otherwise develop investment
strategies. Information barriers and/or confidentiality or similar arrangements entered into by an Adviser with
companies or other sources of information will limit such Adviser’s ability to internally share and use such
information. The Advisers rely on these barriers in some instances to mitigate potential conflicts of interest,
to preserve confidential information and to prevent the inappropriate flow of MNPI and confidential
information. When not limited from using this information, the Advisers are likely in certain instances to use
such information in a manner that could provide a material benefit to certain other accounts (or the Advisers
and/or their affiliates) without equally benefiting the account(s) from which such information was obtained. In
addition, the Advisers have an incentive to pursue investments in companies based on the data and information
expected to be received or generated by such companies. Subject to applicable law and confidentiality
obligations, the Advisers have in the past and are likely in the future to utilize such information to benefit
certain accounts (or the Advisers and/or their affiliates) in a manner that may otherwise present a conflict of
interest.
Conflicts Related to Investment in Affiliated Funds and Affiliated Accounts
An Adviser, where appropriate (including in compliance with any applicable investment guidelines or
restrictions) and in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, will at times purchase on behalf of the
Adviser’s clients, or recommend to the Adviser’s clients that they purchase, shares of Affiliated Funds, or invest
their assets in other portfolios managed by the Advisers or their affiliates (“Affiliated Accounts”). In addition,
a Putnam Adviser may construct Model Portfolios without considering the universe of potential funds
sponsored by Third-Party Funds, even though there may (or may not) be Third-Party Funds that are more
appropriate for inclusion in such portfolios, including available Third-Party Funds in the applicable asset classes
that have lower fees and expenses, greater performance or other favorable terms relative to an Affiliated
Fund.
Conflicts of interest arise when investing a client's assets into Affiliated Funds or Affiliated Accounts. For
example, as a shareholder in a pooled investment vehicle, a client will generally pay a proportionate share of
the vehicle’s fees and expenses. Investment by a client in an Affiliated Fund or Affiliated Account could therefore
result in the client, depending on the circumstances and subject to applicable law, directly or indirectly paying
advisory (or other) fees to the Affiliated Fund or Affiliated Account in addition to any fees it pays to the Adviser
for managing the client’s account. Moreover, in certain circumstances, the Adviser will receive some or all of
such advisory (or other) fees from an affiliate, including on occasion via a fee sharing or referral arrangement.
The client investment will also, from time to time, be subject to other fees and expenses charged to the
Affiliated Fund or Affiliated Account by other parties. Similarly, an Adviser’s client who invests into an Affiliated
Account that is a separate account managed by another Adviser would be subject to any advisory fees charged
by that Adviser to the separate account. If a client does not want its account assets to be invested in Affiliated
Funds and/or Affiliated Accounts, then the client should notify its Adviser to discuss modifying its investment
guidelines. The Advisers’ Separate Account clients are also permitted to invest directly in certain Affiliated
Funds (including U.S. Registered Funds) or Affiliated Accounts independent of their Separate Account without
paying additional separate account management fees to the Advisers.
In order to avoid duplication of fees, the Putnam Advisers typically exclude any assets invested in Affiliated
Funds or Affiliated Accounts from the management fee charged by the Advisers to the Account, unless
otherwise agreed with a client (for example, where a client requests additional allocation services at the
35 Putnam Investment Management,
Account level) or disclosed to a client, and subject to applicable law. In some instances, certain private Funds
will not pay management fees to the Affiliated Fund or Affiliated Account with respect to such investment,
unless the client (or investors therein) has been provided disclosure regarding such compensation
arrangements. Similarly, the separate account management fees paid by certain retirement accounts (including
those subjects to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) or Section 4975 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) that invest in Affiliated Funds or Affiliated Accounts will exclude
account assets invested in such Affiliated Funds or Affiliated Accounts to the extent required by law when
calculating the Advisers’ Separate Account management fees. Accordingly, the assets of such Accounts
invested in Affiliated Funds or Affiliated Accounts will pay their pro rata share of such applicable fees of the
Affiliated Fund or Affiliated Account, to the extent permitted by applicable law. Alternatively, the Advisers
may elect to provide a credit representing the respective account’s pro rata share of fees paid with respect to
any assets of a client invested in shares of any such Affiliated Funds or Affiliated Accounts.
Conflicts Related to Trading for Multiple Accounts
Franklin Templeton generally endeavors to aggregate same-day client trades in the same security for accounts
under the management of an Adviser’s portfolio management team. However, from time to time, a Putnam
Adviser will manage or implement a portfolio decision on behalf of a client ahead of, or contemporaneously
with, portfolio decisions of another client. In these circumstances, market impact, liquidity constraints, or other
factors could result in one of the clients receiving less favorable pricing or trading results, paying higher
transaction costs, or being otherwise disadvantaged. Similarly, from time to time, an Adviser or an affiliate will
buy or sell securities for clients before or at about the same time that such Adviser or affiliate buys or sells
the same securities for its own account(s); however, to mitigate the conflicts associated with such trades,
Franklin Templeton has adopted policies and procedures applicable to the Advisers requiring such buy or sell
orders to generally be aggregated. Please see Item 12 (“Brokerage Practices – Aggregation and Allocation of
Trades”) for more information regarding aggregation of transactions.
Conflicts Related to Service Providers
A Putnam Adviser will, in its discretion, contract with a related person of the Adviser, including related broker-
dealers, administrators and/or transfer agents, to perform services for the Adviser in connection with its
provision of advisory services to its clients. In these circumstances, the related person may perform such
services itself, or it may engage an unaffiliated service provider that it oversees to provide the services.
Similarly, an Adviser, in its discretion, at times recommends to its clients that they contract services with a
related person of the Adviser or an entity with which the Adviser or its affiliates or a member of their personnel
has a relationship or from which the Adviser or its affiliates or their personnel otherwise derives financial or
other benefit. An Adviser will engage a related person to provide such services when it believes such
engagement is beneficial to the account, such as providing efficiencies in information sharing and higher quality
of service. However, the Adviser also has an incentive, even if it does not act on such incentive, to recommend
the related person even if another person may be more qualified to provide the applicable services and/or can
provide such services at a lesser cost. Similarly, in hindsight, circumstances could be construed that the Adviser
was not as incentivized to pursue remedies and enforce rights against affiliated service providers as compared
to unaffiliated service providers, and the Adviser may be incentivized to agree to more favorable compensation
terms with an affiliated service provider than with an unaffiliated service provider.
An Adviser and its affiliates may, to the extent permitted by applicable laws, make payments, or assign the
right to receive performance fees, to financial intermediaries relating to the placement of interests/shares in
private Funds. These payments may be in addition to or in lieu of any placement fees payable by investors in
those private Funds. These payments to the financial intermediary and/or its representative create an incentive
for the financial intermediary to recommend the private Fund over other products.
In certain circumstances, conflicts of interest will also arise with respect to investments by a Putnam Adviser, its
affiliates, or an Account in a service provider. For example, the Advisers will, under certain circumstances,
have an incentive to pursue investments in companies where an Adviser or its affiliates are, or could become, a
customer of the companies’ services, or vice versa.
36 Putnam Investment Management,
Where appropriate and permitted under an account’s governing documents or investment management
agreement, a Putnam Adviser will, from time to time, recommend that such Account file claims or threaten
action against other parties. To the extent such party is a service provider, vendor, distributor or placement
agent for the Adviser or its affiliates, the Adviser will at times have an incentive not to recommend such action.
The Advisers address such conflicts of interest by acting on behalf of their clients in accordance with their
fiduciary obligations to each client. Accordingly, the Advisers’ general practice is not to take into account the
fact that an issuer is a client, service provider, vendor, distributor, or placement agent when making investment
decisions or deciding to file claims or pursue legal actions.
