Form 485BPOS PUTNAM CONVERTIBLE SECUR

February 23, 2022 11:07 AM EST

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

 

We hereby consent to the use in this Registration Statement on Form N-1A of our report dated December 9, 2021, relating to the financial statements and financial highlights of Putnam Convertible Securities Fund, which appears in such Registration Statement. We also consent to the references to us under the headings "Financial highlights" and "Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and Financial Statements" in such Registration Statement.

 

 

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 22, 2022

PUTNAM FUNDS
SUB-MANAGEMENT CONTRACT

This Sub-Management Contract is dated as of February 27, 2014 between PUTNAM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Manager”) and PUTNAM INVESTMENTS LIMITED, a company organized under the laws of England and Wales (the “Sub-Manager”).

WHEREAS, the Manager is the investment manager of each of the investment companies registered under the United States Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, that are identified on Schedule A hereto, as it may from time to time be amended by the Manager (the “Funds”), and a registered investment adviser under the United States Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended;

WHEREAS, the Sub-Manager is licensed as an investment manager by the Financial Conduct Authority of the United Kingdom (the “FCA”); and

WHEREAS, the Manager desires to engage the Sub-Manager from time to time to manage a portion of certain of the Funds:

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, it is agreed as follows:

1.SERVICES TO BE RENDERED BY SUB-MANAGER.

(a)               The Sub-Manager, at its expense, will furnish continuously an investment program for that portion of any Fund the management of which is allocated from time to time by the Manager to the Sub-Manager (an “Allocated Sleeve”). The Manager shall, in its sole discretion, determine which Funds will have an Allocated Sleeve and the amount of assets allocated from time to time to each such Allocated Sleeve; provided that, with respect to any Fund, the Trustees of such Fund must have approved the use of the Sub-Manager prior to the creation of an Allocated Sleeve for such Fund. The Sub-Manager will determine what investments shall be purchased, held, sold or exchanged by any Allocated Sleeve and what portion, if any, of the assets of the Allocated Sleeve shall be held uninvested and shall, on behalf of the Fund, make changes in the Fund’s investments held in such Allocated Sleeve.

(b)               The Manager may also, at its discretion, request the Sub-Manager to provide assistance with purchasing and selling securities for any Fund, including the placement of orders with broker-dealers selected in accordance with Section 1(d), even if the Manager has not established an Allocated Sleeve for such Fund.

(c)               The Sub-Manager at its expense will furnish all necessary investment and management facilities, including salaries of personnel, required for it to execute its duties faithfully.

(d)               The Sub-Manager shall place all orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio investments for any Allocated Sleeve with brokers or dealers selected by the Sub-Manager. In the selection of such brokers or dealers and the placing of such orders, the Sub-Manager shall use its best efforts to obtain for the related Fund the most favorable price and execution available, except to

 
 

the extent it may be permitted to pay higher brokerage commissions for brokerage and research services as described below. In using its best efforts to obtain for the Fund the most favorable price and execution available, the Sub-Manager, bearing in mind the Fund’s best interests at all times, shall consider all factors it deems relevant, including by way of illustration, price, the size of the transaction, the nature of the market for the security, the amount of the commission, the timing of the transaction taking into account market prices and trends, the reputation, experience and financial stability of the broker or dealer involved and the quality of service rendered by the broker or dealer in other transactions. Subject to such policies as the Trustees of the Funds may determine, the Sub-Manager shall not be deemed to have acted unlawfully or to have breached any duty created by this Contract or otherwise solely by reason of its having caused a Fund to pay a broker or dealer that provides brokerage and research services to the Manager or the Sub-Manager an amount of commission for effecting a portfolio investment transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction, if the Sub-Manager determines in good faith that such amount of commission was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or its overall responsibilities with respect to the Fund and to other clients of the Manager or the Sub-Manager as to which the Manager or the Sub-Manager exercises investment discretion. The Sub-Manager agrees that in connection with purchases or sales of portfolio investments for any Fund, neither the Sub-Manager nor any officer, director, employee or agent of the Sub-Manager shall act as a principal or receive any commission other than as provided in Section 3.

(e)               The Sub-Manager shall not be obligated to pay any expenses of or for the Manager or any Fund not expressly assumed by the Sub-Manager pursuant to this Section 1.

(f)                In the performance of its duties, the Sub-Manager will comply with the provisions of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws of each applicable Fund and such Fund’s stated investment objectives, policies and restrictions, and will use its best efforts to safeguard and promote the welfare of such Fund and to comply with other policies which the Manager or the Trustees may from time to time determine and shall exercise the same care and diligence expected of the Manager.

2.OTHER AGREEMENTS, ETC.

It is understood that any of the shareholders, Trustees, officers and employees of a Fund may be a shareholder, director, officer or employee of, or be otherwise interested in, the Sub-Manager, and in any person controlled by or under common control with the Sub-Manager, and that the Sub-Manager and any person controlled by or under common control with the Sub-Manager may have an interest in such Fund. It is also understood that the Sub-Manager and any person controlled by or under common control with the Sub-Manager have and may have advisory, management, service or other contracts with other organizations and persons, and may have other interests and business.

3.COMPENSATION.

Except as provided below, the Manager will pay to the Sub-Manager as compensation for the Sub-Manager’s services rendered, a fee, computed and paid quarterly at the annual rate of

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0.35% per annum of average aggregate net asset value of the assets in equity and asset allocation Allocated Sleeves and 0.40% per annum of average aggregate net asset value of the assets in fixed income Allocated Sleeves, except for fixed income Allocated Sleeves in certain fixed income Funds enumerated as follows (with the per annum fee provided in parentheses): Putnam Money Market Liquidity Fund (0.20%), Putnam Government Money Market Fund (0.20%), Putnam Short Term Investment Fund (0.20%), Putnam Money Market Fund (0.25%), Putnam VT Government Money Market Fund (0.25%), Putnam Short Duration Income Fund (0.25%), Putnam Short-Term Municipal Income Fund (0.25%), Putnam American Government Income Fund (0.25%), Putnam Income Fund (0.25%), Putnam U.S. Government Income Trust (0.25%), Putnam VT American Government Income Fund (0.25%), and Putnam VT Income Fund (0.25%).

Such average net asset value shall be determined by taking an average of all of the determinations of such net asset value during a quarter at the close of business on each business day during such quarter while this Contract is in effect. Such fee shall be payable for each quarter within 30 days after the close of such quarter. The Sub-Manager shall look only to the Manager for payment of its fees. No Fund shall have any responsibility for paying any fees due the Sub-Manager.

With respect to each of Putnam High Income Securities Fund, Putnam Master Intermediate Income Trust and Putnam Premier Income Trust, the Manager will pay to the Sub-Manager as compensation for the Sub-Manager’s services rendered, a fee, computed and paid quarterly at the annual rate of 0.40% of Average Weekly Assets in Allocated Sleeves. “Average Weekly Assets” means the average of the weekly determinations of the difference between the total assets of the Fund (including any assets attributable to leverage for investment purposes) attributable to an Allocated Sleeve and the total liabilities of the Fund (excluding liabilities incurred in connection with leverage for investment purposes) attributable to such Allocated Sleeve, determined at the close of the last business day of each week, for each week which ends during the quarter. Such fee shall be payable for each quarter within 30 days after the close of such quarter. As used in this Section 3, “leverage for investment purposes” means any incurrence of indebtedness the proceeds of which are to be invested in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective. For purposes of calculating Average Weekly Assets, liabilities associated with any instruments or transactions used to leverage the Fund’s portfolio for investment purposes (whether or not such instruments or transactions are “covered” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations thereunder, giving effect to any interpretations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and its staff) are not considered liabilities. For purposes of calculating Average Weekly Assets, the total assets of the Fund will be deemed to include (a) any proceeds from the sale or transfer of an asset (the “Underlying Asset”) of the Fund to a counterparty in a reverse repurchase or dollar roll transaction and (b) the value of such Underlying Asset as of the relevant measuring date.

In the event that the Manager’s management fee from any of Putnam High Income Securities Fund, Putnam Master Intermediate Income Trust or Putnam Premier Income Trust is reduced pursuant to the investment management contract between such Fund and the Manager because during any Measurement Period (as defined below) the amount of interest payments and fees with respect to indebtedness or other obligation of the Fund incurred for investment leverage purposes, plus additional expenses attributable to any such leverage for investment purposes, exceeds the portion of the Fund’s net income and net short-term capital gains (but not long-term

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capital gains) accruing during such Measurement Period as a result of the fact that such indebtedness or other obligation was outstanding during the Measurement Period, the fee payable to the Sub-Manager with respect to such Fund shall be reduced in the same proportion as the fee paid to the Manager with respect to such Fund is so reduced. “Measurement Period” shall be any period for which payments of interest or fees (whether designated as such or implied) are payable in connection with any indebtedness or other obligation of the Fund incurred for investment purposes.

If the Sub-Manager shall serve for less than the whole of a quarter, the foregoing compensation shall be prorated.

4.ASSIGNMENT TERMINATES THIS CONTRACT; AMENDMENTS OF THIS CONTRACT.

This Contract shall automatically terminate without the payment of any penalty, in the event of its assignment; and this Contract shall not be amended with respect to any Allocated Sleeve unless such amendment be approved at a meeting by the vote, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, of a majority of the Trustees of the related Fund who are not interested persons of such Fund or of the Manager.

5.EFFECTIVE PERIOD AND TERMINATION OF THIS CONTRACT.

This Contract shall become effective upon its execution, and shall remain in full force and effect continuously thereafter (unless terminated automatically as set forth in Section 4) until terminated as follows:

(a)               Either party hereto or, with respect to any Allocated Sleeve, the related Fund may at any time terminate this Contract by not more than sixty days’ nor less than thirty days’ written notice delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, to the other party, or

(b)               With respect to any Allocated Sleeve, if (i) the Trustees of the related Fund or the shareholders by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of such Fund, and (ii) a majority of the Trustees of such Fund who are not interested persons of such Fund or of the Manager, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, do not specifically approve at least annually the continuance of this Contract, then this Contract shall automatically terminate at the close of business on the anniversary of its execution, or upon the expiration of one year from the effective date of the last such continuance, whichever is later, or

(c)               With respect to any Allocated Sleeve, automatically upon termination of the Manager’s investment management contract with the related Fund.

Action by a Fund under (a) above may be taken either (i) by vote of a majority of its Trustees, or (ii) by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of such Fund.

Termination of this Contract pursuant to this Section 5 will be without the payment of any penalty.

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6.CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.

For the purposes of this Contract, the “affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of a Fund” means the affirmative vote, at a duly called and held meeting of shareholders of such Fund, (a) of the holders of 67% or more of the shares of such Fund present (in person or by proxy) and entitled to vote at such meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of such Fund entitled to vote at such meeting are present in person or by proxy, or (b) of the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of such Fund entitled to vote at such meeting, whichever is less.

For the purposes of this Contract, the terms “affiliated person,” “control,” “interested person” and “assignment” shall have their respective meanings defined in the United States Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules and Regulations thereunder (the “1940 Act”), subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission under said Act; the term “specifically approve at least annually” shall be construed in a manner consistent with the 1940 Act, and the Rules and Regulations thereunder; and the term “brokerage and research services” shall have the meaning given in the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Rules and Regulations thereunder.

7.NON-LIABILITY OF SUB-MANAGER.

In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Sub-Manager, or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder, the Sub-Manager shall not be subject to any liability to the Manager, any Fund or to any shareholder of any Fund, for any act or omission in the course of, or connected with, rendering services hereunder.

8.ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS.

(a)               The Sub-Manager represents that it is regulated by the FCA in the conduct of its investment business. The Sub-Manager has in operation a written procedure in accordance with FCA rules for the effective consideration and proper handling of complaints from customers. Any complaint by the Manager or any Fund should be sent to the Compliance Officer of the Sub-Manager. The Manager and any Fund is also entitled to make any complaints about the Sub-Manager to the Financial Ombudsman Service established by the FCA. The Manager and any Fund may also request a statement describing its rights to compensation in the event of the Sub-Manager’s inability to meet its liabilities.

(b)               The Manager represents that it and each Fund are “Professional Customers” in the meaning of the FCA’s rules.

(c)               Although each Fund is not a party hereto and shall have no responsibility for the Manager’s or the Sub-Manager’s obligations hereunder, each Fund is named as explicit third party beneficiary of the parties’ agreements hereunder.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, PUTNAM INVESTMENTS LIMITED and PUTNAM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC have each caused this instrument to be signed in duplicate on its behalf by an officer duly authorized, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

PUTNAM INVESTMENTS LIMITED

 

  By:

/s/ Simon Davis

Simon Davis

 

 

 

PUTNAM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC

 

  By:

/s/ James P. Pappas

James P. Pappas

Director of Trustee Relations and Authorized Person

     

 

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Schedule A

Effective as of November 8, 2021

Putnam California Tax Exempt Income Fund

Putnam Convertible Securities Fund

Putnam Diversified Income Trust

Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Balanced Fund

Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Conservative Fund

Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Equity Fund

Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Growth Fund

Putnam Dynamic Risk Allocation Fund

Putnam Emerging Markets Equity Fund

Putnam Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund

Putnam Floating Rate Income Fund

Putnam Focused Equity Fund

Putnam Focused International Equity Fund

George Putnam Balanced Fund

Putnam Global Health Care Fund

Putnam Global Income Trust

Putnam Global Technology Fund

Putnam Government Money Market Fund

Putnam Growth Opportunities Fund

Putnam High Yield Fund

Putnam Income Fund

Putnam Income Strategies Portfolio

Putnam Intermediate-Term Municipal Income Fund

Putnam International Capital Opportunities Fund

Putnam International Equity Fund

Putnam International Value Fund

Putnam International Growth Fund

Putnam Large Cap Value Fund

Putnam Managed Municipal Income Trust

Putnam Massachusetts Tax Exempt Income Fund

Putnam Master Intermediate Income Trust

Putnam Minnesota Tax Exempt Income Fund

Putnam Money Market Fund

Putnam Mortgage Opportunities Fund

Putnam Mortgage Recovery Fund

Putnam Mortgage Securities Fund

Putnam Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund

Putnam Multi-Cap Core Fund

Putnam Municipal Opportunities Trust

Putnam New Jersey Tax Exempt Income Fund

Putnam New York Tax Exempt Income Fund

Putnam Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund

Putnam Pennsylvania Tax Exempt Income Fund

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Putnam Premier Income Trust

Putnam Research Fund

Putnam RetirementReady Maturity Fund

Putnam RetirementReady 2065 Fund

Putnam RetirementReady 2060 Fund

Putnam RetirementReady 2055 Fund

Putnam RetirementReady 2050 Fund

Putnam RetirementReady 2045 Fund

Putnam RetirementReady 2040 Fund

Putnam RetirementReady 2035 Fund

Putnam RetirementReady 2030 Fund

Putnam RetirementReady 2025 Fund

Putnam Retirement Advantage Maturity Fund

Putnam Retirement Advantage 2065 Fund

Putnam Retirement Advantage 2060 Fund

Putnam Retirement Advantage 2055 Fund

Putnam Retirement Advantage 2050 Fund

Putnam Retirement Advantage 2045 Fund

Putnam Retirement Advantage 2040 Fund

Putnam Retirement Advantage 2035 Fund

Putnam Retirement Advantage 2030 Fund

Putnam Retirement Advantage 2025 Fund

Putnam Short Term Investment Fund

Putnam Short-Term Municipal Income Fund

Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund

Putnam Small Cap Value Fund

Putnam Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund

Putnam Sustainable Future Fund

Putnam Sustainable Leaders Fund

Putnam Tax Exempt Income Fund

Putnam Tax-Free High Yield Fund

Putnam Ultra Short Duration Income Fund

Putnam VT Diversified Income Fund

Putnam VT Emerging Markets Equity Fund

Putnam VT Focused International Equity Fund

Putnam VT George Putnam Balanced Fund

Putnam VT Global Asset Allocation Fund

Putnam VT Global Health Care Fund

Putnam VT Government Money Market Fund

Putnam VT Growth Opportunities Fund

Putnam VT High Yield Fund

Putnam VT Income Fund

Putnam VT International Equity Fund

Putnam VT International Value Fund

Putnam VT Large Cap Value Fund

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Putnam VT Mortgage Securities Fund

Putnam VT Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund

Putnam VT Multi-Cap Core Fund

Putnam VT Research Fund

Putnam VT Small Cap Growth Fund

Putnam VT Small Cap Value Fund

Putnam VT Sustainable Leaders Fund

Putnam VT Sustainable Future Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

PUTNAM INVESTMENTS LIMITED

     
    /s/ Vivek Gandhi
     
  By: ________________________________________
     
   

Vivek Gandhi

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

PUTNAM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC

 

    /s/ Stephen J. Tate
     
  By: ________________________________________
     
    Stephen J. Tate
    Vice President and Chief Legal Officer

 

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PUTNAM FUNDS
SUB-ADVISORY CONTRACT

This Sub-Advisory Contract is dated as of February 27, 2014 between and among PUTNAM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Manager”), PUTNAM INVESTMENTS LIMITED, a company organized under the laws of England and Wales (“PIL”), and THE PUTNAM ADVISORY COMPANY, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sub-Advisor”).

WHEREAS, the Manager is the investment manager of each of the investment companies registered under the United States Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, that are identified on Schedule A hereto, as they may from time to time be amended by the Manager (the “Funds”), and a registered investment adviser under the United States Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended;

WHEREAS, PIL is a registered investment adviser under the United States Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, is licensed as an investment manager by the Financial Conduct Authority of the United Kingdom (the “FCA”) and is a sub-manager of each of the Funds pursuant to that certain Sub-Management Contract dated as of July 1, 2013 (the “PIL Sub-Management Contract”), between the Manager and PIL whereby the Manager has contracted with PIL for the management of certain portions of each of the Funds (each, a “PIL-Advised Sleeve”);

WHEREAS, the Sub-Advisor is a registered investment adviser under the United States Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and is an investment adviser authorized to provide discretionary investment advice and management in Singapore;

WHEREAS, the Manager and PIL currently engage the Sub-Advisor from time to time to provide discretionary investment management services from the Sub-Advisor’s office in Singapore with respect to a portion of certain of the Funds:

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, it is agreed as follows:

1.                  SERVICES TO BE RENDERED BY SUB-ADVISOR.

(a)               The Sub-Advisor, at its expense, will furnish continuously an investment program for that portion of any Fund identified on Schedule A the management of which is allocated from time to time by the Manager or PIL to the Sub-Advisor (an “Allocated Sleeve”). The Manager or PIL, as the case may be, shall, in its sole discretion, determine which Funds will have an Allocated Sleeve and the amount of assets allocated from time to time to each such Allocated Sleeve; provided that, with respect to any Fund, the Trustees of such Fund must have approved the use of the Sub-Advisor prior to the creation of an Allocated Sleeve for such Fund. The Sub-Advisor will determine what investments shall be purchased, held, sold or exchanged by any Allocated Sleeve and what portion, if any, of the assets of the Allocated Sleeve shall be held uninvested and shall, on behalf of the Fund, make changes in the Fund’s investments held in such Allocated Sleeve.

 
 

(b)               The Manager may, and in the case of a PIL-Advised Sleeve, PIL may, each at its discretion, also request the Sub-Advisor to provide assistance with purchasing and selling securities for any Fund, including the placement of orders with broker-dealers selected in accordance with Section 1(c), even if the Manager or PIL, as the case may be, has not established an Allocated Sleeve for such Fund.

(c)               The Sub-Advisor shall place all orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio investments for any Allocated Sleeve with brokers or dealers selected by the Sub-Advisor. In the selection of such brokers or dealers and the placing of such orders, the Sub-Advisor shall use its best efforts to obtain for the related Fund the most favorable price and execution available, except to the extent it may be permitted to pay higher brokerage commissions for brokerage and research services as described below. In using its best efforts to obtain for the Fund the most favorable price and execution available, the Sub-Advisor, bearing in mind the Fund’s best interests at all times, shall consider all factors it deems relevant, including by way of illustration, price, the size of the transaction, the nature of the market for the security, the amount of the commission, the timing of the transaction taking into account market prices and trends, the reputation, experience and financial stability of the broker or dealer involved and the quality of service rendered by the broker or dealer in other transactions. Subject to such policies as the Trustees of the Funds may determine, the Sub-Advisor shall not be deemed to have acted unlawfully or to have breached any duty created by this Contract or otherwise solely by reason of its having caused a Fund to pay a broker or dealer that provides brokerage and research services to the Manager or, in the case of a PIL-Advised Sleeve, PIL, or the Sub-Advisor an amount of commission for effecting a portfolio investment transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction, if the Sub-Advisor determines in good faith that such amount of commission was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or its overall responsibilities with respect to the Fund and to other clients of the Manager or PIL, as the case may be, or the Sub-Advisor as to which the Manager or PIL, as the case may be, or the Sub-Advisor exercises investment discretion. The Sub-Advisor agrees that in connection with purchases or sales of portfolio investments for any Fund, neither the Sub-Advisor nor any officer, director, employee or agent of the Sub-Advisor shall act as a principal or receive any commission other than as provided in Section 3.

(d)               The Sub-Advisor at its expense will furnish all necessary investment and management facilities, including salaries of personnel, required for it to execute its duties faithfully.

(e)               The Sub-Advisor shall not be obligated to pay any expenses of or for the Manager, PIL or any Fund not expressly assumed by the Sub-Advisor pursuant to this Section 1.

(f)                In the performance of its duties, the Sub-Advisor will comply with the provisions of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws of each applicable Fund and such Fund’s stated investment objectives, policies and restrictions, and will use its best efforts to safeguard and promote the welfare of such Fund and to comply with other policies which the

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Manager, PIL or the Trustees may from time to time determine and shall exercise the same care and diligence expected of the Manager and PIL.

2.                  OTHER AGREEMENTS, ETC.

It is understood that any of the shareholders, Trustees, officers and employees of a Fund may be a shareholder, director, officer or employee of, or be otherwise interested in, the Sub-Advisor, and in any person controlled by or under common control with the Sub-Advisor, and that the Sub-Advisor and any person controlled by or under common control with the Sub-Advisor may have an interest in such Fund. It is also understood that the Sub-Advisor and any person controlled by or under common control with the Sub-Advisor have and may have advisory, management, service or other contracts with other organizations and persons, and may have other interests and business.

3.                  COMPENSATION.

Except as provided below, the Manager or PIL, as the case may be, will pay to the Sub-Advisor as compensation for the Sub-Advisor’s services rendered a fee, computed and paid quarterly at the annual rate of 0.35% per annum of average net asset value of the assets in each Allocated Sleeve of Funds identified on Schedule A.

Such average net asset value shall be determined by taking an average of all of the determinations of such net asset value during a quarter at the close of business on each business day during such quarter while this Contract is in effect. Such fee shall be payable for each quarter within 30 days after the close of such quarter. The Sub-Advisor shall look only to the Manager or PIL, as the case may be, for payment of its fees. No Fund shall have any responsibility for paying any fees due the Sub-Advisor.

If the Sub-Advisor shall serve for less than the whole of a quarter, the foregoing compensation shall be prorated.

4.                  ASSIGNMENT TERMINATES THIS CONTRACT; AMENDMENTS OF THIS CONTRACT.

This Contract shall automatically terminate, without the payment of any penalty, in the event of its assignment; and this Contract shall not be amended with respect to any Allocated Sleeve unless such amendment be approved at a meeting by the vote, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, of a majority of the Trustees of the related Fund who are not interested persons of such Fund or of the Manager.

5.                  EFFECTIVE PERIOD AND TERMINATION OF THIS CONTRACT.

This Contract shall become effective upon its execution, and shall remain in full force and effect continuously thereafter (unless terminated automatically as set forth in Section 4) until terminated as follows:

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(a)               Any party hereto or, with respect to any Allocated Sleeve, the related Fund may at any time terminate this Contract by not more than sixty days’ nor less than thirty days’ written notice delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, to the other parties, or

(b)               With respect to any Allocated Sleeve, if (i) the Trustees of the related Fund or the shareholders by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of such Fund, and (ii) a majority of the Trustees of such Fund who are not interested persons of such Fund or of the Manager, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, do not specifically approve at least annually the continuance of this Contract, then this Contract shall automatically terminate at the close of business on the anniversary of its execution, or upon the expiration of one year from the effective date of the last such continuance, whichever is later, or

(c)               With respect to any Allocated Sleeve, automatically upon termination of the Manager’s investment management contract with the related Fund, or with respect to any Allocated Sleeve for which PIL has contracted with the Sub-Advisor to provide services under this Contract, automatically upon termination of the PIL Sub-Management Contract.

Action by a Fund under (a) above may be taken either (i) by vote of a majority of its Trustees, or (ii) by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of such Fund.

Termination of this Contract pursuant to this Section 5 will be without the payment of any penalty.

6.                  CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.

For the purposes of this Contract, the “affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of a Fund” means the affirmative vote, at a duly called and held meeting of shareholders of such Fund, (a) of the holders of 67% or more of the shares of such Fund present (in person or by proxy) and entitled to vote at such meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of such Fund entitled to vote at such meeting are present in person or by proxy, or (b) of the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of such Fund entitled to vote at such meeting, whichever is less.

For the purposes of this Contract, the terms “affiliated person,” “control,” “interested person” and “assignment” shall have their respective meanings defined in the United States Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules and Regulations thereunder (the “1940 Act”), subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission under said Act; and the term “specifically approve at least annually” shall be construed in a manner consistent with the 1940 Act, and the Rules and Regulations thereunder.

7.                  NON-LIABILITY OF SUB-ADVISOR.

In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Sub-Advisor, or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder, the Sub-Advisor shall

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not be subject to any liability to the Manager, PIL, any Fund or to any shareholder of any Fund, for any act or omission in the course of, or connected with, rendering services hereunder.

8.                  ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS.

(a)               PIL represents that it is regulated by the FCA in the conduct of its investment business. PIL has in operation a written procedure in accordance with FCA rules for the effective consideration and proper handling of complaints from customers. Any complaint by the Manager or any Fund should be sent to the Compliance Officer of PIL. The Manager and any Fund is also entitled to make any complaints about PIL to the Financial Ombudsman Service established by the FCA. The Manager and any Fund may also request a statement describing its rights to compensation in the event of PIL’s inability to meet its liabilities.

(b)               The Manager represents that it and each Fund are “Professional Customers” in the meaning of the FCA’s rules.

(c)               Although each Fund is not a party hereto and shall have no responsibility for the Manager’s, PIL’s or the Sub-Advisor’s obligations hereunder, each Fund is named as explicit third party beneficiary of the parties’ agreements hereunder.

 

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In witness whereof, PUTNAM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC, PUTNAM INVESTMENTS LIMITED and THE PUTNAM ADVISORY COMPANY, LLC have each caused this instrument to be signed on its behalf by an officer duly authorized, all as of the day and year first above written.

PUTNAM INVESTMENTS LIMITED
  By: /s/ Simon Davis
    Simon Davis

 

PUTNAM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC
  By: /s/ James P. Pappas
    James P. Pappas
    Director of Trustee Relations and Authorized
    Person

THE PUTNAM ADVISORY COMPANY, LLC
  By: /s/ James F. Clark
    James F. Clark
    Associate General Counsel

 

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Schedule A

Effective November 8, 2021

 

Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Balanced Fund

Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Conservative Fund

Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Equity Fund

Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Growth Fund

Putnam Emerging Markets Equity Fund

Putnam Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund

Putnam Focused Equity Fund

Putnam Focused International Equity Fund

Putnam Global Health Care Fund

Putnam Global Technology Fund

Putnam International Capital Opportunities Fund

Putnam International Equity Fund

Putnam International Growth Fund

Putnam International Value Fund

Putnam Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund

Putnam Research Fund

Putnam Short Duration Bond Fund

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  PUTNAM INVESTMENTS LIMITED
     
    /s/ Vivek Gandhi
   
  By: ________________________________________
     
   

Vivek Gandhi

Chief Executive Officer

     
  PUTNAM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC
     
    /s/ Stephen J. Tate
     
  By: ________________________________________
     
    Stephen J. Tate
    Vice President and Chief Legal Officer
     
     
  THE PUTNAM ADVISORY COMPANY, LLC
     
    /s/ James F. Clark
     
  By: ________________________________________
   
    James F. Clark
    Assistant Secretary
     
     

 

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EXECUTION COPY

 

Master Custodian Agreement

 

 

This Agreement is made as of January 1, 2007 by and among each management investment company identified on Appendix A hereto, each such investment company acting on its own behalf separately from all of the other investment companies and not jointly or jointly and severally with any of the other investment companies (each such investment company and each management investment company made subject to this Agreement in accordance with Section 21.5 below shall hereinafter be referred to as a “Fund”), and State Street Bank and Trust Company, a Massachusetts trust company (the “Custodian”).

 

Witnesseth:

 

Whereas, each Fund is authorized to issue common stock or shares of beneficial interest (“Shares”), and some Funds are authorized to issue Shares in separate series, with each such series representing interests in a separate portfolio of securities and other assets, as more particularly identified on Appendix A hereto (each such series and each series made subject to this Agreement in accordance with Section 21.6 below shall hereinafter be referred to as a “Portfolio” with respect to that Fund, but for any Fund that does not have any separate series, then any reference to “Portfolio” is a reference to that Fund);

 

Now, Therefore, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

Section 1. Employment of Custodian and Property to be Held by It

 

Each Fund hereby employs the Custodian as a custodian of assets of the Portfolios, including securities which the Fund, on behalf of the applicable Portfolio, desires to be held in places within the United States (“domestic securities”) and securities it desires to be held outside the United States (“foreign securities”). Each Fund, on behalf of its Portfolio(s), agrees to deliver to the Custodian all securities and cash of the Portfolios (other than any securities or cash of the Portfolios held by a futures commission merchant or commodity clearing organization pursuant to Rule 17f-6 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”)), and all payments of income, payments of principal or capital distributions received by it with respect to all securities owned by the Portfolio(s) from time to time, and the cash consideration received by it for such Shares as may be issued or sold from time to time. The Custodian shall not be responsible for any property of a Portfolio held or received by the Portfolio but not delivered to the Custodian or which is delivered out in accordance with Proper Instructions or Special Instructions (as such terms are defined in Section 7 hereof). With respect to uncertificated shares (the “Underlying Shares”) of registered “investment companies” (as defined in Section 3(a)(1) of the 1940 Act) (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the “Underlying Portfolios”), whether in the same “group of investment companies” (as defined in Section 12(d)(1)(G)(ii) of the 1940 Act) or otherwise, the holding of confirmation statements that identify the shares as being recorded in the Custodian’s name on behalf of the Portfolios will be deemed custody for purposes hereof.

 

 
 

Upon receipt of Proper Instructions, the Custodian shall on behalf of the applicable Portfolio(s) from time to time employ as its agent one or more sub-custodians located in the United States, but only in accordance with an applicable vote by the Board of Trustees or the Board of Directors of the Fund (as appropriate, and in each case, the “Board”) on behalf of the applicable Portfolio(s). The Custodian may place and maintain each Fund’s foreign securities with Eligible Foreign Custodians employed by the Custodian and/or Foreign Securities Systems, all as designated in Schedules A and B hereto, but only in accordance with the applicable provisions of Sections 3 and 4 hereof.

 

Section 2. Duties of the Custodian with Respect to Property of the Portfolios to be Held in the United States

 

Section 2.1 Holding Securities. The Custodian shall hold and physically segregate for the account of each Portfolio all non-cash property to be held by it in the United States, including all domestic securities owned by such Portfolio other than (a) securities which are maintained pursuant to Section 2.8 in a clearing agency which acts as a securities depository or in a book-entry system authorized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury (each, a “U.S. Securities System”) and (b) Underlying Shares owned by each Fund on behalf of a Portfolio which are maintained pursuant to Section 2.10 hereof in an account with State Street Bank and Trust Company or such other entity which may from time to time act as a transfer agent for the Underlying Portfolios and with respect to which the Custodian is provided with Proper Instructions (the “Underlying Transfer Agent”).

 

Section 2.2 Delivery of Securities. The Custodian shall release and deliver domestic securities owned by a Portfolio held by the Custodian, whether held by the Custodian, in a U.S. Securities System account of the Custodian or in an account at the Underlying Transfer Agent, only upon receipt of Proper Instructions on behalf of the applicable Portfolio, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, and only in the following cases:

 

1)Upon sale of such securities for the account of the Portfolio and receipt of payment therefor;

 

2)Upon the receipt of payment in connection with any repurchase agreement related to such securities entered into by the Portfolio;

 

3)In the case of a sale effected through a U.S. Securities System, in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.8 hereof;

 

4)To the depository agent in connection with tender or other similar offers for securities of the Portfolio;

 

5)To the issuer thereof or its agent when such securities are called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable; provided that, in any such case, the cash or other consideration is to be delivered to the Custodian;

 

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6)To the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer into the name of the Portfolio or into the name of any nominee or nominees of the Custodian or into the name or nominee name of any agent appointed pursuant to Section 2.7 or into the name or nominee name of any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Section 1; or for exchange for a different number of bonds, certificates or other evidence representing the same aggregate face amount or number of units; provided that, in any such case, the new securities are to be delivered to the Custodian;

 

7)Upon the sale of such securities for the account of the Portfolio, to the broker or its clearing agent, against a receipt, for examination in accordance with “street delivery” custom; provided that in any such case, the Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for any loss arising from the delivery of such securities prior to receiving payment for such securities except as may arise from the Custodian’s own negligence or willful misconduct;

 

8)For exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or readjustment of the securities of the issuer of such securities, or pursuant to provisions for conversion contained in such securities, or pursuant to any deposit agreement; provided that, in any such case, the new securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian;

 

9)In the case of warrants, rights or similar securities, the surrender thereof in the exercise of such warrants, rights or similar securities or the surrender of interim receipts or temporary securities for definitive securities; provided that, in any such case, the new securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian;

 

10)For delivery in connection with any loans of securities made by the Portfolio (a) against receipt of collateral as agreed from time to time by the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, except that in connection with any loans for which collateral is to be credited to the Custodian’s account in the book-entry system authorized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Custodian will not be held liable or responsible for the delivery of securities owned by the Portfolio prior to the receipt of such collateral or (b) to the lending agent, or the lending agent’s custodian, in accordance with written Proper Instructions (which may but need not provide for the receipt by the Custodian of collateral therefor) agreed upon from time to time by the Custodian and the Fund;

 

11)For delivery as security in connection with any borrowing by a Fund on behalf of a Portfolio requiring a pledge of assets by the Fund on behalf of such Portfolio but only against receipt of amounts borrowed;

 

12)For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, the Custodian and a broker-dealer that is both registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and a
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member of The National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the “NASD”), relating to compliance with the rules of The Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange, or of any similar organization or organizations, regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Fund on behalf of a Portfolio;

 

13)For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among a Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, the Custodian, and a futures commission merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange Act, relating to compliance with the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) and/or any contract market, or any similar organization or organizations, regarding account deposits in connection with transactions by the Fund on behalf of a Portfolio;

 

14)Upon the sale or other delivery of such investments, including, without limitation, to one or more (a) additional custodians appointed by the Fund, and communicated to the Custodian from time to time via a writing duly executed by an authorized officer of the Fund, for the purpose of engaging in repurchase agreement transactions(s), (each a “Repo Custodian”), or (b) Special Sub-Custodians, and prior to receipt of payment therefor, as set forth in written Proper Instructions (such delivery in advance of payment, along with payment in advance of delivery made in accordance with Section 2.6(7), as applicable, shall each be referred to herein as a “Free Trade”), provided that such Proper Instructions shall set forth (a) the securities of the Portfolio to be delivered and (b) the person(s) to whom delivery of such securities shall be made;

 

15)Upon receipt of Proper Instructions from the Fund or the Fund’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”) for delivery to such Transfer Agent or to the holders of Shares in connection with payments in kind, as may be described from time to time in the currently effective prospectus and statement of additional information of the Fund related to the Portfolio (the “Prospectus”), in satisfaction of requests by holders of Shares for repurchase or redemption;

 

16)In the case of a sale processed through the Underlying Transfer Agent of Underlying Shares, in accordance with Section 2.10 hereof;

 

17)For delivery as initial or variation margin in connection with futures or options on futures contracts entered into by the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio; and

 

18)For any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions from the Fund on behalf of the applicable Portfolio specifying (a) the securities of the Portfolio to be delivered and (b) the person or persons to whom delivery of such securities shall be made.

 

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Section 2.3 Registration of Securities. Domestic securities held by the Custodian (other than bearer securities) shall be registered by the Custodian in the name of the Portfolio or in the name of any nominee of a Fund on behalf of the Portfolio or in the name of any nominee of the Custodian which nominee shall be assigned exclusively to the Portfolio, unless the Fund has authorized in writing the appointment of a nominee to be used in common with other registered management investment companies having the same investment adviser as the Portfolio, or in the name or nominee name of any agent appointed pursuant to Section 2.7 or in the name or nominee name of any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Section 1. All securities accepted by the Custodian on behalf of the Portfolio under the terms of this Agreement shall be in “street name” or other good delivery form. If, however, a Fund directs the Custodian to maintain securities in “street name”, the Custodian shall utilize its best efforts only to timely collect income due the Fund on such securities and to notify the Fund on a best efforts basis only of relevant corporate actions including, without limitation, pendency of calls, maturities, tender or exchange offers.

 

Section 2.4 Bank Accounts. The Custodian shall open and maintain a separate bank account or accounts in the United States in the name of each Portfolio of each Fund, subject only to draft or order by the Custodian acting pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall hold in such account or accounts, subject to the provisions hereof, all cash received by it from or for the account of the Portfolio, other than cash maintained by the Portfolio in a bank account established and used in accordance with Rule 17f-3 under the 1940 Act. Cash held by the Custodian for a Portfolio may be deposited by it to its credit as Custodian in the banking department of the Custodian or in such other banks or trust companies as it may in its reasonable discretion deem necessary or desirable; provided, however, that every such bank or trust company shall be qualified to act as a custodian under the 1940 Act and that each such bank or trust company and the funds to be deposited therewith shall on behalf of each applicable Portfolio be approved by vote of a majority of the Board. Such cash shall be deposited by the Custodian only in its capacity as Custodian and shall be withdrawable by the Custodian only in that capacity.

 

Section 2.5 Collection of Income. Except with respect to Portfolio property released and delivered pursuant to Section 2.2(14) or purchased and not held pursuant to Section 2.6(7), and subject to the provisions of Section 2.3, the Custodian shall collect on a timely basis all income and other payments with respect to (a) registered domestic securities held hereunder to which each Portfolio shall be entitled either by law or pursuant to custom in the securities business if, on the record date for payment by the issuer, such securities are held hereunder, and (b) bearer domestic securities if, on the date of payment by the issuer, such securities are held by the Custodian or its agent, and, with respect to (a) and (b) above, shall credit such income, on the designated settlement date, as predetermined income, to such Portfolio’s custodian account. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Custodian shall detach and present for payment all coupons and other income items requiring presentation as and when they become due and shall collect interest when due on securities held hereunder. Income due each Portfolio on securities loaned pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.2 (10) shall be the responsibility of the applicable Fund. The Custodian will have no duty or responsibility in connection therewith, other than to provide the Fund with such information or data as may be necessary to assist the Fund in arranging for the timely delivery to the Custodian of the income to which the Portfolio is properly entitled. The Fund, or its duly authorized

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investment manager, shall instruct the Custodian regarding all Fund or investment manager determinations that a portfolio security has been deemed worthless by such Fund.

