N-CSR 1 a_capitalspectrum.htm PUTNAM FUNDS TRUST a_capitalspectrum.htm


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES




Investment Company Act file number: (811–07513)
Exact name of registrant as specified in charter: Putnam Funds Trust
Address of principal executive offices: 100 Federal Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110
Name and address of agent for service: Robert T. Burns, Vice President
100 Federal Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
Copy to:         Bryan Chegwidden, Esq.
Ropes & Gray LLP
1211 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (617) 292–1000
Date of fiscal year end: April 30, 2020
Date of reporting period: May 1, 2019 — April 30, 2020



Item 1. Report to Stockholders:

The following is a copy of the report transmitted to stockholders pursuant to Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940:




Putnam
Capital Spectrum
Fund


Annual report
4 | 30 | 20

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Delivery of paper fund reports

In accordance with regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, beginning on January 1, 2021, reports like this one will no longer be sent by mail unless you specifically request it. Instead, they will be on Putnam’s website, and you will be notified by mail whenever a new one is available, and provided with a website link to access the report.

If you wish to stop receiving paper reports sooner, or if you wish to continue to receive paper reports free of charge after January 1, 2021, please see the back cover or insert for instructions. If you invest through a bank or broker, your choice will apply to all funds held in your account. If you invest directly with Putnam, your choice will apply to all Putnam funds in your account.

If you already receive these reports electronically, no action is required.



Message from the Trustees

June 12, 2020

Dear Fellow Shareholder:

Financial markets worldwide continue to be challenged by volatility and economic uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After considerable losses earlier in the year, equity markets rallied in April to recover partially from their steepest declines. Bond markets, which dealt with severe liquidity challenges, have in large part stabilized thanks to aggressive policy responses from central banks and governments worldwide.

It is still unclear what the costs will be and how long the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic will last, but history has shown that markets rebound from downturns over time. For investors, we believe the most important course of action is to remember your long-term goals and consult with your financial advisor. At Putnam, our investment professionals remain focused on actively managing fund portfolios with a research-intensive approach that includes risk management strategies.

We would like to take this opportunity to announce the arrival of Mona K. Sutphen to your fund’s Board of Trustees. Ms. Sutphen brings extensive professional and directorship experience to her role as a Trustee, and we are pleased to welcome her.

Thank you for investing with Putnam.





Current performance may be lower or higher than the quoted past performance, which cannot guarantee future results. Share price, principal value, and return will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or a loss when you sell your shares. Performance of class A shares assumes reinvestment of distributions and does not account for taxes. Fund returns in the bar chart do not reflect a sales charge of 5.75%; had they, returns would have been lower. See below and pages 8–10 for additional performance information. For a portion of the periods, the fund had expense limitations and negative performance adjustments to the fund’s base management fee, without which returns would have been lower. To obtain the most recent month-end performance, visit putnam.com.

* The Capital Spectrum Blended Index is an unmanaged index administered by Putnam Management, 50% of which is the S&P 500 Index and 50% of which is the JPMorgan Developed High Yield Index.


This comparison shows your fund’s performance in the context of broad market indexes for the 12 months ended 4/30/20. See above and pages 8–10 for additional fund performance information. Index descriptions can be found on page 14.

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How was the investing environment for the reporting period?

The markets encountered heightened volatility throughout the period, resulting in wide swings of risk-on and risk-off investor sentiment. In May and August 2019, concerns about slowing global growth and geopolitical uncertainties associated with the U.S.–China trade conflict weighed on the markets. Market conditions improved markedly in the final quarter of 2019 and into early 2020 as the United States and China announced that they had reached a preliminary agreement to address some key trade concerns. The Federal Reserve reduced its benchmark short-term rate three times in August, September, and October 2019, which added momentum to the rally.

By mid-February 2020, concerns about the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic outside of China began to weigh on U.S. markets. From February 19 through March 23, the magnitude of the equity sell-off was stunning, effectively ending the historic 11-year U.S. bull market as investors sold risk assets and moved into safe haven assets. With the health risks posed by the pandemic rising and economic and financial conditions deteriorating, monetary and fiscal

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Allocations are shown as a percentage of portfolio market value as of 4/30/20. Data include exposure achieved through securities sold short; however, they exclude derivatives, short-term investments held as collateral for loaned securities, TBA commitments, and collateral received on certain derivative instruments, if any. These percentages may differ from allocations shown later in this report. Holdings and allocations may vary over time.


This table shows the fund’s top 10 individual holdings by percentage of the fund’s net assets that each represented as of 4/30/20. Short-term investments, TBA commitments, and derivatives, if any, are excluded. Holdings may vary over time.

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policy makers responded aggressively. On March 16, the Fed reduced interest rates to near zero and increased asset purchases to help ease tight credit markets. On March 23, the Fed announced it would start buying corporate and municipal debt. That day, with investors gaining confidence that massive government support was on the way, the stock market suddenly reversed course. The rally was just as dramatic as the decline but with one caveat: Investors were keen to delineate between companies perceived as long-term beneficiaries of minimal close contact versus non-essential businesses or those that were likely to struggle amid stay-at-home orders.

On March 27, Congress finalized a $2.2 trillion relief package. The stimulus was the largest in history and was designed to help hard-hit industries and provide support to families, small businesses, and hospitals and health-care systems. In April, risk sentiment improved as the spread of the virus slowed in some countries and parts of the U.S. economy began to re-open after weeks of lockdowns. Congress passed a new emergency bill totaling $484 billion to aid small businesses and hospitals. The Fed affirmed that it stood ready to use all the monetary tools at its disposal to support the economy amid the unprecedented disruption caused by the pandemic. With the outlook for a recovery improving, April proved to be the best month of performance for the S&P 500 Index since 1987.

How did the fund perform in this environment?

For the 12-month period ended April 30, 2020, the fund underperformed its benchmark, the Capital Spectrum Blended Index, and the broader markets, as measured by the S&P 500 Index and the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. The underperformance was almost entirely driven by weakness among some of the fund’s largest individual positions.


What holdings detracted from the fund’s performance during the period?

The fund’s investment in Uber Technologies was the top detractor for the period. The ridesharing company came to market with its initial public offering in May 2019 to great fanfare. However, Uber’s lackluster earnings and its path to profitability were disappointing for investors. With competition growing from new entrants focused on autonomous driving, the State of California bringing a lawsuit against the company over regulatory issues, and prospects for profitability uncertain, we sold the position before period-end.

Satellite TV provider DISH Network was another disappointment for the period. The stock was in limbo for much of the period as investors awaited the outcome of the Department of Justice [DOJ] antitrust suit against the T-Mobile/Sprint merger. The lawsuit created a lot of uncertainty for DISH about the competitive landscape should the merger go through as originally planned.

Finally, our investment in Pioneer Natural Resources, one of the largest oil and gas exploration and production companies, struggled during the period. When 2020 began, West Texas Intermediate [WTI] crude oil was trading above $60 a barrel. As the economic fallout from the pandemic became more apparent, the sector sold off due to concerns about sinking demand. In March 2020, excess supply fears arose when negotiations between Saudi Arabia and Russia to limit production broke down, pushing WTI crude prices to $20 a barrel. WTI crude prices temporarily turned negative in April 2020 as dwindling storage capacity pushed some buyers to avoid taking delivery the day before May contracts expired. Just after

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the close of the period, in mid-May, WTI crude rose to a two-month high. The rally was due to production cuts and the easing of lockdown measures around the world.

Could you highlight some holdings that contributed to performance for the period?

The fund’s top contributor to performance was VanEck Vectors Gold Miners Exchange Traded Fund. This portfolio of gold miners is highly correlated to the price of gold, which is often considered a safe haven by investors. With trade tensions and the pandemic weakening the outlook for global growth, gold-related securities performed well relative to the broader markets.

The fund’s investments in The Medicines Company [TMC] rallied in November 2019 after the company reported positive results from the phase 3 trial of Inclisiran, its cholesterol-lowering drug. Shortly after, Novartis announced it was acquiring the company at a 50% premium to TMC’s stock price at the time of the announcement. The deal closed in January 2020. The position was sold prior to period-end to lock in profits.

The fund has the flexibility to invest in high-yield bonds. Did the fund have positions in high-yield securities during the period?

The fund held a small position in high-yield bonds, which represented approximately 3% of the portfolio at period-end. These are long duration bonds that carry ratings at the higher end of the credit spectrum in the high-yield universe. Given our views of valuations in the asset class, we did not see the opportunity to further increase the fund’s exposure during the period.

What was the status of the fund’s cash position at period-end?

At period-end, cash levels in the fund as a percentage of net assets were lower than they were at the start of the 12-month period. Cash was deployed to meet redemptions and purchase new holdings to increase diversification in the portfolio.

Allocations are shown as a percentage of portfolio market value as of 4/30/20. Data include exposure achieved through securities sold short; however, they exclude derivatives, short-term investments held as collateral for loaned securities, TBA commitments, and collateral received on certain derivative instruments, if any. These percentages may differ from allocations shown later in this report. Holdings and allocations may vary over time.

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What is your outlook for the coming months?

The pandemic was a huge shock to the U.S. economy, resulting in a widespread shutdown of business and consumer spending. However, the magnitude of the U.S. monetary and fiscal response to address its impact is unparalleled.

We remain cautious given the continued uncertainty and questionable nature of the economic recovery. In our view, the resumption of U.S. economic growth will depend on how quickly the economy resumes normal business operations. In the meanwhile, we will be looking for signs of stabilization and any progress on the medical front to help contain further spread of COVID-19.

Thank you, Jackie, for your time and insights today.

The views expressed in this report are exclusively those of Putnam Management and are subject to change. They are not meant as investment advice.

Please note that the holdings discussed in this report may not have been held by the fund for the entire period. Portfolio composition is subject to review in accordance with the fund’s investment strategy and may vary in the future. Current and future portfolio holdings are subject to risk.

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Your fund’s performance

This section shows your fund’s performance, price, and distribution information for periods ended April 30, 2020, the end of its most recent fiscal year. In accordance with regulatory requirements for mutual funds, we also include performance information as of the most recent calendar quarter-end and expense information taken from the fund’s current prospectus. Performance should always be considered in light of a fund’s investment strategy. Data represent past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. More recent returns may be less or more than those shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or a loss when you sell your shares. Performance information does not reflect any deduction for taxes a shareholder may owe on fund distributions or on the redemption of fund shares. For the most recent month-end performance, please visit the Individual Investors section at putnam.com or call Putnam at 1-800-225-1581. Class R and Y shares are not available to all investors. See the Terms and definitions section in this report for definitions of the share classes offered by your fund.

Fund performance Total return for periods ended 4/30/20

  Annual               
  average    Annual    Annual    Annual   
  (life of fund)  10 years  average  5 years  average  3 years  average  1 year 
Class A (5/18/09)                 
Before sales charge  8.56%  73.21%  5.65%  –20.64%  –4.52%  –25.31%  –9.27%  –6.56% 
After sales charge  7.97  63.25  5.02  –25.21  –5.64  –29.61  –11.04  –11.93 
Class B (5/18/09)                 
Before CDSC  7.97  63.13  5.02  –23.56  –5.23  –26.96  –9.94  –7.29 
After CDSC  7.97  63.13  5.02  –24.70  –5.52  –28.76  –10.69  –11.10 
Class C (5/18/09)                 
Before CDSC  7.81  60.71  4.86  –23.59  –5.24  –27.00  –9.96  –7.31 
After CDSC  7.81  60.71  4.86  –23.59  –5.24  –27.00  –9.96  –8.07 
Class R (5/18/09)                 
Net asset value  8.28  68.99  5.39  –21.64  –4.76  –25.90  –9.51  –6.82 
Class Y (5/18/09)                 
Net asset value  8.83  77.59  5.91  –19.64  –4.28  –24.77  –9.05  –6.36 

 

Current performance may be lower or higher than the quoted past performance, which cannot guarantee future results. After-sales-charge returns for class A shares reflect the deduction of the maximum 5.75% sales charge levied at the time of purchase. Class B share returns after contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) reflect the applicable CDSC, which is 5% in the first year, declining over time to 1% in the sixth year, and is eliminated thereafter. Class C share returns after CDSC reflect a 1% CDSC for the first year that is eliminated thereafter. Class R and Y shares have no initial sales charge or CDSC.

For a portion of the periods, the fund had expense limitations, without which returns would have been lower.

The fund has had performance fee adjustments that may have had a positive or negative impact on returns.

Class B share performance reflects conversion to class A shares after eight years.

Class C share performance reflects conversion to class A shares after 10 years.

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Comparative index returns For periods ended 4/30/20

  Annual               
  average    Annual    Annual    Annual   
  (life of fund)  10 years  average  5 years  average  3 years  average  1 year 
Capital Spectrum                 
Blended Index*  11.45%  139.02%  9.10%  36.72%  6.45%  17.41%  5.49%  –1.83% 

 

Index results should be compared with fund performance before sales charge, before CDSC, or at net asset value.

* The Capital Spectrum Blended Index is an unmanaged index administered by Putnam Management, 50% of which is the S&P 500 Index and 50% of which is the JPMorgan Developed High Yield Index.


