590_NCSR1.htm

Item 1. Report to Stockholders:

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



What makes Putnam different?


In 1830, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Justice Samuel Putnam established The Prudent Man Rule, a legal foundation for responsible money management.

THE PRUDENT MAN RULE

All that can be required of a trustee to invest is that he shall conduct himself faithfully and exercise a sound discretion. He is to observe how men of prudence, discretion, and intelligence manage their own affairs, not in regard to speculation, but in regard to the permanent disposition of their funds, considering the probable income, as well as the probable safety of the capital to be invested.


A time-honored tradition in money management

Since 1937, our values have been rooted in a profound sense of responsibility for the money entrusted to us.

A prudent approach to investing

We use a research-driven team approach to seek consistent, dependable, superior investment results over time, although there is no guarantee a fund will meet its objectives.

Funds for every investment goal

We offer a broad range of mutual funds and other financial products so investors and their advisors can build diversified portfolios.

A commitment to doing what’s right for investors

We have stringent investor protections and provide a wealth of information about the Putnam funds.

Industry-leading service

We help investors, along with their financial advisors, make informed investment decisions with confidence.


Putnam Managed
High Yield
Trust
11| 30| 05
Semiannual Report

Message from the Trustees    2 
About the fund    4 
Report from the fund managers    7 
Performance  12 
Your fund’s management  14 
Terms and definitions  17 
Trustee approval of management contract  18 
Other information for shareholders  25 
Financial statements  27 
Shareholder meeting results  55 

Cover photograph: © Richard H. Johnson


Message from the Trustees

Dear Fellow Shareholder

During the course of 2005, U.S. and global economies proved resilient in the face of some emerging challenges. Higher energy prices, mounting inflationary pressures, and damage caused by an unusually active hurricane season appeared at times to pose a risk to corporate earnings, raising investors’ concerns. The Federal Reserve Board’s program of interest-rate increases remained in effect throughout the year, as well. Nevertheless, in recent months the financial markets have demonstrated trends consistent with an expanding economy -- relative weakness for bonds and relative strength for stocks. With many companies appearing likely to deliver strong earnings, our teams are working to identify investment opportunities while remaining cognizant of the risks posed by higher energy prices in the winter months, as well as the possibility of continued increases in interest rates in 2006.

In our view, the professional research, diversification, and active management that mutual funds provide continue to make them an intelligent choice for investors. We want you to know that Putnam Investments’ management team, under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Ed Haldeman, continues to focus on investment performance and remains committed to putting the interests of shareholders first. Also, in keeping with these goals, we have redesigned and expanded our shareholder reports to make it easier for you to learn more about your fund. Furthermore, on page 18 we provide information about the 2005 approval by the Trustees of your fund’s management contract with Putnam.

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In the following pages, members of your fund’s management team discuss the fund’s performance and strategies, and their outlook for the months ahead. We thank you for your support of the Putnam funds throughout 2005 and wish you a happy and prosperous 2006.



Putnam Managed High Yield Trust: a disciplined
approach to seeking income and capital growth

Relative to most types of fixed-income investments, high-yield bonds are more dependent on the performance of issuing companies than on interest rates. For this reason, distinguishing between opportunities and pitfalls requires a rigorous investment process. With Putnam Managed High Yield Trust, this process is highlighted by exhaustive research, investment diversification, and timely portfolio adjustments.

Because of the risks of high-yield bond investing, in-depth credit research is essential. The fund’s research team -- more than 20 professionals, including analysts who specialize by industry -- visits with the management of issuing companies and analyzes each company’s prospects. The team then compares this information, along with each bond’s independent credit rating, to the bond’s stated yield before deciding whether it is an appropriate investment for the fund.

The fund’s portfolio typically consists of a broad range of industries and companies. Holdings are diversified across industry sectors and among bonds with differing credit ratings. While the fund invests primarily in the bonds of U.S. companies, its diversified approach allows it to include foreign bonds as well. Among these securities, investments in emerging-market bonds may be used to enhance the fund’s appreciation potential. Although diversifi-cation does not ensure a profit or protect against a loss and it is possible to lose money in a diversified portfolio, the fund’s diversification can help reduce the volatility that typically comes with higher-risk investments.

As the bond markets shift over time, the fund’s management looks for ways to capitalize on developments that affect fixed-income securities in general and high-yield bonds in particular. For example, when credit spreads

High-yield bonds have historically offered greater
return potential than investment-grade bonds.



are wide and expected to tighten, the fund may pursue the higher income potential offered by lower-quality issues. On the other hand, when credit spreads are narrow -- that is, when the difference in yield between higher- and lower-rated bonds of comparable maturities is small -- the fund may shift its emphasis to higher-quality high-yield bonds.

Lower-rated bonds may offer higher yields in return for more risk. Mutual funds that invest in bonds are subject to certain risks, including interest-rate risk, credit risk, and inflation risk. As interest rates rise, the prices of bonds fall. Long-term bonds are more exposed to interest-rate risk than short-term bonds. Unlike bonds, bond funds have ongoing fees and expenses. Additional risks may be associated with emerging-market securities, including illiquidity and volatility.

How do closed-end funds
differ from open-end funds?

More assets at work While open-end funds must maintain a cash position to meet redemptions, closed-end funds have no such requirement and can keep more of their assets invested in the market.

Traded like stocks Closed-end fund shares are traded on stock exchanges, and their market prices fluctuate in response to supply and demand, among other factors.

Market price vs. net asset value Like an open-end fund’s net asset value (NAV) per share, the NAV of a closed-end fund share is equal to the current value of the fund’s assets, minus its liabilities, divided by the number of shares outstanding. However, when buying or selling closed-end fund shares, the price you pay or receive is the market price. Market price reflects current market supply and demand and may be higher or lower than the NAV.

In general, the performance of high-yield bonds tends to be less dependent on interest rates than that of higher-rated bonds. Over the past 10 years, the JP Morgan Developed High Yield Index (the fund’s benchmark) largely outperformed the Lehman Global Aggregate Bond Index (which is made up of a variety of investment-grade bonds), particularly when corporate stocks were rallying.

The JP Morgan Developed High Yield Index is an unmanaged index of high-yield fixed-income securities of developed markets. The Lehman Global Aggregate Bond Index is an unmanaged index of global investment-grade fixed-income securities. You cannot invest directly in an index.

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Putnam Managed High Yield Trust seeks high current income and,  as a secondary objective, to the extent consistent with high current income, capital growth, by investing in corporate high-yield bonds. The fund is designed for investors seeking higher fixed-income returns who are willing to accept the added risks of investing in below-investment-grade bonds.

Highlights

Performance

It is important to note that a fund’s performance at market price may differ from its results at NAV. Although market price performance generally reflects investment results, it may also be influenced by several other factors, including changes in investor perceptions of the fund or its investment advisor, market conditions, fluctuations in supply and demand for the fund’s shares, and changes in fund distributions.

Total return for periods ended 11/30/05

Since the fund’s inception (6/25/93), average annual return is 6.18% at NAV and 4.30% at market price.

  Average annual return  Cumulative return 
  NAV  Market price  NAV Market price 

 
10 years  5.63%  3.71%  72.85%  43.98% 

5 years  7.86  5.23  45.96  29.02 

3 years  13.20  4.62  45.07  14.50 

1 year  4.45  -0.76  4.45  -0.76 

6 months  --  --  3.34  0.56 


Data is historical. Past performance does not guarantee future results. More recent returns may be less or more than those shown. Investment return, net asset value, and market price will fluctuate and you may have a gain or a loss when you sell your shares. Performance assumes reinvestment of distributions and does not account for taxes.

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Report from the fund managers

The period in review

During the six months ended November 30, 2005, Putnam Managed High Yield Trust outperformed its benchmark, the JP Morgan Developed High Yield Index, based on results at net asset value (NAV). This outperformance was due primarily to successful security selection; in addition to positioning the fund to benefit from the strength of numerous holdings, we believe we also added value by underweighting or entirely avoiding some of the period’s weakest performers. Your fund also benefited from a small position in emerging-market bonds held earlier in the period; although this position was sold before the end of the period, we believe it contributed to the fund’s relative outperformance. The fund’s results at NAV were slightly behind the average for its Lipper peer group, but comparisons in this category can be misleading because the peer group contains only six funds, some of which use leverage to boost returns.

Market overview

In the months leading up to the semian-nual period covered by this report, high-yield bonds had struggled due to concerns that record-high energy prices might spark more broad-based infla-tion. Investors feared that the Federal Reserve Board (the Fed) might abandon its measured tightening policy and begin raising short-term interest rates more aggressively. In addition, market participants sought to come to terms with the credit-rating downgrades of General Motors and Ford bonds, and the automakers’ subsequent entry into the high-yield market. However, these fears subsided during the semiannual period. The high-yield bond market has assimilated these large issuers smoothly and recovered to post positive returns for the period.

Overall, high-yield bonds continued to benefit from consistently solid corporate business fundamentals and steady consolidation activity. Several high-yield companies were acquired by investment-grade firms, resulting in upgrades of their credit ratings. The Fed continued to boost short-term interest rates steadily, hiking the federal funds rate four times, bringing it to 4.00% by period-end. These moves

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didn’t lead to substantial increases in yields for longer-term bonds, but created a bit of a headwind for the high-yield market in the early fall. However, high-yield bonds enjoyed stronger performance in November due to additional demand generated by solid inflows of assets into high-yield mutual funds. The default rate within the high-yield market remained near historical lows, and the yield spread -- or advantage --offered by high-yield bonds over Treasury bonds with comparable maturities ended the period below historical averages, indicating generally favorable sentiment toward the asset class, although spreads ended the period wider than they were at the beginning of 2005.

Strategy overview

We continued to upgrade the credit quality of the portfolio during the period, moving away from the lower-quality bonds we had emphasized during the past two years. This shift was based on our belief that the Fed’s continued tightening of short-term interest rates would start to curtail economic growth. We also felt that narrow yield spreads -- i.e., a smaller difference between yields on higher-quality and lower-quality bonds of comparable maturities -- meant high-yield bond investors were not being compensated enough for the added risk of owning lower-quality bonds.

In comparison to the benchmark, the fund carried an overweighted stake in energy, where we focused on small and

Market sector performance   

These indexes provide an overview of performance in different market sectors for the
 
 
six months ended 11/30/05.   

 
Bonds   
JP Morgan Developed High Yield Index (high-yield corporate bond markets)  2.52% 

Lehman Aggregate Bond Index (broad bond market)  -0.48% 

Lehman GNMA Index (Government National Mortgage Association bonds)  0.11% 

Lehman Municipal Bond Index (tax-exempt bonds)  0.37% 

Equities   
S&P 500 Index (broad stock market)  5.88% 

Russell 2000 Index (small-company stocks)  10.47% 

MSCI EAFE Index (international stocks)  11.23% 


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midsize exploration and production companies that we considered were well- positioned to profit from higher oil and gas prices. We underweighted transportation issues, avoiding Delta Airlines and Northwest Airlines, both of which declared bankruptcy during the period. We also underweighted the automotive industry, particularly auto suppliers whose fates are heavily dependent on the big three U.S. auto producers, and who were adversely affected by higher operating costs. In addition, we underweighted paper and forest products. We considered these bonds unattractively priced and we believed that some firms were facing weakening business prospects. As noted earlier, the fund carried a small stake in emerging-market debt for part of the period, and sold it when the bonds reached our price targets.

Your fund’s holdings

During the semiannual period, your fund’s performance was helped by several factors. The sector-weighting decisions just described -- overweighting energy; underweighting transportation and paper and forest products; and keeping a small stake in emerging markets -- all buoyed performance. The fund’s strong showing relative to its benchmark is mainly due to our underweighting or not owning certain index components that suffered price declines during the period. These laggards included electric energy merchant

Comparison of top industry weightings

This chart shows how the fund’s top weightings have changed over the last six months.

Weightings are shown as a percentage of net assets. Holdings will vary over time.


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Calpine, which appeared headed toward bankruptcy due to heavy indebtedness and rising prices for the natural gas the firm uses for power generation. The fund also benefited from underweighting Ford and General Motors, which, after enjoying a short rally upon entering the high-yield market, underperformed over the six-month period due to relatively weak business fundamentals. Television broadcaster Paxson Communications, on the other hand, made a substantial, positive contribution to performance. The prices for Paxson’s bonds improved because its management team offered the market more clarity about the firm’s ownership structure and corporate strategy going forward.

On the downside, the fund’s performance relative to its benchmark index was held back by our underweighting of bonds issued by electric energy merchant Mirant and rural/suburban wireless telecommunications services provider Dobson Communications. Both of these companies’ bonds recovered from depressed price levels during the period. Mirant’s bonds rallied as the company emerged from bankruptcy, but we chose to not purchase any because we found Mirant’s credit profile unappealing. Similarly, Dobson’s bonds rallied when the company posted better-than-expected revenues from roaming charges that bolstered its financial health, but we missed out on the rebound due to credit concerns.

Top holdings

This table shows the fund’s top holdings, and the percentage of the fund’s net assets that each comprised, as of 11/30/05. The fund’s holdings will change over time.

Holding (percent of fund’s net assets)  Coupon (%) and maturity date  Industry 
General Motors Acceptance Corp. (0.8%)  8%, 2031  Automotive 

Ford Motor Credit Corp. (0.8%)  7.875%, 2010  Automotive 

DirecTV Holdings, LLC (0.8%)  6.375%, 2015  Broadcasting 

CCH I, LLC (0.7%)  11%, 2015  Cable television 

Whiting Petroleum Corp. (0.7%)  7%, 2014  Oil and gas 

Novelis, Inc. 144A (0.6%)  7.5%, 2015  Metals 

Qwest Communications International, Inc. (0.6%)  8%, 2014  Regional Bells 

CanWest Media, Inc. (Canada) (0.6%)  8%, 2012  Publishing 

Legrand SA (France) (0.6%)  8.5%, 2025  Manufacturing 

Qwest Corp. (0.6%)  8.875%, 2012  Regional Bells 


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Fund holding Milacron, maker of plastic injection molding equipment, declined during the period, dampening performance. Bonds issued by the company fell as investors worried that its customers -- facing high plastic resin prices -- might choose to defer buying new equipment from Milacron.

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

The outlook for your fund

The following commentary reflects anticipated developments that could affect your fund over the next six months, as well as your management team’s plans for responding to them.

At this time, we believe corporate business fundamentals are generally positive, driven by a strong U.S. economy, healthy capital markets, merger-and-acquisitions activity, credit upgrades, and low default rates. Defaults may rise from current lows during the next 12 months, but we do not anticipate that any increase will be dramatic. In terms of valuations, yield spreads between high-yield bonds and Treasuries are currently narrower than the historical average, indicating that high-yield bond valuations may be relatively high -- although historically, spreads have been at similar levels during extended periods of low default rates. As for technicals (issues related to the supply of and demand for high-yield bonds that help drive the market), demand and new-issue supply have both waned, leading us to a neutral outlook in this area. Overall, we feel that, after such a run-up in the recent past, any positive returns for high-yield bonds will largely be generated by their regular interest payments. We intend to follow a relatively defensive approach, particularly regarding credit quality, as we believe it is the most prudent choice in this environment.

