Putnam
Massachusetts
Tax Exempt
Income Fund
Item 1. Report to Stockholders:
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The following is a copy of the report transmitted to stockholders pursuant
to Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940:
ANNUAL REPORT ON PERFORMANCE AND OUTLOOK
5-31-05
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From the Trustees
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John A. Hill and
George Putnam, III
Dear Fellow Shareholder:
During the period ended May 31, 2005, the Federal Reserve Board's series
of gradual increases in the federal funds rate occupied investors'
attention. The Fed's more restrictive monetary policy, along with high
energy prices, has moderated the pace of the economic expansion. Recent
reports show the economy is growing at a respectable rate of about 3.5%
annually, but some investors believe that this pace cannot sustain
corporate profits near their robust levels of late. This concern has
held the stock market in check and focused attention on credit risk in
the bond market, even as long-term bond yields remained low. Major
credit rating agencies underscored market concerns in early May by
downgrading bonds issued by Ford and General Motors. Amid the
uncertainties of this environment, security selection takes on even
greater importance and the in-depth, professional research and active
management that mutual funds can provide makes them an intelligent
choice for today's 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. In keeping with these goals, we are including
additional disclosure about your fund's management team in this report.
Following the Outlook for Your Fund, we provide manager compensation
information that pertains to your fund. In addition, on page 19 of this
report we provide information about the 2004 approval by the Trustees of
your fund's management contract with Putnam.
We would also like to take this opportunity to announce the retirement
of one of your fund's Trustees, Ronald J. Jackson, who has been an
independent Trustee of the Putnam funds since 1996. We thank him for his
service.
In the following pages, members of your fund's management team discuss
the fund's performance, the strategies used to pursue the fund's
investment objectives during the reporting period, and the team's
outlook for the months ahead.
As always, we thank you for your continuing confidence in Putnam.
Respectfully yours,
/S/ JOHN A. HILL /S/ GEORGE PUTNAM, III
John A. Hill George Putnam, III
Chairman of the Trustees President of the Funds
July 20, 2005
Report from Fund Management
Fund highlights
* For the 12 months ended May 31, 2005, Putnam Massachusetts Tax Exempt
Income Fund's class A shares returned 7.78% without sales charges.
* The fund's benchmark, the Lehman Municipal Bond Index, returned 7.97%.
* The average return for the fund's Lipper category, Massachusetts
Municipal Debt Funds, was 7.14%.
* See the Performance Summary beginning on page 10 for additional fund
performance, comparative performance, and Lipper data.
Performance commentary
During the 12 months ended May 31, 2005, Putnam Massachusetts Tax Exempt
Income Fund benefited from a rally in lower-quality municipal bonds,
which appreciated sharply in response to improving credit fundamentals
and strong demand. The fund's exposure to higher-yielding bonds rated
BBB- and below, particularly in the tobacco settlement, health-care, and
education sectors, was a key factor in its outperformance of the average
for its Lipper peer group for the period, based on results at net asset
value (NAV, or without sales charges). Investments in two bonds that
were pre-refunded also played a role in this favorable performance. The
fund's results at NAV were in line with those of its benchmark, the
Lehman Municipal Bond Index. We find this noteworthy given that the fund
invests in Massa chu setts bonds while the benchmark is nationally
diversified and has exposure to other state bond markets such as
California's, which was particularly strong this year.
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TOTAL RETURN FOR
PERIODS ENDED 5/31/05
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Class A
(inception 10/23/89) NAV POP
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1 year 7.78% 2.91%
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5 years 38.70 32.47
Annual average 6.76 5.78
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10 years 73.37 65.62
Annual average 5.66 5.17
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Annual average
(life of fund) 6.76 6.45
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Data is historical. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
More recent returns may be less or more than those shown. Investment
return and principal value will fluctuate and you may have a gain or a
loss when you sell your shares. Performance assumes reinvestment of
distributions and does not account for taxes. Returns at NAV do not
reflect a sales charge of 4.50%. For the most recent month-end
performance, visit www.putnaminvestments.com. A short-term trading fee
of up to 2% may apply.
FUND PROFILE
Putnam Massachusetts Tax Exempt Income Fund seeks to provide as high a
level of current income free from federal and state of Massachusetts
personal income taxes as we believe to be consistent with the
preservation of capital. It may be suitable for Massachusetts investors
seeking tax-free income through a diversified portfolio of municipal
bonds issued primarily in Massachusetts.
Market overview
Early in the fiscal year, signs of solid economic growth and rising
corporate profits heightened investor concerns about potential
interest-rate increases by the Federal Reserve Board (the Fed). This
concern helped push bond yields somewhat higher and bond prices, which
move in the opposite direction of yields, lower. In June 2004, after the
Fed announced the first of what would be eight 0.25% increases in the
federal funds rate during the fiscal year, bond market investors seemed
encouraged and, initially, rates trended modestly downward. The Fed's
gradual approach to reining in economic growth may have helped allay
investor fears of higher longer-term rates, as long-term bond yields
ended the year lower despite rising short-term rates. As shorter- and
longer-term interest rates began to converge, the yield curve flattened.
The same conditions that led to rising interest rates -- an improving
economy and rising corporate earnings -- were particularly favorable
for lower-rated bonds. Among uninsured bonds and especially bonds rated
BBB and below, yield spreads tightened, and bond prices rose. Bonds at
the lower end of the credit spectrum, including BB- and B-rated bonds,
turned in the strongest performance. The improving economy also led
rating agencies to upgrade the State of California's credit rating from
BBB to A. This contrib uted to higher prices for California bonds and
improved investor perceptions of muni ci pal bonds in general. Puerto
Rico municipal bonds, which are tax-exempt in all states and often trade
in line with bonds issued by the highest-rated and top-performing state,
were also standout performers. Based on continued favorable legal
rulings, yields on tobacco settlement bonds declined overall for the
year, and their prices rose accordingly. Airline-related industrial
develop ment bonds (IDBs) staged a comeback from distressed levels and
outperformed over the trailing one-year period. Callable bonds (which
can be redeemed by their issuers before maturity) outperformed
non-callable bonds, as investors expected bonds priced to call to be
less sensitive to interest-rate increases.
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MARKET SECTOR PERFORMANCE 12 MONTHS ENDED 5/31/05
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Bonds
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Lehman Municipal Bond Index (tax-exempt bonds) 7.97%
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Lehman Aggregate Bond Index (broad bond market) 6.82%
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Lehman Intermediate Government Bond Index
(intermediate-maturity U.S. Treasury and agency securities) 4.06%
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JP Morgan Global High Yield Index (global high-yield corporate bonds) 10.10%
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Equities
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S&P 500 Index (broad stock market) 8.24%
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Russell 2000 Index (small-company stocks) 9.82%
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MSCI EAFE Index (international stocks) 14.62%
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These indexes provide an overview of performance in different market sectors
for the 12 months ended 5/31/05.
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Strategy overview
Given our expectation for rising interest rates, your fund's duration
was relatively short, or defensive, at the beginning of the fund's
fiscal year and we continued to shorten it as the year progressed.
Duration is a measure of a fund's sensitivity to changes in interest
rates. Investing in bonds with short duration may help protect principal
when interest rates are rising, but it can reduce the fund's potential
for appreciation when rates fall. As we had expected, the Fed increased
short-term interest rates during the period. However, rates on long-term
bonds unexpectedly trended downward for much of the period and the
prices of these bonds rose as a result. The fund's participation in this
rally was somewhat limited by its overall defensive duration position.
During the period, we repositioned the portfolio to take advantage of
the flattening of the yield curve. Given our expectation that short-term
rates would continue to rise, we reduced the fund's positions in inverse
floating-rate securities during the period. These securities pay
additional interest income as short rates fall and less interest income
when short rates rise. By decreasing the fund's exposure to them, we
took a defensive position against rising short-term rates. One technique
we used to position the fund to benefit from yield curve flattening was
to buy callable bonds with longer maturities and to sell non-callable
bonds with shorter maturities, generally 10 years or less. This strategy
was also in line with our expectation that callable bonds will
outperform in a rising interest-rate environment.
The fund benefited from its emphasis on lower-rated, higher-yielding
bonds during the period, as this segment of the market outperformed
during the period. However, we believe the high-yield rally has nearly
run its course and we took advantage of continued price strength to
reduce the fund's position in this market segment.
[GRAPHIC OMITTED: horizontal bar chart THE FUND'S MATURITY AND DURATION
COMPARED]
THE FUND'S MATURITY AND DURATION COMPARED
5/31/04 11/30/04 5/31/05
Average effective maturity in years 8.2 7.9 6.8
Duration in years 5.9 5.6 5.3
Footnote reads:
This chart compares changes in the fund's duration (a measure of its
sensitivity to interest-rate changes) and its average effective maturity
(a weighted average of the holdings' maturities).
Average effective maturity also takes into account put and call
features, where applicable, and reflects prepayments for mortgage-backed
securities.
How fund holdings affected performance
With the more credit-sensitive sectors of the municipal bond market
performing very well during the period, the fund's lower-rated holdings
helped its performance. The supply of lower-rated bonds coming to market
is down 22% compared to the same period in 2004. In the face of strong
demand from yield-hungry investors, prices of lower-rated municipal
bonds in the secondary market have moved higher. Many of the fund's
investments in the health-care, private education and tobacco settlement
sectors have rallied considerably as a result, including Massachusetts
Department of Health and Education bonds for Jordan Hospital and Lasell
College revenue bonds issued by the Massachusetts State Finance Agency.
Jordan Hospital, which is located in Plymouth, has experienced
tremendous growth within its service area and is expanding to meet the
increased patient demand. For the last couple of years, Lasell College
has seen an increase in student applications and good financial
operations.
Tobacco settlement bonds also enjoyed strong performance during the
fiscal year, and because we had overweighted this sector -- relative to
the Lipper peer group -- they made a significant contribution to the
fund's results. An improving litigation environment following a
favorable Federal Appeals Court ruling combined with stable cigarette
sales have contributed to a more favorable outlook for this sector.
Tobacco settlement bonds are secured by the income stream from tobacco
companies' settlement obligations to the states and generally offer
higher yields than bonds of comparable quality. In what has amounted to
an ongoing threat to this income stream, the Department of Justice (DOJ)
initiated a lawsuit in 1999 against the major tobacco companies seeking
billions of dollars that the DOJ claimed had been obtained fraudulently
from the sale of cigarettes. As noted in the Market Overview section of
this report, this sector benefited from a February 4, 2005, ruling by a
panel of the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
against the federal government. Investors believe this has significantly
mitigated the potential financial impact of the DOJ's lawsuit on tobacco
companies. The fund holds Children's Trust Fund of Puerto Rico tobacco
settlement revenue bonds. Income from Puerto Rico bonds is tax exempt in
all 50 states.