Past performance does not indicate future results. At the end of the same time period, a $10,000 investment in the fund’s class B and C shares would have been valued at $16,313 and $16,071, respectively, and no contingent deferred sales charges would apply. A $10,000 investment in the fund’s class R and Y shares would have been valued at $16,899 and $17,759, respectively.

Fund price and distribution information For the 12-month period ended 4/30/20

Distributions    Class A    Class B  Class C  Class R  Class Y 
Number    1    1  1  1  1 
Income    $0.302    $0.041  $0.022  $0.210  $0.387 
Capital gains               
Long-term gains    4.947    4.947  4.947  4.947  4.947 
Short-term gains    0.145    0.145  0.145  0.145  0.145 
Total    $5.394    $5.133  $5.114  $5.302  $5.479 
  Before    After  Net  Net  Net  Net 
  sales    sales  asset  asset  asset  asset 
Share value  charge    charge  value  value  value  value 
4/30/19  $29.46    $31.26  $27.83  $27.76  $28.92  $29.90 
4/30/20  22.62    24.00  21.15  21.10  22.13  23.01 

 

The classification of distributions, if any, is an estimate. Before-sales-charge share value and current dividend rate for class A shares, if applicable, do not take into account any sales charge levied at the time of purchase. After-sales-charge share value, current dividend rate, and current 30-day SEC yield, if applicable, are calculated assuming that the maximum sales charge (5.75% for class A shares) was levied at the time of purchase. Final distribution information will appear on your year-end tax forms.

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Fund performance as of most recent calendar quarter Total return for periods ended 3/31/20

  Annual               
  average    Annual    Annual    Annual   
  (life of fund)  10 years  average  5 years  average  3 years  average  1 year 
Class A (5/18/09)                 
Before sales charge  7.29%  59.10%  4.75%  –30.91%  –7.13%  –33.84%  –12.87%  –16.44% 
After sales charge  6.71  49.96  4.13  –34.89  –8.22  –37.65  –14.57  –21.25 
Class B (5/18/09)                 
Before CDSC  6.70  49.83  4.13  –33.48  –7.83  –35.33  –13.52  –17.06 
After CDSC  6.70  49.83  4.13  –34.47  –8.11  –36.92  –14.24  –20.46 
Class C (5/18/09)                 
Before CDSC  6.55  47.58  3.97  –33.47  –7.83  –35.34  –13.53  –17.09 
After CDSC  6.55  47.58  3.97  –33.47  –7.83  –35.34  –13.53  –17.77 
Class R (5/18/09)                 
Net asset value  7.02  55.13  4.49  –31.81  –7.37  –34.36  –13.09  –16.68 
Class Y (5/18/09)                 
Net asset value  7.55  63.03  5.01  –30.06  –6.90  –33.37  –12.66  –16.28 

 

See the discussion following the fund performance table on page 8 for information about the calculation of fund performance.

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Your fund’s expenses

As a mutual fund investor, you pay ongoing expenses, such as management fees, distribution fees (12b-1 fees), and other expenses. In the most recent six-month period, your fund’s expenses were limited; had expenses not been limited, they would have been higher. Using the following information, you can estimate how these expenses affect your investment and compare them with the expenses of other funds. You may also pay one-time transaction expenses, including sales charges (loads) and redemption fees, which are not shown in this section and would have resulted in higher total expenses. For more information, see your fund’s prospectus or talk to your financial representative.

Expense ratios

  Class A  Class B  Class C  Class R  Class Y 
Total annual operating expenses for the fiscal           
year ended 4/30/19  0.31%  1.06%  1.06%  0.56%  0.06% 
Annualized expense ratio for the six-month           
period ended 4/30/20*†  0.00%  0.75%  0.75%  0.25%  –0.25% 

 

Fiscal year expense information in this table is taken from the most recent prospectus, is subject to change, and may differ from that shown for the annualized expense ratio and in the financial highlights of this report.

Prospectus expense information also includes the impact of acquired fund fees and expenses of 0.02%, which is not included in the financial highlights or annualized expense ratios. Expenses are shown as a percentage of average net assets.

* Expense ratios for each class are for the fund’s most recent fiscal half year. As a result of this, ratios may differ from expense ratios based on one-year data in the financial highlights.

Includes a decrease of 1.27% from annualizing the performance fee adjustment for the six months ended 4/30/20.

Class A annualized expense ratio for the recent six-month period is 0.00% because the fund’s negative performance adjustment matched the fund’s base management fee. In addition, class Y annualized expense ratio for the most recent six-month period is negative because the fund’s negative performance adjustment for the period exceeded the fund’s base management fee. Consequently, Putnam Management made a payment to the fund in an amount that matched the expenses of class A shares and that exceeded the expenses of class Y shares.

Expenses per $1,000

The following table shows the expenses you would have paid on a $1,000 investment in each class of the fund from 11/1/19 to 4/30/20. It also shows how much a $1,000 investment would be worth at the close of the period, assuming actual returns and expenses.

  Class A  Class B  Class C  Class R  Class Y 
Expenses paid per $1,000*†  $0.00  $3.60  $3.60  $1.20  –$1.20 
Ending value (after expenses)  $932.90  $929.40  $929.20  $931.50  $933.90 

 

* Expenses for each share class are calculated using the fund’s annualized expense ratio for each class, which represents the ongoing expenses as a percentage of average net assets for the six months ended 4/30/20. The expense ratio may differ for each share class.

Expenses are calculated by multiplying the expense ratio by the average account value for the period; then multiplying the result by the number of days in the period; and then dividing that result by the number of days in the year.

Class A Expenses paid per $1,000 for the most recent six-month period is $0.00 because the fund’s negative performance adjustment for the period matched the fund’s base management fee. In addition, class Y Expenses paid per $1,000 for the most recent six-month period is negative because the fund’s negative performance adjustment for the period exceeded the fund’s base management fee. Consequently, Putnam Management made a payment to the fund in an amount that matched the expenses of class A shares and that exceeded the expenses of class Y shares.

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Estimate the expenses you paid

To estimate the ongoing expenses you paid for the six months ended 4/30/20, use the following calculation method. To find the value of your investment on 11/1/19, call Putnam at 1-800-225-1581.


Class A Expenses paid per $1,000 and Total expenses paid is $0.00 because the fund’s negative performance adjustment for the period matched the fund’s base management fee. Consequently, Putnam Management made a payment to the fund in an amount that matched the expenses of class A shares.

Compare expenses using the SEC’s method

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has established guidelines to help investors assess fund expenses. Per these guidelines, the following table shows your fund’s expenses based on a $1,000 investment, assuming a hypothetical 5% annualized return. You can use this information to compare the ongoing expenses (but not transaction expenses or total costs) of investing in the fund with those of other funds. All mutual fund shareholder reports will provide this information to help you make this comparison. Please note that you cannot use this information to estimate your actual ending account balance and expenses paid during the period.

  Class A  Class B  Class C  Class R  Class Y 
Expenses paid per $1,000*†  $0.00  $3.77  $3.77  $1.26  –$1.26 
Ending value (after expenses)  $1,024.86  $1,021.13  $1,021.13  $1,023.62  $1,026.11 

 

* Expenses for each share class are calculated using the fund’s annualized expense ratio for each class, which represents the ongoing expenses as a percentage of average net assets for the six months ended 4/30/20. The expense ratio may differ for each share class.

Expenses are calculated by multiplying the expense ratio by the average account value for the six-month period; then multiplying the result by the number of days in the six-month period; and then dividing that result by the number of days in the year.

Class A Expenses paid per $1,000 for the most recent six-month period is $0.00 because the fund’s negative performance adjustment for the period matched the fund’s base management fee. In addition, class Y Expenses paid per $1,000 for the most recent six-month period is negative because the fund’s negative performance adjustment for the period exceeded the fund’s base management fee. Consequently, Putnam Management made a payment to the fund in an amount that matched the expenses of class A shares and that exceeded the expenses of class Y shares.

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Consider these risks before investing

The value of investments in the fund’s portfolio may fall or fail to rise over extended periods of time for a variety of reasons, including general economic, political, or financial market conditions; investor sentiment and market perceptions; government actions; geopolitical events or changes; and factors related to a specific issuer, geography, industry, or sector. These and other factors may lead to increased volatility and reduced liquidity in the fund’s portfolio holdings, particularly for larger investments. 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 fund will be more susceptible to these risks than other funds because it may concentrate its investments in a limited number of issuers and currently focuses its investments in particular sectors. Because the fund currently invests significantly in the communications services and health-care sectors, the fund may perform poorly as a result of adverse developments affecting those companies or sectors. The fund may focus its investments in other sectors in the future, in which case it would be exposed to risks relating to those sectors. The value of international investments traded in foreign currencies may be adversely impacted by fluctuations in exchange rates. International investments, particularly investments in 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), and may be or become illiquid. The fund’s investments in leveraged companies and the fund’s non-diversified status, which means the fund may invest a greater percentage of its assets in fewer issuers than a “diversified fund”, and the fund’s use of short selling can increase the risks of investing in the fund.  Furthermore, the fund has the flexibility to focus its investments in particular types of securities. From time to time, the fund may, without limit, emphasize investments in a particular type of security (i.e., in particular part of the capital structure) at various points during a credit cycle. This may mean that the fund may invest only modestly, or not at all, in fixed-income or equity securities at any given time. The risks associated with bond investments include interest rate risk, which means the prices of the fund’s investments are likely to fall if interest rates rise. Bond investments are also subject to credit risk, which is the risk that the issuers of the bond may default on payment of interest or principal. Interest-rate risk is generally greater for longer-term bonds, and credit risk is generally greater for below-investment-grade bonds, which may be considered speculative. Mortgage- and other asset-backed investments carry the risk that they may increase in value less when interest rates decline and decline in value more when interest rates rise. We may have to invest the proceeds from prepaid investments, including mortgage- and asset-backed investments, in other investments with less attractive terms and yields. Our use of derivatives may increase the risks of investing in the fund by increasing investment exposure (which may be considered leverage) or, in the case of many over-the-counter instruments, because of the potential inability to terminate or sell derivatives positions and failure of the other party to the instrument to meet its obligations. Our investment techniques, analyses, and judgments may not produce the outcome we intend. The investments we select for the fund may not perform as well as other securities that we do not select for the fund. We, or the fund’s other service providers, may experience disruptions or operating errors that could have a negative effect on the fund. You can lose money by investing in the fund.

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Terms and definitions

Important terms

Total return shows how the value of the fund’s shares changed over time, assuming you held the shares through the entire period and reinvested all distributions in the fund.

Before sales charge, or net asset value, is the price, or value, of one share of a mutual fund, without a sales charge. Before-sales-charge figures fluctuate with market conditions, and are calculated by dividing the net assets of each class of shares by the number of outstanding shares in the class.

After sales charge is the price of a mutual fund share plus the maximum sales charge levied at the time of purchase. After-sales-charge performance figures shown here assume the 5.75% maximum sales charge for class A shares.

Contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) is generally a charge applied at the time of the redemption of class B or C shares and assumes redemption at the end of the period. Your fund’s class B CDSC declines over time from a 5% maximum during the first year to 1% during the sixth year. After the sixth year, the CDSC no longer applies. The CDSC for class C shares is 1% for one year after purchase.

Share classes

Class A shares are generally subject to an initial sales charge and no CDSC (except on certain redemptions of shares bought without an initial sales charge).

Class B shares are closed to new investments and are only available by exchange from another Putnam fund or through dividend and/or capital gains reinvestment. They are not subject to an initial sales charge and may be subject to a CDSC.

Class C shares are not subject to an initial sales charge and are subject to a CDSC only if the shares are redeemed during the first year.

Class R shares are not subject to an initial sales charge or CDSC and are only available to employer-sponsored retirement plans.

Class Y shares are not subject to an initial sales charge or CDSC and carry no 12b-1 fee. They are generally only available to corporate and institutional clients and clients in other approved programs.

Comparative indexes

Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is an unmanaged index of U.S. investment-grade fixed-income securities.

Capital Spectrum Blended Index is an unmanaged index administered by Putnam Management, 50% of which is the S&P 500 Index and 50% of which is the JPMorgan Developed High Yield Index.

ICE BofA (Intercontinental Exchange Bank of America) U.S. 3-Month Treasury Bill Index is an unmanaged index that seeks to measure the performance of U.S. Treasury bills available in the marketplace.

JPMorgan Developed High Yield Index is an unmanaged index of high-yield fixed-income securities issued in developed countries.

S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged index of common stock performance.

Indexes assume reinvestment of all distributions and do not account for fees. Securities and performance of a fund and an index will differ. You cannot invest directly in an index.

ICE Data Indices, LLC (“ICE BofA”), used with permission. ICE BofA permits use of the ICE BofA indices and related data on an “as is” basis; makes no warranties regarding same; does not guarantee the suitability, quality, accuracy, timeliness, and/or completeness of the ICE BofA indices or any data included in, related to, or derived therefrom; assumes no liability in connection with the use of the foregoing; and does not sponsor, endorse, or recommend Putnam Investments, or any of its products or services.