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

Lower-rated bonds may offer higher yields in return for more risk. Mutual funds that invest in bonds are subject to certain risks, including interest-rate risk, credit risk, and inflation risk. As interest rates rise, the prices of bonds fall. Long-term bonds are more exposed to interest-rate risk than short-term bonds. Unlike bonds, bond funds have ongoing fees and expenses.

The fund’s shares trade on a stock exchange at market prices, which may be higher or lower than the fund’s net asset value.

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Your fund’s performance

This section shows your fund’s performance during the first half of its fiscal year, which ended November 30, 2005. In accordance with regulatory requirements for mutual funds, we also include performance for the most recent calendar quarter-end. Performance should always be considered in light of a fund’s investment strategy. Data represents past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. More recent returns may be less or more than those shown. Investment return, net asset value, and market price will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or a loss when you sell your shares.

Fund performance       
 
Total return and comparative index results for periods ended 11/30/05   

 
 
                     Lipper High 
          JP Morgan                 Current Yield 
          Developed                 Funds 
        Market        High-Yield                 (closed-end) 
  NAV       price        Index*                category average† 

 

Annual average         
Life of fund         
(since 6/25/93)  6.18%  4.30%  --  6.82% 

10 years  72.85  43.98  96.39%  84.24 
Annual average  5.63  3.71  6.98  6.17 

5 years  45.96  29.02  58.22  48.97 
Annual average  7.86  5.23  9.61  8.22 

3 years  45.07  14.50  45.78  46.32 
Annual average  13.20  4.62  13.39  13.52 

1 year  4.45  -0.76  3.28  4.90 

6 months  3.34  0.56  2.52  3.68 


    Performance assumes reinvestment of distributions and does not account for taxes.

    Index and Lipper results should be compared to fund performance at net asset value. Lipper calculations for reinvested dividends may differ from actual performance.

* This index began operations on 12/31/94.

+ Over the 6-month and 1-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year periods ended 11/30/05, there were 6, 6, 4, 4, and 4 funds, respectively, in this Lipper category.

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Fund price and distribution information     

For the six-month period ended 11/30/05
 
   

 
 
Distributions (number)  6   

Income  $0.294   

Capital gains  --   

Total  $0.294   

Share value:  NAV  Market price 
5/31/05  $9.04  $7.97 

11/30/05  9.01  7.73 

Current yield (end of period)     
Current dividend rate1  6.53%  7.61% 


1  Most recent distribution, excluding capital gains, annualized and divided by NAV or market price at end of period. 

 
Fund performance for most recent calendar quarter   

Total return for periods ended 12/31/05
 
   

 
    NAV  Market price 

  Annual average     
  Life of fund (since 6/25/93)  6.21%  4.62% 

  10 years  71.43  50.28 
  Annual average  5.54  4.16 

  5 years  45.52  21.71 
  Annual average  7.79  4.01 

  3 years  45.76  21.60 
  Annual average  13.38  6.74 

  1 year  3.97  3.00 

  6 months  2.61  1.18 


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Your fund’s management

Your fund is managed by the members of the Putnam Core Fixed-Income High-Yield Team. Paul Scanlon is the Portfolio Leader. Norman Boucher, Geoffrey Kelley, and Robert Salvin are Portfolio Members of your fund. The Portfolio Leader and Portfolio Members coordinate the team’s management of the fund.

For a complete listing of the members of the Putnam Core Fixed-Income High-Yield Team, including those who are not Portfolio Leaders or Portfolio Members of your fund, visit Putnam’s Individual Investor Web site at www.putnam.com.

Fund ownership by the Portfolio Leader and Portfolio Members

The table below shows how much the fund’s current Portfolio Leader and Portfolio Members have invested in the fund (in dollar ranges). Information shown is as of November 30, 2005, and November 30, 2004.

      $1 -  $10,001 -  $50,001 -  $100,001 -  $500,001 -  $1,000,001 
  Year   $0 $10,000  $50,000  $100,000  $500,000  $1,000,000  and over 

 
Paul Scanlon  2005             

Portfolio Leader  2004             

Norman Boucher  2005             

Portfolio Member  N/A               

Geoffrey Kelley  2005             

Portfolio Member  N/A               

Robert Salvin  2005             

Portfolio Member  N/A               


N/A indicates the individual was not a Portfolio Leader or Portfolio Member as of 11/30/04.

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Fund manager compensation

The total 2004 fund manager compensation that is attributable to your fund is approximately $30,000. This amount includes a portion of 2004 compensation paid by Putnam Management to the fund managers listed in this section for their portfolio management responsibilities, calculated based on the fund assets they manage taken as a percentage of the total assets they manage. The compensation amount also includes a portion of the 2004 compensation paid to the Group Chief Investment Officer of the fund’s broader investment category for his oversight responsibilities, calculated based on the fund assets he oversees taken as a percentage of the total assets he oversees. This amount does not include compensation of other personnel involved in research, trading, administration, systems, compliance, or fund operations; nor does it include non-compensation costs. These percentages are determined as of the fund’s fiscal period-end. For personnel who joined Putnam Management during or after 2004, the calculation reflects annualized 2004 compensation or an estimate of 2005 compensation, as applicable.

Other Putnam funds managed by the Portfolio Leader and Portfolio Members

Paul Scanlon is also a Portfolio Leader of Putnam Floating Rate Income Fund, Putnam High Yield Advantage Fund, and Putnam High Yield Trust. He is also a Portfolio Member of Putnam Diversified Income Trust, Putnam Master Intermediate Income Trust, and Putnam Premier Income Trust.

Norman Boucher is also a Portfolio Member of Putnam High Yield Advantage Fund and Putnam High Yield Trust.

Geoffrey Kelley is also a Portfolio Member of Putnam High Yield Advantage Fund and Putnam High Yield Trust.

Robert Salvin is also a Portfolio Member of Putnam High Income Securities Fund, Putnam High Yield Advantage Fund, and Putnam High Yield Trust.

Paul Scanlon, Norman Boucher, Geoffrey Kelley, and Robert Salvin may also manage other accounts and variable trust funds advised by Putnam Management or an affiliate.

Changes in your fund’s Portfolio Leader and Portfolio Members

During the year ended November 30, 2005, Paul Scanlon became Portfolio Leader and Geoffrey Kelley and Robert Salvin became Portfolio Members of your fund, while Portfolio Member Norman Boucher rejoined your fund’s management team. These changes followed the departure of Portfolio Leader Stephen Peacher and Portfolio Member Rosemary Thomsen from your fund’s management team.

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Fund ownership by Putnam’s Executive Board

The table below shows how much the members of Putnam’s Executive Board have invested in the fund (in dollar ranges). Information shown is as of November 30, 2005, and November 30, 2004.

        $1 -  $10,001 -  $50,001-  $100,001 
  Year    $0  $10,000  $50,000  $100,000  and over 

 
Philippe Bibi  2005           

Chief Technology Officer  2004           

Joshua Brooks  2005           

Deputy Head of Investments  N/A             

William Connolly  2005           

Head of Retail Management  N/A             

Kevin Cronin  2005           

Head of Investments  2004           

Charles Haldeman, Jr.  2005           

President and CEO  2004           

Amrit Kanwal  2005           

Chief Financial Officer  2004           

Steven Krichmar  2005           

Chief of Operations  2004           

Francis McNamara, III  2005           

General Counsel  2004           

Richard Robie, III  2005           

Chief Administrative Officer  2004           

Edward Shadek  2005           

Deputy Head of Investments  N/A             

Sandra Whiston  2005           

Head of Institutional Management  N/A             


N/A indicates the individual was not a member of Putnam's Executive Board as of 11/30/04.

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Terms and definitions

Important terms

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

Net asset value (NAV) is the value of all your fund’s assets, minus any liabilities, divided by the number of outstanding shares.

Market price is the current trading price of one share of the fund. Market prices are set by transactions between buyers and sellers on exchanges such as the American Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange.

Comparative indexes

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

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

Lehman Global Aggregate Bond Index is an unmanaged index of global investment-grade fixed-income securities.

Lehman GNMA Index is an unmanaged index of Government National Mortgage Association bonds.

Lehman Municipal Bond Index is an unmanaged index of long-term fixed-rate investment-grade tax-exempt bonds.

Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) EAFE Index is an unmanaged index of equity securities from developed countries in Western Europe, the Far East, and Australasia.

Russell 2000 Index is an unmanaged index of the 2,000 smallest companies in the Russell 3000 Index.

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

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

Lipper is a third-party industry-ranking entity that ranks mutual funds. Lipper rankings are based on total return at net asset value and do not reflect sales charges. Funds are ranked among other funds with similar current investment styles or objectives as determined by Lipper. Lipper may change a fund’s category assignment at its discretion. Lipper category averages reflect performance trends for funds within a category.

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Trustee approval of
management contract

General conclusions

The Board of Trustees of the Putnam funds oversees the management of each fund and, as required by law, determines annually whether to approve the continuance of your fund’s management contract and administrative services contract with Putnam Management and its sub-management contract with Putnam Management’s affiliate, Putnam Investments Limited (“PIL”). In this regard, the Board of Trustees, with the assistance of its Contract Committee consisting solely of Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) of the Putnam funds (the “Independent Trustees”), requests and evaluates all information it deems reasonably necessary under the circumstances. Over the course of several months beginning in March and ending in June 2005, the Contract Committee met five times to consider the information provided by Putnam Management and other information developed with the assistance of the Board’s independent counsel and independent staff. The Contract Committee reviewed and discussed key aspects of this information with all of the Independent Trustees. Upon completion of this review, the Contract Committee recommended and the Independent Trustees approved the continuance of your fund’s management contract, administrative services contract and sub-management contract, effective July 1, 2005. Because PIL is an affiliate of Putnam Management and Putnam Management remains fully responsible for all services provided by PIL, the Trustees have not evaluated PIL as a separate entity and all subsequent references to Putnam Management below should be deemed to include reference to PIL as necessary or appropriate in the context.

This approval was based on the following conclusions:

These conclusions were based on a comprehensive consideration of all information provided to the Trustees and were not the result of any single factor. Some of the factors that figured particularly in the Trustees’ deliberations and how the Trustees considered these factors are described below, although individual Trustees may have evaluated the information presented differently, giving different weights to various factors. It is also important to recognize that the fee arrangements for your fund and the other Putnam funds are the result of many years of review and discussion between the Independent Trustees and Putnam Management, that certain aspects of such arrangements may receive greater scrutiny in some years than others, and that the Trustees’ conclusions may be based, in part, on their consideration of these same arrangements in prior years.

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Model fee schedules and categories; total expenses

The Trustees’ review of the management fees and total expenses of the Putnam funds focused on three major themes:

Since their inception, Putnam’s closed-end funds have generally had management fees that are higher than those of Putnam’s open-end funds pursuing comparable investment strategies. These differences ranged from five to 20 basis points. The Trustees have reexamined this matter and recommended that these differences be conformed to a uniform five basis points. Under the new fee schedule, the fund pays a quarterly management fee to Putnam Management calculated at the annual rates set out below:

0.55% of the first $500 million of the fund’s average weekly assets (as described below
under “Approval of Amended and Restated Management Contract in July 2005”);

0.45% of the next $500 million;

0.40% of the next $500 million;
0.35% of the next $5 billion;
0.325% of the next $5 billion;
0.305% of the next $5 billion;
0.29% of the next $5 billion;
0.28% of the next $5 billion;
0.27% of the next $5 billion;
0.26% of the next $5 billion;
0.25% of the next $5 billion;
0.24% of the next $5 billion;
0.23% of the next $5 billion; and
0.22% thereafter.

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Your fund’s separate administrative services contract provides for quarterly payment of fees to Putnam Management equal to a percentage of the average of weekly determinations of the net asset value of the fund as calculated at the annual rates set out below:

0.20% of the first $500 million of the fund’s average net assets; 
0.17% of the next $500 million; 
0.16% of the next $500 million; and 
0.15% of the excess over $1.5 billion. 

The administrative services contract may be amended to provide for payment of fees to Putnam Management on the basis of average weekly assets without shareholder approval.

Based on net asset levels as of June 30, 2005, and without taking into account any leverage your fund may incur for investment purposes, the new management fee schedule for your fund will not change the management fees, as a percentage of the fund’s net assets, currently paid by common shareholders. The Trustees approved the new fee schedules for the funds effective as of January 1, 2006, in order to provide Putnam Management an opportunity to accommodate the impact on revenues in its budget process for the coming year.

In connection with their review of the management and administrative services fees and total expenses of the Putnam funds, the Trustees also reviewed the costs of the services to be provided and profits to be realized by Putnam Management and its affiliates from the relationship with the funds. This information included trends in revenues, expenses and profitability of Putnam Management and its affiliates relating to the investment management and distribution services provided to the funds. In this regard, the Trustees also reviewed an analysis of Putnam Management’s revenues, expenses and profitability with respect to the funds’ management contracts, allocated on a fund-by-fund basis.

20


Investment performance

The quality of the investment process provided by Putnam Management represented a major factor in the Trustees’ evaluation of the quality of services provided by Putnam Management under your fund’s management contract. The Trustees were assisted in their review of the funds’ investment process and performance by the work of the Investment Oversight Committees of the Trustees, which meet on a regular monthly basis with the funds’ portfolio teams throughout the year. The Trustees concluded that Putnam Management generally provides a high-quality investment process -- as measured by the experience and skills of the individuals assigned to the management of fund portfolios, the resources made available to such personnel, and in general the ability of Putnam Management to attract and retain high-quality personnel -- but also recognize that this does not guarantee favorable investment results for every fund in every time period. The Trustees considered the investment performance of each fund over multiple time periods and considered information comparing the fund’s performance with various benchmarks and with the performance of competitive funds. The Trustees noted the satisfactory investment performance of many Putnam funds. They also noted the disappointing investment performance of certain funds in recent years and continued to discuss with senior management of Putnam Management the factors contributing to such underperformance and actions being taken to improve performance. The Trustees recognized that, in recent years, Putnam Management has made significant changes in its investment personnel and processes and in the fund product line to address areas of underperformance. The Trustees indicated their intention to continue to monitor performance trends to assess the effectiveness of these changes and to evaluate whether additional remedial changes are warranted.

In the case of your fund, the Trustees considered that your fund’s common share performance at net asset value was in the following percentiles of its Lipper Inc. peer group for the one-, three-and five-year periods ended December 31, 2004 (the first percentile being the best-performing funds and the 100th percentile being the worst-performing funds):

One-year period  Three-year period  Five-year period 

        56th            40th          40th 

(Because of the passage of time, these performance results may differ from the performance results for more recent periods shown elsewhere in this report.)