[GRAPHIC OMITTED: pie chart CREDIT QUALITY OVERVIEW]
CREDIT QUALITY OVERVIEW
Aaa (62.0%)
Aa (20.0%)
A (4.0%)
Baa (10.2%)
Ba (2.3%)
B (0.3%)
VMIG1 (1.2%)
Footnote reads:
As a percentage of portfolio value as of 5/31/05. A bond rated Baa or
higher is considered investment grade. The chart reflects Moody's
ratings; percentages may include bonds not rated by Moody's but
considered by Putnam Management to be of comparable quality. Ratings
will vary over time.
At the other end of the credit spectrum, many of the fund's AAA-rated
long-maturity holdings performed well, because the municipal bond yield
curve flattened during the year as long-term rates fell. However, we
owned less of these long-maturity bonds than otherwise would have been
the case, because they lengthen a fund's duration and make the portfolio
more vulnerable to the negative effects of rising interest rates. We'd
been maintaining a defensive, i.e., shorter, duration during the fiscal
year to reduce the fund's sensitivity to changes in interest rates.
While maintaining a defensive duration, we continued our strategy of
selling shorter-term non-callable bonds and buying longer-term callable
bonds. For example, last fall we sold non-callable AAA-rated revenue
bonds issued by Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and
invested the proceeds in callable, insured bonds issued by the
Massachusetts State Health and Education Facilities Authority for
Simmons College.
Two of the fund's holdings, Massachusetts Department of Health and
Education bonds for Winchester Hospital and Massachusetts State Water
Resources Authority (MWRA) revenue bonds, had the benefit of being
pre-refunded in July 2004 and April 2005, respectively. Pre-refunding
occurs when an issuer raises the money to refinance an older,
higher-coupon bond by issuing new bonds at current lower interest rates.
This money is then invested in a secure investment, usually U.S.
Treasury securities, that matures at the older bond's first call date.
This added security is often perceived as a credit upgrade by the
market, and can boost the bond's price, favorably affecting the
portfolio's NAV. This was the case with both of these bonds.
Please note that all holdings in this report are subject to review in
accordance with the fund's investment strategy and may vary in the
future.
OF SPECIAL INTEREST
Fund's capital gain distributions will be taxable to shareholders
While interest income from the securities in your fund's portfolio is
generally exempt from state and federal income taxes, this exemption
does not apply to any capital gains realized when portfolio securities
are sold at a profit. During this fiscal year, prevailing low interest
rates generally meant higher prices for the older, higher-coupon bonds
in the portfolio. As the team repositioned the portfolio for a rising
rate environment, many of these bonds were sold and the fund realized
gains as a result. These gains must be passed on to shareholders in the
form of a distribution that is not tax-exempt. Note that distributions
for the fund's 2005 fiscal year may differ from the total fund
distributions for the 2005 tax year that will be reported to you on the
Form 1099-DIV that you will receive in January 2006.
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.
Economic growth has remained solid, despite the Fed's efforts to slow
growth and curb inflation by raising short-term interest rates.
Long-term rates remain surprisingly low. In fact, after rising modestly
in late March and early April of 2005, long-term rates generally fell
again from mid-April through the end of the period. Nevertheless, based
on sustained economic growth and continued robust corporate earnings, we
believe the Fed will maintain its policy of increasing rates through
2005. We believe Fed actions are likely to cause rising yields. We also
expect more Fed tightening than is currently anticipated by the market,
and believe that bond yields may begin to rise more quickly as other
investors come to the same conclusion. In light of current market
conditions, we plan to maintain the fund's defensive duration and to
continue to increase its exposure to callable bonds, which, in our
opinion, are likely to outperform in a rising-rate cycle.
We have a positive view of the single-family housing sector and plan to
add selectively to the fund's positions. We believe that the recent
outperformance of lower-rated, higher-yielding bonds will likely slow
and we plan to reduce the fund's exposure to this segment of the credit
spectrum in favor of higher-quality issues. Despite recent
outperformance, we remain bearish on airline-related IDBs in light of
likely continued fundamental weaknesses in this sector. Our view on
tobacco settlement bonds is positive and we are seeking to increase the
fund's exposure as opportunities arise.
We believe we are headed into a more challenging environment for bond
investing. Our task will be to continue to search for the most
attractive opportunities among tax-exempt securities, and to balance the
pursuit of current income with prudent risk management.
The views expressed in this report are exclusively those of Putnam
Management. They are not meant as investment advice. This fund invests
in fewer issuers or concentrates its investments by region or sector,
and involves more risk than a fund that invests more broadly. Capital
gains, if any, are taxable for federal and, in most cases, state
purposes. For some investors, investment income may be subject to the
federal alternative minimum tax. Income from federally exempt funds may
be subject to state and local taxes. 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. Tax-free
funds may not be suitable for IRAs and other non-taxable accounts.
Your fund's management
Your fund is managed by the members of the Putnam Tax Exempt
Fixed-Income Team. David Hamlin is the Portfolio Leader, and Paul Drury,
Susan McCormack, and James St. John 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 Tax Exempt
Fixed-Income Team, including those who are not Portfolio Leaders or
Portfolio Members of your fund, visit Putnam's Individual Investor Web
site at www.putnaminvestments.com.
Fund ownership
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 May 31, 2005, and May 31, 2004.
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FUND PORTFOLIO LEADER AND PORTFOLIO MEMBERS
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$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
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David Hamlin 2005 *
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Portfolio Leader 2004 *
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Paul Drury 2005 *
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Portfolio Member 2004 *
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Susan McCormack 2005 *
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Portfolio Member 2004 *
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James St. John 2005 *
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Portfolio Member 2004 *
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Fund manager compensation
The total 2004 fund manager compensation that is attributable to your
fund is approximately $90,000. 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 Chief Investment Officer of the team
and the Group Chief Investment Officer of the fund's broader investment
category for their oversight responsibilities, calculated based on the
fund assets they oversee taken as a percentage of the total assets they
oversee. 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
David Hamlin is the Portfolio Leader and Paul Drury, Susan McCormack,
and James St. John are Portfolio Members for Putnam's tax-exempt funds
for the following states: Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan,
Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The same group
also manages Putnam AMT-Free Insured Municipal Fund*, Putnam California
Investment Grade Municipal Trust, Putnam High Yield Municipal Trust,
Putnam Investment Grade Municipal Trust, Putnam Managed Municipal Income
Trust, Putnam Municipal Bond Fund, Putnam Municipal Opportunities Trust,
Putnam New York Investment Grade Municipal Trust, Putnam Tax Exempt
Income Fund, Putnam Tax-Free Health Care Fund, and Putnam Tax-Free High
Yield Fund.
David Hamlin, Paul Drury, Susan McCormack, and James St. John 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 May 31, 2005, Portfolio Member Richard Wyke left
your fund's management team.
* Formerly Putnam Tax-Free Insured Fund.
Fund ownership
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
May 31, 2005, and May 31, 2004.
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PUTNAM EXECUTIVE BOARD
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$1 - $10,001 - $50,001 - $100,001
Year $0 $10,000 $50,000 $100,000 and over
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Philippe Bibi 2005 *
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Chief Technology Officer 2004 *
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John Boneparth 2005 *
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Head of Global Institutional Mgmt 2004 *
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Joshua Brooks 2005 *
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Deputy Head of Investments N/A
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Kevin Cronin 2005 *
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Head of Investments 2004 *
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Charles Haldeman, Jr. 2005 *
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President and CEO 2004 *
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Amrit Kanwal 2005 *
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Chief Financial Officer 2004 *
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Steven Krichmar 2005 *
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Chief of Operations 2004 *
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Francis McNamara, III 2005 *
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General Counsel 2004 *
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Richard Monaghan 2005 *
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Head of Retail Management 2004 *
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Richard Robie, III 2005 *
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Chief Administrative Officer 2004 *
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Edward Shadek 2005 *
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Deputy Head of Investments N/A
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N/A indicates the individual was not a member of Putnam's Executive Board as of 5/31/04.
Performance summary
This section shows your fund's performance during its fiscal year, which
ended May 31, 2005. In accordance with regulatory requirements, we also
include performance for the most current 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 and principal value will fluctuate and
you may have a gain or a loss when you sell your shares. For the most
recent month-end performance, please visit www.putnaminvestments.com.
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TOTAL RETURN FOR PERIODS ENDED 5/31/05
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Class A Class B Class C Class M
(inception dates) (10/23/89) (7/15/93) (8/19/03) (5/12/95)
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NAV POP NAV CDSC NAV CDSC NAV POP
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1 year 7.78% 2.91% 7.07% 2.07% 6.90% 5.90% 7.45% 3.97%
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5 years 38.70 32.47 34.45 32.44 33.36 33.36 36.60 32.23
Annual average 6.76 5.78 6.10 5.78 5.93 5.93 6.44 5.75
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10 years 73.37 65.62 62.58 62.58 60.23 60.23 68.20 62.75
Annual average 5.66 5.17 4.98 4.98 4.83 4.83 5.34 4.99
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Annual average
(life of fund) 6.76 6.45 6.01 6.01 5.92 5.92 6.39 6.17
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Performance assumes reinvestment of distributions and does not account
for taxes. Returns at public offering price (POP) for class A and M
shares reflect a sales charge of 4.50% and 3.25%, respectively (which
for class A shares does not reflect a reduction in sales charges that
went into effect on April 1, 2005; if this reduction had been in place
for all periods indicated, returns would have been higher). Class B
share returns reflect the applicable contingent deferred sales charge
(CDSC), which is 5% in the first year, declining to 1% in the sixth
year, and is eliminated thereafter. Class C shares reflect a 1% CDSC the
first year that is eliminated thereafter. Performance for class B, C,
and M shares before their inception is derived from the historical
performance of class A shares, adjusted for the applicable sales charge
(or CDSC) and higher operating expenses for such shares.
A 2% short-term trading fee may be applied to shares exchanged or sold
within 5 days of purchase.
[GRAPHIC OMITTED: worm chart CHANGE IN THE VALUE OF A $10,000 INVESTMENT]
CHANGE IN THE VALUE OF A $10,000 INVESTMENT
($9,550 after sales charge)
Cumulative total return, 5/31/95 to 5/31/05
Fund's class A Lehman Municipal
shares at POP Bond Index
5/31/95 9,550 10,000
5/31/96 9,970 10,457
5/31/97 10,959 11,323
5/31/98 11,787 12,385
5/31/99 12,211 12,964
5/31/00 12,188 12,852
5/31/01 13,350 14,413
5/31/02 14,215 15,351
5/31/03 15,483 16,941
5/31/04 15,336 16,935
5/31/05 $16,562 $18,285
Footnote reads:
Past performance does not indicate future results. At the end of the
same time period, a $10,000 investment in the fund's class B and class C
shares would have been valued at $16,258 and $16,023, respectively, and
no contingent deferred sales charges would apply. A $10,000 investment
in the fund's class M shares would have been valued at $16,820 ($16,275
at public offering price). See first page of performance section for
performance calculation method.