14 Capital Spectrum Fund 

 



Other information for shareholders

Proxy voting

Putnam is committed to managing our mutual funds in the best interests of our shareholders. The Putnam funds’ proxy voting guidelines and procedures, as well as information regarding how your fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the 12-month period ended June 30, 2019, are available in the Individual Investors section of putnam.com and on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) website, www.sec.gov. If you have questions about finding forms on the SEC’s website, you may call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. You may also obtain the Putnam funds’ proxy voting guidelines and procedures at no charge by calling Putnam’s Shareholder Services at 1-800-225-1581.

Fund portfolio holdings

The fund will file a complete schedule of its portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-PORT within 60 days of the end of such fiscal quarter. Shareholders may obtain the fund’s Form N-PORT on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Prior to its use of Form N-PORT, the fund filed its complete schedule of its portfolio holdings with the SEC on Form N-Q, which is available online at www.sec.gov.

Trustee and employee fund ownership

Putnam employees and members of the Board of Trustees place their faith, confidence, and, most importantly, investment dollars in Putnam mutual funds. As of April 30, 2020, Putnam employees had approximately $434,000,000 and the Trustees had approximately $71,000,000 invested in Putnam mutual funds. These amounts include investments by the Trustees’ and employees’ immediate family members as well as investments through retirement and deferred compensation plans.

Important notice regarding Putnam’s privacy policy

In order to conduct business with our shareholders, we must obtain certain personal information such as account holders’ names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and dates of birth. Using this information, we are able to maintain accurate records of accounts and transactions.

It is our policy to protect the confidentiality of our shareholder information, whether or not a shareholder currently owns shares of our funds. In particular, it is our policy not to sell information about you or your accounts to outside marketing firms. We have safeguards in place designed to prevent unauthorized access to our computer systems and procedures to protect personal information from unauthorized use.

Under certain circumstances, we must share account information with outside vendors who provide services to us, such as mailings and proxy solicitations. In these cases, the service providers enter into confidentiality agreements with us, and we provide only the information necessary to process transactions and perform other services related to your account. Finally, it is our policy to share account information with your financial representative, if you’ve listed one on your Putnam account.

Capital Spectrum Fund 15 

 



Audited financial statements

These sections of the report, as well as the accompanying Notes, preceded by the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, constitute the fund’s audited financial statements.

The fund’s portfolio lists all the fund’s investments and their values as of the last day of the reporting period. Holdings are organized by asset type and industry sector, country, or state to show areas of concentration and diversification.

Statement of assets and liabilities shows how the fund’s net assets and share price are determined. All investment and non-investment assets are added together. Any unpaid expenses and other liabilities are subtracted from this total. The result is divided by the number of shares to determine the net asset value per share, which is calculated separately for each class of shares. (For funds with preferred shares, the amount subtracted from total assets includes the liquidation preference of preferred shares.)

Statement of operations shows the fund’s net investment gain or loss. This is done by first adding up all the fund’s earnings — from dividends and interest income — and subtracting its operating expenses to determine net investment income (or loss). Then, any net gain or loss the fund realized on the sales of its holdings — as well as any unrealized gains or losses over the period — is added to or subtracted from the net investment result to determine the fund’s net gain or loss for the fiscal year.

Statement of changes in net assets shows how the fund’s net assets were affected by the fund’s net investment gain or loss, by distributions to shareholders, and by changes in the number of the fund’s shares. It lists distributions and their sources (net investment income or realized capital gains) over the current reporting period and the most recent fiscal year-end. The distributions listed here may not match the sources listed in the Statement of operations because the distributions are determined on a tax basis and may be paid in a different period from the one in which they were earned.

Financial highlights provide an overview of the fund’s investment results, per-share distributions, expense ratios, net investment income ratios, and portfolio turnover in one summary table, reflecting the five most recent reporting periods. In a semiannual report, the highlights table also includes the current reporting period.

16 Capital Spectrum Fund 

 



Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Trustees of Putnam Funds Trust and Shareholders of
Putnam Capital Spectrum Fund:

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the fund’s portfolio, of Putnam Capital Spectrum Fund (one of the funds constituting Putnam Funds Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Fund”) as of April 30, 2020, the related statement of operations for the year ended April 30, 2020, the statement of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended April 30, 2020, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended April 30, 2020 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of April 30, 2020, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended April 30, 2020 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended April 30, 2020 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of April 30, 2020 by correspondence with the custodian, transfer agent and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
June 12, 2020

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the Putnam Investments family of mutual funds since at least 1957. We have not been able to determine the specific year we began serving as auditor.

Capital Spectrum Fund 17 

 



The fund’s portfolio 4/30/20

COMMON STOCKS (73.2%)*  Shares  Value 
Aerospace and defense (5.1%)     
General Dynamics Corp.  38,200  $4,989,684 
Northrop Grumman Corp.  44,900  14,847,083 
    19,836,767 
Banking (2.1%)     
Bank of America Corp.  154,000  3,703,700 
Citigroup, Inc.  95,300  4,627,768 
    8,331,468 
Biotechnology (3.0%)     
Ascendis Pharma A/S ADR (Denmark)  †   85,800  11,645,634 
    11,645,634 
Cable television (10.4%)     
DISH Network Corp. Class A    1,627,388  40,709,111 
    40,709,111 
Chemicals (2.6%)     
Dow, Inc. S   106,800  3,918,492 
W.R. Grace & Co.  129,738  6,127,526 
    10,046,018 
Commercial and consumer services (0.6%)     
Booking Holdings, Inc.    1,700  2,516,969 
    2,516,969 
Computers (1.4%)     
Apple, Inc.  18,000  5,288,400 
    5,288,400 
Electronics (1.0%)     
Roper Technologies, Inc.  11,800  4,024,154 
    4,024,154 
Financial (1.1%)     
Apollo Global Management, Inc.  100,700  4,077,343 
    4,077,343 
Health-care services (2.5%)     
Cigna Corp.  50,600  9,906,468 
    9,906,468 
Household furniture and appliances (—%)     
HC Brillant Services GmbH (acquired 8/2/13, cost $351) (Private)     
(Germany)  ∆∆ F   528  434 
    434 
Investment banking/Brokerage (0.1%)     
Altisource Portfolio Solutions SA    50,329  420,247 
    420,247 
Media (1.1%)     
Walt Disney Co. (The)  37,700  4,077,255 
    4,077,255 
Oil and gas (6.9%)     
BP PLC ADR (United Kingdom) S   145,000  3,451,000 
Cenovus Energy, Inc. (Canada)  552,600  2,004,835 
Enterprise Products Partners LP  293,000  5,145,080 
Pioneer Natural Resources Co.  182,300  16,281,213 
    26,882,128 

 

18 Capital Spectrum Fund 

 



COMMON STOCKS (73.2%)* cont.  Shares  Value 
Pharmaceuticals (14.9%)     
AbbVie, Inc.  128,800  $10,587,360 
Jazz Pharmaceuticals PLC    346,473  38,198,648 
Mylan NV    551,900  9,255,363 
    58,041,371 
Real estate (0.4%)     
Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. R   58,400  1,649,216 
    1,649,216 
Retail (6.3%)     
Amazon.com, Inc.  †   5,779  14,297,246 
Home Depot, Inc. (The)  14,200  3,121,586 
Walmart, Inc.  58,800  7,147,140 
    24,565,972 
Software (2.3%)     
Microsoft Corp.  50,100  8,978,421 
    8,978,421 
Technology services (8.9%)     
Alphabet, Inc. Class C    17,800  24,006,148 
Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.  82,100  10,828,169 
    34,834,317 
Telecommunications (2.5%)     
EchoStar Corp. Class A    308,263  9,725,698 
    9,725,698 
Total common stocks (cost $249,809,588)    $285,557,391 
 
INVESTMENT COMPANIES (5.6%)*  Shares  Value 
VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF S   673,400  $21,723,884 
Total investment companies (cost $15,396,928)    $21,723,884 
 
U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY  Principal   
MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS (4.6%)*  amount  Value 
Federal National Mortgage Association Pass-Through Certificates     
4.50%, 2/1/49  $4,160,726  $4,627,883 
4.00%, 7/1/48  4,248,333  4,681,043 
3.00%, 3/1/47  7,818,938  8,471,435 
Total U.S. government agency mortgage obligations (cost $16,481,073)    $17,780,361 
 
  Principal   
CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (3.3%)*  amount  Value 
Bausch Health Cos., Inc. 144A company guaranty sr. unsub. notes     
7.00%, 3/15/24  $2,000,000  $2,056,700 
CCO Holdings, LLC/CCO Holdings Capital Corp. 144A sr. unsec.     
unsub. notes 5.125%, 5/1/23  2,000,000  2,025,620 
Cinemark USA, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. sub. notes     
4.875%, 6/1/23  2,000,000  1,680,000 
Golden Nugget, Inc. 144A sr. unsec. notes 6.75%, 10/15/24  2,000,000  1,560,000 
Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec.     
unsub. notes 4.875%, 11/1/26  2,000,000  2,010,000 

 

Capital Spectrum Fund 19 

 



  Principal   
CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (3.3%)* cont.  amount  Value 
Level 3 Financing, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes     
5.625%, 2/1/23  $1,348,000  $1,350,049 
Syngenta Finance NV 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub.     
notes 4.892%, 4/24/25 (Switzerland)  2,000,000  2,017,935 
Total corporate bonds and notes (cost $13,335,533)    $12,700,304 
 
PREFERRED STOCKS (2.1%)*  Shares  Value 
Ligado Networks, LLC Ser. A-2, 16.625% sr. pfd. (acquired 12/7/15, cost     
$27,599,994) (Private)  ∆∆ F   2,840,908  $8,000,001 
Total preferred stocks (cost $27,599,994)    $8,000,001 
 
CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCKS (1.5%)*  Shares  Value 
Altisource Asset Management Corp. 0.00% cv. pfd. (acquired 3/17/14, cost     
$31,800,000) (Virgin Islands) (Private)  ∆∆ F   31,800  $5,724,000 
Total convertible preferred stocks (cost $31,800,000)    $5,724,000 

 

  Principal amount/   
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (13.4%)*    shares  Value 
Putnam Cash Collateral Pool, LLC 0.40% d   Shares   13,100,725  $13,100,725 
Putnam Short Term Investment Fund 0.64% L   Shares   12,610,485  12,610,485 
U.S. Treasury Bills 1.572%, 5/21/20     $26,500,000  26,498,749 
Total short-term investments (cost $52,188,625)      $52,209,959 
 
TOTAL INVESTMENTS       
Total investments (cost $406,611,741)      $403,695,900 

 

Key to holding’s abbreviations

ADR  American Depository Receipts: represents ownership of foreign securities on deposit with a custodian bank 
ETF  Exchange Traded Fund 

 

Notes to the fund’s portfolio

Unless noted otherwise, the notes to the fund’s portfolio are for the close of the fund’s reporting period, which ran from May 1, 2019 through April 30, 2020 (the reporting period). Within the following notes to the portfolio, references to “Putnam Management” represent Putnam Investment Management, LLC, the fund’s manager, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Putnam Investments, LLC and references to “ASC 820” represent Accounting Standards Codification 820 Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures.

* Percentages indicated are based on net assets of $390,226,048.

This security is non-income-producing.

∆∆ This security is restricted with regard to public resale. The total fair value of this security and any other restricted securities (excluding 144A securities), if any, held at the close of the reporting period was $13,724,435, or 3.5% of net assets.

d Affiliated company. See Notes 1 and 5 to the financial statements regarding securities lending. The rate quoted in the security description is the annualized 7-day yield of the fund at the close of the reporting period.

F This security is valued by Putnam Management at fair value following procedures approved by the Trustees. Securities are classified as Level 3 for ASC 820 based on the securities’ valuation inputs (Note 1).

L Affiliated company (Note 5). The rate quoted in the security description is the annualized 7-day yield of the fund at the close of the reporting period.

R Real Estate Investment Trust.

S Security on loan, in part or in entirety, at the close of the reporting period (Note 1).

20 Capital Spectrum Fund 

 



Unless otherwise noted, the rates quoted in Short-term investments security descriptions represent the weighted average yield to maturity.

Debt obligations are considered secured unless otherwise indicated.

144A after the name of an issuer represents securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers.

The dates shown on debt obligations are the original maturity dates.

ASC 820 establishes a three-level hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements. The valuation hierarchy is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of the fund’s investments. The three levels are defined as follows:

Level 1: Valuations based on quoted prices for identical securities in active markets.

Level 2: Valuations based on quoted prices in markets that are not active or for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly.