As a general matter, the Trustees believe that cooperative efforts between the Trustees and Putnam Management represent the most effective way to address investment performance problems. The Trustees believe that investors in the Putnam funds have, in effect, placed their trust in the Putnam organization, under the oversight of the funds’ Trustees, to make appropriate decisions regarding the management of the funds. Based on the responsiveness of Putnam Management in the recent past to Trustee concerns about investment performance, the Trustees believe that it is preferable to seek change within Putnam Management to address performance shortcomings. In the Trustees’

21


view, the alternative of terminating a management contract and engaging a new investment advisor for an underperforming fund would entail significant disruptions and would not provide any greater assurance of improved investment performance.

Brokerage and soft-dollar allocations; other benefits

The Trustees considered various potential benefits that Putnam Management may receive in connection with the services it provides under the management contract with your fund. These include principally benefits related to brokerage and soft-dollar allocations, whereby a portion of the commissions paid by a fund for brokerage is earmarked to pay for research services that may be utilized by a fund’s investment advisor, subject to the obligation to seek best execution. The Trustees believe that soft-dollar credits and other potential benefits associated with the allocation of fund brokerage, which pertains mainly to funds investing in equity securities, represent assets of the funds that should be used for the benefit of fund shareholders. This area has been marked by significant change in recent years. In July 2003, acting upon the Contract Committee’s recommendation, the Trustees directed that allocations of brokerage to reward firms that sell fund shares be discontinued no later than December 31, 2003. In addition, commencing in 2004, the allocation of brokerage commissions by Putnam Management to acquire research services from third-party service providers has been significantly reduced, and continues at a modest level only to acquire research that is customarily not available for cash. The Trustees will continue to monitor the allocation of the funds’ brokerage to ensure that the principle of “best price and execution” remains paramount in the portfolio trading process.

The Trustees’ annual review of your fund’s management contract and administrative services contract also included the review of your fund’s custodian and investor servicing agreements with Putnam Fiduciary Trust Company, which provide benefits to affiliates of Putnam Management.

Comparison of retail and institutional fee schedules

The information examined by the Trustees as part of their annual contract review has included for many years information regarding fees charged by Putnam Management and its affiliates to institutional clients such as defined benefit pension plans, college endowments, etc. This information included comparison of such fees with fees charged to the funds, as well as a detailed assessment of the differences in the services provided to these two types of clients. The Trustees observed, in this regard, that the differences in fee rates between institutional clients and the mutual funds are by no means uniform when examined by individual asset sectors, suggesting that differences in the pricing of investment management services to these types of clients reflect to a substantial degree historical competitive forces operating in separate market places. The Trustees considered the fact that fee rates across all asset sectors are higher on average for mutual funds than for institutional clients, as well as the differences between the

22


services that Putnam Management provides to the Putnam funds and those that it provides to institutional clients of the firm, but have not relied on such comparisons to any significant extent in concluding that the management fees paid by your fund are reasonable.

Approval of amended and restated management contract in July 2005

In July 2005, the Trustees, including the Independent Trustees of your fund, approved an amendment to your fund’s management contract to take into account investment leverage in calculating management fees. The Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, have concluded that it would be in the best interest of your fund and its common shareholders to compensate Putnam Management on the basis of its “average weekly assets,” rather than its net assets. “Average weekly assets” is defined as the difference (as measured on a weekly basis) between the fund’s total assets (including assets attributable to leverage for investment purposes) and its total liabilities (excluding liabilities attributable to leverage for investment purposes). This formulation effectively allows for Putnam Management to receive management fees on leveraged assets. As a fundamental investment restriction prohibits the fund from issuing preferred shares, for all practical purposes the only form of investment leverage available would be borrowing. In the course of their evaluation, the Trustees considered the benefit to your fund from the additional investment management services that Putnam Management would perform in connection with a leveraged investment strategy, as well as the amount of compensation Putnam Management would receive under the proposed fee structure.

The Trustees noted that the amendment would align the fee arrangements for your fund more closely with those of other closed-end Putnam funds that currently engage in leverage for investment purposes. Furthermore, the Trustees were advised by Putnam Management that it is a customary and widespread practice in the closed-end fund industry to structure leveraged products in a manner that compensates advisors for their management of the assets acquired through leverage.

In evaluating the incentives and potential conflicts of interest created by an average weekly assets-based fee, the Trustees considered that the asset coverage restrictions under the 1940 Act, as well as other legal requirements, limit the extent to which a manager can expose a fund to additional risk through leverage. Furthermore, the Trustees considered the advantages of a management fee reduction mechanism that is included in the amended contract, which reduces the management fee dollar for dollar (subject to a specified maximum reduction) where the costs of carrying investment leverage outweigh the benefits (in terms of net income and short-term capital gains) to common shareholders from managing additional investment assets. In the event that your fund actually engages in leverage, the Trustees will have the opportunity, through regular reports from Putnam Management prepared in connection with the fee reduction mechanism described above, to continue monitoring the conflict of interest between Putnam Management and your fund.

23


Shareholders of your fund approved the amended and restated management contract at a meeting on December 6, 2005 (which was an adjournment of the fund’s annual meeting convened on October 28, 2005).

The Trustees also approved conforming changes to the sub-management contract between Putnam Management and PIL with respect to your fund, to provide for PIL’s fee to be calculated on the basis of the fund’s average weekly assets. The fee paid under the sub-management contract is paid by Putnam Management and not by your fund. Under the circumstances, the changes to the sub-management contract did not require shareholder approval.

24


Other information
for shareholders

Important notice regarding share repurchase program

In October 2005, the Trustees of your fund authorized Putnam Investments to implement a repurchase program on behalf of your fund, which would allow your fund to repurchase up to 5% of its outstanding shares over the 12 months following the announcement.

Notice regarding 2006 annual shareholder meeting

The 2006 annual meeting of shareholders of your fund is currently expected to be held in June 2006, rather than in October, as was stated in the proxy statement for the 2005 annual meeting. Accordingly, shareholder proposals to be included in the proxy statement for the 2006 meeting must be received by your fund on or before February 28, 2006. Shareholders who wish to make a proposal at the 2006 annual meeting -- other than one that will be included in the fund’s proxy materials -- should notify the fund no later than April 26, 2006. Shareholders who wish to propose one or more nominees for election as Trustees, or to make a proposal fixing the number of Trustees, at the 2006 annual meeting must provide written notice to the fund (including all required information) so that such notice is received in good order by the fund no earlier than April 15, 2006, and no later than May 15, 2006. Notices of any such proposals should be addressed to the Clerk of your fund at One Post Office Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02109.

Important notice regarding delivery of shareholder documents

In accordance with SEC regulations, Putnam sends a single copy of annual and semiannual shareholder reports, prospectuses, and proxy statements to Putnam shareholders who share the same address. If you prefer to receive your own copy of these documents, please call Putnam at 1-800-225-1581, and Putnam will begin sending individual copies within 30 days.

25


Proxy voting

Putnam is committed to managing our mutual funds in the best interests of our shareholders. The Putnam funds’ proxy voting guidelines and procedures, as well as information regarding how your fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the 12-month period ended June 30, 2005, are available on the Putnam Individual Investor Web site, www.putnam.com/individual, and on the SEC’s Web site, www.sec.gov. If you have questions about finding forms on the SEC’s Web site, you may call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. You may also obtain the Putnam funds’ proxy voting guidelines and procedures at no charge by calling Putnam’s Shareholder Services at 1-800-225-1581.

Fund portfolio holdings

The fund will file a complete schedule of its portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. Shareholders may obtain the fund’s Forms N-Q on the SEC’s Web site at www.sec.gov. In addition, the fund’s Forms N-Q may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C. You may call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for information about the SEC’s Web site or the operation of the public reference room.

26


Financial statements

A guide to financial statements

These sections of the report, as well as the accompanying Notes, constitute the fund’s financial statements.

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

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

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

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

Financial highlights provide an overview of the fund’s investment results, per-share distributions, expense ratios, net investment income ratios, and portfolio turnover in one summary table, reflecting the five most recent reporting periods. In a semiannual report, the highlight table also includes the current reporting period. For open-end funds, a separate table is provided for each share class.

27


The fund’s portfolio 11/30/05 (Unaudited)         

 
 
 
CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (90.1%)*         

    Principal amount    Value 
 
Advertising and Marketing Services (0.3%)         
Affinion Group, Inc. 144A company guaranty 10 1/8s, 2013  $  140,000  $  132,650 
Lamar Media Corp. company guaranty 7 1/4s, 2013    100,000    103,000 
        235,650 

 
Automotive (3.8%)         
Dana Corp. notes 10 1/8s, 2010    30,000    27,300 
Dana Corp. notes 9s, 2011    165,000    135,300 
Dura Operating Corp. company guaranty Ser. B, 8 5/8s,2012    93,000    77,190 
Ford Motor Co. notes 7.45s, 2031    255,000    179,775 
Ford Motor Credit Corp. bonds 7 3/8s, 2011    270,000    245,309 
Ford Motor Credit Corp. notes 7 7/8s, 2010    550,000    515,461 
Ford Motor Credit Corp. notes 7 3/8s, 2009    75,000    68,942 
General Motors Acceptance Corp. bonds 8s, 2031    545,000    534,443 
General Motors Acceptance Corp. notes 5 1/8s, 2008    100,000    89,656 
Meritor Automotive, Inc. notes 6.8s, 2009    115,000    105,225 
Tenneco Automotive, Inc. company guaranty 8 5/8s, 2014    100,000    93,375 
Tenneco Automotive, Inc. sec. notes Ser. B, 10 1/4s, 2013    210,000    229,425 
TRW Automotive, Inc. sr. notes 9 3/8s, 2013    90,000    96,975 
TRW Automotive, Inc. sr. sub. notes 11s, 2013    145,000    162,038 
        2,560,414 

 
Basic Materials (10.2%)         
AK Steel Corp. company guaranty 7 7/8s, 2009    120,000    114,600 
Almatis Investment Holdings S.a.r.l. sr. notes 11s,         
2013 (Luxembourg) ‡‡    179,869    192,910 
ALROSA Finance SA 144A company guaranty 8 7/8s,         
2014 (Luxembourg)    125,000    143,438 
BCP Crystal US Holdings Corp. sr. sub. notes 9 5/8s, 2014    130,000    144,138 
Century Aluminum Co. company guaranty 7 1/2s, 2014    60,000    57,900 
Chaparral Steel Co. 144A sr. unsecd. notes 10s, 2013    210,000    223,125 
Chesapeake Corp. sr. sub. notes 7s, 2014  EUR  185,000    213,389 
Cognis Holding GmbH & Co. 144A         
sr. notes 9 1/2s, 2014 (Germany)  EUR  210,000    265,867 
Compass Minerals Group, Inc. company guaranty 10s, 2011  $  130,000    140,400 
Compass Minerals International, Inc. sr. disc.         
notes stepped-coupon Ser. B, zero % (12s, 6/1/08),2013 ††    50,000    43,250 
Compass Minerals International, Inc. sr. notes stepped-coupon         
zero % (12 3/4s, 12/15/07), 2012 ††    235,000    209,150 
Crystal US Holdings, LLC sr. disc. notes stepped-coupon         
Ser. A, zero % (10s, 10/1/09), 2014 ††    80,000    56,800 
Equistar Chemicals, LP/Equistar Funding Corp. company         
guaranty 10 1/8s, 2008    290,000    316,100 
Georgia-Pacific Corp. company guaranty 9 3/8s, 2013    130,000    145,763 
Georgia-Pacific Corp. debs. 9 1/2s, 2011    120,000    127,950 
Gerdau Ameristeel Corp. sr. notes 10 3/8s, 2011 (Canada)    175,000    192,500 
Gibraltar Industries, Inc. 144A sr. sub. notes 8s, 2015    75,000    75,563 

28


CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (90.1%)* continued           

    Principal amount    Value 
 
Basic Materials continued           
Hercules, Inc. company guaranty 6 3/4s, 2029    $  140,000  $  135,625 
Huntsman Advanced Materials, LLC sec. FRN 11.82s, 2008      8,000    8,400 
Huntsman Advanced Materials, LLC sec. notes 11s, 2010      40,000    45,700 
Huntsman, LLC company guaranty 11 5/8s, 2010      78,000    88,628 
Huntsman, LLC company guaranty 11 1/2s, 2012      40,000    45,500 
Innophos, Inc. 144A sr. sub. notes 9 5/8s, 2014      325,000    326,625 
Ispat Inland ULC sec. notes 9 3/4s, 2014      230,000    259,325 
Jefferson Smurfit Corp. company guaranty 8 1/4s, 2012      5,000    4,850 
Jefferson Smurfit Corp. company guaranty 7 1/2s, 2013      10,000    9,225 
JSG Holding PLC 144A sr. notes 11 1/2s, 2015 (Ireland) ‡‡  EUR    107,810    114,378 
Lyondell Chemical Co. bonds 11 1/8s, 2012    $ 10,000    11,250 
Lyondell Chemical Co. company guaranty 10 1/2s, 2013      130,000    147,713 
Lyondell Chemical Co. company guaranty 9 1/2s, 2008      100,000    104,750 
Lyondell Chemical Co. notes Ser. A, 9 5/8s, 2007      50,000    52,375 
MDP Acquisitions PLC sr. notes 9 5/8s, 2012 (Ireland)      245,000    242,550 
MDP Acquisitions PLC sr. notes Ser. EUR,           
10 1/8s, 2012 (Ireland)  EUR    5,000    6,289 
Metals USA, Inc. 144A sec. notes 11 1/8s, 2015    $  90,000    92,025 
Nalco Co. sr. sub. notes 9s, 2013  EUR    65,000    83,020 
Nalco Co. sr. sub. notes 8 7/8s, 2013    $  190,000    197,125 
Nell AF S.a.r.l. 144A sr. notes 8 3/8s, 2015 (Luxembourg)      105,000    102,900 
NewPage Corp. sec. notes 10s, 2012      120,000    118,200 
Norske Skog Canada, Ltd. sr. notes 7 3/8s, 2014 (Canada)      75,000    67,875 
Novelis, Inc. 144A sr. notes 7 1/2s, 2015      460,000    430,100 
PCI Chemicals Canada sec. sr. notes 10s, 2008 (Canada)      31,547    33,085 
PQ Corp. 144A company guaranty 7 1/2s, 2013      45,000    41,400 
Pregis Corp. 144A company guaranty 12 3/8s, 2013      140,000    136,500 
Rockwood Specialties Group, Inc. company           
guaranty 7 5/8s, 2014      235,000    284,775 
SGL Carbon Luxembourg SA 144A           
sr. notes 8 1/2s, 2012 (Luxembourg)  EUR    50,000    64,451 
Steel Dynamics, Inc. company guaranty 9 1/2s, 2009    $  110,000    115,913 
Sterling Chemicals, Inc. sec. notes 10s, 2007 ‡‡      27,275    26,184 
Stone Container Corp. sr. notes 9 3/4s, 2011      70,000    71,400 
Stone Container Corp. sr. notes 8 3/8s, 2012      140,000    136,500 
Stone Container Finance company guaranty 7 3/8s,           
2014 (Canada)      215,000    196,188 
Tembec Industries, Inc. company guaranty 8 1/2s,           
2011 (Canada)      18,000    10,800 
Tembec Industries, Inc. company guaranty 7 3/4s,           
2012 (Canada)      25,000    14,750 
Ucar Finance, Inc. company guaranty 10 1/4s, 2012      90,000    94,950 
United States Steel Corp. sr. notes 9 3/4s, 2010      214,000    232,458 
Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp. sr. notes 6s, 2010 ‡‡      7,588    6,070 
Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp. sr. notes 5s, 2011 ‡‡      14,328    11,642 
WHX Corp. sr. notes 10 1/2s, 2005 (In default) (F) † ****      40,000    4 
          6,834,341 