 

Section 2.6 Payment of Fund Monies. Upon receipt of Proper Instructions on behalf of the applicable Portfolio, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, the Custodian shall pay out monies of a Portfolio in the following cases only:

 

1)Upon the purchase of domestic securities, options, futures contracts or options on futures contracts for the account of the Portfolio but only (a) against the delivery of such securities or evidence of title to such options, futures contracts or options on futures contracts to the Custodian (or any bank, banking firm or trust company doing business in the United States or abroad which is qualified under the 1940 Act to act as a custodian and has been designated by the Custodian as its agent for this purpose) registered in the name of the Portfolio or in the name of a nominee of the Custodian pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof or in proper form for transfer; (b) in the case of a purchase effected through a U.S. Securities System, in accordance with the conditions set forth in Section 2.8 hereof; (c) in the case of a purchase of Underlying Shares, in accordance with the conditions set forth in Section 2.10 hereof; (d) in the case of repurchase agreements entered into between the applicable Fund on behalf of a Portfolio and the Custodian, or another bank, or a broker-dealer which is a member of NASD, (i) against delivery of the securities either in certificate form or through an entry crediting the Custodian’s account at the Federal Reserve Bank with such securities or (ii) against delivery of the receipt evidencing purchase by the Portfolio of securities owned by the Custodian, or another bank, or a broker-dealer which is a member of NASD along with written evidence of the agreement by the Custodian, or another bank, or a broker-dealer which is a member of NASD to repurchase such securities from the Portfolio; or (e) for transfer to a time deposit account of the Fund in any bank, whether domestic or foreign; such transfer may be effected prior to receipt of a confirmation from a broker and/or the applicable bank pursuant to Proper Instructions from the Fund;

 

2)In connection with conversion, exchange or surrender of securities owned by the Portfolio as set forth in Section 2.2 hereof;

 

3)For the redemption or repurchase of Shares issued as set forth in Section 6 hereof;

 

4)For the payment of any expense or liability incurred by the Portfolio, including but not limited to the following payments for the account of the Portfolio: interest, taxes, management, accounting, audit, transfer agent and legal fees, and operating expenses of the Fund whether or not such expenses are to be in whole or part capitalized or treated as deferred expenses;

 

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5)For the payment of any dividends on Shares declared pursuant to the Fund’s articles of incorporation or organization and by-laws or agreement or declaration of trust, as applicable, and Prospectus (collectively, “Governing Documents”);

 

6)For payment of the amount of dividends received in respect of securities sold short;

 

7)Upon the purchase of domestic investments including, without limitation, repurchase agreement transactions involving delivery of Portfolio monies to Repo Custodian(s), and prior to receipt of such investments, as set forth in written Proper Instructions (such payment in advance of delivery, along with delivery in advance of payment made in accordance with Section 2.2(14), as applicable, shall each be referred to herein as a “Free Trade”), provided that such Proper Instructions shall also set forth (a) the amount of such payment and (b) the person(s) to whom such payment is made;

 

8)For payment as initial or variation margin in connection with futures or options on futures contracts entered into by the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio; and

 

9)For any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions from the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio specifying (a) the amount of such payment and (b) the person or persons to whom such payment is to be made.

 

Section 2.7 Appointment of Agents. The Custodian may at any time or times in its discretion appoint (and may at any time remove) one or more of its wholly-owned subsidiaries which is a bank or trust company and which is itself qualified under the 1940 Act to act as a custodian, as its agent to carry out such of the provisions of this Section 2 as the Custodian may from time to time direct; provided, however, that the appointment of any agent shall not relieve the Custodian of its responsibilities or liabilities hereunder. No Underlying Transfer Agent acting as such shall be deemed an agent or sub-custodian of the Custodian for purposes of this Section 2.7 or any other provision of this Agreement.

 

Section 2.8 Deposit of Fund Assets in U.S. Securities Systems. The Custodian may deposit and/or maintain securities owned by a Portfolio in a U.S. Securities System in compliance with the conditions of Rule 17f-4 under the 1940 Act, as amended from time to time.

 

Section 2.9 Segregated Account. The Custodian shall upon receipt of Proper Instructions on behalf of each applicable Portfolio, establish and maintain a segregated account or accounts for and on behalf of each such Portfolio, into which account or accounts may be transferred cash and/or securities, including securities maintained in an account by the Custodian pursuant to Section 2.8 hereof, (a) in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, the Custodian and a broker-dealer registered under the Exchange Act and a member of the NASD (or any futures commission merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange Act), relating to compliance with the rules of The Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange (or the CFTC or any registered contract market), or of

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any similar organization or organizations, regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Portfolio, (b) for purposes of segregating cash or government securities in connection with swap arrangements of the Portfolio, options purchased, sold or written by the Portfolio or commodity futures contracts or options thereon purchased or sold by the Portfolio, (c) for the purposes of compliance by the Portfolio with the procedures required by Investment Company Act Release No. 10666, or any subsequent release of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), or interpretative opinion of the staff of the SEC, relating to the maintenance of segregated accounts by registered investment companies, and (d) for any other purpose in accordance with Proper Instructions.

 

Section 2.10 Deposit of Fund Assets with the Underlying Transfer Agent. Underlying Shares beneficially owned by the Fund, on behalf of a Portfolio, shall be deposited and/or maintained in an account or accounts maintained with an Underlying Transfer Agent and the Custodian’s only responsibilities with respect thereto shall be limited to the following:

 

1)Upon receipt of a confirmation or statement from an Underlying Transfer Agent (copies of which the Custodian will maintain as may be required by Section 11 of this Agreement) that such Underlying Transfer Agent is holding or maintaining Underlying Shares in the name of the Custodian (or a nominee of the Custodian) for the benefit of a Portfolio, the Custodian shall identify by book-entry that such Underlying Shares are being held by it as custodian for the benefit of the Portfolio.

 

2)In respect of the purchase of Underlying Shares for the account of a Portfolio, upon receipt of Proper Instructions, the Custodian shall pay out monies of such Portfolio as so directed, and record such payment from the account of such Portfolio on the Custodian’s books and records.

 

3)In respect of the sale or redemption of Underlying Shares for the account of a Portfolio, upon receipt of Proper Instructions, the Custodian shall transfer such Underlying Shares as so directed, record such transfer from the account of such Portfolio on the Custodian’s books and records and, upon the Custodian’s receipt of the proceeds therefor, record such payment for the account of such Portfolio on the Custodian’s books and records.

 

The Custodian shall not be liable to the Fund for any loss or damage to the Fund or any Portfolio resulting from the maintenance of Underlying Shares with an Underlying Transfer Agent except for losses to the extent resulting from (i) the fraud, negligence, or willful misconduct of the Custodian or any of its agents or of any of its or their employees, (ii) violation of law applicable to the Custodian in its capacity as a custodian and that affects the Custodian’s performance of the Services hereunder, or (iii) material breach of this Agreement by the Custodian (provided, however, that the Custodian shall have the opportunity to cure, within thirty (30) days of its receipt of written notice from the Fund, solely those breaches capable of cure without material adverse impact to the Fund, provided, in each such instance where the Custodian is aware of an event related to such notice, the Custodian had previously informed the Fund promptly of such

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event; any such communication from the Custodian to the Fund shall not be used as or considered as an admission of fault and will be provided solely as an accommodation to the Fund).

 

Section 2.11 Ownership Certificates for Tax Purposes. The Custodian shall execute ownership and other certificates and affidavits for all federal and state tax purposes in connection with receipt of income or other payments with respect to domestic securities of each Portfolio held by it and in connection with transfers of securities.

 

Section 2.12 Proxies. Except with respect to Portfolio property released and delivered pursuant to Section 2.2(14), or purchased and not held pursuant to Section 2.6(7), the Custodian shall, with respect to the domestic securities held hereunder, cause to be promptly executed by the registered holder of such securities, if the securities are registered otherwise than in the name of the Portfolio or a nominee of the Portfolio, all proxies, without indication of the manner in which such proxies are to be voted, and shall promptly deliver to the Fund or its duly authorized agent all proxies, all proxy soliciting materials and all notices relating to such securities.

 

Section 2.13 Communications Relating to Portfolio Securities. Except with respect to Portfolio property released and delivered pursuant to Section 2.2(14), or purchased and not held pursuant to Section 2.6(7), and subject to the provisions of Section 2.3, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the applicable Fund for each Portfolio all written information (including, without limitation, pendency of calls and maturities of domestic securities and expirations of rights in connection therewith and notices of exercise of call and put options written by the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio and the maturity of futures contracts purchased or sold by the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio) received by the Custodian from issuers of the securities being held for the Portfolio. With respect to voluntary corporate actions such as tender or exchange offers, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the applicable Fund all written information received by the Custodian from issuers of the securities whose tender or exchange or other action is sought and from the party (or its agents) making the tender or exchange offer or other action. The Custodian shall also transmit promptly to the applicable Fund for each Portfolio all written information received by the Custodian regarding any class action or other litigation in connection with Portfolio securities or other assets issued in the United States and then held, or previously held, during the term of this Agreement by the Custodian for the account of the Fund for such Portfolio, including, but not limited to, opt-out notices and proof-of-claim forms. The Custodian shall not be liable for any untimely exercise of any tender, exchange or other right or power in connection with domestic securities or other property of the Portfolios at any time held by it unless (i) the Custodian is in actual possession of such domestic securities or property and (ii) the Custodian receives Proper Instructions with regard to the exercise of any such right or power, and both (i) and (ii) occur prior to such deadline established by the Custodian in its reasonable discretion as will give the Custodian sufficient time to take such action, which deadline shall in no event be longer than three (3) business days. The Custodian shall inform the Fund of pertinent deadlines in each case. For avoidance of doubt, upon and after the effective date of any termination of this Agreement, with respect to a Fund or its Portfolio(s), as may be applicable, the Custodian shall have no responsibility to so transmit any information under this Section 2.13.

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Section 3. Provisions Relating to Rules 17f-5 and 17f-7

 

Section 3.1. Definitions. As used throughout this Agreement, the capitalized terms set forth below shall have the indicated meanings:

 

Country Risk” means all factors reasonably related to the systemic risk of holding Foreign Assets in a particular country including, but not limited to, such country’s political environment, economic and financial infrastructure (including any Eligible Securities Depository operating in the country), prevailing or developing custody and settlement practices, and laws and regulations applicable to the safekeeping and recovery of Foreign Assets held in custody in that country.

 

Eligible Foreign Custodian” has the meaning set forth in section (a)(1) of Rule 17f-5, including a majority-owned or indirect subsidiary of a U.S. Bank (as defined in Rule 17f-5), a bank holding company meeting the requirements of an Eligible Foreign Custodian (as set forth in Rule 17f-5 or by other appropriate action of the SEC), or a foreign branch of a Bank (as defined in Section 2(a)(5) of the 1940 Act) meeting the requirements of a custodian under Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act; the term does not include any Eligible Securities Depository.

 

Eligible Securities Depository” has the meaning set forth in section (b)(1) of Rule 17f-7.

 

Foreign Assets” means any of the Portfolios’ investments (including foreign currencies) for which the primary market is outside the United States and such cash and cash equivalents as are reasonably necessary to effect the Portfolios’ transactions in such investments.

 

Foreign Custody Manager” has the meaning set forth in section (a)(3) of Rule 17f-5.

 

Rule 17f-5” means Rule 17f-5 promulgated under the 1940 Act.

 

Rule 17f-7” means Rule 17f-7 promulgated under the 1940 Act.

 

Section 3.2. The Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager.

 

3.2.1       Delegation to the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager. Each Fund, by resolution adopted by its Board, hereby delegates to the Custodian, subject to Section (b) of Rule 17f-5, the responsibilities set forth in this Section 3.2 with respect to Foreign Assets of the Portfolios held outside the United States, and the Custodian hereby accepts such delegation as Foreign Custody Manager with respect to the Portfolios.

 

3.2.2       Countries Covered. The Foreign Custody Manager shall be responsible for performing the delegated responsibilities defined below only with respect to the countries and custody arrangements for each such country listed on Schedule A to this Agreement, which list of countries may be amended from time to time by any Fund with the agreement of the Foreign Custody Manager. The Foreign Custody Manager shall list on Schedule A the Eligible Foreign

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Custodians selected by the Foreign Custody Manager to maintain the assets of the Portfolios, which list of Eligible Foreign Custodians may be amended from time to time in the sole discretion of the Foreign Custody Manager. The Foreign Custody Manager will provide amended versions of Schedule A in accordance with Section 3.2.5 hereof.

 

Upon the receipt by the Foreign Custody Manager of Proper Instructions to open an account or to place or maintain Foreign Assets in a country listed on Schedule A, and the fulfillment by each Fund, on behalf of the applicable Portfolio(s), of the applicable account opening requirements for such country, the Foreign Custody Manager shall be deemed to have been delegated by such Fund’s Board on behalf of such Portfolio(s) responsibility as Foreign Custody Manager with respect to that country and to have accepted such delegation. Execution of this Agreement by each Fund shall be deemed to be a Proper Instruction authorizing the Foreign Custody Manager to open an account, or to place or maintain Foreign Assets, with the Eligible Foreign Custodians identified in each country as listed on Schedule A, as required by each Portfolio from time to time. Following the receipt of Proper Instructions directing the Foreign Custody Manager to close the account of a Portfolio with the Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody Manager in a designated country, the delegation by the Board on behalf of such Portfolio to the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager for that country shall be deemed to have been withdrawn and the Custodian shall immediately cease to be the Foreign Custody Manager with respect to such Portfolio with respect to that country.

 

The Foreign Custody Manager may withdraw its acceptance of delegated responsibilities with respect to a designated country upon written notice to the Fund. Thirty days (or such longer period to which the parties agree in writing) after receipt of any such notice by the Fund, the Custodian shall have no further responsibility in its capacity as Foreign Custody Manager to the Fund with respect to the country as to which the Custodian’s acceptance of delegation is withdrawn.

 

3.2.3        Scope of Delegated Responsibilities:

 

(a)       Selection of Eligible Foreign Custodians. Subject to the provisions of this Section 3.2, the Foreign Custody Manager may place and maintain the Foreign Assets in the care of the Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody Manager for each appropriate country as is listed on Schedule A, as amended from time to time. In performing its delegated responsibilities as Foreign Custody Manager to place or maintain Foreign Assets with an Eligible Foreign Custodian, the Foreign Custody Manager shall determine that the Foreign Assets will be subject to reasonable care, based on the standards applicable to custodians in the relevant market in which the Foreign Assets will be held by that Eligible Foreign Custodian, after considering all factors relevant to the safekeeping of such assets, including, without limitation the factors specified in Rule 17f-5(c)(1).

 

(b)       Contracts With Eligible Foreign Custodians. The Foreign Custody Manager shall determine that the contract governing the foreign custody arrangements with each Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody Manager will satisfy the requirements of Rule 17f-5(c)(2).

 

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(c)       Monitoring. In each case in which the Foreign Custody Manager maintains Foreign Assets with an Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody Manager, the Foreign Custody Manager shall establish a system to monitor (i) the appropriateness of maintaining the Foreign Assets with such Eligible Foreign Custodian and (ii) performance of the contract governing the custody arrangements established by the Foreign Custody Manager with the Eligible Foreign Custodian. In the event the Foreign Custody Manager determines that the custody arrangements with an Eligible Foreign Custodian it has selected are no longer appropriate, the Foreign Custody Manager shall reasonably promptly notify the Board in accordance with Section 3.2.5 hereunder.

 

3.2.4       Guidelines for the Exercise of Delegated Authority. For purposes of this Section 3.2, the Board, or at the Board’s delegation, a Fund’s investment adviser, shall be deemed to have considered and determined to accept, on behalf of the Fund, such Country Risk as is incurred by placing and maintaining the Foreign Assets in each country for which the Custodian is serving as Foreign Custody Manager of the Portfolios.

 

3.2.5       Reporting Requirements. The Foreign Custody Manager shall report the withdrawal of the Foreign Assets from an Eligible Foreign Custodian and the placement of such Foreign Assets with another Eligible Foreign Custodian by providing to the Board an amended Schedule A at the end of each calendar quarter in which an amendment to such Schedule has occurred. The Foreign Custody Manager shall make written reports notifying the Board of any other material change in the foreign custody arrangements of the Portfolios described in this Section 3.2 reasonably promptly after the occurrence of the material change.

 

3.2.6        Standard of Care as Foreign Custody Manager of a Portfolio. In performing the responsibilities delegated to it, the Foreign Custody Manager agrees to exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence such as a person having responsibility for the safekeeping of assets of management investment companies registered under the 1940 Act would exercise.

 

3.2.7       Representations with Respect to Rule 17f-5. The Foreign Custody Manager represents to each Fund that it is a U.S. Bank as defined in section (a)(7) of Rule 17f-5. Each Fund represents to the Custodian that its Board has determined that it is reasonable for such Board to rely on the Custodian to perform the responsibilities delegated pursuant to this Agreement to the Custodian as the Foreign Custody Manager of the Portfolios.

 

3.2.8       Effective Date and Termination of the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager. Each Board’s delegation to the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager of the Portfolios shall be effective as of the date hereof and shall remain in effect until terminated at any time, without penalty, by written notice from the terminating party to the non-terminating party. Termination will become effective thirty (30) days after receipt by the non-terminating party of such notice. The provisions of Section 3.2.2 hereof shall govern the delegation to and termination of the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager of the Portfolios with respect to designated countries.

 

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Section 3.3 Eligible Securities Depositories.

 

3.3.1       Analysis and Monitoring. The Custodian shall (a) provide the Fund (or its duly-authorized investment manager or investment adviser) with an analysis of the custody risks associated with maintaining assets with the Eligible Securities Depositories set forth on Schedule B hereto in accordance with section (a)(1)(i)(A) of Rule 17f-7, and (b) monitor such risks on a continuing basis, and promptly notify the Fund (or its duly-authorized investment manager or investment adviser) of any material change in such risks, in accordance with section (a)(1)(i)(B) of Rule 17f-7.

 

3.3.2       Standard of Care. The Custodian agrees to exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence in performing the duties set forth in Section 3.3.1.

 

Section 4. Duties of the Custodian with Respect to Property of the Portfolios to be Held Outside the United States

 

Section 4.1 Definitions. As used throughout this Agreement, the capitalized terms set forth below shall have the indicated meanings:

 

Foreign Securities System” means an Eligible Securities Depository listed on Schedule B hereto.

 

Foreign Sub-Custodian” means a foreign banking institution serving as an Eligible Foreign Custodian.

 

Section 4.2. Holding Securities. The Custodian shall identify on its books as belonging to the Portfolios the foreign securities held by each Foreign Sub-Custodian or Foreign Securities System. The Custodian may hold foreign securities for all of its customers, including the Portfolios, with any Foreign Sub-Custodian in an account that is identified as belonging to the Custodian for the benefit of its customers, provided however, that (i) the records of the Custodian with respect to foreign securities of the Portfolios which are maintained in such account shall identify those securities as belonging to the Portfolios and (ii), to the extent permitted and customary in the market in which the account is maintained, the Custodian shall require that securities so held by the Foreign Sub-Custodian be held separately from any assets of such Foreign Sub-Custodian or of other customers of such Foreign Sub-Custodian.

 

Section 4.3. Foreign Securities Systems. Foreign securities shall be maintained in a Foreign Securities System in a designated country through arrangements implemented by the Custodian or a Foreign Sub-Custodian, as applicable, in such country.

 

Section 4.4. Transactions in Foreign Custody Account.

 

4.4.1.       Delivery of Foreign Assets. The Custodian or a Foreign Sub-Custodian shall release and deliver foreign securities of the Portfolios held by the Custodian or such Foreign Sub-Custodian, or in a Foreign Securities System account, only upon receipt of Proper Instructions,

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which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, and only in the following cases:

 

(i)Upon the sale of such foreign securities for the Portfolio in accordance with commercially reasonable market practice in the country where such foreign securities are held or traded, including, without limitation: (A) delivery against expectation of receiving later payment; or (B) in the case of a sale effected through a Foreign Securities System, in accordance with the rules governing the operation of the Foreign Securities System;

 

(ii)In connection with any repurchase agreement related to foreign securities;

 

(iii)To the depository agent in connection with tender or other similar offers for foreign securities of the Portfolios;

 

(iv)To the issuer thereof or its agent when such foreign securities are called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable;

 

(v)To the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer into the name of the Custodian (or the name of the respective Foreign Sub-Custodian or of any nominee of the Custodian or such Foreign Sub-Custodian) or for exchange for a different number of bonds, certificates or other evidence representing the same aggregate face amount or number of units;

 

(vi)To brokers, clearing banks or other clearing agents for examination or trade execution in accordance with market custom; provided that in any such case, the Foreign Sub-Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for any loss arising from the delivery of such foreign securities prior to receiving payment for such foreign securities except as may arise from the Foreign Sub-Custodian’s own negligence or willful misconduct;

 

(vii)For exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or readjustment of the securities of the issuer of such securities, or pursuant to provisions for conversion contained in such securities, or pursuant to any deposit agreement;

 

(viii)In the case of warrants, rights or similar foreign securities, the surrender thereof in the exercise of such warrants, rights or similar securities or the surrender of interim receipts or temporary securities for definitive securities;

 

(ix)For delivery as security in connection with any borrowing by a Fund on behalf of a Portfolio requiring a pledge of assets by the Fund on behalf of such Portfolio;

 

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(x)In connection with trading in options and futures contracts, including delivery as original margin and variation margin;

 

(xi)Upon the sale or other delivery of such foreign securities (including, without limitation, to one or more Special Sub-Custodians or Repo Custodians) as a Free Trade, provided that applicable Proper Instructions shall set forth (A) the foreign securities to be delivered and (B) the person or persons to whom delivery shall be made;

 

(xii)In connection with the lending of foreign securities; and

 

(xiii)For any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions specifying (A) the foreign securities to be delivered and (B) the person or persons to whom delivery of such securities shall be made.

 

4.4.2.       Payment of Portfolio Monies. Upon receipt of Proper Instructions, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, the Custodian shall pay out, or direct the respective Foreign Sub-Custodian or the respective Foreign Securities System to pay out, monies of a Portfolio in the following cases only:

 

(i)Upon the purchase of foreign securities for the Portfolio in accordance with commercially reasonable market practice in the country where such foreign securities are held or traded, unless otherwise directed by Proper Instructions, by (A) delivering money to the seller thereof or to a dealer therefor (or an agent for such seller or dealer) against expectation of receiving later delivery of such foreign securities; or (B) in the case of a purchase effected through a Foreign Securities System, in accordance with the rules governing the operation of such Foreign Securities System;

 

(ii)In connection with the conversion, exchange or surrender of foreign securities of the Portfolio;

 

(iii)For the payment of any expense or liability of the Portfolio, including but not limited to the following payments: interest, taxes, investment advisory fees, transfer agency fees, fees under this Agreement, legal fees, audit or accounting fees, and other operating expenses;

 

(iv)For the purchase or sale of foreign exchange or foreign exchange contracts for the Portfolio, including transactions executed with or through the Custodian or its Foreign Sub-Custodians;

 

(v)In connection with trading in options and futures contracts, including delivery as original margin and variation margin;

 

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(vi)Upon the purchase of foreign investments including, without limitation, repurchase agreement transactions involving delivery of Portfolio monies to Repo Custodian(s), as a Free Trade, provided that applicable Proper Instructions shall set forth (A) the amount of such payment and (B) the person or persons to whom payment shall be made;

 

(vii)For payment of part or all of the dividends received in respect of securities sold short;

 

(viii)In connection with the borrowing or lending of foreign securities; and

 

(ix)For any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions specifying (A) the amount of such payment and (B) the person or persons to whom such payment is to be made.

 

4.4.3.       Market Customs. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, settlement and payment for Foreign Assets received for the account of the Portfolios and delivery of Foreign Assets maintained for the account of the Portfolios may be effected in accordance with the customary established securities trading or processing practices and procedures in the country or market in which the transaction occurs, including, without limitation, delivering Foreign Assets to the purchaser thereof or to a dealer therefor (or an agent for such purchaser or dealer) with the expectation of receiving later payment for such Foreign Assets from such purchaser or dealer.

 

The Custodian shall provide to each Board the information with respect to custody and settlement practices in countries in which the Custodian employs a Foreign Sub-Custodian described on Schedule C hereto at the time or times set forth on such Schedule. The Custodian may revise Schedule C from time to time, provided that no such revision shall result in a Board being provided with substantively less information than had been previously provided hereunder.

 

Section 4.5. Registration of Foreign Securities. The foreign securities maintained in the custody of a Foreign Sub-Custodian (other than bearer securities) shall be registered by the Custodian or the Foreign Sub-Custodian in the name of the applicable Portfolio or in the name of the Custodian or in the name of any Foreign Sub-Custodian or in the name of any nominee of the foregoing. The Custodian or a Foreign Sub-Custodian shall not be obligated to accept securities on behalf of a Portfolio under the terms of this Agreement unless the form of such securities and the manner in which they are delivered are in accordance with reasonable market practice.

 

Section 4.6 Bank Accounts. The Custodian shall identify on its books as belonging to the applicable Fund on behalf of a Portfolio cash (including cash denominated in foreign currencies) deposited with the Custodian. Cash maintained on the books of the Custodian (including its branches, subsidiaries and affiliates), regardless of currency denomination, is maintained in bank accounts established under, and subject to the laws of, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Where the Custodian is unable to maintain, or market practice does not readily allow the

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maintenance of, cash on the books of the Custodian, a bank account or bank accounts shall be opened and maintained outside the United States on behalf of the Portfolio with a Foreign Sub-Custodian. All accounts referred to in this section shall be subject only to draft or order by the Custodian (or, if applicable, such Foreign Sub-Custodian) acting pursuant to the terms of this Agreement to hold cash received by or from or for the account of the Portfolio.

 

Section 4.7. Collection of Income. The Custodian shall use reasonable commercial efforts to collect all income and other payments with respect to the Foreign Assets held hereunder to which the Portfolios shall be entitled and shall credit such income, as collected, to the applicable Portfolio. In the event that extraordinary measures are required to collect such income, the Fund and the Custodian shall consult as to such measures and as to the compensation and expenses of the Custodian relating to such measures.

 

Section 4.8 Shareholder Rights. With respect to the foreign securities held pursuant to this Section 4, the Custodian shall use reasonable commercial efforts to facilitate the exercise of voting and other shareholder rights, subject always to the laws, regulations and practical constraints that may exist in the country where such securities are issued, which facilitation efforts may include endeavoring to (a) cause to be executed by the registered holder of such foreign securities (if such securities are registered otherwise than in the name of the Portfolio or a nominee of the Portfolio), all proxies, without indication of the manner in which such proxies are to be voted, and (b) deliver to the Fund or its agents all proxy soliciting materials and all notices relating to such securities. Each Fund acknowledges that local conditions, including lack of regulation, onerous procedural obligations, lack of notice and other factors may have the effect of severely limiting the ability of such Fund to exercise shareholder rights.

 

Section 4.9. Communications Relating to Foreign Securities. The Custodian shall transmit promptly to the applicable Fund written information with respect to materials received by the Custodian via the Foreign Sub-Custodians from issuers of the foreign securities being held for the account of the Portfolios (including, without limitation, pendency of calls and maturities of foreign securities and expirations of rights in connection therewith). With respect to voluntary corporate actions such as tender or exchange offers, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the applicable Fund written information with respect to materials so received by the Custodian from issuers of the foreign securities whose tender or exchange or other action is sought or from the party (or its agents) making the tender or exchange offer or other action. The Custodian shall also transmit promptly to the applicable Fund all written information received by the Custodian via the Foreign Sub-Custodians from issuers of the foreign securities being held for the account of the Portfolios regarding any class action or other litigation in connection with Portfolio foreign securities or other assets issued outside the United States and then held, or previously held, during the term of this Agreement by the Custodian via a Foreign Sub-Custodian for the account of the Fund for such Portfolio, including, but not limited to, opt-out notices and proof-of-claim forms. The Custodian shall not be liable for any untimely exercise of any tender, exchange or other right or power in connection with foreign securities or other property of the Portfolios at any time held by it unless (i) the Custodian or the respective Foreign Sub-Custodian is in actual possession of such foreign securities or property and (ii) the Custodian receives Proper Instructions with regard to the exercise

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of any such right or power, and both (i) and (ii) occur prior to such deadline established by the Custodian in its reasonable discretion as will give the Custodian (including any Foreign Sub-Custodian) sufficient time to take such action, which deadline shall in no event be longer than three (3) business days. The Custodian shall inform the Fund of pertinent deadlines in each case. For avoidance of doubt, upon and after the effective date of any termination of this Agreement, with respect to a Fund or its Portfolio(s), as may be applicable, the Custodian shall have no responsibility to so transmit any information under this Section 4.9.

 

Section 4.10. Liability of Foreign Sub-Custodians. Each agreement pursuant to which the Custodian employs a Foreign Sub-Custodian shall, to the extent possible, require the Foreign Sub-Custodian to exercise reasonable care in the performance of its duties, and to indemnify, and hold harmless, the Custodian from and against any loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim arising out of or in connection with the Foreign Sub-Custodian’s performance of such obligations. At a Fund’s election, its Portfolios shall be entitled to be subrogated to the rights of the Custodian with respect to any claims against a Foreign Sub-Custodian as a consequence of any such loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim if and to the extent that the Portfolios have not been made whole for any such loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim.

 

Section 4.11 Tax Law. The Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for any obligations now or hereafter imposed on any Fund, the Portfolios or the Custodian as custodian of the Portfolios by the tax law of the United States or of any state or political subdivision thereof. It shall be the responsibility of each Fund to notify the Custodian of the obligations imposed on such Fund with respect to the Portfolios or the Custodian as custodian of the Portfolios by the tax law of countries other than those mentioned in the above sentence, including responsibility for withholding and other taxes, assessments or other governmental charges, certifications and governmental reporting. The sole responsibilities of the Custodian with regard to such tax law shall be to use reasonable efforts to effect the withholding of local taxes and related charges with regard to market entitlement/payment in accordance with local law and subject to local market practice or custom and to assist the Fund with respect to any claim for exemption or refund under the tax law of countries for which such Fund has provided such information. Except as specifically provided in this Agreement or otherwise agreed to in writing by the Custodian, the Custodian shall have no independent obligation to determine the tax obligations now or hereafter imposed on any of the Funds by any taxing authority or to obtain or provide information relating thereto, and shall have no obligation or liability with respect to such tax obligations, it being specifically understood and agreed that the Custodian shall not thereby or otherwise be considered any Fund’s tax advisor or tax counsel.

 

Section 5. Special Sub-Custodians

 

Upon receipt of Special Instructions (as such term is defined in Section 7 hereof), the Custodian shall, on behalf of one or more Portfolios, appoint one or more banks, trust companies or other entities designated in such Special Instructions to act as a sub-custodian for the purposes of effecting such transaction(s) as may be designated by a Fund in Special Instructions. Each such designated sub-custodian is referred to herein as a “Special Sub-Custodian.” Each such duly appointed Special

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Sub-Custodian shall be listed on Schedule D hereto, as it may be amended from time to time by a Fund, with the acknowledgment of the Custodian. In connection with the appointment of any Special Sub-Custodian, and in accordance with Special Instructions, the Custodian shall enter into a sub-custodian agreement with the Fund and the Special Sub-Custodian in form and substance approved by such Fund, provided that such agreement shall in all events comply with the provisions of the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and the terms and provisions of this Agreement.

 

Section 6. Payments for Sales or Repurchases or Redemptions of Shares

 

The Custodian shall receive from the distributor of the Shares or from the Transfer Agent and deposit into the account of the appropriate Portfolio such payments as are received for Shares thereof issued or sold from time to time by the applicable Fund. The Custodian will provide timely notification to such Fund on behalf of each such Portfolio and the Transfer Agent of any receipt by it of payments for Shares of such Portfolio.

 

From such funds as may be available for the purpose, the Custodian shall, upon receipt of instructions from the Transfer Agent, make funds available for payment to holders of Shares who have delivered to the Transfer Agent a request for redemption or repurchase of their Shares. In connection with the redemption or repurchase of Shares, the Custodian is authorized upon receipt of instructions from the Transfer Agent to wire funds to or through a commercial bank designated by the redeeming shareholders. In connection with the redemption or repurchase of Shares, the Custodian shall honor checks drawn on the Custodian by a holder of Shares, which checks have been furnished by a Fund to the holder of Shares, when presented to the Custodian in accordance with such procedures and controls as are mutually agreed upon from time to time between such Fund and the Custodian.

 

Section 6A. Investment Administration Services

 

Custodian shall provide Investment Administration Services to the Funds pursuant to the terms and conditions of the attached Investment Administration Services Addendum.

 

Section 7. Proper Instructions and Special Instructions

 

Proper Instructions, which may be standing instructions, shall mean instructions received by the Custodian from a Fund or a person or entity duly authorized by the Fund. Such instructions may be in writing signed by the authorized person or persons or may be in a tested communication or in a communication utilizing access codes effected between electro-mechanical or electronic devices or may be by such other means and utilizing such intermediary systems and utilities as may be agreed from time to time by the Custodian and the person(s) or entity giving such instruction, provided that such person(s) or entity has followed any security procedures agreed to from time to time by the applicable Fund and the Custodian including, but not limited to, the security procedures selected by the Fund via the form of Funds Transfer Addendum hereto. Oral instructions will be considered Proper Instructions if the Custodian reasonably believes them to have been given by a person

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authorized to provide such instructions with respect to the transaction involved; the Fund shall cause all oral instructions to be confirmed in writing. For purposes of this section, Proper Instructions shall include instructions received by the Custodian pursuant to any multi-party agreement which requires a segregated asset account in accordance with Section 2.9 hereof.

 

Special Instructions,” as such term is used throughout this Agreement, means Proper Instructions countersigned or confirmed in writing by the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the applicable Fund or any other person designated in writing by the Treasurer of such Fund, which countersignature or confirmation shall be (a) included on the same instrument containing the Proper Instructions or on a separate instrument clearly relating thereto and (b) delivered by hand, by facsimile transmission, or in such other manner as the Fund and the Custodian agree in writing.

 

Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, and from time to time thereafter, as appropriate, each Fund shall deliver to the Custodian, duly certified by such Fund’s Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer, a certificate setting forth: (i) the names, titles, signatures and scope of authority of all persons authorized to give Proper Instructions or any other notice, request, direction, instruction, certificate or instrument on behalf of the Fund and (ii) the names, titles and signatures of those persons authorized to give Special Instructions. Such certificate may be accepted and relied upon by the Custodian as conclusive evidence of the facts set forth therein and shall be considered to be in full force and effect until receipt by the Custodian of notice to the contrary.

 

Section 8. Evidence of Authority

 

Subject to Section 15, the Custodian shall be protected in acting upon any instructions, notice, request, consent, certificate or other instrument or paper reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been properly executed by or on behalf of the applicable Fund. The Custodian may receive and accept a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of any Fund as conclusive evidence (a) of the authority of any person to act in accordance with such resolution or (b) of any determination or of any action by the applicable Board as described in such resolution, and such resolution may be considered as in full force and effect until receipt by the Custodian of written notice to the contrary.

 

Section 9. Actions Permitted without Express Authority

 

The Custodian may in its discretion, without express authority from the applicable Fund on behalf of each applicable Portfolio:

 

1)Make payments to itself or others for minor expenses of handling securities or other similar items relating to its duties under this Agreement; provided that all such payments shall be accounted for to the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio;

 

2)Surrender securities in temporary form for securities in definitive form;

 

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3)Endorse for collection, in the name of the Portfolio, checks, drafts and other negotiable instruments; and

 

4)In general, attend to all non-discretionary details in connection with the sale, exchange, substitution, purchase, transfer and other dealings with the securities and property of the Portfolio except as otherwise directed by the applicable Board.

 

Section 10. Representations and Warranties

 

(1)       The Custodian represents and warrants to each Fund that:

 

a.       It is a Massachusetts trust company, duly organized and existing under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is qualified to conduct its business in every jurisdiction where its business is conducted except where the failure to be so qualified would not have a material adverse affect on the Custodian.

 

b.       It has the power and authority to carry on its business in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and to enter into and perform this Agreement;

 

c.       All requisite proceedings have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement;

 

d.       No legal or administrative proceedings have been instituted or threatened which would materially impair the Custodian’s ability to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement;

 

e.      This Agreement constitutes its legal, valid, binding and enforceable agreement; and

 

f.       Its entrance into this Agreement shall not cause a material breach or be in material conflict with any other agreement or obligation of the Custodian or any law or regulation applicable to it.

 

(2)       Each Fund represents and warrants to the Custodian that:

 

a.       It is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing in its state of organization as specified on Appendix A, and is qualified to conduct its business in every jurisdiction where its business is conducted except where the failure to be so qualified would not have a material adverse affect on the Fund;

 

b.       It has the power and authority under applicable laws and its Governing Documents to enter into and perform this Agreement;

 

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c.       All requisite proceedings have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement;

 

d.       No legal or administrative proceedings have been instituted or threatened which would materially impair the Fund’s ability to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement;

 

e.       This Agreement constitutes its legal, valid, binding and enforceable agreement; and

 

f.       Its entrance into this Agreement will not cause a material breach or be in material conflict with any other agreement or obligation of the Fund or any law or regulation applicable to it.

 

Section 11. Records

 

The Custodian shall with respect to each Portfolio create and maintain all records relating to its activities and obligations under this Agreement in such manner as will meet the obligations of each Fund under the 1940 Act, with particular attention to section 31 thereof and Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 thereunder. All such records shall be the property of the Fund and shall at all times during the regular business hours of the Custodian be open for inspection by duly authorized officers, employees or agents of such Fund and employees and agents of the SEC. The Custodian shall, at a Fund’s request, supply the Fund with a tabulation of securities owned by each Portfolio and held by the Custodian and shall, when requested to do so by the Fund and for such compensation as shall be agreed upon between the Fund and the Custodian, include certificate numbers in such tabulations. Each Fund acknowledges that, in creating and maintaining the records as set forth herein with respect to Portfolio property released and delivered pursuant to Section 2.2(14), or purchased pursuant to Section 2.6(7) hereof, the Custodian is authorized and instructed to rely upon information provided to it by the Fund, the Fund’s counterparty(ies), or the agents of either of them. In addition to the foregoing, the Custodian shall provide storage for, during the term of this Agreement, historical records delivered to it by any prior custodian of the Funds and consult with the Funds in any event of the Custodian’s inability to do so; provided, that the parties hereby agree that the Custodian shall have no responsibility for the condition, accuracy, integrity, searchability, reconciliation or contents of such historical records.

 

Section 12. Opinion of Fund’s Independent Accountant

 

The Custodian shall take all reasonable action, as a Fund with respect to a Portfolio may from time to time request, to obtain from year to year favorable opinions from the Fund’s independent accountants with respect to its activities hereunder in connection with the preparation of the Fund’s Form N-1A or Form N-2, as applicable, and Form N-SAR or other annual reports to the SEC and with respect to any other requirements thereof.

 

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Section 13. Reports to Fund by Independent Public Accountants

 

The Custodian shall provide each Fund, on behalf of each of its Portfolios, at such times as such Fund may reasonably require, with reports by independent public accountants on the accounting system, internal accounting control and procedures for safeguarding securities, futures contracts and options on futures contracts, including securities deposited and/or maintained in a U.S. Securities System or a Foreign Securities System (either, a “Securities System”), relating to the services provided by the Custodian under this Agreement; such reports shall be of sufficient scope and in sufficient detail as may reasonably be required by the Fund to provide reasonable assurance that any material inadequacies would be disclosed by such examination, and, if there are no such inadequacies, the reports shall so state.

 

Section 14. Compensation of Custodian

 

The Custodian shall be entitled to reasonable compensation for its services and expenses as Custodian, as agreed upon from time to time in writing between each Fund on behalf of each applicable Portfolio and the Custodian.

 

Section 15. Responsibility of Custodian

 

So long as and to the extent that it is in the exercise of reasonable care, the Custodian shall not be responsible for the title, validity or genuineness of any property or evidence of title thereto received by it or delivered by it pursuant to this Agreement and shall be held harmless in acting upon any notice, request, consent, certificate or other instrument reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to be signed by the proper party or parties, including any futures commission merchant acting pursuant to the terms of a three-party futures or options agreement. The Custodian shall be held to the exercise of reasonable care in carrying out the provisions of this Agreement, but shall be kept indemnified by and shall be without liability to any Fund for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith without negligence, bad faith, willful misconduct, violation of law applicable to the Custodian in its capacity as a custodian and that affects the Custodian’s performance of the Services hereunder, or material breach of this Agreement (provided, however, that the Custodian shall have the opportunity to cure, within thirty (30) days of its receipt of written notice from the Fund, solely those breaches capable of cure without material adverse impact to the Fund, provided, in each such instance where the Custodian is aware of an event related to such notice, the Custodian had previously informed the Fund promptly of such event; any such communication from the Custodian to the Fund shall not be used as or considered as an admission of fault and will be provided solely as an accommodation to the Fund), including, without limitation, acting in accordance with any Proper Instruction. It shall be entitled to rely on and may act upon advice of counsel (who may be counsel for the Fund) on all matters, and shall be without liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to such advice. The Custodian shall be without liability to any Fund or Portfolio for any loss, liability, claim or expense to the extent resulting from or caused by anything which is part of Country Risk (as defined in Section 3 hereof), including without limitation nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, or acts of war, revolution, riots or terrorism.