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COMPARATIVE INDEX RETURNS FOR PERIODS ENDED 5/31/05
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Lipper
Lehman Massachusetts
Municipal Municipal Debt
Bond Funds category
Index average*
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1 year 7.97% 7.14%
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5 years 42.27 37.50
Annual average 7.31 6.57
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10 years 82.85 67.73
Annual average 6.22 5.30
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Annual average
(life of fund) 7.05 6.51
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Index and Lipper results should be compared to fund performance at net
asset value.
* Over the 1-, 5-, and 10-year periods ended 5/31/05, there were 52, 46,
and 37 funds, respectively, in this Lipper category.
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PRICE AND DISTRIBUTION INFORMATION 12 MONTHS ENDED 5/31/05
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Class A Class B Class C Class M
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Distributions (number) 12 12 12 12
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Income 1 $0.372253 $0.309778 $0.295833 $0.343526
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Capital gains 1 0.061000 0.061000 0.061000 0.061000
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Total $0.433253 $0.370778 $0.356833 $0.404526
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Share value: NAV POP NAV NAV NAV POP
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5/31/04 $9.35 $9.79 $9.35 $9.36 $9.35 $9.66
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5/31/05 9.63 10.01* 9.63 9.64 9.63 9.95
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Current return (end of period)
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Current dividend rate 2 3.82% 3.68% 3.17% 3.03% 3.52% 3.41%
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Taxable equivalent 3 6.21 5.98 5.15 4.92 5.72 5.54
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Current 30-day SEC yield 4 3.16 3.04 2.51 2.36 2.86 2.77
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Taxable equivalent 3 5.13 4.94 4.08 3.83 4.65 4.50
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* Reflects a reduction in sales charges that took effect on April 1, 2005.
1 Capital gains, if any, are taxable for federal and, in most cases, state purposes. For some
investors, investment income may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax. Income from
federally exempt funds may be subject to state and local taxes.
2 Most recent distribution, excluding capital gains, annualized and divided by NAV or POP at end
of period.
3 Assumes maximum 38.45% federal and state combined tax rate for 2005. Results for investors subject
to lower tax rates would not be as advantageous.
4 Based only on investment income, calculated using SEC guidelines.
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TOTAL RETURN FOR PERIODS ENDED 6/30/05 (MOST RECENT CALENDAR QUARTER)
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Class A Class B Class C Class M
(inception dates) (10/23/89) (7/15/93) (8/19/03) (5/12/95)
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NAV POP NAV CDSC NAV CDSC NAV POP
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1 year 7.97% 3.11% 7.27% 2.27% 7.09% 6.09% 7.77% 4.28%
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5 years 35.98 29.89 31.67 29.67 30.65 30.65 33.97 29.62
Annual average 6.34 5.37 5.66 5.33 5.49 5.49 6.02 5.33
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10 years 76.26 68.30 65.17 65.17 62.68 62.68 71.08 65.58
Annual average 5.83 5.34 5.15 5.15 4.99 4.99 5.52 5.17
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual average
(life of fund) 6.77 6.46 6.01 6.01 5.91 5.91 6.40 6.18
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Understanding your fund's expenses
As a mutual fund investor, you pay ongoing expenses, such as management
fees, distribution fees (12b-1 fees), and other expenses. Using the
information below, you can estimate how these expenses affect your
investment and compare them with the expenses of other funds. You may
also pay one-time transaction expenses, including sales charges (loads)
and redemption fees, which are not shown in this section and would have
resulted in higher total expenses. For more information, see your fund's
prospectus or talk to your financial advisor.
Review your fund's expenses
The table below shows the expenses you would have paid on a $1,000
investment in Putnam Massachusetts Tax Exempt Income Fund from December
1, 2004, to May 31, 2005. It also shows how much a $1,000 investment
would be worth at the close of the period, assuming actual returns and
expenses.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXPENSES AND VALUE OF A $1,000 INVESTMENT
assuming actual returns for the 6 months ended 5/31/05
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A Class B Class C Class M
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expenses paid per $1,000* $4.21 $7.49 $8.25 $5.73
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ending value (after expenses) $1,034.20 $1,030.90 $1,030.40 $1,032.70
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Expenses for each share class are calculated using the fund's
annualized expense ratio for each class, which represents the ongoing
expenses as a percentage of net assets for the six months ended 5/31/05.
The expense ratio may differ for each share class (see the table at the
bottom of the next page). Expenses are calculated by multiplying the
expense ratio by the average account value for the period; then
multiplying the result by the number of days in the period; and then
dividing that result by the number of days in the year.
Estimate the expenses you paid
To estimate the ongoing expenses you paid for the six months ended May
31, 2005, use the calculation method below. To find the value of your
investment on December 1, 2004, go to www.putnaminvestments.com and log
on to your account. Click on the "Transaction History" tab in your Daily
Statement and enter 12/01/2004 in both the "from" and "to" fields.
Alternatively, call Putnam at 1-800-225-1581.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO CALCULATE THE EXPENSES YOU PAID
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total
Value of your Expenses paid expenses
investment on 12/1/04 [DIV] $1,000 x per $1,000 = paid
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Example Based on a $10,000 investment in class A shares of your fund.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$10,000 [DIV] $1,000 x $4.21 (see table above) = $42.10
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comparing your fund's expenses with those of other funds
Using the SEC's method to compare expenses
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has established guidelines
to help investors assess fund expenses. Per these guidelines, the table
below shows your fund's expenses based on a $1,000 investment, assuming
a hypothetical 5% annualized return. You can use this information to
compare the ongoing expenses (but not transaction expenses or total
costs) of investing in the fund with those of other funds. All mutual
fund shareholder reports will provide this information to help you make
this comparison. Please note that you cannot use this information to
estimate your actual ending account balance and expenses paid during the
period.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXPENSES AND VALUE OF A $1,000 INVESTMENT
assuming a hypothetical 5% annualized return for the 6 months ended 5/31/05
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A Class B Class C Class M
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expenses paid per $1,000* $4.18 $7.44 $8.20 $5.69
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ending value (after expenses) $1,020.79 $1,017.55 $1,016.80 $1,019.30
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Expenses for each share class are calculated using the fund's
annualized expense ratio for each class, which represents the ongoing
expenses as a percentage of net assets for the six months ended 5/31/05.
The expense ratio may differ for each share class (see the table at the
bottom of this page). Expenses are calculated by multiplying the expense
ratio by the average account value for the period; then multiplying the
result by the number of days in the period; and then dividing that
result by the number of days in the year.
Using industry averages to compare expenses
You can also compare your fund's expenses with the average of its peer
group, as defined by Lipper, an independent fund-rating agency that
ranks funds relative to others that Lipper considers to have similar
investment styles or objectives. The expense ratio for each share class
shown below indicates how much of your fund's net assets have been used
to pay ongoing expenses during the period.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXPENSE RATIO COMPARISONS USING ANNUALIZED DATA
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A Class B Class C Class M
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Your fund's annualized
expense ratio+ 0.83% 1.48% 1.63% 1.13%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average annualized expense
ratio for Lipper peer group++ 0.92% 1.57% 1.72% 1.22%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ For the fund's most recent fiscal half year; may differ from expense
ratios based on one-year data in the financial highlights.
++ Simple average of the expenses of all front-end load funds in the
fund's Lipper peer group, calculated in accordance with Lipper's standard
method for comparing fund expenses (excluding 12b-1 fees and without
giving effect to any expense offset and brokerage service arrangements
that may reduce fund expenses). This average reflects each fund's
expenses for its most recent fiscal year available to Lipper as of
3/31/05. To facilitate comparison, Putnam has adjusted this average to
reflect the 12b-1 fees carried by each class of shares. The peer group
may include funds that are significantly smaller or larger than the fund,
which may limit the comparability of the fund's expenses to the simple
average, which typically is higher than the asset-weighted average.
Understanding your fund's portfolio turnover
Putnam funds are actively managed by teams of experts who buy and sell
securities based on intensive analysis of companies, industries,
economies, and markets. Portfolio turnover is a measure of how often a
fund's managers buy and sell securities for your fund. A portfolio
turnover of 100%, for example, means that the managers sold and replaced
securities valued at 100% of a fund's assets within a one-year period.
Funds with high turnover may be more likely to generate capital gains
and dividends that must be distributed to shareholders as taxable
income. High turnover may also cause a fund to pay more brokerage
commissions and other transaction costs, which may detract from
performance.
Funds that invest in bonds or other fixed-income instruments may have
higher turnover than funds that invest only in stocks. Short-term bond
funds tend to have higher turnover than longer-term bond funds, because
shorter-term bonds will mature or be sold more frequently than
longer-term bonds. You can use the table below to compare your fund's
turnover with the average turnover for funds in its Lipper category.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TURNOVER COMPARISONS
percentage of holdings that change every year
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2005 2004 2003 2002 2001
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Putnam Massachusetts
Tax Exempt Income Fund 18% 7% 29% 24% 7%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lipper Massachusetts
Municipal Debt Funds
category average 22% 22% 28% 24% 28%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Turnover data for the fund is calculated based on the fund's fiscal-year
period, which ends on May 31. Turnover data for the fund's Lipper
category is calculated based on the average of the turnover of each fund
in the category for its fiscal year ended during the indicated year.
Fiscal years vary across funds in the Lipper category, which may limit
the comparability of the fund's portfolio turnover rate to the Lipper
average. Comparative data for 2005 is based on information available as
of 3/31/05.
Risk comparison
This risk comparison is designed to help you understand how your fund
compares with other funds. The comparison utilizes a risk measure
developed by Morningstar, an independent fund-rating agency. This risk
measure is referred to as the fund's Overall Morningstar Risk.
Your fund's Overall Morningstar Risk is shown alongside that of the
average fund in its broad asset class, as determined by Morningstar. The
risk bar broadens the comparison by translating the fund's Overall
Morningstar Risk into a percentile, which is based on the fund's ranking
among all funds rated by Morningstar as of June 30, 2005. A higher
Overall Morningstar Risk generally indicates that a fund's monthly
returns have varied more widely.
[GRAPHIC OMITTED: chart MORNINGSTAR [REGISTRATION MARK] RISK]
MORNINGSTAR [REGISTRATION MARK] RISK
Fund's Overall
Morningstar Risk 0.18
Municipal bond
fund average 0.20
0% INCREASING RISK 100%
Morningstar determines a fund's Overall Morningstar Risk by assessing
variations in the fund's monthly returns -- with an emphasis on
downside variations -- over 3-, 5-, and 10-year periods, if available.
Those measures are weighted and averaged to produce the fund's Overall
Morningstar Risk. The information shown is provided for the fund's class
A shares only; information for other classes may vary. Overall
Morningstar Risk is based on historical data and does not indicate
future results. Morningstar does not purport to measure the risk
associated with a current investment in a fund, either on an absolute
basis or on a relative basis. Low Overall Morningstar Risk does not mean
that you cannot lose money on an investment in a fund. Copyright 2004
Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The information contained herein
(1) is proprietary to Morningstar and/or its content providers; (2) may
not be copied or distributed; and (3) is not warranted to be accurate,
complete, or timely. Neither Morningstar nor its content providers are
responsible for any damages or losses arising from any use of this
information.