Trade and Guideline Errors; Compliance Review
Investment management is complex. On occasion, a Putnam Adviser may make an error in executing securities
transactions or in complying with a client's guidelines – for example, by buying a position where we intended
to sell it, or by purchasing an ineligible security for an account. Where a client suffers a loss and the Putnam
Adviser believes the error is one for which we should make the client whole, we generally correct the error by
placing the client account, to the extent practical, in the same position (net of any associated gains) as it would
have been if there had been no error. Depending on the circumstances, and subject to applicable law and client
agreements, Putnam may take various steps, including canceling the trade, correcting an allocation, or buying
or selling a position, to achieve this result. We do not maintain an “error account” on our own books, so any
relevant corrective trading is done in the client’s account. We generally notify separate account clients (or the
relevant governance body in the case of Putnam-sponsored or Putnam-branded investment funds) of any
material error correction that involves a guideline breach and/or reimbursement to the client, but the form
and timing of this notification may differ based on the particular account and the facts and circumstances.
While most errors are straightforward, and we routinely reimburse client accounts for most trade and
guideline errors (to the extent they result in a loss) when they do arise, not all mistakes require compensation
by the Putnam Advisers. In some cases, a third party such as the broker on the trade may take responsibility
for a particular error. In addition, in some cases, an element of subjective judgment is required to determine
whether an error has taken place, whether it requires compensation, and how to calculate the loss involved.
With the assistance of the Compliance Department and other relevant professionals, the Putnam Advisers
carefully review errors to determine whether we have breached our standard of care and, if so, what
compensation may be due. In cases where a correction of an error results in a net gain, the client retains that
gain.
Clients should also be aware that the need to review a guideline or relevant portfolio restriction (including an
applicable law) carefully may in some cases create a potential opportunity cost. The Putnam Advisers and their
affiliates sometimes choose, as a prudential matter, to limit certain accounts from trading in a particular
instrument while reviewing and interpreting relevant law or contractual limitations or, where necessary,
notifying the client and, in certain cases, obtaining client consent, and this delay could cause some accounts to
miss investment opportunities. In certain situations where a Putnam Adviser is unable to confirm with
confidence that a particular account is permitted to invest in a particular opportunity, or where client
notification or consent is needed, but cannot practically be arranged in a timely manner, the Putnam Adviser
may be unable to proceed with the investment for that account, even if other clients do participate. Because
any such delay or missed investment opportunity arises from the need to ensure guideline compliance, the
Putnam Advisers do not regard these situations as errors.
Item 12: Brokerage Practices
BEST EXECUTION
The Putnam Advisers have adopted policies and procedures that address best execution with respect to equity
and fixed income investments and provide guidance on brokerage allocation. The policies and procedures are
reasonably designed to ensure (i) that execution services meet the quality standards established by the
Advisers’ trading teams and are consistent with established policies, (ii) the broadest flexibility in selecting
which broker-dealers can provide best execution, (iii) evaluation of the execution capabilities of, and the
37 Putnam Investment Management,
quality of execution services received from, broker-dealers effecting portfolio transactions for the Advisers’
clients, and (iv) the identification and resolution of potential conflicts of interest.
The policies and procedures for equity transactions outline the criteria that the trading team at each global
location uses to determine which broker-dealer(s) have provided the highest quality execution services over
a particular time period. These include a periodic review of brokerage allocations, the rationale for selecting
certain broker-dealers, and a review of historical broker- dealer transactions to test application of the Putnam
Advisers’ best execution procedures.
While the Putnam Advisers generally seek competitive commission rates for equity transactions, they do not
necessarily pay the lowest commission or commission equivalent; nor will they select broker- dealers solely
on the basis of purported or posted commission rates or seek competitive bidding for the most favorable
commission rate in advance. In an effort to maximize value for their clients, the Putnam Advisers will seek to
obtain the best combination of low commission rates relative to the quality of execution and other brokerage
services received. Transactions involving specialized services or expertise on the part of the broker-dealer may
result in higher commissions or their equivalents.
PIM’s traders are responsible for determining which qualified broker-dealers will provide best execution, taking
into account the best combination of price and intermediary value given the client’s strategies and objectives.
The Putnam Advisers may also engage in derivative transactions that are entered into under a negotiated
agreement with a counterparty or futures commission merchant, including, but not limited to, swaps, futures,
forwards and options. The agreements to trade these instruments must be in place prior to effecting a
transaction. If the Advisers are unable to negotiate acceptable terms with a counterparty or are restricted from
engaging certain counterparties for an Account, for example, based on an Adviser’s assessment of a
counterparty’s creditworthiness and financial stability at any given time, the universe of counterparties that the
Advisers can choose from will be limited and the standard for best execution may vary with the type of security
or instrument involved in a particular transaction. The policies and procedures for equity and fixed income
transactions also address the aggregation and allocation principles established by the Advisers for derivatives
trading.
Where practicable, Putnam places orders to purchase and sell securities on an aggregated basis for all clients
of the Putnam Advisers. Client account trades may also be aggregated with trades for Putnam affiliated accounts
on terms no less advantageous than those of the affiliated accounts or other Putnam clients.
However, Franklin Templeton Investment Management Limited (“FTIML”), which is the UK-based entity in
which UK-based personnel within the Putnam Equity investment group, will only place trades at an execution-
only rate, whereas other Putnam accounts may pay a “bundled” or “full service” rate. Putnam may aggregate
trades in FTIML accounts with other Putnam accounts that pay a bundled rate so long as all participating
accounts pay the same execution rate. To the extent that the bundled rate for non- FTIML accounts includes
an additional amount for research products and services, the FTIML and other Putnam accounts would not be
paying the same total commission rate.
Soft Dollars
In the case of a broker-dealer that provides to Putnam any “brokerage and research services,” as defined in
Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”) and discussed below,
Putnam may cause the client to pay a broker-dealer an amount of disclosed commission for effecting agency
transactions (on stock exchanges or otherwise) even though the commission is in excess of the commission
another broker-dealer would have charged for effecting the transaction. For those funds sub-advised by FTIML
and where FTIML places trades on behalf of those funds, the rules of the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct
Authority (the FCA Rules) apply with respect to the receipt of investment research. Under the FCA Rules,
FTIML may not obtain research using brokerage commissions paid by the funds sub-advised by FTIML, except
with respect to minor non-monetary benefits as defined by the FCA Rules. FTIML will use only “hard dollars”
(i.e., from its own resources), to acquire external research used by London-based personnel, including fixed
income personnel, except with respect to minor non-monetary benefits as defined by the FCA Rules. To the
extent that Putnam may so cause the client to pay any such greater commissions, it will do so only when the
38 Putnam Investment Management,
safe harbor of Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act applies. It is the position of the staff of the SEC that Section
28(e) of the 1934 Act does not apply to the payment of such greater commissions in "principal" transactions.
Subject to the overriding requirements to seek best execution under the circumstances, Putnam receives
brokerage and research products and services from broker dealers, including both the broker dealers with
which Putnam places its clients’ portfolio transactions and other third parties, which may include other broker-
dealers. These products and services are sometimes called “soft dollar” purchases. Research products and
services received from executing broker-dealers are sometimes called “proprietary research.” Except with
respect to FTIML, Putnam may also allocate equity trades to generate “soft dollar credits” used to pay for
brokerage services and trading systems and investment research reports and other research products and
services from third-party providers when, in Putnam’s judgment, trading through the firm generating the
research would not be feasible (for instance, where the firm is not a broker-dealer) or in the account’s best
interest (for instance, where the firm has not satisfied Putnam’s internal eligibility criteria for trading
counterparties). Such products and services are referred to as “third-party research” or “third-party
brokerage.” In addition to generating soft-dollar credits to pay for third-party services, Putnam may instruct
executing brokers to “step out” a portion of the trades placed with them to other broker-dealers providing
brokerage and research services.
The proprietary and third-party products and services that Putnam may receive in connection with client
portfolio transactions include, among others:
trading systems and other brokerage services
economic and political analysis
market data and statistical information, including benchmark data and trade data
fundamental and macro investment research
industry and company reviews
evaluations of investments, strategies, markets and trading venues
recommendations as to the purchase and sale of investments
performance measurement services
meetings with management of current or prospective portfolio companies or with industry experts
Some of these products and services obtained through soft dollar credits are “mixed-use;” i.e., they may be
used both for investment / brokerage and non-investment / brokerage -related purposes. In these cases,
Putnam will use its own resources to pay for that portion of the mixed-use product or service that in its
good-faith judgment does not relate to investment or brokerage purposes.