 

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Except as may arise from the Custodian’s own negligence, bad faith, willful misconduct, violation of law applicable to the Custodian in its capacity as a custodian that affects the Custodian’s performance of the Services hereunder, or material breach of this Agreement (provided, however, that the Custodian shall have the opportunity to cure, within thirty (30) days of its receipt of written notice from the Fund, solely those breaches capable of cure without material adverse impact to the Fund, provided, in each such instance where the Custodian is aware of an event related to such notice, the Custodian had previously informed the Fund promptly of such event; any such communication from the Custodian to the Fund shall not be used as or considered as an admission of fault and will be provided solely as an accommodation to the Fund), or the negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of a sub-custodian or agent, the Custodian shall be without liability to any Fund for any loss, liability, claim or expense to the extent resulting from or caused by: (i) events or circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the Custodian or any sub-custodian or Securities System or any agent or nominee of any of the foregoing, including, without limitation, the interruption, suspension or restriction of trading on or the closure of any securities market, power or other mechanical or technological failures or interruptions, computer viruses or communications disruptions, work stoppages, natural disasters, or other similar events or acts; (ii) errors by any Fund or its duly authorized investment manager or investment adviser in its instructions to the Custodian provided such instructions have been in accordance with this Agreement; (iii) the insolvency of or acts or omissions by a Securities System; (iv) any act or omission of a Special Sub-Custodian including, without limitation, reliance on reports prepared by a Special Sub-Custodian ; (v) any delay or failure of any broker, agent or intermediary, central bank or other commercially prevalent payment or clearing system to deliver to the Custodian’s sub-custodian or agent securities purchased or in the remittance or payment made in connection with securities sold; (vi) any delay or failure of any company, corporation, or other body in charge of registering or transferring securities in the name of the Custodian, any Fund, the Custodian’s sub-custodians, nominees or agents or any consequential losses arising out of such delay or failure to transfer such securities including non-receipt of bonus, dividends and rights and other accretions or benefits; (vii) delays or inability to perform its duties due to any disorder in market infrastructure with respect to any particular security or Securities System; (viii) any provision of any present or future law or regulation or order of the United States of America, or any state thereof, or any other country, or political subdivision thereof or of any court of competent jurisdiction; and (ix) the Custodian acting in accordance with any Proper Instruction with respect to Free Trade.

 

In the event of equipment failure, work stoppage, governmental action, communication disruption or other impossibility of performance beyond the Custodian’s control, the Custodian shall take reasonable steps to minimize service interruptions. The Custodian shall enter into and shall maintain in effect, at all times during the term of this Agreement, with appropriate parties one or more agreements making reasonable provision for (i) periodic back-up of the computer files and data with respect to the Funds; and (ii) emergency use of electronic data processing equipment to provide services under this Agreement.

 

The Custodian shall have no more or less responsibility or liability to any Fund on account of any actions or omissions of any sub-custodian so employed than any such sub-custodian has to the Custodian. The Custodian shall be liable for the acts or omissions of a Foreign Sub-Custodian (as

24 
 

such term is defined in Section 4 hereof) to the same extent as set forth with respect to sub-custodians generally in this Agreement and, regardless of whether assets are maintained in the custody of a Foreign Sub-Custodian or a Foreign Securities System, the Custodian shall not be liable for any loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim to the extent resulting from nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, or acts of war or terrorism, or any other loss where the Sub-Custodian has otherwise acted with reasonable care. With respect to foreign securities maintained in the custody of a Foreign Sub-Custodian (other than bearer securities) which are registered in the name of the applicable Portfolio or in the name of the Custodian or in the name of any Foreign Sub-Custodian or in the name of any nominee of the foregoing in accordance with Section 4.5 of this Agreement, the applicable Fund on behalf of such Portfolio agrees to hold any such nominee harmless from any liability as a holder of record of such foreign securities.

 

If a Fund on behalf of a Portfolio requires the Custodian to take any action not otherwise addressed in this Agreement with respect to securities, which action involves the payment of money or which action may, in the reasonable opinion of the Custodian, result in the Custodian or its nominee assigned to the Fund or the Portfolio being liable for the payment of money or incurring liability of some other form, such Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, as a prerequisite to requiring the Custodian to take such action, shall provide indemnity to the Custodian in an amount and form satisfactory to it.

 

In the event a Fund requires the Custodian, its affiliates, subsidiaries or agents, to advance cash or securities for any purpose (including but not limited to securities settlements, predetermined income, foreign exchange contracts and assumed settlement) or in the event that the Custodian or its nominee shall incur or be assessed any taxes, charges, expenses, assessments, claims or liabilities in connection with the performance of this Agreement, except such as may arise from its or its nominee’s own negligent action, negligent failure to act or willful misconduct, any property at any time held for the account of the applicable Portfolio shall be security therefor and should the Fund fail to repay the Custodian promptly, the Custodian shall be entitled to utilize available cash and to dispose of such Portfolio’s assets to the extent necessary to obtain reimbursement. To the extent not inconsistent with market rules or practice, the Custodian shall first utilize available cash and thereafter such Portfolio’s other assets, it being specifically understood that any failure of the Custodian to so utilize or dispose shall in no way affect either the validity or priority of the Custodian’s security interest in such cash or assets. Further, and only to the extent practicable, the Custodian shall provide notice to the Fund prior to commencing such utilization or disposal, and, if such prior notice is not practicable, the Custodian shall provide notice to the Fund as soon as practicable thereafter, it being specifically understood that any failure of the Custodian to provide any such notice shall in no way affect the Custodian’s rights or remedies under this paragraph or applicable law.

 

In no event shall any party hereto be liable for indirect, special or consequential damages.

 

Section 16. Effective Period, Termination and Amendment

 

(a)       This Agreement shall become effective as of its execution and shall continue in full force and effect for an initial term of four (4) years from the date hereof, and shall automatically

25 
 

renew for additional consecutive three (3) year terms, unless either party gives one hundred eighty (180) days’ prior written notice to the other of its intent not to renew. If this Agreement is terminated (the effective date of such termination being referred to as the “Termination Date”), the Custodian shall, at the reasonable request of the Funds, and subject to the consent of the Custodian (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), continue to provide services hereunder for a period (the “Extension Period”) not to exceed ninety (90) days from the Termination Date, and the compensation payable to the Custodian for its services and expenses during such Extension Period shall not exceed one hundred and five percent (105%) (per annum) of the compensation last agreed upon by each Fund and the Custodian and in effect immediately prior to the Termination Date.

 

(b)       In the event that the Agreement is terminated by any Fund with respect to a Portfolio (the “Terminating Fund”), other than for cause, with respect to such Terminating Fund prior to the four (4) year anniversary of the date hereof (the “Anniversary Date”), and the Custodian has not terminated either this Agreement with respect to such Terminating Fund or any agreement pursuant to which the Custodian provides fund accounting services relative to such Terminating Fund, the Terminating Fund shall pay to the Custodian, in lieu of any other fees, expenses, termination penalties, damages or other amounts (except as identified in paragraph (c) below), an early termination fee equal to the present value, using a discount rate of seven percent (7%), compounded annually, of the remaining fees which would have been due by the Terminating Fund to the Custodian for the period from the Termination Date until the Anniversary Date if the Agreement had not been terminated (the “Remaining Fees”) which Remaining Fees shall be determined using the average monthly compensation for its services (prior to the application of any earnings credits) earned by the Custodian hereunder with respect to such Terminating Fund during the 12-month period (or if shorter, such lesser period of time) preceding such Termination Date (the “Early Termination Fee”).

 

For the avoidance of doubt, no Terminating Fund will be required to make any such Early Termination Fee payment (other than as set forth in paragraph (e) below) if this Agreement is terminated on or after the Anniversary Date or by the Terminating Funds for cause at any time.

 

(c)       Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (b) above, no Early Termination Fee shall be payable in the event (each, a “Liquidation, Merger or Consolidation Event”) that a Fund or Portfolio is

 

(i)       liquidated; or

 

(ii)        merged into or consolidated with another Fund or Portfolio with respect to which the Custodian provides Services pursuant to this Agreement; or

 

(iii)        merged into or consolidated with another investment company or series of an investment company (each series representing interests in a separate portfolio of securities and other assets) with respect to which the Custodian provides custody services,

 

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provided, that in each case of (i) and (ii) above, the aggregate amount of fees for custody services provided by the Custodian with respect to all Funds and Portfolios covered by this Agreement immediately after, and taking into consideration the effect of, such Liquidation, Merger or Consolidation Event (the “Projected Fees”) shall be equal to or greater than the aggregate amount of fees for custody services provided by the Custodian pursuant to this Agreement, measured as of the date of this Agreement (the “Existing Fees”);

 

and further provided, that in each case of (iii) above, (A) the Projected Fees plus (B) the Incremental Fees (as defined below) shall be equal to or greater than the Existing Fees.

 

For purposes of this Section 16(c), the Projected Fees shall equal the custody fees, with respect to such Funds and Portfolios subject to this Agreement immediately after such Liquidation, Merger or Consolidation Event, projected to be earned by the Custodian on an annualized basis for the ensuing twelve-month period, with no adjustments for market fluctuations or subscription and redemption activity.

 

For purposes of this Section 16(c), the Existing Fees shall equal the custody fees, with respect to such Funds and Portfolios on the date of this Agreement, projected to be earned by the Custodian on an annualized basis for the ensuing twelve-month period, with no adjustments for market fluctuations or subscription and redemption activity.

 

For purposes of this Section 16(c), the “Other Contract” shall mean a contractual arrangement pursuant to which the Custodian provides custody services that may not be terminated earlier than the Anniversary Date and whose fee schedule is fixed until the Anniversary Date.

 

For purposes of this Section 16(c), the “Incremental Fees” shall mean (A) the custody fees with respect to custody services under the Other Contract that are projected to be earned by the Custodian on an annualized basis for the ensuing twelve-month period, with no adjustments for market fluctuations or subscription and redemption activity, immediately after such Liquidation, Merger or Consolidation Event, less (B) the custody fees with respect to custody services under the Other Contract that were projected to have been earned by the Custodian on an annualized basis for the ensuing twelve-month period, with no adjustments for market fluctuations or subscription and redemption activity, immediately prior to such Liquidation, Merger or Consolidation Event.

 

(d)       Upon any termination of this Agreement pursuant to paragraph (b) above and receipt of a final bill from the Custodian, the Terminating Fund shall pay to the Custodian all accrued and unpaid fees and expenses, whether the same have been billed or remain unbilled prior to delivery of such final bill, and shall reimburse the Custodian for any reasonable de-conversion costs associated with such termination.

 

(e)       Notwithstanding any term herein to the contrary, termination of this Agreement with respect to a Terminating Fund shall in no way affect the rights and duties under this Agreement with respect to any other Fund or Portfolio.

 

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(f)       In the event of the appointment of a conservator or receiver for the Custodian by the Comptroller of the Currency or upon the happening of a like event at the direction of an appropriate regulatory agency or court of competent jurisdiction, any Fund on behalf of one or more of the Portfolios may at any time by action of its Board (i) substitute another bank or trust company for the Custodian by giving notice as described above to the Custodian, or (ii) immediately terminate this Agreement without penalty.

 

(g)       This Agreement may be modified or amended from time to time by mutual written agreement of the parties hereto.

 

Section 17. Successor Custodian

 

If a successor custodian for one or more Portfolios shall be appointed by the applicable Board, the Custodian shall, upon notice of such appointment and receipt of Proper Instructions, deliver to such successor custodian at the office of the Custodian, duly endorsed and in the form for transfer, as may be applicable, all securities, funds and other properties of each applicable Portfolio then held by it hereunder and shall transfer to an account of the successor custodian all of the securities of each such Portfolio held in a Securities System or at the Underlying Transfer Agent.

 

If no such successor custodian shall be appointed, the Custodian shall, in like manner, upon receipt of Proper Instructions, deliver at the office of the Custodian and transfer such securities, funds and other properties in accordance therewith.

 

In the event that no Proper Instructions designating a successor custodian or alternative arrangements shall have been delivered to the Custodian on or before the date when such termination shall become effective, then the Custodian shall have the right to deliver to a bank or trust company, which is a “bank” as defined in the 1940 Act, doing business in Boston, Massachusetts or New York, New York, of its own selection, having an aggregate capital, surplus, and undivided profits, as shown by its last published report, of not less than $25,000,000, all securities, funds and other properties held by the Custodian on behalf of each applicable Portfolio and all instruments held by the Custodian relative thereto and all other property held by it under this Agreement on behalf of each applicable Portfolio, and to transfer to an account of such successor custodian all of the securities of each such Portfolio held in any Securities System or at the Underlying Transfer Agent. Thereafter, such bank or trust company shall be the successor of the Custodian under this Agreement.

 

In the event that securities, funds and other properties remain in the possession of the Custodian after the date of termination hereof owing to failure of any Fund to provide Proper Instructions as aforesaid, the Custodian shall be entitled to fair compensation for its services during such period as the Custodian retains possession of such securities, funds and other properties and the provisions of this Agreement relating to the duties and obligations of the Custodian shall remain in full force and effect.

 

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Section 18. Oversight; Audit Rights; Additional Sub-Certifications and Reports

 

Section 18.1 Oversight. The Custodian acknowledges that the Funds have informed the Custodian of their intent to engage Putnam Fiduciary Trust Company, a Massachusetts trust company (“PFTC”), or one of PFTC’s affiliates to perform custody oversight services on behalf of the Funds. Upon notice and instruction from the Funds that they have engaged PFTC or its affiliate regarding such custody oversight services, the Custodian shall, at the expense of the Funds, reasonably cooperate with such entity to provide such information regarding the Funds and such information regarding the Custodian’s performance of the services contemplated by this Agreement (the “Services”) to such entity as it may reasonably request from time to time.

 

Section 18.2 Audit Rights.

 

(a)       To the extent required by applicable law, rule or regulation and upon request of a Fund (which shall include reasonable advance notice), the Custodian shall allow such Fund’s regulators or supervisory authorities to perform periodic on-site audits as may be reasonably required to examine the Custodian’s performance of the Services. Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to the performance of any audits of the Custodian’s performance of the Services, the Fund will request that such regulator or supervisory authority to the extent possible shall coordinate such audit through the Custodian’s primary regulator, the United States Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

 

(b)       Upon request of a Fund (which shall include reasonable advance notice), the Custodian shall allow such Fund and its duly-authorized agents, auditors (including internal audit staff and external auditors), and compliance personnel to perform periodic on-site audits as may be reasonably required to examine the Custodian’s performance of the Services.

 

(c)       Notwithstanding the audit and inspection rights conferred by the foregoing sub-section, the Custodian reserves the right to impose reasonable limitations on the number, frequency, timing and scope of audits and inspections requested by the Funds so as to prevent or minimize any potential impairment or disruption of its operations, distraction of its personnel or breaches of security or confidentiality; provided, however, that the Custodian may not limit the number, frequency or timing of audits and inspections by regulatory bodies with supervisory authority over a Fund or by a Fund resulting from a regulatory problem at the Custodian and affecting the Custodian’s ability to provide the Services hereunder or any material weakness or significant deficiency in the Custodian’s internal controls. In addition, the Custodian shall be entitled to impose a commercially reasonable per person hourly charge for the cooperation and assistance of its personnel in connection with any audit in excess of one (1) in any twelve (12) month period; provided, however, that no such charge may be imposed in connection with any audit or inspection by any regulatory body with supervisory authority over a Fund or by a Fund resulting from a regulatory problem at the Custodian and affecting the Custodian’s ability to provide the Services hereunder or any material weakness or significant deficiency in the Custodian’s internal controls. Nothing contained in this section shall obligate the Custodian to provide access to or otherwise disclose: (i) any information that is unrelated to the relevant Fund and the provision of the Services to such Fund; (ii) any information which is treated as confidential under the Custodian’s corporate

29 
 

policies, including, without limitation, internal audit reports, compliance or risk management plans or reports, work papers and other reports and information relating to management functions; or (iii) any other documents, reports or other information that the Custodian is obligated to maintain in confidence as a matter of law or regulation. In addition, any access provided hereunder to technology shall be limited to a demonstration by the Custodian of the functionality thereof and a reasonable opportunity to communicate with the Custodian personnel regarding such technology.

 

Section18.3 Additional Sub-Certifications and Reports

 

The Custodian shall provide to the Funds: (a) sub-certifications in connection with Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 certification requirements; and (b) periodic reports and reasonable documentation for delivery to the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer in connection with Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act with respect to the Services and the Custodian’s compliance with its operating policies and procedures related thereto.

 

Section 19. Included Service Enhancements.

 

If, in the ordinary course of its business, the Custodian enhances core system processing functionality that it uses in connection with the Services, the Custodian shall use such enhanced core system processing enhancements in performing the Services hereunder, at no additional charge to the Funds, as soon as the Custodian reasonably determines that such use is appropriate. To the extent the Custodian reasonably determines that such enhanced core system processing enhancements are relevant to the Funds’ receipt of the Services, the Custodian shall inform the Funds of such core system processing enhancements.

 

Section 20. Confidentiality.

 

The parties hereto agree that each shall treat as confidential all information provided by a party (the “Disclosing Party”) to the other party (the “Recipient”) or to which the Recipient obtains access and that relates to the Disclosing Party, including information regarding its business, financial affairs, operations or otherwise, including without limitation, securities holdings and trading information of a Portfolio or Fund (“Confidential Information”). In maintaining the confidentiality of the Confidential Information of a Disclosing Party, each Recipient shall exercise the same degree of care that such person exercises with respect to its own Confidential Information of a similar nature, including the use of customary data protection procedures, and in no event less than a reasonable degree of care. All Confidential Information of a Disclosing Party shall be used by a Recipient solely for the purpose of rendering or receiving services pursuant to this Agreement and shall not be disclosed to any party other than such Recipient’s (i) employees and contractors who have a need-to-know for purposes of performing such Recipient’s obligations under this Agreement, provided, that, such persons and entities are bound by confidentiality provisions at least as stringent as those contained herein, (ii) regulators or examiners, and (iii) auditors and legal counsel, to the extent required in connection with services provided by such parties to Recipient.

 

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The Recipient shall notify the Disclosing Party of any unauthorized use or disclosure of Confidential Information of the Disclosing Party of which the Recipient becomes aware. The parties agree that disclosure of Confidential Information of a Disclosing Party may give rise to an irreparable injury to such Disclosing Party inadequately compensable in damages. Accordingly, the Disclosing Party may seek (without the posting of any bond or other security) injunctive relief against the breach of the foregoing undertaking of confidentiality and nondisclosure, in addition to any other legal remedies which may be available.

 

The foregoing obligations of confidentiality and non-disclosure shall not be applicable to any information that the Recipient demonstrates (i) is publicly available when provided or thereafter becomes publicly available, other than through disclosure by the Recipient or any of its affiliates, or that is independently derived by the Recipient without the use of any information provided by the Disclosing Party, (ii) that is required in any legal or regulatory proceeding, investigation, audit, examination, subpoena, civil investigative demand or other similar process, or by operation of law or regulation (collectively, “Legal Process”), or (iii) where the Recipient has received the prior written consent of the Disclosing Party. In the event that a Recipient is requested by or pursuant to, or required by, Legal Process to disclose any Confidential Information of any other party to this Agreement, such Recipient will, to the extent not legally prohibited, provide the applicable Disclosing Party with prompt notice of such Legal Process in order to enable the Disclosing Party, at its own expense, to seek an appropriate protective order or other remedy (and, if the Disclosing Party seeks such order, the Recipient will provide such cooperation as the Disclosing Party shall reasonably request at the Disclosing Party’s expense) to resist or narrow the scope of such request or legal process, or waive compliance, in whole or in part, with the terms of this Section 20. In the event that such protective order or other remedy is not obtained or the Disclosing Party waives such compliance, only that portion of the Confidential Information may be disclosed as the Recipient, as advised by counsel, is legally required to disclose and the Recipient will request that all such Confidential Information so disclosed will be accorded confidential treatment. Confidential Information disclosed in combination with other information that is not Confidential Information is not deemed to fall within one of the foregoing exceptions by reason of such combination.

 

Furthermore, and notwithstanding anything in this section to the contrary, the Custodian may aggregate Fund or Portfolio data with similar data of other customers of the Custodian (“Aggregated Data”) and may use Aggregated Data for purposes of constructing statistical models so long as such Aggregated Data represents a sufficiently large sample that no Fund or Portfolio data can be identified either directly or by inference or implication.

 

All of the undertakings and obligations relating to confidentiality and nondisclosure, whether contained in this Section or elsewhere in this Agreement or any schedule or exhibit hereto shall survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement for a period of three (3) years.

 

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Section 21. General

 

Section 21.1 Massachusetts Law to Apply. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof interpreted under and in accordance with laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

 

Section 21.2 Prior Agreements. This Agreement supersedes and terminates, as of the date hereof, any prior Agreements between each Fund on behalf of each of the Portfolios and the Custodian relating to the custody of such Fund’s assets.

 

Section 21.3 Assignment. This Agreement may not be assigned by (a) any Fund without the written consent of the Custodian or (b) by the Custodian without the written consent of each applicable Fund.

 

Section 21.4 Interpretive and Additional Provisions. In connection with the operation of this Agreement, the Custodian and each Fund on behalf of each of the Portfolios, may from time to time agree on such provisions interpretive of or in addition to the provisions of this Agreement as may in their joint opinion be consistent with the general tenor of this Agreement. Any such interpretive or additional provisions shall be in a writing signed by all parties and shall be annexed hereto, provided that no such interpretive or additional provisions shall contravene any applicable federal or state regulations or any provision of a Fund’s Governing Documents. No interpretive or additional provisions made as provided in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be an amendment of this Agreement.

 

Section 21.5 Additional Funds. In the event that any management investment company advised by Putnam Investment Management, LLC or an affiliate thereof, in addition to those listed on Appendix A hereto desires to have the Custodian render services as custodian under the terms hereof, it shall so notify the Custodian in writing, and if the Custodian agrees in writing to provide such services, such management investment company shall become a Fund hereunder and the Custodian and the Fund shall be bound by all terms and conditions and provisions hereof.

 

Section 21.6 Additional Portfolios. In the event that any Fund establishes one or more series of Shares in addition to those set forth on Appendix A hereto with respect to which it desires to have the Custodian render services as custodian under the terms hereof, it shall so notify the Custodian in writing, and if the Custodian agrees in writing to provide such services, such series of Shares shall become a Portfolio hereunder and the Custodian and the Fund shall be bound by all terms and conditions and provisions hereof with respect to such Portfolio.

 

Section 21.7 The Parties. All references herein to the “Fund” are to each of the management investment companies listed on Appendix A hereto, and each management investment company made subject to this Agreement in accordance with Section 21.5 above, individually, as if this Agreement were between such individual Fund and the Custodian. In the case of a series corporation, trust or other entity, all references herein to the “Portfolio” are to the individual series or portfolio of such corporation, trust or other entity, or to such corporation, trust or other entity on

32 
 

behalf of the individual series or portfolio, as appropriate. Any reference in this Agreement to “the parties” shall mean the Custodian and such other individual Fund as to which the matter pertains.

 

A copy of the Declaration of Trust of each Fund is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Notice is hereby given, and it is expressly agreed that the obligations under this Agreement of any such Fund shall not be binding upon any of the trustees, shareholders, nominees, officers, agents or employees of such Fund personally, but bind only the trust property of such Fund. In the case of each Fund, the execution and delivery of this Agreement on its behalf has been authorized by its trustees, and signed by an authorized officer, in each case acting in such capacity and not individually, and neither such authorization by the trustees nor such execution and delivery shall be deemed to have been made by any of them individually, but shall only bind the trust property of each Fund.

 

Section 21.8 Remote Access Services Addendum. The Custodian and each Fund agree to be bound by the terms of the Remote Access Services Addendum hereto.

 

Section 21.9 Notices. Any notice, instruction or other instrument required to be given hereunder may be delivered in person to the offices of the parties as set forth herein during normal business hours or delivered prepaid registered mail, overnight courier or by telex, cable or telecopy to the parties at the following addresses or such other addresses as may be notified by any party from time to time.

 

To any Fund: c/o Putnam Fiduciary Trust Company
1 Post Office Square
Boston, Massachusetts 02109

 

Attention: Judd Symon, Senior Vice President
Telephone: 617-760-5181
Telecopy: 617-760-5140

 

with a copy to: Ropes & Gray
Prudential Tower
800 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02199-3600

 

Attention: John W. Gertsmayr
Telephone: 617-951-7393
Telecopy: 617-235-0040

 

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To the Custodian: State Street Bank and Trust Company
Lafayette Corporate Center
2 Avenue de Lafayette
Boston, Massachusetts 02111

 

Attention: Robert F. Dame, Senior Vice President, LCC/2S
Telephone: 617-662-4036
Telecopy: 617-662-4040

 

Such notice, instruction or other instrument shall be deemed to have been served in the case of a registered letter at the expiration of five business days after posting, in the case of overnight courier, upon receipt, in the case of cable twenty-four hours after dispatch and, in the case of telex or telecopy, immediately on dispatch and if delivered by cable, telex or telecopy outside normal business hours it shall be deemed to have been received at the next time after delivery when normal business hours commence. Evidence that the notice was properly addressed, stamped and put into the post shall be conclusive evidence of posting.

 

Section 21.10 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.

 

Section 21.11 Severability; Waiver. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, unlawful or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired. The failure of a party hereto to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement on any occasion or the failure of a party hereto to exercise or any delay in exercising any right or remedy under this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of any such term, right or remedy or a waiver of any other rights or remedies and no single or partial exercise of any right or remedy under this Agreement shall prevent any further exercise of the right or remedy or the exercise of any other right or remedy.

 

Section 21.12 Reproduction of Documents. This Agreement and all schedules, addenda, exhibits, appendices, attachments and amendments hereto may be reproduced by any photographic, photostatic, microfilm, micro-card, miniature photographic or other similar process. The parties hereto all/each agree that any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding, whether or not the original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by a party in the regular course of business, and that any enlargement, facsimile or further reproduction of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in evidence.

 

Section 21.13 Shareholder Communications Election. SEC Rule 14b-2 requires banks which hold securities for the account of customers to respond to requests by issuers of securities for the names, addresses and holdings of beneficial owners of securities of that issuer held by the bank unless the beneficial owner has expressly objected to disclosure of this information. In order to comply with the rule, the Custodian needs each Fund to indicate whether it authorizes the Custodian

34 
 

to provide such Fund’s name, address, and share position to requesting companies whose securities the Fund owns. If a Fund tells the Custodian “no,” the Custodian will not provide this information to requesting companies. If a Fund tells the Custodian “yes” or does not check either “yes” or “no” below, the Custodian is required by the rule to treat the Fund as consenting to disclosure of this information for all securities owned by the Fund or any funds or accounts established by the Fund. For a Fund’s protection, the Rule prohibits the requesting company from using the Fund’s name and address for any purpose other than corporate communications. Please indicate below whether the Fund consents or objects by checking one of the alternatives below.

 

YES [  ]The Custodian is authorized to release the Fund’s name, address, and share positions.

 

NO [X] The Custodian is not authorized to release the Fund’s name, address, and share positions.
35 
 

Signature Page

 

 

In Witness Whereof, each of the parties has caused this instrument to be executed in its name and behalf by its duly authorized representative and its seal to be hereunder affixed as of the date first above-written.

 

Fund Signature Attested to By: EACH OF THE ENTITIES SET FORTH ON APPENDIX A HERETO

 

 

  /s/ Robert T. Burns /s/ Jonathan S. Horwitz
  By: Robert T. Burns By: Jonathan S. Horwitz
  Robert T. Burns Jonathan S. Horwitz
  Managing Director, Executive Vice President,
  Putnam Investments Principal Executive Officer, Treasurer and Compliance Liaison

 

 

 

 

Signature Attested to By: State Street Bank and Trust Company

 

 

  /s/ Stephanie L. Poster /s/ Joseph L. Hooley
  By: Stephanie L. Poster By: Joseph L. Hooley
  Stephanie L. Poster Joseph L. Hooley
  Vice President and Senior Managing Counsel Executive Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

APPENDIX A

to

Master Custodian Agreement

 

As amended as of December 30, 2020

 

Putnam Asset Allocation Funds

-Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Balanced Fund

-Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Conservative Fund

-Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Growth Fund

Putnam California Tax Exempt Income Fund

Putnam Convertible Securities Fund

Putnam Diversified Income Trust

Putnam Equity Income Fund

Putnam Funds Trust

- Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Equity Fund

- Putnam Dynamic Risk Allocation Fund

- Putnam Emerging Markets Equity Fund

- Putnam Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund

- Putnam Focused Equity Fund

- Putnam Floating Rate Income Fund

- Putnam Global Technology Fund

- Putnam Intermediate-Term Municipal Fund

- Putnam International Value Fund

- Putnam Mortgage Opportunities Fund

- Putnam Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund

- Putnam Multi-Cap Core Fund

- Putnam Short Duration Bond Fund

- Putnam Short Term Investment Fund

- Putnam Short-Term Municipal Income Fund

- Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund

- Putnam Ultra Short Duration Income Fund

George Putnam Balanced Fund

Putnam Global Equity Fund

Putnam Global Health Care Fund

Putnam Global Income Trust

Putnam Global Utilities Fund

Putnam High Yield Fund

Putnam Income Fund

Putnam International Equity Fund

 
 

Putnam Investment Funds

-Putnam Government Money Market Fund

-Putnam Growth Opportunities Fund

-Putnam International Capital Opportunities Fund

-Putnam PanAgora Managed Futures Strategy

-Putnam PanAgora Market Neutral Fund

-Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund

-Putnam Research Fund

-Putnam Small Cap Value Fund

-Putnam Sustainable Future Fund

Putnam Managed Municipal Income Trust

Putnam Massachusetts Tax Exempt Income Fund

Putnam Master Intermediate Income Trust

Putnam Minnesota Tax Exempt Income Fund

Putnam Money Market Fund

Putnam Mortgage Securities Fund

Putnam Municipal Opportunities Trust

Putnam New Jersey Tax Exempt Income Fund

Putnam New York Tax Exempt Income Fund

Putnam Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund

Putnam Pennsylvania Tax Exempt Income Fund

Putnam Premier Income Trust

Putnam Target Date Funds

-Putnam Retirement Advantage Maturity Fund

-Putnam Retirement Advantage 2065 Fund

-Putnam Retirement Advantage 2060 Fund

-Putnam Retirement Advantage 2055 Fund

-Putnam Retirement Advantage 2050 Fund

-Putnam Retirement Advantage 2045 Fund

-Putnam Retirement Advantage 2040 Fund

-Putnam Retirement Advantage 2035 Fund

-Putnam Retirement Advantage 2030 Fund

-Putnam Retirement Advantage 2025 Fund

-Putnam RetirementReady Maturity Fund

-Putnam RetirementReady 2065 Fund (effective 1/4/21)

-Putnam RetirementReady 2060 Fund

-Putnam RetirementReady 2055 Fund

-Putnam RetirementReady 2050 Fund

-Putnam RetirementReady 2045 Fund

-Putnam RetirementReady 2040 Fund

-Putnam RetirementReady 2035 Fund

-Putnam RetirementReady 2030 Fund

-Putnam RetirementReady 2025 Fund

Putnam Sustainable Leaders Fund

Putnam Tax Exempt Income Fund

Putnam Tax-Free Income Trust

 
 

-Putnam Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund

-Putnam Tax-Free High Yield Fund

Putnam Variable Trust

-Putnam VT Diversified Income Fund

-Putnam VT Emerging Markets Equity Fund

-Putnam VT Equity Income Fund

-Putnam VT George Putnam Balanced Fund

-Putnam VT Global Asset Allocation Fund

-Putnam VT Global Equity Fund

-Putnam VT Global Health Care Fund

-Putnam VT Government Money Market Fund

-Putnam VT Growth Opportunities Fund

-Putnam VT High Yield Fund

-Putnam VT Income Fund

-Putnam VT International Equity Fund

-Putnam VT International Value Fund

-Putnam VT Mortgage Securities Fund

-Putnam VT Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund

-Putnam VT Multi-Cap Core

-Putnam VT Research Fund

-Putnam VT Small Cap Growth Fund

-Putnam VT Small Cap Value Fund

-Putnam VT Sustainable Future Fund

-Putnam VT Sustainable Leaders Fund

 

 

12/30/20

 
 

 

 

 

AMENDMENT TO MASTER CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT

 

This Amendment to Master Custodian Agreement (“Amendment”) is made as of June 25, 2021, by and between each management investment company party thereto (each, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds,” and each series of a Fund, a “Portfolio”), each severally and not jointly, and State Street Bank and Trust Company (the “Custodian”).

 

WHEREAS, each Fund and the Custodian entered into that certain Master Custodian Agreement dated as of January 1, 2007 (as amended, modified and supplemented from time to time, the “Agreement”); and

 

WHEREAS, each Fund and the Custodian desire to amend the Agreement as set forth herein.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, each Fund, acting on its own behalf separately from all of the other investment companies and not jointly or jointly and severally with any of the other investment companies, and the Custodian hereby agree to amend the Agreement, pursuant to the terms thereof, as follows:

 

1.       Section 16(a) of the Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

 

“(a) This Agreement shall continue in full force and effect until December 31, 2021, unless the Funds provide written notice to Custodian of the Funds’ intent either to renew this Agreement for an additional term or to terminate this Agreement, which notice shall be provided by the Funds to the Custodian no later than December 31, 2021 (“Fund Notice”). If the Funds provide a Fund Notice pursuant to which the Funds elect to terminate this Agreement, this Agreement shall then terminate one hundred eighty (180) days after the last day of the month during which the Fund Notice is provided (the effective date of such termination being referred to as the “Termination Date”), subject to any Extension Period (as defined below) and any additional extension as the parties may agree to separately in writing. Upon termination of this Agreement pursuant to this paragraph, upon receipt of a final bill from the Custodian, the Funds shall pay all accrued and unpaid fees under this Agreement. If the Funds provide a Fund Notice pursuant to which the Funds elect to renew the Agreement, the parties will engage in good faith negotiations to enter into an extension or an amendment and restatement of this Agreement on mutually acceptable terms (“Extension”), and this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect until such time as the parties execute the Extension, subject to either party’s right to give one hundred eighty (180) days’ prior written notice of its intention to terminate the Agreement  (subject to any Extension Period and any additional extension as the parties may agree to separately in writing) in the event that, in its reasonable judgement, substantial good faith progress toward agreement of an Extension is not being made. If this Agreement is terminated, the Custodian shall, at the reasonable request of the Funds, and subject to the consent of the Custodian (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), continue to provide services hereunder for a period (the "Extension Period") not to exceed ninety (90) days from the Termination Date, and the compensation payable to the Custodian for its services and expenses during such Extension Period shall not exceed one hundred and five percent (105%) (per annum) of the compensation last agreed upon by each Fund and the Custodian and in effect immediately prior to the Termination Date.

 
 

Termination of this Agreement with respect to any one particular Fund or Portfolio shall in no way affect the rights and duties under this Agreement with respect to any other Fund or Portfolio. The provisions of Section 14 and 15 of this Agreement shall survive termination of this Agreement for any reason.

This Agreement may be modified or amended from time to time by mutual written agreement of the parties hereto.”

 

 

2.       Except as expressly amended by this Amendment, the provisions of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

 

3.       A copy of the Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust of each Fund is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Notice is hereby given, and it is expressly agreed, that the obligations under this Amendment and the Agreement of any such Fund shall not be binding upon any of the trustees, shareholders, nominees, officers, agents or employees of such Fund personally, but bind only the trust property of such Fund. Furthermore, notice is given that the assets and liabilities of each series of each Fund that is a series company are separate and distinct and that the obligations of or arising out of this Amendment and the Agreement are several and not joint and are binding only on the assets or property of each series with respect to its obligations. In the case of each Fund, the execution and delivery of this Amendment on its behalf has been authorized by its trustees, and signed by an authorized officer, in each case acting in such capacity and not individually, and neither such authorization by the trustees nor such execution and delivery shall be deemed to have been made by any of them individually, but shall only bind the trust property of each Fund.

 

4.       Attached as Appendix A hereto is a replacement of “Appendix A” to the Agreement, effective as of the date set forth below.

 

Information Classification: Limited Access

Information Classification: Limited Access

2
 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Amendment to be executed in its name and behalf by its duly authorized representative as of the date first written above.

 

 

  EACH MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY
  PARTY TO THE MASTER CUSTODIAN
  AGREEMENT, OTHER THAN PUTNAM ETF TRUST
     
  By: /s/ Jonathan S. Horwitz
  Name: Jonathan S. Horwitz
  Title: Executive Vice President, Principal Executive Officer,
    and Compliance Liaison
     
     
  PUTNAM ETF TRUST, ON BEHALF OF EACH OF ITS
  SERIES
     
  By: /s/ Susan Malloy
  Name: Susan Malloy
  Title: Head of Accounting and Middle Office Services
     
     
  STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
  By: /s/ Michael T. Goonan
  Name: Michael T. Goonan
  Title: Executive Vice President

        

       

 
 

APPENDIX A

 

to

 

Master Custodian Agreement

 

 

 

       
FUND/PORTFOLIO Putnam Fund # State Street Fund #
PUTNAM ASSET ALLOCATION FUNDS    
on behalf of:
Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Balanced Fund 259 38MY
Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Conservative Fund 264 38MZ
Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Growth Fund 250 38MX
Putnam Income Strategies Portfolio VC9 38AK
PUTNAM CALIFORNIA TAX EXEMPT INCOME FUND 027 38Q5
PUTNAM CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES FUND 008 38QG
PUTNAM DIVERSIFIED INCOME TRUST 075 38MS
PUTNAM LARGE CAP VALUE FUND (f/k/a PUTNAM EQUITY INCOME FUND) 012 38QH
PUTNAM FUNDS TRUST    
on behalf of:
Putnam Short Duration Bond Fund EB3 38V5
Putnam Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund EC3 38V6
Putnam Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund ED8 38V8
Putnam Capital Spectrum Fund GA6 38VW
Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Equity Fund FL7 38ZA
Putnam Dynamic Risk Allocation Fund EC2 38BG
Putnam Emerging Markets Equity Fund CT2 38P4
Putnam Equity Spectrum Fund GA7 38VX
Putnam Floating Rate Income Fund 29X 38PJ
Putnam Focused Equity Fund EL8 38VE
Putnam Global Technology Fund EM7 38VF
Putnam Intermediate-Term Municipal Income Fund ND5 38AM
Putnam International Value Fund 2CE 38ND
Putnam Multi-Cap Core Fund HF8 38WG
Putnam Ultra Short Duration Income Fund LU7 38BE
Putnam Short Term Investment Fund NB2 38AJ
Putnam Short-Term Municipal Income Fund NC7 38AL
Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund 2HF 38NI
Putnam Mortgage Opportunities Fund PZ4 38PO
Putnam Focused International Equity Fund (f/k/a PUTNAM GLOBAL EQUITY FUND) 005 38QE
PUTNAM GLOBAL HEALTH CARE FUND 021 38QJ
PUTNAM GLOBAL INCOME TRUST 041 38QL
           

Information Classification: Limited Access

Information Classification: Limited Access

4
 

 

PUTNAM HIGH YIELD FUND 060 38MI
PUTNAM INCOME FUND 004 38QD
PUTNAM INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND 841 38NX
PUTNAM INVESTMENT FUNDS    
on behalf of:
Putnam Growth Opportunities Fund 2AP 38QR
Putnam International Capital Opportunities Fund 2AZ 38PG
Putnam Sustainable Future Fund 2OV 38NO
Putnam Research Fund 2AQ 38NB
Putnam Small Cap Value Fund 2MF 38NL
Putnam Government Money Market Fund QW2 38GM
PUTNAM MANAGED MUNICIPAL INCOME TRUST 052 38R1
PUTNAM MASSACHUSETTS TAX EXEMPT INCOME FUND 845 38RD
PUTNAM MASTER INTERMEDIATE INCOME TRUST 074 38MR
PUTNAM MINNESOTA TAX EXEMPT INCOME FUND 847 38RF
PUTNAM MONEY MARKET FUND 010 38Q2
Putnam Sustainable Leaders Fund 852 38NY
PUTNAM MUNICIPAL OPPORTUNITIES TRUST 582 38RB
PUTNAM NEW JERSEY TAX EXEMPT INCOME FUND 019 38Q4
PUTNAM NEW YORK TAX EXEMPT INCOME FUND 030 38Q6
PUTNAM OHIO TAX EXEMPT INCOME FUND 848 38RG
PUTNAM PENNSYLVANIA TAX EXEMPT INCOME FUND 047 38R0
PUTNAM PREMIER INCOME TRUST 073 38MQ
PUTNAM TARGET DATE FUNDS    
on behalf of:
Putnam RetirementReady 2065 Fund  WJ7 38B2
Putnam RetirementReady 2060 Fund  QN8 38KH
Putnam RetirementReady 2055 Fund  KT2 38KB
Putnam RetirementReady 2050 Fund  7CR FFAM
Putnam RetirementReady 2045 Fund  40M FFAD
Putnam RetirementReady 2040 Fund  40F FFAB
Putnam RetirementReady 2035 Fund  49Y FFAL
Putnam RetirementReady 2030 Fund  49R FFAJ
Putnam RetirementReady 2025 Fund  49K FFAI
Putnam RetirementReady Maturity Fund 48P FFAF
Putnam Retirement Advantage 2025 Fund UU4 38BL
Putnam Retirement Advantage 2030 Fund UU5 38BN
Putnam Retirement Advantage 2035 Fund UU6 38BP
Putnam Retirement Advantage 2040 Fund UU7 38BQ
Putnam Retirement Advantage 2045 Fund UU8 38BR
Putnam Retirement Advantage 2050 Fund UU9 38BS
Putnam Retirement Advantage 2055 Fund UV2 38BU
Putnam Retirement Advantage 2060 Fund UV3 38BV
Putnam Retirement Advantage 2065 Fund WJ8 38B1
Putnam Retirement Advantage Maturity Fund UV4 38BM
PUTNAM TAX EXEMPT INCOME FUND 011 38Q3
 
 

 

PUTNAM TAX-FREE INCOME TRUST    
on behalf of:
Putnam Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund (f/k/a Putnam AMT-Free Municipal Fund) 035 38Q7
Putnam Tax-Free High Yield Fund 036 38Q8
PUTNAM MORTGAGE SECURITIES FUND 032 38MF
PUTNAM VARIABLE TRUST    
on behalf of:
Putnam VT Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund LC3 38AD
Putnam VT Mortgage Securities Fund 2PX 38NP
Putnam VT Small Cap Growth Fund 23K 38QO
Putnam VT Diversified Income Fund 961 38PA
Putnam VT Equity Income Fund 23N 38QP
Putnam VT George Putnam Balanced Fund 2IS 38QV
Putnam VT Global Asset Allocation Fund 070 38MO
Putnam VT Global Equity Fund 016 38QI
Putnam VT Global Health Care Fund 2IW 38QW
Putnam VT Growth Opportunities Fund 2PU 38QY
Putnam VT High Yield Fund 067 38MN
Putnam VT Income Fund 068 38QM
Putnam VT International Equity Fund 2DO 38NF
Putnam VT Emerging Markets Equity Fund 2DP 38NG
Putnam VT International Value Fund 2DN 38NE
Putnam VT Multi-Cap Core Fund 2IO 38QU
Putnam VT Government Money Market Fund 069 38R5
Putnam VT Sustainable Leaders Fund 098 38PF
Putnam VT Sustainable Future Fund 23H 38MV
Putnam VT Research Fund 2LA 38PH
Putnam VT Small Cap Value Fund 2MJ 38NM
GEORGE PUTNAM BALANCED FUND 001 38QA
PUTNAM INVESTMENT FUNDS    
on behalf of:    
Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund SP2 38PU
Putnam ETF Trust    
Putnam Focused Large Cap Growth ETF    
Putnam Focused Large Cap Value ETF    
Putnam Sustainable Future ETF    
Putnam Sustainable Leaders ETF    

 

Information Classification: Limited Access

Information Classification: Limited Access

6
 

AMENDMENT TO MASTER SUB-ACCOUNTING SERVICES AGREEMENT

(Registered Funds)

 

This Amendment to Master Sub-Accounting Services Agreement (“Amendment”) is made as of June 25, 2021, by and between the Putnam entity identified on Appendix A (the “Administrator”) and State Street Bank and Trust Company (the “Sub-Accounting Agent”).