Terms and definitions
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 price, or value, of one share of a mutual
fund, without a sales charge. NAVs fluctuate with market conditions. NAV
is calculated by dividing the net assets of each class of shares by the
number of outstanding shares in the class.
Public offering price (POP) is the price of a mutual fund share plus the
maximum sales charge levied at the time of purchase. POP performance
figures shown here assume the 4.50% maximum sales charge for class A
shares (since reduced to 3.75%) and 3.25% for class M shares.
Contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) is a charge applied at the time
of the redemption of class B or class C shares and assumes redemption at
the end of the period. Your fund's class B CDSC declines from a 5%
maximum during the first year to 1% during the sixth year. After the
sixth year, the CDSC no longer applies. The CDSC for class C shares is
1% for one year after purchase.
Class A shares are generally subject to an initial sales charge and no
sales charge on redemption (except on certain redemptions of shares
bought without an initial sales charge).
Class B shares may be subject to a sales charge upon redemption.
Class C shares are not subject to an initial sales charge and are
subject to a contingent deferred sales charge only if the shares are
redeemed during the first year.
Class M shares have a lower initial sales charge and a higher 12b-1 fee
than class A shares and no sales charge on redemption (except on certain
redemptions of shares bought without an initial sales charge).
Comparative indexes
JP Morgan Global High Yield Index is an unmanaged index of global
high-yield fixed-income securities.
Lehman Aggregate Bond Index is an unmanaged index of U.S.
investment-grade fixed-income securities.
Lehman Intermediate Government Bond Index is an unmanaged index of U.S.
Treasury and agency securities with maturities between 1 and 10 years.
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 funds
(without sales charges) with similar current investment styles or
objectives as determined by Lipper. Lipper category averages reflect
performance trends for funds within a category and are based on results
at net asset value.
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 each fund's management contract with Putnam
Management. In this regard the Board of Trustees, with the assistance of
its Contract Committee consisting solely of Independent Trustees,
requests and evaluates all information it deems reasonably necessary in
the circumstances. Over the course of several months beginning in March
and ending in June of 2004, the Contract Committee reviewed 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 contract,
effective July 1, 2004.
This approval was based on the following conclusions:
* That the fee schedule currently in effect for your fund represents
reasonable compensation in light of the nature and quality of the
services being provided to the fund, the fees paid by competitive funds
and the costs incurred by Putnam Management in providing such service,
and
* That such fee schedule represents an appropriate sharing between fund
shareholders and Putnam Management of such economies of scale as may
exist in the management of the fund at current asset levels.
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 are described below.
Model fee schedules and categories; total expenses
The Trustees, working in cooperation with Putnam Management, have
developed and implemented a series of model fee schedules for the Putnam
funds designed to ensure that each fund's management fee is consistent
with the fees for similar funds in the Putnam complex and compares
favorably with fees paid by competitive funds sponsored by other advisors.
The Trustees reviewed the model fee schedule currently in effect for the
fund, including fee levels and breakpoints, and the assignment of the fund
to a particular fee category under this structure. The Trustees also
reviewed comparative fee and expense information for competitive funds.
The Trustees concluded that no changes should be made in the fund's
current fee schedule at this time. The Trustees noted that expense ratios
for a number of Putnam funds had been increasing recently as a result of
declining net assets and the natural operation of fee breakpoints. They
noted that such expense ratio increases were currently being controlled by
expense limitations implemented in January 2004. They also noted that the
competitive landscape regarding mutual fund fees may be changing as a
result of fee reductions accepted by various other fund groups in
connection with recent regulatory settlements and greater focus on fees
and expenses in the mutual fund industry generally. The Trustees indicated
an intention to monitor these developments closely.
Economies of scale
As noted above, the Trustees concluded that the fee schedule currently
in effect for your fund represents an appropriate sharing of economies
of scale at current asset levels. The Trustees indicated their intention
to continue their ongoing consideration of economies of scale and in
particular to consider further the possible operation of such economies
in the event that a significant recovery in the equity markets or net
fund sales were to raise asset levels substantially above current
levels. In this regard, the Trustees noted that they had reviewed data
relating to the substantial increase in asset levels of the Putnam funds
that occurred during the years leading up to the market peak in 2000,
the subsequent decline in assets and the resulting impact on revenues
and expenses of Putnam Management. The Trustees also noted that recent
declines in net assets in many Putnam funds, together with significant
changes in the cost structure of Putnam Management have altered the
economics of Putnam Management's business in significant ways. The
Trustees concluded that they would monitor these changes carefully and
evaluate the resulting impact on Putnam Management's economics and the
sharing of economies of scale between the parties.
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 the Management Contracts.
The Trustees recognized that 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 -- 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 under-performance 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 in
an effort 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. As a general matter, the Trustees
concluded that consultation between the Trustees and Putnam Management
represents the most effective way to address investment performance
problems. The Trustees believe that investors in the Putnam funds and
their financial advisors have, as a general matter, effectively placed
their trust in the Putnam organization, under the supervision of the
funds' Trustees, to make appropriate decisions regarding the management
of the funds. The Trustees believe that the termination of the
Management Contract and engagement of a new investment adviser for
under-performing funds, with all the attendant disruptions, would not
serve the interests of fund shareholders at this time and would not
necessarily 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, which pertain
mainly to funds investing in equity securities. The Trustees believe
that soft-dollar credits and other potential benefits associated with
the allocation of fund brokerage represent assets of the funds that
should be used for the benefit of fund shareholders. The Trustees noted
recent trends in the allocation of fund brokerage, including commission
costs, the allocation of brokerage to firms that provide research
services to Putnam Management, and the sources and application of
available soft-dollar credits. Effective December 31, 2003, reflecting a
decision made by the Trustees earlier that year, Putnam Management
ceased allocating brokerage in connection with the sale of fund shares.
In addition, in preparing its budget for commission allocations in 2004,
Putnam Management voluntarily reduced substantially the allocation of
brokerage commissions to acquire research services from third-party
service providers. In light of evolving best practices in the mutual
fund industry, the Trustees concluded that this practice should be
further curtailed and possibly eliminated in the near future. The
Trustees indicated that they would 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.
Comparison of retail and institutional fee schedules
The information examined by the Trustees as part of the annual contract
reviews included information regarding fees charged by Putnam Management
and its affiliates to institutional clients such as defined benefit
pension plans and college endowments. This information included
comparison of such fees with fees charged to the Putnam funds, as well
as a detailed assessment of the differences in the services provided to
these two types of clients. The Trustees devoted special attention to
these issues and reviewed recent articles by critics of mutual fund
fees, articles by the ICI defending such fee differences, and relevant
guidance provided by decisions of the courts. The Trustees observed, in
this regard, that the differences in fee rates between institutional
clients and 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 reflects to a
substantial degree historical competitive forces operating in separate
market places. In reaching their conclusions, the Trustees considered
the fact that fee rates across all asset sectors are higher on average
for mutual funds than for institutional clients, and also considered the
differences between the services that Putnam provides to the Putnam
funds and those that it provides to institutional clients of the firm.
Settlement of regulatory charges related to market timing
Finally, in reaching their conclusions, the Trustees considered all
matters pertinent to the administrative charges filed against Putnam
Management by the SEC and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in October
2003 relating to market timing, the firm's settlement of those charges,
and the conclusions and recommendations of the Trustees' Audit and
Pricing Committee based on its review of these matters. The Trustees
considered the actions taken by the owner of Putnam Management and its
new senior management to terminate or discipline the individuals
involved, to implement new compliance systems, to indemnify the funds
against all costs and liabilities related to these matters, and
otherwise to ensure that the interests of the funds and their
shareholders are fully protected. The Trustees noted that, in addition
to the settlements of the regulatory charges which will provide
comprehensive restitution for any losses suffered by shareholders, the
new senior management of Putnam Management has moved aggressively to
control expense ratios of funds affected by market timing, to reduce
charges to new investors, to improve disclosure of fees and expenses,
and to emphasize the paramount role of investment performance in
achieving shareholders' investment goals.
Other information for shareholders
Putnam's policy on confidentiality
In order to conduct business with our shareholders, we must obtain
certain personal information such as account holders' addresses,
telephone numbers, Social Security numbers, and the names of their
financial advisors. We use this information to assign an account number
and to help us maintain accurate records of transactions and account
balances. It is our policy to protect the confidentiality of your
information, whether or not you currently own shares of our funds, and
in particular, not to sell information about you or your accounts to
outside marketing firms. We have safeguards in place designed to prevent
unauthorized access to our computer systems and procedures to protect
personal information from unauthorized use. Under certain circumstances,
we share this information with outside vendors who provide services to
us, such as mailing and proxy solicitation. In those cases, the service
providers enter into confidentiality agreements with us, and we provide
only the information necessary to process transactions and perform other
services related to your account. We may also share this information
with our Putnam affiliates to service your account or provide you with
information about other Putnam products or services. It is also our
policy to share account information with your financial advisor, if
you've listed one on your Putnam account. If you would like
clarification about our confidentiality policies or have any questions
or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us at 1-800-225-1581,
Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., or Saturdays from 9:00
a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
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, 2004, are available on the Putnam Individual Investor Web site,
www.putnaminvestments.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.
A guide to the financial statements
These sections of the report, as well as the accompanying Notes,
preceded by the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm,
constitute the fund's 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 net assets
allocated to remarketed preferred shares.)
Statement of operations shows the fund's net investment gain or loss.
This is done by first adding up all the fund's earnings -- from
dividends and interest income -- and subtracting its operating expenses
to determine net investment income (or loss). Then, any net gain or
loss the fund realized on the sales of its holdings -- as well as any
unrealized gains or losses over the period -- is added to or subtracted
from the net investment result to determine the fund's net gain or loss
for the fiscal year.
Statement of changes in net assets shows how the fund's net assets were
affected by the fund's net investment gain or loss, by distributions to
shareholders, and by changes in the number of the fund's shares. It
lists distributions and their sources (net investment income or realized
capital gains) over the current reporting period and the most recent
fiscal year-end. The distributions listed here may not match the sources
listed in the Statement of operations because the distributions are
determined on a tax basis and may be paid in a different period from the
one in which they were earned.