Use of soft dollars, while common in the asset management industry, may involve potential conflicts of interest.
Research products and services provided by broker-dealers are supplemental to Putnam’s own research
efforts and relieve Putnam of the possible expense of generating the research internally.
Management fees paid by clients are not reduced because Putnam receives brokerage and research products
and services, even though Putnam might otherwise be required to purchase some of these products and
services for cash. Putnam may have an incentive to select or recommend a broker-dealer based on its interest
in receiving the research or other products or services, rather than on its clients’ interest in paying the lowest
commission.
Because of the nature of Putnam’s trading process, it is not possible to trace trades in any account to specific
products and services. An aggregated trade with a broker-dealer providing proprietary research or a trade
that generates soft dollar credits by its nature represents commissions of multiple clients. Brokerage
and research products and services acquired will be paid out of the aggregate of soft dollar credits generated
by various trades over time. Clients do not receive a direct monetary benefit from brokerage and research
products and services; however, these products and services may be useful to Putnam in providing investment
advice to all its clients. Likewise, research products and services made available to Putnam from brokerage
firms effecting securities transactions for a client may be utilized by Putnam in managing the accounts of other
39 Putnam Investment Management,
clients. Some of these brokerage and research products and services are of value to Putnam and its affiliates
in advising multiple clients, although not all of these services are necessarily useful and of value in managing
any particular account. There may be no correlation between the amount of brokerage commissions generated
by a particular client and the indirect benefits received by that client.
Due in part to the FCA Rules, Putnam is prohibited from using brokerage commissions from transactions
placed on behalf of FTIML clients to generate soft dollar credits. In addition, Putnam may negotiate prohibitions
or limitations on the use of soft dollars at the request of other clients. In certain but not all cases, for
administrative reasons, the entirety of an account (including an affiliated account) may be as treated as FTIML
- managed for this purpose, even though FTIML may normally manage only a portion of the account. Research
and brokerage products and services may be used to benefit all clients, including, subject to the requirements
of the FCA, FTIML clients and other clients that prohibit Putnam from using, or limit Putnam’s use of, brokerage
commissions generated from such clients’ trades to purchase brokerage and research products and services.
Senior investment personnel of Putnam determine Putnam's commission allocation policies, the brokerage
and research products and services to be obtained, and the amount of commissions appropriate to allocate
to the acquisition of these products and services. For brokerage and research products and services (other
than market data, certain corporate access services and services provided by firms who do not agree to be
subject to a research vote process), these determinations are generally based on a voting process in which
investment personnel identify products and services for purchase with soft dollars.
FTIML equity investment personnel participate in the voting process noted above. FTIML pays in “hard dollars”
(i.e., from its own resources) for external research used by London-based personnel, including fixed income
personnel, except for minor non-monetary benefits as defined by the FCA Rules. FTIML also pays for market
data and corporate access services for FTIML employees in hard dollars.
Other Products and Services
Putnam may receive products and services from broker-dealers other than brokerage and research services
at reduced prices or for free. Putnam will not receive such products or services using commissions from client
portfolio transactions or otherwise in connection with particular client trades or a commitment to direct client
trades to the broker-dealer. These products and services may include analytical software for portfolio
modeling; quotations and other pricing information for securities held in Putnam client portfolios; capital
introduction services for Putnam’s private funds, and risk and security analyses and databases. Putnam may also
use its own resources to acquire any of these products and services, as well as research and brokerage
products and services eligible for purchase with soft dollars.
Directed Brokerage: Client Counterparty Limits
Clients may request that Putnam execute transactions through a specified broker-dealer in order to recapture
commissions or obtain other products or services for their accounts. This kind of direction (“directed
brokerage”) is subject to best execution. As a condition to accepting direction from a client, Putnam
generally requires assurances that the client is receiving services of value and a description of such services.
Consistent with SEC guidelines, Putnam may disaggregate directed brokerage trades from the trades for our
other client accounts when Putnam believes disaggregation is necessary or advisable to avoid disadvantaging
other clients. Disaggregated trades may be transacted after other client trades in a specific security and
executed at prices and for commission rates that may be less advantageous than those of aggregated trades.
Some clients may limit the counterparties with which Putnam can place account trades by imposing additional
restrictions (such as a client specific approved broker list) beyond the requirements of Putnam’s own
counterparty policies. Clients should be aware that limitations of this kind have the potential to affect trade
execution and impact performance.
40 Putnam Investment Management,
Equity Allocation Policies
In general, Putnam allocates market equity trades pro rata among clients based on the relative size of orders
for a security placed by portfolio managers for each account. The Trading Department manages the flow of
orders to the securities markets with the objective of minimizing market impact. Subject to specific client
instructions or portfolio needs, the Trading Department may choose to take several days to implement an
order. All clients trading a security in any day will (within a block order) normally receive the average price
received or paid by all Putnam clients for the day. Putnam maintains separate "program" and "block trading"
desks for equities. Block trading represents normal trading within the equity marketplace. Program trades are
typically highly structured trades of a large number of transactions at one time. These desks normally operate
independently. In some circumstances, the same security may be traded on the Program and block trading
desks on the same day at a different price. Generally, if the Trading Department believes that the securities
in a program trade are material to the block trade, securities in the program trade will be withdrawn from
the program trade and included in the block trade.
Smaller trades for a client account, which the Trading Department believes will not have a significant market
impact or otherwise materially affect execution, are not subject to these procedures. These smaller trades
may be executed independently of the Trading Department’s primary trading desk, or, if executed through
the primary trading desk, may receive varying allocations intended to reduce the administrative burden on
Putnam and its clients’ custodian banks.
As a non-discretionary adviser to wrap fee “model provider” programs, PIM will release its model portfolio
holdings information to the sponsor consistent with sponsor procedures. In some cases, PIM provides
information on its model portfolio holdings on a daily basis. PIM communicates changes to the model
portfolios to the sponsor or overlay managers and the sponsor or overlay manager is solely responsible for
adjusting existing model provider program accounts to conform to model portfolio changes. All trades within
the model provider program are executed by the sponsor or overlay manager, as the case may be, with the
broker dealer of their choice, based on their judgment. As such, the sponsor or overlay manager has sole
responsibility for pursuing best execution for wrap fee accounts.
For Retail SMA accounts, PIM communicates changes to the Retail SMA portfolios to the relevant SMA Service
Provider, and the SMA Service Provider is responsible for executing the necessary trades with the Program
Sponsor (or the Program Sponsor’s designated broker). In the case of trades that require multiple trading
days for Putnam’s own trading desk to complete on behalf of other Putnam clients, Putnam may treat each
day’s activity as representing a partial model revision. As a result, Putnam may transmit the model portfolio
revision to the SMA Service Provider over consecutive trading days in proportion to Putnam’s completion of
the order for other Putnam clients.
At times, some sponsors or overlay managers may place transactions pursuant to PIM’s model portfolio
recommendations and the SMA Service Provider may place transactions pursuant to PIM’s instructions for
Retail SMA accounts after or at the same time that PIM places the same or a similar transaction as a
discretionary investment manager, for the benefit of its other Putnam client accounts. This process could
result in varying levels of execution for wrap fee accounts and Retail SMA accounts versus other clients and
could lead to competing orders for the same security in the market, potentially harming execution quality.
This may also have an adverse effect on the prices paid or received in the market for such transactions and,
as a result, some accounts may experience a short-term benefit or detriment. The actual percentage weighting
of each holding in a model may vary from the percentage weighting held by accounts managed in accordance
with that model.