Level 3: Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the fund’s net assets as of the close of the reporting period:

      Valuation inputs  
Investments in securities:  Level 1  Level 2  Level 3 
Common stocks*:       
Basic materials  $10,046,018  $—­  $—­ 
Capital goods  19,836,767  —­  —­ 
Communication services  50,434,809  —­  —­ 
Consumer cyclicals  31,160,196  —­  434 
Energy  26,882,128  —­  —­ 
Financials  14,478,274  —­  —­ 
Health care  79,593,473  —­  —­ 
Technology  53,125,292  —­  —­ 
Total common stocks  285,556,957  —­  434 
 
Convertible preferred stocks  —­  —­  5,724,000 
Corporate bonds and notes  —­  12,700,304  —­ 
Investment companies  21,723,884  —­  —­ 
Preferred stocks  —­  —­  8,000,001 
U.S. government agency mortgage obligations  —­  17,780,361  —­ 
Short-term investments  12,610,485  39,599,474  —­ 
Totals by level  $319,891,326  $70,080,139  $13,724,435 

 

* Common stock classifications are presented at the sector level, which may differ from the fund’s portfolio presentation.

Capital Spectrum Fund 21 

 



The following is a reconciliation of Level 3 assets as of the close of the reporting period:

  Change in net           
        unrealized      Total   Total   
  Balance  Accrued  appreciation/    transfers  transfers  Balance 
Investments  as of  discounts/  Realized   (deprecia-  Cost of  Proceeds   into   out of  as of 
in securities:  4/30/19  premiums  gain/(loss)  tion)#  purchases  from sales   Level 3  Level 3  4/30/20 
Common stocks*:                   
Consumer cyclicals  $752  $—­  $(487)  $169  $—­  $—­  $—­  $—­  $434 
Consumer staples  3,704,069  —­  (17,232,801)  13,695,532  —­  (166,800)  —­  —­  —­ 
Total common stocks  $3,704,821  $—­  $(17,233,288)  $13,695,701  $—­  $(166,800)  $—­  $—­  $434 
Convertible preferred                   
stocks  $65,182,823  —­  (5,885,586)  (18,229,806)  —­  (35,343,431)  —­  —­  $5,724,000 
Preferred stocks  $4,829,544  —­  —­  3,170,457  —­  —­  —­  —­  $8,000,001 
Totals  $73,717,188  $—­  $(23,118,874)  $(1,363,648)  $—  $(35,510,231)  $—­  $—­  $13,724,435 

 

* Common stock classifications are presented at the sector level, which may differ from the fund’s portfolio presentation.

Transfers during the reporting period did not represent, in the aggregate, more than 1% of the fund’s net assets measured as of the end of the period.

# Includes $3,170,447 related to Level 3 securities still held at period end. Total change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) for securities (including Level 1 and Level 2) can be found in the Statement of operations.

The table below represents quantitative information on internally priced Level 3 securities that were valued using unobservable inputs. The table excludes securities with valuations provided by a broker.

          Impact to 
        Range of  Valuation from 
    Valuation    unobservable inputs  an Increase 
Description  Fair Value    Techniques  Unobservable Input  (Weighted Average)  in Input1 
    Market       
Private equity  $434  transaction  Liquidity discount  25%  Decrease 
      price       
Private equity  $5,724,000  Redemption  Redemption value  $200/Share  Increase 
      value  Uncertainty discount  10%  Decrease 

 

1 Expected directional change in fair value that would result from an increase in the unobservable input.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

22 Capital Spectrum Fund 

 



Statement of assets and liabilities 4/30/20

ASSETS   
Investment in securities, at value, including $12,241,773 of securities on loan (Note 1):   
Unaffiliated issuers (identified cost $380,900,531)  $377,984,690 
Affiliated issuers (identified cost $25,711,210) (Notes 1 and 5)  25,711,210 
Dividends, interest and other receivables  847,097 
Receivable for shares of the fund sold  96,360 
Receivable for investments sold  691,614 
Receivable from Manager (Note 2)  256,073 
Prepaid assets  54,235 
Total assets  405,641,279 
 
LIABILITIES   
Payable for shares of the fund repurchased  1,158,972 
Payable for custodian fees (Note 2)  17,350 
Payable for investor servicing fees (Note 2)  159,738 
Payable for Trustee compensation and expenses (Note 2)  439,916 
Payable for administrative services (Note 2)  937 
Payable for distribution fees (Note 2)  134,296 
Collateral on securities loaned, at value (Note 1)  13,100,725 
Other accrued expenses  403,297 
Total liabilities  15,415,231 
 
Net assets  $390,226,048 
 
REPRESENTED BY   
Paid-in capital (Unlimited shares authorized) (Note 4)  $276,961,789 
Total distributable earnings (Note 1)  113,264,259 
Total — Representing net assets applicable to capital shares outstanding  $390,226,048 
 
COMPUTATION OF NET ASSET VALUE AND OFFERING PRICE   
Net asset value and redemption price per class A share   
($158,443,157 divided by 7,004,147 shares)  $22.62 
Offering price per class A share (100/94.25 of $22.62)*  $24.00 
Net asset value and offering price per class B share ($15,006,301 divided by 709,654 shares)**  $21.15 
Net asset value and offering price per class C share ($115,633,931 divided by 5,479,039 shares)**  $21.10 
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per class R share   
($2,474,808 divided by 111,810 shares)  $22.13 
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per class Y share   
($98,667,851 divided by 4,287,432 shares)  $23.01 

 

* On single retail sales of less than $50,000. On sales of $50,000 or more the offering price is reduced.

** Redemption price per share is equal to net asset value less any applicable contingent deferred sales charge.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

Capital Spectrum Fund 23 

 



Statement of operations Year ended 4/30/20

INVESTMENT INCOME   
Dividends (net of foreign tax of $13,949)  $3,968,864 
Interest (including interest income of $764,513 from investments in affiliated issuers) (Note 5)  2,247,021 
Securities lending (net of expenses) (Notes 1 and 5)  65,307 
Total investment income  6,281,192 
 
EXPENSES   
Compensation of Manager (net of performance adjustment of $(7,511,792)) (Note 2)  (3,132,011) 
Investor servicing fees (Note 2)  1,359,015 
Custodian fees (Note 2)  13,507 
Trustee compensation and expenses (Note 2)  18,614 
Distribution fees (Note 2)  2,485,292 
Administrative services (Note 2)  15,694 
Dividend expense for short sales (Note 1)  24,222 
Interest expense for short sales (Note 1)  17,262 
Auditing and tax fees  109,925 
Blue sky expense  90,106 
Legal  170,723 
Other  341,218 
Fees waived and reimbursed by Manager (Note 2)  (355,099) 
Total expenses  1,158,468 
Expense reduction (Note 2)  (10,512) 
Net expenses  1,147,956 
 
Net investment income  5,133,236 
 
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS)   
Net realized gain (loss) on:   
Securities from unaffiliated issuers (Notes 1 and 3)  85,467,692 
Foreign currency transactions (Note 1)  (4,878) 
Futures contracts (Note 1)  115,706 
Securities sold short (Note 1)  (535,150) 
Total net realized gain  85,043,370 
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:   
Securities from unaffiliated issuers and TBA sale commitments  (121,016,199) 
Securities sold short  695,270 
Total change in net unrealized depreciation  (120,320,929) 
 
Net loss on investments  (35,277,559) 
 
Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations  $(30,144,323) 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

24 Capital Spectrum Fund 

 



Statement of changes in net assets

DECREASE IN NET ASSETS  Year ended 4/30/20  Year ended 4/30/19 
Operations     
Net investment income  $5,133,236  $2,717,440 
Net realized gain on investments     
and foreign currency transactions  85,043,370  143,240,645 
Change in net unrealized depreciation of investments  (120,320,929)  (274,726,738) 
Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations  (30,144,323)  (128,768,653) 
Distributions to shareholders (Note 1):     
From ordinary income     
Net investment income     
Class A  (2,114,735)   
Class B  (30,068)   
Class C  (129,012)   
Class R  (24,060)   
Class Y  (2,588,399)   
Net realized short-term gain on investments     
Class A  (1,015,353)   
Class B  (106,338)   
Class C  (850,308)   
Class R  (16,613)   
Class Y  (969,813)   
From net realized long-term gain on investments     
Class A  (34,641,042)   
Class B  (3,627,964)   
Class C  (29,010,156)   
Class R  (566,785)   
Class Y  (33,087,355)   
Increase in capital from settlement payments  500,089   
Decrease from capital share transactions (Note 4)  (255,084,967)  (1,308,914,324) 
Decrease in net assets  (393,507,202)  (1,437,682,977) 
 
NET ASSETS     
Beginning of year  783,733,250  2,221,416,227 
End of year  $390,226,048  $783,733,250 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

Capital Spectrum Fund 25 

 



Financial highlights (For a common share outstanding throughout the period)

  INVESTMENT OPERATIONS LESS DISTRIBUTIONS RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
                            Ratio of net   
  Net asset  Net  Net realized      From              Ratio of  investment   
  value,  investment  and unrealized  Total from  From  net realized      Non-recurring  Net asset  Total return  Net assets,  expenses  income (loss)   
  beginning  income  gain (loss) on  investment  net investment  gain on  From  Total  reimburse-­  value, end  at net asset  end of period  to average  to average  Portfolio 
Period ended­  of period­  (loss)a  investments­  operations­  income­  investments­  return of capital­  distributions  ments­  of period­  value (%)b  (in thousands)  net assets (%)c  net assets (%)  turnover (%) 
Class A                               
April 30, 2020­  $29.46­  .28­  (1.75)  (1.47)  (.30)  (5.09)  —­  (5.39)  .02­g  $22.62­  (6.56)  $158,443­  .03­d,f  1.02­f  88­ 
April 30, 2019  32.19­  .09­  (2.82)  (2.73)  —­  —­  —­  —­  —­  29.46­  (8.48)  241,422­  .29­d  .26­  35­ 
April 30, 2018  36.82­  .01­  (4.64)  (4.63)  —­  —­  —­  —­  —­  32.19­  (12.57)  469,195­  .65­  .02­   
April 30, 2017  32.22­  (.07)  5.92­  5.85­  —­  (1.24)  (.01)  (1.25)  —­  36.82­  18.59­  846,487­  .96­d  (.21)   
April 30, 2016  38.02­  (.18)  (3.68)  (3.86)  —­e  (1.94)  —­  (1.94)  —­  32.22­  (10.40)  1,775,054­  1.35­d,f  (.50)f  31­ 
Class B                               
April 30, 2020­  $27.83­  .07­  (1.64)  (1.57)  (.04)  (5.09)  —­  (5.13)  .02­g  $21.15­  (7.29)  $15,006­  .78­d,f  .26­f  88­ 
April 30, 2019  30.62­  (.14)  (2.65)  (2.79)  —­  —­  —­  —­  —­  27.83­  (9.11)  26,429­  1.04­d  (.48)  35­ 
April 30, 2018  35.30­  (.24)  (4.44)  (4.68)  —­  —­  —­  —­  —­  30.62­  (13.26)  48,451­  1.40­  (.73)   
April 30, 2017  31.17­  (.31)  5.69­  5.38­  —­  (1.24)  (.01)  (1.25)  —­  35.30­  17.69­  79,363­  1.71­d  (.98)   
April 30, 2016  37.12­  (.43)  (3.58)  (4.01)  —­  (1.94)  —­  (1.94)  —­  31.17­  (11.07)  86,196­  2.10­d,f  (1.27)f  31­ 
Class C                               
April 30, 2020­  $27.76­  .07­  (1.64)  (1.57)  (.02)  (5.09)  —­  (5.11)  .02­g  $21.10­  (7.31)  $115,634­  .78­d,f  .25­f  88­ 
April 30, 2019  30.55­  (.14)  (2.65)  (2.79)  —­  —­  —­  —­  —­  27.76­  (9.13)  225,708­  1.04­d  (.48)  35­ 
April 30, 2018  35.22­  (.25)  (4.42)  (4.67)  —­  —­  —­  —­  —­  30.55­  (13.26)  509,245­  1.40­  (.73)   
April 30, 2017  31.10­  (.31)  5.68­  5.37­  —­  (1.24)  (.01)  (1.25)  —­  35.22­  17.70­  964,705­  1.71­d  (.97)   
April 30, 2016  37.04­  (.42)  (3.58)  (4.00)  —­  (1.94)  —­  (1.94)  —­  31.10­  (11.07)  1,383,733­  2.10­d,f  (1.26)f  31­ 
Class R                               
April 30, 2020­  $28.92­  .20­  (1.71)  (1.51)  (.21)  (5.09)  —­  (5.30)  .02­g  $22.13­  (6.82)  $2,475­  .28­d,f  .76­f  88­ 
April 30, 2019  31.67­  .01­  (2.76)  (2.75)  —­  —­  —­  —­  —­  28.92­  (8.68)  4,390­  .54­d  .01­  35­ 
April 30, 2018  36.33­  (.08)  (4.58)  (4.66)  —­  —­  —­  —­  —­  31.67­  (12.83)  7,326­  .90­  (.23)   
April 30, 2017  31.88­  (.16)  5.86­  5.70­  —­  (1.24)  (.01)  (1.25)  —­  36.33­  18.31­  12,106­  1.21­d  (.48)   
April 30, 2016  37.73­  (.26)  (3.65)  (3.91)  —­  (1.94)  —­  (1.94)  —­  31.88­  (10.62)  13,765­  1.60­d,f  (.76)f  31­ 
Class Y                               
April 30, 2020­  $29.90­  .35­  (1.78)  (1.43)  (.39)  (5.09)  —­  (5.48)  .02­g  $23.01­  (6.36)  $98,668­  (.22)d,f  1.23­f  88­ 
April 30, 2019  32.58­  .17­  (2.85)  (2.68)  —­  —­  —­  —­  —­  29.90­  (8.23)  282,055­  .04­d  .54­  35­ 
April 30, 2018  37.18­  .10­  (4.70)  (4.60)  —­  —­  —­  —­  —­  32.58­  (12.37)  1,181,829­  .40­  .27­   
April 30, 2017  32.44­  .01­  5.98­  5.99­  —­  (1.24)  (.01)  (1.25)  —­  37.18­  18.89­  2,084,155­  .71­d  .02­   
April 30, 2016  38.28­  (.09)  (3.70)  (3.79)  (.11)  (1.94)  —­  (2.05)  —­  32.44­  (10.16)  2,788,891­  1.10­d,f  (.24)f  31­ 