Financial highlights provide an overview of the fund's investment
results, per-share distributions, expense ratios, net investment
income ratios, and portfolio turnover in one summary table, reflecting
the five most recent reporting periods. In a semiannual report, the
highlight table also includes the current reporting period. For open-end
funds, a separate table is provided for each share class.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Trustees and Shareholders of
Putnam Massachusetts Tax Exempt Income Fund
In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities,
including the fund's portfolio, and the related statements of operations
and of changes in net assets and the financial highlights present
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Putnam
Massachusetts Tax Exempt Income Fund (the "fund") at May 31, 2005, and
the results of its operations, the changes in its net assets and the
financial highlights for each of the periods indicated, in conformity
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of
America. These financial statements and financial highlights (hereafter
referred to as "financial statements") are the responsibility of the
fund's management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of
these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those
standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of
material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis,
evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant
estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation. We believe that our audits, which included
confirmation of investments owned at May 31, 2005, by correspondence
with the custodian and brokers, provide a reasonable basis for our
opinion.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
July 8, 2005
The fund's portfolio
May 31, 2005
Key to Abbreviations
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AMBAC AMBAC Indemnity Corporation
FGIC Financial Guaranty Insurance Company
FSA Financial Security Assurance
GNMA Coll. Government National Mortgage Association Collateralized
G.O. Bonds General Obligation Bonds
MBIA MBIA Insurance Company
U.S. Govt. Coll. U.S. Government Collateralized
VRDN Variable Rate Demand Notes
XLCA XL Capital Assurance
Municipal bonds and notes (97.0%) (a)
Principal amount Rating (RAT) Value
Massachusetts (96.3%)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$2,150,000 Boston, Indl. Dev. Fin. Auth.
Rev. Bonds (Springhouse, Inc.), 6s,
7/1/28 BB-/P $2,165,738
5,585,000 Boston, Indl. Dev. Fin. Auth. Swr.
Fac. Rev. Bonds (Harbor Elec. Energy
Co.), 7 3/8s, 5/15/15 Aa3 5,606,110
7,435,000 Boston, Wtr. & Swr. Comm.
Rev. Bonds, Ser. A, 5 3/4s, 11/1/13 Aa2 8,347,869
Fall River, G.O. Bonds, FSA
1,990,000 5s, 2/1/13 Aaa 2,205,915
1,950,000 5s, 2/1/12 Aaa 2,149,154
2,100,000 Framingham, Hsg. Auth.
Rev. Bonds (Beaver Terrace), Ser. A,
GNMA Coll., 6.35s, 2/20/32 AAA 2,322,075
5,185,000 Holden, G.O. Bonds, FGIC, 5 1/2s,
3/1/20 Aaa 5,707,078
3,010,000 Lynn, Wtr. & Swr. Comm. Rev. Bonds,
Ser. A, MBIA, 5s, 6/1/22 Aaa 3,240,536
4,000,000 MA State College Bldg. Auth.
Rev. Bonds, Ser. B, XLCA, 5 1/2s,
5/1/28 Aaa 4,682,040
MA State Dev. Fin. Agcy. Rev. Bonds
1,150,000 (Beverly Enterprises, Inc.), 7 3/8s,
4/1/09 B+/P 1,203,360
1,480,000 (Lasell College), 6 3/4s, 7/1/31 B+ 1,544,380
1,320,000 (Lasell Village), Ser. A, 6 3/8s,
12/1/25 BB-/P 1,341,701
1,950,000 (MA Biomedical Research), Ser. C,
6 1/8s, 8/1/12 A1 2,162,082
1,830,000 (MA Biomedical Research), Ser. C,
5 7/8s, 8/1/10 A1 2,010,841
5,000,000 (WGBH Edl. Foundation), Ser. A,
AMBAC, 5 3/4s, 1/1/42 Aaa 6,297,350
1,750,000 (Boston Biomedical Research),
5 3/4s, 2/1/29 Baa3 1,810,410
1,315,000 (Hampshire College), 5.7s, 10/1/34 BBB 1,410,206
1,000,000 (Middlesex School), 5 1/8s, 9/1/23 A1 1,084,130
7,500,000 MA State Dev. Fin. Agcy. Resource
Recvy. Rev. Bonds (Semass Syst.),
Ser. A, MBIA, 5 1/2s, 1/1/10 Aaa 8,142,375
3,625,000 MA State Edl. Fin. Auth. Rev. Bonds,
Ser. E, AMBAC, 5s, 1/1/13 AAA 3,776,453
MA State G.O. Bonds
7,500,000 Ser. C, FSA, 5 1/2s, 11/1/10 Aaa 8,374,275
3,750,000 Ser. C, 5 1/4s, 8/1/15 AAA 4,028,400
13,000,000 Ser. A, FSA, 5s, 3/1/24 Aaa 13,985,400
6,500,000 Ser. D, FSA, 5s, 11/1/24 Aaa 7,182,305
9,100,000 Ser. B, U.S. Govt. Coll., 5s, 5/1/12 AAA 9,830,093
MA State Hlth. & Edl. Fac. Auth.
Rev. Bonds
3,000,000 (Winchester Hosp.), Ser. E, 6 3/4s,
7/1/30 BBB 3,489,510
3,125,000 (UMass Memorial), Ser. C, 6 1/2s,
7/1/21 Baa2 3,393,469
1,300,000 (Berkshire Hlth. Syst.), Ser. E,
6 1/4s, 10/1/31 BBB+ 1,401,023
5,000,000 (Harvard U.), Ser. N, 6 1/4s, 4/1/20 Aaa 6,378,600
1,000,000 (Learning Ctr. for Deaf Children),
Ser. C, 6 1/8s, 7/1/29 Ba2 1,012,310
3,000,000 (Hlth. Care Syst. Covenant Hlth.),
Ser. E, 6s, 7/1/31 A- 3,276,030
2,100,000 (Partners Healthcare Syst.), Ser. C,
6s, 7/1/15 Aa3 2,379,930
1,460,000 (Partners Healthcare Syst.), Ser. C,
6s, 7/1/14 Aa3 1,654,618
3,015,000 (Newton-Wellesley Hosp.), Ser. E,
MBIA, 5.9s, 7/1/11 Aaa 3,081,843
4,000,000 (Partners Healthcare Syst.), Ser. C,
5 3/4s, 7/1/32 Aa3 4,396,600
1,000,000 (Baystate Med. Ctr.), Ser. F, 5.7s,
7/1/27 A1 1,067,020
1,955,000 (Caritas Christian Oblig. Group),
Ser. A, 5 5/8s, 7/1/20 BBB 2,008,938
800,000 (Milton Hosp.), Ser. C, 5 1/2s,
7/1/16 BBB 821,976
3,665,000 (Williams College), Ser. G, 5 1/2s,
7/1/14 Aa1 4,030,254
1,265,000 (Milton Hosp.), Ser. C, 5 1/2s,
7/1/11 BBB 1,332,943
2,600,000 (Cape Cod Healthcare), Ser. B,
5.45s, 11/15/23 BBB 2,662,608
3,000,000 (Jordan Hosp.), Ser. D, 5 3/8s,
10/1/28 BBB- 2,826,870
4,250,000 (Boston College), Ser. K, 5 3/8s,
6/1/14 Aa3 4,825,238
3,000,000 (Partners Healthcare Syst.), Ser. B,
5 1/4s, 7/1/11 Aa3 3,230,970
15,800,000 (New England Med. Ctr.), MBIA,
5.24s, 7/1/18 Aaa 15,990,074
10,000,000 (MA Inst. of Tech.), Ser. I-1, 5.2s,
1/1/28 Aaa 11,593,300
5,245,000 (Simmons College), Ser. F, FGIC, 5s,
10/1/33 Aaa 5,525,712
1,000,000 (Wellesley College), 5s, 7/1/17 Aa1 1,086,390
2,000,000 (New England Med. Ctr. Hosp.),
Ser. H, FGIC, 5s, 5/15/11 Aaa 2,180,020
3,840,000 (New England Med. Ctr. Hosp.),
Ser. H, FGIC, 5s, 5/15/10 Aaa 4,152,230
3,660,000 (New England Med. Ctr. Hosp.),
Ser. H, FGIC, 5s, 5/15/09 Aaa 3,915,212
4,160,000 MA State Hlth. & Edl. Fac. Auth.
VRDN, Ser. D, MBIA, 2.83s, 1/1/35 VMIG1 4,160,000
MA State Hsg. Fin. Agcy. Rev. Bonds
2,000,000 (Rental Mtge.), Ser. E, AMBAC, 5.9s,
7/1/25 Aaa 2,055,040
5,000,000 (Rental Mtge.), Ser. C, AMBAC,
5 5/8s, 7/1/40 Aaa 5,140,750
1,525,000 (Single Fam.), Ser. 86, 5.1s,
12/1/21 Aa2 1,557,193
1,590,000 (Rental Mtge.), Ser. E, FSA, 4.1s,
7/1/06 Aaa 1,591,781
1,520,000 (Rental Mtge.), Ser. E, FSA, 3.95s,
7/1/05 Aaa 1,520,684
MA State Hsg. Fin. Auth. Agcy.
Single Fam. Mtge. Rev. Bonds, Ser.
84
435,000 4 1/4s, 12/1/07 Aa2 433,047
360,000 4.05s, 12/1/06 Aa2 359,690
405,000 3.9s, 12/1/05 AA 405,923
MA State Indl. Fin. Agcy. Rev. Bonds
1,500,000 (1st Mtge. Stone Institution &
Newton), 7.9s, 1/1/24 BB-/P 1,531,590
5,140,000 (1st Mtge. Loomis & Village), U.S.
Govt. Coll., 7 5/8s, 7/1/25 AAA 5,262,743
4,520,000 (American Hinghan, Wtr. Treatment),
6 3/4s, 12/1/25 A 4,704,461
3,850,000 (1st Mtge. Berkshire Retirement),
Ser. A, 6 5/8s, 7/1/16 BBB- 3,899,319
3,385,000 (Park School), 5.9s, 9/1/26 A3 3,576,388
1,650,000 (Wentworth Inst. of Tech.), 5 3/4s,
10/1/28 Baa1 1,746,162
MA State Port Auth. Rev. Bonds
2,400,000 Ser. A, MBIA, 5s, 7/1/33 Aaa 2,498,568
3,000,000 Ser. A, AMBAC, 5s, 7/1/26 Aaa 3,220,980
2,000,000 Ser. C, MBIA, 5s, 7/1/08 Aaa 2,114,900
5,330,000 Ser. C, MBIA, 5s, 7/1/07 Aaa 5,549,596
MA State Special Oblig. Dedicated
Tax Rev. Bonds, FGIC
2,000,000 5 1/4s, 1/1/22 Aaa 2,212,080
5,000,000 5 1/4s, 1/1/20 Aaa 5,553,400
MA State Wtr. Poll. Abatement
Rev. Bonds, Ser. 5
4,490,000 5 3/8s, 8/1/27 Aaa 4,806,904
2,510,000 5 3/8s, 8/1/27 (Prerefunded) Aaa 2,762,606
MA State Wtr. Resource Auth.