29


CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (90.1%)* continued         

  Principal amount    Value 
 
Beverage (0.1%)         
Constellation Brands, Inc. company guaranty Ser. B, 8s, 2008  $  45,000  $  47,025 
Constellation Brands, Inc. sr. sub. notes Ser. B, 8 1/8s, 2012    45,000    46,800 
        93,825 

 
Broadcasting (5.0%)         
British Sky Broadcasting PLC company guaranty 6 7/8s,         
2009 (United Kingdom)    210,000    219,793 
DirecTV Holdings, LLC company guaranty 6 3/8s, 2015    520,000    510,250 
DirecTV Holdings, LLC sr. notes 8 3/8s, 2013    194,000    210,490 
Diva Systems Corp. sr. disc. notes Ser. B, 12 5/8s,         
2008 (In default) †    440,000    550 
Echostar DBS Corp. company guaranty 6 5/8s, 2014    165,000    159,225 
Echostar DBS Corp. sr. notes 6 3/8s, 2011    380,000    367,612 
Emmis Communications Corp. sr. notes FRN 10.364s, 2012    95,000    95,119 
Granite Broadcasting Corp. sec. notes 9 3/4s, 2010    255,000    237,150 
Gray Television, Inc. company guaranty 9 1/4s, 2011    105,000    112,481 
LIN Television Corp. sr. sub. notes 6 1/2s, 2013    125,000    119,688 
LIN Television Corp. 144A sr. sub. notes 6 1/2s, 2013    155,000    148,413 
Paxson Communications Corp. company guaranty 10 3/4s, 2008    320,000    328,800 
Rainbow National Services, LLC 144A sr. notes 8 3/4s, 2012    155,000    163,525 
Rainbow National Services, LLC 144A sr. sub. debs. 10 3/8s, 2014    150,000    163,500 
Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. company guaranty 8 3/4s, 2011    60,000    63,450 
Sirius Satellite Radio, Inc. 144A sr. notes 9 5/8s, 2013    140,000    136,850 
Young Broadcasting, Inc. company guaranty 10s, 2011    301,000    282,940 
Young Broadcasting, Inc. sr. sub. notes 8 3/4s, 2014    65,000    57,038 
        3,376,874 

 
Building Materials (1.6%)         
Associated Materials, Inc. company guaranty 9 3/4s, 2012    100,000    94,000 
Building Materials Corp. company guaranty 8s, 2008    60,000    60,225 
Goodman Global Holding Co., Inc. 144A         
sr. notes 6.41s, 2012    90,000    89,100 
Goodman Global Holding Co., Inc. 144A         
sr. sub. notes 7 7/8s, 2012    130,000    122,200 
NTK Holdings, Inc. sr. disc. notes zero %, 2014    105,000    63,525 
Owens Corning bonds 7 1/2s, 2018 (In default) †    5,000    4,125 
Owens Corning notes 7 1/2s, 2005 (In default) † ****    120,000    97,500 
Texas Industries, Inc. 144A sr. notes 7 1/4s, 2013    225,000    232,875 
THL Buildco, Inc. (Nortek Holdings, Inc.)         
sr. sub. notes 8 1/2s, 2014    350,000    336,000 
        1,099,550 

 
Cable Television (2.9%)         
Adelphia Communications Corp. sr. notes 10 7/8s,         
2010 (In default) †    20,000    11,900 
Adelphia Communications Corp. sr. notes 10 1/4s,         
2011 (In default) †    90,000    57,600 
Adelphia Communications Corp. sr. notes 10 1/4s,         
2006 (In default) †    5,000    2,975 

30


CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (90.1%)* continued           

    Principal amount    Value 
 
Cable Television continued           
Adelphia Communications Corp. sr. notes 9 3/8s,           
2009 (In default) †    $  5,000  $  3,075 
Adelphia Communications Corp. sr. notes Ser. B,           
9 7/8s, 2007 (In default) †      40,000    24,200 
Atlantic Broadband Finance, LLC company           
guaranty 9 3/8s, 2014      255,000    230,775 
Cablevision Systems Corp. sr. notes Ser. B, 8s, 2012      195,000    186,225 
CCH I Holdings, LLC 144A company guaranty 11 1/8s, 2014      119,000    75,565 
CCH I Holdings, LLC 144A company guaranty 10s, 2014      87,000    53,505 
CCH I Holdings, LLC 144A company guaranty           
stepped-coupon zero % (12 1/8s, 1/15/07), 2015 ††      35,000    18,025 
CCH I Holdings, LLC 144A company guaranty           
stepped-coupon zero % (11 3/4s, 5/15/06), 2014 ††      5,000    3,025 
CCH I, LLC 144A secd. notes 11s, 2015      582,000    499,065 
CSC Holdings, Inc. debs. 7 5/8s, 2018      45,000    42,750 
CSC Holdings, Inc. sr. notes Ser. B, 7 5/8s, 2011      80,000    79,600 
CSC Holdings, Inc. 144A sr. notes 6 3/4s, 2012      155,000    147,250 
Kabel Deutscheland GmbH 144A company           
guaranty 10 5/8s, 2014 (Germany)      270,000    290,250 
Quebecor Media, Inc. sr. disc. notes stepped-coupon           
zero % (13 3/4s, 7/15/06), 2011 (Canada) ††      30,000    30,750 
Quebecor Media, Inc. sr. notes 11 1/8s, 2011 (Canada)      155,000    167,788 
          1,924,323 

 
Capital Goods (9.3%)           
AEP Industries, Inc. sr. unsub. 7 7/8s, 2013      65,000    63,284 
Aero Invest 1 SA 144A company guaranty FRN           
10.634s, 2015 (Luxembourg) ‡‡  EUR    285,294    340,508 
Allied Waste North America, Inc. company           
guaranty Ser. B, 8 1/2s, 2008    $  240,000    252,000 
Amsted Industries, Inc. 144A sr. notes 10 1/4s, 2011      320,000    346,000 
Argo-Tech Corp. company guaranty 9 1/4s, 2011      125,000    129,063 
BE Aerospace, Inc. sr. notes 8 1/2s, 2010      240,000    256,800 
Blount, Inc. sr. sub. notes 8 7/8s, 2012      125,000    129,688 
Bombardier, Inc. 144A notes 6 3/4s, 2012 (Canada)      100,000    92,000 
Browning-Ferris Industries, Inc. debs. 7.4s, 2035      80,000    70,400 
Browning-Ferris Industries, Inc. sr. notes 6 3/8s, 2008      145,000    144,456 
Crown Americas, LLC/Crown Americas Capital Corp. 144A           
sr. notes 7 5/8s, 2013      255,000    261,375 
Decrane Aircraft Holdings Co. company guaranty           
zero %, 2008 (acquired 7/23/04, cost $156,000) ‡      476,000    228,480 
Earle M. Jorgensen Co. sec. notes 9 3/4s, 2012      250,000    266,250 
Hexcel Corp. sr. sub. notes 6 3/4s, 2015      45,000    43,425 
Invensys PLC notes 9 7/8s, 2011 (United Kingdom)      15,000    14,700 
Jacuzzi Brands, Inc. sec. notes 9 5/8s, 2010      30,000    31,950 
L-3 Communications Corp. company guaranty 6 1/8s, 2013      325,000    317,688 
L-3 Communications Corp. 144A sr. sub. notes 6 3/8s, 2015      165,000    162,525 
Legrand SA debs. 8 1/2s, 2025 (France)      310,000    372,000 

31


CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (90.1%)* continued           

    Principal amount    Value 
 
Capital Goods continued           
Manitowoc Co., Inc. (The) company guaranty 10 1/2s, 2012    $  91,000  $  101,238 
Manitowoc Co., Inc. (The) company guaranty 10 3/8s, 2011  EUR    25,000    31,842 
Manitowoc Co., Inc. (The) sr. notes 7 1/8s, 2013    $  290,000    298,700 
Milacron Escrow Corp. sec. notes 11 1/2s, 2011      240,000    206,400 
Mueller Group, Inc. sr. sub. notes 10s, 2012      175,000    184,625 
Mueller Holdings, Inc. disc. notes stepped-coupon           
zero % (14 3/4s, 4/15/09), 2014 ††      105,000    79,013 
Owens-Brockway Glass company guaranty 8 1/4s, 2013      180,000    185,850 
Owens-Brockway Glass company guaranty 7 3/4s, 2011      40,000    41,600 
Owens-Brockway Glass sr. sec. notes 8 3/4s, 2012      155,000    167,400 
Owens-Illinois, Inc. debs. 7.8s, 2018      100,000    98,500 
Polypore, Inc. sr. sub. notes 8 3/4s, 2012      110,000    98,450 
Ray Acquisition sr. notes 9 3/8s, 2015 (France)  EUR    210,000    257,079 
Siebe PLC 144A sr. unsub. 6 1/2s, 2010 (United Kingdom)    $  210,000    180,600 
Solo Cup Co. sr. sub. notes 8 1/2s, 2014      130,000    117,813 
TD Funding Corp. company guaranty 8 3/8s, 2011      145,000    150,075 
Tekni-Plex, Inc. 144A sec. notes 10 7/8s, 2012      240,000    261,600 
Terex Corp. company guaranty 9 1/4s, 2011      35,000    37,450 
Terex Corp. company guaranty 7 3/8s, 2014      18,000    17,955 
Terex Corp. company guaranty Ser. B, 10 3/8s, 2011      190,000    202,588 
          6,241,370 

 
Communication Services (5.8%)           
Alamosa Delaware, Inc. company guaranty 12s, 2009      50,000    54,875 
Alamosa Delaware, Inc. company guaranty 11s, 2010      60,000    68,100 
Alamosa Delaware, Inc. sr. notes 8 1/2s, 2012      35,000    38,150 
American Cellular Corp. company guaranty 9 1/2s, 2009      35,000    37,975 
American Cellular Corp. sr. notes Ser. B, 10s, 2011      320,000    346,400 
American Tower Corp. sr. notes 7 1/2s, 2012      65,000    67,763 
American Towers, Inc. company guaranty 7 1/4s, 2011      125,000    130,313 
Asia Global Crossing, Ltd. sr. notes 13 3/8s, 2010           
(Bermuda) (In default) †      96,207    4,089 
Centennial Cellular Operating Co., LLC company           
guaranty 10 1/8s, 2013      75,000    83,625 
Cincinnati Bell Telephone Co. company guaranty 6.3s, 2028      25,000    22,500 
Cincinnati Bell, Inc. company guaranty 7s, 2015      60,000    57,900 
Cincinnati Bell, Inc. sr. sub. notes 8 3/8s, 2014      55,000    53,900 
Cincinnati Bell, Inc. sr. sub. notes 7 1/4s, 2023      70,000    67,025 
Citizens Communications Co. notes 9 1/4s, 2011      185,000    202,113 
Citizens Communications Co. sr. notes 6 1/4s, 2013      160,000    154,000 
Dobson Communications Corp. 144A sr. notes FRN 8.4s, 2012    60,000    59,100 
Eircom Funding company guaranty Ser. US$, 8 1/4s,           
2013 (Ireland)      45,000    48,713 
Globix Corp. company guaranty 11s, 2008 ‡‡      23,008    21,800 
Horizon PCS, Inc. company guaranty 11 3/8s, 2012      30,000    34,575 
Inmarsat Finance PLC company guaranty 7 5/8s, 2012           
(United Kingdom)      114,000    115,995 
Inmarsat Finance PLC company guaranty stepped-coupon           
zero % (10 3/8s, 10/15/08), 2012 (United Kingdom) ††      175,000    142,625 

32


CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (90.1%)* continued       

  Principal amount    Value 
 
Communication Services continued       
Intelsat Bermuda, Ltd. 144A sr. notes 8 5/8s, 2015 (Bermuda)                                                                                        $ 160,000  $  160,400 
Intelsat Bermuda, Ltd. 144A sr. notes 8 1/4s, 2013 (Bermuda)  75,000    75,000 
iPCS, Inc. sr. notes 11 1/2s, 2012  55,000    63,388 
IWO Holdings, Inc. sec. FRN 7.9s, 2012  20,000    20,700 
Madison River Capital Corp. sr. notes 13 1/4s, 2010  51,000    54,315 
Nextel Communications, Inc. sr. notes Ser. E, 6 7/8s, 2013  5,000    5,201 
Nextel Partners, Inc. sr. notes 8 1/8s, 2011  225,000    239,625 
Qwest Communications International, Inc. company       
guaranty 8s, 2014  410,000    414,100 
Qwest Corp. notes 8 7/8s, 2012  330,000    370,425 
Qwest Corp. 144A sr. notes 7 5/8s, 2015  115,000    122,331 
Rogers Cantel, Inc. debs. 9 3/4s, 2016 (Canada)  50,000    60,063 
Rogers Wireless Communications, Inc. sec.       
notes 9 5/8s, 2011 (Canada)  40,000    46,000 
Rural Cellular Corp. sr. notes 9 7/8s, 2010  120,000    125,550 
Rural Cellular Corp. sr. sub. notes 9 3/4s, 2010  30,000    30,000 
Rural Cellular Corp. 144A sr. sub. notes FRN 10.041s, 2012  40,000    39,600 
SBA Communications Corp. sr. notes 8 1/2s, 2012  36,000    39,960 
SBA Telecommunications, Inc./SBA Communications Corp.       
sr. disc. notes stepped-coupon zero % (9 3/4s,       
12/15/07), 2011 ††  36,000    32,940 
Syniverse Technologies, Inc. 144A       
sr. sub. notes 7 3/4s, 2013  60,000    60,975 
U S West, Inc. debs. 7 1/4s, 2025  55,000    54,588 
Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC/Finance Corp.       
company guaranty 7 3/4s, 2015  60,000    58,800 
      3,885,497 

 
Consumer (0.8%)       
Jostens IH Corp. company guaranty 7 5/8s, 2012  245,000    243,163 
Samsonite Corp. sr. sub. notes 8 7/8s, 2011  260,000    265,850 
      509,013 

 
Consumer Goods (2.0%)       
Church & Dwight Co., Inc. company guaranty 6s, 2012  105,000    103,425 
Elizabeth Arden, Inc. company guaranty 7 3/4s, 2014  120,000    120,300 
Playtex Products, Inc. company guaranty 9 3/8s, 2011  190,000    200,213 
Playtex Products, Inc. sec. notes 8s, 2011  140,000    148,400 
Prestige Brands, Inc. sr. sub. notes 9 1/4s, 2012  259,000    255,115 
Remington Arms Co., Inc. company guaranty 10 1/2s, 2011  125,000    108,750 
Scotts Co. (The) sr. sub. notes 6 5/8s, 2013  45,000    45,450 
Spectrum Brands, Inc. company guaranty 7 3/8s, 2015  335,000    289,775 
Spectrum Brands, Inc. sr. sub. notes 8 1/2s, 2013  55,000    49,844 
      1,321,272 