 

See notes to financial highlights at the end of this section.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

26 Capital Spectrum Fund  Capital Spectrum Fund 27 

 



Financial highlights cont.

a Per share net investment income (loss) has been determined on the basis of the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period.

b Total return assumes dividend reinvestment and does not reflect the effect of sales charges.

c Includes amounts paid through expense offset and/or brokerage/service arrangements, if any (Note 2). Also excludes acquired fund fees and expenses, if any.

d Includes dividend and interest expense in connection with securities sold short, which amounted to the following amounts as a percentage of average net assets (Note 1):

  Percentage of average net assets 
April 30, 2020  0.01% 
April 30, 2019  0.01 
April 30, 2017  0.04 
April 30, 2016  0.09 

 

e Amount represents less than $0.01 per share.

f Reflects a voluntary waiver of certain fund expenses in effect during the period. As a result of such waiver, the expenses of each class reflect a reduction of the following amounts:

  Percentage of average net assets 
April 30, 2020  0.06% 
April 30, 2016  <0.01 

 

g Reflects a non-recurring reimbursement pursuant to a settlement which amounted to $0.02 per share outstanding on November 22, 2019.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

28 Capital Spectrum Fund 

 



Notes to financial statements 4/30/20

Within the following Notes to financial statements, references to “State Street” represent State Street Bank and Trust Company, references to “the SEC” represent the Securities and Exchange Commission, references to “Putnam Management” represent Putnam Investment Management, LLC, the fund’s manager, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Putnam Investments, LLC and references to “OTC”, if any, represent over-the-counter. Unless otherwise noted, the “reporting period” represents the period from May 1, 2019 through April 30, 2020.

Putnam Capital Spectrum Fund (the fund) is a non-diversified series of Putnam Funds Trust (the Trust), a Massachusetts business trust registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as an open-end management investment company. The goal of the fund is to seek total return. The fund invests in equity and fixed-income securities, including floating and fixed-rate bank loans, high-yield bonds, convertible securities, and both growth and value stocks, of companies of any size that Putnam Management believes have favorable investment potential. The fund is “non-diversified,” which means it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in fewer issuers than a “diversified” fund. Furthermore, the fund has the flexibility to focus its investments in particular types of securities. From time to time the fund may, without limit, emphasize investments in a particular type of security (i.e., in a particular part of the capital structure) at various points during a credit cycle. This may mean that the fund may invest only modestly, or not at all, in fixed-income or equity securities at any given time. In recent years, a significant majority of the fund’s investments have consisted of equity securities. Putnam Management expects the fund to invest in leveraged companies, which employ significant leverage in their capital structure through borrowing from banks or other lenders or through issuing fixed-income, convertible or preferred equity securities, and whose fixed income securities are often rated below-investment-grade (sometimes referred to as “junk bonds”). The fund may also invest in fixed-income securities of other issuers, in securitized debt instruments (such as mortgage- and asset-backed securities), and in companies that are not leveraged. Putnam Management 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, and, among other factors, credit, interest rate and prepayment risks, as well as general market conditions, when deciding whether to buy or sell fixed-income investments. The fund may also engage in short sales of securities and may invest in securities that are purchased in private placements, which are illiquid because they are subject to restrictions on resale.

The fund offers class A, class B, class C, class R and class Y shares. Effective November 25, 2019, all class M shares were converted to class A shares and are no longer available for purchase. Purchases of class B shares are closed to new and existing investors except by exchange from class B shares of another Putnam fund or through dividend and/or capital gains reinvestment. Class A shares are sold with a maximum front-end sales charge of 5.75%. Class A shares generally are not subject to a contingent deferred sales charge and class R and class Y shares are not subject to a contingent deferred sales charge. Prior to November 25, 2019, class M shares were sold with a maximum front-end sales charge of 3.50% and were not subject to a contingent deferred sales charge. Class B shares, which convert to class A shares after approximately eight years, are not subject to a front-end sales charge and are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge if those shares are redeemed within six years of purchase. Class C shares are subject to a one-year 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge and generally convert to class A shares after approximately ten years. Class R shares, which are not available to all investors, are sold at net asset value. The expenses for class A, class B, class C and class R shares may differ based on the distribution fee of each class, which is identified in Note 2. Class Y shares, which are sold at net asset value, are generally subject to the same expenses as class A, class B, class C and class R shares, but do not bear a distribution fee. Class Y shares are not available to all investors.

In the normal course of business, the fund enters into contracts that may include agreements to indemnify another party under given circumstances. The fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be, but have not yet been, made against the fund. However, the fund’s management team expects the risk of material loss to be remote.

The fund has entered into contractual arrangements with an investment adviser, administrator, distributor, shareholder servicing agent and custodian, who each provide services to the fund. Unless expressly stated otherwise, shareholders are not parties to, or intended beneficiaries of these contractual arrangements, and these contractual arrangements are not intended to create any shareholder right to enforce them against the service providers or to seek any remedy under them against the service providers, either directly or on behalf of the fund.

Under the fund’s Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, any claims asserted against or on behalf of the Putnam Funds, including claims against Trustees and Officers, must be brought in state and federal courts located within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Capital Spectrum Fund 29 

 



Note 1: Significant accounting policies

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The preparation of financial statements is in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Subsequent events after the Statement of assets and liabilities date through the date that the financial statements were issued have been evaluated in the preparation of the financial statements.

Investment income, realized and unrealized gains and losses and expenses of the fund are borne pro-rata based on the relative net assets of each class to the total net assets of the fund, except that each class bears expenses unique to that class (including the distribution fees applicable to such classes). Each class votes as a class only with respect to its own distribution plan or other matters on which a class vote is required by law or determined by the Trustees. If the fund were liquidated, shares of each class would receive their pro-rata share of the net assets of the fund. In addition, the Trustees declare separate dividends on each class of shares.

Security valuation Portfolio securities and other investments are valued using policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees. The Trustees have formed a Pricing Committee to oversee the implementation of these procedures and have delegated responsibility for valuing the fund’s assets in accordance with these procedures to Putnam Management. Putnam Management has established an internal Valuation Committee that is responsible for making fair value determinations, evaluating the effectiveness of the pricing policies of the fund and reporting to the Pricing Committee.

Investments (including securities sold short, if any) for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the last reported sales price on their principal exchange, or official closing price for certain markets, and are classified as Level 1 securities under Accounting Standards Codification 820 Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (ASC 820). If no sales are reported, as in the case of some securities that are traded OTC, a security is valued at its last reported bid price (ask price for securities sold short, if any) and is generally categorized as a Level 2 security.

Investments in open-end investment companies (excluding exchange-traded funds), if any, which can be classified as Level 1 or Level 2 securities, are valued based on their net asset value. The net asset value of such investment companies equals the total value of their assets less their liabilities and divided by the number of their outstanding shares.

Market quotations are not considered to be readily available for certain debt obligations (including short-term investments with remaining maturities of 60 days or less) and other investments; such investments are valued on the basis of valuations furnished by an independent pricing service approved by the Trustees or dealers selected by Putnam Management. Such services or dealers determine valuations for normal institutional-size trading units of such securities using methods based on market transactions for comparable securities and various relationships, generally recognized by institutional traders, between securities (which consider such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings). These securities will generally be categorized as Level 2.

Many securities markets and exchanges outside the U.S. close prior to the scheduled close of the New York Stock Exchange and therefore the closing prices for securities in such markets or on such exchanges may not fully reflect events that occur after such close but before the scheduled close of the New York Stock Exchange. Accordingly, on certain days, the fund will fair value certain foreign equity securities taking into account multiple factors including movements in the U.S. securities markets, currency valuations and comparisons to the valuation of American Depository Receipts, exchange-traded funds and futures contracts. The foreign equity securities, which would generally be classified as Level 1 securities, will be transferred to Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy when they are valued at fair value. The number of days on which fair value prices will be used will depend on market activity and it is possible that fair value prices will be used by the fund to a significant extent. Securities quoted in foreign currencies, if any, are translated into U.S. dollars at the current exchange rate.

To the extent a pricing service or dealer is unable to value a security or provides a valuation that Putnam Management does not believe accurately reflects the security’s fair value, the security will be valued at fair value by Putnam Management in accordance with policies and procedures approved by the Trustees. Certain investments, including certain restricted and illiquid securities and derivatives, are also valued at fair value following procedures approved by the Trustees. These valuations consider such factors as significant market or specific security events such as interest rate or credit quality changes, various relationships with other securities, discount rates, U.S. Treasury, U.S. swap and credit yields, index levels, convexity exposures, recovery rates, sales and other multiples and resale restrictions. These securities are classified as Level 2 or as Level 3 depending on the priority of the significant inputs.

30 Capital Spectrum Fund 

 



To assess the continuing appropriateness of fair valuations, the Valuation Committee reviews and affirms the reasonableness of such valuations on a regular basis after considering all relevant information that is reasonably available. Such valuations and procedures are reviewed periodically by the Trustees. Certain securities may be valued on the basis of a price provided by a single source. The fair value of securities is generally determined as the amount that the fund could reasonably expect to realize from an orderly disposition of such securities over a reasonable period of time. By its nature, a fair value price is a good faith estimate of the value of a security in a current sale and does not reflect an actual market price, which may be different by a material amount.

Security transactions and related investment income Security transactions are recorded on the trade date (the date the order to buy or sell is executed). Gains or losses on securities sold are determined on the identified cost basis.

Interest income, net of any applicable withholding taxes and including amortization and accretion of premiums and discounts on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividend income, net of any applicable withholding taxes, is recognized on the ex-dividend date except that certain dividends from foreign securities, if any, are recognized as soon as the fund is informed of the ex-dividend date. Non-cash dividends, if any, are recorded at the fair value of the securities received. Dividends representing a return of capital or capital gains, if any, are reflected as a reduction of cost and/or as a realized gain.

Foreign currency translation The accounting records of the fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. The fair value of foreign securities, currency holdings, and other assets and liabilities is recorded in the books and records of the fund after translation to U.S. dollars based on the exchange rates on that day. The cost of each security is determined using historical exchange rates. Income and withholding taxes are translated at prevailing exchange rates when earned or incurred. The fund does not isolate that portion of realized or unrealized gains or losses resulting from changes in the foreign exchange rate on investments from fluctuations arising from changes in the market prices of the securities. Such gains and losses are included with the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments. Net realized gains and losses on foreign currency transactions represent net realized exchange gains or losses on disposition of foreign currencies, currency gains and losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions and the difference between the amount of investment income and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the fund’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized appreciation and depreciation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities other than investments at the period end, resulting from changes in the exchange rate.

Options contracts The fund uses options contracts to gain exposure to interest rates.

The potential risk to the fund is that the change in value of options contracts may not correspond to the change in value of the hedged instruments. In addition, losses may arise from changes in the value of the underlying instruments if there is an illiquid secondary market for the contracts, if interest or exchange rates move unexpectedly or if the counterparty to the contract is unable to perform. Realized gains and losses on purchased options are included in realized gains and losses on investment securities. If a written call option is exercised, the premium originally received is recorded as an addition to sales proceeds. If a written put option is exercised, the premium originally received is recorded as a reduction to the cost of investments.

Exchange-traded options are valued at the last sale price or, if no sales are reported, the last bid price for purchased options and the last ask price for written options. OTC traded options are valued using prices supplied by dealers.

Options on swaps are similar to options on securities except that the premium paid or received is to buy or grant the right to enter into a previously agreed upon interest rate or credit default contract. Forward premium swap option contracts include premiums that have extended settlement dates. The delayed settlement of the premiums is factored into the daily valuation of the option contracts. In the case of interest rate cap and floor contracts, in return for a premium, ongoing payments between two parties are based on interest rates exceeding a specified rate, in the case of a cap contract, or falling below a specified rate in the case of a floor contract.

Written option contracts outstanding at period end, if any, are listed after the fund’s portfolio.

Futures contracts The fund uses futures contracts to manage exposure to market risk.