Rev. Bonds, Ser. A
5,500,000 6 1/2s, 7/15/19 AA 6,787,660
10,000,000 FGIC, 5 3/4s, 8/1/39 Aaa 11,263,300
4,000,000 MBIA, 5s, 8/1/29 Aaa 4,244,160
3,225,000 MBIA, 5s, 8/1/29 Aaa 3,471,745
1,065,000 Maynard, G.O. Bonds, MBIA, 5s,
2/1/13 Aaa 1,180,553
Norwell, G.O. Bonds
1,000,000 AMBAC, 5s, 2/15/25 AAA 1,079,960
1,760,000 FGIC, 5s, 11/15/18 Aaa 1,980,158
10,000,000 Quincy, Rev. Bonds, FSA, 5.3s,
1/15/11 Aaa 10,120,300
1,000,000 Springfield, G.O. Bonds, MBIA, 5s,
1/15/13 Aaa 1,107,950
U. MA Bldg. Auth. Rev. Bonds, Ser.
04-1, AMBAC
2,000,000 5 3/8s, 11/1/19 AAA 2,262,420
2,500,000 5 3/8s, 11/1/18 AAA 2,832,275
2,500,000 5 3/8s, 11/1/17 AAA 2,830,150
1,000,000 5 3/8s, 11/1/16 AAA 1,133,760
Westfield, G.O. Bonds, MBIA
2,190,000 5s, 9/1/11 Aaa 2,407,511
2,190,000 5s, 9/1/10 Aaa 2,387,669
1,000,000 Westford, G.O. Bonds, FGIC, 5 1/4s,
4/1/20 Aaa 1,090,650
--------------
331,167,990
Puerto Rico (0.7%)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$2,455,000 Children's Trust Fund Tobacco
Settlement Rev. Bonds, 5 3/8s,
5/15/33 BBB $2,482,422
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Investments
(cost $314,619,731) $333,650,412
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Percentages indicated are based on net assets of $343,865,703.
(RAT) The Moody's or Standard & Poor's ratings indicated are believed to
be the most recent ratings available at May 31, 2005 for the securities
listed. Ratings are generally ascribed to securities at the time of
issuance. While the agencies may from time to time revise such ratings,
they undertake no obligation to do so, and the ratings do not
necessarily represent what the agencies would ascribe to these
securities at May 31, 2005. Securities rated by Putnam are indicated by
"/P". Ratings are not covered by the Report of Independent Registered
Public Accounting Firm. Security ratings are defined in the Statement of
Additional Information.
The rates shown on VRDN are the current interest rates at May 31, 2005.
The fund had the following industry group concentrations greater than
10% at May 31, 2005 (as a percentage of net assets):
Health care 25.8%
Education 17.5
Water & sewer 14.4
The fund had the following insurance concentrations greater than 10% at
May 31, 2005 (as a percentage of net assets):
MBIA 17.3%
FSA 13.7
FGIC 12.7
Interest rate swap contracts outstanding at May 31, 2005
Notional Termination Unrealized
amount date appreciation
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Agreement with Citigroup Financial Products,
Inc. dated February 7, 2005 to receive quarterly
the notional amount multiplied by 3.935%
and pay quarterly the notional amount
multiplied by the USD-Muni-BMA-Rate. $4,000,000 8/10/30 $41,142
Agreement with Merrill Lynch International
& Co. C.V. dated February 7, 2005 to pay
quarterly the notional amount multiplied
by 3.125% and receive quarterly the
notional amount multiplied by the
USD-Muni-BMA-Rate. 3,000,000 8/10/09 2,928
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$44,070
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Statement of assets and liabilities
May 31, 2005
Assets
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment in securities, at value (Note 1):
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unaffiliated issuers (identified cost $314,619,731) $333,650,412
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash 5,865,637
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interest and other receivables 4,959,518
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Receivable for shares of the fund sold 29,054
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Receivable for securities sold 655,000
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Receivable for open swap contracts (Note 1) 44,070
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total assets 345,203,691
Liabilities
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributions payable to shareholders 466,830
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Payable for shares of the fund repurchased 191,729
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Payable for compensation of Manager (Note 2) 432,878
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Payable for investor servicing fees (Note 2) 23,236
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Payable for Trustee compensation and expenses (Note 2) 36,938
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Payable for administrative services (Note 2) 2,449
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Payable for distribution fees (Note 2) 152,696
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other accrued expenses 31,232
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total liabilities 1,337,988
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets $343,865,703
Represented by
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paid-in capital (Unlimited shares authorized) (Notes 1 and 4) $323,479,753
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Undistributed net investment income (Note 1) 187,932
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accumulated net realized gain on investments (Note 1) 1,123,267
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net unrealized appreciation of investments 19,074,751
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total -- Representing net assets applicable to capital
shares outstanding $343,865,703
Computation of net asset value and offering price
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value and redemption price per class A share
($267,459,836 divided by 27,762,784 shares) $9.63
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Offering price per class A share (100/96.25 of $9.63)* $10.01
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value and offering price per class B share
($69,429,081 divided by 7,212,714 shares)** $9.63
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value and offering price per class C share
($1,994,216 divided by 206,921 shares)** $9.64
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value and redemption price per class M share
($4,982,570 divided by 517,245 shares) $9.63
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Offering price per class M share (100/96.75 of $9.63)*** $9.95
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* On single retail sales of less than $100,000. On sales of $100,000 or
more and on group sales, the offering price is reduced.
** Redemption price per share is equal to net asset value less any applicable
contingent deferred sales charge.
*** On single retail sales of less than $50,000. On sales of $50,000 or more
and on group sales, the offering price is reduced.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Statement of operations
Year ended May 31, 2005
Interest income $16,770,172
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expenses:
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Compensation of Manager (Note 2) 1,767,279
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investor servicing fees (Note 2) 264,218
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Custodian fees (Note 2) 116,397
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trustee compensation and expenses (Note 2) 20,176
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Administrative services (Note 2) 20,353
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution fees -- Class A (Note 2) 534,366
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution fees -- Class B (Note 2) 675,288
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution fees -- Class C (Note 2) 14,001
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution fees -- Class M (Note 2) 24,681
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other 134,739
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-recurring costs (Notes 2 and 5) 16,264
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Costs assumed by Manager (Notes 2 and 5) (16,264)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total expenses 3,571,498
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expense reduction (Note 2) (144,251)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net expenses 3,427,247
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net investment income 13,342,925
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net realized gain on investments (Notes 1 and 3) 5,148,497
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net realized gain on swap contracts (Note 1) 118,374
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net unrealized appreciation of investments and swap
contracts during the year 7,353,278
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net gain on investments 12,620,149
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations $25,963,074
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Statement of changes in net assets
Year ended May 31
Decrease in net assets 2005 2004
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operations:
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net investment income $13,342,925 $15,883,934
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net realized gain on investments 5,266,871 4,706,757
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
of investments 7,353,278 (23,755,049)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) in net assets
resulting from operations 25,963,074 (3,164,358)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributions to shareholders: (Note 1)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From ordinary income
Class A -- (127,884)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B -- (43,887)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class C -- (421)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class M -- (2,286)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From tax-exempt income
Class A (10,423,131) (12,276,618)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B (2,588,669) (3,554,946)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class C (42,958) (20,134)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class M (177,658) (197,902)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From net realized long-term gain on investments
Class A (1,687,428) --
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B (501,545) --
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class C (8,104) --
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class M (31,231) --
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Redemption fees (Note 1) 241 --
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Decrease from capital share transactions
(Note 4) (31,349,515) (88,383,406)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total decrease in net assets (20,846,924) (107,771,842)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beginning of year 364,712,627 472,484,469
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of year (including undistributed net
investment income of $187,932 and $130,214,
respectively) $343,865,703 $364,712,627
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Financial highlights
(For a common share outstanding throughout the period)
CLASS A
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Per-share Year ended May 31
operating performance 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value,
beginning of period $9.35 $9.79 $9.34 $9.20 $8.74
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment operations:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net investment income .38 .38 .42 .46 .48
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments .33 (.43) .44 .14 .46
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total from
investment operations .71 (.05) .86 .60 .94
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less distributions:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From net
investment income (.37) (.39) (.41) (.46) (.48)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From net realized
gain on investments (.06) -- -- -- --
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total distributions (.43) (.39) (.41) (.46) (.48)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Redemption fees -- (c) -- -- -- --
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value,
end of period $9.63 $9.35 $9.79 $9.34 $9.20
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total return at
net asset value (%)(a) 7.78 (.53) 9.39 6.61 10.95
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratios and supplemental data
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets, end of period
(in thousands) $267,460 $270,640 $344,042 $337,865 $285,452
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of expenses to
average net assets (%)(b) .86 .86 .84 .83 .82
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of net investment income
to average net assets (%) 3.93 3.98 4.42 4.89 5.28
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio turnover (%) 17.88 7.27 29.10 24.33 6.91
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Total return assumes dividend reinvestment and does not reflect the effect of sales charges.
(b) Includes amounts paid through expense offset arrangements (Note 2).
(c) Amount represents less than $0.01 per share.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Financial highlights
(For a common share outstanding throughout the period)
CLASS B
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Per-share Year ended May 31
operating performance 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value,
beginning of period $9.35 $9.78 $9.33 $9.19 $8.73
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment operations:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net investment income .31 .32 .36 .40 .42
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments .34 (.42) .44 .14 .46
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total from
investment operations .65 (.10) .80 .54 .88
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less distributions:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From net
investment income (.31) (.33) (.35) (.40) (.42)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From net realized
gain on investments (.06) -- -- -- --
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total distributions (.37) (.33) (.35) (.40) (.42)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Redemption fees -- (c) -- -- -- --
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value,
end of period $9.63 $9.35 $9.78 $9.33 $9.19
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total return at
net asset value (%)(a) 7.07 (1.08) 8.69 5.91 10.24
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratios and supplemental data
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets, end of period
(in thousands) $69,429 $88,253 $122,436 $118,486 $121,881
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of expenses to
average net assets (%)(b) 1.51 1.51 1.49 1.48 1.47
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of net investment income
to average net assets (%) 3.28 3.33 3.77 4.25 4.63
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio turnover (%) 17.88 7.27 29.10 24.33 6.91
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Total return assumes dividend reinvestment and does not reflect the effect of sales charges.
(b) Includes amounts paid through expense offset arrangements (Note 2).
(c) Amount represents less than $0.01 per share.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Financial highlights
(For a common share outstanding throughout the period)
CLASS C
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the period
Year ended August 19, 2003+
Per-share May 31 to May 31
operating performance 2005 2004
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value,
beginning of period $9.36 $9.35
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment operations:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net investment income .30 .24
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net realized and unrealized
gain on investments .34 .02
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total from
investment operations .64 .26
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less distributions:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From net
investment income (.30) (.25)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From net realized
gain on investments (.06) --
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total distributions (.36) (.25)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Redemption fees -- (c) --
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value,
end of period $9.64 $9.36
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total return at
net asset value (%)(a) 6.90 2.71*
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratios and supplemental data
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets, end of period
(in thousands) $1,994 $987
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of expenses to
average net assets (%)(b) 1.66 1.30*
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of net investment income
to average net assets (%) 3.11 2.52*
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio turnover (%) 17.88 7.27
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ Commencement of operations.
* Not annualized.
(a) Total return assumes dividend reinvestment and does not reflect the effect of sales charges.
(b) Includes amounts paid through expense offset arrangements (Note 2).