 

WHEREAS, the Administrator and the Sub-Accounting Agent entered into that certain Sub-Accounting Services Agreement dated as of January 1, 2007 (as amended, modified and supplemented from time to time, the “Agreement”); and

 

WHEREAS, the Administrator and Sub-Accounting Agent desire to amend the Agreement as set forth herein.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the Administrator and the Sub-Accounting Agent hereby agree to amend the Agreement, pursuant to the terms thereof, as follows:

 

1.Section 6(a) of the Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

 

This Agreement shall continue in full force and effect until December 31, 2021, unless the Administrator provides written notice to Sub-Accounting Agent of the Administrators’ intent either to renew this Agreement for an additional term or to terminate this Agreement, which notice shall be provided by the Administrator to the Sub-Accounting Agent no later than December 31, 2021 (“Administrator Notice”). If the Administrator provides an Administrator Notice pursuant to which the Administrator elects to terminate this Agreement, this Agreement shall then terminate one hundred eighty (180) days after the last day of the month during which the Administrator Notice is provided (the effective date of such termination being referred to as the “Termination Date”), subject to any Extension Period (as defined below) and any additional extension as the parties may agree to separately in writing. Upon termination of this Agreement pursuant to this paragraph, upon receipt of a final bill from the Sub-Accounting Agent, the Administrator shall pay all accrued and unpaid fees under this Agreement. If the Administrator provides a Administrator Notice pursuant to which the Administrator elects to renew the Agreement, the parties will engage in good faith negotiations to enter into an extension or an amendment and restatement of this Agreement on mutually acceptable terms (“Extension”), and this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect until such time as the parties execute the Extension, subject to either party’s right to give one hundred eighty (180) days’ prior written notice of its intention to terminate the Agreement  (subject to any Extension Period and any additional extension as the parties may agree to separately in writing) in the event that, in its reasonable judgement, substantial good faith progress toward agreement of an Extension is not being made. If this Agreement is terminated, the Sub-Accounting Agent shall, at the reasonable request of the Administrator, and subject to the consent of the Sub-Accounting Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), continue to provide services hereunder for a period (the "Extension Period") not to exceed ninety (90) days from the Termination Date, and the compensation payable to the Sub-Accounting Agent for its services and expenses during such Extension Period shall not exceed one hundred and five percent (105%) (per annum) of the compensation last agreed upon by each Administrator and the Sub-Accounting Agent and in effect immediately prior to the Termination Date.”

2.       Except as expressly amended by this Amendment, the provisions of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

 

3.       Attached as Appendix A hereto is a replacement of “Appendix A” to the Agreement, effective as of the date set forth above.

 

[Signature page follows.]

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Amendment to be executed in its name and behalf by its duly authorized representative as of the date first written above.

 

 

  PUTNAM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC
     
  By: /s/ Michael J. Woodall
  Name: Michael J. Woodall
  Title: Chief of Operations
     
     
  STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
     
  By: /s/ Michael T. Goonan
  Name: Michael T. Goonan
  Title: Executive Vice President


       

 


Information Classification: Limited Access

2
 

APPENDIX A

 

to

 

Master Sub-Accounting Services Agreement

 

FUND/PORTFOLIO Putnam Fund # State Street Fund #
     
PUTNAM ASSET ALLOCATION FUNDS    
on behalf of:
Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Balanced Fund 259 38MY
Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Conservative Fund 264 38MZ
Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Growth Fund 250 38MX
Putnam Income Strategies Portfolio VC9 38AK
     
PUTNAM CALIFORNIA TAX EXEMPT INCOME FUND 027 38Q5
PUTNAM CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES FUND 008 38QG
PUTNAM DIVERSIFIED INCOME TRUST 075 38MS
PUTNAM LARGE CAP VALUE FUND (f/k/a PUTNAM EQUITY INCOME FUND) 012 38QH
     
PUTNAM FUNDS TRUST
on behalf of:
Putnam Short Duration Bond Fund EB3 38V5
Putnam Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund EC3 38V6
Putnam Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund ED8 38V8
Putnam Capital Spectrum Fund GA6 38VW
Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Equity Fund FL7 38ZA
Putnam Dynamic Risk Allocation Fund EC2 38BG
Putnam Emerging Markets Equity Fund CT2 38P4
Putnam Equity Spectrum Fund GA7 38VX
Putnam Floating Rate Income Fund 29X 38PJ
Putnam Focused Equity Fund EL8 38VE
Putnam Global Technology Fund EM7 38VF
Putnam Intermediate-Term Municipal Income Fund ND5 38AM
Putnam International Value Fund 2CE 38ND
Putnam Multi-Cap Core Fund HF8 38WG
Putnam Ultra Short Duration Income Fund LU7 38BE
Putnam Short Term Investment Fund NB2 38AJ
Putnam Short-Term Municipal Income Fund NC7 38AL
Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund 2HF 38NI
Putnam Mortgage Opportunities Fund PZ4 38PO
Putnam Focused International Equity Fund (f/k/a PUTNAM GLOBAL EQUITY FUND) 005 38QE

 

Information Classification: Limited Access

3
 

 

PUT EMERG MKTS SM CAP EQ LLP UG8 38BF
PUTNAM GLOBAL HEALTH CARE FUND 021 38QJ
PUTNAM GLOBAL INCOME TRUST 041 38QL
Putnam High Yield Fund 060 38MI
PUTNAM INCOME FUND 004 38QD
PUTNAM INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND 841 38NX
     
PUTNAM INVESTMENT FUNDS
on behalf of:
Putnam Growth Opportunities Fund 2AP 38QR
Putnam International Capital Opportunities Fund 2AZ 38PG
Putnam Sustainable Future Fund 2OV 38NO
Putnam Research Fund 2AQ 38NB
Putnam Small Cap Value Fund 2MF 38NL
Putnam Government Money Market Fund QW2 38GM
     
PUTNAM MANAGED MUNICIPAL INCOME TRUST 052 38R1
PUTNAM MASSACHUSETTS TAX EXEMPT INCOME FUND 845 38RD
PUTNAM MASTER INTERMEDIATE INCOME TRUST 074 38MR
PUTNAM MINNESOTA TAX EXEMPT INCOME FUND 847 38RF
PUTNAM MONEY MARKET FUND 010 38Q2
Putnam Sustainable Leaders Fund 852 38NY
PUTNAM MUNICIPAL OPPORTUNITIES TRUST 582 38RB
PUTNAM NEW JERSEY TAX EXEMPT INCOME FUND 019 38Q4
PUTNAM NEW YORK TAX EXEMPT INCOME FUND 030 38Q6
PUTNAM OHIO TAX EXEMPT INCOME FUND 848 38RG
PUTNAM PENNSYLVANIA TAX EXEMPT INCOME FUND 047 38R0
PUTNAM PREMIER INCOME TRUST 073 38MQ
     
PUTNAM TARGET DATE FUNDS
on behalf of:
Putnam RetirementReady 2065 Fund  WJ7 38B2
Putnam RetirementReady 2060 Fund  QN8 38KH
Putnam RetirementReady 2055 Fund  KT2 38KB
Putnam RetirementReady 2050 Fund  7CR FFAM
Putnam RetirementReady 2045 Fund  40M FFAD
Putnam RetirementReady 2040 Fund  40F FFAB
Putnam RetirementReady 2035 Fund  49Y FFAL
Putnam RetirementReady 2030 Fund  49R FFAJ
Putnam RetirementReady 2025 Fund  49K FFAI
Putnam RetirementReady Maturity Fund 48P FFAF
     
Putnam Retirement Advantage 2025 Fund UU4 38BL
Putnam Retirement Advantage 2030 Fund UU5 38BN

 

Information Classification: Limited Access

4
 

 

Putnam Retirement Advantage 2035 Fund UU6 38BP
Putnam Retirement Advantage 2040 Fund UU7 38BQ
Putnam Retirement Advantage 2045 Fund UU8 38BR
Putnam Retirement Advantage 2050 Fund UU9 38BS
Putnam Retirement Advantage 2055 Fund UV2 38BU
Putnam Retirement Advantage 2060 Fund UV3 38BV
Putnam Retirement Advantage 2065 Fund WJ8 38B1
PUTNAM RET ADVANTAGE 2065 TRUST WN3 38B8
Putnam Retirement Advantage Maturity Fund UV4 38BM
Putnam 529 Age-Based 2021 Fund WK2 38B3
     
PUTNAM TAX EXEMPT INCOME FUND 011 38Q3
     
PUTNAM TAX-FREE INCOME TRUST
on behalf of:
Putnam Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund (f/k/a Putnam AMT-Free Municipal Fund) 035 38Q7
Putnam Tax-Free High Yield Fund 036 38Q8
     
Putnam Mortgage Securities Fund 032 38MF
     
PUTNAM VARIABLE TRUST
on behalf of:
Putnam VT Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund LC3 38AD
Putnam VT Mortgage Securities Fund 2PX 38NP
Putnam VT Small Cap Growth Fund 23K 38QO
Putnam VT Diversified Income Fund 961 38PA
Putnam VT Equity Income Fund 23N 38QP
Putnam VT George Putnam Balanced Fund 2IS 38QV
Putnam VT Global Asset Allocation Fund 070 38MO
Putnam VT Global Equity Fund 016 38QI
Putnam VT Global Health Care Fund 2IW 38QW
Putnam VT Growth Opportunities Fund 2PU 38QY
Putnam VT High Yield Fund 067 38MN
Putnam VT Income Fund 068 38QM
Putnam VT International Equity Fund 2DO 38NF
Putnam VT Emerging Markets Equity Fund 2DP 38NG
Putnam VT International Value Fund 2DN 38NE
Putnam VT Multi-Cap Core Fund 2IO 38QU
Putnam VT Government Money Market Fund 069 38R5
Putnam VT Sustainable Leaders Fund 098 38PF
Putnam VT Sustainable Future Fund 23H 38MV
Putnam VT Research Fund 2LA 38PH
Putnam VT Small Cap Value Fund 2MJ 38NM
     

 

Information Classification: Limited Access

5
 

 

George Putnam Balanced Fund 001 38QA
     
PUTNAM INVESTMENT FUNDS    
on behalf of:    
Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund SP2 38PU
     
     
Putnam PanAgora Market Neutral Fund SL6 38PW
Putnam PanAgora Managed Futures Strategy Ltd. SN8 38PY
     
Putnam ETF Trust    
Putnam Focused Large Cap Growth ETF    
Putnam Focused Large Cap Value ETF    
Putnam Sustainable Future ETF    
Putnam Sustainable Leaders ETF    

 

 

Information Classification: Limited Access

6
 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

MASTER INTERFUND LENDING AGREEMENT

 

 

This Amended and Restated Master Interfund Lending Agreement (as further amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Master Agreement”), dated as of September 24, 2021 (the “Effective Date”), is by and among each investment company listed on Schedule A or Schedule B hereto (collectively, the “Trusts,” and each portfolio series of a Trust (or if the relevant Trust has no portfolio series, then the relevant Trust) shall be referred to herein as a “Fund” and collectively as the “Funds”) and Putnam Investment Management, LLC (the “Adviser”).

 

WHEREAS, the Trusts and the Adviser have received an exemptive order (the “Order”) dated April 10, 2002 from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission permitting the Funds to participate in a joint lending and borrowing facility (the “Lending Facility”);

 

WHEREAS, the Funds listed on Schedule A hereto (as amended from time to time) are permitted to borrow cash in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Order to satisfy redemption requests, to cover unanticipated cash shortfalls such as a Sales Fail (defined below), or for other temporary purposes (each such borrowing Fund is hereinafter referred to as a “Borrower”);

 

WHEREAS, the Funds listed on Schedule B hereto (as amended from time to time) are permitted to lend cash to one or more Borrowers from time to time on the terms set forth below and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Order (each such lending Fund is hereinafter referred to as a “Lender”);

 

NOW THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.           Definitions. As used herein, the following terms shall have meanings assigned to them below:

1940 Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

Bank Loan Rate” for any day means the rate calculated by the Credit Facility Team according to a formula established by the Board of Trustees of each Trust intended to approximate the lowest interest rate at which bank short-term loans would be available to a Borrower.

Borrowing Instructions” has the meaning specified in Section 3.1.1 hereof.

Business Day” means a day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for the purpose of transacting business.

Credit Arrangements” means the credit arrangements that a Fund may have for borrowing for temporary or emergency purposes, including borrowings from banks and other institutional lenders.

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Credit Facility Team” means the officers and employees of the fund administration, middle office, trading and investment departments of the Adviser who are responsible for administering the Interfund Lending Facility.

Interest Rate” means, for each date on which interest accrues hereunder, the average of (i) the higher of the OTD Rate and the Repo Rate and (ii) the Bank Loan Rate.

Lending Instructions” has the meaning specified in Section 3.1.1 hereof.

Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2 hereof.

Loan Account” has the meaning specified in Section 3.5 hereof.

Maximum Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2 hereof.

Obligations” means all of the obligations (whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, primary or secondary, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising) of a Borrower to a Lender hereunder.

OTD Rate” on any day means the highest interest rate available to a Lender from investment in overnight time deposits.

Outstanding Secured Borrowing” means any loan made to a Fund either under this Master Agreement or under any other agreement that is secured by assets of the Fund.

Prospectus” means with respect to each Borrower the prospectus required to be delivered by the Borrower to offerees of its securities pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Repo Rate” on any day means the highest interest rate available to a Lender from investment in overnight repurchase agreements.

Sales Fail” in connection with the attempted sale of a security means the cash shortfall resulting from circumstances beyond the seller’s control, such as the delay in the delivery of cash to the seller’s custodian or improper delivery instructions by the broker effecting the transaction.

SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Secured Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2(e) hereof.

Security Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 3.11(d) hereof.

Statement of Additional Information” means with respect to each Borrower the Statement of Additional Information which must be provided by the Borrower to recipients of its Prospectus upon request pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the SEC.

Unsecured Loan” means any Loan other than a Secured Loan.

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2.             Lending Facility. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Master Agreement, each Lender may from time to time in its discretion loan its available cash to any Borrower (a “Loan”). Each Loan shall be made for a term no longer than the least of (a) the maximum term on any outstanding loan or advance to the Borrower under its Credit Arrangements; (b) seven (7) days; or (c) the number of days required for the Borrower to receive payment for securities sold at or prior to the time the Loan is made in an amount sufficient to repay the Loan. The maximum principal amount of all Loans outstanding with respect to any Borrower at any time shall not exceed the Maximum Amount the Borrower is permitted to borrow at such time under:

(a) applicable laws and regulations;

(b) the provisions of Section 5.2 hereof;

(c) agreements with federal, state, local or foreign governmental authorities or regulators applicable to the Borrower or limitations specified in the Order applicable to the Borrower’s borrowing and pledging activities, all as amended and in effect from time to time;

(d) limitations on borrowing adopted by the Borrower in its Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information or elsewhere, as amended and in effect from time to time; and

(e) in the case of Loans for which the Borrower is required to provide collateral pursuant to Section 3.11 hereof (“Secured Loans”), any limitations specified in the Security Agreement (as defined below) and any limitations on the pledging of assets adopted by the Borrower in its Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information, Credit Arrangements or elsewhere.

As used herein, the term “Maximum Amount” means the maximum amount that the Borrower is permitted to borrow in accordance with the provisions of the preceding sentence.

3.            Loan Requirements.

3.1       Procedural Requirements. All loans shall be requested and funded in accordance with the procedures set forth herein and such other procedures as may be approved and adopted from time to time by the Board of Trustees of the applicable Trust (the “Interfund Lending Procedures”), including a majority of the trustees who are not “interested persons” as that term is used in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act.

3.1.1       Borrowing and Lending Instructions. The Adviser’s investment personnel for each participating Fund shall provide the Credit Facility Team with standing instructions as to their desire to have the Fund act as a Lender when such Fund has uninvested cash balances (“Lending Instructions”). If the designated individual or individuals in the Interfund Lending Procedures determine that a Fund has borrowing needs in accordance with the Interfund Lending Procedures, then such individual or individuals shall instruct the Credit Facility Team as to such Fund’s desire to have the Fund act as a Borrower (“Borrowing Instructions”). Such individual or individuals may revoke or change Lending Instructions or Borrowing Instructions in accordance with the

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Interfund Lending Procedures with respect to a Fund by notifying the Credit Facility Team.

3.1.2       Allocation Procedures. On each Business Day, the Credit Facility Team shall seek to collect data on the uninvested cash of Funds listed on Schedule B hereto from such Funds’ custodian. On each occasion that a Fund delivers Borrowing Instructions to the Credit Facility Team, the Credit Facility Team will seek to match the amount and term of the Fund’s borrowing needs with the cash available from the Funds that have provided Lending Instructions in accordance with allocation and administrative procedures established by the Board of Trustees. The Credit Facility Team shall allocate the borrowing demand and lending needs among the Funds on what the Credit Facility Team deems to be an equitable basis and in accordance with the Interfund Lending Procedures. The Credit Facility Team shall not solicit cash for Loans from any Funds or publish or disseminate the amount of any current borrowing demand to the Adviser’s investment personnel.

No Loan may be made unless the Interest Rate is more favorable for the Lender than both the OTD Rate and the Repo Rate and more favorable for the Borrower than the Bank Loan Rate.

3.1.3       Funding the Loans. If a Loan has been allocated to a Lender and Borrower pursuant to Section 3.1.2 hereof, and the Loan is otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in the Order, the Lender shall make such Loan to the Borrower. The proceeds of each Loan made by the Lender to the Borrower shall be wired (or transferred if Borrower and Lender have the same custodian) at the Borrower’s expense in accordance with the wiring instructions for each Fund, as in effect from time to time, to an account maintained on the Borrower’s behalf by its custodian.

3.1.4       Obligations Arising from Loan. Each Loan made by the Lender to Borrower shall:

(a) obligate the Borrower to borrow the principal amount of the Loan at the Interest Rate applicable thereto for the term thereof solely for use by the Borrower;

(b) constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower to the Lender that

(i) the Loan requested thereby

(A) is permitted under the Borrower’s most recent Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information,

(B) is in accordance with the requirements of the Order applicable to the Borrower,

(C) will not, when made, cause the aggregate indebtedness of the Borrower to exceed the Maximum Amount then in effect, and

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(D) will be used by the Borrower only in accordance with Section 3.7 hereof; and

(ii) all of the representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in Section 4 hereof are true and correct as of the date of such Loan as though made on and as of such date; and

(iii) all material facts about the Borrower’s intended participation in the Lending Facility are fully disclosed in the Borrower’s Statement of Additional Information; and

(c) constitute a representation and warranty by the Lender to the Borrower that the Loan thereby

(i) is permitted under the Lender’s most recent Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information;

(ii) is in accordance with the requirements of the Order applicable to the Lender; and

(iii) all material facts about the Lender’s intended participation in the Lending Facility are fully disclosed in the Lender’s Statement of Additional Information.

3.2       Repayment of Loans. The principal amount of each Loan shall be repaid by the Borrower from the assets of the Borrower on the earlier of one (1) Business Day after demand by the Lender or the expiration of the term of the Loan.

3.3       Interest. The outstanding principal amount of each Loan shall bear interest until maturity at the Interest Rate. Interest accrued on each Loan shall be paid by the Borrower upon the earlier of (a) mutually agreed times, or (b) the maturity of such Loan. Amounts overdue hereunder (including, without limitation, overdue principal, and, to the extent permitted by law, overdue interest, fees, charges and expenses) shall bear interest until paid at an annual rate equal to the sum of (i) the Interest Rate applicable to such Loan prior to its maturity and (ii) two percent (2%).

3.4       Prepayments. Loans may be prepaid in whole or in part prior to the date on which such Loan is due and payable without premium or penalty.

3.5       Loan Records Accounts. Promptly after a Loan has been made, the Credit Facility Team shall note on its records for the Borrower and Lender, confirming (a) the principal amount of such Loan, (b) the Interest Rate applicable thereto and (c) the maturity thereof. The Credit Facility Team will maintain a separate account on its books for each Lender and Borrower (a “Loan Account”) on which will be recorded, in accordance with the Adviser’s customary accounting practice, (a) all Loans made by a Lender to a Borrower, (b) all payments of such Loans made to a Lender, and (c) all other charges and expenses properly chargeable to the Borrower. The debit balance of each Fund’s Loan Account shall reflect the amount of the Borrower’s indebtedness from time to time to the Lenders hereunder. Any written statement

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maintained by the Credit Facility Team regarding the Loan shall, in the absence of manifest error, constitute conclusive evidence of the indebtedness of the Borrower to the Lender as of the date of such statement, provided, however, that the failure of the Credit Facility Team to make such statement shall not impair the validity or binding nature of the Borrower’s Obligations with respect to such Loan.

3.6       Computations. All computations hereunder shall be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed and a 360-day year.

3.7       Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of each Loan made hereunder with respect to any Fund shall be used only by such Fund in accordance with its Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information for temporary purposes to satisfy redemption requests, to cover unanticipated cash shortfalls such as a Sales Fail, or for other temporary purposes as permitted by the Interfund Lending Procedures.

3.8       Discretionary Facility. It is acknowledged and agreed by each Borrower that each Lender has no obligation to make any Loan hereunder unless it has issued Lending Instructions, and that the decision whether or not to issue Lending Instructions under this Master Agreement is within the sole and exclusive discretion of each Lender. It is acknowledged and agreed by each Lender that no Borrower is obligated to borrow money hereunder unless it has issued Borrowing Instructions.

3.9       Termination of Participation in the Lending Facility. Each Lender and each Borrower may terminate its participation in this Master Agreement at any time by written notice to the Credit Facility Team; provided that on or before the date of any termination the relevant Lender or Borrower has no Loans outstanding. The Adviser may at any time by delivery of a revised Schedule A or Schedule B, as applicable, to the Credit Facility Team add additional Funds that are eligible to rely on the Order as parties to this Master Agreement, whereupon those additional Funds shall be treated for all purposes as a Borrower and as a Lender, as applicable.

3.10       Recourse to Assets. Loans made to any Borrower shall be repaid solely from the assets of such Borrower, and a Lender shall have no right of recourse or offset against the assets of any other Fund with respect to such Loans or any default in respect thereto. Each Lender’s liability under this Master Agreement with respect to a Loan shall be solely limited to the Lender’s assets and each Borrower hereby waives any and all rights it may have against any other Funds with respect to such Loan or any default by Lender with respect thereto.

3.11       Collateral Security for Loans.

(a) As a condition precedent to making any Loan to any Borrower or continuing any Loan made to any Borrower, the Borrower covenants and agrees that in the event that (i) the Borrower’s outstanding borrowings from all sources immediately after the Loan would exceed 10% of its total assets or (ii) the Borrower’s outstanding borrowings from all sources exceed 10% of the Borrower’s total assets for any reason (such as a decline in net asset value or because of shareholder redemptions), within one (1) Business Day (except as required by Section 3.11(b) below), the Borrower will

(i) repay all its outstanding Loans;

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(ii) reduce its outstanding indebtedness to 10% or less of its total assets; or

(iii) secure each outstanding Loan by the pledge of segregated collateral for such Loan and by transfer of such collateral into a segregated account in the name of the Lender or the entering into, by the Borrower, the Lender and the Borrower’s custodian, of a control agreement satisfactory to the Lender. The minimum market value of the stock and other portfolio securities of the Borrower required to be pledged as collateral to the Lender hereunder with respect to any Secured Loan shall be determined by the Lender in its discretion but, in all cases, will have a market value at least equal to 102% of the outstanding principal value of the loan.

Until each Loan that is outstanding at any time that a Borrower’s outstanding borrowings exceed 10% of its assets is repaid or the Borrower’s outstanding borrowings cease to exceed 10% of its total assets, the Borrower shall mark the value of the collateral to market each day and will pledge and transfer to a segregated account in the name of the Lender such additional collateral as is necessary to maintain the market value of the collateral that secures each outstanding Loan at least equal to 102% of the outstanding principal value of the Loan. Subject to Sections 3.11(b) and (c) hereof, once a Borrower’s outstanding borrowings cease to exceed 10% of its total assets, segregated collateral will no longer be required.

(b) Any Loan to a Borrower with Outstanding Secured Borrowings (i) will be at an interest rate equal to or lower than that of any outstanding bank loan, (ii) will be secured at least on an equal priority basis with at least an equivalent percentage of collateral to loan value as any outstanding bank loan that requires collateral, and (iii) will have a maturity no longer than any outstanding bank loan (and in any event not more than seven (7) days).

(c) Notwithstanding Sections 3.11(a) and (b), if any other lender to a Borrower imposes conditions with respect to the quality of or access to collateral securing a borrowing, the Borrower’s collateral for any Loan will be subject to the same conditions (if the other lender is another Fund) or the same or better conditions (in any other circumstance).

(d) Each pledge of collateral required pursuant to this Section 3.11 shall be made in accordance with and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the collateral security agreement dated as of the Effective Date and signed by each Trust, substantially in the form set forth in Schedule C hereto (the “Security Agreement”).

(e) If requested by the Lender, the Borrower agrees to enter into, and use reasonable efforts to cause its custodian to enter into, a control agreement with the Lender on terms satisfactory to the Lender.

3.12       Records and Reports. Each Fund will maintain and preserve for a period of not less than six years from the end of the fiscal year in which any transaction under this Master Agreement has occurred, the first two years in an easily accessible place, written records of all Loans to which it was a party setting forth: (i) a description of the terms of the transaction,

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including the amount, the maturity, and the rate of interest on the Loan, (ii) the rate of interest available at the time on short-term repurchase agreements and commercial bank borrowings, and (iii) a quarterly report of the Credit Facility Team to the applicable Board of Trustees and the other information presented to the applicable Board of Trustees related to their review of the Lending Facility. On a quarterly basis, the Credit Facility Team will prepare a report for the applicable Board of Trustees (i) concerning the participation of the Funds in the Lending Facility and the terms and other conditions of any extensions of credit under the Lending Facility and (ii) reporting on the operations of the Lending Facility.

4.                  Representations and Warranties

Each Borrower represents and warrants to each Lender and each Lender represents and warrants to each Borrower that:

(a) it is a series of the applicable Trust that is duly organized and validly existing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and is qualified to do business in every other jurisdiction where lack of such qualification would have a material adverse effect on its business, assets or condition (financial or otherwise);

(b) the applicable Trust is registered as an open-end management investment company under the 1940 Act;

(c) the execution, delivery and performance by the applicable Trust of this Master Agreement

(i) are within its power,

(ii) have been duly authorized by all necessary action, and

(iii) will not

(A) contribute to or result in a breach of or default under or conflict with any existing law, order, regulation or ruling of any governmental or regulatory agency or authority, any order, writ, injunction or ruling of any court or other tribunal, or any indenture, lease agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which the Trust is a party or by which it is or its property or assets may be bound or affected, or

(B) result in the imposition of any liens or encumbrances on any property or assets of the Trust (except as contemplated hereby), or

(C) require any additional approval or consent of, or filing with, shareholders of such Trust or any governmental or regulatory agency or authority bearing on the validity of any borrowing pursuant to this Master Agreement, or

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(D) violate any provision of the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust or any amendment thereof, any of its investment policies and limitations, or any provision of its most recent Prospectus or Statement of Additional Information;

(d) this Master Agreement is a legally valid and binding obligation of the applicable Trust, enforceable against the Fund in accordance with its terms except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws or equitable principles relating to or limiting the rights of creditors generally; and

(e) it is not in material violation of any material term of its most recent Prospectus or Statement of Additional Information, or of its organizational documents, or of any investment, borrowing or other similar type of policy or restriction to which it is subject, or of any material term of any material agreement or instrument to which it is a party, or, to the best of its knowledge, of any judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to it.

5.            Covenants

5.1       Covenants in Effect Until Termination of Master Agreement. Until all of the obligations have been performed in full and its participation in the Lending Facility has been terminated as provided herein, each Borrower covenants that it will:

(a) maintain its legal existence and business; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Section 5.1(a) shall prohibit the merger or consolidation of any Borrower with or into another person upon written notice thereof to the Lenders under any Loans then outstanding, subject to the requirement that the surviving entity (if not previously a Borrower) be admitted as such in accordance with this Master Agreement, and subject to the further requirement that the surviving entity assumes all of the obligations of such Borrower under this Master Agreement, including, without limitation, the obligations of such Borrower with respect to any Loans outstanding to such Borrower at the time of such merger or consolidation;

(b) at any time and from time to time, at its own expense, promptly execute and deliver or file all further instruments and documents, and take all further action, that may be necessary or desirable, or that the Lender may request, in order to perfect, protect, validate or preserve any security interest granted or pledged to the Lender pursuant to Section 3.11 hereof or to enable the Lender to exercise and enforce its rights and remedies thereunder with respect thereto;

(c) file all federal and other tax returns, reports and declarations required by all relevant jurisdictions on or before the due dates for such returns, reports and declarations and will pay all taxes and other governmental assessments and charges as and when they become due;

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(d) comply in all material respects with all of its investment policies and restrictions and all applicable statutes, rules, regulations and orders of, and all applicable restrictions imposed by, all governmental authorities in respect of the conduct of its business and the ownership of its properties; provided that such Borrower shall not be required by reason of this section to comply therewith at any time while such Borrower shall be contesting its obligations to do so in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly initiated and diligently conducted;

(e) promptly notify the Lender of any material change in its agreements with governmental authorities or regulators or its investment policies or restrictions or of any Credit Arrangements or modifications thereof; and

(f) upon request from the Lender from time to time, furnish to the Lender at reasonable times and intervals any information with respect to its financial standing and history or its property or business or prospects.

5.2       Covenants in Effect While Loans Are Outstanding.

5.2.1       The Borrower covenants that, so long as any principal of or interest on any Loan made to it is outstanding, it will:

(a) not, as long as any Unsecured Loan is outstanding hereunder, create or permit to exist any encumbrance in favor of any person or entity other than the Lender upon any of the assets of the Borrower other than (i) encumbrances created in connection with portfolio investments of the Borrower and (ii) to secure the Borrower’s obligations under any Credit Arrangement, in each case to the extent permitted by the provisions of its Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information;

(b) not take out any Loan that

(i) immediately after such Loan would cause the total of such loans to exceed 33 1/3% of the Borrower’s total assets, or

(ii) would cause such Borrower’s total loans to exceed 10% of such Borrower’s total assets unless any Loan hereunder is secured in accordance with Section 3.11 hereof;

(c) not, as long as any Loan made with respect to the Borrower is outstanding, allow the total amount of such Borrower’s Loans, as measured on the day when the most recent Loan was made, to exceed the greater of 125% of such Borrower’s total net cash redemptions for the preceding seven (7) calendar days and 102% of Sales Fails for the preceding seven (7) calendar days;

(d) notify the Lender if it draws on its Credit Arrangements, borrows from other Lenders under the Master Agreement, or borrows from other parties; and

(e) notify the Lender promptly of

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(i) any material changes in its method of business, Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information, and

(ii) the occurrence of any event which would make any of the representations and warranties contained herein, or in any document, instrument or certificate delivered in connection herewith, untrue or inaccurate in any material respect.

5.2.2       The Lender covenants that

(a) its Loans to a single Borrower will not exceed 5% of the Lender’s net assets; and

(b) its aggregate Loans to all Borrowers constitute 15% or less of the Lender’s net assets at the time of any Loan.

6.             Documents to be Delivered Prior to Initial Loan. The Borrower shall deliver to the Lender prior to the first Loan between the parties any documents as the Lender shall have requested in order to comply with applicable rules and regulations promulgated by governmental and regulatory authorities.

7.            Default

7.1       Events of Default. The occurrence of any one or more of the following events (“Events of Default”) shall constitute an immediate Event of Default with respect to the Borrower:

(a) The Borrower shall fail to pay principal of, or interest on, any Loan as and when due, or the Borrower shall fail to perform any of its other Obligations; or

(b) There shall be a default by the Borrower under any Credit Arrangement, whether such Credit Arrangement now exists or shall hereafter be created, which default extends beyond any period of grace provided with respect thereto and which default relates to

(i) the obligations to pay the principal of or interest on any such indebtedness under the Credit Arrangement, or

(ii) an obligation other than the obligation to pay the principal of or interest on any such indebtedness and the effect of such default is to cause, or to permit the lender under the Credit Arrangement to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity; or

(c) Any representation or warranty made by the Borrower in Section 4 of this Master Agreement, or in connection with any Loan made to or pledge of pledged collateral made by the Borrower, shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made; or

(d) The Borrower shall generally not pay its debts as such debts become due, or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally, or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or any governmental or public authority shall take over

11 
 

possession or control of a substantial part of the Borrower’s business; or any of the Borrower’s property shall become subject to attachment or other involuntary lien or levy; or any action or proceeding shall be commenced by the Borrower seeking to adjudicate it as bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief, or composition of it or its debts under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief or debtors, seeking the entry of an order for relief of the appointment of a receiver, trustee, or similar official for it or for any substantial part of its property, or any such proceeding is commenced against it which results in the entry of an order for such relief or such proceeding is not dismissed or stayed for a period of sixty (60) days following such commencement; or

(e) An event of default occurs under any agreement evidencing an outstanding bank loan to the Borrower; provided that, in such circumstance, that event of default will automatically (without need for action or notice by the Lender) constitute an immediate event of default entitling the Lender to call the Loan (and exercise all rights with respect to any collateral) and that such a call will be deemed made if the lending bank exercises its right to call its loan under its agreement with the Borrower.

7.2       Remedies

7.2.1       Arbitration. In the event an Event of Default under Section 7.1(a) has occurred and not been cured within two Business Days from the Loan’s maturity or from the time the Lender makes a demand for payment (and none of the Events of Default specified in Section 7.1(d) has occurred), the Lender and the Borrower agree that such matter shall be submitted for binding arbitration to an independent arbitrator selected by the Board of Trustees of the Lender and Borrower. If the dispute involves a Lender and Borrower with different Boards of Trustees, the respective Boards of Trustees of the Lender and Borrower will select an independent arbitrator that is satisfactory to each party. Such independent arbitrator’s decision shall be binding and conclusive between the Lender and the Borrower. Such Arbitrator shall submit at least annually a written report of any dispute to the Boards of Trustees of the Funds describing the nature of any dispute and the actions taken by the Lender and Borrower to resolve the dispute.

7.2.2        Other Rights and Remedies. If an Event of Default has occurred and has not been resolved pursuant to Section 7.2.1, or any other Event of Default has occurred, then the Lender shall be entitled to exercise any and all rights and remedies available to it at law or in equity, including without limitation any rights and remedies that may be available to it under the Security Agreement referred to in Section 3.11 to the Master Agreement and, with respect to an Event of Default specified in Section 7.1(e), any rights and remedies available to it under Section 7.1(e), and the Borrower shall pay to the Lender all reasonable expenses and disbursements incurred by the Lender in connection with the enforcement of its rights and remedies under this Master Agreement including the reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of counsel for the Lender with respect thereto.

8.           Notice. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all notices hereunder to any party shall be in writing and shall be delivered in hand, mailed by United States registered or certified first-class mail, postage prepaid or sent by fax, addressed to such party to the attention of the

12 
 

person specified in the following sentence at the address set forth for such party below, or to such other person or address as such party may designate to the other party hereto by notice delivered in accordance with this Section 8. All notices to the Borrower shall be addressed to the Treasurer of the Borrower and all notices from the Borrower to the Lender shall be addressed to the Treasurer of the Lender. Written notice to the Credit Facility Team shall be sent to the following address: Putnam Investment Management, LLC, 100 Federal Street, Boston, MA 02110. The address for all Funds listed in this Master Agreement is: 100 Federal Street, Boston, MA 02110.

9.                  Amendments. Neither this Master Agreement nor any provision hereof may be amended in any respect except by a statement in writing executed by the parties hereto.

10.              Assignment. All of the terms of this Master Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided, that the Borrower shall not assign or transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Lender.

11.              Survival of Covenants, Representations and Warranties. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made herein or in any documents or other papers delivered by or on behalf of the Borrowers, or any of them, pursuant hereto shall be deemed to have been relied upon by the Lenders, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Lenders and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Master Agreement and the making by the Lenders of the Loans as herein contemplated and shall continue in full force and effect so long as any Loan, Obligation or any other amount due under this Agreement remains outstanding and unpaid or unsatisfied.

12.              Section Headings. The descriptive section headings in this Master Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed to limit or otherwise affect the construction of any provision thereof or hereof.

13.              Counterparts. This Master Agreement and the documents contemplated hereby may be executed simultaneously in any number of counterparts each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which shall together constitute but one and the same document.

14.              Severability. If any of the provisions of this Master Agreement or any instrument delivered hereunder or the application thereof to any party hereto or to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the remainder of this Master Agreement or such instrument and the application thereof to any party hereto or to any other person or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.

15.              Governing Law. This Master Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law.

16.              Entire Agreement. This Master Agreement and the other documents contemplated hereby and executed in connection herewith express the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby.

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17.              Limitation of Liability of the Board of Trustees. A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of each Trust is on file with the Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this instrument is executed on behalf of the Trustees of each Trust as Trustees of such Trust and not individually and that the obligations of or arising out of this instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the applicable Trust.

 

[The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank.]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Master Agreement to be duly executed as an instrument under seal by its duly authorized officer as of the date first written above.

 

ALL TRUSTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE A OR SCHEDULE B

 

 

By: /s/ Jonathan S. Horwitz

Name:Jonathan S. Horwitz
Title:Executive Vice President, Principal Executive Officer and Compliance Liaison

 

 

 

PUTNAM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC

 

 

By: /s/ Stephen J. Tate

Name:Stephen J. Tate
Title:General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15 
 

SCHEDULE A – Borrowing Funds

 

As amended as of September 24, 2021

 

Except as otherwise indicated below, for each Fund, the Master Agreement was effective as of July 16, 2010.