The potential risk to the fund is that the change in value of futures contracts may not correspond to the change in value of the hedged instruments. In addition, losses may arise from changes in the value of the underlying instruments, if there is an illiquid secondary market for the contracts, if interest or exchange rates move unexpectedly or if the counterparty to the contract is unable to perform. With futures, there is minimal counterparty credit risk

Capital Spectrum Fund 31 

 



to the fund since futures are exchange traded and the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange traded futures, guarantees the futures against default. Risks may exceed amounts recognized on the Statement of assets and liabilities. When the contract is closed, the fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.

Futures contracts are valued at the quoted daily settlement prices established by the exchange on which they trade. The fund and the broker agree to exchange an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in the value of the futures contract. Such receipts or payments are known as “variation margin.”

Futures contracts outstanding at period end, if any, are listed after the fund’s portfolio.

TBA commitments The fund may enter into TBA (to be announced) commitments to purchase securities for a fixed unit price at a future date beyond customary settlement time. Although the unit price and par amount have been established, the actual securities have not been specified. However, it is anticipated that the amount of the commitments will not significantly differ from the principal amount. The fund holds, and maintains until settlement date, cash or high-grade debt obligations in an amount sufficient to meet the purchase price, or the fund may enter into offsetting contracts for the forward sale of other securities it owns. Income on the securities will not be earned until settlement date.

The fund may also enter into TBA sale commitments to hedge its portfolio positions, to sell mortgage-backed securities it owns under delayed delivery arrangements or to take a short position in mortgage-backed securities. Proceeds of TBA sale commitments are not received until the contractual settlement date. During the time a TBA sale commitment is outstanding, either equivalent deliverable securities or an offsetting TBA purchase commitment deliverable on or before the sale commitment date are held as “cover” for the transaction, or other liquid assets in an amount equal to the notional value of the TBA sale commitment are segregated. If the TBA sale commitment is closed through the acquisition of an offsetting TBA purchase commitment, the fund realizes a gain or loss. If the fund delivers securities under the commitment, the fund realizes a gain or a loss from the sale of the securities based upon the unit price established at the date the commitment was entered into.

TBA commitments, which are accounted for as purchase and sale transactions, may be considered securities themselves, and involve a risk of loss due to changes in the value of the security prior to the settlement date as well as the risk that the counterparty to the transaction will not perform its obligations. Counterparty risk is mitigated by having a master agreement between the fund and the counterparty.

Unsettled TBA commitments are valued at their fair value according to the procedures described under “Security valuation” above. The contract is marked to market daily and the change in fair value is recorded by the fund as an unrealized gain or loss. Based on market circumstances, Putnam Management will determine whether to take delivery of the underlying securities or to dispose of the TBA commitments prior to settlement.

TBA purchase commitments outstanding at period end, if any, are listed within the fund’s portfolio and TBA sale commitments outstanding at period end, if any, are listed after the fund’s portfolio.

Master agreements The fund is a party to ISDA (International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc.) Master Agreements (Master Agreements) with certain counterparties that govern OTC derivative and foreign exchange contracts entered into from time to time. The Master Agreements may contain provisions regarding, among other things, the parties’ general obligations, representations, agreements, collateral requirements, events of default and early termination. With respect to certain counterparties, in accordance with the terms of the Master Agreements, collateral posted to the fund is held in a segregated account by the fund’s custodian and, with respect to those amounts which can be sold or repledged, is presented in the fund’s portfolio.

Collateral pledged by the fund is segregated by the fund’s custodian and identified in the fund’s portfolio. Collateral can be in the form of cash or debt securities issued by the U.S. Government or related agencies or other securities as agreed to by the fund and the applicable counterparty. Collateral requirements are determined based on the fund’s net position with each counterparty.

Termination events applicable to the fund may occur upon a decline in the fund’s net assets below a specified threshold over a certain period of time. Termination events applicable to counterparties may occur upon a decline in the counterparty’s long-term and short-term credit ratings below a specified level. In each case, upon occurrence, the other party may elect to terminate early and cause settlement of all derivative and foreign exchange contracts outstanding, including the payment of any losses and costs resulting from such early

32 Capital Spectrum Fund 

 



termination, as reasonably determined by the terminating party. Any decision by one or more of the fund’s counterparties to elect early termination could impact the fund’s future derivative activity.

As of April 30, 2020, due to a decrease in the fund’s net asset value during the year, such counterparties were entitled to elect, but had not yet elected, to terminate early, and cause settlement of all outstanding derivative and foreign exchange contracts outstanding under the applicable Master Agreements, including the payment by the fund of any losses and costs resulting from such early termination, as reasonably determined by such counterparty. At the close of the reporting period, the fund did not have a net asset position or a net liability position on derivative contracts subject to the Master Agreements.

Short sales of securities The fund may engage in short sales of securities to realize appreciation when a security that the fund does not own declines in value. A short sale is a transaction in which the fund sells a security it does not own to a third party by borrowing the security in anticipation of purchasing the same security at the market price on a later date to close out the borrow and thus the short position. The price the fund pays at the later date may be more or less than the price at which the fund sold the security. If the price of the security sold short increases between the short sale and when the fund closes out the short sale, the fund will incur a loss, which is theoretically unlimited. The fund will realize a gain, which is limited to the price at which the fund sold the security short, if the security declines in value between those dates. Dividends on securities sold short are recorded as dividend expense for short sales in the Statement of operations. While the short position is open, the fund will post cash or liquid assets at least equal in value to the fair value of the securities sold short. The fund will also post collateral representing an additional 2%–5% of the fair value of the securities sold short. This additional collateral may be in the form of a loan from the custodian. Interest related to the loan is included in interest expense for short sales in the Statement of operations. All collateral is marked to market daily. The fund may also be required to pledge on the books of the fund additional assets for the benefit of the security and cash lender. Risk of loss may exceed amounts recognized on the Statement of assets and liabilities. Short positions, if any, are reported at value and listed after the fund’s portfolio.

Securities lending The fund may lend securities, through its agent, to qualified borrowers in order to earn additional income. The loans are collateralized by cash in an amount at least equal to the fair value of the securities loaned. The fair value of securities loaned is determined daily and any additional required collateral is allocated to the fund on the next business day. The remaining maturities of the securities lending transactions are considered overnight and continuous. The risk of borrower default will be borne by the fund’s agent; the fund will bear the risk of loss with respect to the investment of the cash collateral. Income from securities lending, net of expenses, is included in investment income on the Statement of operations. Cash collateral is invested in Putnam Cash Collateral Pool, LLC, a limited liability company managed by an affiliate of Putnam Management. Investments in Putnam Cash Collateral Pool, LLC are valued at its closing net asset value each business day. There are no management fees charged to Putnam Cash Collateral Pool, LLC. At the close of the reporting period, the fund received cash collateral of $13,100,725 and the value of securities loaned amounted to $12,241,773.

Interfund lending The fund, along with other Putnam funds, may participate in an interfund lending program pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC. This program allows the fund to borrow from or lend to other Putnam funds that permit such transactions. Interfund lending transactions are subject to each fund’s investment policies and borrowing and lending limits. Interest earned or paid on the interfund lending transaction will be based on the average of certain current market rates. During the reporting period, the fund did not utilize the program.

Lines of credit The fund participates, along with other Putnam funds, in a $317.5 million unsecured committed line of credit and a $235.5 million unsecured uncommitted line of credit, both provided by State Street. Borrowings may be made for temporary or emergency purposes, including the funding of shareholder redemption requests and trade settlements. Interest is charged to the fund based on the fund’s borrowing at a rate equal to 1.25% plus the higher of (1) the Federal Funds rate and (2) the overnight LIBOR for the committed line of credit and the Federal Funds rate plus 1.30% for the uncommitted line of credit. A closing fee equal to 0.04% of the committed line of credit and 0.04% of the uncommitted line of credit has been paid by the participating funds. In addition, a commitment fee of 0.21% per annum on any unutilized portion of the committed line of credit is allocated to the participating funds based on their relative net assets and paid quarterly. During the reporting period, the fund had no borrowings against these arrangements.

Federal taxes It is the policy of the fund to distribute all of its taxable income within the prescribed time period and otherwise comply with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code),

Capital Spectrum Fund 33 

 



applicable to regulated investment companies. It is also the intention of the fund to distribute an amount sufficient to avoid imposition of any excise tax under Section 4982 of the Code.

The fund is subject to the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification 740 Income Taxes (ASC 740). ASC 740 sets forth a minimum threshold for financial statement recognition of the benefit of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The fund did not have a liability to record for any unrecognized tax benefits in the accompanying financial statements. No provision has been made for federal taxes on income, capital gains or unrealized appreciation on securities held nor for excise tax on income and capital gains. Each of the fund’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remains subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service.

The fund may also be subject to taxes imposed by governments of countries in which it invests. Such taxes are generally based on either income or gains earned or repatriated. The fund accrues and applies such taxes to net investment income, net realized gains and net unrealized gains as income and/or capital gains are earned. In some cases, the fund may be entitled to reclaim all or a portion of such taxes, and such reclaim amounts, if any, are reflected as an asset on the fund’s books. In many cases, however, the fund may not receive such amounts for an extended period of time, depending on the country of investment.

Distributions to shareholders Distributions to shareholders from net investment income are recorded by the fund on the ex-dividend date. Distributions from capital gains, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date and paid at least annually. The amount and character of income and gains to be distributed are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from generally accepted accounting principles. These differences include temporary and/or permanent differences from partnership income and from non-deductible merger expenses. Reclassifications are made to the fund’s capital accounts to reflect income and gains available for distribution (or available capital loss carryovers) under income tax regulations. At the close of the reporting period, the fund reclassified $70,287 to increase undistributed net investment income, $355,100 to decrease paid-in capital and $284,813 to increase accumulated net realized gain.

Tax cost of investments includes adjustments to net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) which may not necessarily be final tax cost basis adjustments, but closely approximate the tax basis unrealized gains and losses that may be realized and distributed to shareholders. The tax basis components of distributable earnings and the federal tax cost as of the close of the reporting period were as follows:

Unrealized appreciation  $69,155,624 
Unrealized depreciation  (44,225,327) 
Net unrealized appreciation  24,930,297 
Undistributed ordinary income  5,095,954 
Undistributed long-term gain  77,709,176 
Undistributed short-term gain  5,528,831 
Cost for federal income tax purposes  $378,765,603 

 

Expenses of the Trust Expenses directly charged or attributable to any fund will be paid from the assets of that fund. Generally, expenses of the Trust will be allocated among and charged to the assets of each fund on a basis that the Trustees deem fair and equitable, which may be based on the relative assets of each fund or the nature of the services performed and relative applicability to each fund.

Note 2: Management fee, administrative services and other transactions

The fund pays Putnam Management a management fee (base fee) (based on the fund’s average net assets and computed and paid monthly) at annual rates that may vary based on the average of the aggregate net assets of all open-end mutual funds sponsored by Putnam Management (excluding net assets of funds that are invested in, or that are invested in by, other Putnam funds to the extent necessary to avoid “double counting” of those assets). Such annual rates may vary as follows:

0.880%  of the first $5 billion,  0.680%  of the next $50 billion, 
0.830%  of the next $5 billion,  0.660%  of the next $50 billion, 
0.780%  of the next $10 billion,  0.650%  of the next $100 billion and 
0.730%  of the next $10 billion,  0.645%  of any excess thereafter. 

 

34 Capital Spectrum Fund 

 



In addition, the monthly management fee consists of the monthly base fee plus or minus a performance adjustment for the month based on the performance of the fund. The performance period is the thirty-six month period then ended. Each month, the performance adjustment rate is multiplied by the fund’s average net assets over the performance period and the result is divided by twelve. The resulting dollar amount is added to, or subtracted from, the base fee for that month. The amount of the increase or decrease is calculated monthly based on a performance adjustment rate that is equal to 0.04 multiplied by the difference between the fund’s annualized performance (measured by the fund’s class A shares) and the annualized performance of a 50/50 blend (balanced daily) of the S&P 500 Index and JPMorgan Developed High Yield Index over the performance period. The maximum annualized performance adjustment rate is +/–0.32%. The monthly base fee is determined based on the fund’s average net assets for the month, while the performance adjustment is determined based on the fund’s average net assets over the thirty-six month performance period. This means it is possible that, if the fund underperforms significantly over the performance period, and the fund’s assets have declined significantly over that period, the negative performance adjustment may exceed the base fee. In this event, Putnam Management would make a payment to the fund. During, the reporting period, the fund’s negative performance adjustment exceeded the base fee by $3,132,011 and consequently Putnam Management made a payment in this amount to the fund.

Because the performance adjustment is based on the fund’s performance relative to its applicable benchmark index, and not its absolute performance, the performance adjustment could increase Putnam Management’s fee even if the fund’s shares lose value during the performance period provided that the fund outperformed its benchmark index, and could decrease Putnam Management’s fee even if the fund’s shares increase in value during the performance period provided that the fund underperformed its benchmark index.

For the reporting period, the management fee represented an effective rate (excluding the impact of any expense waiver in effect) of –0.514% of the fund’s average net assets, which included an effective base fee of 0.719% and a decrease of 1.233% ($7,511,792) based on performance.