33


CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (90.1%)* continued       

  Principal amount    Value 
 
Consumer Services (0.6%)       
Brand Services, Inc. company guaranty 12s, 2012                                                                                                                                     $ 350,000  $  367,500 
United Rentals NA, Inc. company guaranty 6 1/2s, 2012  45,000    43,313 
United Rentals NA, Inc. sr. sub. notes 7 3/4s, 2013  18,000    17,325 
      428,138 

 
Energy (7.9%)       
Arch Western Finance, LLC sr. notes 6 3/4s, 2013  270,000    272,700 
Bluewater Finance, Ltd. company guaranty 10 1/4s,       
2012 (Cayman Islands)  70,000    74,725 
Chaparral Energy, Inc. 144A sr. notes 8 1/2s, 2015  110,000    112,200 
CHC Helicopter Corp. sr. sub. notes 7 3/8s, 2014 (Canada)  185,000    186,388 
Chesapeake Energy Corp. company guaranty 7 3/4s, 2015  45,000    47,588 
Chesapeake Energy Corp. sr. notes 7 1/2s, 2013  210,000    221,550 
Chesapeake Energy Corp. sr. notes 7s, 2014  60,000    62,100 
Compton Petroleum Corp. 144A sr. notes 7 5/8s,       
2013 (Canada)  145,000    147,175 
Comstock Resources, Inc. sr. notes 6 7/8s, 2012  95,000    94,050 
Delta Petroleum Corp. company guaranty 7s, 2015  365,000    339,450 
Dresser-Rand Group, Inc. 144A sr. sub. notes 7 5/8s, 2014  22,000    22,495 
Encore Acquisition Co. sr. sub. notes 6 1/4s, 2014  45,000    42,863 
Encore Acquisition Co. sr. sub. notes 6s, 2015  152,000    139,840 
Exco Resources, Inc. company guaranty 7 1/4s, 2011  175,000    177,188 
Forest Oil Corp. company guaranty 7 3/4s, 2014  70,000    73,500 
Forest Oil Corp. sr. notes 8s, 2011  145,000    159,500 
Forest Oil Corp. sr. notes 8s, 2008  35,000    36,750 
Hanover Compressor Co. sr. notes 9s, 2014  70,000    75,950 
Hanover Compressor Co. sr. notes 8 5/8s, 2010  40,000    42,100 
Hanover Compressor Co. sub. notes zero %, 2007  95,000    84,550 
Hanover Equipment Trust sec. notes Ser. B, 8 3/4s, 2011  30,000    31,650 
Harvest Operations Corp. sr. notes 7 7/8s, 2011 (Canada)  275,000    273,625 
Inergy, LP/Inergy Finance Corp. sr. notes 6 7/8s, 2014  275,000    259,875 
KCS Energy, Inc. sr. notes 7 1/8s, 2012  65,000    65,000 
Massey Energy Co. sr. notes 6 5/8s, 2010  260,000    260,975 
Newfield Exploration Co. sr. notes 7 5/8s, 2011  130,000    138,450 
Newfield Exploration Co. sr. sub. notes 6 5/8s, 2014  125,000    126,250 
Pacific Energy Partners/Pacific Energy Finance Corp.       
sr. notes 7 1/8s, 2014  75,000    78,000 
Peabody Energy Corp. sr. notes 5 7/8s, 2016  135,000    130,950 
Petroleum Geo-Services notes 10s, 2010 (Norway)  100,000    113,250 
Plains Exploration & Production Co. sr. notes 7 1/8s, 2014  95,000    97,375 
Plains Exploration & Production Co.       
sr. sub. notes 8 3/4s, 2012  145,000    155,513 
Pogo Producing Co. 144A sr. sub. notes 6 7/8s, 2017  140,000    136,500 
Pride International, Inc. sr. notes 7 3/8s, 2014  185,000    199,338 
Seabulk International, Inc. company guaranty 9 1/2s, 2013  100,000    112,250 
Star Gas Partners, LP/Star Gas Finance Co.       
sr. notes 10 1/4s, 2013  30,000    24,450 
Stone Energy Corp. sr. sub. notes 6 3/4s, 2014  160,000    149,200 
Vintage Petroleum, Inc. sr. notes 8 1/4s, 2012  45,000    48,375 

34


CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (90.1%)* continued         

                   Principal amount   Value 
 
Energy continued         
Vintage Petroleum, Inc. sr. sub. notes 7 7/8s, 2011                         $  25,000  $  26,250 
Whiting Petroleum Corp. 144A sr. sub. notes 7s, 2014    435,000    438,263 
        5,278,201 

 
Entertainment (1.2%)         
AMC Entertainment, Inc. sr. sub. notes 9 7/8s, 2012    45,000    44,213 
AMC Entertainment, Inc. sr. sub. notes 8s, 2014    22,000    19,690 
Cinemark USA, Inc. sr. sub. notes 9s, 2013    100,000    105,250 
Cinemark, Inc. sr. disc. notes stepped-coupon zero %         
(9 3/4s, 3/15/07), 2014 ††    245,000    180,688 
Loews Cineplex Entertainment Corp. company         
guaranty 9s, 2014    135,000    135,169 
Marquee Holdings, Inc. sr. disc. notes stepped-coupon         
zero % (12s, 8/15/09), 2014 ††    170,000    105,400 
Six Flags, Inc. sr. notes 8 7/8s, 2010    105,000    104,213 
Universal City Florida Holding Co. sr. notes 8 3/8s, 2010    55,000    54,175 
Universal City Florida Holding Co. sr. notes FRN 9s, 2010    75,000    75,938 
        824,736 

 
Financial (1.0%)         
Crescent Real Estate Equities, LP notes 7 1/2s, 2007 (R)    55,000    55,550 
E*Trade Finance Corp. sr. notes 8s, 2011    175,000    178,938 
Finova Group, Inc. notes 7 1/2s, 2009    181,830    65,459 
UBS AG/Jersey Branch sr. notes Ser. EMTN, 9.14s, 2008 (Jersey)    85,000    87,231 
Western Financial Bank sub. debs. 9 5/8s, 2012    240,000    268,800 
        655,978 

 
Food (1.8%)         
Archibald Candy Corp. company guaranty 10s,         
2007 (In default) (F) † ‡‡    16,542    864 
Dean Foods Co. sr. notes 6 5/8s, 2009    335,000    340,025 
Del Monte Corp. sr. sub. notes 8 5/8s, 2012    205,000    215,250 
Del Monte Corp. 144A sr. sub. notes 6 3/4s, 2015    80,000    76,400 
Doane Pet Care Co. 144A sr. sub. notes 10 5/8s, 2015    265,000    269,306 
Pinnacle Foods Holding Corp. sr. sub. notes 8 1/4s, 2013    285,000    275,025 
        1,176,870 

 
Gaming & Lottery (3.6%)         
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. company guaranty 10 3/4s, 2009    60,000    63,750 
Boyd Gaming Corp. sr. sub. notes 8 3/4s, 2012    160,000    172,400 
Boyd Gaming Corp. sr. sub. notes 7 3/4s, 2012    30,000    31,425 
Boyd Gaming Corp. sr. sub. notes 6 3/4s, 2014    60,000    59,550 
MGM Mirage, Inc. company guaranty 8 1/2s, 2010    125,000    135,313 
MGM Mirage, Inc. company guaranty 6s, 2009    175,000    173,688 
Mirage Resorts, Inc. debs. 7 1/4s, 2017    40,000    40,800 
Park Place Entertainment Corp. sr. notes 7 1/2s, 2009    155,000    165,850 
Park Place Entertainment Corp. sr. notes 7s, 2013    115,000    122,146 
Park Place Entertainment Corp. sr. sub. notes 8 7/8s, 2008    95,000    102,600 
Penn National Gaming, Inc. sr. sub. notes 8 7/8s, 2010    185,000    193,788 

35


CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (90.1%)* continued         

  Principal amount    Value 
 
Gaming & Lottery continued         
Penn National Gaming, Inc. sr. sub. notes 6 3/4s, 2015  $  50,000  $  48,375 
Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. sr. sub. notes 8 1/4s, 2012    130,000    132,600 
Resorts International Hotel and Casino, Inc. company         
guaranty 11 1/2s, 2009    120,000    132,900 
Scientific Games Corp. company guaranty 6 1/4s, 2012    130,000    128,050 
Station Casinos, Inc. sr. notes 6s, 2012    90,000    89,775 
Station Casinos, Inc. sr. sub. notes 6 7/8s, 2016    90,000    91,350 
Trump Entertainment Resorts, Inc. sec. notes 8 1/2s, 2015    260,000    252,200 
Wynn Las Vegas, LLC/Wynn Las Vegas Capital Corp.         
1st mtge. 6 5/8s, 2014    280,000    270,550 
        2,407,110 

 
Health Care (5.2%)         
Community Health Systems, Inc. sr. sub. notes 6 1/2s, 2012    310,000    305,738 
DaVita, Inc. company guaranty 7 1/4s, 2015    85,000    86,806 
DaVita, Inc. company guaranty 6 5/8s, 2013    45,000    46,125 
Elan Finance PLC/Elan Finance Corp, company         
guaranty 7 3/4s, 2011 (Ireland)    150,000    137,625 
HCA, Inc. debs. 7.19s, 2015    60,000    62,557 
HCA, Inc. notes 8.36s, 2024    60,000    63,837 
HCA, Inc. notes 7.69s, 2025    70,000    70,976 
HCA, Inc. notes 7s, 2007    10,000    10,205 
HCA, Inc. notes 6 3/8s, 2015    55,000    54,647 
HCA, Inc. notes 5 3/4s, 2014    55,000    53,625 
Healthsouth Corp. notes 7 5/8s, 2012    260,000    241,150 
Healthsouth Corp. sr. sub. notes 10 3/4s, 2008    45,000    43,200 
MedQuest, Inc. company guaranty Ser. B, 11 7/8s, 2012    40,000    40,100 
MQ Associates, Inc. sr. disc. notes stepped-coupon         
zero % (12 1/4s, 8/15/08), 2012 ††    180,000    100,800 
Omnicare, Inc. sr. sub. notes 6 1/8s, 2013    120,000    115,200 
Psychiatric Solutions, Inc. company guaranty 7 3/4s, 2015    270,000    279,450 
Service Corp. International debs. 7 7/8s, 2013    40,000    42,000 
Service Corp. International notes 6 1/2s, 2008    20,000    20,250 
Service Corp. International notes Ser. *, 7.7s, 2009    50,000    52,625 
Service Corp. International 144A sr. notes 7s, 2017    50,000    49,438 
Service Corp. International 144A sr. notes 6 3/4s, 2016    140,000    137,200 
Stewart Enterprises, Inc. 144A sr. notes 7 1/4s, 2013    260,000    248,950 
Tenet Healthcare Corp. notes 7 3/8s, 2013    175,000    159,250 
Tenet Healthcare Corp. sr. notes 9 7/8s, 2014    175,000    175,438 
Triad Hospitals, Inc. sr. notes 7s, 2012    130,000    131,625 
Triad Hospitals, Inc. sr. sub. notes 7s, 2013    225,000    225,000 
Universal Hospital Services, Inc. sr. notes 10 1/8s, 2011 (Canada)    85,000    87,125 
Vanguard Health Holding Co. II, LLC sr. sub. notes 9s, 2014    250,000    263,750 
Ventas Realty, LP/Capital Corp. company guaranty 9s, 2012 (R)    55,000    62,150 
Ventas Realty, LP/Capital Corp. company guaranty 6 3/4s, 2010 (R)    55,000    55,825 
Ventas Realty, LP/Capital Corp. sr. notes 6 5/8s, 2014 (R)    40,000    40,500 
        3,463,167 

36


CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (90.1%)* continued         

  Principal amount    Value 
 
Homebuilding (2.2%)         
Beazer Homes USA, Inc. company guaranty 8 5/8s, 2011  $  70,000  $  72,538 
D.R. Horton, Inc. company guaranty 8s, 2009    20,000    21,332 
D.R. Horton, Inc. sr. notes 7 7/8s, 2011    120,000    130,050 
D.R. Horton, Inc. sr. notes 6 7/8s, 2013    25,000    25,875 
D.R. Horton, Inc. sr. notes 5 7/8s, 2013    50,000    47,826 
K. Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. company guaranty 8 7/8s, 2012    90,000    92,475 
K. Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. company         
guaranty 6 3/8s, 2014    70,000    64,477 
K. Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. sr. notes 6 1/2s, 2014    50,000    46,715 
Meritage Homes Corp. company guaranty 6 1/4s, 2015    60,000    54,300 
Schuler Homes, Inc. company guaranty 10 1/2s, 2011    70,000    75,425 
Standard Pacific Corp. sr. notes 7s, 2015    285,000    260,775 
Standard Pacific Corp. sr. notes 6 7/8s, 2011    10,000    9,575 
Technical Olympic USA, Inc. company guaranty 10 3/8s, 2012    55,000    54,175 
Technical Olympic USA, Inc. sr. sub. notes 7 1/2s, 2015    275,000    229,625 
WCI Communities, Inc. company guaranty 10 5/8s, 2011    30,000    31,650 
WCI Communities, Inc. company guaranty 9 1/8s, 2012    270,000    270,000 
        1,486,813 

 
Household Furniture and Appliances (0.3%)         
Sealy Mattress Co. sr. sub. notes 8 1/4s, 2014    200,000    204,000 

 
Lodging/Tourism (1.0%)         
FelCor Lodging, LP company guaranty 9s, 2008 (R)    55,000    60,225 
HMH Properties, Inc. company guaranty Ser. B, 7 7/8s, 2008 (R)    33,000    33,495 
Host Marriott, LP company guaranty Ser. G, 9 1/4s, 2007 (R)    60,000    63,600 
Host Marriott, LP sr. notes Ser. M, 7s, 2012 (R)    165,000    170,156 
MeriStar Hospitality Corp. company guaranty 9 1/8s, 2011 (R)    95,000    105,450 
MeriStar Hospitality Corp. company guaranty 9s, 2008 (R)    65,000    67,438 
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. company         
guaranty 7 3/8s, 2007    80,000    82,100 
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. debs. 7 3/8s, 2015    95,000    101,888 
        684,352 

 
Media (0.5%)         
Affinity Group, Inc. sr. sub. notes 9s, 2012    270,000    269,325 
Warner Music Group sr. sub. notes 7 3/8s, 2014    100,000    97,000 
        366,325 

 
Other (2.0%)         
Lehman Brothers HY 144A sec. FRN Ser. 2005*1, 7.651s,         
2015 (TRAINS (Targeted Return Index))    1,335,366    1,360,404 