For wrap fee “model provider” programs and Retail SMA programs, in order to treat all clients fairly and equitably,
PIM provides updated models to the sponsor or overlay manager, or, in the case of Retail SMAs, to Vestmark,
concurrently with the receipt of orders on the trading desk for the model portfolio and other funds and accounts
in the same strategy or in line with the sponsor or overlay manager’s or Retail SMA Program Sponsor’s delivery
requirements (e.g. accepting instructions or recommendations only once daily or only during particular times of
41 Putnam Investment Management,
the day). In addition, Putnam has implemented policies and procedures designed to promote equitable treatment
of trading by model SMA accounts, Retail SMA accounts and other client accounts by, among other things,
monitoring the cross-over of issuer names and/or holdings between model provider accounts, Retail SMA
accounts and any managed accounts managed using a substantially similar strategy.
To the extent an investment strategy is used in an SMA program and in one or more Putnam client accounts that
are structured as pooled investment vehicles (each, a “Comparable Putnam Pooled Vehicle” and collectively, the
“Comparable Putnam Pooled Vehicles”), the manner in which such investment strategy is implemented for use in
such SMA program may, for a variety of reasons, differ from how that same investment strategy is implemented
by Putnam for use in connection with the relevant Comparable Putnam Pooled Vehicle. For example, the model
portfolio supplied by Putnam for an SMA program might not include non-U.S. traded securities that are held by
the applicable Comparable Putnam Pooled Vehicle(s). Likewise, the model portfolio supplied by Putnam for such
an SMA program may not include every security held by the relevant Comparable Putnam Pooled Vehicle in the
event the SMA program is significantly smaller than such Comparable Putnam Pooled Vehicle in terms of net
assets. In addition, Putnam undertakes “active risk” assessments comparing the Putnam U.S. Small Cap Growth
Equity and Putnam U.S. Small Cap Value Equity SMA programs to Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund and Putnam
Small Cap Value Fund, respectively, with the goal of seeking to achieve performance for the relevant SMA program
that is comparable to that of such Comparable Putnam Pooled Vehicle while avoiding excessive model change
trades for the Putnam U.S. Small Cap Growth Equity and Putnam U.S. Small Cap Value Equity SMA programs.
Therefore, Putnam will only transmit updated investment instructions or recommendations for those programs
when Putnam deems there to have been a “model change” to such an account. Putnam monitors for model
changes daily by comparing the “active risk” between the Putnam U.S. Small Cap Value Equity SMA program and
Putnam Small Cap Value Fund and by comparing the “active risk” between the Putnam U.S. Small Cap Growth
Equity SMA program and Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund. When the “active risk” for the Putnam U.S. Small Cap
Value Equity SMA program relative to Putnam Small Cap Value Fund or the “active risk” for the Putnam U.S.
Small Cap Growth Equity SMA program relative to Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund exceeds a threshold deemed
by Putnam to be sufficient to justify a “model change,” the model for Putnam U.S. Small Cap Growth Equity or
Putnam U.S. Small Cap Value Equity, as applicable, will be adjusted to reduce “active risk.” In situations in which
Putnam has decided to implement a model change based upon the “active risk” threshold described above, Putnam
will have transmitted trade orders on behalf of Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund or Putnam Small Cap Value Fund
and other substantially similar Putnam-advised accounts, as applicable, prior to submitting transmitting model
changes for the Putnam U.S. Small Cap Growth Equity or Putnam U.S. Small Cap Value Equity SMA programs,
respectively. Given that values of investments change with market conditions, this could cause an SMA program’s
return to be lower than if such trade orders for Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund or Putnam Small Cap Value Fund
and other substantially similar Putnam-advised accounts, as applicable, had been affected simultaneously with such
model changes for the applicable SMA program.
When a portfolio security is added to Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund or Putnam Small Cap Value Fund, as
applicable, or completely eliminated from Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund or Putnam Small Cap Value Fund, as
applicable, Putnam’s goal is to transmit the initial trade adding a new position to such Fund, or the last trade
entirely deleting a position from such Fund, at the same time it transmits: (i) model changes for Putnam U.S. Small
Cap Growth Equity or Putnam U.S. Small Cap Value Equity, as applicable, and (ii) trade orders, investment
instructions, or investment recommendations for any other substantially similar Putnam-advised accounts. Putnam
actively monitors the performance of Putnam U.S. Small Cap Growth Equity or Putnam U.S. Small Cap Value
Equity versus that of the corresponding fund to confirm that the above-stated goal of the “active risk” assessments
is being achieved.
For the foregoing reasons, the performance of a particular model SMA program that is managed in accordance
with a particular Putnam investment strategy will likely differ from the performance of the Comparable Putnam
Pooled Vehicles and other model SMA programs that employ substantially similar Putnam investment strategies.
In addition, Putnam cannot control the market impact of any transactions effected on behalf of a model SMA
program because it does not have trading authority or discretion with respect to such model SMA programs.
Putnam has adopted procedures to manage trading in derivatives whose underlying security is also currently
being traded. When derivatives trading is both regarded as significant by the Trading Department and is in the
same direction as the securities trading, (for example, both are going “long” or trading to gain exposure to an
42 Putnam Investment Management,
issuer), trading activity is allocated between securities and derivatives trading based on the ratio of the size of
the securities trade pending to the notional value of the derivatives trade adjusted by the latter’s “delta” (the
relationship of the value of the option or other derivative to movements in the underlying security’s price).
The Trading Department will normally alternate between the securities and derivatives desks (with the larger
order trading first), completing a portion of one desk’s trades and then permitting the completion of an equal
percentage of the second desk’s trades.
Syndicate Allocation Policy
As a general policy, if the orders of all Putnam clients seeking to participate in an underwritten offering of
equity securities cannot be satisfied by the total allocation made available to Putnam clients by the
underwriters, shares will be allocated among the Putnam clients based on their total assets (the "General
Policy"), subject to the following exceptions:
The General Policy may be modified in the case of regional or specialty funds in offerings of securities which
fall within the special focus of those funds. In those cases, the regional or specialty funds may be weighted at
150% of assets for purposes of the allocation, provided that the allocations to those funds may not be increased
above 50% of the amount allocated to Putnam by the incremental weighting. A specialty or regional account
is one that focuses on a relatively narrow area of the overall securities markets. For example, a European
equity fund is a specialty account as to equities of European corporations and a utilities fund is a specialty
account for offerings of utilities companies. The Putnam Trading Department, with the approval of the
Compliance Department, approves categories of specialty accounts.
In some circumstances, exceptions may be made to these policies to permit Putnam clients with relatively
smaller total assets to participate more meaningfully in underwritten offerings of equity securities. Before an
exception is made, Putnam will ensure that the exception will produce an allocation that is fair and equitable
to the Putnam client accounts seeking to participate in the offering, taking into consideration the portfolio
composition of such accounts, allocation of previous offerings, and other relevant factors. If an exception is
made, some accounts participating in the offering may receive a smaller allocation of securities than they would
have otherwise.
Underwritten offerings of convertible fixed income instruments (convertible bonds and preferred shares) are
subject to the same procedures as equities unless the only accounts participating in the offering are convertible
and high yield fixed income accounts. In that case, allocation of convertible instruments is subject to the fixed
income allocation procedures described below.
In secondary offerings of equity securities, Putnam may allocate securities among participating client accounts
of a portfolio manager so that each account holds as close to the same relative amount of the security as a
percentage of net assets as possible. Putnam will first calculate the number of shares to which the participating
client accounts of the portfolio manager would be entitled based upon the offering allocation policies
described above (the "allotted shares"). Putnam will then allocate the allotted shares among participating
client accounts of the portfolio manager so that, to the extent possible, each of the participating client
accounts would hold the same relative amount of the security as a percentage of net assets.
Foreign Currency Transactions
Accounts that invest outside their base currency typically require the execution of foreign currency exchange
(FX) transactions. In some cases, where two Putnam client accounts have matching currency needs (for
example, one client must purchase $10 million in Euro and another must sell $15 million in Euro) and the
other details of the required trades match, we will execute a net transaction by submitting only one order
(to sell $5 million in Euro) to the relevant broker- dealer. Net transactions of this type do not constitute a
cross-trade as described in Item 11.