 

Putnam Asset Allocation Funds

-Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Balanced Fund

-Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Conservative Fund

-Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Growth Fund

-Putnam Income Strategies Portfolio (effective 11/22/19)

Putnam California Tax Exempt Income Fund

Putnam Convertible Securities Fund

Putnam Diversified Income Trust

Putnam Large Cap Value Fund

Putnam Funds Trust

-Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Equity Fund

-Putnam Dynamic Risk Allocation Fund (effective 9/9/11)

-Putnam Emerging Markets Equity Fund

-Putnam Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund (effective 9/20/19)

-Putnam Floating Rate Income Fund

-Putnam Focused Equity Fund (effective 9/20/19)

-Putnam Global Technology Fund

-Putnam Intermediate-Term Municipal Income Fund (effective 12/14/12)

-Putnam International Value Fund

-Putnam Mortgage Opportunities Fund (effective 4/6/15)

-Putnam Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund (effective 9/20/19)

-Putnam Multi-Cap Core Fund (effective 5/14/10)

-Putnam Short Duration Bond Fund

-Putnam Short-Term Municipal Income Fund (effective 12/14/12)

-Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund

-Putnam Ultra Short Duration Income Fund (effective 6/17/11)

George Putnam Balanced Fund

Putnam Focused International Equity Fund

Putnam Global Health Care Fund

Putnam Global Income Trust

Putnam High Yield Fund

Putnam Income Fund

Putnam International Equity Fund

Putnam Investment Funds

-Putnam Growth Opportunities Fund

-Putnam International Capital Opportunities Fund

-Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund (effective 6/23/17)

-Putnam Research Fund

-Putnam Small Cap Value Fund

16 
 

-Putnam Sustainable Future Fund (effective 9/20/19)

Putnam Massachusetts Tax Exempt Income Fund

Putnam Minnesota Tax Exempt Income Fund

Putnam Mortgage Securities Fund (effective 9/20/19)

Putnam New Jersey Tax Exempt Income Fund

Putnam New York Tax Exempt Income Fund

Putnam Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund

Putnam Pennsylvania Tax Exempt Income Fund

Putnam Sustainable Leaders Fund (effective 9/20/19)

Putnam Target Date Funds

-Putnam Retirement Advantage Maturity Fund (effective 11/22/19)

-Putnam Retirement Advantage 2065 Fund (effective 12/30/20)

-Putnam Retirement Advantage 2060 Fund (effective 11/22/19)

-Putnam Retirement Advantage 2055 Fund (effective 11/22/19)

-Putnam Retirement Advantage 2050 Fund (effective 11/22/19)

-Putnam Retirement Advantage 2045 Fund (effective 11/22/19)

-Putnam Retirement Advantage 2040 Fund (effective 11/22/19)

-Putnam Retirement Advantage 2035 Fund (effective 11/22/19)

-Putnam Retirement Advantage 2030 Fund (effective 11/22/19)

-Putnam Retirement Advantage 2025 Fund (effective 11/22/19)

-Putnam RetirementReady Maturity Fund

-Putnam RetirementReady 2065 Fund (effective 1/4/21)

-Putnam RetirementReady 2060 Fund (effective 11/30/15)

-Putnam RetirementReady 2055 Fund (effective 6/11/10)

-Putnam RetirementReady 2050 Fund

-Putnam RetirementReady 2045 Fund

-Putnam RetirementReady 2040 Fund

-Putnam RetirementReady 2035 Fund

-Putnam RetirementReady 2030 Fund

-Putnam RetirementReady 2025 Fund

Putnam Tax Exempt Income Fund

Putnam Tax-Free Income Trust

-Putnam Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund

-Putnam Tax-Free High Yield Fund

Putnam Variable Trust

-Putnam VT Diversified Income Fund

-Putnam VT Large Cap Value Fund

-Putnam VT Emerging Markets Equity Fund

-Putnam VT George Putnam Balanced Fund

-Putnam VT Global Asset Allocation Fund

-Putnam VT Focused International Equity Fund

-Putnam VT Global Health Care Fund

-Putnam VT Growth Opportunities Fund

-Putnam VT High Yield Fund

-Putnam VT Income Fund

-Putnam VT International Equity Fund

17 
 

-Putnam VT International Value Fund

-Putnam VT Mortgage Securities Fund (effective 9/20/19)

-Putnam VT Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund (effective 9/20/19)

-Putnam VT Multi-Cap Core Fund (effective 9/20/19)

-Putnam VT Research Fund

-Putnam VT Small Cap Growth Fund (effective 9/20/19)

-Putnam VT Small Cap Value Fund

-Putnam VT Sustainable Future Fund (effective 9/20/19)

-Putnam VT Sustainable Leaders Fund (effective 9/20/19)

 

EACH TRUST LISTED ABOVE, ON BEHALF OF EACH OF ITS FUNDS LISTED ABOVE

 

 

By: /s/ Jonathan S. Horwitz

Name:Jonathan S. Horwitz
Title:Executive Vice President, Principal Executive Officer and Compliance Liaison

 

 

 

PUTNAM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC

 

 

By: /s/ Stephen J. Tate

Name:Stephen J. Tate
Title:General Counsel

 

 

18 
 

SCHEDULE B – Lending Funds

 

As amended as of September 24, 2021

 

Except as otherwise indicated below, for each Fund, the Master Agreement was effective as of July 16, 2010.

 

Putnam Asset Allocation Funds

-Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Balanced Fund

-Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Conservative Fund

-Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Growth Fund

-Putnam Income Strategies Portfolio (effective 11/22/19)

Putnam Convertible Securities Fund

Putnam Diversified Income Trust

Putnam Large Cap Value Fund

Putnam Funds Trust

-Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Equity Fund

-Putnam Dynamic Risk Allocation Fund (effective 9/9/11)

-Putnam Emerging Markets Equity Fund

-Putnam Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund (effective 9/20/19)

-Putnam Floating Rate Income Fund

-Putnam Focused Equity Fund (effective 9/20/19)

-Putnam Global Technology Fund

- Putnam Intermediate-Term Municipal Income Fund (effective 12/14/12)

-Putnam International Value Fund

-Putnam Mortgage Opportunities Fund (effective 4/6/15)

-Putnam Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund (effective 9/20/19)

-Putnam Multi-Cap Core Fund (effective 5/14/10)

-Putnam Short Duration Bond Fund

-Putnam Short Term Investment Fund (effective 11/9/12)

-Putnam Short-Term Municipal Income Fund (effective 12/14/12)

-Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund

-Putnam Ultra Short Duration Income Fund (effective 6/17/11)

George Putnam Balanced Fund

Putnam Focused International Equity Fund

Putnam Global Health Care Fund

Putnam Global Income Trust

Putnam High Yield Fund

Putnam Income Fund

Putnam International Equity Fund

Putnam Investment Funds

-Putnam Government Money Market Fund (effective 10/16/15)

-Putnam Growth Opportunities Fund

-Putnam International Capital Opportunities Fund

-Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund (effective 6/23/17)

19 
 

-Putnam Research Fund

-Putnam Small Cap Value Fund

-Putnam Sustainable Future Fund (effective 9/20/19)

Putnam Master Intermediate Income Trust

Putnam Money Market Fund

Putnam Mortgage Securities Fund (effective 9/20/19)

Putnam Premier Income Trust

Putnam Sustainable Leaders Fund (effective 9/20/19)

Putnam Target Date Funds

-Putnam Retirement Advantage Maturity Fund (effective 11/22/19)

-Putnam Retirement Advantage 2065 Fund (effective 12/30/20)

-Putnam Retirement Advantage 2060 Fund (effective 11/22/19)

-Putnam Retirement Advantage 2055 Fund (effective 11/22/19)

-Putnam Retirement Advantage 2050 Fund (effective 11/22/19)

-Putnam Retirement Advantage 2045 Fund (effective 11/22/19)

-Putnam Retirement Advantage 2040 Fund (effective 11/22/19)

-Putnam Retirement Advantage 2035 Fund (effective 11/22/19)

-Putnam Retirement Advantage 2030 Fund (effective 11/22/19)

-Putnam Retirement Advantage 2025 Fund (effective 11/22/19)

-Putnam RetirementReady Maturity Fund

-Putnam RetirementReady 2065 Fund (effective 1/4/21)

-Putnam RetirementReady 2060 Fund (effective 11/30/15)

-Putnam RetirementReady 2055 Fund (effective 6/11/10)

-Putnam RetirementReady 2050 Fund

-Putnam RetirementReady 2045 Fund

-Putnam RetirementReady 2040 Fund

-Putnam RetirementReady 2035 Fund

-Putnam RetirementReady 2030 Fund

-Putnam RetirementReady 2025 Fund

Putnam Variable Trust

-Putnam VT Diversified Income Fund

-Putnam VT Large Cap Value Fund

-Putnam VT Emerging Markets Equity Fund

-Putnam VT George Putnam Balanced Fund

-Putnam VT Global Asset Allocation Fund

-Putnam VT Focused International Equity Fund

-Putnam VT Global Health Care Fund

-Putnam VT Government Money Market Fund

-Putnam VT Growth Opportunities Fund

-Putnam VT High Yield Fund

-Putnam VT Income Fund

-Putnam VT International Equity Fund

-Putnam VT International Value Fund

-Putnam VT Mortgage Securities Fund (effective 9/20/19)

-Putnam VT Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund (effective 9/20/19)

-Putnam VT Multi-Cap Core Fund (effective 9/20/19)

20 
 

-Putnam VT Research Fund

-Putnam VT Small Cap Growth Fund (effective 9/20/19)

-Putnam VT Small Cap Value Fund

-Putnam VT Sustainable Future Fund (effective 9/20/19)

-Putnam VT Sustainable Leaders Fund (effective 9/20/19)

 

 

EACH TRUST LISTED ABOVE, ON BEHALF OF EACH OF ITS FUNDS LISTED ABOVE

 

 

By: /s/ Jonathan S. Horwitz

Name:Jonathan S. Horwitz
Title:Executive Vice President, Principal Executive Officer and Compliance Liaison

 

 

 

PUTNAM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC

 

 

By: /s/ Stephen J. Tate

Name:Stephen J. Tate
Title:General Counsel
21 
 

SCHEDULE C

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED COLLATERAL SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

This Amended and Restated Collateral Security Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made this 24th day of September, 2021, by and among each investment company listed on the signature pages hereto (each, a “Trust” and collectively, the “Trusts”), on behalf of each Borrower and Lender (as such terms are defined in the Master Agreement (defined below)).

 

WHEREAS, each Trust, on behalf of each Borrower and Lender, has entered into an Amended and Restated Master Interfund Lending Agreement dated as of September 24, 2021 by and among each Trust and Putnam Investment Management, LLC (the “Master Agreement”) in accordance with the terms of (i) the exemptive order from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission dated April 10, 2002 exempting such Borrowers and Lenders and Putnam Investment Management, LLC from certain provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; and (ii) the Interfund Lending Procedures, as in effect from time to time, for Loans by and among the Funds;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, each Borrower, in consideration of Loans heretofore, now or from time to time hereafter made, given or extended to the Borrower by a Lender, hereby agrees with the Lenders as follows:

 

1.       Capitalized terms used herein which are not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Master Agreement.

 

2.       Effective upon the transfer of collateral, pursuant to Section 3.11 of the Master Agreement, or as provided herein, to an account owned or controlled by a Lender, as security for the payment of any and all loans heretofore, now or from time to time hereafter made, given or extended to a Borrower by the Lender under and pursuant to the Master Agreement (which loans shall hereinafter be referred to collectively as the “Secured Liabilities” and each individually as a “Secured Liability”), the Lender shall have, and the Borrower hereby grants to the Lender, a security interest in (i) any and all securities and other instruments owned by the Borrower which have been or at any time shall be delivered to the Lender or its custodian by or on behalf of the Borrower or have or at any time shall otherwise come into the possession, custody or control of the Lender or its custodian, including securities and other instruments held in depository trust companies and other institutions and clearing agencies in segregated accounts in the name of the Lender; (ii) all right, title, interest and power (including the power of hypothecation and disposition) of the Borrower in, or in respect of any and all securities and other instruments owned by the Borrower which have or at any time shall come into the possession, custody or control of the Lender or its custodian in any way for any purpose whatsoever, whether or not the Lender shall have accepted said property for the purpose or purposes for which said property was delivered to or otherwise caused to come into the possession, custody or control of the Lender or its custodian; and (iii) all proceeds of any of the foregoing. All property shall be deemed to be in the possession,

22 
 

custody or control of the Lender as soon as it is transferred to the Lender or its custodian or if the Lender and the Borrower enter into a control agreement satisfactory to the Lender with the Borrower’s custodian. If the Lender shall at any time deem itself insecure in respect of any Secured Liability, the Borrower will deliver to the Lender or its custodian upon demand additional collateral owned by the Borrower satisfactory to the Lender. The term “collateral” as hereinafter used shall mean and include the securities and other instruments, together with proceeds of the securities and other instruments, and any and all property, rights, titles, powers, sums, receivables or claims which by virtue of the provisions of this Agreement are or shall be at the time in question subject to a security interest in favor of the Lender.

 

3.       Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default (as defined in the Master Agreement), or any time or times thereafter, (i) the Lender may exercise any and all rights and remedies (a) granted to the Lender by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts or otherwise allowed at law, and/or (b) otherwise provided by this Agreement or the Master Agreement, and (ii) any and all Secured Liabilities of the Borrower shall, at the option of the Lender, become due and payable without notice or demand, notwithstanding any credit or time allowed to the Borrower by any instrument or other document evidencing the same or otherwise.

 

4.       Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Lender shall have full power and authority to sell any or all of the collateral of the Borrower. Except as required by law, such sale or other disposition may be made without advertisement or any notice to the Borrower or to any other person. Where reasonable notification of the time or place of such sale or other disposition is so required, such requirement shall be met if such notice is given in the manner prescribed in Paragraph 10 hereof at least five days before the time of such sale or other disposition to each person entitled to such notice, addressed, if to the Borrower, in the manner specified in said Paragraph 10, or, if to any person, to such person at such person’s last address known to the Lender. After deducting all costs and expenses of collection, storage, custody, sale or other disposition and delivery (including legal costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees) and all other charges against the collateral, the residue of the proceeds of any such sale or other disposition shall be applied to the payment of any and all of the Secured Liabilities, due or to become due, in such order of preference as the Lender may determine, proper allowance for interest on liabilities not then due being made, and, unless otherwise provided by law, any surplus shall be returned to the Borrower.

 

5.       The Borrower will pay when due all taxes, assessments, liens, premiums or other charges against the collateral and, if the Borrower and the Lender agree it is appropriate, the Borrower will fully insure the same in favor and to the satisfaction of the Lender against loss by any risk to which the collateral or any part thereof may be subject and will on demand deposit with the Lender the policies covering any such insurance. Although under no obligation to do so, the Lender may at any time and from time to time pay any taxes, assessments, liens, premiums or other charges against the collateral, and

23 
 

may insure the same or otherwise protect the value thereof and the property represented thereby, and in such event all expenditures so incurred shall be chargeable to the Borrower and secured by the collateral of the Borrower. The Lender shall be under no obligation to take any steps necessary to preserve rights in any collateral against prior parties but may do so at its option. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Lender may at any time and from time to time transfer into its own name or that of its nominee any securities constituting part of the collateral of the Borrower and receive the income thereon and hold the same as additional collateral or apply it to the payment of any or all of the Secured Liabilities and may at any time notify the obligor(s) on any collateral to make payment of the Lender of any amounts due or to become due thereon.

 

6.       Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Lender may, at any time and from time to time, transfer or assign the whole or any part of any Secured Liability and may transfer therewith, or assign to and set apart for the account of the transferee or assignee thereof, in either event as security therefor, the whole or any part of the collateral of the Borrower. If the Lender does so transfer or assign and set apart the whole or any part of the collateral, the transferee or assignee thereof, without notice to the Borrower, shall thereupon become vested with, and may thereafter exercise, every right and power hereby given to the Lender in respect thereof, and the Lender shall thereafter be forever relieved and fully discharged from any liability or responsibility in respect thereof, except that the Lender shall continue to use reasonable care in the custody and preservation of any collateral so assigned and set apart while such collateral remains in the possession of the Lender. Such transferee or assignee shall have no right or power in respect of any part of the collateral not so transferred or assigned and set apart, in respect whereof the Lender shall retain all rights and powers hereby given in respect thereof.

 

7.       Except as provided in Paragraphs 4, 5 and 6 hereof, the Lender shall at no time transfer or assign the whole or any part of any Secured Liability or assign, transfer or set aside the whole or any part of the collateral held in security therefor except to an assignee of the Loans secured thereby.

 

8.       Upon the request of the Borrower following the payment in full of all loans and Secured Liabilities and termination of the Master Agreement, the Lender shall (i) return or cause to be returned to the Borrower all collateral which shall remain in the possession, custody or control of the Lender or its custodian at such time, and (ii) shall deliver to the Borrower such instruments, UCC termination statements and other documents, and provide for delivery of such instructions to the custodian, in each case as the Borrower may reasonably request for the purpose of releasing (in fact and as a matter of record) the security interest created by this Agreement.

 

9.       Except as is otherwise expressly provided herein or by law, the Borrower waives all demands and notices in connection with this Agreement or the enforcement of the Lender’s rights hereunder and also waives presentment, demand, notice, protest and all other demands and notices in connection with any Secured Liability or the

24 
 

enforcement of the Lender’s rights with respect thereto and hereby consents that the time of payment of any Secured Liability may be extended from time to time and that no such extension or other indulgence granted to any other party primarily or secondarily liable on any Secured Liability, no discharge or release of any such party and no substitution, release or surrender of collateral of the Borrower shall discharge or otherwise affect the liability of the Borrower on or in respect of any Secured Liability. No delay or omission on the part of the Lender in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver of such right on any one occasion and shall not be construed as a bar to or waiver of any such right on any future occasion.

 

10.       Any demand upon or notice to the Borrower permitted or required hereunder shall be sufficient if, and effective when, deposited in the mails, postage prepaid, addressed to the Borrower at 100 Federal Street, Boston, MA 02110 or at such other address of the Borrower appearing on the first page of this Agreement or at such other address as the Borrower may furnish to the Lender as the address to which such demands, notices or other communications addressed to the Borrower shall be mailed or forwarded.

 

11.       This Agreement may be terminated by the Borrower giving written notice of such termination to the Lender, provided, however, that such termination shall not be effective unless and until all loans and Secured Liabilities (including those contingent or not yet due) existing as of the time of receipt of such notice by the Lender have been paid in full.

 

12.       The Borrower will pay on demand all costs and expenses (including legal costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred or paid by the Lender in collecting any loan or Secured Liability upon any default in respect thereof, and all costs and expenses so incurred shall be secured by the collateral.

 

13.       This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Lender, its successors and assigns, and shall be binding upon the Borrower, its successors and assigns.

 

14.       This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Massachusetts.

 

15.       A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of each Trust is on file with the Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this instrument is executed on behalf of the Trustees of each Trust as Trustees of such Trust and not individually and that the obligations of or arising out of this instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the applicable Trust.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

25 
 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first written above.

 

 

ALL TRUSTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE A OR SCHEDULE B TO THE MASTER AGREEMENT, AS SUCH SCHEDULES ARE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME

 

 

 

By: /s/ Jonathan S. Horwitz

Name:Jonathan S. Horwitz
Title:Executive Vice President, Principal Executive Officer and Compliance Liaison

 

 

26 
 

AMENDMENT NO. 8 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

AMENDMENT NO. 8 (this “Amendment”), dated as of October 15, 2021, to the Credit Agreement, dated as of September 24, 2015, among each trust listed on Schedule 2 hereto, the Banks and other lending institutions party thereto, and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as Agent, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified by Joinder Agreement No. 1, dated as of August 29, 2016, Letter Agreement, dated as of August 29, 2016, Amendment No. 1 to Credit Agreement, dated as of September 22, 2016, Notice Letter, dated October 5, 2016, Notice Letter, dated February 22, 2017, Notice Letter, dated April 19, 2017, Amendment No. 2 to Credit Agreement, dated as of September 21, 2017, Amendment No. 3 to Credit Agreement, dated as of September 20, 2018, Consent No. 1, dated as of November 30, 2018, Notice Letter, dated May 31, 2019, Consent No. 2, dated as of June 24, 2019, Amendment No. 4 to Credit Agreement, dated as of September 19, 2019, Amendment No. 5 to Credit Agreement, dated as of October 18, 2019, and Amendment No. 6 to Credit Agreement and Consent No. 3, dated as of August 27, 2020, Amendment No. 7 to Credit Agreement, dated as of October 16, 2020, and Consent No. 4, dated as of March 30, 2021 (as the same has been or may be further amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”).

Recitals

I.       Each term that is defined in the Credit Agreement and not herein defined has the meaning ascribed thereto by the Credit Agreement when used herein.

II.       For purposes of this Amendment (i) “Existing Fund” means each Fund which appears on Schedule 2 to the Credit Agreement as in effect immediately prior to the Amendment Effective Date, (ii) “Continuing Fund” means each Existing Fund which appears on Schedule 2 to this Amendment, (iii) “Departing Fund” means each Existing Fund other than a Continuing Fund, (iv) “New Fund” means each Series which does not appear on Schedule 2 to the Credit Agreement as in effect immediately prior to the Amendment Effective Date and which does appear on Schedule 2 to this Amendment, (v) “Existing Borrower” means each Borrower immediately prior to the Amendment Effective Date, (vi) “Continuing Borrower” means an Existing Borrower that will be a Borrower on the Amendment Effective Date, (vii) “Departing Borrower” means an Existing Borrower other than a Continuing Borrower, (viii) “New Borrower” means a Borrower (other than an Existing Borrower) on the Amendment Effective Date, and (ix) “Amendment Borrowers” means each Continuing Borrower and each New Borrower.

III.       The Amendment Borrowers desire to amend the Credit Agreement and the Agent and the Required Banks have agreed thereto, in each case upon the terms and conditions herein contained.

Agreements

Accordingly, in consideration of the Recitals and the covenants, conditions and agreements hereinafter set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 
 

1.                  Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by inserting the following new defined terms in the appropriate alphabetical order:

  “Corresponding Loan Amount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.11.

  “Erroneous Payment” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.11.

  “Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.11.

  “Erroneous Payment Subrogation Rights” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.11.

  “Payment Recipient” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.11.

2.                  The defined term “Termination Date” contained in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by replacing the date “October 15, 2021” with the date “October 14, 2022”.

3.                  Article 7 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by inserting a new Section 7.11 as follows:

SECTION 7.11. Erroneous Payments. (a) If the Agent notifies a Bank, or any Person who has received funds on behalf of a Bank (any such Bank or other recipient, a “Payment Recipient”) that the Agent has determined in its sole discretion that any funds received by such Payment Recipient from the Agent or any of its Affiliates were erroneously or mistakenly transmitted to, or otherwise erroneously or mistakenly received by, such Payment Recipient (whether or not known to such Payment Recipient) (any such funds, whether transmitted or received as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees, distribution or otherwise, individually and collectively, an “Erroneous Payment”) and demands the return of such Erroneous Payment (or a portion thereof), such Erroneous Payment shall at all times remain the property of the Agent, and such Payment Recipient shall (and shall cause any other Payment Recipient who received such funds on its behalf to) promptly, but in no event later than one (1) Domestic Business Day thereafter, return to the Agent the amount of any such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made, in same day funds (in the currency so received), together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Payment Recipient to the date such amount is repaid to the Agent in same day funds at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect. A notice of the Agent to any Payment Recipient under this paragraph shall be conclusive, absent manifest error. If a Payment Recipient receives any payment, prepayment or repayment of

2 
 

principal, interest, fees, distribution or otherwise and does not receive a corresponding payment notice or payment advice, such payment, prepayment or repayment shall be presumed to be in error absent written confirmation from the Agent to the contrary.

(b)        Each Bank hereby authorizes the Agent to set off, net and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Bank under any Loan Document, or otherwise payable or distributable by the Agent to such Bank from any source, against any amount due to the Agent under the immediately preceding paragraph or under the indemnification provisions of this Agreement.

(c)        For so long as an Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) has not been returned by any Payment Recipient who received such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) (such unrecovered amount, an “Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency”) to the Agent after demand therefor in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.11, (i) the Agent may elect, in its sole discretion on written notice to such Bank, that all rights and claims of such Bank with respect to the Loans or other Obligations owed to it up to the amount of the corresponding Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency in respect of such Erroneous Payment (the “Corresponding Loan Amount”) shall immediately vest in the Agent upon such election; after such election, the Agent (x) may reflect its ownership interest in Loans in a principal amount equal to the Corresponding Loan Amount in the Register, and (y) upon five (5) Domestic Business Days’ written notice to such Bank, may sell such Loan (or portion thereof) in respect of the Corresponding Loan Amount, and upon receipt of the proceeds of such sale, the Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency owing by such Bank shall be reduced by the net proceeds of the sale of such Loan (or portion thereof), and the Agent shall retain all other rights, remedies and claims against such Bank, and (ii) each party hereto agrees that, except to the extent that the Agent has sold such Loan, and irrespective of whether the Agent may be equitably subrogated, the Agent shall be contractually subrogated to all the rights of such Bank with respect to the Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency (such rights, the “Erroneous Payment Subrogation Rights”).

(d)        The parties hereto agree that an Erroneous Payment shall not pay, prepay, repay, discharge or otherwise satisfy any Obligations owed by any Borrower, except, in each case, to the extent such Erroneous Payment is, and solely with respect to the amount of such Erroneous Payment that is, comprised of funds received by the Agent from such Borrower for the purpose of making such Erroneous Payment.

(e)        To the extent permitted by applicable law, no Payment Recipient shall assert any right or claim to an Erroneous Payment, and each hereby waives, and is deemed to waive, any claim, counterclaim, defense or right of set-off or recoupment with respect to any demand, claim or counterclaim by the Agent for the return of any Erroneous Payment received, including without limitation any defense based on “discharge for value” or any similar doctrine.

3 
 

(f)        Each party’s obligations, agreements and waivers under this Section 7.11 with respect to the making of any Erroneous Payment shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Agent, any transfer of rights or obligations by, or the replacement of, a Bank, the termination of the Commitments and/or the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations (or any portion thereof) under any Loan Document.

4.                  Article IX of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended to add a new Section 9.16 as follows:

SECTION 9.16 Acknowledgement Regarding any Supported QFCs. To the extent that any Loan Document (i) constitutes a QFC (such Loan Document, a “Loan Document QFC”), or (ii) provides support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for any Loan Document QFC, any Financial Contract or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support, “QFC Credit Support”, and each such QFC, a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that such Loan Document and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States):

(a)       In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under such Loan Document that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such Loan Document were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Delinquent Bank shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.

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(b)        As used in this Section 9.16, the following terms have the following meanings:

BHC Act Affiliate” of a party means an “affiliate” (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party.

Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

QFC” has the meaning assigned to the term “qualified financial contract” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 5390(c)(8)(D).

5.                  Schedule 2 to the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in the form of Schedule 2 hereto.

6.                  Paragraphs 1 through 5 of this Amendment shall not be effective until the earliest date upon which each of the following conditions shall be satisfied (the “Amendment Effective Date”):

(a)                the Agent shall have received from each Amendment Borrower and Required Banks either (i) a counterpart of this Amendment executed on behalf of the such party or (ii) written evidence satisfactory to the Agent (which may include facsimile or electronic mail transmission (in printable format) of a signed signature page of this Amendment) that each such party has executed a counterpart of this Amendment;

(b)               the Agent shall have received from each Amendment Borrower a manually signed certificate from the Clerk, Secretary or Assistant Secretary (or other officer acceptable to the Agent) of such Amendment Borrower, dated the Amendment Effective Date, in all respects satisfactory to the Agent, (i) certifying as to the incumbency of authorized persons of each Amendment Borrower executing this Amendment, (ii) attaching true, complete and correct copies of the resolutions duly adopted by such Amendment Borrower’s Managing Body approving this Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereby, all of which are in full force and effect on the Amendment Effective Date, and (iii) certifying that such Amendment Borrower’s Charter Documents have not been amended, supplemented or otherwise modified since March 30, 2021 or, if so, attaching true, complete and correct copies of each such amendment, supplement or modification;

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(c)                the Agent shall have received a Federal Reserve Form U-1 with respect to each Amendment Borrower, in all respects satisfactory to the Agent;

(d)               the Agent shall have received an upfront fee in an amount equal to $127,000;

(e)                the Agent shall have received such information as the Agent, at the request of any Bank, shall have requested in order to comply with “know-your-customer” and other anti-terrorism, anti-money laundering and similar rules and regulations and related policies; and

(f)                 the Agent shall have received (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Agent (including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Agent) incurred in connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution and delivery of this Amendment on or prior to the Amendment Effective Date.

7.                  Each Amendment Borrower (a) reaffirms and admits the validity and enforceability of each Loan Document to which it is a party and all of its obligations thereunder and agrees and admits that (i) it has no defense to any such obligation, and (ii) it shall not exercise any setoff or offset to any such obligation, and (b)(1) represents and warrants that, as of the Amendment Effective Date, no Default has occurred and is continuing, and (2) the representations and warranties by such Amendment Borrower contained in the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is or is becoming a party are true on and as of the Amendment Effective Date with the same force and effect as if made on and as of such date (or, if any such representation or warranty is expressly stated to have been made as of a specific date, as of such specific date).

8.                  In all other respects, the Loan Documents shall remain in full force and effect, and no amendment, supplement or other modification in respect of any term or condition of any Loan Document shall be deemed to be an amendment, supplement or other modification in respect of any other term or condition contained in any Loan Document.

9.                  This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. It shall not be necessary in making proof of this Amendment to produce or account for more than one counterpart executed and delivered by the party to be charged. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Amendment by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of the actual executed signature page shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Amendment. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to any document to be signed in connection with this Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic

6 
 

Transactions Act; provided that nothing herein shall require the Agent or any Bank to accept electronic signatures in any form or format without its prior written consent. For purposes hereof, “Electronic Signature” means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to, or associated with, a contract or other record and adopted by a Person with the intent to sign, authenticate or accept such contract or record.

10.              THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAW OF THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION.

[the remainder of this page has been intentionally left blank]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each party hereto has caused this Amendment No. 8 to be executed on its behalf by its duly authorized representative(s) as of the date first above written.

EACH TRUST LISTED AS A COMPANY ON SCHEDULE 2 HERETO

By: /s/ Stephen J. Tate

Name: Stephen J. Tate

Title: Vice President and Chief Legal Officer

 

8 
 

STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, as Agent and as a Bank

By: /s/ Janet Nolin

Name: Janet Nolin

Title: Vice President

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Schedule 2

 

List of Companies, Funds and Fiscal Year End Date

 

Company Fund Fiscal Year End Date
Putnam Asset Allocation Funds Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Balanced Fund September 30
Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Conservative Fund September 30
Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Growth Fund September 30
Putnam Income Strategies Portfolio August 31
Putnam California Tax Exempt Income Fund Putnam California Tax Exempt Income Fund September 30
Putnam Convertible Securities Fund Putnam Convertible Securities Fund October 31
Putnam Diversified Income Trust Putnam Diversified Income Trust September 30
Putnam Large Cap Value Fund (f/k/a Putnam Equity Income Fund) Putnam Large Cap Value Fund (f/k/a Putnam Equity Income Fund) October 31
 
 

 

Company Fund Fiscal Year End Date
Putnam Funds Trust Putnam Short Duration Bond Fund October 31
Putnam Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund October 31
Putnam Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund October 31
Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Equity Fund May 31
Putnam Dynamic Risk Allocation Fund May 31
Putnam Emerging Markets Equity Fund August 31
Putnam Floating Rate Income Fund February 28
Putnam Focused Equity Fund August 31
Putnam Global Technology Fund August 31
Putnam Intermediate-Term Municipal Income Fund November 30
Putnam International Value Fund June 30
Putnam Mortgage Opportunities Fund May 31
Putnam Multi-Cap Core Fund April 30
Putnam Ultra Short Duration Income Fund July 31
Putnam Short-Term Municipal Income Fund November 30
Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund June 30
Putnam Focused International Equity Fund (f/k/a Putnam Global Equity Fund) Putnam Focused International Equity Fund (f/k/a Putnam Global Equity Fund) October 31
Putnam Global Health Care Fund Putnam Global Health Care Fund August 31
Putnam Global Income Trust Putnam Global Income Trust October 31
Putnam High Yield Fund Putnam High Yield Fund November 30
Putnam Income Fund Putnam Income Fund October 31
Putnam International Equity Fund Putnam International Equity Fund June 30
 
 

 

Company Fund Fiscal Year End Date
Putnam Investment Funds Putnam Government Money Market Fund September 30
Putnam Growth Opportunities Fund July 31
Putnam International Capital Opportunities Fund August 31
Putnam Sustainable Future Fund April 30
Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund August 31
Putnam Research Fund July 31
Putnam Small Cap Value Fund February 28
Putnam Massachusetts Tax Exempt Income Fund Putnam Massachusetts Tax Exempt Income Fund May 31
Putnam Minnesota Tax Exempt Income Fund Putnam Minnesota Tax Exempt Income Fund May 31
Putnam Money Market Fund Putnam Money Market Fund September 30
Putnam Sustainable Leaders Fund Putnam Sustainable Leaders Fund June 30
Putnam New Jersey Tax Exempt Income Fund Putnam New Jersey Tax Exempt Income Fund May 31
Putnam New York Tax Exempt Income Fund Putnam New York Tax Exempt Income Fund November 30
Putnam Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund Putnam Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund May 31
Putnam Pennsylvania Tax Exempt Income Fund Putnam Pennsylvania Tax Exempt Income Fund May 31
Putnam Tax Exempt Income Fund Putnam Tax Exempt Income Fund September 30
Putnam Tax-Free Income Trust Putnam Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund; f/k/a Putnam AMT-Free Municipal Fund July 31
Putnam Tax-Free High Yield Fund July 31
 
 

 

Company Fund Fiscal Year End Date
Putnam Mortgage Securities Fund Putnam Mortgage Securities Fund September 30
Putnam Variable Trust Putnam VT Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund December 31
Putnam VT Mortgage Securities Fund December 31
Putnam VT Small Cap Growth Fund December 31
Putnam VT Diversified Income Fund December 31
Putnam VT Large Cap Value Fund (f/k/a Putnam VT Equity Income Fund) December 31
Putnam VT Global Asset Allocation Fund December 31
Putnam VT Focused International Equity Fund (f/k/a Putnam VT Global Equity Fund) December 31
Putnam VT Global Health Care Fund December 31
Putnam VT Growth Opportunities Fund December 31
Putnam VT High Yield Fund December 31
Putnam VT Income Fund December 31
Putnam VT International Equity Fund December 31
Putnam VT Emerging Markets Equity Fund December 31
Putnam VT International Value Fund December 31
Putnam VT Multi-Cap Core Fund December 31
Putnam VT Government Money Market Fund December 31
Putnam VT Sustainable Leaders Fund December 31
Putnam VT Sustainable Future Fund December 31
Putnam VT Research Fund December 31
Putnam VT Small Cap Value Fund December 31
Putnam VT George Putnam Balanced Fund December 31
George Putnam Balanced Fund George Putnam Balanced Fund July 31
Putnam ETF Trust Putnam Focused Large Cap Growth ETF August 31
  Putnam Focused Large Cap Value ETF August 31
  Putnam Sustainable Future ETF August 31
  Putnam Sustainable Leaders ETF August 31

 

 
 

[GRAPHIC OMITTED: STATE STREET LOGO]

Letter Amendment

                                                  October 15, 2021

Each of the Borrowers party to the Amended
Loan Agreement (as defined below) (the
Borrowers”)

 

100 Federal Street
Boston, MA 02110

Attention:  Stephen J. Tate,
   Vice President and Chief Legal Officer
    
RE:  Ninth Amendment to the Putnam Family of Funds $235,500,000
Uncommitted Discretionary Demand Line of Credit

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

State Street Bank and Trust Company (the “Bank”) has made available a $235,500,000 uncommitted discretionary demand line of credit (the “Credit Line”) to each of the Borrowers, each acting on its own behalf or, as applicable, on behalf of each of its respective Existing Funds (as defined below) as described in a letter agreement dated September 24, 2015, by and among the Borrowers and the Bank (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time prior to the date hereof, the “Existing Loan Agreement”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Existing Loan Agreement.

The Borrowers have requested, and the Bank has agreed, (a) to extend the term of the Credit Line and (b) to make certain changes to the Credit Line. Therefore, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, each of the Borrowers and the Bank hereby agree as follows:

1.              Defined Terms. For purposes hereof, the following terms have the following meanings when used herein:

Added Text” means characters indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: double underlined text.

 
 

Marked Loan Agreement” means the copy of the Existing Loan Agreement attached hereto as Annex A.

Stricken Text” means characters indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: stricken text.

2.              Amendments to Loan Documents. The Existing Loan Agreement is hereby amended to delete the Stricken Text and to add the Added Text, in each case as set forth in the Marked Loan Agreement (the Existing Loan Agreement, as so amended, the “Amended Loan Agreement”).

3.              Fees. As consideration for the amendments herein contained, each Borrower, on behalf of each of its Funds, hereby agrees to pay to the Bank on the date hereof its applicable share of an upfront fee in the amount of $94,200.

4.              Miscellaneous

(a)                Other than as amended herein, all terms and conditions of the Amended Loan Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents are ratified and affirmed as of the date hereof in order to give effect to the terms hereof and thereof. This Letter Amendment shall constitute a Loan Document for all purposes of the Amended Loan Agreement.

(b)               Each Borrower severally (and not jointly), for itself and severally (and not jointly) on behalf of each of its respective Funds, but not as to any other Borrower or Fund, represents and warrants as of the date hereof to the Bank as follows: (i) no Default or Event of Default with respect to such Borrower or any such Fund has occurred and is continuing on the date hereof under the Existing Loan Agreement after giving effect to the amendments herein contained; (ii) each of the representations and warranties of such Borrower, on behalf of each such Fund, contained in the Loan Documents is true and correct in all respects on and as of the date of this Letter Amendment (or, if any such representation or warranty is expressly stated to have been made as of a specific date, as of such specific date); (iii) the execution, delivery and performance by such Borrower and each such Fund of each of this Letter Amendment and of the other Loan Documents, as amended hereby (collectively, the “Amended Loan Documents”): (1) are, and will be, within such Borrower’s or such Fund’s power and authority, (2) have been authorized by all necessary trust or corporate proceedings, as the case may be, of such Borrower, (3) do not, and will not, require the consent of any shareholders or other equity holders of such Borrower or such Fund or the approval or consent of, or any notice to or filing with, any governmental authority, other than those which have been received or made, (4) will not contravene any provision of, or exceed any limitation contained in, the certificate or articles of incorporation, agreement and declaration of trust, by-laws and/or other organizational documents of such Borrower or such Fund or its Prospectus or any judgment, decree or order or any law, rule or regulation applicable to such Borrower or such Fund, including, without limitation, the Investment Company Act, (5) are, and will be, in compliance with Regulations T, U and X and the Investment Company Act, (6) do not and will not constitute a violation of, or a default under, any other agreement, order or undertaking binding on such Borrower or such Fund, and (7) do not require the consent or approval of any obligee or holder of any instrument relating to any material Indebtedness of such Borrower or such Fund or the consent or approval of any other party other than for those consents and approvals which have been received; and (iv) each of the Amended Loan Documents constitutes the

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legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligation of such Borrower, on behalf of its respective Funds, except as the same may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles.

(c)                Upon receipt of a fully executed copy of this Letter Amendment, this Letter Amendment shall be deemed to be an instrument under seal and an amendment to the Loan Documents to be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without regard to conflict of laws principles that would require the application of the laws of another jurisdiction.

(d)               This Letter Amendment may be executed in counterparts each of which shall be deemed to be an original document.

(e)                Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Letter Amendment by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of the actual executed signature page shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Letter Amendment. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to any document to be signed in connection with this Letter Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act; provided that nothing herein shall require the Bank to accept electronic signatures in any form or format without its prior written consent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Borrower hereby (i) agrees that, for all purposes, including without limitation, in connection with any workout, restructuring, enforcement of remedies, bankruptcy proceedings or litigation between the Bank and such Borrower, electronic images of this Letter Amendment or any other Loan Documents (in each case, including with respect to any signature pages thereto) shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as any paper original, and (ii) waives any argument, defense or right to contest the validity or enforceability of the Loan Documents based solely on the lack of paper original copies of any Loan Documents, including with respect to any signature pages thereto.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

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If the foregoing is acceptable to you, please have an authorized officer of each Borrower execute this Letter Amendment below where indicated and return the same to the undersigned.

