a_emgmkteqsum.htm

Putnam Emerging Markets Equity Fund

Before you invest, you may wish to review the fund’s prospectus, which contains more information about the fund and its risks. You may obtain the prospectus and other information about the fund, including the statement of additional information (SAI) and most recent reports to shareholders, at no cost by visiting putnam.com/funddocuments, calling 1-800-225-1581, or e-mailing Putnam at funddocuments@putnam.com.

The fund’s prospectus and SAI, both dated 12/30/10, as supplemented from time to time, are incorporated by reference into this summary prospectus.

Goal

Putnam Emerging Markets Equity Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.

Fees and expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Putnam funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial advisor and in How do I buy fund shares? beginning on page 14 of the fund’s prospectus and in How to buy shares beginning on page II-1 of the fund’s statement of additional information (SAI).


Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
		Maximum deferred
	Maximum sales	sales charge (load) (as
	charge (load)	a percentage of original
	imposed on purchases	purchase price or	Redemption fee (as
	(as a percentage of	redemption proceeds,	a percentage of total
Share class	offering price)	whichever is lower)	redemption proceeds)

Class A	5.75%	NONE*	1.00%
Class B	NONE	5.00%**	1.00%
Class C	NONE	1.00%	1.00%
Class M	3.50%	NONE*	1.00%
Class R	NONE	NONE	1.00%
Class Y	NONE	NONE	1.00%

Annual fund operating expenses
(expenses you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)***


							Total
							annual
							fund
							operating
		Distri-			Total		expenses
		bution and		Acquired	annual		after
		service		fund	fund	Expense	expense
Share	Manage-	(12b-1)	Other	operating	operating	reim-	reimburse-
class	ment fees	fees	expenses	expenses	expenses	bursement	ment

Class A	0.93%	0.25%	0.98%	0.02%	2.18%	(0.41)%	1.77%
Class B	0.93%	1.00%	0.98%	0.02%	2.93%	(0.41)%	2.52%
Class C	0.93%	1.00%	0.98%	0.02%	2.93%	(0.41)%	2.52%
Class M	0.93%	0.75%	0.98%	0.02%	2.68%	(0.41)%	2.27%
Class R	0.93%	0.50%	0.98%	0.02%	2.43%	(0.41)%	2.02%
Class Y	0.93%	N/A	0.98%	0.02%	1.93%	(0.41)%	1.52%

* A deferred sales charge of 1.00% on class A shares and of 0.65% on class M shares may be imposed on certain redemptions of shares bought without an initial sales charge.

** This charge is phased out over six years.

***Restated to reflect projected expenses under a management contract effective 1/1/2010 and Putnam Investment Management, LLC’s (Putnam Management) contractual obligation to limit certain fund expenses through 12/30/2011. This obligation may be modified or discontinued only with approval of the Board of Trustees.

Example

The following hypothetical example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other funds. It assumes that you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods indicated and then, except as indicated, redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. It assumes a 5% return on your investment each year and that the fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Only the first year of each period in the example takes into account the expense reimbursement described above. Your actual costs may be higher or lower.


Share class	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years

Class A	$745	$1,181	$1,642	$2,914
Class B	$755	$1,168	$1,707	$3,046
Class B (no redemption)	$255	$868	$1,507	$3,046
Class C	$355	$868	$1,507	$3,223
Class C (no redemption)	$255	$868	$1,507	$3,223
Class M	$572	$1,116	$1,685	$3,228
Class R	$205	$718	$1,259	$2,735
Class Y	$155	$566	$1,004	$2,221

Portfolio turnover

The fund pays transaction-related costs when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when the fund’s shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or the above example, affect fund performance. The fund’s turnover rate in the most recent fiscal year was 212%.