(c) Amount represents less than $0.01 per share.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Financial highlights
(For a common share outstanding throughout the period)
CLASS M
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Per-share Year ended May 31
operating performance 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value,
beginning of period $9.35 $9.79 $9.33 $9.20 $8.74
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment operations:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net investment income .35 .36 .39 .43 .45
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net realized and unrealized
gain (loss) on investments .33 (.44) .45 .13 .46
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total from
investment operations .68 (.08) .84 .56 .91
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less distributions:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From net
investment income (.34) (.36) (.38) (.43) (.45)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From net realized
gain on investments (.06) -- -- -- --
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total distributions (.40) (.36) (.38) (.43) (.45)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Redemption fees -- (c) -- -- -- --
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value,
end of period $9.63 $9.35 $9.79 $9.33 $9.20
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total return at
net asset value (%)(a) 7.45 (.83) 9.18 6.17 10.61
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratios and supplemental data
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets, end of period
(in thousands) $4,983 $4,832 $6,007 $6,324 $5,855
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of expenses to
average net assets (%)(b) 1.16 1.16 1.14 1.13 1.12
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of net investment income
to average net assets (%) 3.63 3.69 4.12 4.60 4.98
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio turnover (%) 17.88 7.27 29.10 24.33 6.91
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Total return assumes dividend reinvestment and does not reflect the effect of sales charges.
(b) Includes amounts paid through expense offset arrangements (Note 2).
(c) Amount represents less than $0.01 per share.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Notes to financial statements
May 31, 2005
Note 1
Significant accounting policies
Putnam Massachusetts Tax Exempt Income Fund (the "fund"), a
Massachusetts business trust, is registered under the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended, as a diversified, open-end management
investment company. The fund seeks as high a level of current income
exempt from federal income tax and Massachusetts personal income tax as
Putnam Investment Management, LLC ("Putnam Management"), the fund's
manager, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Putnam LLC, believes is
consistent with preservation of capital by investing primarily in a
portfolio of investment-grade tax-exempt securities issued in the state
of Massachusetts with intermediate- to long-term maturities. The fund
may be affected by economic and political developments in the state of
Massachusetts.
The fund offers class A, class B, class C and class M shares. Class A
and class M shares are sold with a maximum front-end sales charge of
3.75% and 3.25%, respectively, and do not pay contingent deferred sales
charges. Prior to April 1, 2005, the maximum front-end sales charge for
class A shares was 4.50%. Class B shares, which convert to class A
shares after approximately eight years, do not pay a front-end sales
charge, and are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge, if those
shares are redeemed within six years of purchase. Class C shares have a
one-year 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge and do not convert to
class A shares. The expenses for class A, class B, class C and class M
shares may differ based on each class' distribution fee, which is
identified in Note 2.
A 2.00% redemption fee may apply to any shares that are redeemed (either
by selling or exchang ing into another fund) within 5 days of purchase.
The redemption fee is accounted for as an addition to paid-in-capital.
Investment income, realized and unrealized gains and losses and expenses
of the fund are borne pro-rata based on the relative net assets of each
class to the total net assets of the fund, except that each class bears
expenses unique to that class (including the distribution fees
applicable to such classes). Each class votes as a class only with
respect to its own distribution plan or other matters on which a class
vote is required by law or determined by the Trustees. Shares of each
class would receive their pro-rata share of the net assets of the fund,
if the fund were liquidated. In addition, the Trustees declare separate
dividends on each class of shares.
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 Tax-exempt bonds and notes are valued on the basis
of valuations provided by an independent pricing service, approved by the
Trustees. Such services use information with respect to transactions in
bonds, quotations from bond dealers, market transactions in comparable
securities and various relationships between securities in determining
value. Other investments 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 (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. All premiums/discounts
are amortized/accreted on a yield-to-maturity basis. The premium in
excess of the call price, if any, is amortized to the call date;
thereafter, any remaining premium is amortized to maturity.
C) Interest rate swap contracts The fund may enter into interest rate
swap contracts, which are arrangements between two parties to exchange
cash flows based on a notional principal amount, to manage the fund's
exposure to interest rates. Interest rate swap contracts are marked to
market daily based upon quotations from market makers and the change, if
any, is recorded as unrealized gain or loss. Payments received or made
are recorded as realized gains or loss. The fund could be exposed to
credit or market risk due to unfavorable changes in the fluctuation of
interest rates or if the counterparty defaults on its obligation to
perform. Risk of loss may exceed amounts recognized on the statement of
assets and liabilities. Interest rate swap contracts outstanding at
period end, if any, are listed after the fund's portfolio.
D) Federal taxes It is the policy of the fund to distribute all of its
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.
E) Distributions to shareholders Income dividends are recorded daily by
the fund and are paid monthly. Distributions from capital gains, if any,
are recorded on the ex-dividend date and paid at least annually. The
amount and character of income and gains to be distributed are
determined in accordance with income tax regulations which may differ
from generally accepted accounting principles. These differences include
temporary and permanent differences of dividends payable and straddle
loss deferrals. 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. For the
year ended May 31, 2005, the fund reclassified $52,791 to decrease
undistributed net investment income, with an increase to accumulated net
realized gains of $52,791.
The tax basis components of distributable earnings and the federal tax
cost as of period end were as follows:
Unrealized appreciation $19,669,468
Unrealized depreciation (638,787)
----------------
Net unrealized appreciation 19,030,681
Undistributed tax-exempt
income 579,588
Undistributed short-term gain 36,698
Undistributed long-term gain 2,556,592
Cost for federal income
tax purposes $314,619,731
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 lesser of (i) an annual rate of 0.50% of the average net
assets of the fund or (ii) the following annual rates expressed as a
percentage of the fund's average net assets: 0.60% of the first $500
million, 0.50% of the next $500 million, 0.45% of the next $500 million,
0.40% of the next $5 billion, 0.375% of the next $5 billion, 0.355% of
the next $5 billion, 0.34% of the next $5 billion and 0.33% thereafter.
Putnam Management has agreed to waive fees and reimburse expenses of the
fund through May 31, 2006 to the extent necessary to ensure that the
fund's expenses do not exceed the average expenses of the front-end load
funds viewed by Lipper Inc. as having the same investment classification
or objective as the fund. The expense reimbursement is based on a
comparison of the fund's expenses with the average annualized operating
expenses of the funds in its Lipper peer group for each calendar quarter
during the fund's last fiscal year, excluding 12b-1 fees and without
giving effect to any expense offset and brokerage service arrangements
that may reduce fund expenses. For the year ended May 31, 2005, Putnam
Management did not waive any of its management fee from the fund.
For the period ended May 31, 2005, Putnam Management has assumed $16,264
of legal, shareholder servicing and communication, audit and Trustee
fees incurred by the fund in connection with certain legal and
regulatory matters (including those described in Note 5).
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. Putnam
Investor Services, a division of PFTC, provides investor servicing agent
functions to the fund. During the year ended May 31, 2005, the fund paid
PFTC $375,217 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 year ended May 31, 2005, the
fund's expenses were reduced by $144,251 under these arrangements.
Each independent Trustee of the fund receives an annual Trustee fee, of
which $701, 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. George
Putnam III 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. 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.
The fund has adopted distribution plans (the "Plans") with respect to
its class A, class B, class C and class M shares pursuant to rule 12b-1
under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The purpose of the Plans is to
compensate Putnam Retail Management, a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Putnam, LLC and Putnam Retail Management GP, Inc., for services provided
and expenses incurred in distributing shares of the fund. The Plans
provide for payments by the fund to Putnam Retail Management at an
annual rate of up to 0.35%, 1.00%, 1.00% and 1.00% of the average net
assets attributable to class A, class B, class C and class M shares,
respectively. The Trustees have approved payment by the fund at the
annual rate of 0.85%, 1.00% and 0.50% for class B, class C and class M
shares, respectively. For class A shares, the annual payment rate will
equal the weighted average of (i) 0.20% on the net assets of the fund
attributable to class A shares purchased and paid for prior to April 1,
2005 and (ii) 0.25% on all other net assets of the fund attributable to
class A shares.
For the year ended May 31, 2005, Putnam Retail Management, acting as
underwriter, received net commissions of $5,860 and $337 from the sale of
class A and class M shares, respectively, and received $148,968 and $41 in
contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of class B and class C
shares, respectively.
A deferred sales charge of up to 1.00% is assessed on certain
redemptions of class A shares that were purchased without an initial
sales charge as part of an investment of $1 million or more. For the
year ended May 31, 2005, Putnam Retail Management, acting as
underwriter, received $477 on class A redemptions.
Note 3
Purchases and sales of securities
During the year ended May 31, 2005, cost of purchases and proceeds from
sales of investment securities other than short-term investments
aggregated $60,447,881 and $88,884,117, respectively. There were no
purchases or sales of U.S. government securities.
Note 4
Capital shares
At May 31, 2005, there was an unlimited number of shares of beneficial
interest authorized. Transactions in capital shares were as follows:
Year ended May 31, 2005
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Class A Shares Amount
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Shares sold 2,639,890 $25,263,511
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Shares issued in
connection with
reinvestment
of distributions 805,062 7,701,366
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
3,444,952 32,964,877
Shares repurchased (4,614,463) (44,003,971)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Net decrease (1,169,511) $(11,039,094)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Year ended May 31, 2004
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Class A Shares Amount
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Shares sold 3,301,386 $31,566,944
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Shares issued in
connection with
reinvestment
of distributions 803,572 7,698,933
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
4,104,958 39,265,877
Shares repurchased (10,320,514) (98,463,183)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Net decrease (6,215,556) $(59,197,306)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Year ended May 31, 2005
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Class B Shares Amount
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Shares sold 262,615 $2,513,940
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Shares issued in
connection with
reinvestment
of distributions 210,607 2,012,683
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
473,222 4,526,623
Shares repurchased (2,702,601) (25,810,600)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Net decrease (2,229,379) $(21,283,977)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Year ended May 31, 2004
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Class B Shares Amount
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Shares sold 661,892 $6,350,304
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Shares issued in
connection with
reinvestment
of distributions 243,988 2,335,523
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
905,880 8,685,827
Shares repurchased (3,981,180) (37,959,559)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Net decrease (3,075,300) $(29,273,732)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Year ended May 31, 2005
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Class C Shares Amount
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Shares sold 114,016 $1,089,245
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Shares issued in
connection with
reinvestment
of distributions 5,046 48,317
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
119,062 1,137,562
Shares repurchased (17,610) (169,242)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase 101,452 $968,320
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
For the period August 19, 2003
(commencement of operations)
to May 31, 2004
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Class C Shares Amount
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Shares sold 109,682 $1,046,010
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Shares issued in
connection with
reinvestment
of distributions 2,026 19,432
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
111,708 1,065,442
Shares repurchased (6,239) (59,006)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase 105,469 $1,006,436
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Year ended May 31, 2005
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Class M Shares Amount
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Shares sold 17,469 $167,122
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Shares issued in
connection with
reinvestment
of distributions 11,263 107,739
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
28,732 274,861
Shares repurchased (28,129) (269,625)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase 603 $5,236
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Year ended May 31, 2004
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Class M Shares Amount
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Shares sold 18,573 $178,932
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Shares issued in
connection with
reinvestment
of distributions 10,674 101,358
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
29,247 280,290
Shares repurchased (126,385) (1,199,094)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Net decrease (97,138) $(918,804)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Note 5
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 shareholders and the funds. The restitution amount will be
allocated to shareholders pursuant to a plan developed by an independent
consultant, with payments to shareholders 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 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.