Putnam executes most material FX transactions, including trades required to complete security purchases and
sales as well as standalone FX trades, with third party brokers through its currency desk. These trades are
43 Putnam Investment Management,
subject to Putnam’s best execution policies, which are described in this Item 12. In some circumstances
described below, Putnam does not perform FX trading due to practical and legal impediments. First, local
currency controls or other regulations in some countries, primarily in emerging markets, permit only a locally
licensed firm such as a local sub-custodial bank to execute FX transactions, or otherwise make it impracticable
for Putnam to execute FX transactions. In these countries, Putnam does not provide FX trading of any kind.
Instead, the client’s or fund’s custodial bank (through a sub-custodial affiliate or third- party sub-custodian)
generally executes the necessary FX transactions.
Second, for operational and administrative reasons, Putnam will direct a client’s custodian bank to repatriate
all non-U.S. dollar portfolio income (such as dividends or bond interest payments), regardless of the country
or market of origin, to the operating currency of the account. Income transactions are typically not material
to a client account, and these transactions may as a general matter benefit from aggregation with other small
transactions by a custodial bank.
In each of these cases, because the counterparty executing FX trades is the client’s custodian, the client
generally negotiates fees/commission rates on transactions executed by such custodian. Unless otherwise
discussed and agreed with the client, Putnam does not evaluate the FX execution services provided by the
custodian to its client. Clients interested in more information on FX execution should speak with their Putnam
client service manager.
Currency Allocation Policies
To ensure that all accounts with an active currency management strategy are treated fairly, all trades that
share a common currency and direction are traded as a block regardless of account strategy or base currency
of the account. Typically, allocations are based on the initial client order. A general exception to block trading
occurs in the instance of particular accounts that have restrictions in place limiting trading activity to specific
counterparties. In general, the largest trading block, which is comprised of accounts with no counterparty
restrictions, is traded first. Smaller blocks, which are comprised of accounts that cannot trade with the large
block counterparty but are allowed to trade with multiple counterparties, are traded second. The final
accounts to be traded are those restricted to a single counterparty.
These single counterparty accounts are rotated in order of execution on a reasonable efforts basis.
Futures and Swaps Allocation Policies
Under CFTC rules, Putnam maintains procedures and policies on allocation of bunched orders for futures
and swaps subject to the CFTC’s jurisdiction (which include certain swaps, options and foreign exchange
forwards). When Putnam wishes to place parallel orders for futures or swaps transactions for multiple clients,
Putnam normally submits combined or “bunched” orders instead of separate orders on behalf of each client.
Doing so generally increases the efficiency and timeliness of order placement, thereby facilitating best
execution.
Putnam’s procedures are designed to ensure that no eligible client account is favored over any other client.
Putnam allocates any purchases or sales in a bunched order on a pro-rata basis based on order size to the
client accounts in proportion to the size of the order placed for each account. If more than one execution is
required, it may be possible to average the price of the fills. If the fills are average priced, each account
participating in the order will receive the same price for the day. If it is not possible to average price, Putnam
allocates the fills pro-rata to ensure equitable distribution of prices.
Except in limited cases, trades are allocated at Putnam at the time of execution. Putnam submits the specific
allocation to the futures commission merchant clearing trades (or the counterparty, or swap execution facility,
as applicable) by the end of the day or as otherwise required by CFTC rules.
In accordance with applicable CFTC regulations permitting post execution notification to the futures
commission merchant or trade counterparty of allocation of bunched orders, clients whose accounts use
futures or swaps are entitled to review the general nature of the allocation methodology, whether any
44 Putnam Investment Management,
interested accounts are included in such orders, and summary or composite data to compare a client’s results
on bunched order transactions with those of other clients participating in such transactions. This information
is available to clients upon request.
Item 13: Review of Accounts
The Putnam Advisers’ portfolio managers generally review client portfolios daily with the assistance of
portfolio associates/trading assistants who review and coordinate portfolio trading. These investment
professionals use computer analyses which are prepared daily to monitor portfolio composition. Any material
issues identified during the portfolio review are addressed by the portfolio manager and escalated to their
group head or Chief Investment Officer, as appropriate. The number of accounts that each portfolio manager
is responsible for varies from portfolio manager to portfolio manager. For most accounts, analysis of portfolio
risk and attribution is also run daily. In addition, the Franklin Templeton Compliance Department tests each
portfolio daily for compliance with various investment guidelines and restrictions through its automated
system or, in cases where rules cannot be automated, through frequent manual processes.
In addition to internal reviews, Putnam also reviews portfolios with its clients. Formal client meetings generally
are held on a face-to-face basis, video conference or by telephone annually, or more frequently at client
request; in addition, informal meetings and video/telephone discussions take place throughout the year. The
portfolio manager, the account manager and/or other senior investment or management personnel, as
appropriate, attend client review meetings. From time to time, investment personnel may share their general
views of economic conditions, markets, asset allocation matters, industries, or issuers as part of client reviews
or other client or prospect meetings; however, these views are informal, and should not be relied on as the
basis for any investment decision. Upon specific request, investment personnel may also present risk and
stress test scenarios on a financial advisor's or other party’s investment portfolio. This analysis is for
informational purposes only, is not investment advice and is not customized or individualized based on a
client’s particular needs. A Putnam Adviser is not acting as a fiduciary under applicable law in providing this
type of analysis.
In addition, client service managers are assigned to meet the individual reporting and administration
requirements of each client. Client service managers work with account managers and relevant internal
experts to provide additional attention and responsiveness to day-to-day client requests.
With respect to the Putnam Funds, the Putnam Advisers and affiliates supply the Trustees of the Putnam
Funds with periodic reports covering such subjects as portfolio structure and performance data, and such
other information as the Trustees may reasonably require. Representatives of the Putnam Advisers also meet
frequently with the Trustees of the Putnam Funds, or committees of the Trustees, to review portfolio
performance, compliance and regulatory matters, and other matters of interest to the Trustees.
Item 14: Client Referrals and Other Compensation
The Putnam Advisers or a related person, from time to time, enter into referral fee arrangements to
compensate affiliated and non-affiliated persons for referring or otherwise recommending its investment
advisory services to potential clients. To the extent required, such arrangements would be governed by the
policy on the use of solicitors and client referrals adopted by the Putnam Advisers and entered into in
accordance with Rule 206(4)-1 under the Advisers Act and other applicable law. The compensation paid may
consist of a cash payment computed as a flat fee; a percentage of an Adviser’s (or an affiliate’s) advisory fee,
performance fee or carried interest; or some other method of computation agreed upon between the parties.
For some accounts, primarily certain Private Funds, a third-party distributor will be compensated by way of a
retrocession that is specified in the applicable selling or referral agreement. Retrocession is a term used to
describe an on-going fee payable by the Putnam Adviser to the third-party distributor so long as such assets
placed by the third-party distributor remain invested in the account. To the extent allowed under applicable law,
the Putnam Advisers’ Code of Ethics and the policies and procedures (including the Anti-Corruption Policy) of
45 Putnam Investment Management,
the Putnam Advisers, their affiliates, and/or a particular broker-dealer, the Advisers or a related person will,
from time to time, (i) pay broker-dealer sponsors for training seminars, conferences and other educational
events, (ii) pay travel and lodging expenses relating to financial advisers’ attendance at a Putnam Adviser’s due
diligence meetings, (iii) give certain business-related gifts or gratuities and/or pay reasonable expenses relating
to meals and/or entertainment for financial advisers, and (iv) make a contribution in connection with a
charitable event or to a charitable organization sponsored, organized or supported by a broker-dealer or its
representatives, on behalf of such broker-dealer or its representatives, or to which such broker-dealer or its
affiliates provides professional services.
With respect to SMA Program clients, PIM receives fees, directly or indirectly, from the sponsor of the SMA
Program for all services rendered by PIM to the SMA Program clients including, on occasion, out of the
sponsor’s own resources. As such, PIM may be considered to receive cash compensation from a non-client in
connection with giving advice to SMA Program clients. Similarly, in certain cases where a Putnam Adviser serves
as a sub-adviser, the Putnam Adviser will, from time to time, receive advisory fees from the primary investment
manager rather than directly from the investment advisory client. In certain arrangements, including in model
delivery programs offered by Sponsors of SMA Programs, the applicable Adviser or its affiliate pays the Sponsor
or its affiliate various fees in connection with the model delivery program, such as model set up, onboarding
and maintenance fees, tax-related analysis fees and data analytics fees allowing for the delivery of the model
portfolio on the Sponsor’s platform.