Very truly yours,

STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY

By: /s/ Janet Nolin_____________________

Name: Janet Nolin

Title: Vice President

Acknowledged and Accepted:

EACH OF THE BORROWERS,
for itself and on behalf of each of its
respective Funds

By: /s/ Stephen J. Tate____________

Name: Stephen J. Tate

Title: Vice President and Chief legal Officer

 

Signature page to Ninth Amendment to the Putnam Funds and Putnam ETFs Uncommitted Line of Credit 
 

 

Annex A

 

[See attached]


July 1, 2021

The Putnam Funds
100 Federal Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02110

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Putnam Investment Management, LLC (“PIM”) hereby contractually agrees, as of the date hereof, with 
respect to the funds specified below or in Schedule A, Schedule B, or Schedule C, to waive fees and 
reimburse certain expenses in the manner provided below: 

 

1.  Other expenses. 
  a.  PIM agrees to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses of each open-end fund listed on 
    Schedule A and each variable trust fund listed on Schedule B to the extent necessary to 
    limit the cumulative expenses of the fund, exclusive of brokerage, interest, taxes, 
    investment-related expenses (including borrowing costs, i.e., short selling and lines of 
    credit costs), extraordinary expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses, and payments under 
    the fund’s investor servicing contract, the fund’s investment management contract 
    (including any applicable performance-based upward or downward adjustment to a fund’s 
    base management fee), and the fund’s distribution plans, to an annual (measured on a fiscal 
    year basis) rate of 0.20% of the fund’s average net assets. This contractual waiver will 
    remain in effect for a fund through the expiration of one year following the effective date 
    of the next annual update of the fund’s registration statement. 
  b.  PIM agrees to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses of Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation 
    Equity Fund to the extent necessary to limit the cumulative expenses of the fund, exclusive 
    of brokerage, interest, taxes, investment-related expenses (including borrowing costs, i.e., 
    short selling and lines of credit costs), extraordinary expenses, acquired fund fees and 
    expenses, and payments under the fund’s investor servicing contract, the fund’s investment 
    management contract, and the fund’s distribution plans, to an annual (measured on a fiscal 
    year basis) rate of 0.02% of the fund’s average net assets. This contractual waiver will 
    remain in effect through the expiration of the one-year period following the effective date 
    of the next annual update of the fund’s registration statement. 
 
2.  Fund-specific expense limitations. 
  a.  As set forth in the table below, PIM agrees to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses of 
    each fund set forth below to the extent that the total annual fund operating expenses for the 
    fund -- exclusive of payments under the fund’s distribution plans, any applicable 
    performance-based upward or downward adjustment to the fund’s base management fee, 
    brokerage, interest, taxes, investment-related expenses (including borrowing costs, i.e., 
    short selling and lines of credit costs), extraordinary expenses, and acquired fund fees and 

 

 
 

expenses – would exceed the specified rate through the specified date, which is the 
expiration of the one-year period following the effective date of the next annual update of 
each fund’s registration statement: 

 

     
Fund  Proposed Contractual  Expiration 
  Limitation on Total   
  Fund Operating   
  Expenses   
Putnam VT Emerging Markets Equity Fund  1.09%  April 30, 2023 
Putnam VT Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund  0.90%  April 30, 2023 
Putnam VT Mortgage Securities Fund  0.50%  April 30, 2023 

 

b.  As set forth in the table below, PIM agrees to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses of 
  each fund set forth below to the extent that the total annual fund operating expenses for the 
  fund – exclusive of payments under the fund’s distribution plans, payments under the 
  fund’s investor servicing contract, any applicable performance-based upward or downward 
  adjustment to the fund’s base management fee, brokerage, interest, taxes, investment- 
  related expenses (including borrowing costs, i.e., short selling and lines of credit costs), 
  extraordinary expenses, and acquired fund fees and expenses – would exceed the specified 
  rate through the specified date, which is the expiration of the one-year period following the 
  effective date of the next post-effective amendment of each fund’s registration statement: 

 

     
Fund  Proposed Contractual  Expiration 
  Limitation on Total   
  Fund Operating   
  Expenses   
Putnam Dynamic Risk Allocation Fund  0.70%  Sept. 30, 2022 
Putnam Emerging Markets Equity Fund  0.78%  December 30, 
    2022 
Putnam Global Income Trust  0.43%  February 28, 
    2023 
Putnam Income Fund  0.33%  Feb. 28, 2023 
Putnam Intermediate-Term Municipal Income  0.52%  March 30, 2023 
Fund     
Putnam Mortgage Opportunities Fund  0.46%  September 30, 
    2022 
Putnam Ultra Short Duration Income Fund  0.24%  Nov. 30, 2022 
Putnam Short-Term Municipal Income Fund  0.28%  March 30, 2023 

 

3.  Putnam Short Term Investment Fund. PIM agrees to waive the contractual management fee of 
  0.25% for Putnam Short Term Investment Fund through November 30, 2022, the expiration of the 
  one-year period following the effective date of the next update of the fund’s registration statement. 
 
4.  Putnam VT Focused International Equity Fund. PIM agrees to waive 5 basis points of the 
  contractual management fee payable by Putnam VT Focused International Equity Fund through 

 

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April 30, 2023, the expiration of the one-year period following the effective date of the next annual 
update of the fund’s registration statement. 

 

5.  Target Date Funds. 

 

a.  RetirementReady Funds: PIM agrees to (1) waive fees and/or reimburse expenses of each 
  Putnam RetirementReady Fund, in an amount equal to the fund’s “acquired fund fees and 
  expenses” and (2) waive fees and/or reimburse expenses of each class of shares specified below 
  of each Putnam RetirementReady Fund in an amount sufficient to result in total annual fund 
  operating expenses for each share class of the fund – exclusive of payments under the fund’s 
  distribution plan, brokerage, interest, taxes, investment-related expenses (including borrowing 
  costs, i.e., short selling and lines of credit costs), and extraordinary expenses – that equal the 
  amount specified in the table below of the fund’s average net assets attributable to each such 
  class. Each of these contractual waivers will remain in effect through the date that is three 
  years after the effective date of the next annual update of each fund’s registration statement 
  (except for Putnam RetirementReady® 2060 Fund, which will remain in effect through the date 
  that is ten years after the effective date of the next annual update of the fund’s registration 
  statement). 

 

   
Share Class  Net Total Expense 
  Ratio Cap 
Class A  0.65% 
Class B  0.65% 
Class C  0.65% 
Class R  0.80% 
Class R3  0.80% 
Class R4  0.80% 
Class R5  0.65% 
Class R6  0.55% 
Class Y  0.65% 

 

b.  Retirement Advantage Funds: PIM agrees to (1) waive fees and/or reimburse expenses of 
  each Putnam Retirement Advantage Fund in an amount equal to each fund’s “acquired 
  fund fees and expenses” and (2) waive fees and/or reimburse expenses of each class of 
  shares specified below of each Putnam Retirement Advantage Fund in an amount sufficient 
  to result in total annual fund operating expenses for each class of each fund – exclusive of 
  payments under the fund’s distribution plan, brokerage, interest, taxes, investment-related 
  expenses (including borrowing costs, i.e., short selling and lines of credit costs), and 
  extraordinary expenses – that equal the amount specified in the table below of the fund’s 
  average net assets attributable to each such class. Each of these contractual waivers will 
  remain in effect through the date that is three years after the effective date of the next annual 
  update of each fund’s registration statement. 

 

   
Share Class  Net Total Expense 
  Ratio Cap 
Class A  0.55% 
Class C  0.55% 
Class R  0.70% 
Class R3  0.70% 

 

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Class R4  0.70% 
Class R5  0.55% 
Class R6  0.45% 
Class Y  0.55% 

 

Effective July 1, 2021, this contractual undertaking supersedes any prior contractual expense limitation 
provisions between PIM and the funds. This undertaking shall be binding upon any successors and 
assignees of PIM. 

 

A copy of the Declaration of Trust (including any amendments thereto) of each of The Putnam Funds is on 
file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this 
instrument is executed on behalf of the Trustees of each Putnam Fund as trustees and not individually and 
that the obligations of or arising out of this instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees or officers 
or shareholders individually, but binding only upon the assets and property of each Putnam Fund with 
respect to its obligations under this instrument. Furthermore, notice is given that the assets and liabilities 
of each series of each Putnam Fund that is a series company are separate and distinct and that the obligations 
of or arising out of this instrument are several and not joint or joint and several and are binding only on the 
assets of each series with respect to its obligations under this instrument. Each fund is acting on its own 
behalf separately from all of the other investment companies and not jointly or jointly and severally with 
any of the other investment companies. 

 

Very truly yours, 
 
PUTNAM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC 
 
By:   /s/ Stephen J. Tate__________ 
Stephen J. Tate 
Vice President and Chief Legal Officer 

 

Agreed and accepted by each Putnam fund listed on Schedule A, 
Schedule B and Schedule C 
 
By:  /s/ Jonathan S. Horwitz_______________ 
 
  Jonathan S. Horwitz 
  Executive Vice President, Principal 
  Executive Officer, and Compliance Liaison 

 

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Schedule A 

 

Putnam California Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Convertible Securities Fund 
Putnam Diversified Income Trust 
Putnam Asset Allocation Funds 
- Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Balanced Fund 
- Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Conservative Fund 
- Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Growth Fund 
- Putnam Income Strategies Portfolio 
Putnam Focused International Equity Fund 
Putnam Funds Trust 
- Putnam Dynamic Risk Allocation Fund 
- Putnam Emerging Markets Equity Fund 
- Putnam Fixed Income Absolute Return Fund 
- Putnam Floating Rate Income Fund 
- Putnam Focused Equity Fund 
- Putnam Global Technology Fund 
- Putnam Intermediate-Term Municipal Income Fund 
- Putnam International Value Fund 
- Putnam Mortgage Opportunities Fund 
- Putnam Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund 
- Putnam Multi-Cap Core Fund 
- Putnam Short Duration Bond Fund 
- Putnam Short-Term Municipal Income Fund 
- Putnam Small Cap Growth Fund 
- Putnam Ultra Short Duration Income Fund 
George Putnam Balanced Fund 
Putnam Global Health Care Fund 
Putnam Global Income Trust 
Putnam High Yield Fund 
Putnam Income Fund 
Putnam International Equity Fund 
Putnam Investment Funds 
-Putnam Government Money Market Fund 
-Putnam Growth Opportunities Fund 
-Putnam International Capital Opportunities Fund 
-Putnam PanAgora Risk Parity Fund 
-Putnam Research Fund 
-Putnam Small Cap Value Fund 
-Putnam Sustainable Future Fund 
Putnam Large Cap Value Fund 
Putnam Massachusetts Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Minnesota Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Money Market Fund 
Putnam Mortgage Securities Fund 
Putnam New Jersey Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam New York Tax Exempt Income Fund 

 

5 

 

 
 

Putnam Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Pennsylvania Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Sustainable Leaders Fund 
Putnam Tax Exempt Income Fund 
Putnam Tax-Free Income Trust 
-Putnam Strategic Intermediate Municipal Fund 
-Putnam Tax-Free High Yield Fund 

 

6 

 

 
 

Schedule B 

 

Putnam Variable Trust 
 
- Putnam VT Diversified Income Fund 
- Putnam VT Emerging Markets Equity Fund 
- Putnam VT Focused International Equity Fund 
- Putnam VT George Putnam Balanced Fund 
- Putnam VT Global Asset Allocation Fund 
- Putnam VT Global Health Care Fund 
- Putnam VT Government Money Market Fund 
- Putnam VT Growth Opportunities Fund 
- Putnam VT High Yield Fund 
- Putnam VT Income Fund 
- Putnam VT International Equity Fund 
- Putnam VT International Value Fund 
- Putnam VT Large Cap Value Fund 
- Putnam VT Mortgage Securities Fund 
- Putnam VT Multi-Asset Absolute Return Fund 
- Putnam VT Multi-Cap Core Fund 
- Putnam VT Research Fund 
- Putnam VT Small Cap Growth Fund 
- Putnam VT Small Cap Value Fund 
- Putnam VT Sustainable Future Fund 
- Putnam VT Sustainable Leaders Fund 

 

7 

 

 
 

Schedule C 

 

Other Funds Subject to Expense Limitations 

 

Putnam Funds Trust 
- Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Equity Fund 
- Putnam Short Term Investment Fund 
Putnam Target Date Funds 
- Putnam RetirementReady Maturity Fund 
- Putnam RetirementReady 2065 Fund 
- Putnam RetirementReady 2060 Fund 
- Putnam RetirementReady 2055 Fund 
- Putnam RetirementReady 2050 Fund 
- Putnam RetirementReady 2045 Fund 
- Putnam RetirementReady 2040 Fund 
- Putnam RetirementReady 2035 Fund 
- Putnam RetirementReady 2030 Fund 
- Putnam RetirementReady 2025 Fund 
- Putnam Retirement Advantage Maturity Fund 
- Putnam Retirement Advantage 2065 Fund 
- Putnam Retirement Advantage 2060 Fund 
- Putnam Retirement Advantage 2055 Fund 
- Putnam Retirement Advantage 2050 Fund 
- Putnam Retirement Advantage 2045 Fund 
- Putnam Retirement Advantage 2040 Fund 
- Putnam Retirement Advantage 2035 Fund 
- Putnam Retirement Advantage 2030 Fund 
- Putnam Retirement Advantage 2025 Fund 

 

8 

 

 

 


 
[PUTNAM LOGO OMITTED] 
 
 
June 25, 2021 

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Putnam Investor Services, Inc. (“PSERV”) hereby contractually agrees, as of the date hereof, with respect to all Putnam-sponsored open-end registered investment companies, that the aggregate investor servicing fees attributable to DC Accounts or Non-DC Accounts for each fund will not exceed an annual rate of 0.250% of the fund’s average daily net assets attributable to DC Accounts or Non-DC Accounts (as determined before taking into account any expense reduction or other benefit attributable to balance credits or brokerage credits).

This contractual waiver will remain in effect for each fund through the later of one year following the effective date of the next annual update of the fund’s registration statement or August 31, 2022.

Any capitalized term not defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to the term in the Compensation Memorandum dated June 26, 2020.

Effective June 30, 2021, this contractual undertaking supersedes any prior contractual expense limitation provisions between PSERV and the funds. This undertaking shall be binding upon any successors and assignees of PSERV.

A copy of the Declaration of Trust (including any amendments thereto) of each of The Putnam Funds is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this instrument is executed on behalf of the Trustees of each Putnam Fund as trustees and not individually and that the obligations of or arising out of this instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees or officers or shareholders individually, but binding only upon the assets and property of each Putnam Fund with respect to its obligations under this instrument. Furthermore, notice is given that the assets and liabilities of each series of each Putnam Fund that is a series company are separate and distinct and that the obligations of or arising out of this instrument are several and not joint or joint and several and are binding only on the assets of each series with respect to its obligations under this instrument. Each fund is acting on its own behalf separately from all of the other investment companies and not jointly or jointly and severally with any of the other investment companies.

Very truly yours, 
 
PUTNAM INVESTOR SERVICES, INC. 
 
By:   /s/ Michael J. Woodall
 
Michael J. Woodall
President 

 

 
 

Agreed and accepted by each Putnam open-end fund
and each variable trust fund

By:  /s/ Jonathan S. Horwitz 
 
  Jonathan S. Horwitz 
Executive Vice President, Principal 
  Executive Officer, and Compliance Liaison 

 

PUTNAM FUNDS

 

Plan pursuant to Rule 18f-3(d) under the

Investment Company Act of 1940

 

Effective November 1, 1999, as most recently amended effective March 1, 2021

 

Each of the open-end investment companies managed by Putnam Investment Management, LLC (each a “Fund” and, together, the “Funds”) may from time to time issue one or more of the following classes of shares: Class A shares, Class B shares, Class C shares, Class G shares, Class I shares, Class M shares, Class N shares, Class P shares, Class R shares, Class R3 shares, Class R4 shares, Class R5 shares, Class R6 shares and Class Y shares. Each class is subject to such investment minimums and other conditions of eligibility as are set forth in the Funds’ registration statements or prospectuses and statements of additional information as from time to time in effect. The differences in expenses among these classes of shares, and the conversion and exchange features of each class of shares, are set forth below in this Plan. Except as noted below, expenses are allocated among the classes of shares of each Fund based upon the net assets of each Fund attributable to shares of each class. This Plan is subject to change, to the extent permitted by law and by the Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-laws of each Fund, by action of the Trustees of each Fund. This Plan does not apply to the shares of Putnam Variable Trust or any other open-end investment company managed by Putnam Investment Management, LLC that may from time to time maintain a separate plan pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

ALL SHARE CLASSES

Exchange Feature

Any class of shares of a Fund held by a shareholder eligible to purchase Class A shares may be exchanged, pursuant to standing instructions from a financial intermediary or at a financial intermediary’s discretion, for Class A shares of the same Fund if the shareholder is investing through an account or platform with the financial intermediary, to the extent described in the Fund’s registration statement or prospectus and statement of additional information as from time to time in effect, provided that the sale charges, if any, applicable to such an exchange will be as described in a Fund’s registration statement or prospectus and statement of additional information as from time to time in effect.

 

CLASS A SHARES

 

Distribution and Service Fees

 

Class A shares pay distribution and service fees pursuant to plans (the “Class A Plans”) adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”). Class A shares also bear any costs associated with obtaining shareholder approval of the Class A Plans or any amendment to a Class A Plan. Pursuant to the Class A Plans, Class A shares may pay up to 0.35% of the relevant Fund’s average net assets attributable to the Class A shares (which percentage may be less for any Fund, as described in the Fund’s registration statement or

 

 
 

 

prospectuses and statements of additional information as from time to time in effect). Amounts payable under the Class A Plans are subject to such further limitations as the Trustees may from time to time determine and as set forth in the registration statement or prospectus or statement of additional information of each Fund as from time to time in effect.

 

Investor Servicing Fees

 

Except with respect to Funds that are series of the Putnam Target Date Funds trust (each, a “Target Date Fund” and collectively, the “Target Date Funds”), investor servicing fees (determined pursuant to the Memorandum regarding Investor Servicing Compensation Arrangements for the Funds as from time to time in effect) that are not specifically payable by Class G, Class I, Class P, Class R3, Class R4, Class R5 or Class R6 shares are allocated among the other classes of shares (Class A shares, Class B shares, Class C shares, Class M shares, Class N shares, Class R shares and Class Y shares, as applicable) of each Fund based on the net assets of each Fund attributable to shares of each class.

 

For each Target Date Fund, Class A shares pay an investor servicing fee at the rate set forth for Class A shares in the Memorandum regarding Investor Servicing Compensation Arrangements for such Fund as from time to time in effect.

 

Conversion Features

 

Class A shares do not convert to any other class of shares.

 

 

Exchange Features

 

See “All Share Classes – Exchange Feature” above. In addition:

 

Class A shares of any Fund other than Putnam Money Market Fund, Putnam Government Money Market Fund, and Putnam Tax Exempt Money Market Fund may be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class A shares of any other Fund that offers Class A shares, without the payment of a sales charge, provided that Class A shares of such other Fund are available to residents of the relevant state.

 

Class A shares of Putnam Money Market Fund, Putnam Government Money Market Fund, and Putnam Tax Exempt Money Market Fund may be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class A, Class B or Class C shares of any other Fund that offers such classes of shares in the relevant state without the current payment of a contingent deferred sales charge (a “CDSC”), but, in the case of exchanges for Class A shares of another Fund, may be subject to a front-end sales charge upon such exchange. The holding period for determining any CDSC applicable to the shares received in such exchange will include the holding period of the shares exchanged, and will be calculated using the schedule of any Fund into or from which shares have been exchanged that would result in the highest CDSC applicable to such Class A shares.

 

 
 

 

Class A shares of any Fund may be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class N shares of any other Fund that offers Class N shares, without the payment of a sales charge, provided that Class N shares of such other Fund are available to residents of the relevant state.

 

In addition, Class A shares of Putnam Money Market Fund or Putnam Government Money Market Fund that are offered in conjunction with Class Y shares of other Putnam Funds may be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class Y shares of such other Funds without the payment of a CDSC.

 

Class A shares of any Fund held by a shareholder eligible to purchase Class Y shares may also be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class Y shares of the same Fund, provided that the Class A shares are no longer subject to a CDSC and provided that Class Y shares of such Fund are available to residents of the relevant state.

 

Class A shares of any Fund held by a shareholder eligible to purchase Class I shares may also be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class I shares of the same Fund, provided that the Class A shares are no longer subject to a CDSC and provided that Class I shares of such Fund are available to residents of the relevant state.

 

Class A shares of any Fund held by a shareholder eligible to purchase Class R5 shares may also be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class R5 shares of the same Fund, provided that the Class A shares are no longer subject to a CDSC, provided that Class R5 shares of such Fund are available to residents of the relevant state and further provided that, if applicable, Class R5 shares of such Fund are available through the relevant retirement plan. No sales charges or other charges will apply to any such exchange.

 

Class A shares of any Fund held by a shareholder eligible to purchase Class R6 shares may also be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class R6 shares of the same Fund, provided that the Class A shares are no longer subject to a CDSC, provided that Class R6 shares of such Fund are available to residents of the relevant state and further provided that, if applicable, Class R6 shares of such Fund are available through the relevant retirement plan, advisory program or platform. No sales charges or other charges will apply to any such exchange.

 

Class A shares of any Fund held by a shareholder eligible to purchase Class N shares may also be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class N shares of the same Fund, provided that the Class A shares are no longer subject to a CDSC, provided that Class N shares of such Fund are available to residents of the relevant state, and further provided that, if applicable, Class N shares of such Fund are available through the relevant retirement plan. No sales charges or other charges will apply to any such exchange.

 

For each Target Date Fund, Class A shares held through employer-sponsored retirement plans (for these purposes, employer-sponsored retirement plans include the plan types described in such Fund’s registration statement) acquired prior to October 1, 2020 will, unless the plan notifies Putnam Investor Services, Inc. (“PSERV”) of its desire to be exchanged into another share class for which it is eligible, be exchanged into Class R3 shares of the same Fund effective October 1, 2020, provided that Class R3 shares are available for purchase by residents in the

 

 
 

 

shareholder’s jurisdiction and further provided that, if applicable, Class R3 of such Fund are available through the relevant retirement plan.

 

(i) The same-fund exchange privilege may be effected only if permitted by a shareholder’s dealer of record (if applicable), (ii) the same-fund exchange privilege may not be available for all accounts and may not be offered by all dealers, financial institutions and other intermediaries through which a shareholder may hold shares, and (iii) the dealer of record through whom a shareholder holds shares may be authorized (e.g., under its account or similar agreement with a shareholder) to reject any same-fund exchange.

 

Initial Sales Charge

 

Class A shares are offered at a public offering price that is equal to their net asset value (“NAV”) plus a sales charge of up to 5.75% of the public offering price (which maximum may be less for any Fund, as described in the Fund’s registration statement or prospectus or statement of additional information as from time to time in effect). The sales charges on Class A shares are subject to reduction or waiver as permitted by Rule 22d-1 under the 1940 Act and as described in the applicable Fund registration statement or prospectus or statement of additional information as from time to time in effect.

 

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge

 

Except with respect to Putnam Short Duration Bond Fund, purchases of Class A shares of $1 million or more (or $500,000 or more in the case of certain Funds as described in their registration statements or prospectuses or statements of additional information as from time to time in effect) that are redeemed before the first day of the month in which the twelve-month anniversary of such purchases occurs may be subject to a CDSC of 1.00% of either the purchase price or the NAV of the shares redeemed, whichever is less, as described in each Fund’s registration statement or prospectus or statement of additional information as from time to time in effect; provided that the period of time, and the percentage level of the CDSC, may be less for any Fund if so specified in the Fund’s registration statement or prospectus or statement of additional information as from time to time in effect.

 

Effective June 1, 2018, with respect to Putnam Short Duration Bond Fund, purchases of Class A shares of $250,000 or more that are redeemed before the first day of the month in which the nine-month anniversary of such purchases occurs may be subject to a CDSC of 1.00% of either the purchase price or the NAV of the shares redeemed, whichever is less, as described in each Fund’s registration statement or prospectus or statement of additional information as from time to time in effect.

 

Class A shares are not otherwise subject to a CDSC.

 

The CDSC on Class A shares is subject to reduction or waiver in certain circumstances, as permitted by Rule 6c-10 under the 1940 Act and as described in the applicable Fund registration statement or prospectus or statement of additional information as from time to time in effect.

 

 
 

 

CLASS B SHARES

 

Distribution and Service Fees

 

Class B shares pay distribution and service fees pursuant to plans adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the “Class B Plans”). Class B shares also bear any costs associated with obtaining shareholder approval of the Class B Plans or any amendment to a Class B Plan. Pursuant to the Class B Plans, Class B shares may pay up to 1.00% of the relevant Fund’s average net assets attributable to Class B shares (which percentage may be less for any Fund, as described in the Fund’s registration statement or prospectus or statement of additional information as from time to time in effect). Amounts payable under the Class B Plans are subject to such further limitations as the Trustees may from time to time determine and as set forth in the registration statement or prospectus or statement of additional information of each Fund as from time to time in effect.

 

Investor Servicing Fees

 

Except with respect to the Target Date Funds, Investor servicing fees (determined pursuant to the Memorandum regarding Investor Servicing Compensation Arrangements for the Funds as from time to time in effect) that are not specifically payable by Class G, Class I, Class P, Class R3, Class R4, Class R5 or Class R6 shares are allocated among the other classes of shares (Class A shares, Class B shares, Class C shares, Class M shares, Class N shares, Class R shares and Class Y shares, as applicable) of each Fund based on the net assets of each Fund attributable to shares of each class.

 

For each Target Date Fund, Class B shares pay an investor servicing fee at the rate set forth for Class B shares in the Memorandum regarding Investor Servicing Compensation Arrangements for such Fund as from time to time in effect.

 

 

Conversion Features

 

Class B shares automatically convert to Class A shares of the same Fund no later than the end of the month in which the eighth anniversary of the date of purchase occurs (or such earlier date as the Trustees of a Fund may authorize), except that Class B shares purchased through the reinvestment of dividends and other distributions on Class B shares convert to Class A shares at the same time as the shares with respect to which they were purchased are converted and Class B shares acquired by the exchange of Class B shares of another Fund will convert to Class A shares based on the time of the initial purchase. No sales charges or other charges will apply to any such conversion.

 

Exchange Features

 

See “All Share Classes – Exchange Feature” above. In addition:

 

 
 

 

Class B shares of any Fund may be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class B shares of any other Fund that offers Class B shares without the payment of a sales charge, provided that Class B shares of such other Fund are available to residents of the relevant state. The holding period for determining any CDSC will include the holding period of the shares exchanged, and will be calculated using the schedule of any Fund into or from which shares have been exchanged that would result in the highest CDSC applicable to such Class B shares.

 

(i) The same-fund exchange privilege may be effected only if permitted by a shareholder’s dealer of record (if applicable), (ii) the same-fund exchange privilege may not be available for all accounts and may not be offered by all dealers, financial institutions and other intermediaries through which a shareholder may hold shares, and (iii) the dealer of record through whom a shareholder holds shares may be authorized (e.g., under its account or similar agreement with a shareholder) to reject any same-fund exchange.

 

 

Initial Sales Charge

 

Class B shares are offered at their NAV, without an initial sales charge.

 

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge

 

Class B shares that are redeemed within 6 years of purchase are subject to a CDSC of up to 5.00% of either the purchase price or the NAV of the shares redeemed, whichever is less (provided that the period of time, and the percentage level of the CDSC, may be less for any Fund if so specified in the Fund’s registration statement or prospectus or statement of additional information as from time to time in effect); such percentage declines the longer the shares are held, as described in the Funds’ registration statements or prospectuses and statements of additional information as from time to time in effect. Class B shares purchased with reinvested dividends or capital gains are not subject to a CDSC.

 

The CDSC on Class B shares is subject to reduction or waiver in certain circumstances, as permitted by Rule 6c-10 under the 1940 Act and as described in the applicable Fund’s registration statement or prospectus or statement of additional information as from time to time in effect.

 

 

CLASS C SHARES

 

Distribution and Service Fees

 

Class C shares pay distribution and service fees pursuant to plans adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the “Class C Plans”). Class C shares also bear any costs associated with obtaining shareholder approval of the Class C Plans or any amendment to a Class C Plan. Pursuant to the Class C Plans, Class C shares may pay up to 1.00% of the relevant Fund’s average net assets attributable to the Class C shares (which percentage may be less for any Fund, as described in the Fund’s registration statement or prospectus or statement of

 

 
 

 

additional information as from time to time in effect). Amounts payable under the Class C Plans are subject to such further limitations as the Trustees may from time to time determine and as set forth in the registration statement or prospectus or statement of additional information of each Fund as from time to time in effect.

 

Investor Servicing Fees

 

Except with respect to the Target Date Funds, investor servicing fees (determined pursuant to the Memorandum regarding Investor Servicing Compensation Arrangements for the Funds as from time to time in effect) that are not specifically payable by Class G, Class I, Class P, Class R3, Class R4, Class R5 or Class R6 shares are allocated among the other classes of shares (Class A shares, Class B shares, Class C shares, Class M shares, Class N shares, Class R shares and Class Y shares, as applicable) of each Fund based on the net assets of each Fund attributable to shares of each class.

 

For each Target Date Fund, Class C shares pay an investor servicing fee at the rate set forth for Class C shares in the Memorandum regarding Investor Servicing Compensation Arrangements for such Fund as from time to time in effect.

 

 

Conversion Features

 

Class C shares automatically convert to Class A shares of the same Fund no later than the end of the month in which the eighth anniversary of the date of purchase occurs (or such earlier date as the Trustees of a Fund may authorize), provided that PSERV or the financial intermediary through which the shareholder purchased such Class C shares has records verifying the completion of the eight-year aging period (if these records are not available, PSERV or the financial intermediary may not effect the conversion or may effect the conversion on a different schedule determined by PSERV or the financial intermediary, which may be shorter or longer than eight years), and further provided that Class A shares are available for purchase by residents in the shareholder’s jurisdiction. Class C shares purchased through the reinvestment of dividends and other distributions on Class C shares will convert to Class A shares at the same time as the Class C shares with respect to which they were purchased are converted, and Class C shares acquired by the exchange of Class C shares of another Fund will convert to Class A shares based on the time of the initial purchase of such Class C shares, provided the conditions to conversion are satisfied. No sales charges or other charges will apply to any such conversion.

 

 

 

Exchange Features

 

See “All Share Classes – Exchange Feature” above. In addition:

 

Class C shares of any Fund may be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class C shares of any other Fund that offers Class C shares without the payment of a sales charge, provided that Class C shares of such other Fund are available to residents of the relevant state. The holding

 
 

period for determining any CDSC will include the holding period of the shares exchanged, and will be calculated using the schedule of any Fund into or from which shares have been exchanged that would result in the highest CDSC applicable to such Class C shares. Exchange privileges for Class C shares offered outside the United States may vary.

 

Class C shares of any Fund held by a shareholder eligible to purchase Class Y shares may be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class Y shares of the same Fund, provided that Class Y shares of such Fund are available to residents of the relevant state and provided that the Class C shares are no longer CDSC-eligible.

 

Class C shares of any Fund held by a shareholder eligible to purchase Class A shares without a sales charge because the shareholder is a (i) client of a broker-dealer, financial institution, financial intermediary or registered investment advisor that is approved by Putnam Retail Management and charges a fee for advisory or investment services or (ii) client of a broker-dealer, financial institution, or financial intermediary that has entered into an agreement with Putnam Retail Management to offer shares through a fund “supermarket” or retail self-directed brokerage account (with or without the imposition of a transaction fee) may be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class A shares of the same Fund, provided that Class A shares of such Fund are available to residents of the relevant state and provided that the Class C shares are no longer CDSC-eligible.

 

For each Target Date Fund, Class C shares held through employer-sponsored retirement plans (for these purposes, employer-sponsored retirement plans include the plan types described in such Fund’s registration statement) acquired prior to October 1, 2020 will, unless the plan notifies PSERV of its desire to be exchanged into another share class for which it is eligible, be exchanged into Class R shares of the same Fund effective October 1, 2020, provided that Class R shares are available for purchase by residents in the shareholder’s jurisdiction and further provided that, if applicable, Class R of such Fund are available through the relevant retirement plan. No sales charges or other charges will apply to any such conversion.

 

(i) The same-fund exchange privilege may be effected only if permitted by a shareholder’s dealer of record (if applicable), (ii) the same-fund exchange privilege may not be available for all accounts and may not be offered by all dealers, financial institutions and other intermediaries through which a shareholder may hold shares, and (iii) the dealer of record through whom a shareholder holds shares may be authorized (e.g., under its account or similar agreement with a shareholder) to reject any same-fund exchange.

 

Initial Sales Charge

 

Class C shares are offered at their NAV, without an initial sales charge.

 

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge

 

Class C shares are subject to a 1.00% CDSC if the shares are redeemed within one year of purchase; provided that the period of time, and the percentage level of the CDSC, may be less for any Fund if so specified in the Fund’s registration statement or prospectus or statement of

 

 
 

 

additional information as from time to time in effect. Class C shares purchased with reinvested dividends or capital gains are not subject to a CDSC.

 

The CDSC on Class C shares is subject to reduction or waiver in certain circumstances, as permitted by Rule 6c-10 under the 1940 Act and as described in the applicable Fund’s registration statement or prospectus or statement of additional information as from time to time in effect.

 

CLASS G SHARES

 

Distribution and Service Fees

 

Class G shares do not pay a distribution or service fee.

 

Investor Servicing Fees

 

Class G shares pay an investor servicing fee at the rates set forth for Class G shares in the Memorandum regarding Investor Servicing Compensation Arrangements for the Funds as from time to time in effect.

 

Conversion Features

 

Class G shares do not convert to any other class of shares.

 

Exchange Features

 

See “All Share Classes – Exchange Feature” above. Class G shares are not eligible for exchange for Class G shares of another Fund.

 

Initial Sales Charge

 

Class G shares are offered at their NAV, without an initial sales charge.

 

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge

 

Class G shares are not subject to any CDSC.

 

CLASS I SHARES

 

Distribution and Service Fees

 

Class I shares do not pay a distribution or service fee.

 

 
 

 

Investor Servicing Fees

 

Class I shares pay an investor servicing fee at the rates set forth for Class I shares in the Memorandum regarding Investor Servicing Compensation Arrangements for the Funds as from time to time in effect.

 

Conversion Features

 

Class I shares do not convert to any other class of shares.

 

Exchange Features1

 

See “All Share Classes – Exchange Feature” above. In addition:

 

Class I shares are not eligible for exchange for Class I shares of another Fund.

 

Class I shares of any Fund held by a shareholder eligible to purchase Class A shares may be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class A shares of the same Fund without payment of any initial sales charge, provided that Class A shares of such Fund are available to residents of the relevant state. Class A shares issued in such an exchange will not be subject to any initial sales charge; however, any subsequent purchases of Class A shares by the shareholder will be subject to the initial sales charge applicable to Class A shares (as described in the Fund’s registration statement or prospectus or statement of additional information as from time to time in effect).

 

Class I shares of any Fund held by a shareholder eligible to purchase Class Y shares may also be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class Y shares of the same Fund, provided that Class Y shares of such Fund are available to residents of the relevant state.

 

Class I shares of any Fund held by a shareholder eligible to purchase Class R6 shares may also be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class R6 shares of the same Fund, provided that Class R6 shares of such Fund are available to residents of the relevant state and further provided that, if applicable, Class R6 shares of such Fund are available through the relevant retirement plan, advisory program or platform. No sales charges or other charges will apply to any such exchange.

 

(i) The same-fund exchange privilege may be effected only if permitted by a shareholder’s dealer of record (if applicable), (ii) the same-fund exchange privilege may not be available for all accounts and may not be offered by all dealers, financial institutions and other intermediaries through which a shareholder may hold shares, and (iii) the dealer of record through whom a shareholder holds shares may be authorized (e.g., under its account or similar


__________________

1 Class I share exchange features (into or out of Class I shares) are applicable solely with respect to Class I shares of Putnam Mortgage Opportunities Fund.

 

 
 

 

agreement with a shareholder) to reject any same-fund exchange.

 

 

Initial Sales Charge

 

Class I shares are offered at their NAV, without an initial sales charge.

 

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge

 

Class I shares are not subject to any CDSC.

 

CLASS M SHARES

 

Distribution and Service Fees

 

Class M shares pay distribution and service fees pursuant to plans adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the “Class M Plans”). Class M shares also bear any costs associated with obtaining shareholder approval of the Class M Plans or any amendment to a Class M Plan. Pursuant to the Class M Plans, Class M shares may pay up to 1.00% of the relevant Fund’s average net assets attributable to Class M shares (which percentage may be less for any Fund, as described in the Fund’s registration statement or prospectus or statement of additional information as from time to time in effect). Amounts payable under the Class M Plans are subject to such further limitations as the Trustees may from time to time determine and as set forth in the registration statement or prospectus or statement of additional information of each Fund as from time to time in effect.

 

Investor Servicing Fees

 

Investor servicing fees (determined pursuant to the Memorandum regarding Investor Servicing Compensation Arrangements for the Funds as from time to time in effect) that are not specifically payable by Class G, Class I, Class P, Class R3, Class R4, Class R5 or Class R6 shares are allocated among the other classes of shares (Class A shares, Class B shares, Class C shares, Class M shares, Class N shares, Class R shares and Class Y shares, as applicable) of each Fund based on the net assets of each Fund attributable to shares of each class.

 

Conversion Features

 

Class M shares do not convert to any other class of shares.

 

 

Exchange Features

 

See “All Share Classes – Exchange Feature” above. In addition:

 

 
 

      

 Class M shares of any Fund other than Putnam Money Market Fund and Putnam Government Money Market Fund may be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class M shares of any other Fund that offers Class M shares without the payment of a sales charge, provided that Class M shares of such other Fund are available to residents of the relevant state. Class M shares of Putnam Money Market Fund and Putnam Government Money Market Fund may be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class B, Class C or Class M shares of any other Fund that offers such classes of shares in the relevant state without the current payment of a CDSC, but, in the case of exchanges for Class M shares of another Fund, may be subject to a front-end sales charge upon such exchange. The holding period for determining any CDSC applicable to the shares received in such exchange will include the holding period of the shares exchanged, and will be calculated using the schedule of any Fund into or from which shares have been exchanged that would result in the highest CDSC applicable to such shares. Exchange privileges for Class M shares offered outside the United States may vary.

 

Class M shares of any Fund held by a shareholder eligible to purchase Class Y shares may also be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class Y shares of the same Fund, provided that Class Y shares of such Fund are available to residents of the relevant state.

(i) The same-fund exchange privilege may be effected only if permitted by a shareholder’s dealer of record (if applicable), (ii) the same-fund exchange privilege may not be available for all accounts and may not be offered by all dealers, financial institutions and other intermediaries through which a shareholder may hold shares, and (iii) the dealer of record through whom a shareholder holds shares may be authorized (e.g., under its account or similar agreement with a shareholder) to reject any same-fund exchange.

 

Initial Sales Charge

 

Class M shares are offered at a public offering price that is equal to their NAV plus a sales charge of up to 3.50% of the public offering price (which maximum may be less for any Fund, as described in the Fund’s registration statement or prospectus or statement of additional information as from time to time in effect). The sales charges on Class M shares are subject to reduction or waiver as permitted by Rule 22d-1 under the 1940 Act and as described in the applicable Fund’s registration statement or prospectus or statement of additional information as from time to time in effect.

 

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge

 

Class M shares are not subject to any CDSC.

 

CLASS N SHARES

 

Distribution and Service Fees

 

Class N shares pay distribution and service fees pursuant to plans (the “Class N Plans”) adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Class N shares also bear any costs associated with obtaining shareholder approval of the Class N Plans or any amendment to a Class N Plan. Pursuant to the Class N Plans, Class N shares may pay up to 0.25% of the relevant

 

 
 

 

Fund’s average net assets attributable to the Class N shares (which percentage may be less for any Fund, as described in the Fund’s registration statement or prospectuses and statements of additional information as from time to time in effect). Amounts payable under the Class N Plans are subject to such further limitations as the Trustees may from time to time determine and as set forth in the registration statement or prospectus or statement of additional information of each Fund as from time to time in effect.