 
Publishing (4.8%)         
American Media, Inc. company guaranty Ser. B, 10 1/4s, 2009    250,000    230,000 
CanWest Media, Inc. company guaranty 8s, 2012 (Canada)    382,086    391,638 
Cenveo Corp, sr. sub. notes 7 7/8s, 2013    180,000    172,800 
Dex Media West, LLC/Dex Media Finance Co.         
sr. notes Ser. B, 8 1/2s, 2010    155,000    163,525 

37


CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (90.1%)* continued         

  Principal amount    Value 
 
Publishing continued         
Dex Media, Inc. disc. notes stepped-coupon zero %         
(9s, 11/15/08), 2013 ††  $  85,000  $  67,363 
Dex Media, Inc. notes 8s, 2013    160,000    163,200 
Houghton Mifflin Co. sr. sub. notes 9 7/8s, 2013    315,000    334,688 
Mail-Well I Corp. company guaranty 9 5/8s, 2012    135,000    145,463 
MediaNews Group, Inc. sr. sub. notes 6 7/8s, 2013    175,000    170,625 
PRIMEDIA, Inc. company guaranty 8 7/8s, 2011    130,000    124,475 
PRIMEDIA, Inc. sr. notes 8s, 2013    190,000    167,675 
R.H. Donnelley Corp. sr. notes 6 7/8s, 2013    80,000    73,200 
R.H. Donnelley Finance Corp. I 144A company         
guaranty 8 7/8s, 2010    170,000    182,750 
R.H. Donnelley Finance Corp. I 144A         
sr. sub. notes 10 7/8s, 2012    85,000    96,263 
R.H. Donnelley, Inc. company guaranty 8 7/8s, 2010    20,000    21,500 
Reader's Digest Association, Inc. (The)         
sr. notes 6 1/2s, 2011    335,000    326,625 
Vertis, Inc. company guaranty Ser. B, 10 7/8s, 2009    340,000    330,650 
Vertis, Inc. 144A sub. notes 13 1/2s, 2009    120,000    93,600 
        3,256,040 

 
Restaurants (0.4%)         
Domino's, Inc. sr. sub. notes 8 1/4s, 2011    80,000    82,800 
Sbarro, Inc. company guaranty 11s, 2009    155,000    153,450 
        236,250 

 
Retail (2.7%)         
Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. sr. sub. notes 8s, 2014    80,000    75,000 
Autonation, Inc. company guaranty 9s, 2008    160,000    171,600 
Bear Creek Corp. 144A sr. notes 9s, 2013    60,000    59,100 
GSC Holdings Corp. 144A company guaranty 8s, 2012    140,000    135,100 
JC Penney Co., Inc. debs. 7.95s, 2017    155,000    176,841 
JC Penney Co., Inc. debs. 7 1/8s, 2023    90,000    96,678 
JC Penney Co., Inc. notes 9s, 2012    20,000    23,325 
JC Penney Co., Inc. notes 8s, 2010    5,000    5,441 
Jean Coutu Group, Inc. sr. notes 7 5/8s, 2012 (Canada)    115,000    112,700 
Jean Coutu Group, Inc. sr. sub. notes 8 1/2s, 2014 (Canada)    55,000    51,013 
Movie Gallery, Inc. sr. unsecd. notes 11s, 2012    135,000    101,925 
Neiman-Marcus Group, Inc. 144A sr. notes 9s, 2015    335,000    340,863 
Rite Aid Corp. company guaranty 9 1/2s, 2011    100,000    103,500 
Rite Aid Corp. company guaranty 7 1/2s, 2015    80,000    74,000 
Rite Aid Corp. debs. 6 7/8s, 2013    5,000    4,000 
Rite Aid Corp. sr. notes 9 1/4s, 2013    75,000    68,063 
United Auto Group, Inc. company guaranty 9 5/8s, 2012    205,000    212,175 
        1,811,324 

 
Technology (4.3%)         
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. sr. notes 7 3/4s, 2012    200,000    201,500 
Amkor Technologies, Inc. sr. notes 7 3/4s, 2013    18,000    15,480 
Celestica, Inc. sr. sub. notes 7 7/8s, 2011 (Canada)    70,000    70,175 

38


CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (90.1%)* continued       

                                       Principal amount     Value 
 
Technology continued       
Celestica, Inc. sr. sub. notes 7 5/8s, 2013 (Canada)                                                                            $ 135,000  $  131,625 
Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. sr. notes Ser. B, 7 1/8s, 2014  160,000    168,800 
Iron Mountain, Inc. company guaranty 8 5/8s, 2013  115,000    120,175 
Iron Mountain, Inc. company guaranty 7 3/4s, 2015  125,000    126,250 
Iron Mountain, Inc. company guaranty 6 5/8s, 2016  295,000    274,350 
Lucent Technologies, Inc. debs. 6 1/2s, 2028  10,000    8,550 
Lucent Technologies, Inc. debs. 6.45s, 2029  175,000    150,938 
New ASAT Finance, Ltd. company guaranty 9 1/4s, 2011       
(Cayman Islands)  65,000    45,013 
SCG Holding Corp. 144A notes zero %, 2011  65,000    65,000 
SunGard Data Systems, Inc. 144A       
sr. sub. notes 10 1/4s, 2015  136,000    137,360 
SunGard Data Systems, Inc. 144A sr. unsecd.       
notes 9 1/8s, 2013  326,000    337,410 
UGS Corp. company guaranty 10s, 2012  280,000    305,200 
Unisys Corp. sr. notes 8s, 2012  145,000    131,225 
Xerox Capital Trust I company guaranty 8s, 2027  130,000    133,250 
Xerox Corp. notes Ser. MTN, 7.2s, 2016  80,000    84,200 
Xerox Corp. sr. notes 7 5/8s, 2013  195,000    205,238 
Xerox Corp. sr. notes 6 7/8s, 2011  180,000    186,525 
      2,898,264 

 
Textiles (0.7%)       
Levi Strauss & Co. sr. notes 12 1/4s, 2012  205,000    229,088 
Levi Strauss & Co. sr. notes 9 3/4s, 2015  190,000    196,650 
Oxford Industries, Inc. sr. notes 8 7/8s, 2011  75,000    76,500 
      502,238 

 
Tire & Rubber (0.5%)       
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (The) notes 8 1/2s, 2007  35,000    36,138 
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (The) notes 7.857s, 2011  180,000    173,700 
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (The) 144A sr. notes 9s, 2015  130,000    127,075 
      336,913 

 
Transportation (1.0%)       
Calair, LLC/Calair Capital Corp. company guaranty 8 1/8s, 2008  170,000    137,275 
Greenbrier Companies, Inc. 144A sr. notes 8 3/8s, 2015  75,000    76,031 
Kansas City Southern Railway Co. company guaranty 9 1/2s, 2008  200,000    216,500 
Kansas City Southern Railway Co. company guaranty 7 1/2s, 2009  30,000    31,050 
Navistar International Corp. company guaranty 6 1/4s, 2012  85,000    76,500 
Navistar International Corp. company guaranty Ser. B, 9 3/8s, 2006  120,000    121,800 
      659,156 

 
Utilities & Power (6.6%)       
AES Corp. (The) sr. notes 8 7/8s, 2011  13,000    14,040 
AES Corp. (The) sr. notes 8 3/4s, 2008  4,000    4,180 
AES Corp. (The) 144A sec. notes 9s, 2015  130,000    142,350 
AES Corp. (The) 144A sec. notes 8 3/4s, 2013  190,000    206,150 
ANR Pipeline Co. debs. 9 5/8s, 2021  135,000    162,053 
CMS Energy Corp. sr. notes 8.9s, 2008  130,000    137,800 

39


CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (90.1%)* continued         

  Principal amount    Value 
 
Utilities & Power continued         
CMS Energy Corp. sr. notes 8 1/2s, 2011  $  40,000  $  43,100 
CMS Energy Corp. sr. notes 7 3/4s, 2010    30,000    31,200 
Colorado Interstate Gas Co. debs. 6.85s, 2037    75,000    76,334 
Colorado Interstate Gas Co. sr. notes 5.95s, 2015    20,000    19,176 
Dynegy Holdings, Inc. 144A sec. notes 10 1/8s, 2013    240,000    268,800 
Dynegy-Roseton Danskamme company guaranty Ser. A,         
7.27s, 2010    65,000    65,325 
Dynegy-Roseton Danskamme company guaranty Ser. B,         
7.67s, 2016    100,000    100,250 
El Paso CGP Co. notes 7 3/4s, 2010    40,000    40,400 
El Paso Corp. sr. notes 8.05s, 2030    95,000    95,000 
El Paso Corp. sr. notes 7 3/8s, 2012    65,000    64,350 
El Paso Corp. sr. notes Ser. MTN, 7.8s, 2031    65,000    63,863 
El Paso Natural Gas Co. debs. 8 5/8s, 2022    30,000    33,416 
El Paso Production Holding Co. company guaranty 7 3/4s, 2013    275,000    281,875 
Ferrellgas Partners, LP/Ferrellgas Partners Finance         
sr. notes 6 3/4s, 2014    115,000    107,813 
Midwest Generation, LLC sec. sr. notes 8 3/4s, 2034    225,000    248,063 
Mission Energy Holding Co. sec. notes 13 1/2s, 2008    135,000    156,938 
Monongahela Power Co. 1st mtge. 6.7s, 2014    70,000    76,553 
National Power Corp. 144A foreign government         
guaranty FRN 8.63s, 2011 (Philippines)    65,000    68,494 
Nevada Power Co. 2nd mtge. 9s, 2013    55,000    60,588 
Northwestern Corp. sec. notes 5 7/8s, 2014    270,000    268,635 
NRG Energy, Inc. company guaranty 8s, 2013    164,000    179,990 
Orion Power Holdings, Inc. sr. notes 12s, 2010    100,000    114,000 
PSEG Energy Holdings, Inc. notes 7 3/4s, 2007    105,000    107,100 
SEMCO Energy, Inc. sr. notes 7 3/4s, 2013    85,000    88,405 
SEMCO Energy, Inc. 144A sr. notes 7 3/4s, 2013    110,000    114,950 
Sierra Pacific Power Co. general ref. mtge. 6 1/4s, 2012    25,000    25,313 
Sierra Pacific Resources sr. notes 8 5/8s, 2014    125,000    136,563 
Teco Energy, Inc. notes 7.2s, 2011    35,000    36,838 
Teco Energy, Inc. notes 7s, 2012    55,000    57,613 
Teco Energy, Inc. sr. notes 6 3/4s, 2015    10,000    10,350 
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. debs. 7s, 2028    15,000    14,498 
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. unsecd. notes 7 1/2s, 2017    30,000    31,519 
Texas Genco, LLC/Texas Genco Financing Corp. 144A         
sr. notes 6 7/8s, 2014    140,000    149,800 
Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Corp. debs. 7 1/4s, 2026    120,000    128,700 
Utilicorp Canada Finance Corp. company         
guaranty 7 3/4s, 2011 (Canada)    105,000    107,625 
Utilicorp United, Inc. sr. notes 9.95s, 2011    75,000    82,875 
Williams Cos., Inc. (The) 144A notes 6 3/8s, 2010    45,000    44,550 
Williams Cos., Inc. (The) notes 8 3/4s, 2032    25,000    28,375 
Williams Cos., Inc. (The) notes 8 1/8s, 2012    25,000    26,938 

40


CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (90.1%)* continued       

  Principal amount    Value 
 
Utilities & Power continued       
Williams Cos., Inc. (The) notes 7 5/8s, 2019  $ 95,000  $  99,275 
York Power Funding 144A notes 12s, 2007       
(Cayman Islands) (In default) (F) †  65,719    5,481 
      4,427,504 

 
Total corporate bonds and notes (cost $61,105,374)    $  60,545,912 

 
 
CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCKS (2.5%)*       

  Shares    Value 
 
Chesapeake Energy Corp. Ser. *, $4.50 cum. cv. pfd.  1,139  $  101,941 
Citigroup Funding, Inc. Ser. GNW, zero % cv. pfd.  5,160    168,980 
Crown Castle International Corp. $3.125 cum. cv. pfd.  1,537    83,382 
Emmis Communications Corp. Ser. A, $3.125 cum. cv. pfd.  2,929    127,412 
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc. 5.5% cv. pfd.  121    137,017 
Huntsman Corp. $2.50 cv. pfd.  6,062    260,666 
Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. 144A Ser. B,       
5.25% cum. cv. pfd.  207    189,043 
MetLife, Inc. Ser. B, $1.594 cv. pfd.  8,200    233,700 
Northrop Grumman Corp. Ser. B, $7.00 cum. cv. pfd.  2,225    276,734 
Williams Cos., Inc. (The) 144A $2.75 cv. pfd.  1,160    120,930 

Total convertible preferred stocks (cost $1,666,715)    $  1,699,805 

 
 
CONVERTIBLE BONDS AND NOTES (1.3%)*       

  Principal amount    Value 
 
Cybernet Internet Services International, Inc.       
144A cv. sr. disc. notes 13s, 2009 (Canada) (In default) †                                                                                           $ 490,000  $  5 
Kulicke & Soffa Industries, Inc. cv. sub. notes 0.5s, 2008  390,000    294,938 
L-3 Communications Corp. 144A cv. bonds 3s, 2035  125,000    121,563 
Manor Care, Inc. 144A cv. sr. notes 2 1/8s, 2035  25,000    25,500 
Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. cv. sr. notes 2 5/8s, 2024  425,000    292,719 
Wabash National Corp. cv. sr. notes 3 1/4s, 2008  60,000    70,200 
WCI Communities, Inc. cv. sr. sub. notes 4s, 2023  60,000    65,325 

Total convertible bonds and notes (cost $1,288,733)    $  870,250 

 
 
COMMON STOCKS (1.0%)*       

  Shares    Value 
 
AMRESCO Creditor Trust (acquired various dates from       
5/5/99 to 5/10/00, cost $21,607) (F) ‡ † (R)  180,000  $  180 
Birch Telecom, Inc. (F) †  195    1 
Coinmach Service Corp. IDS (Income Deposit Securities)  20,176    303,647 
Comdisco Holding Co., Inc.  85    1,466 
Compass Minerals International, Inc.  112    2,697 
Contifinancial Corp. Liquidating Trust Units  505,286    1 
Crown Castle International Corp. †  235    6,439 

41


COMMON STOCKS (1.0%)* continued         

    Shares    Value 
Dobson Communications Corp. †    338  $  2,491 
iPCS, Inc. †    3,684    155,096 
Knology, Inc. †    33    65 
Northwestern Corp.    978    30,298 
Samsonite Corp. †    152,427    100,602 
Sterling Chemicals, Inc. †    10    180 
Sun Healthcare Group, Inc. †    178    1,303 
USA Mobility, Inc.    40    1,092 
VFB, LLC (acquired various dates from 12/21/99         
to 10/27/00, cost $214,226) ‡ †    259,509    9,584 
VS Holdings, Inc. (F) †    40,417    1 
WHX Corp. †    3,964    41,622 

Total common stocks (cost $1,976,303)      $  656,765 

 
UNITS (0.5%)* (cost $812,266)         

    Units    Value 
XCL Equity Units (F)    446  $  303,881 

 
PREFERRED STOCKS (0.4%)*         

    Shares    Value 
Dobson Communications Corp. 13.00% pfd.    1  $  1,355 
First Republic Capital Corp. 144A 10.50% pfd.    80    88,000 
Paxson Communications Corp. 14.25% cum. pfd. ‡‡    14    118,300 
Rural Cellular Corp. Ser. B, 11.375% cum. pfd.    49    56,105 

Total preferred stocks (cost $270,468)      $  263,760 

 
SENIOR LOANS (0.1%)* (c) (cost $82,012)         

                                    Principal amount    Value 
Olympus Cable Holdings, LLC bank term loan FRN         
Ser. B, 9s, 2010                                    $  90,000  $  88,345 

 
FOREIGN GOVERNMENT BONDS AND NOTES (0.1%)* (cost $65,069)       

                                     Principal amount    Value 
Philippines (Republic of ) bonds 9 1/2s, 2024                                     $  60,000  $  67,800 

42


WARRANTS (--%)* †             

  Expiration date Strike price  Warrants    Value 

Dayton Superior Corp. 144A
 
6/15/09  $  0.01  200  $  1 
MDP Acquisitions PLC 144A  10/1/13  EUR  .001  89    2,491 
Mikohn Gaming Corp. 144A  8/15/08  $  7.70  70    686 
NTL, Inc.  1/13/11    262.93 8    3 
Pliant Corp. 144A  6/1/10    0.01  80    1 
TravelCenters of America, Inc. 144A  5/1/09    0.001  120    150 
Ubiquitel, Inc. 144A  4/15/10    22.74  350    4 

Total warrants (cost $26,501)          $  3,336 

 
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (3.0%)* (cost $1,988,427)           

        Shares    Value 
Putnam Prime Money Market Fund (e)        1,988,427  $  1,988,427 

 
TOTAL INVESTMENTS             
Total investments (cost $69,281,868)          $  66,488,281 

    *  Percentages indicated are based on net assets of $67,217,954. 