Putnam Management has contractually agreed, through August 30, 2020, to waive fees and/or reimburse the fund’s expenses to the extent necessary to limit the cumulative expenses of the fund, exclusive of brokerage, interest, taxes, investment-related expenses, extraordinary expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses and payments under the fund’s investor servicing contract, investment management contract and distribution plans, on a fiscal year-to-date basis to an annual rate of 0.20% of the fund’s average net assets over such fiscal year-to-date period. During the reporting period, the fund’s expenses were not reduced as a result of this limit.

Putnam Management has also voluntarily agreed to reimburse the fund for the legal and accounting expenses, the costs of printing and mailing the prospectus/proxy statement, proxy solicitation costs, and SEC filing fees in connection with its merger into Putnam Focused Equity Fund, which totaled $355,099 (See Note 7).

Putnam Investments Limited (PIL), an affiliate of Putnam Management, is authorized by the Trustees to manage a separate portion of the assets of the fund as determined by Putnam Management from time to time. PIL did not manage any portion of the assets of the fund during the reporting period. If Putnam Management were to engage the services of PIL, Putnam Management would pay a quarterly sub-management fee to PIL for its services at an annual rate of 0.35% of the average net assets of the portion of the fund managed by PIL.

The Putnam Advisory Company, LLC (PAC), an affiliate of Putnam Management, is authorized by the Trustees to manage a separate portion of the assets of the fund, as designated from time to time by Putnam Management or PIL. PAC did not manage any portion of the assets of the fund during the reporting period. If Putnam Management or PIL were to engage the services of PAC, Putnam Management or PIL, as applicable, would pay a quarterly sub-advisory fee to PAC for its services at the annual rate of 0.35% of the average net assets of the portion of the fund’s assets for which PAC is engaged as sub-adviser.

The fund reimburses Putnam Management an allocated amount for the compensation and related expenses of certain officers of the fund and their staff who provide administrative services to the fund. The aggregate amount of all such reimbursements is determined annually by the Trustees.

Custodial functions for the fund’s assets are provided by State Street. Custody fees are based on the fund’s asset level, the number of its security holdings and transaction volumes.

Putnam Investor Services, Inc., an affiliate of Putnam Management, provides investor servicing agent functions to the fund. Putnam Investor Services, Inc. received fees for investor servicing for class A, class B, class C, class M, class R and class Y shares that included (1) a per account fee for each direct and underlying non-defined contribution account (retail account) of the fund; (2) a specified rate of the fund’s assets attributable to defined contribution plan accounts; and (3) a specified rate based on the average net assets in retail accounts. Putnam Investor Services, Inc. has agreed that the aggregate investor servicing fees for each fund’s retail and defined contribution

Capital Spectrum Fund 35 

 



accounts for these share classes will not exceed an annual rate of 0.25% of the fund’s average assets attributable to such accounts. Effective November 25, 2019, the fund converted all of its class M shares to class A shares and class M shares were no longer able to be purchased.

During the reporting period, the expenses for each class of shares related to investor servicing fees were as follows:

Class A  $465,408  Class R  7,503 
Class B  47,046  Class Y  451,830 
Class C  383,013  Total  $1,359,015 
Class M  4,215     

 

The fund has entered into expense offset arrangements with Putnam Investor Services, Inc. and State Street whereby Putnam Investor Services, Inc.’s and State Street’s fees are reduced by credits allowed on cash balances. The fund also reduced expenses through brokerage/service arrangements. For the reporting period, the fund’s expenses were reduced by $5,041 under the expense offset arrangements and by $5,471 under the brokerage/service arrangements.

Each Independent Trustee of the fund receives an annual Trustee fee, of which $293, as a quarterly retainer, has been allocated to the fund, and an additional fee for each Trustees meeting attended. Trustees also are reimbursed for expenses they incur relating to their services as Trustees.

The fund has adopted a Trustee Fee Deferral Plan (the Deferral Plan) which allows the Trustees to defer the receipt of all or a portion of Trustees fees payable on or after July 1, 1995. The deferred fees remain invested in certain Putnam funds until distribution in accordance with the Deferral Plan.

The fund has adopted an unfunded noncontributory defined benefit pension plan (the Pension Plan) covering all Trustees of the fund who have served as a Trustee for at least five years and were first elected prior to 2004. Benefits under the Pension Plan are equal to 50% of the Trustee’s average annual attendance and retainer fees for the three years ended December 31, 2005. The retirement benefit is payable during a Trustee’s lifetime, beginning the year following retirement, for the number of years of service through December 31, 2006. Pension expense for the fund is included in Trustee compensation and expenses in the Statement of operations. Accrued pension liability is included in Payable for Trustee compensation and expenses in the Statement of assets and liabilities. The Trustees have terminated the Pension Plan with respect to any Trustee first elected after 2003.

The fund has adopted distribution plans (the Plans) with respect to the following share classes pursuant to Rule 12b–1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The purpose of the Plans is to compensate Putnam Retail Management Limited Partnership, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Putnam Investments, LLC, for services provided and expenses incurred in distributing shares of the fund. The Plans provide payments by the fund to Putnam Retail Management Limited Partnership at an annual rate of up to the following amounts (Maximum %) of the average net assets attributable to each class. The Trustees have approved payment by the fund at the following annual rate (Approved %) of the average net assets attributable to each class. During the reporting period, the class-specific expenses related to distribution fees were as follows:

  Maximum %  Approved %  Amount 
Class A  0.35%  0.25%  $521,482 
Class B  1.00%  1.00%  211,308 
Class C  1.00%  1.00%  1,721,164 
Class M*  1.00%  0.75%  14,505 
Class R  1.00%  0.50%  16,833 
Total      $2,485,292 

 

* Effective November 25, 2019, the fund converted all of its class M shares to class A shares and class M shares were no longer able to be purchased.

For the reporting period, Putnam Retail Management Limited Partnership, acting as underwriter, received net commissions of $19,150 and $308 from the sale of class A and class M shares, respectively, and received $4,325 and $1,610 in contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of class B and class C shares, respectively.

36 Capital Spectrum Fund 

 



A deferred sales charge of up to 1.00% is assessed on certain redemptions of class A shares. For the reporting period, Putnam Retail Management Limited Partnership, acting as underwriter, received $15 on class A redemptions.

Note 3: Purchases and sales of securities

During the reporting period, the cost of purchases and the proceeds from sales, excluding short-term investments, were as follows:

  Cost of purchases  Proceeds from sales 
Investments in securities, including TBA commitments (Long-term)  $471,881,717  $765,984,492 
U.S. government securities (Long-term)    31,098,633 
Securities sold short  13,480,539  6,719,968 
Total  $485,362,256  $803,803,093 

 

The fund may purchase or sell investments from or to other Putnam funds in the ordinary course of business, which can reduce the fund’s transaction costs, at prices determined in accordance with SEC requirements and policies approved by the Trustees. During the reporting period, purchases or sales of long-term securities from or to other Putnam funds, if any, did not represent more than 5% of the fund’s total cost of purchases and/or total proceeds from sales.

Note 4: Capital shares

At the close of the reporting period, there were an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest authorized. Transactions, including, if applicable, direct exchanges pursuant to share conversions, in capital shares were as follows:

  YEAR ENDED 4/30/20  YEAR ENDED 4/30/19 
Class A  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount 
Shares sold  967,580  $26,972,453  597,769  $18,696,388 
Shares issued in connection with         
reinvestment of distributions  1,375,160  34,379,368     
  2,342,740  61,351,821  597,769  18,696,388 
Shares repurchased  (3,532,312)  (94,639,501)  (6,982,045)  (216,098,656) 
Net decrease  (1,189,572)  $(33,287,680)  (6,384,276)  $(197,402,268) 
 
  YEAR ENDED 4/30/20  YEAR ENDED 4/30/19 
Class B  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount 
Shares sold  8,623  $219,083  6,166  $183,158 
Shares issued in connection with         
reinvestment of distributions  153,876  3,606,860     
  162,499  3,825,943  6,166  183,158 
Shares repurchased  (402,663)  (10,248,238)  (638,477)  (18,513,884) 
Net decrease  (240,164)  $(6,422,295)  (632,311)  $(18,330,726) 
 
  YEAR ENDED 4/30/20  YEAR ENDED 4/30/19 
Class C  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount 
Shares sold  203,356  $4,939,280  223,731  $6,409,567 
Shares issued in connection with         
reinvestment of distributions  1,149,140  26,889,878     
  1,352,496  31,829,158  223,731  6,409,567 
Shares repurchased  (4,003,628)  (102,681,289)  (8,760,940)  (257,251,513) 
Net decrease  (2,651,132)  $(70,852,131)  (8,537,209)  $(250,841,946) 

 

Capital Spectrum Fund 37 

 



  YEAR ENDED 4/30/20*  YEAR ENDED 4/30/19 
Class M  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount 
Shares sold  4,444  $124,487  9,824  $278,454 
Shares issued in connection with         
reinvestment of distributions         
  4,444  124,487  9,824  278,454 
Shares repurchased  (135,817)  (3,979,620)  (50,802)  (1,494,668) 
Net decrease  (131,373)  $(3,855,133)  (40,978)  $(1,216,214) 
 
  YEAR ENDED 4/30/20  YEAR ENDED 4/30/19 
Class R  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount 
Shares sold  15,808  $408,968  23,805  $720,074 
Shares issued in connection with         
reinvestment of distributions  21,654  530,301     
  37,462  939,269  23,805  720,074 
Shares repurchased  (77,449)  (2,087,387)  (103,301)  (3,140,895) 
Net decrease  (39,987)  $(1,148,118)  (79,496)  $(2,420,821) 
 
  YEAR ENDED 4/30/20  YEAR ENDED 4/30/19 
Class Y  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount 
Shares sold  618,817  $17,472,398  2,348,651  $73,960,335 
Shares issued in connection with         
reinvestment of distributions  1,400,352  35,588,216     
  2,019,169  53,060,614  2,348,651  73,960,335 
Shares repurchased  (7,165,401)  (192,580,224)  (29,192,085)  (912,662,684) 
Net decrease  (5,146,232)  $(139,519,610)  (26,843,434)  $(838,702,349) 

 

* Effective November 25, 2019, the Fund converted all of its class M shares to class A shares and class M shares were no longer able to be purchased.

Note 5: Affiliated transactions

Transactions during the reporting period with any company which is under common ownership or control were as follows:

          Shares 
          outstanding 
          and fair 
  Fair value as  Purchase  Sale  Investment  value as 
Name of affiliate  of 4/30/19  cost  proceeds  income  of 4/30/20 
Short-term investments           
Putnam Cash Collateral           
Pool, LLC*  $84,970,385  $351,284,322  $423,153,982  $746,840  $13,100,725 
Putnam Short Term           
Investment Fund**  83,116,487  273,648,657  344,154,659  764,513  12,610,485 
Total Short-term           
investments  $168,086,872  $624,932,979  $767,308,641  $1,511,353  $25,711,210 

 

* No management fees are charged to Putnam Cash Collateral Pool, LLC (Note 1). Investment income shown is included in securities lending income on the Statement of operations. There were no realized or unrealized gains or losses during the period.

** Management fees charged to Putnam Short Term Investment Fund have been waived by Putnam Management. There were no realized or unrealized gains or losses during the period.

38 Capital Spectrum Fund 

 



Note 6: Market, credit and other risks

In the normal course of business, the fund trades financial instruments and enters into financial transactions where risk of potential loss exists due to changes in the market (market risk) or failure of the contracting party to the transaction to perform (credit risk). The fund may be exposed to additional credit risk that an institution or other entity with which the fund has unsettled or open transactions will default. Investments in foreign securities involve certain risks, including those related to economic instability, unfavorable political developments, and currency fluctuations. The fund may invest in higher-yielding, lower-rated bonds that may have a higher rate of default.

On July 27, 2017, the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), which regulates LIBOR, announced a desire to phase out the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021. LIBOR has historically been a common benchmark interest rate index used to make adjustments to variable-rate loans. It is used throughout global banking and financial industries to determine interest rates for a variety of financial instruments and borrowing arrangements. The transition process might lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that currently rely on LIBOR to determine interest rates. It could also lead to a reduction in the value of some LIBOR-based investments and reduce the effectiveness of new hedges placed against existing LIBOR-based investments. While some LIBOR-based instruments may contemplate a scenario where LIBOR is no longer available by providing for an alternative rate-setting methodology, not all may have such provisions and there may be significant uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of any such alternative methodologies. Since the usefulness of LIBOR as a benchmark could deteriorate during the transition period, these effects could occur prior to the end of 2021.

Beginning in January 2020, global financial markets have experienced, and may continue, to experience significant volatility resulting from the spread of a virus known as COVID–19. The outbreak of COVID–19 has resulted in travel and border restrictions, quarantines, supply chain disruptions, lower consumer demand, and general market uncertainty. The effects of COVID–19 have adversely affected, and may continue to adversely affect, the global economy, the economies of certain nations, and individual issuers, all of which may negatively impact the fund’s performance.

Note 7: Actions by the Trustees

The Trustees of the Putnam Funds have approved a proposal to merge the fund into Putnam Focused Equity Fund. The proposed merger requires the approval of the fund’s shareholders. If approved by the fund’s shareholders at a shareholder meeting currently scheduled to be held on July 8, 2020, the merger would be expected to occur on or about July 27, 2020.