 

Investor Servicing Fees

 

Investor servicing fees (determined pursuant to the Memorandum regarding Investor Servicing Compensation Arrangements for the Funds as from time to time in effect) that are not specifically payable by Class G, Class I, Class P, Class R3, Class R4, Class R5 or Class R6 shares are allocated among the other classes of shares (Class A shares, Class B shares, Class C shares, Class M shares, Class R shares, Class N shares and Class Y shares, as applicable) of each Fund based on the net assets of each Fund attributable to shares of each class.

 

Conversion Features

 

Class N shares do not convert to any other class of shares.

 

Exchange Features

 

See “All Share Classes – Exchange Feature” above. In addition:

 

Class N shares of any Fund may be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class A or N shares of any other Fund that offers Class A or N shares without the payment of a CDSC, provided that Class A or N shares of such other Fund are available to residents of the relevant state. Such exchanges will not be subject to an initial sales charge.

 

Class N shares of any Fund held by a shareholder eligible to purchase Class A shares may also be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class A shares of the same Fund, provided that the Class N shares are no longer subject to a CDSC, provided that Class A shares of such Fund are available to residents of the relevant state, and further provided that, if applicable, Class A shares of such Fund are available through the relevant retirement plan. No sales charges or other charges will apply to any such exchange.

 

 

Initial Sales Charge

 

Class N shares are offered at a public offering price that is equal to their NAV plus a sales charge of up to 1.50% of the public offering price (which maximum may be less for any Fund, as described in the Fund’s registration statement or prospectus or statement of additional information as from time to time in effect). The sales charges on Class N shares are subject to reduction or waiver as permitted by Rule 22d-1 under the 1940 Act and as described in the applicable Fund registration statement or prospectus or statement of additional information as from time to time in effect.

 

 
 

 

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge

 

Purchases of Class N shares of $250,000 or more that are redeemed before the first day of the month in which the nine-month anniversary of such purchases occurs may be subject to a CDSC of 0.25% of either the purchase price or the NAV of the shares redeemed, whichever is less, as described in each Fund’s registration statement or prospectus or statement of additional information as from time to time in effect.

 

Class N shares are not otherwise subject to a CDSC.

 

The CDSC on Class N shares is subject to reduction or waiver in certain circumstances, as permitted by Rule 6c-10 under the 1940 Act and as described in the applicable Fund registration statement or prospectus or statement of additional information as from time to time in effect.

 

CLASS P SHARES

 

Distribution and Service Fees

 

Class P shares do not pay a distribution or service fee.

 

Investor Servicing Fees

 

Class P shares pay an investor servicing fee at the rates set forth for Class P shares in the Memorandum regarding Investor Servicing Compensation Arrangements for the Funds as from time to time in effect.

 

Conversion Features

 

Class P shares do not convert to any other class of shares.

 

 
 

 

Exchange Features

 

See “All Share Classes – Exchange Feature” above. Class P shares are not eligible for exchange for Class P shares of another Fund.

 

Initial Sales Charge

 

Class P shares are offered at their NAV, without an initial sales charge.

 

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge

 

Class P shares are not subject to any CDSC.

 

CLASS R SHARES

 

Distribution and Service Fees

 

Class R shares pay distribution and service fees pursuant to plans adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the “Class R Plans”). Class R shares also bear any costs associated with obtaining shareholder approval of the Class R Plans or any amendment to a Class R Plan. Pursuant to the Class R Plans, Class R shares may pay up to 1.00% of the relevant Fund’s average net assets attributable to Class R shares (which percentage may be less for any Fund, as described in the Fund’s registration statement or prospectus or statement of additional information as from time to time in effect). Amounts payable under the Class R Plans are subject to such further limitations as the Trustees may from time to time determine and as set forth in the registration statement or prospectus or statement of additional information of each Fund as from time to time in effect.

 

Investor Servicing Fees

 

Except with respect to the Target Date Funds, investor servicing fees (determined pursuant to the Memorandum regarding Investor Servicing Compensation Arrangements for the Funds as from time to time in effect) that are not specifically payable by Class G, Class I, Class P, Class R3, Class R4, Class R5 or Class R6 shares are allocated among the other classes of shares (Class A shares, Class B shares, Class C shares, Class M shares, Class N shares, Class R shares and Class Y shares, as applicable) of each Fund based on the net assets of each Fund attributable to shares of each class.

 

For each Target Date Fund, Class R shares pay an investor servicing fee at the rate set forth for Class R shares in the Memorandum regarding Investor Servicing Compensation Arrangements for such Fund as from time to time in effect.

 

 

Conversion Features

 

Class R shares do not convert to any other class of shares.

 

 
 

 

Exchange Features

 

See “All Share Classes – Exchange Feature” above. In addition:

 

Class R shares of any Fund may be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class R shares of any other Fund that offers Class R shares without the payment of a sales charge, provided that Class R shares of such other Fund are available to residents of the relevant state.

 

Class R shares of any Fund held by a shareholder eligible to purchase Class R3, R4 or R5 shares may also be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class R3, R4 or R5 shares of the same Fund, provided that Class R3, R4 or R5 shares of such Fund are available to residents of the relevant state and further provided that, if applicable, Class R3, R4 or R5 shares of such Fund are available through the relevant retirement plan. No sales charges or other charges will apply to any such exchange.

 

Class R shares of any Fund held by a shareholder eligible to purchase Class R6 shares may also be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class R6 shares of the same Fund, provided that Class R6 shares of such Fund are available to residents of the relevant state and further provided that, if applicable, Class R6 shares of such Fund are available through the relevant retirement plan, advisory program or platform. No sales charges or other charges will apply to any such exchange.

 

(i) The same-fund exchange privilege may be effected only if permitted by a shareholder’s dealer of record (if applicable), (ii) the same-fund exchange privilege may not be available for all accounts and may not be offered by all dealers, financial institutions and other intermediaries through which a shareholder may hold shares, and (iii) the dealer of record through whom a shareholder holds shares may be authorized (e.g., under its account or similar agreement with a shareholder) to reject any same-fund exchange.

 

 

Initial Sales Charge

 

Class R shares are offered at their NAV, without any sales charge.

 

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge

 

Class R shares are not subject to any CDSC.

 

 
 

 

CLASS R3 SHARES

 

Distribution and Service Fees

 

 

 

Class R3 shares pay distribution and service fees pursuant to plans adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the “Class R3 Plans”). Class R3 shares also bear any costs associated with obtaining shareholder approval of the Class R3 Plans or any amendment to a Class R3 Plan. Pursuant to the Class R3 Plans, Class R3 shares may pay up to 0.35% of the relevant Fund’s average net assets attributable to Class R3 shares (which percentage may be less for any Fund, as described in the Fund’s registration statement or prospectus or statement of additional information as from time to time in effect). Amounts payable under the Class R3 Plans are subject to such further limitations as the Trustees may from time to time determine and as set forth in the registration statement or prospectus or statement of additional information of each Fund as from time to time in effect.

 

Investor Servicing Fees

 

Class R3 shares pay an investor servicing fee at the rates set forth for Class R3 shares in the Memorandum regarding Investor Servicing Compensation Arrangements for the Funds as from time to time in effect.

 

Conversion Features

 

Class R3 shares do not convert to any other class of shares.

 

Exchange Features

 

See “All Share Classes – Exchange Feature” above. In addition:

 

Class R3 shares of any Fund may be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class A or R3 shares of any other Fund that offers Class A or R3 shares without the payment of a sales charge, provided that Class A or R3 shares of such other Fund are available to residents of the relevant state, and further provided that, if applicable, Class A or R3 shares of such other Fund are available through the relevant retirement plan.

 

Class R3 shares of any Fund held by a shareholder eligible to purchase Class R, Class R4, Class R5, or Class R6 shares may be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class R, Class R4, Class R5, or Class R6 shares of the same Fund, provided that Class R, Class R4, Class R5, or Class R6 shares are available to residents of the relevant state, and further provided that, if applicable, Class R, Class R4, Class R5, or Class R6 shares are available through the relevant retirement plan. No sales charges or other charges will apply to any such exchange.

 

(i) The same-fund exchange privilege may be effected only if permitted by a shareholder’s dealer of record (if applicable), (ii) the same-fund exchange privilege may not be

 

 
 

 

available for all accounts and may not be offered by all dealers, financial institutions and other intermediaries through which a shareholder may hold shares, and (iii) the dealer of record through whom a shareholder holds shares may be authorized (e.g., under its account or similar agreement with a shareholder) to reject any same-fund exchange.

 

Initial Sales Charge

 

Class R3 shares are offered at their NAV, without an initial sales charge.

 

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge

 

Class R3 shares are not subject to any CDSC.

 

 

CLASS R4 SHARES

 

Distribution and Service Fees

 

Class R4 shares do not pay a distribution or service fee.

 

Investor Servicing Fees

 

Class R4 shares pay an investor servicing fee at the rates set forth for Class R4 shares in the Memorandum regarding Investor Servicing Compensation Arrangements for the Funds as from time to time in effect.

 

Conversion Features

 

Class R4 shares do not convert to any other class of shares.

 

Exchange Features

 

See “All Share Classes – Exchange Feature” above. In addition:

 

Class R4 shares of any Fund may be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class R4 shares of any other Fund that offers Class R4 shares, provided that Class R4 shares of such other Fund are available to residents of the relevant state, and further provided that, if applicable, class R4 shares of such other Fund are available through the relevant retirement plan.

 

Class R4 shares of any Fund held by a shareholder eligible to purchase Class R, Class R3, Class R5, or Class R6 shares may be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class R, Class R3, Class R4 or Class R6 shares of the same Fund, provided that Class R, Class R3, Class R5, or Class R6 shares are available to residents of the relevant state, and further provided that, if applicable, Class R, Class R3, Class R5, or Class R6 shares are available through the relevant retirement plan. No sales charges or other charges will apply to any such exchange.

 

 
 

  

(i) The same-fund exchange privilege may be effected only if permitted by a shareholder’s dealer of record (if applicable), (ii) the same-fund exchange privilege may not be available for all accounts and may not be offered by all dealers, financial institutions and other intermediaries through which a shareholder may hold shares, and (iii) the dealer of record through whom a shareholder holds shares may be authorized (e.g., under its account or similar agreement with a shareholder) to reject any same-fund exchange.

 

Initial Sales Charge

 

Class R4 shares are offered at their NAV, without an initial sales charge.

 

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge

 

Class R4 shares are not subject to any CDSC.

 

 

CLASS R5 SHARES

 

Distribution and Service Fees

 

Class R5 shares do not pay a distribution or service fee.

 

Investor Servicing Fees

 

Class R5 shares pay an investor servicing fee at the rates set forth for Class R5 shares in the Memorandum regarding Investor Servicing Compensation Arrangements for the Funds as from time to time in effect.

 

Conversion Features

 

Class R5 shares do not convert to any other class of shares.

 

Exchange Features

 

See “All Share Classes – Exchange Feature” above. In addition:

 

Class R5 shares of any Fund may be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class R5 shares of any other Fund that offers Class R5 shares without the payment of a sales charge, provided that Class R5 shares of such other Fund are available to residents of the relevant state, and further provided that, if applicable, shares of such other Fund are available through the relevant retirement plan.

 

Class R5 shares of any Fund held by a shareholder eligible to purchase Class R, Class R3, Class R4, or Class R6 shares may be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class R, Class R3, Class R4 or Class R6 shares of the same Fund, provided that Class R, Class R3, Class R4, or Class R6 shares are available to residents of the relevant state, and further provided that, if

 

 
 

 

applicable, Class R, Class R3, Class R4, or Class R6 shares are available through the relevant retirement plan. No sales charges or other charges will apply to any such exchange.

 

(i) The same-fund exchange privilege may be effected only if permitted by a shareholder’s dealer of record (if applicable), (ii) the same-fund exchange privilege may not be available for all accounts and may not be offered by all dealers, financial institutions and other intermediaries through which a shareholder may hold shares, and (iii) the dealer of record through whom a shareholder holds shares may be authorized (e.g., under its account or similar agreement with a shareholder) to reject any same-fund exchange.

 

Initial Sales Charge

 

Class R5 shares are offered at their NAV, without an initial sales charge.

 

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge

 

Class R5 shares are not subject to any CDSC.

 

CLASS R6 SHARES

 

Distribution and Service Fees

 

Class R6 shares do not pay a distribution or service fee.

 

Investor Servicing Fees

 

Class R6 shares pay an investor servicing fee at the rates set forth for Class R6 shares in the Memorandum regarding Investor Servicing Compensation Arrangements for the Funds as from time to time in effect.

 

Conversion Features

 

Class R6 shares do not convert to any other class of shares.

 

Exchange Features

 

See “All Share Classes – Exchange Feature” above. In addition:

 

Class R6 shares of any Fund may be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class R6 shares of any other Fund that offers Class R6 shares without the payment of a sales charge, provided that Class R6 shares of such other Fund are available to residents of the relevant state, and further provided that, if applicable, shares of such other Fund are available through the relevant retirement plan, advisory program or platform.

 

 
 

 

       Class R6 shares of any Fund held by a shareholder eligible to purchase Class A, Class I, Class R, Class R3, Class R4, Class R5 or Class Y shares may be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class A, Class I, Class R, Class R3, Class R4, Class R5 or Class Y shares of the same Fund, provided that Class A, Class I, Class R, Class R3, Class R4, Class R5 or Class Y shares are available to residents of the relevant state, and further provided that, if applicable, Class A, Class I, Class R, Class R3, Class R4, Class R5 or Class Y shares are available through the relevant retirement plan, advisory program or platform. No sales charges or other charges will apply to any such exchange.

 

(i) The same-fund exchange privilege may be effected only if permitted by a shareholder’s dealer of record (if applicable), (ii) the same-fund exchange privilege may not be available for all accounts and may not be offered by all dealers, financial institutions and other intermediaries through which a shareholder may hold shares, and (iii) the dealer of record through whom a shareholder holds shares may be authorized (e.g., under its account or similar agreement with a shareholder) to reject any same-fund exchange.

 

Initial Sales Charge

 

Class R6 shares are offered at their NAV, without an initial sales charge.

 

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge

 

Class R6 shares are not subject to any CDSC.

 

 

CLASS Y SHARES

 

Distribution and Service Fees

 

Class Y shares do not pay a distribution or service fee.

 

Investor Servicing Fees

 

Except with respect to the Target Date Funds, investor servicing fees (determined pursuant to the Memorandum regarding Investor Servicing Compensation Arrangements for the Funds as from time to time in effect) that are not specifically payable by Class G, Class I, Class P, Class R3, Class R4, Class R5 or Class R6 shares are allocated among the other classes of shares (Class A shares, Class B shares, Class C shares, Class M shares, Class R shares, Class N shares and Class Y shares, as applicable) of each Fund based on the net assets of each Fund attributable to shares of each class.

 

For each Target Date Fund, Class Y shares pay an investor servicing fee at the rate set forth for Class Y shares in the Memorandum regarding Investor Servicing Compensation Arrangements for such Fund as from time to time in effect.

 

 
 

 

Conversion Features

 

Class Y shares may be converted to Class A shares if an investor no longer satisfies the eligibility requirements for Class Y shares, as described in the applicable Fund’s registration statement or prospectus or statement of additional information as from time to time in effect. A shareholder’s Class Y shares will not be converted to Class A shares without prior notice from the relevant Fund. No sales charges or other charges will apply to any such conversion.

 

 

Exchange Features

 

See “All Share Classes – Exchange Feature” above. In addition:

 

Class Y shares of any Fund may be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class Y shares of any other Fund that offers Class Y shares without the payment of a sales charge, provided that Class Y shares of such other Fund are available to residents of the relevant state, and further provided that, if applicable, shares of such other Fund are available through the relevant retirement plan or platform.

 

Class Y shares of any Fund held by a shareholder eligible to purchase Class A, Class C or Class N shares may be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class A, Class C or Class N shares of the same Fund without payment of any initial sales charge, provided that Class A, Class C or Class N shares of such Fund are available to residents of the relevant state. Class A or Class N shares issued in such an exchange will not be subject to any initial sales charge; however, any subsequent purchases of Class A or Class N shares by the shareholder will be subject to the initial sales charge applicable to Class A or Class N shares (as described in the Fund’s registration statement or prospectus or statement of additional information as from time to time in effect).

 

In addition, Class Y shares of any Fund that are offered in conjunction with Class A shares of Putnam Money Market Fund or Putnam Government Money Market Fund may be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class A shares of Putnam Money Market Fund or Putnam Government Money Market Fund, respectively, without the payment of a CDSC.

 

Class Y shares of any Fund held by a shareholder eligible to purchase Class I shares may also be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class I shares of the same Fund, provided that Class I shares of such Fund are available to residents of the relevant state.

 

Class Y shares of any Fund held by a shareholder eligible to purchase Class P shares may also be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class P shares of the same Fund, provided that Class P shares of such Fund are available to residents of the relevant state. No sales charges or other charges will apply to any such exchange.

 

Class Y shares of any Fund held by a shareholder eligible to purchase Class R3, R4 or R5 shares may also be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class R3, R4 or R5 shares of the same Fund, provided that Class R3, R4 or R5 shares of such Fund are available to residents of the

 

 
 

 

relevant state and further provided that, if applicable, Class R3, R4 or R5 shares of such Fund are available through the relevant retirement plan. No sales charges or other charges will apply to any such exchange.

 

Class Y shares of any Fund held by a shareholder eligible to purchase Class R6 shares may also be exchanged, at the holder’s option, for Class R6 shares of the same Fund, provided that Class R6 shares of such Fund are available to residents of the relevant state and further provided that, if applicable, Class R6 shares of such Fund are available through the relevant retirement plan, advisory program or platform. No sales charges or other charges will apply to any such exchange.

 

For each Target Date Fund, Class Y shares held through employer-sponsored retirement plans (for these purposes, employer-sponsored retirement plans include the plan types described in such Fund’s registration statement) acquired prior to October 1, 2020 will, unless the plan notifies PSERV of its desire to be exchanged into another share class for which it is eligible, be exchanged into Class R4 shares of the same Fund effective October 1, 2020, provided that Class R4 shares are available for purchase by residents in the shareholder’s jurisdiction and further provided that, if applicable, Class R4 of such Fund are available through the relevant retirement plan. No sales charges or other charges will apply to any such conversion.

 

 

(i) The same-fund exchange privilege may be effected only if permitted by a shareholder’s dealer of record (if applicable), (ii) the same-fund exchange privilege may not be available for all accounts and may not be offered by all dealers, financial institutions and other intermediaries through which a shareholder may hold shares, and (iii) the dealer of record through whom a shareholder holds shares may be authorized (e.g., under its account or similar agreement with a shareholder) to reject any same-fund exchange.

 

Initial Sales Charge

 

Class Y shares are offered at their NAV, without an initial sales charge.

 

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge

 

Class Y shares are not subject to any CDSC.

 

THE PUTNAM FUNDS

Code of Ethics

Each of The Putnam Funds (the “Funds”) has determined to adopt this Code of Ethics with respect to certain activities by officers and Trustees of the Funds which might be deemed to create possible conflicts of interest and to establish reporting requirements and enforcement procedures with respect to such activities.

I.Rules Applicable to Officers and Trustees Affiliated with Putnam Investments Trust or Its Subsidiaries
A.Incorporation of Adviser’s Code of Ethics. The provisions of the Code of Ethics for employees of Putnam Investments Trust and its subsidiaries (the “Putnam Investments Code of Ethics”), which is attached as Appendix A hereto, are hereby incorporated herein as the Funds’ Code of Ethics applicable to officers and Trustees of the Funds who are employees of the Funds or officers, directors or employees of Putnam Investments Trust or its subsidiaries. A violation of the Putnam Investments’ Code of Ethics shall constitute a violation of the Funds’ Code.
B.Reports. Officers and Trustees of each of the Funds who are made subject to the Putnam Investments’ Code of Ethics pursuant to the preceding paragraph shall file the reports required by the Putnam Investments’ Code of Ethics with the Code of Ethics Officer designated therein. A report filed with the Code of Ethics Officer shall be deemed to be filed with each of the Funds of which the reporting individual is an officer or Trustee.
C.Review and Reporting.
(1)The Code of Ethics Officer shall cause the reported personal securities transactions to be compared with completed and contemplated portfolio transactions of each of the Funds to determine whether a violation of this Code may have occurred. Before making any determination that a violation has been committed by any person, the Code of Ethics Officer shall give such person an opportunity to supply additional explanatory material.
(2)If the Code of Ethics Officer determines that a violation of any provision of this Code has or may have occurred, he shall submit his written determination, together with any additional explanatory material, to the Audit, Compliance and Risk Committee of the Funds at its next meeting when Code of Ethics matters are discussed.
D.Sanctions. In addition to reporting violations of this Code to the Audit, Compliance and Risk Committee of the Funds as provided in Section I-C(2), the Code of Ethics Officer shall also report to such Committee any sanctions imposed with respect to such violations.
 
 
II.Rules Applicable to Unaffiliated Trustees
A.Definitions.
(1)“Beneficial ownership” shall be interpreted in the same manner as it would be in determining whether a person is subject to the provisions of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations thereunder.
(2)“Control” means the power to exercise a controlling influence over the management or policies of a company, unless such power is solely the result of an official position with such company.
(3)“Covered Person” means an affiliated person of the Fund, who is not made subject to the Putnam Investments Code of Ethics pursuant to Part I hereof.
(4)“Interested Trustee” means a Trustee of a Fund who is an “interested person” of the Fund within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”).
(5)“Purchase or sale of a security” includes, among other things, the writing of an option to purchase or sell a security.
(6)“Security” shall have the same meaning as that set forth in Section 2(a)(36) of the Investment Company Act (in effect, all securities) except that it shall not include securities issued by the Government of the United States or an agency thereof, bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high-quality short-term debt investments, including repurchase agreements, and shares of registered open-end investment companies, but shall include any security convertible into or exchangeable for a security.
(7)“Security Held or to be Acquired by a Fund” means: (i) any security, as defined herein, which, within the most recent 15 days: (A) is or has been held by the Fund, or (B) is being or has been considered by the Fund or Putnam Investments for purchase by the Fund, and (ii) any option to purchase or sell, and any security convertible into or exchangeable for, a security described in (i) above.
(8)“Unaffiliated Trustee” means a Trustee who is not made subject to the Putnam Investments Code of Ethics pursuant to Part I hereof.
B.Prohibited Actions. No Covered Person, in connection with the purchase or sale, directly or indirectly, by such Covered Person of a security held or to be acquired by the Fund, shall:
2 
 
(1)Employ any device, scheme or artifice to defraud the Fund;
(2)Make any untrue statement of a material fact to the Fund or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made to the Fund, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading;
(3)Engage in any act, practice or course of business that operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit on the Fund; or
(4)Engage in any manipulative practice with respect to the Fund.
C.Reporting.
(1)Every Unaffiliated Trustee of a Fund shall file with the Funds’ Compliance Liaison a report containing the information described in Section II-C(2) of this Code with respect to purchases or sales of any security in which such Unaffiliated Trustee has, or by reason of such transaction acquires, any direct or indirect beneficial ownership, if such Trustee, at the time of that transaction, knew or, in the ordinary course of fulfilling his or her official duties as a Trustee of the Fund, should have known that, during the 15-day period immediately preceding or after the date of the transaction by the Trustee:
(a)such security was or is to be purchased or sold by the Fund or
(b)such security was or is being considered for purchase or sale by the Fund;

provided, however, that an Unaffiliated Trustee shall not be required to make a report with respect to transactions effected for any account over which such person does not have any direct or indirect influence or control.

(2)Every report shall be made not later than 10 days after the end of the calendar quarter in which the transaction to which the report relates was effected, and shall contain the following information:
(a)The date of the transaction, the title, the number of shares, the interest rate and maturity date (if applicable) and the principal amount of each security involved;
(b)The nature of the transaction (i.e., purchase, sale or any other type of acquisition or disposition);
(c)The price at which the transaction was effected;
3 
 
(d)The name of the broker, dealer or bank with or through whom the transaction was effected; and
(e)The date that the report is submitted by each Unaffiliated Trustee.
(3)Any such report may contain a statement that the report shall not be construed as an admission by the person making such report that he has any direct or indirect beneficial ownership in the security to which the report relates.
(4)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, an Unaffiliated Trustee who is an “interested person” of the Funds shall file the reports required by Rule 17j-1(d)(1) under the Investment Company Act with the Code of Ethics Officer of Putnam Investments. Such reports shall be reviewed by such Officer as provided in Section I-C(1) and any related violations shall be reported by him to the Audit, Compliance and Risk Committee as provided in Section I-C(2).
D.Review and Reporting.
(1)The Compliance Liaison of the Funds, in consultation with the Code of Ethics Officer of Putnam Investments, shall cause the reported personal securities transactions that he receives pursuant to Section II-C(1) to be compared with completed and contemplated portfolio transactions of the Funds to determine whether any prohibited action listed in Section II-B may have occurred.
(2)Before making any determination that a violation of this Code has occurred, the Compliance Liaison shall give the person involved an opportunity to supply additional information regarding the transaction in question.
E.Sanctions. If the Compliance Liaison determines that a violation of this Code has occurred, he shall so advise the Funds’ Audit, Compliance and Risk Committee, and provide the Committee with a report of the matter, including any additional information supplied by such person. The Committee may impose such sanctions as it deems appropriate.
III.Miscellaneous
A.Amendments to the Putnam Investments’ Code of Ethics. Any amendment to the Putnam Investments’ Code of Ethics shall be deemed an amendment to Section 1-A of this Code effective 30 days after written notice of such amendment shall have been received by the Chair of the Funds, unless the Trustees of the Funds expressly determine that such amendment shall become effective at an earlier or later date or shall not be adopted.
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B.Records. The Funds shall maintain records in the manner and to the extent set forth below, which records may be maintained on microfilm under the conditions described in Rule 31a-2(f)(1) under the Investment Company Act and shall be available for examination by representatives of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
(1)A copy of this Code and any other code which is, or at any time within the past five years has been, in effect shall be preserved in an easily accessible place;
(2)A record of any violation of this Code and of any action taken as a result of such violation shall be preserved in an easily accessible place for a period of not less than five years following the end of the fiscal year in which the violation occurs;
(3)A copy of each report made by an officer or Trustee pursuant to this Code shall be preserved for a period of not less than five years from the end of the fiscal year in which it is made, the first two years in an easily accessible place;
(4)A list of all persons who are, or within the past five years have been, required to make reports pursuant to this Code shall be maintained in an easily accessible place; and
(5)To the extent any record required to be kept by this section is also required to be kept by Putnam Investments pursuant to the Putnam Investments’ Code of Ethics, Putnam Investments shall maintain such record on behalf of the Funds as well.
C.Confidentiality. All reports of securities transactions and any other information filed with any Fund pursuant to this Code shall be treated as confidential, but are subject to review as provided herein and by personnel of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
D.Interpretation of Provisions. The Trustees may from time to time adopt such interpretations of this Code as they deem appropriate.
E.Delegation by Chair. The Chair of the Funds may from time to time delegate any or all of his or her responsibilities under this Code, either generally or as to specific instances, to such officer or Trustee of the Funds as he or she may designate.

 

As revised June 25, 2021.

 

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Putnam’s Code of Ethics

May 2021

 
 

 

Putnam Investments Code of Ethics

Putnam Investments is required by law to adopt a Code of Ethics (the “Code”). The objective of the Code is that Putnam’s employees comply with all applicable laws and avoid any actual, apparent, or potential conflict of interest that could be perceived to interfere with the fiduciary duty Putnam owes to its clients or with Putnam’s interests. It is the duty of Putnam’s employees ethically to handle all actual, apparent, and potential conflicts of interest that may arise. This Code of Ethics is designed to strengthen the trust and confidence our clients place in us and to demonstrate that our clients’ interests come first.

Adherence to the Code is a fundamental condition of employment at Putnam. Every employee is expected to adhere to the requirements of the Code. Any employee failing to do so may be subject to disciplinary action, including financial penalties and termination of employment, as determined by the Code of Ethics Oversight Committee.

 
 

 

Definitions

Access Person Putnam has identified certain employees as Access Persons due to their position or access to investment information. Access Persons are held to a higher standard under the Code than other employees. Please ask the Code of Ethics Officer if you have any question whether you are an Access Person. The following employees are Access Persons:

·All employees of Putnam’s Investment Management Division
·All employees of the Global Investment Strategies Group/Division
·All employees of the International RFP Group
·Employees of the Operations Division within the following specific groups and departments:
·Fund Administration Group
·Investment Services and Operations Group
·Any employee in the following groups or divisions who reports directly to a member of the Operating Committee:
·Investor Services Group
·Accounting and Middle Offices Services Group
·Marketing and Corporate Communications Division
·Defined Contribution Investment Only Group
·Global Distribution Division (including Putnam Retail Management, Putnam Global Institutional Management, and Japan businesses)
·All members of Putnam’s Operating Committee
·All employees of Putnam Investments Limited (PIL) and all other Putnam employees based in Europe
·All directors and officers of a registered investment advisor affiliate, e.g., Putnam Investment Management, LLC (PIM), or The Putnam Advisory Company, LLC (PAC)
·All employees who have access to My Putnam (unless access is limited to the Wall Street Journal, Factiva, or other systems that do not allow access to non-public information about Putnam products, as determined by the Code of Ethics Officer) Employees who have systems access or other access to non-public information about any client’s purchase or sale of securities or to information regarding portfolio holdings or recommendations with respect to such purchases or sales
·Others as determined by the Code of Ethics Officer, including certain employees in rotational programs

Business or financial relationship refers to any type of existing or prospective arrangement between Putnam, on the one hand, and another entity or person, on the other hand, in which Putnam provides or receives financial consideration, goods, services, or advice. It also includes any investment by Putnam for itself or its clients. This means that there is a business or financial relationship between Putnam and each portfolio company.

Closed-end fund means a fund that has a fixed number of shares outstanding and does not redeem its shares. Closed-end funds typically trade like stocks on an exchange.

The Code of Ethics Officer and the Deputy Code of Ethics Officer are responsible for enforcing and interpreting the Code. The following are the current members of the Code of Ethics staff, each of whom can answer employee questions and provide other assistance regarding the Code:

 
 

 

 

Code of Ethics Officer: James Clark (617) 760-8939
Deputy Code of Ethics Officer: Akiko Lindholm (617) 760-2177
Sr. Compliance Specialist: Dana Scribner-Shea (617) 760-7182

 

Code of Ethics Oversight Committee has oversight responsibility for administering the Code of Ethics. Members include the Code of Ethics Officer and other members of Putnam’s senior management appointed by the Chief Executive Officer of Putnam. The Committee reviews and approves Code revisions, violations, and sanctions. In certain instances, requests for exemptions may require the approval of the Committee. The Committee meets on a quarterly basis or as otherwise necessary.

Exchange-traded fund (ETF) means a fund (other than a closed-end fund) that can be traded on an exchange throughout the day like a stock. ETFs often track an index. Examples include (but are not limited to) SPDRs, WEBs, QQQQs, iShares, and HLDRs.

Immediate Family means the Putnam employee’s spouse, domestic partner, fiancé(e), or other family members who are living in the same household or financially dependent on the Putnam employee. Financial dependence, for this purpose, means substantial and regular reliance by the family member on the Putnam employee to meet the family member’s financial obligations, including, for example, the costs of housing or educational expenses. Immediate Family also includes any other family members, including in-laws, for whom the Putnam employee can exercise investment discretion, regardless of whether or not they live in the same household.

Private placement means any offering of a security not offered to the public and not requiring registration with the relevant securities authorities, including but not limited to, equity or debt issued by a privately held company, private funds, hedge funds, or other privately offered securities.

Putnam means any or all of Putnam Investments, LLC and its subsidiaries (other than PanAgora Asset Management, Inc. and any of its subsidiaries), any one of which shall be a Putnam company.

Putnam employee, or employee, means any employee of Putnam and, for purposes of all rules in Sections 1, 2, and 3, also includes the following:

·Members of the Immediate Family of a Putnam employee;
·Any trust in which a Putnam employee or Immediate Family member is a trustee with investment discretion;
·Any account for a partnership in which a Putnam employee or Immediate Family member is a general partner or a partner with investment discretion;
·Any closely held entity (such as a partnership, limited liability company, or corporation) in which a Putnam employee or Immediate Family member holds a controlling interest and with respect to which he or she has investment discretion;
·Any account (including any retirement, pension, deferred compensation, or similar account) in which a Putnam employee or Immediate Family member has a substantial economic interest and over which the Putnam employee or Immediate Family member exercises investment discretion;
 
 
·Any account other than a Putnam client account that receives investment advice of any sort from the employee or Immediate Family member, or as to which the employee or Immediate Family member has investment discretion.

Putnam ETF means any exchange-traded fund managed and/or sponsored by Putnam Investments and its investment adviser subsidiaries other than PanAgora Asset Management, Inc.

 

Security The instruments required to be pre-cleared under Section 1.1 are considered to be securities for purposes of this Code and are also required to be reported by Access Persons under Section 4. In addition, transactions in exchange-traded funds (ETFs), exchange-traded notes (ETNs), exchange-traded commodities (ETCs), options, futures, and other derivative securities are required to be reported by Access Persons under Section 4, even for those instruments that are not required to be pre-cleared pursuant to Section 1.1(c).

Section 1 — Personal Securities Rules for All Employees

Putnam maintains the Code of Ethics PTA system to assist employees in fulfilling their obligations under the Code of Ethics. This system can be accessed by selecting the Code of Ethics PTA link, which appears on Putnam’s intranet page in the Secure Information section under My Essentials. This system allows the automated pre-clearance of publicly traded equities and other securities trading on major U.S. and other exchanges. To pre-clear an options contract for a publicly traded security, pre-clear the underlying security in the Code of Ethics PTA system. To request clearance to trade bonds or other securities, you must contact the Code of Ethics staff. Pre-clearance hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

1.1. Pre-clearance Requirements

The pre-clearance requirements under this section apply to employees who are Access Persons.

1.1(a) Employees must pre-clear all trades in the following securities:

·Stocks of companies
·Bonds and other debt instruments, including new offerings (including preferred stock, corporate, municipal, high-yield, and convertible bonds)
·Options, warrants, and all other derivatives of any underlying securities that themselves require pre-clearancee
·Closed-end funds, including Putnam closed-end funds

Employees must also pre-clear the following transactions:

·Private placements and purchases of hedge funds or other private investment funds, which must receive pre-approval from the Code of Ethics Oversight Committee (sales of private placements, hedge funds, or other private investment funds do not need to be pre-cleared; however, they must be reported)
·Donating or gifting of securities
·Shares purchased by subscription or by mail (if purchasing directly from a company’s transfer agent by check, you must pre-clear the day the check is to be mailed)
·Tendering securities from your personal account
·Loans, or guarantees of obligations, being made to non-family members with whom Putnam has a business or financial relationship
 
 

 

·Exercising rights to purchase shares of a company’s stock (other than involuntary exercises)
·Exercising options or warrants to acquire shares of a company’s stock (other than involuntary exercises as set forth under Section 1.1(c)

1.1(b) Provisions Applicable to Pre-clearances

A pre-clearance is only valid for trading on the day it is obtained. However, trades by employees in Putnam’s Asian or European offices, or trades by any employees in securities listed on Asian or European stock exchanges, may be executed within one business day after pre-clearance is obtained. If the Code of Ethics system does not recognize a security, if an employee is unable to use the system, or if he or she has any questions with respect to the system or pre-clearance, the employee must contact the Code of Ethics staff.

1.1(c) Exceptions from Pre-clearance Requirements

Pre-clearance is not required for certain transactions. (Please note that reporting may still be required for Access Persons even when pre-clearance is not required. See Sections 4 and 5 for reporting requirements.) Pre-clearance is not required for:

·Open-end mutual funds
·Currencies and currency forwards, including cryptocurrencies
·Commodities
·Treasury securities and other U.S. and other sovereign government debt (Please note that agency securities, such as securities issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, require pre-clearance.)
·Certificates of deposit (CDs), commercial paper, repurchase agreements, bankers’ acceptances, and other money market instruments
·Options and futures and all other derivatives based on an index of securities
·Exchange-traded funds (ETFs), exchange-traded notes (ETNs), and exchange-traded commodities (ETCs)
·Putnam ETFs (however, certain investment professionals need to preclear trades in Putnam ETFs—see Section 1.1(d) below)
·Trades in approved discretionary accounts (see Section 4.2 for additional information)
·Transactions that are involuntary (i.e., not initiated by the employee or an Immediate Family member covered under the Code), including dividend reinvestments under an automatic program of a publicly traded issuer and broker actions not initiated by the employee, such as option assignments or sales out of the brokerage account to cover fees or margin calls (provided the employee may not have withdrawn funds from the margin account in the prior 10 days

1.1(d) Putnam ETFs Preclearance Rule for Certain Investment Professionals

Personnel in the Equity Trading and Capital Markets groups, Portfolio Managers of any Putnam ETF, and any other Putnam personnel designated by the Code of Ethics Officer must preclear personal trades in Putnam ETFs by contacting the Code of Ethics Staff. To enable timely processing, requests should be placed with the Code of Ethics Staff by 12:00 p.m. on the day of the trade; requests are good only for the trading day on which they are submitted.

 

 
 

 

1.2. Restricted List

The Restricted List rule under this section applies to employees who are Access Persons.

Employees may not trade in securities that are on Putnam’s Restricted List, except as set forth below under “Large-/Mid-Cap Exemption.” There are a number of reasons why a security may appear on the Restricted List, and securities are placed on the Restricted List under criteria, and in specific circumstances, as determined by the Code of Ethics Officer or the Code of Ethics Oversight Committee. If a security is not on the Restricted List, other classes of securities of the same issuer (e.g., preferred or convertible preferred stock) may be on the Restricted List. It is the employee’s responsibility to identify with particularity the class of securities being pre-cleared. Bonds are generally restricted at the issuer level.

Large-/Mid-Cap Exemption An employee may trade up to $25,000 in principal amount of the shares of a security appearing on the Restricted List if it is an equity security of an issuer with a market capitalization greater than $2 billion. However, these transactions must still be pre-cleared. Market capitalization is defined as outstanding shares multiplied by current price per share.

 

1.3. Prohibited Transactions

The following transactions and activities are prohibited for all employees:

Good-until-canceled orders (GTC). Any order not executed on the day of pre-clearance must be resubmitted for pre-clearance before being executed on a subsequent day.

Short sales of any security that is subject to pre-clearance requirements. However, short sales against the box are permitted. In addition, opening an option position that would result in a short position in the underlying security upon assignment or expiration is also prohibited (i.e., buying a put option or selling a call option without owning a number of shares at least equal to the delivery obligation under the contract, is prohibited). Purchasing a put option or selling a call option would not be considered acceptable if the only position covering such option would be another option position, such as purchasing a call option or selling a put option, to avoid a violation.

Purchasing equity securities in an initial public offering (IPO). Although exceptions from this prohibition will rarely be granted, employees may request an exemption from the Code of Ethics Officer, who may grant exceptions in unusual cases such as when an Immediate Family member’s association or employment with the issuer warrants consideration or when the employee has had a pre-existing status for at least two years as a policyholder or depositor in connection with a bank or insurance company conversion from mutual or cooperative form to stock form.

Trading with material non-public information (see Section 7)

Personal trading with Putnam client portfolios. Putnam employees may not buy or sell securities when the employee knows a Putnam client account is on the other side of the trade.

Participating in an investment club

Spread betting. PIL employees may not enter into any spread betting contracts on financial instruments.

Opening a discretionary account (see Section 4.2) and trading securities requiring pre-clearance, without obtaining proper advance approval for that account as required

Investing in a public digital coin/token offering

 
 

1.4. Policy Regarding Frequency of Personal Trading

Putnam employees are not limited to a pre-determined number of trades in securities during a specified time frame. However, excessive trading by an employee can divert the employee’s attention from his or her responsibilities as an employee and increases the possibility of engaging in transactions that are in actual or apparent conflict with Putnam’s client accounts. In addition, excessive short-term trading by an employee in shares of a Putnam-managed fund can also create actual or apparent conflicts with other shareholders of such fund and may have other detrimental effects as described in the prospectus or other disclosure document for such fund. Putnam reserves the right to monitor the number of trades (including for these purposes trades in securities that are required to be pre-cleared under Section 1.1(a), shares of Putnam-managed funds, and other securities that are required to be reported under Section 5.1 or 5.2, such as ETFs, ETNs, ETCs, options, futures, and other derivative securities) executed by an employee and members of his or her Immediate Family and may review any such activity that appears to be excessive with the employee’s manager(s) and/or the Code of Ethics Oversight Committee, as deemed appropriate by the Code of Ethics Officer. The Code of Ethics Oversight Committee shall have the authority to address any circumstances of excessive trading in securities or excessive short-term trading in shares of a Putnam-managed fund in accordance with Section 8 of this Code.