For details regarding economic benefits provided to the Putnam Advisers by non-clients, including a
description of related material conflicts of interest and how they are addressed, please see Item 11 (“Code of
Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading”) above.
Item 15: Custody
The overwhelming majority of the Putnam Advisers’ clients maintain custody arrangements with independent
qualified custodians to safeguard their funds and securities. However, a Putnam Adviser may sometimes have
“custody” (as defined in Rule 206(4)-2 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940) of client funds and
securities, even though it does not actually hold or maintain them.
Where a Putnam Adviser has “custody” of a separate account (based, for example, on automatic billing
practices) it will seek to confirm that the client receives required account statements at least quarterly directly
from its qualified custodian. As described in Item 13, the Putnam Adviser itself also sends clients a portfolio
appraisal. Clients should carefully review and compare the account statement from the custodian and the
Putnam Adviser’s portfolio appraisal.
Item 16: Investment Discretion
Generally, the Putnam Advisers have discretionary authority to supervise and direct the investment of the
assets under their management, without obtaining prior specific client consent for each transaction. This
investment discretion is granted by written authority of the client in the investment management
agreement between the client and a Putnam Adviser and is subject to such limitations as a client may impose
by notice in writing and as agreed to by the Adviser. To the extent a Putnam Adviser has discretionary
authority over assets of a sub-advised account, such authority is granted in an advisory agreement between
the Putnam Adviser and the sub-advised account and/or the manager of such sub-advised account. Under their
discretionary authority, the Putnam Advisers will generally make the following determinations in accordance
with the investment management agreement, the client’s investment restrictions, the Putnam Advisers’ internal
policies, commercial practice, and applicable law, without prior consultation or consent before a transaction
is effected:
• Which securities or other instruments to buy or sell;
• The total amount of securities or other instruments to buy or sell;
• The broker-dealer or counterparty used to buy or sell securities or other instruments; and/or
46 Putnam Investment Management,
• The prices and commission rates at which transactions are effected.
When a Putnam Adviser believes engagement will be beneficial, it may, in the Putnam Adviser’s sole discretion
unless otherwise agreed, submit a shareholder proposal to, or otherwise actively engage with, the issuer of
securities held in one or more accounts. A Putnam Adviser may also delegate its discretionary authority to a
sub-adviser where the Putnam Adviser believes, in its sole discretion, that such delegation would be beneficial
unless it is prohibited under the investment management agreement or under applicable law. The Putnam
Advisers will consider a variety of factors including, but not limited to, costs when considering whether to
engage in such activities.
The Putnam Advisers may, in an Adviser’s sole discretion, accept the initial funding of an account with one or
more securities in-kind. Subject to the terms of the investment management agreement and applicable law,
the Putnam Advisers will use good faith efforts to liquidate any such securities that the Advisers do not elect
to keep as part of such Account and shall not be liable for any investment losses or market risk associated
with such liquidation.
In addition to the situations above, Putnam may occasionally request that clients execute a limited power of
attorney or trading authorization when additional evidence of Putnam’s authority to act on behalf of the client
is required (for example, in dealing with the bankruptcy of the issuer of a portfolio security or a counterparty
or when trading in derivative instruments under the client’s investment documentation). For more
information, please contact Putnam.
PIM’s management of the Putnam Funds is subject to the ongoing oversight of the Putnam Funds’ Trustees,
including policies that they may from time to time establish. PIM consults with the Trustees on a variety of
significant matters relating to the Putnam Funds, including some strategic investment matters.
Since 2011 Putnam, through Putnam Holdings and Putnam’s previous parent company, Putnam Investments,
LLC, has been a signatory to the United Nations backed Principles for Responsible Investment (“PRI”).
Devised by the world’s largest institutional investors, the PRI reflects the view that an economically efficient,
sustainable global financial system is necessary for long-term value creation. As a PRI signatory, Putnam is
committed to understanding how ESG factors may influence performance, generate alpha, and/or mitigate risk
in client portfolios. We believe that incorporating ESG considerations into the investment process has the
potential to enhance what asset management can accomplish, and that ESG analysis can be an important
component of the research process.
The six Principles for Responsible Investment, created by the PRI, are a voluntary and aspirational set of
investment principles that offer a menu of possible actions for incorporating ESG issues into investment
practice. Becoming a PRI signatory is not a legally binding commitment and does not require the application of
specific ESG restrictions in the investment process. As a fiduciary on behalf of our asset management clients,
Putnam generally looks at the entire investment universe to identify attractive securities, subject to applicable
sanctions regimes and other laws that may prohibit some investments. As a general matter, we do not require
that portfolios limit their universe or their investments in any company, industry, or country based on ESG
criteria (except as stated in a fund’s prospectus or as mutually agreed upon with a client). Rather, we expect
sustainability-related insights to be a component of the research processes that are used to arrive at investment
decisions.
ESG investing is an evolving process, both for Putnam and the industry as a whole. Our research and investing
work will vary across asset classes and sectors, as well as by individual portfolio manager and analyst team. In
the context of a specific portfolio, strategy, or investment decision, multiple factors impact our views, and we
may make decisions that are inconsistent with the PRI, or appear to be so, when we consider it consistent
with our overarching fiduciary duty to clients.
47 Putnam Investment Management,
Item 17: Voting Client Securities
Summary of Proxy Voting Guidelines and Procedures
Many of the Putnam Advisers’ investment management clients, including the Putnam Funds, have delegated
to the Putnam Advisers the authority to vote proxies for shares held in the client accounts the Putnam
Advisers manage. The Putnam Advisers believe that the voting of proxies can be an important tool for
institutional investors to promote best practices in corporate governance and votes all proxies in the best
interests of its clients as investors. In Putnam’s view, strong corporate governance policies, most notably
oversight of management by an independent board of qualified directors, best serve investors’ interests.
Putnam will vote proxies and maintain records of voting of shares for which Putnam has proxy-voting
authority in accordance with its fiduciary obligations and applicable law.
The Putnam Advisers’ voting policies are rooted in our views that (1) strong, independent corporate
governance is important to long-term company financial performance, and (2) long-term investors’ active
engagement with company management, including through the proxy voting process, strengthens issuer
accountability and overall market discipline, potentially reducing risk and improving returns over time. Our
voting program is offered as a part of our investment management services, at no incremental fee to Putnam,
and, while there can be no guarantees, it is intended to offer potential investment benefits over a long-term
horizon. Our voting policies are designed with investment considerations in mind, not as a means to pursue
particular political, social, or other goals. As a result, we may not support certain proposals whose costs to
the issuer (including implementation costs, practicability, and other factors), in the Putnam Adviser’s view,
outweigh their investment merits.
In order to implement these objectives, the Putnam Advisers have adopted a set of procedures and guidelines
which are summarized below. The guidelines and procedures cover all accounts for which the Putnam Advisers
have Putnam has proxy voting authority. Certain other clients may from time to time elect to vote their own
proxies by retaining the right to vote all proxies in the investment management agreement rather than giving
the Putnam Advisers authority to do so.
Procedures
The Putnam Advisers have appointed a Proxy Committee composed of senior investment professionals from
the Putnam Equity group and from the Compliance Department. The Proxy Committee is responsible for
setting general policy as to proxy voting. The Committee reviews procedures and the guidelines at least
annually, approves any amendments considered to be advisable and considers special proxy issues as they may
from time to time arise. With respect to the Putnam Funds, the Board of Trustees separately approves the
guidelines. The proxy guidelines and procedures are administered through a proxy voting team in the
Sustainable Strategy group within the Putnam Equity group. The Proxy Voting Team:
•
coordinates the Proxy Committee’s review of any new or unusual proxy issues,
• manages the process of referring issues to portfolio managers for voting instructions,
• oversees the work of any third-party vendor hired to process proxy votes,
•
coordinates responses to investment professionals’ questions on proxy issues and proxy policies,
• maintains required records of proxy votes on behalf of the appropriate Putnam client accounts, and
• prepares and distributes reports required by Putnam Adviser clients.