Note 8: Summary of derivative activity

The volume of activity for the reporting period for any derivative type that was held during the period is listed below and was based on an average of the holdings at the end of each fiscal quarter:

Purchased swap option contracts (contract amount)  $147,700,000 
Futures contracts (number of contracts)  * 

 

* For the reporting period, there were no holdings at the end of each fiscal quarter and the transactions were considered minimal.

As of the close of the reporting period, the fund did not hold any derivative instruments.

The following is a summary of realized gains or losses of derivative instruments on the Statement of operations for the reporting period (Note 1) (there were no unrealized gains or losses on derivative instruments):

Amount of realized gain or (loss) on derivatives recognized in net gain or (loss) on investments   
Derivatives not accounted for as hedging       
instruments under ASC 815  Options  Futures  Total 
Equity contracts  $—  $115,706  $115,706 
Interest rate contracts  (736,000)    $(736,000) 
Total  $(736,000)  $115,706  $(620,294) 

 

Capital Spectrum Fund 39 

 



Note 9: New accounting pronouncements

In March 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2017–08, Receivables — Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310–20): Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities. The amendments in the ASU shorten the amortization period for certain callable debt securities held at a premium, to be amortized to the earliest call date. The ASU is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. The adoption of these amendments is not material to the financial statements.

40 Capital Spectrum Fund 

 



Federal tax information (Unaudited)

Pursuant to §852 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, the fund hereby designates $87,700,631 as a capital gain dividend with respect to the taxable year ended April 30, 2020, or, if subsequently determined to be different, the net capital gain of such year.

The fund designated 26.96% of ordinary income distributions as qualifying for the dividends received deduction for corporations.

For the reporting period, the fund hereby designates 29.03%, or the maximum amount allowable, of its taxable ordinary income distributions as qualified dividends taxed at the individual net capital gain rates.

For the reporting period, pursuant to §871(k) of the Internal Revenue Code, the fund hereby designates $2,823,778 of distributions paid as qualifying to be taxed as interest-related dividends, and no monies to be taxed as short-term capital gain dividends for nonresident alien shareholders.

The Form 1099 that will be mailed to you in January 2021 will show the tax status of all distributions paid to your account in calendar 2020.

Capital Spectrum Fund 41 

 




42 Capital Spectrum Fund 

 




* Mr. Reynolds is an “interested person” (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940) of the fund and Putnam Investments. He is President and Chief Executive Officer of Putnam Investments, as well as the President of your fund and each of the other Putnam funds.

The address of each Trustee is 100 Federal Street, Boston, MA 02110.

As of April 30, 2020, there were 102 Putnam funds. All Trustees serve as Trustees of all Putnam funds.

Each Trustee serves for an indefinite term, until his or her resignation, retirement at age 75, removal, or death.

Capital Spectrum Fund 43 

 



Officers

In addition to Robert L. Reynolds, the other officers of the fund are shown below:

Robert T. Burns (Born 1961)  Richard T. Kircher (Born 1962) 
Vice President and Chief Legal Officer  Vice President and BSA Compliance Officer 
Since 2011  Since 2019 
General Counsel, Putnam Investments,  Assistant Director, Operational Compliance, Putnam 
Putnam Management, and Putnam Retail Management  Investments and Putnam Retail Management 
 
James F. Clark (Born 1974)  Susan G. Malloy (Born 1957) 
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer  Vice President and Assistant Treasurer 
Since 2016  Since 2007 
Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Risk Officer,  Head of Accounting and Middle Office Services, 
Putnam Investments and Chief Compliance Officer,  Putnam Investments and Putnam Management 
Putnam Management   
Denere P. Poulack (Born 1968) 
Nancy E. Florek (Born 1957)  Assistant Vice President, Assistant Clerk, 
Vice President, Director of Proxy Voting and Corporate  and Assistant Treasurer 
Governance, Assistant Clerk, and Assistant Treasurer  Since 2004 
Since 2000   
Janet C. Smith (Born 1965) 
Michael J. Higgins (Born 1976)  Vice President, Principal Financial Officer, Principal 
Vice President, Treasurer, and Clerk  Accounting Officer, and Assistant Treasurer 
Since 2010  Since 2007 
  Head of Fund Administration Services, 
Jonathan S. Horwitz (Born 1955)  Putnam Investments and Putnam Management 
Executive Vice President, Principal Executive Officer,   
and Compliance Liaison  Mark C. Trenchard (Born 1962) 
Since 2004  Vice President 
  Since 2002 
  Director of Operational Compliance, Putnam 
  Investments and Putnam Retail Management 

 

The principal occupations of the officers for the past five years have been with the employers as shown above, although in some cases they have held different positions with such employers. The address of each officer is 100 Federal Street, Boston, MA 02110.

44 Capital Spectrum Fund 

 



Fund information

Founded over 80 years ago, Putnam Investments was built around the concept that a balance between risk and reward is the hallmark of a well-rounded financial program. We manage funds across income, value, blend, growth, sustainable, asset allocation, absolute return, and global sector categories.

Investment Manager  Trustees  Michael J. Higgins 
Putnam Investment  Kenneth R. Leibler, Chair  Vice President, Treasurer, 
Management, LLC  Liaquat Ahamed  and Clerk 
100 Federal Street  Ravi Akhoury   
Boston, MA 02110  Barbara M. Baumann  Jonathan S. Horwitz 
  Katinka Domotorffy  Executive Vice President, 
Investment Sub-Advisors  Catharine Bond Hill  Principal Executive Officer, 
Putnam Investments Limited  Paul L. Joskow  and Compliance Liaison 
16 St James’s Street  Robert E. Patterson 
London, England SW1A 1ER  George Putnam, III  Richard T. Kircher 
Robert L. Reynolds  Vice President and BSA 
The Putnam Advisory Company, LLC  Manoj P. Singh  Compliance Officer 
100 Federal Street  Mona K. Sutphen   
Boston, MA 02110  Susan G. Malloy 
  Officers  Vice President and 
Marketing Services  Robert L. Reynolds  Assistant Treasurer 
Putnam Retail Management  President   
100 Federal Street  Denere P. Poulack 
Boston, MA 02110  Robert T. Burns  Assistant Vice President, Assistant 
Vice President and  Clerk, and Assistant Treasurer 
Custodian  Chief Legal Officer   
State Street Bank  Janet C. Smith 
and Trust Company  James F. Clark  Vice President, 
Vice President, Chief Compliance  Principal Financial Officer, 
Legal Counsel  Officer, and Chief Risk Officer  Principal Accounting Officer, 
Ropes & Gray LLP  and Assistant Treasurer 
  Nancy E. Florek   
Independent Registered Public  Vice President, Director of  Mark C. Trenchard 
Accounting Firm  Proxy Voting and Corporate  Vice President 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP  Governance, Assistant Clerk,   
and Assistant Treasurer   
   

 

This report is for the information of shareholders of Putnam Capital Spectrum Fund. It may also be used as sales literature when preceded or accompanied by the current prospectus, the most recent copy of Putnam’s Quarterly Performance Summary, and Putnam’s Quarterly Ranking Summary. For more recent performance, please visit putnam.com. Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of a fund, which are described in its prospectus. For this and other information or to request a prospectus or summary prospectus, call 1-800-225-1581 toll free. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing. The fund’s Statement of Additional Information contains additional information about the fund’s Trustees and is available without charge upon request by calling 1-800-225-1581.




Item 2. Code of Ethics:

(a) The fund's principal executive, financial and accounting officers are employees of Putnam Investment Management, LLC, the Fund's investment manager. As such they are subject to a comprehensive Code of Ethics adopted and administered by Putnam Investments which is designed to protect the interests of the firm and its clients. The Fund has adopted a Code of Ethics which incorporates the Code of Ethics of Putnam Investments with respect to all of its officers and Trustees who are employees of Putnam Investment Management, LLC. For this reason, the Fund has not adopted a separate code of ethics governing its principal executive, financial and accounting officers.

(c) In October 2019, the Code of Ethics of Putnam Investments was amended.  The key changes to the Code of Ethics are as follows: (i) Employee notification to the Code of Ethics Officer before acting as a public official for any government entity (ii) Clarifying changes to the Insider Trading provisions and to the rules for trading in securities issued by Great-West Lifeco.

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert:
The Funds' Audit, Compliance and Distributions Committee is comprised solely of Trustees who are “independent” (as such term has been defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in regulations implementing Section 407 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (the “Regulations”)). The Trustees believe that each member of the Audit, Compliance and Distributions Committee also possesses a combination of knowledge and experience with respect to financial accounting matters, as well as other attributes, that qualifies him or her for service on the Committee. In addition, the Trustees have determined that each of Ms. Baumann, Dr. Joskow, and Mr. Singh qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” (as such term has been defined by the Regulations) based on their review of his or her pertinent experience and education; in the case of Dr. Joskow, including his experience serving on the audit committees of several public companies and institutions and his education and experience as an economist who studies companies and industries, routinely using public company financial statements in his research. The SEC has stated, and the funds' amended and restated agreement and Declaration of Trust provides, that the designation or identification of a person as an audit committee financial expert pursuant to this Item 3 of Form N-CSR does not impose on such person any duties, obligations or liability that are greater than the duties, obligations and liability imposed on such person as a member of the Audit, Compliance and Distributions Committee and the Board of Trustees in the absence of such designation or identification

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services:
The following table presents fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for services rendered to the fund by the fund's independent auditor:


Fiscal year ended Audit Fees Audit-Related Fees Tax Fees All Other Fees

April 30, 2020 $87,926 $6,667* $10,315 $ —
April 30, 2019 $151,041 $ — $12,815 $ —


*   Fees billed to the fund for services relating to a fund merger.

For the fiscal years ended April 30, 2020 and April 30, 2019, the fund's independent auditor billed aggregate non-audit fees in the amounts of $300,698 and $559,799 respectively, to the fund, Putnam Management and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with Putnam Management that provides ongoing services to the fund.

Audit Fees represent fees billed for the fund's last two fiscal years relating to the audit and review of the financial statements included in annual reports and registration statements, and other services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.

Audit-Related Fees represent fees billed in the fund's last two fiscal years for services traditionally performed by the fund's auditor, including accounting consultation for proposed transactions or concerning financial accounting and reporting standards and other audit or attest services not required by statute or regulation.

Tax Fees represent fees billed in the fund's last two fiscal years for tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice services. Tax planning and tax advice services include assistance with tax audits, employee benefit plans and requests for rulings or technical advice from taxing authorities.

Pre-Approval Policies of the Audit, Compliance and Distributions Committee. The Audit, Compliance and Distributions Committee of the Putnam funds has determined that, as a matter of policy, all work performed for the funds by the funds' independent auditors will be pre-approved by the Committee itself and thus will generally not be subject to pre-approval procedures.

The Audit, Compliance and Distributions Committee also has adopted a policy to pre-approve the engagement by Putnam Management and certain of its affiliates of the funds' independent auditors, even in circumstances where pre-approval is not required by applicable law. Any such requests by Putnam Management or certain of its affiliates are typically submitted in writing to the Committee and explain, among other things, the nature of the proposed engagement, the estimated fees, and why this work should be performed by that particular audit firm as opposed to another one. In reviewing such requests, the Committee considers, among other things, whether the provision of such services by the audit firm are compatible with the independence of the audit firm.

The following table presents fees billed by the fund's independent auditor for services required to be approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2–01 of Regulation S-X.


Fiscal year ended Audit-Related Fees Tax Fees All Other Fees Total Non-Audit Fees

April 30, 2020 $ — $283,716 $ — $ —
April 30, 2019 $ — $546,984 $ — $ —

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants
Not applicable

Item 6. Schedule of Investments:
The registrant's schedule of investments in unaffiliated issuers is included in the report to shareholders in Item 1 above.

Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures For Closed-End Management Investment Companies:
Not applicable

Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Investment Companies
Not Applicable

Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Companies and Affiliated Purchasers:
Not applicable

Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders:
Not applicable

Item 11. Controls and Procedures:

(a) The registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded, based on their evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 180 days of the filing date of this report, that the design and operation of such procedures are generally effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the registrant in this report is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission's rules and forms.

(b) Changes in internal control over financial reporting: Not applicable

Item 12. Disclosures of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies:
Not Applicable

Item 13. Exhibits:

(a)(1) The Code of Ethics of The Putnam Funds, which incorporates the Code of Ethics of Putnam Investments, is filed herewith.

(a)(2) Separate certifications for the principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the registrant as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, are filed herewith.

(b) The certifications required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, are filed herewith.

SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Putnam Funds Trust
By (Signature and Title):
/s/ Janet C. Smith
Janet C. Smith
Principal Accounting Officer

Date: June 24, 2020
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

By (Signature and Title):
/s/ Jonathan S. Horwitz
Jonathan S. Horwitz
Principal Executive Officer

Date: June 24, 2020
By (Signature and Title):
/s/ Janet C. Smith
Janet C. Smith
Principal Financial Officer

Date: June 24, 2020