Section 2 — Putnam Mutual Funds, Closed-End Funds and Exchange-Traded Funds

2.1. Holding Putnam Mutual Fund Shares at Putnam

Putnam employees must hold shares of Putnam open-end U.S. mutual funds through accounts maintained at Putnam, with Putnam Retail Management (PRM) listed as the dealer of record. All transactions must be executed through Putnam and not through an outside broker or other intermediary.

These requirements also apply to:

·Self-directed IRA accounts holding Putnam fund shares;
·Variable annuities and variable insurance contracts, such as Putnam/Hartford Capital Manager and Allstate Advisor, which invest in Putnam Variable Trusts (must list PRM as dealer but may be held at the insurer)

In limited circumstances, retirement, pension, deferred compensation, health savings, and similar accounts (and variable insurance arrangements) that cannot be legally transferred to Putnam may be allowed to hold Putnam funds upon approval of the Code of Ethics Officer. For example, a spouse of a Putnam employee may have a 401(k)/Profit Sharing Plan with his or her employer that invests in Putnam funds. The employee must notify the Code of Ethics Officer in writing, provide the reason why the account cannot be transferred to Putnam, and arrange for all account statements and confirmations to be sent to the Code of Ethics staff, if approved.

2.2. Putnam Mutual Funds — Linked Accounts

All employees are required to ensure that their Immediate Family members’ accounts holding Putnam mutual funds are linked to comply with the requirements stated above and to permit monitoring for excessive short-term trading in accordance with Section 1.4. To ensure these accounts are linked, log on to Putnam’s intranet home page at http://intranet/home/index.shtml, and select My Essentials/Linked mutual fund accounts.

2.3. Putnam Closed-End Funds

 
 

 

2.3(a) Pre-clearance and Reporting

Putnam closed-end fund shares are subject to the same pre-clearance and reporting requirements as other stocks. A list of the Putnam closed-end funds can be obtained from the Code of Ethics staff.

2.3(b) Special Rules Applicable to Portfolio Managers to Putnam Closed-End Funds, Group Heads in the Investment Division, Operating Committee members, and officers of the Putnam Funds

Portfolio Managers to Putnam closed-end funds, Group Heads in Putnam’s Investment Division, Putnam Operating Committee members, and officers of the Putnam Funds will not receive clearance to engage in any combination of purchase and sale, or sale and purchase, of the shares of a given closed-end fund within six months of each other. Therefore, purchases should be made only if you intend to hold the shares more than six months, and sales should not be made if you plan to purchase more shares of that fund within six months.

2.4. Putnam Exchange-Traded Funds

Putnam employees may invest in Putnam ETFs, subject to the preclearance requirement set forth in Section 1.1(d) for certain investment professionals. However, Putnam employees must hold shares of Putnam ETFs in accounts maintained by an approved broker-dealer—see Section 4.4 below.

Section 3 — Additional Rules for Access Persons and Certain Investment Professionals

3.1. 60-Day Short-Term Rule — All Access Persons

Access Persons may not sell a security at a price higher than any price paid for that security within the past 60 calendar days, or buy a security at a price below which he or she sold the same security within the past 60 days. This rule applies to transactions across all accounts of the employee. All trades for the previous 60 days in all accounts will be compared to the trade date for the transaction in question to determine whether a violation has occurred. Thus, if within a 60-day period, an employee buys a security for $10, buys it again for $15, and then sells shares of this security for $12, this will be considered a violation even though some shares of the security in question were bought for a higher price. To further illustrate the rule, if an employee buys a security for $15 on one day, buys it again for $10 a year later, and then less than 60 days after the second purchase sells shares of this security for $12, this will be considered a violation even though some shares of the security in question were bought for a higher price more than 60 days earlier. Access Persons may also not open an option transaction for a contract that expires in 60 days or less. The holding period for securities acquired upon exercise of a purchased call option shall be calculated using the date of acquisition of the option (rather than the date of exercise of the option) as the starting point for the 60-day holding period. Further, this rule also applies to common stock and option exercise transactions. For example, an employee may purchase calls/call spreads, and he or she may buy/sell a common stock of the same security (because transactions in options and common stock shares are treated differently); however, if the employee plans to exercise the option, he or she needs to ensure that it is not in the opposite direction of the common stock transaction (at a profit) that he or she traded within the past 60 days. Although portfolio managers and analysts may sell securities at a profit within 60 days of purchase in order to comply with the requirements of the 7-Day Pre-Trade and 7-Day Post-Trade Rules (see Sections 3.2 and 3.3), any profit must be disgorged and paid to charity.

This 60-Day Short Term Rule will not apply to trades in ETFs, including Putnam ETFs.

3.2. 7-Day Pre-Trade Rule (Portfolio Managers and Analysts)

 
 

 

3.2(a) Portfolio Managers

(i) Before a portfolio manager places an order to buy a security for any Putnam client portfolio that he manages, he must sell that security or related derivative security if he has purchased it in his personal account within the preceding seven calendar days; or (ii) upon entering an order to sell a security for any Putnam client portfolio that he manages, he must disgorge to charity any losses avoided if he sold the security in his personal account within the preceding seven calendar days. Disgorgements will be measured by the difference between the selling price for the personal account and the selling price for the client account, multiplied by the number of shares sold for the personal account. For certain designated sleeved funds or portfolios, if a portfolio manager (but not the Chief Investment Officer of Equities and Director of Equity Research , who are not eligible for this exception) does not actually manage the sleeves of the funds or portfolios, but rather is a named portfolio manager for the overall fund(s), and if the portfolio manager does not have any actual knowledge of day-to-day trade activities and upcoming changes in ratings of securities in the sleeves of the funds or portfolios, the Code of Ethics Officer, the Deputy Code of Ethics Officer or their designee may override this rule.

3.2(b) Analysts

(i) Before an analyst makes an initial purchase or outperform recommendation (including an initial recommendation change) for a security (including designation of a security for inclusion in the portfolio of Putnam Research Fund), he must sell that security or related derivative security if he has purchased it in his personal account within the preceding seven calendar days; or (ii) upon making an initial sell or an underperform recommendation (including an initial recommendation change) for a security (including designation of a security for sale from the portfolio of Putnam Research Fund), he must disgorge to charity any losses avoided if he sold the security in his personal account within the preceding seven calendar days. Disgorgements will be measured by the difference between the selling price for the personal account and the price at the time that the recommendation is made, multiplied by the number of shares sold for the personal account.

For certain designated sleeved funds or portfolios, if an analyst (but not the Chief Investment Officer of Equities and Director of Equity Research , who are not eligible for this exception) does not actually manage the sleeves of the funds or portfolios, but rather is a named portfolio manager for the overall fund(s), and if the analyst does not have any actual knowledge of day-to-day trade activities and upcoming changes in ratings of securities in the sleeves of the funds or portfolios, the Code of Ethics Officer, the Deputy Code of Ethics Officer, or their designee may override this rule.

3.3. 7-Day Post-Trade Rule (Portfolio Managers and Analysts)

3.3(a) Portfolio Managers

No portfolio manager shall: (i) sell any security or related derivative security for her personal account until seven calendar days have elapsed after the date of the most recent purchase of that security or related derivative security by any Putnam client portfolio she manages or co-manages; or (ii) purchase any security or related derivative security for her personal account until seven calendar days have elapsed after the date of the most recent sale of that security or related derivative security from any Putnam client portfolio that she manages or co-manages. For certain designated sleeved funds or portfolios, if a portfolio manager (but not the Chief Investment Officer of Equities and Director of Equity Research , who are not eligible for this exception) does not actually manage the sleeves of the funds or portfolios, but rather is a named portfolio manager for the overall fund(s), and if the portfolio manager does not have any actual knowledge of day-to-day trade activities and upcoming changes in ratings of securities in the sleeves of the funds or portfolios, the Code of Ethics Officer, the Deputy Code of Ethics Officer or their designee may override this rule.

 
 

3.3(b) Analysts

No analyst shall: (i) sell any security or related derivative security for his personal account until seven calendar days have elapsed after the date of his initial buy or outperform recommendation (including an initial recommendation change) for that security or related derivative security (including designation of a security for inclusion in the portfolio of Putnam Research Fund); or (ii) purchase any security or related derivative security for his personal account until seven calendar days have elapsed after the date of his initial sell or underperform recommendation (including an initial recommendation change) for that security or related derivative security (including the removal of a security from the portfolio of Putnam Research Fund). For certain designated sleeved funds or portfolios, if an analyst (but not the Chief Investment Officer of Equities and Director of Equity Research , who are not eligible for this exception) does not actually manage the sleeves of the funds or portfolios, but rather is a named portfolio manager for the overall fund(s), and if the analyst does not have any actual knowledge of day-to-day trade activities and upcoming changes in ratings of securities in the sleeves of the funds or portfolios, the Code of Ethics Officer, the Deputy Code of Ethics Officer or their designee may override this rule.

3.4. Contra-Trading Rule (Portfolio Managers)

No portfolio manager shall, without prior clearance and written approval (which may be satisfied by email) from the Chief Investment Officer and Code of Ethics Officer, sell in his personal account any securities or related derivative securities that are held in any Putnam client portfolio that he manages or co-manages. Contact the Code of Ethics Officer for a copy of the Contra-Trading Rule Clearance Form. For certain designated sleeved funds or portfolios, the Code of Ethics Officer, the Deputy Code of Ethics Officer or their designee may permit a sale in the portfolio manager’s personal account without obtaining written approval from the Chief Investment Officer and Code of Ethics Officer, if the portfolio manager (but not the Chief Investment Officer of Equities and Director of Equity Research , who are not eligible for this exception) does not actually manage the sleeves of the funds or portfolios, but rather is a named portfolio manager for the overall fund(s), and if the portfolio manager does not have any actual knowledge of day-to-day trade activities and upcoming changes in ratings of securities in the sleeves of the funds or portfolios.

3.5. No Personal Benefit (Portfolio Managers and Analysts)

No portfolio manager shall cause, and no analyst shall recommend, an action that would cause a Putnam client to take action for the portfolio manager’s or analyst’s own personal benefit. A portfolio manager who trades in, or an analyst who recommends, particular securities for a Putnam client account in order to support the price of securities in his personal account, or who “front runs” a Putnam client order, is in violation of this Rule.

Section 4 — Reporting Requirements

4.1. Brokerage/Securities Accounts — Initial and Annual Requirements

All employees (on their own behalf and on behalf of their Immediate Family members (see Definitions)) are required to report the existence of any accounts that have the capability of purchasing any securities. This Rule includes all brokerage accounts, accounts held directly at an issuer’s transfer agent, and securities held in physical certificate form by an employee or any Immediate Family member of the employee, or any other accounts in which reportable securities can be traded and/or held. The only investment accounts excluded from this rule are accounts that are only permitted to hold open-end mutual funds (other than Putnam open-end funds) and no other investments, and TreasuryDirect accounts, which can only purchase Treasury securities.

 
 

 

To satisfy this requirement, a new employee must complete the Code of Ethics and Broker Account Certification, and Access Persons must also complete Initial Holdings Certification in the Code of Ethics PTA system, and supply the Code of Ethics Department with a copy of the most recent statement for each account, within the required time frame below:

·Access Persons — within 10 days of hire
·Non-access Persons — within 30 days of hire

In addition, a new employee must obtain written approval from the Code of Ethics staff to maintain his/her reportable accounts within 30 days of hire.

All current U.S. employees must contact the Code of Ethics staff and obtain written approval from the Code of Ethics staff prior to opening any new accounts outside of Putnam (including accounts being opened for Immediate Family members), and disclose them. This Rule includes all brokerage accounts (including a self-directed brokerage account in the Putnam 401(k) plan), accounts held directly at an issuer’s transfer agent, and securities held in physical certificate form by an employee or any Immediate Family member of the employee, or any other accounts in which reportable securities can be traded and/or held.

Non-U.S. current employees opening a new account (including accounts being opened for Immediate Family members) must disclose them to the Code of Ethics Department prior to opening, or immediately after opening, the account in advance of the first personal securities transaction in the account.

All employees will be required to certify annually that all accounts requiring disclosure are accurately listed in the Code of Ethics PTA system.

4.2. Separate Provisions for Brokerage/Securities Accounts That Are Professionally Managed (Discretionary) Accounts — Initial and Annual Requirements

If you wish to establish a professionally managed or discretionary account (including professionally managed or discretionary accounts being opened for Immediate Family members), where you completely turn over decision-making authority to a professional money manager who is not subject to this Code and you have no direct or indirect influence or control over the discretionary account, you must disclose the existence of the account and receive approval from the Code of Ethics staff in advance of the first personal securities transaction (new employees have 30 days to obtain the appropriate approval). You do not need to pre-clear or report securities transactions in these accounts. Please note that a discretionary account may not purchase an IPO or hold Putnam open-end mutual funds. The broker or advisor maintaining discretion over the account must be an independent third party, not affiliated with or related to a family member of the Putnam employee in any way.

 

In order for the account to be considered discretionary, the employee must:

Complete an initial certification in which both the employee and the broker/advisor certify that the Putnam employee or Immediate Family member does not participate in investment decisions on the account;

Complete an annual certification in which the employee certifies that the Putnam employee or Immediate Family member does not participate in investment decisions on the account, and does not have direct or indirect influence or control over the account;

Respond, and arrange for the employee’s broker/advisor to respond, to such inquiries as deemed advisable by the Code of Ethics staff in their assessment of whether the account is discretionary; and

 
 

Ensure that copies of broker statements are delivered to Putnam investments.

4.3. Account Confirmations and Statements

All employees are required to ensure that copies of all confirmations and statements are delivered to Putnam for all accounts described in Section 4.1, and to ensure that copies of all statements (but not confirmations) are delivered to Putnam for all discretionary accounts described in Section 4.2. When the employee discloses the account as required, the Code of Ethics staff will issue a 407 letter, or other communication to the entity where the employee’s account is held, requesting that confirmations and statements be sent to Putnam on the employee’s behalf. However, it is ultimately the employee’s responsibility to ensure that his or her broker has complied with this request. Employees in non-U.S. offices may be subject to different requirements with respect to the frequency of providing account confirmations and statements. Any such different requirements will be communicated to the employees by the Code of Ethics staff.

If it is discovered that these reports are not being delivered to Putnam, the Code of Ethics staff will bring this issue to the employee’s attention and request he or she assist in rectifying the issue. If it is determined that a broker has failed to comply with requests to deliver these reports, Putnam reserves the right to require the employee to close the account within 30 days by transferring the account to another dealer willing to comply with this requirement (any trades as a result of a transfer must be pre-cleared). In cases where Putnam has an electronic reporting relationship established with a firm, Putnam may rely on this electronic reporting for monitoring and record keeping in lieu of receiving trade confirmations and statements via mail.

4.4. Approved Brokers — U.S. Employees Only

U.S. employees of Putnam are required to hold each of their personal accounts (including any retirement, pension, deferred compensation, or similar accounts) at a Putnam-approved broker that provides Putnam with an electronic broker feed. The list of approved brokers is posted to the Putnam Compliance intranet homepage and the Code of Ethics PTA system. In limited circumstances, employees may be allowed to hold personal accounts at a non-Putnam-approved broker (examples include retirement accounts at current employers of Immediate Family members and accounts that cannot legally be transferred to Putnam-approved brokers). In such a case, the employee must notify the Code of Ethics Officer in writing and provide the reason why the account cannot be transferred to a Putnam-approved broker or why the employee otherwise requests an exception be granted by the Code of Ethics Officer or Deputy Code of Ethics Officer. In the event an exception is granted, the employee must arrange for trade confirmations and account statements (quarterly) to be sent to the Code of Ethics staff.

Section 5 — Additional Reporting, Certification, and Training Requirements

5.1. Initial/Annual Holdings Report — Access Persons Only

Access Persons must disclose and certify their securities holdings, including all holdings for Immediate Family member accounts, within 10 days of hire (or within 10 days of becoming an Access Person) and then on an annual basis thereafter (within 45 days after the end of the year). The report of securities holdings must include all securities that require pre-clearance under Section 1.1, as well as holdings in non-U.S. sovereign government debt, ETFs, ETNs, ETCs, options, futures, and other derivative securities, and holdings of Putnam open-end U.S. mutual funds not held through a Putnam account and U.S. registered mutual funds to which Putnam acts as advisor or sub-advisor (see Section 4). Each of the initial and annual holdings reports must contain the following information:

Initial holdings report:

·The title, number of shares, and principal amount of each security in which the Access Person had any direct or indirect beneficial ownership when the person became an Access Person,
 
 
·The name of any broker, dealer, or bank with whom the Access Person maintained an account in which any securities could be held for the direct or indirect benefit of the Access Person as of the date the person became an Access Person; and
·The date that the report is submitted by the Access Person.

Annual holdings report:

·The title, number of shares, and principal amount of each security in which the Access Person had any direct or indirect beneficial ownership,
·The name of any broker, dealer, or bank with whom the Access Person maintained an account in which any securities could be held for the direct or indirect benefit of the Access Person; and
·The date that the report is submitted by the Access Person.

5.2. Quarterly Transaction Report — Access Persons Only

Access Persons must disclose and certify all of their personal securities transactions, including transactions for Immediate Family member accounts, within 20 calendar days following the end of each quarter. If the 20th of a month after the end of a quarter falls on a holiday or weekend, the Code of Ethics Officer may extend the deadline. In addition to the securities requiring pre-clearance under Section 1.1, Access Persons are also required to disclose and certify all personal transac- tions in non-U.S. sovereign government debt, as well as ETFs, ETNs, ETCs, options, futures, and other derivative securities, and not just those requiring pre-clearance. The quarterly transaction report must contain the following information:

·The date of the transaction, the title, the interest rate and maturity date (if applicable), the number of shares, and
the principal amount of each transaction involved,
·The nature of the transaction (i.e., purchase, sale, or any other type of acquisition or disposition),
·The price of the security at which the transaction was effected,
·The name of the broker, dealer, or bank with or through which the transaction was effected, and
·The date that the report is submitted by the Access Person

5.3. Annual Certification — All Employees

Each calendar year, all employees will be required to certify that they have reviewed and understand the rules and requirements of the Code and that the list of brokerage accounts (for the employee and all Immediate Family members) disclosed in the Code of Ethics PTA system is accurate. An email notification will be sent informing employees of their requirement and the due date.

5.4. Training Requirements — All Employees

As deemed necessary by the Code of Ethics staff, employees will be required to complete training on Putnam’s Code of Ethics. Email notifications will be sent notifying employees of the requirements and the due date.

5.5. Maintenance and Distribution of the Code of Ethics

When revisions are made to the Code of Ethics, all employees will receive a revised version of the Code. The Code will be available to all employees on Putnam’s intranet site. Hard copies may be requested by contacting the Code of Ethics staff.

 
 

5.6. Procedures and Timeliness

Most certifications and reports required by the Code are completed in the Code of Ethics PTA system. There are strict deadlines for these filings. Planned absences, vacations, and business trips are not valid excuses for failing to meet a deadline. Employees will receive instructions regarding these submissions and the due dates. Please contact the Code of Ethics staff for assistance.

Section 6 — General Ethics Rules for All Employees

Putnam employees are expected to act ethically at all times in connection with their employment. In addition to complying with the specific provisions of this section, employees should contact the Code of Ethics staff or the Ombudsman if they are not sure how to proceed in any circumstances involving ethical issues or questions.

6.1. Conflicts of Interest

Your obligation to act ethically at all times includes the ethical handling of actual, apparent, and potential conflicts of interest between personal and business affairs. Please note that when this Section 6.1 refers to a “conflict of interest,” it is referring to actual, apparent, and potential conflicts of interest. Conflicts of interest may arise in various circumstances, some of which are covered in the specific situations set forth in the other portions of this Section 6. However, it is not possible to set forth each specific situation under which a conflict of interest may arise.

A conflict of interest arises when a person’s personal affairs interfere with the interests of Putnam or Putnam’s clients. A conflict of interest can also arise when an employee or a member of his or her Immediate Family takes an action or has an interest that may make it difficult to perform his or her work objectively and effectively. Conflicts of interest may arise when an employee or a member of his or her Immediate Family receives or grants improper personal benefits as a result of his or her position or in the event that an employee or a member of his or her Immediate Family enters into transactions or agreements with any entity or person with whom Putnam has a business or financial relationship. Putnam employees must recognize (including through their personal trading and conduct) that the firm’s clients always come first, that the employees and the firm must avoid any actual or potential abuse of our positions of trust and responsibility, and that the employees and the firm must never take inappropriate advantage of our positions.

Given that actual, apparent, and potential conflicts of interest may often not be clear-cut, if you have any question or doubt whatsoever, you should consult the Code of Ethics Officer or Deputy Code of Ethics Officer prior to engaging in the activity in question. Any employee who becomes aware of a conflict, potential conflict, or the appearance of a conflict is strongly encouraged to bring it to the attention of the Code of Ethics Officer or Deputy Code of Ethics Officer.

6.2. Outside Business Activities

No Putnam employee shall serve as employee, officer, director, trustee, or general partner of a corporation or entity other than Putnam, without prior written approval of the Code of Ethics Officer, who may also confirm that the employee’s manager has approved such outside position. Requests for a role at a publicly traded company are especially disfavored and are closely reviewed. Permission will be granted only in extenuating circumstances.

All employees must provide a written request seeking approval from the Code of Ethics Officer by entering the details of the proposed position in the Code of Ethics PTA system. Employees may not engage in any outside employment activity until they receive an email approving their request. Employees hired at Putnam with an outside position must disclose the position upon hire in the system and may be required to resign such position if the position presents conflicts of interest or other issues.

 
 

 

FINRA-licensed employees under PRM also have an obligation to disclose outside positions to, and receive approval from, the PRM Compliance Department. Employees must also keep this information accurate by updating their profile in the Code of Ethics system and updating the PRM Compliance Department if they change or terminate a position previously approved.

6.3. Charitable or Non-profit Roles/Role as Trustee or Fiduciary Outside Putnam Investments

6.3(a) An employee may serve as a volunteer, officer, director, or trustee of a charitable or not-for-profit institution, provided that the employee abides by the Code of Ethics with respect to any investment activity for which she has any discretion or input as a volunteer, officer, director, or trustee. The pre-clearance and reporting requirements of the Code of Ethics do not apply to the trading activities of such charitable or not-for-profit institutions for which an employee serves as a volunteer, officer, director, or trustee unless the employee has discretion for the account. You must contact the Code of Ethics staff if you are asked to serve in a role in which you may have discretion, investment, or financial authority for a charitable or not-for- profit institution to discuss whether such position is permissible and whether you must perform any additional actions prior to serving in such role.

6.3(b) Except as stated below, no Putnam employee shall serve as a trustee, an executor, a custodian, or any other fiduciary, or as an investment advisor or a counselor for any account outside Putnam. Putnam employees may serve as a fiduciary with respect to a religious or charitable trust or foundation, provided that the employee abides by the Code of Ethics with respect to any investment activity for which she has any discretion or input. The pre-clearance and reporting requirements of the Code of Ethics apply to the trading activities of such a religious or charitable trust or foundation if the employee has discretion for the account.

6.3(c) Family Trust or Estate Exception

Putnam employees may serve as a fiduciary with respect to a family trust or estate, as long as the employee abides by all of the Rules of the Code of Ethics with respect to any investment activity over which he has any discretion.

6.4. Service As a Public Official

An employee seeking to serve in an official capacity (elected or unelected, with or without compensation) for any government, government agency, or instrumentality must contact the Code of Ethics Officer prior to serving in such capacity. The Code of Ethics Officer shall review such prospective service to determine whether the service could create any potential conflicts of interest for Putnam (e.g., service of a government body that can select investment managers for a public pension plan) and to determine any appropriate steps to address conflicts.

6.5. Family Members’ Conflict Policy

No employee or member of an employee’s Immediate Family shall have any direct or indirect personal financial interests in companies that do business with Putnam, unless such interest is disclosed and approved by the Code of Ethics Officer.

6.5(a) Corporate Purchase of Goods and Services

Putnam will not acquire goods and services from any firm in which a member of an employee’s Immediate Family serves as a sales representative or in a senior management capacity, or has an ownership interest (excluding normal investment holdings in public companies), unless permission is obtained from the Chief Financial Officer and the Code of Ethics Officer. Any employee who is aware of a proposal to purchase goods and services from a firm with which a member of the employee’s Immediate Family has one of these associations must notify the Chief Financial Officer and the Code of Ethics Officer.

 
 

6.5(b) Portfolio Trading

Putnam will not allocate any client trades to any firm that employs a member of an employee’s Immediate Family as a sales representative to Putnam (in a primary, secondary, or backup role). Any Putnam employee who is aware that an Immediate Family member serves as a broker-dealer’s sales representative to Putnam should inform the Code of Ethics Officer.

6.5(c) Definition of Immediate Family (specific to this rule)

“Immediate Family” of an employee means (1) spouse, fiancé(e), or domestic partner of the employee, (2) any child, sibling, or parent of an employee and any person married to a child, sibling, or parent of an employee, and (3) any other person who lives in the same household as the employee

6.6. CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct

All members of the Investment Division and any other CFA institute Members or Candidates must follow and abide by the spirit of the Code of Ethics and the Standards of Professional Conduct of the CFA Institute as in effect from time to time (see the Appendix for a copy of the version in force as of the date of the Putnam Investments Code). The text of the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct can be found on the Putnam Compliance Department intranet home page, which is accessible from the Putnam intranet home page. The terms of Putnam’s Code of Ethics shall govern in any case where there is a conflict between the terms of this Code and the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct. Please contact the Code of Ethics Officer with any questions.

6.7. Business Ethics, Ombuds, and Hotlines

6.7(a) If a Putnam employee suspects that fraudulent, illegal, or other irregular activity (including violations of the Code of Ethics) might be occurring at Putnam, the activity should be reported immediately to Putnam’s Controller, Chief Compliance Officer, or Code of Ethics Officer through the Ombuds or hotlines described below or through Putnam’s Human Resources department

6.7(b) Putnam has established the office of the corporate ombuds as a resource to help employees address legal or ethical issues in the workplace and to allow employees to voice concerns or seek clarity on issues. The Ombuds provides a confidential, independent, and impartial source to employees to discuss potential violations of law or of company standards without fear of retribution, and serves as a neutral party with no vested interest in a particular outcome.

6.7(c)An employee who does not feel comfortable reporting activity in the manner described in 6.6(a) may instead contact any of the following on an anonymous basis:

·The Putnam Ethics hotline at 1-888-475-4210,
·The Putnam Funds Trustees’ hotline at 1-866-858-4155, or
·Putnam’s Ombuds at 1-866-ombuds7 (866-662-8377).

 

6.7(d) Employees will not be retaliated against for reporting information in good faith and in accordance with this Code. Putnam will not terminate employment, demote, transfer to an undesirable assignment, or otherwise discriminate against or harass an employee for calling attention to suspected unethical or illegal acts. It is a violation of this Code to intimidate or impose any other form of retaliation on an employee who reports any actual or suspected illegal or unethical conduct. Putnam takes claims of retaliation very seriously and will promptly investigate allegations of retaliation, subjecting anyone found responsible for retaliating against an employee who reported unethical or

 
 

illegal conduct to disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment. However, an employee who knowingly makes a false report may be subject to discipline.

Section 7 — Material, Non-Public Information and Insider Trading

7.1. Material, Non-Public Information and Insider Trading

Antifraud provisions of the U.S. securities laws as well as the laws of other countries generally prohibit persons who possess material, non-public information from trading on or communicating that information to others. Putnam’s policies, including the Insider Trading Policy that is disclosed along with other compliance policies on the Chief Compliance Officer’s Intranet page, call for strict compliance with such laws. Unlawful trading while in possession of material, non-public information is a very serious matter and can be a crime punishable by imprisonment. There is also significant monetary liability for an inside trader, which can include liability to private plaintiffs and/or the Securities and Exchange Commission, which can seek a court order requiring a violator to pay back profits, as well as penalties substantially greater than those profits. In certain cases, controlling persons of inside traders, including supervisors of inside traders or Putnam itself, can be liable for penalties.

Employees found to have conducted this activity will be immediately referred to the Code of Ethics Oversight Committee or Putnam’s Chief Executive Officer to determine the appropriate sanction, up to and including termination.

While employees in the Investment Division are most likely to come into contact with material, non-public information, the rules (and sanctions) in this area apply to all Putnam employees (see Section 7.2 for information on what to do if you believe you may have material, non-public information).

7.2. Reporting and Restrictions

Any employee who believes he or she is (or may be) in possession of material, non-public information must immediately contact Putnam’s Chief Compliance Officer or an attorney in Putnam’s Legal Department, and provide details on the information received and the source. The employee must also take precautions to maintain the confidentiality of the infor- mation in question, and not share this information with anyone outside of Putnam’s Legal and Compliance Division. This provision does not, however, prevent any employee who suspects possible violations of law or regulation from providing such information to Putnam’s Controller, Chief Compliance Officer, or Code of Ethics Officer through the Ombudsman or hotlines or through Putnam’s Human Resources department as described in Section 6.6 or to any governmental agency or entity, or self-regulatory authority, including but not limited to the Securities and Exchange Commission or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or from making other disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of state or federal law or regulation.

After reviewing the facts and circumstances, Putnam’s Chief Compliance Officer or Putnam’s Legal Department will make a determination as to whether possession of the information warrants restricting trading activity in the issuer’s securities for client accounts as well as personal securities transactions for employees or whether other steps are appropriate, such as the establishment of an information barrier or other trading restrictions.

7.3. Special Provisions Applicable to Putnam Affiliates

Any employee wishing to place a trade in the securities of Great-West Lifeco Inc., Power Financial Corporation, Power Corporation of Canada, or IGM Financial Inc. must contact the Code of Ethics Officer or the Deputy Code of Ethics Officer to request manual approval of the pre-clearance request. An employee requesting such approval must certify that he or she is not in possession of any material, non-public information regarding the company in which he or she is seeking to place a trade. The decision whether or not to grant the pre-clearance request is in the sole discretion of the

 
 

Code of Ethics Officer and the Deputy Code of Ethics Officer. The Code of Ethics Officer and Deputy Code of Ethics Officer will reject any such request for pre-clearance made by (i) directors of a Putnam-branded subsidiary of Putnam Investments, LLC; and (ii) persons who hold the office of chief executive officer, chief operating officer, chief financial officer, president, vice-president, secretary, assistant secretary, treasurer, or assistant treasurer of Putnam or its Putnam-branded subsidiaries, and any other person who performs functions similar to those normally performed by a person holding such office (as determined by the Legal and Compliance Department) during the period beginning five weeks before and ending two full trading days after the issue of a press release announcing quarterly or annual financial results of Great-West Lifeco Inc.

7.4. Putnam Equity Plan, TH Lee Funds, and Putnam Hedge Funds

Great-West Lifeco Inc. stock shares owned by Putnam Investments, LLC Equity Incentive Plan (or any successor plan) shareholders are administered by the Putnam HR department; therefore, holdings of such shares do not need to be reported under this Code. In addition, the exercise of rights under the Putnam Investment, LLC Equity Incentive Plan to acquire Great-West Lifeco Inc. stock and the sale of such stock during specified window periods does not need to be pre-cleared under this Code, and such transaction does not need to be reported on the quarterly transaction report for Access Persons. However, if an employee holds Great-West Lifeco Inc. stock shares outside of the Putnam Investments, LLC Equity Incentive Plan (for example, in a brokerage account), such brokerage account and the holding must be reported under this Code.

Investments in Putnam hedge funds and in certain TH Lee private funds by employees are administered by the Putnam HR department. Therefore, employees do not need to pre-clear or report such funds under this Code.

7.5. PIL Employees

For PIL employees, certain topics are covered by the Market Abuse rules of the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority. PIL employees receive information on this topic in their annual instructor-led code of ethics and compliance training.

Section 8 — Sanctions

The Code of Ethics Oversight Committee reviews violations of the Code by employees and approves sanctions that it believes fit the circumstances. These sanctions include written warnings, trading bans, suspension or termination of employment and disgorgement of profits (or payment of losses avoided) from impermissible trading. Sanctions will apply even if the exception results from inadvertence rather than intentional behaviors, although the Committee’s belief that an employee has violated the Code of Ethics intentionally may result in more severe sanctions. Sanctions for subsequent violations (based on a rolling three-year measurement period) may be more severe than for an employee’s initial violation. Sanctions are communicated to the employee and the employee’s manager. All violations concerning the use of material, non-public information, failure to report inside information, or insider trading will be presented to the Code of Ethics Oversight Committee to determine the appropriate sanction, up to and including termination. Severe criminal penalties may also be imposed.

 
 

Section 9 — Procedures for Determinations and Exemptions

No perceived ambiguity in the Code of Ethics shall excuse any violation. Any employee who has a question concerning the applicability of the Code or believes the Code to be ambiguous in a particular situation should request a determination from the Code of Ethics Officer in advance of the conduct. Employees may also request an exemption from the Code of Ethics if they do so in advance of the conduct or transaction sought to be exempted.

Any employee seeking a determination or exemption shall provide the Code of Ethics Officer with such information as the Code of Ethics Officer deems necessary to render the determination or make a decision on the exemption.

 

 

 
 

Appendix

[GRAPHIC OMITTED: CFA INSTITUTE LOGO]

CODE OF ETHICS AND STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

PREAMBLE

The CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct are fundamental to the values of CFA Institute and essential to achieving its mission to lead the investment profession globally by promoting the highest standards of ethics, education, and professional excellence for the ultimate benefit of society. High ethical standards are critical to maintaining the public’s trust in financial markets and in the investment profession. Since their creation in the 1960s, the Code and Standards have promoted the integrity of CFA Institute members and served as a model for measuring the ethics of investment professionals globally, regardless of job function, cultural differences, or local laws and regulations. All CFA Institute members (including holders of the Chartered Financial Analyst® [CFA®] designation) and CFA candidates must abide by the Code and Standards and are encouraged to notify their employer of this responsibility. Violations may result in disciplinary sanctions by CFA Institute. Sanctions can include revocation of membership, revocation of candidacy in the CFA Program, and revocation of the right to use the CFA designation.

THE CODE OF ETHICS

Members of CFA Institute (including CFA charterholders) and candidates for the CFA designation (“Members and Candidates”) must:

• Act with integrity, competence, diligence, respect and in an ethical manner with the public, clients, prospective clients, employers, employees, colleagues in the investment profession, and other participants in the global capital markets.

• Place the integrity of the investment profession and the interests of clients above their own personal interests.

• Use reasonable care and exercise independent professional judgment when conducting investment analysis, making investment recommendations, taking investment actions, and engaging in other professional activities.

• Practice and encourage others to practice in a professional and ethical manner that will reflect credit on themselves and the profession.

• Promote the integrity and viability of the global capital markets for the ultimate benefit of society.

• Maintain and improve their professional competence and strive to maintain and improve the competence of other investment professionals.

STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

I. PROFESSIONALISM

A. Knowledge of the Law. Members and Candidates must under-stand and comply with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations (including the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct) of any government, regulatory organization, licensing agency, or professional association governing their professional activities. In the event of conflict, Members and Candidates must comply with the more strict law, rule, or regulation. Members and Candidates must not knowingly participate or assist in and must dissociate from any violation of such laws, rules, or regulations.

B. Independence and Objectivity. Members and Candidates must use reasonable care and judgment to achieve and maintain independence and objectivity in their professional activities. Members and Candidates must not offer, solicit, or accept any gift, benefit, compensation, or consideration that reasonably could be expected to compromise their own or another’s independence and objectivity.

C. Misrepresentation. Members and Candidates must not knowingly make any misrepresentations relating to investment analysis, recommendations, actions, or other professional activities.

D. Misconduct. Members and Candidates must not engage in any professional conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, or deceit or commit any act that reflects adversely on their professional reputation, integrity, or competence.

II. INTEGRITY OF CAPITAL MARKETS

A. Material Nonpublic Information. Members and Candidates who possess material nonpublic information that could affect the value of an investment must not act or cause others to act on the information.

B. Market Manipulation. Members and Candidates must not engage in practices that distort prices or artificially inflate trading volume with the intent to mislead market participants.

 
 

III. DUTIES TO CLIENTS

A. Loyalty, Prudence, and Care. Members and Candidates have a duty of loyalty to their clients and must act with reasonable care and exercise prudent judgment. Members and Candidates must act for the benefit of their clients and place their clients’ interests before their employer’s or their own interests.

B. Fair Dealing. Members and Candidates must deal fairly and objectively with all clients when providing investment analysis, making investment recommendations, taking investment action, or engaging in other professional activities.

C. Suitability.

1. When Members and Candidates are in an advisory relationship with a client, they must:

a. Make a reasonable inquiry into a client’s or prospective client’s investment experience, risk and return objectives, and financial constraints prior to making any investment recommendation or taking investment action and must reassess and update this information regularly.

b. Determine that an investment is suitable to the client’s financial situation and consistent with the client’s written objectives, mandates, and constraints before making an investment recommendation or taking investment action.

c. Judge the suitability of investments in the context of the client’s total portfolio.

2. When Members and Candidates are responsible for managing a portfolio to a specific mandate, strategy, or style, they must make only investment recommendations or take only investment actions that are consistent with the stated objectives and constraints of the portfolio.

D. Performance Presentation. When communicating investment performance information, Members and Candidates must make reasonable efforts to ensure that it is fair, accurate, and complete.

E. Preservation of Confidentiality. Members and Candidates must keep information about current, former, and prospective clients confidential unless:

1. The information concerns illegal activities on the part of the client or prospective client,

2. Disclosure is required by law, or

3. The client or prospective client permits disclosure of the information.

IV. DUTIES TO EMPLOYERS

A. Loyalty. In matters related to their employment, Members and Candidates must act for the benefit of their employer and not deprive their employer of the advantage of their skills and abilities, divulge confidential information, or otherwise cause harm to their employer.

B. Additional Compensation Arrangements. Members and Candidates must not accept gifts, benefits, compensation, or consideration that competes with or might reasonably be expected to create a conflict of interest with their employer’s interest unless they obtain written consent from all parties involved.

C. Responsibilities of Supervisors. Members and Candidates must make reasonable efforts to ensure that anyone subject to their supervision or authority complies with applicable laws, rules, regulations, and the Code and Standards.

V. INVESTMENT ANALYSIS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND ACTIONS

A. Diligence and Reasonable Basis. Members and Candidates must:

1. Exercise diligence, independence, and thoroughness in analyzing investments, making investment recommendations, and taking investment actions.

2. Have a reasonable and adequate basis, supported by appropriate research and investigation, for any investment analysis, recommendation, or action.

B. Communication with Clients and Prospective Clients. Members and Candidates must:

1. Disclose to clients and prospective clients the basic format and general principles of the investment processes they use to analyze investments, select securities, and construct port-folios and must promptly disclose any changes that might materially affect those processes.

2. Disclose to clients and prospective clients significant limitations and risks associated with the investment process.

3. Use reasonable judgment in identifying which factors are important to their investment analyses, recommendations, or actions and include those factors in communications with clients and prospective clients.

4. Distinguish between fact and opinion in the presentation of investment analysis and recommendations.

C. Record Retention. Members and Candidates must develop and maintain appropriate records to support their investment analyses, recommendations, actions, and other investment-related communications with clients and prospective clients.

 
 

VI. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

A. Disclosure of Conflicts. Members and Candidates must make full and fair disclosure of all matters that could reasonably be expected to impair their independence and objectivity or interfere with respective duties to their clients, prospective clients, and employer. Members and Candidates must ensure that such disclosures are prominent, are delivered in plain language, and communicate the relevant information effectively.

B. Priority of Transactions. Investment transactions for clients and employers must have priority over investment transactions in which a Member or Candidate is the beneficial owner.

C. Referral Fees. Members and Candidates must disclose to their employer, clients, and prospective clients, as appropriate, any compensation, consideration, or benefit received from or paid to others for the recommendation of products or services.

VII. RESPONSIBILITIES AS A CFA INSTITUTE MEMBER OR CFA CANDIDATE

A. Conduct as Participants in CFA Institute Programs. Members and Candidates must not engage in any conduct that compromises the reputation or integrity of CFA Institute or the CFA designation or the integrity, validity, or security of the CFA Institute programs.

B. Reference to CFA Institute, the CFA Designation, and the CFA Program. When referring to CFA Institute, CFA Institute membership, the CFA designation, or candidacy in the CFA Program, Members and Candidates must not misrepresent or exaggerate the meaning or implications of membership in CFA Institute, holding the CFA designation, or candidacy in the CFA program.

[GRAPHIC OMITTED: CFA INSTITUTE LOGO]

www.cfainstitute.org

Putnam Investments | 100 Federal Street | Boston, MA02110 | putnam.com  HR104 318763 10/19 

 



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