Putnam has engaged a third-party service, Institutional Shareholder Services (“ISS”), to process proxy votes
for its client accounts. Although ISS may supply proxy related research to Putnam and may share with Putnam
its recommendations for voting, ISS does not make any decisions on how to vote client proxies.
48 Putnam Investment Management,
Proxy Voting Guidelines
The Putnam Advisers maintain written voting guidelines (“Guidelines”) setting forth voting positions
determined by the Proxy Committee on those issues believed most likely to arise day to day. (For purposes
of this Item, the term “Putnam” refers to the Putnam Advisers collectively.) The Guidelines may call for votes
normally to be cast in favor of or opposed to a matter or may deem the matter an item to be referred to
investment professionals on a case-by-case basis. The Guidelines are summarized below.
In light of our views on the importance of issuer governance and investor engagement, which we believe are
applicable across our various strategies and clients, regardless of a specific portfolio’s investment objective,
Putnam will normally vote all proxies in accordance with the Guidelines except in limited circumstances, such
as when client securities are on loan under a securities lending arrangement. However, if the portfolio
managers of client accounts holding the relevant stock believe that following the Guidelines in a specific case
would not be in clients’ best interests, they may request that the Proxy Voting Team not follow the Guidelines
in that case. The request must be in writing and include an explanation of the rationale for doing so. The Proxy
Voting Team will review the request with the Proxy Committee or its Chair prior to implementing it.
Some clients wish to have Putnam vote proxies under proxy guidelines which vary from the Guidelines or
may wish to direct Putnam’s vote on a particular matter. There may be legal limits on a client’s ability to
direct Putnam as to proxy voting and on Putnam’s ability to follow such instructions. Putnam may accept
instructions to vote proxies under client specific guidelines subject to review and acceptance by the portfolio
management team involved and the Legal and Compliance Division.
With respect to the Putnam Funds and other legacy Putnam accounts managed by Franklin Templeton
Investment Solutions, Putnam may vote any referred items on securities held solely in such accounts (and
not held by any other investment product team at Putnam) in accordance with the recommendation of
Putnam’s third-party proxy voting service provider. The Proxy Manager will first give the relevant portfolio
manager(s) the opportunity to review the referred items and vote on them if they so choose. If the portfolio
manager(s) do not decide to make any active voting decision on any of the referred items, the items will be
voted in accordance with the service provider’s recommendation. If the security is also held by other
investment teams at Putnam, the items will be referred to the largest holder in the Putnam Equity group.
Conflicts of Interest
A potential conflict of interest may arise when voting proxies of an issuer which has a significant business
relationship with Putnam. Putnam’s policy is to vote proxies based solely on the investment merits of the
proposal and in the best interests of our clients. In order to guard against conflicts Putnam has adopted a
number of procedures designed to ensure that the proxy voting process is insulated from these conflicts. For
example, investment professionals do not report to Franklin Templeton’s sales or marketing businesses. In
addition, there are limits on the ability of Franklin Templeton employees who are not Putnam Adviser
investment professionals to contact portfolio managers voting proxies. Putnam Adviser investment
professionals responding to referral requests must disclose any contacts with third parties other than normal
contact with proxy solicitation firms and affirm that any potential personal conflicts of interest have been
disclosed to the Compliance Department. In addition, the Proxy Voting Team reviews business relationships
with companies that have voting items referred to any portfolio management team to consider any potential
conflicts and, where appropriate, ensures that potential conflicts are documented and appropriately escalated.
The Guidelines may only be overridden with the written recommendation of the relevant investment
professionals and approval of the Proxy Committee or its Chair.
Summary of Proxy Voting Guidelines
The Guidelines summarize Putnam’s positions on various issues of concern to investors and indicate how
client portfolio securities will be voted on proposals dealing with a particular issue. The summary below does
not address all topics covered by the Guidelines and is qualified by reference to the actual procedures and
Guidelines, which are available to clients from Putnam on request.
49 Putnam Investment Management,
The Guidelines focus on board governance issues. Normally, if a board meets current best practices such as
the maintenance of a majority of independent directors and the independence of key committees such as audit,
compensation and nomination, Putnam will support the board’s proposals. Boards which do not meet these
standards will have their proposals subjected to higher scrutiny. There are a number of exceptions to this
approach. With respect to some major business transactions such as mergers, proposals will be reviewed on
a case-by-case basis. In a number of areas, such as the introduction of anti-takeover devices, the Guidelines
will normally provide for voting against the introduction of anti-takeover devices whether or not supported
by an independent board. The central provisions of the Guidelines are set forth below:
Board of Directors
Proxies will normally be voted for the election of the company’s nominees for directors and for board-
approved proposals on other matters relating to the board of directors (provided that such nominees and
other matters have been approved by an independent nominating committee), except that Putnam will
withhold votes for the entire board of directors if:
• The board does not have a majority of independent directors.
• The board does not have nominating, audit and compensation committees composed solely of
independent directors; or
• The board has more than fifteen members or fewer than five members, absent special
circumstances.
Putnam will withhold votes from incumbent nominees to the board if:
• The board has not acted to implement a policy requested in a shareholder proposal that received
the support of a majority of the shares of the votes actually cast on the matter at its previous two
annual meetings, or
• The board adopted, renewed or made a material adverse modification to a shareholder rights plan
(commonly referred to as a “poison pill”) without shareholder approval during the current or prior
calendar year.
If the board does not meet these standards Putnam may refer items that would normally be supported for
case-by-case review. Putnam may withhold votes for directors under other circumstances such as when a
director who is considered an independent director by the company receives compensation from the
company other than for service as a director (such as investment banking, consulting, legal or financial
advisory fees) or when a director attends less than 75% of board and committee meetings (Putnam may
refrain from voting against/withholding on a case-by-case basis if a valid reason for the absences exists such
as (illness, personal emergency, potential conflict of interest etc.). In addition, Putnam will withhold votes:
•
For any nominee for director of a public company (Company A) who is employed as a senior
executive of another public company (Company B) if a director of Company B serves as a senior
executive of Company A (these arrangements are commonly referred to as “interlocking
directorates”); and
• Putnam will vote on a case-by-case basis for any non-executive nominee who serves on more than
four (4) public company boards (boards of affiliated registered investment companies and other
similar entities such as UCITS are counted as one board), except where Putnam would otherwise
be withholding votes for the entire board of directors.
Putnam will withhold votes from any nominee for director who serves as an executive officer of
any public company (“home company”) while serving on more than two (2) public company boards
other than the home company board. For the purpose of this guideline, boards of affiliated
registered investment companies and other similar entities such as UCITS will count as one board.
The board of directors has the important role of overseeing management and its performance on behalf of
shareholders. When evaluating a company’s board, Putnam may consider the diversity of professional
backgrounds and personal characteristics. Putnam believes that companies generally benefit from diversity
50 Putnam Investment Management,
on the board, including diversity with respect to gender, ethnicity, race, skills, perspectives and experience.
Putnam will vote on a case-by-case basis and may consider voting against the Nominating Committee Chair
if there is a lack of evidence of board diversity.
Board independence depends not only on its members’ individual relationships, but also the board’s overall
attitude toward management. Putnam believes that independent boards generally are committed to good
corporate governance practices and, by providing objective independent judgment, enhance shareholder
value. Putnam may withhold votes on a case-by-case basis from some or all directors that, through their lack
of independence, have failed to observe good corporate governance practices or, through specific corporate
action, have demonstrated a disregard for the interest of shareholders.
Putnam will normally vote on a case-by-case basis in contested elections of directors.