****     Security is in default of principal and interest.
 

  †
 
Non-income-producing security. 

††
 
The interest rate and date shown parenthetically represent the new interest rate to be paid and the date the fund will begin 
  accruing interest at this rate. 

  ‡
 
Restricted, excluding 144A securities, as to public resale. The total market value of restricted securities held at November 30, 
  2005 was $238,244 or 0.4% of net assets. 

‡‡
 
Income may be received in cash or additional securities at the discretion of the issuer. 

(R)
 
Real Estate Investment Trust. 

(c)
 
Senior loans are exempt from registration under the Security Act of 1933, as amended, but contain certain restrictions on 
  resale and cannot be sold publicly. These loans pay interest at rates which adjust periodically. The interest rate shown for 
  senior loans are the current interest rates at November 30, 2005. Senior loans are also subject to mandatory and/or optional 
  prepayment which cannot be predicted. As a result, the remaining maturity may be substantially less than the stated matu- 
  rity shown (Notes 1 and 6). 

(e)
 
See Note 5 to the financial statements regarding investments in Putnam Prime Money Market Fund. 

(F)
 
Security is valued at fair value following procedures approved by the Trustees. 
 
At November 30, 2005, liquid assets totaling $233,961 have been designated as collateral for open swap contracts and
 
  forward contracts. 
 
144A after the name of a security represents those exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933.
 
  These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. 
 
The rates shown on Floating Rate Notes (FRN) are the current interest rates at November 30, 2005.
 

43


FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACTS TO SELL at 11/30/05 (aggregate face value $1,784,818) (Unaudited)

    Aggregate  Delivery  Unrealized 
    Value face value  date  appreciation 

 
Euro    $1,672,600 $1,784,818  12/21/05  $112,218 

 
 
CREDIT DEFAULT CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 11/30/05 (Unaudited)     

      Notional  Unrealized 
      amount  appreciation 

  
Agreement with Goldman Sachs International on September 2, 2004,     
terminating on the date on which the notional amount is reduced to     
zero or the date on which the assets securing the reference obligation     
are liquidated, the fund receives a payment of the outstanding notional     
amount times 2.461% and the fund pays in the event of a credit default     
in one of the underlying securities in the basket of BB CMBS securities.  $ 83,000  $1,162 
Agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. on September 1, 2005,     
maturing on September 20, 2010, to pay quarterly 460 basis points times     
the notional amount. Upon a credit default event of General Motors     
Acceptance Corp., the fund receives a payment of the proportional     
notional amount times the difference between the par value and the     
then market value of General Motors Acceptance Corp.    140,000  1,857 

Total        $3,019 

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

44


Statement of assets and liabilities 11/30/05 (Unaudited)   

 
ASSETS   
Investment in securities, at value (Note 1):   
Unaffiliated issuers (identified cost $67,293,441)  $ 64,499,854 
Affiliated issuers (identified cost $1,988,427) (Note 5)  1,988,427 

Cash  25,819 

Foreign currency (cost $97) (Note 1)  93 

Dividends, interest and other receivables  1,353,799 

Receivable for securities sold  418,390 

Unrealized appreciation on swap contracts (Note 1)  3,019 

Receivable for open forward currency contracts (Note 1)  112,218 

Receivable for closed forward currency contracts (Note 1)  20,718 

Total assets  68,422,337 

 
LIABILITIES   
Distributions payable to shareholders  366,701 

Payable for securities purchased  492,214 

Payable for shares of the fund repurchased  96,014 

Payable for compensation of Manager (Notes 2 and 5)  127,038 

Payable for investor servicing and custodian fees (Note 2)  25,661 

Payable for Trustee compensation and expenses (Note 2)  34,459 

Payable for administrative services (Note 2)  2,163 

Other accrued expenses  60,133 

Total liabilities  1,204,383 

Net assets  $ 67,217,954 

 
REPRESENTED BY   
Paid-in capital (Unlimited shares authorized) (Note 1)  $104,533,149 

Distributions in excess of net investment income (Note 1)  (381,693) 

Accumulated net realized loss on investments   
and foreign currency transactions (Note 1)  (34,254,815) 

Net unrealized depreciation of investments   
and assets and liabilities in foreign currencies  (2,678,687) 

Total -- Representing net assets applicable to capital shares outstanding  $ 67,217,954 

 
COMPUTATION OF NET ASSET VALUE   
Net asset value per share   
($67,217,954 divided by 7,463,669 shares)  $9.01 
 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.   

45


Statement of operations Six months ended 11/30/05 (Unaudited)   

 
INVESTMENT INCOME   
Interest (including interest income of $23,666 from investments   
in affiliated issuers) (Note 5)  $2,703,614 

Dividends  66,499 

Total investment income  2,770,113 

 
EXPENSES   
Compensation of Manager (Note 2)  260,764 

Investor servicing fees (Note 2)  17,121 

Custodian fees (Note 2)  40,149 

Trustee compensation and expenses (Note 2)  9,358 

Administrative services (Note 2)  7,008 

Reports to shareholders  25,520 

Other  84,367 

Fees waived and reimbursed by Manager (Note 5)  (855) 

Total expenses  443,432 

Expense reduction (Note 2)  (1,544) 

Net expenses  441,888 

Net investment income  2,328,225 

Net realized loss on investments (Notes 1 and 3)  (802,466) 

Net realized gain on swap contracts (Note 1)  1,044 

Net realized gain on foreign currency transactions (Note 1)  100,051 

Net unrealized depreciation of assets and liabilities   
in foreign currencies during the period  (9,861) 

Net unrealized appreciation of investments   
and swap contracts during the period  269,968 

Net loss on investments  (441,264) 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations  $1,886,961 

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

46


Statement of changes in net assets     

 
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS     

  Six months ended Year ended 
  11/30/05*  5/31/05 

Operations:     
Net investment income  $ 2,328,225  $ 4,694,336 

Net realized loss on investments and     
foreign currency transactions  (701,371)  (218,155) 

Net unrealized appreciation of investments and     
assets and liabilities in foreign currencies  260,107  1,863,485 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations  1,886,961  6,339,666 

Distributions to shareholders: (Note 1)     

From net investment income  (2,205,698)  (4,638,801) 

Decrease from shares repurchased (Note 4)  (342,795)  -- 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets  (661,532)  1,700,865 

 
NET ASSETS     
Beginning of period  67,879,486  66,178,621 

End of period (including distributions in excess of net investment     
income of $381,693 and $504,220, respectively)  $67,217,954  $67,879,486 

 
NUMBER OF FUND SHARES     
Shares outstanding at beginning of period  7,507,107  7,507,107 

Shares repurchased (Note 4)  (43,438)  -- 

Shares outstanding at end of period  7,463,669  7,507,107 

* Unaudited
 
   

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

47


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

PER-SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE         

  Six months ended**      Year ended     
  11/30/05  5/31/05  5/31/04  5/31/03  5/31/02  5/31/01 

 
Net asset value,             
beginning of period  $9.04  $8.82  $8.45  $8.50  $9.49  $10.91 

Investment operations:             
Net investment income (a)  .31(d)  .63(d)  .67(d)  .73  .86  1.16 

Net realized and unrealized             
gain (loss) on investments  (.06)  .21  .37  (.01)  (.86)  (1.41) 

Total from             
investment operations  .25  .84  1.04  .72  --(e)  (.25) 

Less distributions:             
From net investment income  (.29)  (.62)  (.66)  (.76)  (.87)  (1.17) 

From return of capital  --  --  (.01)  (.01)  (.12)  -- 

Total distributions  (.29)  (.62)  (.67)  (.77)  (.99)  (1.17) 

Increase from             
shares repurchased  .01  --  --  --  --  -- 

Net asset value,             
end of period  $9.01  $9.04  $8.82  $8.45  $8.50  $9.49 

Market price,             
end of period  $7.73  $7.97  $7.92  $9.02  $9.48  $10.80 

Total return at             
market price (%)(b)  .56*  8.43  (4.99)  4.15  (2.91)  18.34 

 
RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA           
Net assets, end of period             
(in thousands)  $67,218  $67,879  $66,179  $63,418  $63,826  $71,211 

Ratio of expenses to             
average net assets (%)(c)  .65*(d)  1.16(d)  1.19(d)  1.22  1.19  1.14 

Ratio of net investment income           
to average net assets (%)  3.40*(d)  6.85(d)  7.57(d)  9.17  9.69  11.41 

Portfolio turnover (%)  32.76*  53.12  66.18  73.72  73.39  97.63 

  *      Not annualized.
 
**      Unaudited.
 
(a)      Per share net investment income has been determined on the basis of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period.
 
(b)      Total return assumes dividend reinvestment.
 
(c)      Includes amounts paid through expense offset arrangements (Note 2).
 
(d)      Reflects waivers of certain fund expenses in connection with investments in Putnam Prime Money Market Fund during the period. As a result of such waivers, the expenses of the fund for the periods ended November 30, 2005, May 31, 2005 and May 31, 2004 reflect a reduction of less than 0.01% based on average net assets (Note 5).
 
(e)      Amount represents less than $0.01 per share.
 
  The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
 

48


Notes to financial statements 11/30/05 (Unaudited)

Note 1: Significant accounting policies

Putnam Managed High Yield Trust (the “fund”), a Massachusetts business trust, is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. The fund’s primary investment objective is to seek high current income. Its secondary objective is capital growth to the extent consistent with seeking high current income. The fund intends to achieve its objective by investing in high yielding income securities. The fund invests in higher yielding, lower rated bonds that have a higher rate of default due to the nature of the issuers.

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

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The preparation of financial statements is in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

A) Security valuation Market quotations are not considered to be readily available for certain debt obligations; such investments are valued on the basis of valuations furnished by an independent pricing service approved by the Trustees or dealers selected by Putnam Investment Management, LLC (“Putnam Management”), the fund’s manager, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Putnam, LLC. Such services or dealers determine valuations for normal institutional-size trading units of such securities using methods based on market transactions for comparable securities and various relationships, generally recognized by institutional traders, between securities. Many securities markets and exchanges outside the U.S. close prior to the close of the New York Stock Exchange and therefore the closing prices for securities in such markets or on such exchanges may not fully reflect events that occur after such close but before the close of the New York Stock Exchange. Accordingly, on certain days, the fund will fair value foreign securities taking into account multiple factors, including movements in the U.S. securities markets. The number of days on which fair value prices will be used will depend on market activity and it is possible that fair value prices will be used by the fund to a significant extent. Securities quoted in foreign currencies, if any, are translated into U.S. dollars at the current exchange rate. Short-term investments having remaining maturities of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair value. Other investments, including certain restricted securities, are valued at fair value following procedures approved by the Trustees. Such valuations and procedures are reviewed periodically by the Trustees.

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

Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividend income, net of applicable withholding taxes, is recognized on the ex-dividend date except that certain dividends from foreign securities, if any, are recognized as soon as the fund is informed of the ex-dividend date. Non-cash dividends, if any, are recorded at the fair market value of the securities received. All premiums/discounts are amortized/accreted on a yield-to-maturity basis.

49


The fund earned certain fees in connection with its senior loan purchasing activities. These fees are treated as market discount and are recorded as income in the statement of operations.

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

D) Forward currency contracts The fund may buy and sell forward currency contracts, which are agreements between two parties to buy and sell currencies at a set price on a future date. These contracts are used to protect against a decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar of the currencies in which its portfolio securities are denominated or quoted (or an increase in the value of a currency in which securities a fund intends to buy are denominated, when a fund holds cash reserves and short-term investments), or for other investment purposes. The U.S. dollar value of forward currency contracts is determined using current forward currency exchange rates supplied by a quotation service. The market value of the contract will fluctuate with changes in currency exchange rates. The contract is marked-to-market daily and the change in market value is recorded as an unrealized gain or loss. When the contract is closed, the fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. The fund could be exposed to risk if the value of the currency changes unfavorably, if the counterparties to the contracts are unable to meet the terms of their contracts or if the fund is unable to enter into a closing position. Risks may exceed amounts recognized on the statement of assets and liabilities. Forward currency contracts outstanding at period end, if any, are listed after the fund’s portfolio.

E) Credit default contracts The fund may enter into credit default contracts where one party, the protection buyer, makes an upfront or periodic payment to a counterparty, the protection seller, in exchange for the right to receive a contingent payment. The maximum amount of the payment may equal the notional amount, at par, of the underlying index or security as a result of a related credit event. An upfront payment received by the fund, as the protection seller, is recorded as a liability on the fund’s books. An upfront payment made by the fund, as the protection buyer, is recorded as an asset on the fund’s books. Periodic payments received or paid by the fund are recorded as realized gains or losses. The credit default contracts are marked-to-market daily based upon quotations from market makers and the change, if any, is recorded as unrealized gain

50


or loss. Payments received or made as a result of a credit event or termination of the contract are recognized, net of a proportional amount of the upfront payment, as realized gains or losses. In addition to bearing the risk that the credit event will occur, the fund could be exposed to market risk due to unfavorable changes in interest rates or in the price of the underlying security or index, the possibility that the fund may be unable to close out its position at the same time or at the same price as if it had purchased comparable publicly traded securities or that the counterparty may default on its obligation to perform. Risks of loss may exceed amounts recognized on the statement of assets and liabilities. Credit default contracts outstanding at period end, if any, are listed after the fund’s portfolio.