Investments, risks, and performance

Investments

We invest mainly in common stocks (growth or value stocks or both) of emerging market companies that we believe have favorable investment potential. We invest significantly in small and midsize companies. For example, we may purchase stocks of companies with stock prices that reflect a value lower than that which we place on the company. We may also consider other factors we believe will cause the stock price to rise. 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 investments. Emerging markets include countries in the MSCI Emerging Market Index or that we consider to be equivalent to those in the MSCI Emerging Market Index based on their level of economic development or the size and experience of their securities markets. We may also use derivatives, such as futures, opti ons, certain foreign currency transactions, warrants and swap contracts, for both hedging and non-hedging purposes.

Risks

It is important to understand that you can lose money by investing in the fund.

The prices of stocks in the fund’s portfolio may fall or fail to rise over extended periods of time for a variety of reasons, including both general financial market conditions and factors related to a specific company or industry. Growth stocks may be more susceptible to earnings disappointments, and value stocks may fail to rebound. These risks are generally greater for small and midsize companies. The value of international investments traded in foreign currencies may be adversely impacted by fluctuations in exchange rates. Emerging markets may carry risks associated with potentially less stable economies or governments, such as the risk of seizure by a foreign government, the imposition of currency or other restrictions, or high levels of inflation or deflation. International investments, particularly emerging-market investments, can be illiquid. Our use of derivatives may increase these risks by, for example, increasing investment exposure or , in the case of many over-the-counter instruments, because of the potential inability to terminate or sell derivatives positions.

The fund may not achieve its goal, and it is not intended to be a complete investment program. An investment in the fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Performance

The performance information below gives some indication of the risks associated with an investment in the fund by showing the fund’s performance year to year and over time. The bar chart does not reflect the impact of sales charges. If it did, performance would be lower. Please remember that past performance is not necessarily an indication of future results. Monthly performance figures for the fund are available at putnam.com.

Average annual total returns after sales charges
(for periods ending 12/31/09)


		Since
		Inception
Share class	1 year	(9/29/08)

Class A before taxes	63.94%	10.19%
Class A after taxes on distributions	61.93%	9.10%
Class A after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares	41.86%	8.11%
Class B before taxes	67.67%	11.62%
Class C before taxes	71.63%	14.69%
Class M before taxes	66.91%	11.80%
Class R before taxes	73.45%	15.25%
Class Y before taxes	74.32%	15.85%
Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Emerging
Markets Index (no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	78.51%	24.17%

After-tax returns reflect the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are shown for class A shares only and will vary for other classes. These after-tax returns do not apply if you hold your fund shares through a 401(k) plan, an IRA, or another tax-advantaged arrangement.

Your fund’s management

Investment advisor

Putnam Investment Management, LLC

Portfolio manager

Daniel Graña, Portfolio Manager, portfolio manager of the fund since 2008

Purchase and sale of fund shares

You can open an account, purchase and/or sell fund shares, or exchange them for shares of another Putnam fund by contacting your financial advisor or by calling Putnam Investor Services at 1-800-225-1581.

When opening an account, you must complete and mail a Putnam account application, along with a check made payable to the fund, to: Putnam Investor Services, P.O. Box 8383, Boston, MA 02266-8383. The minimum initial investment of $500 is currently waived, although Putnam reserves the right to reject initial investments under $500 at its discretion. There is no minimum for subsequent investments.

You can sell your shares back to the fund or exchange them for shares of another Putnam fund any day the New York Stock Exchange is open. Shares may be sold or exchanged by mail, by phone, or online at putnam.com. Some restrictions may apply.

Tax information

The fund normally distributes any net investment income and any net realized capital gains annually. These distributions will be taxed as ordinary income or as capital gains, unless the shares are held through a qualified retirement plan.

Financial intermediary compensation

If you purchase the fund through a broker/dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank or financial advisor), the fund and its related companies may pay that intermediary for the sale of fund shares and related services. Please bear in mind that these payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker/dealer or other intermediary to recommend the fund over another investment. Ask your advisor or visit your advisor’s Web site for more information.

Additional information, including current performance, is available at putnam.com/funddocuments, by calling 1-800-225-1581, or by e-mailing Putnam at funddocuments@putnam.com.