Executive Compensation
Putnam will normally vote on a case-by-case basis on proposals relating to executive compensation. However,
where the board of directors meets appropriate independence standards, Putnam will vote for stock option
and restricted stock plans that will result in an average annual dilution of 1.67% or less (based on the disclosed
term of the plan and including all equity-based plans). Putnam will vote against stock option and restricted
stock plans that will result in an average annual dilution of greater than 1.67% (based on the disclosed term
of the plan and including all equity plans). Putnam will vote against any stock option or restricted stock plan
where the company's actual grants of stock options and restricted stock under all equity-based compensation
plans during the prior three (3) fiscal years have resulted in an average annual dilution of greater than 1.67%.
Putnam may review plans on a case-by-case basis where average annual dilution cannot be calculated.
Whatever the composition of the board, Putnam will review proposals to reprice options on a case-by-case
basis if specific criteria are met. Putnam will vote against stock option plans that permit replacing or repricing
of underwater options and will vote against stock option plans that permit issuance of options with an exercise
price below the stock’s current market price. Putnam will also vote against stock option plans/ restricted
stock plans with evergreen features providing for automatic share replenishment.
Putnam may vote against executive compensation proposals on a case-by-case basis where compensation is
excessive by reasonable corporate standards, where a company fails to provide transparent disclosure of
executive compensation, or where Putnam would otherwise be withholding votes for the entire board of
directors. In voting on proposals relating to executive compensation, Putnam will consider whether the
proposal has been approved by an independent compensation committee of the board. Additionally, Putnam
will generally vote in favor of the annual presentation of advisory votes on executive compensation (“say on
pay”). Putnam will generally vote for advisory votes on executive compensation but will generally vote against
an advisory vote if the company fails to effectively link executive compensation to company performance
according to benchmarking performed by the independent proxy voting service provider. Putnam will vote
against proposals regarding severance agreements between a company and executives where the company
has adopted a policy to seek advisory shareholder approval of agreements, plans or policies that would
provide for severance compensation in excess of 299% of an executive officer’s base salary and annual
target bonus.
Acquisitions, Mergers and Similar Transactions
Putnam will normally evaluate business transactions such as acquisitions, mergers, reorganizations involving
business combinations, liquidations and sale of all or substantially all of a company’s assets, on a case-by-case
basis. Putnam will vote on a case-by-case basis on proposals seeking to change a company’s state of
incorporation. However, Putnam will vote for mergers and reorganizations involving business combinations
designed solely to reincorporate a company to Delaware.
Anti-Takeover Provisions
Putnam will normally vote against proposals to adopt anti-takeover measures such as supermajority voting
provisions, issuance of blank check preferred stock (except for REITs where measures will be voted on a case-
51 Putnam Investment Management,
by-case basis) and the creation of a separate class of stock with disparate voting rights. However, Putnam will
vote on a case-by-case basis on proposals to issue blank check preferred stock if appropriate “de-clawed”
language is present (appropriate de-clawed language will include cases where the company states that it will
not use preferred stock for anti-takeover purposes, or in order to implement a shareholder rights plan, or
discloses a commitment to submit any future issuances of preferred stock to be used in a shareholder rights
plan/anti-takeover purpose to a shareholder vote prior to its adoption.). Additionally, Putnam will vote on a
case-by-case basis on proposals to ratify or approve shareholder rights plans (commonly referred to as
“poison pills”) and on proposals to adopt fair price provisions. Putnam will normally oppose classified boards
except in special circumstances where having such a board would be in shareholders’ best interests.
Shareholder Proposals, including on Environmental & Social Issues
Shareholder proposals are non-binding votes that are often opposed by management. Some proposals relate
to matters that are financially immaterial to the company’s business, while others may be impracticable or
costly for a company to implement. At the same time, well-crafted shareholder proposals may serve the
purpose of raising issues that are material to a company’s business for management’s consideration and
response. Putnam seeks to weigh the costs of different types of proposals against their expected financial
benefits. More specifically, Putnam will normally vote in accordance with the recommendation of the
company’s board of directors on shareholder proposals unless the proposal reflects specific policies
enumerated in the Guidelines. For example, Putnam will normally vote in favor of shareholder proposals to
declassify a company’s board, require shareholder approval of shareholder rights plans. Additionally, Putnam
will normally support proposals requiring the Chairman’s position be filled by an independent director, unless
the board has an independent lead-director and Putnam is supporting the nominees for director, in which case
Putnam will vote on a case-by-case basis.
Putnam believes that sustainable environmental practices and sustainable social policies are important
components of long-term value creation. Companies should evaluate the potential risks to their business
operations that are directly related to environmental and social factors (among others). In evaluating
shareholder proposals relating to environmental and social initiatives, Putnam takes into account (1) the
relevance and materiality of the proposal to the company’s business, (2) whether the proposal is well crafted
(e.g., whether it references science-based targets, or standard global protocols), and (3) the practicality or
reasonableness of implementing the proposal.
Putnam may support well-crafted and well-targeted proposals that request additional reporting or
disclosure on a company’s plans to mitigate risk to the company related to the following issues and/or their
strategies related to these issues: Environmental issues, including but not limited to, climate change,
greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy, and broader sustainability issues; and social issues, including
but not limited to, fair pay, employee diversity and development, safety, labor rights, supply chain
management, privacy and data security.
Putnam will consider factors such as (i) the industry in which the company operates, (ii) the company's
current level of disclosure, (iii) the company's level of oversight, (iv) the company’s management of
risk arising out of these matters, (v) whether the company has suffered a material financial impact. Other
factors may also be considered.
Putnam will consider the recommendation of its third-party proxy service provider and may consider other
factors such as third-party evaluations of ESG performance.
Putnam will vote on a case-by-case basis on proposals relating to a company’s use or potential use of artificial
intelligence tools or applications.
Additionally, Putnam may vote on a case-by-case basis on proposals which ask a company to take action
beyond reporting where a third-party proxy service provider has identified one or more reasons to warrant
a vote FOR.
52 Putnam Investment Management,
Non-U.S. Companies
Putnam recognizes that the laws governing non-U.S. issuers will vary significantly from U.S. law and from
jurisdiction to jurisdiction. It may not be possible or even advisable to apply the Guidelines mechanically to
non-U.S. issuers. However, Putnam believes that shareholders of all companies are protected by the
existence of a sound corporate governance and disclosure framework. Accordingly, Putnam will seek to
vote proxies of non-U.S. issuers in accordance with the Guidelines where applicable.
Many non-U.S. jurisdictions impose significant burdens on voting proxies. For example, some jurisdictions
require that shares must be frozen for specified periods of time to vote via proxy (“share blocking”) or that
shares must be reregistered out of the name of the local custodian or nominee into the name of the client
for the meeting and then reregistered back. In addition, other practical administrative challenges, such as late
receipt of ballots and other information, often impact Putnam’s normal voting process.
Putnam’s policy is to weigh the benefits to clients from voting in these jurisdictions against the detriments of
doing so. For example, in a share blocking jurisdiction, it will normally not be in a client’s interest to freeze
shares simply to participate in a non-contested routine meeting. More specifically, Putnam will normally not
vote shares in non-U.S. jurisdictions imposing burdensome proxy voting requirements, except in significant
votes (such as contested elections and major corporate transactions) where directed by portfolio managers.
Putnam maintains additional policies for specific non-U.S. markets.
In rare cases, Putnam’s voting rights may also be directly limited by non-U.S. law. For example, some countries
limit aggregate foreign ownership of companies in particular industries (such as aviation or energy) due to
economic or security concerns. Where this limit is exceeded, shares held by foreign investors, including
Putnam, may not carry voting rights.
More Information
Putnam will make its reasonable best efforts to vote all proxies except when impeded by circumstances that
are reasonably beyond its control and responsibility. This may happen when the custodian makes an error or
the client has not established robust custodial proxy voting services. Putnam also does not recall shares on
loan to vote proxies.
Putnam may also determine to waive its voting rights or to enter into a voting agreement in connection with
some specific equity investments, including privately placed securities. In these situations, the voting policy
described above will not apply. For more information, please see Item 8. Clients who want more information
about Putnam’s proxy voting policies, including a copy of the Guidelines and related policies or a statement of
how proxies were voted for the client’s account, should contact their account executive or client service
manager.
Item 18: Financial Information
Not applicable.
53 Putnam Investment Management,