F) Federal taxes It is the policy of the fund to distribute all of its taxable income within the prescribed time and otherwise comply with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”) applicable to regulated investment companies. It is also the intention of the fund to distribute an amount sufficient to avoid imposition of any excise tax under Section 4982 of the Code, as amended. Therefore, no provision has been made for federal taxes on income, capital gains or unrealized appreciation on securities held nor for excise tax on income and capital gains.

At May 31, 2005, the fund had a capital loss carryover of $33,361,798 available to the extent allowed by the Code to offset future net capital gain, if any. The amount of the carryover and the expiration dates are:

  Loss Carryover Expiration 
$  2,584,483  May 31, 2007 

  4,168,119  May 31, 2008 

  3,778,275  May 31, 2009 

  8,384,999  May 31, 2010 

  11,264,568  May 31, 2011 

  1,858,608  May 31, 2012 

  1,322,746  May 31, 2013 


Pursuant to federal income tax regulations applicable to regulated investment companies, the fund has elected to defer to its fiscal year ending May 31, 2006 $149,157 of losses recognized during the period November 1, 2004 to May 31, 2005.

The aggregate identified cost on a tax basis is $69,517,299, resulting in gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of $1,675,604 and $4,704,622, respectively, or net unrealized depreciation of $3,029,018.

G) Distributions to shareholders Distributions to shareholders from net investment income are recorded by the fund on the ex-dividend date. Distributions from capital gains, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date and paid at least annually. The amount and character of income and gains to be distributed are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from generally accepted accounting principles. Reclassifications are made to the fund’s capital accounts to reflect income and gains available for distribution (or available capital loss carryovers) under income tax regulations.

Note 2: Management fee, administrative
services and other transactions

Putnam Management is paid for management and investment advisory services quarterly based on the average net assets of the fund. Such fee is based on the following annual rates: 0.55% of the first $500 million of average weekly net assets, 0.48% of the next $500 million, 0.44% of the next $500 million and 040% thereafter.

In addition, the fund pays an administrative services fee to Putnam Management, quarterly based on the net assets of the fund, based on the following payment rates: 0.20% of the first $500 million of average weekly net assets, 0.17% of the next $500 million, 0.16% of the next $500 million and 0.15% thereafter.

In December 2005, consistent with the recommendation of the Trustees (including the Independent Trustees), the shareholders of the

51


fund approved a new investment management contract that will allow for Putnam Management to receive management fees on leveraged assets raised through borrowing by the fund. In addition, the new contract, which goes into effect on January 1, 2006, reflects a reduced management fee structure agreed upon by the Trustees and Putnam Management in June 2005. Effective on January 1, 2006, the fund’s management fee is expected to be an annual rate of 0.55% of the “average weekly assets,” as described below.

Under the new contract, the fund will pay management fees to Putnam Management based on the fund’s “average weekly assets,” rather than to its average weekly net assets. “Average weekly assets” means, in effect, the weekly determinations of the difference between the fund’s total assets (including assets attributable to borrowing for investment purposes) and its total liabilities (excluding liabilities attributable to borrowing for investment purposes).

Effective September 13, 2004, Putnam Investments Limited (“PIL”), an affiliate of Putnam Management, is authorized by the Trustees to manage a separate portion of the assets of the fund as determined by Putnam Management from time to time. Putnam Management pays a quarterly sub-management fee to PIL for its services at an annual rate of 0.40% of the average net assets (effective January 1, 2006, the average weekly assets) of the portion of the fund managed by PIL.

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

Custodial functions for the fund’s assets are provided by Putnam Fiduciary Trust Company (“PFTC”), a subsidiary of Putnam, LLC. PFTC receives fees for custody services based on the fund’s asset level, the number of its security holdings and transaction volumes. Putnam Investor Services, a division of PFTC, provides investor servicing agent functions to the fund. Putnam Investor Services is paid a monthly fee for investor servicing at an annual rate of 0.05% of the fund’s average net assets. During the period ended November 30, 2005, the fund incurred $57,270 for these services.

The fund has entered into an arrangement with PFTC whereby credits realized as a result of uninvested cash balances are used to reduce a portion of the fund’s expenses. For the six months ended November 30, 2005, the fund’s expenses were reduced by $1,544 under these arrangements.

Each independent Trustee of the fund receives an annual Trustee fee, of which $239, as a quarterly retainer, has been allocated to the fund, and an additional fee for each Trustees meeting attended. Trustees receive additional fees for attendance at certain committee meetings, industry seminars and for certain compliance-related matters. Trustees also are reimbursed for expenses they incur relating to their services as Trustees. George Putnam, III, who is not an independent Trustee, also receives the foregoing fees for his services as Trustee.

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

The fund has adopted an unfunded noncontributory defined benefit pension plan (the “Pension Plan”) covering all Trustees of the fund who have served as a Trustee for at least five years and were first elected prior to 2004. Benefits under the Pension Plan are equal to 50% of the Trustee’s average total retainer and meeting fees for the three years preceding retirement. Pension expense for the fund is included in Trustee compensation and expenses in the statement of operations. Accrued pension liability is included in Payable for Trustee compensation and expenses in the statement of assets and liabilities. The Trustees have terminated the Pension Plan with respect to any Trustee first elected after 2003.

52


Note 3: Purchases and sales of securities

During the six months ended November 30, 2005, cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investment securities other than short-term investments aggregated $21,639,905 and $22,627,654, respectively. There were no purchases or sales of U.S. government securities.

Note 4: Share repurchase program

On October 7, 2005, the Trustees authorized Putnam Management to implement a share repurchase program pursuant to which the fund may, over the 12 months following the announcement, repurchase up to 5% of its common shares outstanding as of such date. Repurchases will only be made when the fund’s shares are trading at less than net asset value and in accordance with procedures approved by the fund’s Trustees. 

For the period ended November 30, 2005, the fund repurchased 43,438 common shares for an aggregate purchase price of $342,795, which reflects a weighted-average discount from net asset value per share of 12.1% .

Note 5: Investment in Putnam Prime Money Market Fund

Pursuant to an exemptive order from the Securities and Exchange Commission, the fund invests in Putnam Prime Money Market Fund, an open-end management investment company managed by Putnam Management. Management fees paid by the fund are reduced by an amount equal to the management and administrative services fees paid by Putnam Prime Money Market Fund with respect to assets invested by the fund in Putnam Prime Money Market Fund. For the period ended November 30, 2005, management fees paid were reduced by $855 relating to the fund’s investment in Putnam Prime Money Market Fund. Income distributions earned by the fund are recorded as income in the statement of operations and totaled $23,666 for the period ended November 30, 2005. During the period ended November 30, 2005, cost of purchases and cost of sales of investments in Putnam Prime Money Market Fund aggregated $11,900,316 and $10,994,735, respectively.

Note 6: Senior loan commitments

Senior loans are purchased or sold on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis and may be settled a month or more after the trade date, which from time to time can delay the actual investment of available cash balances; interest income is accrued based on the terms of the securities. Senior loans can be acquired through an agent, by assignment from another holder of the loan, or as a participation interest in another holder’s portion of the loan. When the fund invests in a loan or participation, the fund is subject to the risk that an intermediate participant between the fund and the borrower will fail to meet its obligations to the fund, in addition to the risk that the borrower under the loan may default on its obligations.

Note 7: Regulatory matters and litigation

Putnam Management has entered into agreements with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Massachusetts Securities Division settling charges connected with excessive short-term trading by Putnam employees and, in the case of the charges brought by the Massachusetts Securities Division, by participants in some Putnam-administered 401(k) plans. Pursuant to these settlement agreements, Putnam Management will pay a total of $193.5 million in penalties and restitution, with $153.5 million being paid to certain open-end funds and their shareholders. The amount will be allocated to shareholders and funds pursuant to a plan developed by an independent consultant, and will be paid following approval of the plan by the SEC and the Massachusetts Securities Division.

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s and Massachusetts Securities Division’s allegations and related matters also serve as the general basis for

53


numerous lawsuits, including purported class action lawsuits filed against Putnam Management and certain related parties, including certain Putnam funds. Putnam Management will bear any costs incurred by Putnam funds in connection with these lawsuits. Putnam Management believes that the likelihood that the pending private lawsuits and purported class action lawsuits will have a material adverse financial impact on the fund is remote, and the pending actions are not likely to materially affect its ability to provide investment management services to its clients, including the Putnam funds.

The Staff of the SEC has indicated that it believes that Putnam Management did not comply with certain disclosure requirements in connection with dividend payments to shareholders of your fund. Putnam Management is currently engaged in settlement negotiations with the SEC Staff regarding this matter.

Putnam Management and Putnam Retail Management are named as defendants in a civil suit in which the plaintiffs allege that the management and distribution fees paid by certain Putnam funds were excessive and seek recovery under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Putnam Management and Putnam Retail Management have contested the plaintiffs’ claims and the matter is currently pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Based on currently available information, Putnam Management believes that this action is without merit and that it is unlikely to have a material effect on Putnam Management’s and Putnam Retail Management’s ability to provide services to their clients, including the fund.

54


Shareholder meeting
results (Unaudited)

October 28, 2005 meeting

The annual meeting of shareholders of the fund was convened on October 28, 2005. At that meeting, consideration of all proposals was adjourned to a final meeting held on December 6, 2005.

December 6, 2005 meeting     

At the meeting, each of the nominees for Trustees was elected, as follows:
 
 

 
  Votes for  Votes withheld 
Jameson A. Baxter  4,909,926  324,267 

Charles B. Curtis  4,903,686  330,507 

Myra R. Drucker  4,910,725  323,468 

Charles E. Haldeman, Jr.  4,913,137  321,056 

John A. Hill  4,912,541  321,652 

Paul L. Joskow  4,910,040  324,153 

Elizabeth T. Kennan  4,906,253  327,940 

John H. Mullin, III  4,906,968  327,225 

Robert E. Patterson  4,908,903  325,290 

George Putnam, III  4,908,040  326,153 

W. Thomas Stephens  4,723,916  510,277 

Richard B. Worley  4,907,646  326,547 


A proposal to amend the fund’s fundamental investment restriction with respect to borrowing to permit the fund to engage in investment leverage was approved as follows:

Votes for  Votes against  Abstentions  Broker non-votes 
3,537,729  811,197  148,972  736,295 


A proposal to approve the Amended and Restated Management Contract between the fund and Putnam Investment Management, LLC, which provides for payment of management fees with respect to fund assets attributable to investment leverage, was approved as follows:

Votes for  Votes against  Abstentions  Broker non-votes 
3,587,256  744,778  165,864  736,295 

All tabulations are rounded to nearest whole number.     

55


Fund information

About Putnam Investments

Founded over 65 years ago, Putnam Investments was built around the concept that a balance between risk and reward is the hallmark of a well-rounded financial program. We manage over 100 mutual funds in growth, value, blend, fixed income, and international.

Investment Manager
Putnam Investment
Management, LLC
One Post Office Square
Boston, MA 02109

Investment Sub-Manager

Putnam Investments Limited
57-59 St. James Street
London, England SW1A 1LD

Marketing Services

Putnam Retail Management
One Post Office Square
Boston, MA 02109

Custodian

Putnam Fiduciary
Trust Company

Legal Counsel

Ropes & Gray LLP

Trustees


John A. Hill,
Chairman
Jameson Adkins Baxter,
Vice Chairman
Charles B. Curtis
Myra R. Drucker
Charles E. Haldeman, Jr.
Paul L. Joskow
Elizabeth T. Kennan
John H. Mullin, III
Robert E. Patterson
George Putnam, III
W. Thomas Stephens
Richard B. Worley

Officers

George Putnam, III

President

Charles E. Porter

Executive Vice President,
Associate Treasurer and
Principal Executive Officer

Jonathan S. Horwitz

Senior Vice President
and Treasurer

Steven D. Krichmar

Vice President and
Principal Financial Officer

Michael T. Healy

Assistant Treasurer and
Principal Accounting Officer

Daniel T. Gallagher

Senior Vice President,
Staff Counsel and
Compliance Liaison

Beth S. Mazor
Vice President

James P. Pappas

Vice President

Richard S. Robie, III

Vice President

Mark C. Trenchard

Vice President and
BSA Compliance Officer

Francis J. McNamara, III

Vice President and
Chief Legal Officer

Charles A. Ruys de Perez

Vice President and
Chief Compliance Officer

Judith Cohen

Vice President, Clerk and
Assistant Treasurer

Wanda M. McManus

Vice President, Senior Associate
Treasurer and Assistant Clerk

Nancy T. Florek

Vice President, Assistant Clerk,
Assistant Treasurer
and Proxy Manager

Call 1-800-225-1581 weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, or visit our Web site (www.putnam.com) anytime for up-to-date information about the fund’s NAV.

56




Item 2. Code of Ethics:

Not Applicabe

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert:

Not Applicabe

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services:

Not Applicabe

Item 5. Audit Committee

Not Applicabe

Item 6. Schedule of Investments:

Not applicable

Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures For Closed-End Management
InvestmentCompanies:

Not applicable

Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Investment Companies

Not Applicable

Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Companies and
Affiliated Purchasers:

Registrant Purchase of Equity Securities

        Maximum 
      Total Number  Number (or 
      of Shares  Approximate 
      Purchased  Dollar Value ) 
      as Part  of Shares 
      of Publicly  that May Yet Be 
  Total Number  Average  Announced  Purchased 
  of Shares  Price Paid  Plans or  under the Plans 
Period  Purchased  per Share  Programs  or Programs 
 
October 7, 2005         
October 31         
2005  12,419  $7.84  12,419  362,936 
 
 
November 1,         
2005 -         
November 30,         
2005  31,019  $7.91  31,019  331,917 

The Board of Trustees announced a repurchase plan on October 7, 2005 for which


375,355 shares have been approved to be repurchased by the fund. The repurchase plan has been approved through October 6, 2006.

Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders:

Not applicable

Item 11. Controls and Procedures:

(a) The registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded, based on their evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report, that the design and operation of such procedures are generally effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the registrant in this report is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission's rules and forms.

(b) Changes in internal control over financial reporting:

Not applicable

Item 12. Exhibits:

(a) Not applicable

(b) A separate certification for each principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the registrant as required by Rule 30a-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the officer certifications as required by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are filed herewith.

SIGNATURES

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

NAME OF REGISTRANT

By (Signature and Title):

/s/Michael T. Healy
Michael T. Healy
Principal Accounting Officer

Date: January 27, 2006

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

By (Signature and Title):

/s/Charles E. Porter
Charles E. Porter
Principal Executive Officer

Date: January 27, 2006

By (Signature and Title):

/s/Steven D. Krichmar
Steven D. Krichmar
Principal Financial Officer

Date: January 27, 2006