Federal tax information
(Unaudited)
The fund has designated 100% of dividends paid from net investment
income during the fiscal year as tax exempt for Federal income tax
purposes.
Pursuant to Section 852 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, the
Fund hereby designates $4,577,232 as long term capital gain, for its
taxable year ended May 31, 2005.
The Form 1099 you receive in January 2006 will show the tax status of
all distributions paid to your account in calendar 2005.
Results of November 11, 2004
and January 10, 2005
shareholder meetings
(Unaudited)
A special meeting of shareholders of the fund was held on November 11,
2004. At that meeting, consideration of certain proposals was adjourned
to a final meeting held on January 10, 2005.
November 11, 2004 meeting
At the meeting, each of the nominees for Trustees was elected, as
follows:
Votes Votes
For Withheld
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jameson A. Baxter 21,769,260 974,336
Charles B. Curtis 21,763,032 980,564
Myra R. Drucker 21,737,452 1,006,144
Charles E. Haldeman, Jr. 21,712,283 1,031,313
John A. Hill 21,765,702 977,894
Ronald J. Jackson* 21,761,744 981,852
Paul L. Joskow 21,773,358 970,238
Elizabeth T. Kennan 21,739,298 1,004,298
John H. Mullin, III 21,751,289 992,307
Robert E. Patterson 21,762,491 981,105
George Putnam, III 21,777,217 966,379
A.J.C. Smith+ 21,715,108 1,028,488
W. Thomas Stephens 21,744,534 999,062
Richard B. Worley 21,706,302 1,037,294
A proposal to amend the fund's fundamental investment restriction with
respect to borrowing to allow the fund the investment flexibility
permitted by the Investment Company Act was approved as follows:
Votes Votes
For Against Abstentions
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15,428,161 887,681 6,427,754
* Mr. Jackson retired from the Board of Trustees on June 10, 2005.
+ Mr. Smith resigned from the Board of Trustees on January 14, 2005.
All tabulations are rounded to nearest whole number.
A proposal to amend the fund's fundamental investment restriction with
respect to making loans to enhance the fund's ability to participate in an
interfund borrowing and lending program was approved as follows:
Votes Votes
For Against Abstentions
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15,353,823 984,972 6,404,801
A proposal to amend the fund's fundamental investment restriction with
respect to diversification of investments to enhance the fund's ability
to invest in registered investment companies such as Putnam Prime Money
Market Fund was approved as follows:
Votes Votes
For Against Abstentions
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15,681,199 645,222 6,417,175
January 10, 2005 meeting
A proposal to amend the fund's Agreement and Declaration of Trust to
permit the fund to satisfy redemption requests other than in cash was
defeated as follows:
Votes Votes
For Against Abstentions
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15,614,909 724,390 6,038,283
All tabulations are rounded to nearest whole number.
About the Trustees
Jameson A. Baxter (9/6/43), Trustee since 1994
Ms. Baxter is the President of Baxter Associates, Inc., a private
investment firm that she founded in 1986.
Ms. Baxter serves as a Director of ASHTA Chemicals, Inc., Banta
Corporation (a printing and digital imaging firm), Ryerson Tull, Inc. (a
steel service corporation), the Mutual Fund Directors Forum, Advocate
Health Care and BoardSource, formerly the National Center for Nonprofit
Boards. She is Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Trustees, Mount Holyoke
College, having served as Chairman for five years and as a board member
for thirteen years. Until 2002, Ms. Baxter was a Director of Intermatic
Corporation (a manufacturer of energy control products).
Ms. Baxter has held various positions in investment banking and
corporate finance, including Vice President and Principal of the Regency
Group, and Vice President of and Consultant to First Boston Corporation.
She is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College.
Charles B. Curtis (4/27/40), Trustee since 2001
Mr. Curtis is President and Chief Operating Officer of the Nuclear
Threat Initiative (a private foundation dealing with national security
issues) and serves as Senior Advisor to the United Nations Foundation.
Mr. Curtis is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the
Trustee Advisory Council of the Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns
Hopkins University. Until 2003, Mr. Curtis was a member of the Electric
Power Research Institute Advisory Council and the University of Chicago
Board of Governors for Argonne National Laboratory. Prior to 2002, Mr.
Curtis was a Member of the Board of Directors of the Gas Technology
Institute and the Board of Directors of the Environment and Natural
Resources Program Steering Committee, John F. Kennedy School of
Government, Harvard University. Until 2001, Mr. Curtis was a member of
the Department of Defense Policy Board and Director of EG&G Technical
Services, Inc. (a fossil energy research and development support
company).
From August 1997 to December 1999, Mr. Curtis was a Partner at Hogan &
Hartson L.L.P., a Washington, D.C. law firm. Prior to May 1997, Mr.
Curtis was Deputy Secretary of Energy. He served as Chairman of the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission from 1977 to 1981 and has held
positions on the staff of the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S.
Treasury Department, and the SEC.
Myra R. Drucker (1/16/48), Trustee since 2004
Ms. Drucker is a Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of Sarah Lawrence
College, a Trustee of Commonfund (a not-for-profit firm specializing in
asset management for educational endowments and foundations) and a member
of the Investment Committee of the Kresge Foundation (a charitable trust).
She is also an ex-officio member of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)
Pension Managers Advisory Committee, having served as Chair for seven
years and a member of the Executive Committee of the Committee on
Investment of Employee Benefit Assets. She is Chair of the Advisory Board
of Hamilton Lane Advisors (an investment management firm) and a member of
the Advisory Board of RCM (an investment management firm). Until August
31, 2004, Ms. Drucker was Managing Director and a member of the Board of
Directors of General Motors Asset Management and Chief Investment Officer
of General Motors Trust Bank. Ms. Drucker also served as a member of the
NYSE Corporate Accountability and Listing Standards Committee and the
NYSE/NASD IPO Advisory Committee.
Prior to joining General Motors Asset Management in 2001, Ms. Drucker
held various executive positions in the investment management industry.
Ms. Drucker served as Chief Investment Officer of Xerox Corporation (a
technology and service company in the document industry), where she was
responsible for the investment of the company's pension assets. Ms.
Drucker was also Staff Vice President and Director of Trust Investments
for International Paper (a paper, paper distribution, packaging and
forest products company) and previously served as Manager of Trust
Investments for Xerox Corporation. Ms. Drucker received a B.A. degree in
Literature and Psychology from Sarah Lawrence College and pursued
graduate studies in economics, statistics and portfolio theory at Temple
University.
John A. Hill (1/31/42), Trustee since 1985 and Chairman since 2000
Mr. Hill is Vice Chairman of First Reserve Corporation, a private equity
buyout firm that specializes in energy investments in the diversified
worldwide energy industry.
Mr. Hill is a Director of Devon Energy Corporation, TransMontaigne Oil
Company and various private companies controlled by First Reserve
Corporation, as well as a Trustee of TH Lee, Putnam Investment Trust (a
closed-end investment company advised by an affiliate of Putnam
Management). He is also a Trustee of Sarah Lawrence College. Until 2005,
he was a Director of Continuum Health Partners of New York.
Prior to acquiring First Reserve Corporation in 1983, Mr. Hill held
executive positions in investment banking and investment management with
several firms and with the federal government, including Deputy
Associate Director of the Office of Management and Budget and Deputy
Director of the Federal Energy Administration. He is active in various
business associations, including the Economic Club of New York, and
lectures on energy issues in the United States and Europe. Mr. Hill
holds a B.A. degree in Economics from Southern Methodist University and
pursued graduate studies there as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow.
Paul L. Joskow (6/30/47), Trustee since 1997
Dr. Joskow is the Elizabeth and James Killian Professor of Economics and
Management, and Director of the Center for Energy and Environmental
Policy Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Dr. Joskow serves as a Director of National Grid Transco (a UK-based
holding company with interests in electric and gas transmission and
distribution and telecommunications infrastructure) and TransCanada
Corporation (an energy company focused on natural gas transmission and
power services). Prior to February 2005, he served on the board of the
Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research (a non-profit research
institution) and has been President of the Yale University Council
since 1993. Prior to February 2002, he was a Director of State Farm
Indemnity Company (an automobile insurance company), and, prior to March
2000, he was a Director of New England Electric System (a public utility
holding company).
Dr. Joskow has published five books and numerous articles on topics in
industrial organization, government regulation of industry, and
competition policy. He is active in industry restructuring,
environmental, energy, competition and privatization policies -- serving
as an advisor to governments and corporations worldwide. Dr. Joskow
holds a Ph.D. and M. Phil from Yale University and a B.A. from Cornell
University.
Elizabeth T. Kennan (2/25/38), Trustee since 1992
Dr. Kennan is a Partner of Cambus-Kenneth Farm (thoroughbred horse and
cattle breeding). She is President Emeritus of Mount Holyoke College.
Dr. Kennan served as Chairman and is now Lead Director of Northeast
Utilities. Until 2005, she was a Director of Talbots, Inc. She has
served as Director on a number of other boards, including Bell Atlantic,
Chastain Real Estate, Shawmut Bank, Berkshire Life Insurance and
Kentucky Home Life Insurance. She is a Trustee of the National Trust for
Historic Preservation, of Centre College and of Midway College in
Midway, Kentucky. She is also a member of The Trustees of Reservations.
Dr. Kennan has served on the oversight committee of the Folger
Shakespeare Library, as President of Five Colleges Incorporated, as a
Trustee of Notre Dame University and is active in various educational
and civic associations.
As a member of the faculty of Catholic University for twelve years,
until 1978, Dr. Kennan directed the post-doctoral program in Patristic
and Medieval Studies, taught history and published numerous articles.
Dr. Kennan holds a Ph.D. from the University of Washington in Seattle,
an M.S. from St. Hilda's College at Oxford University and an A.B. from
Mount Holyoke College. She holds several honorary doctorates.
John H. Mullin, III (6/15/41), Trustee since 1997
Mr. Mullin is the Chairman and CEO of Ridgeway Farm (a limited liability
company engaged in timber and farming).
Mr. Mullin serves as a Director of The Liberty Corporation (a
broadcasting company), Progress Energy, Inc. (a utility company,
formerly known as Carolina Power & Light) and Sonoco Products, Inc. (a
packaging company). Mr. Mullin is Trustee Emeritus of The National
Humanities Center and Washington & Lee University, where he served as
Chairman of the Investment Committee. Prior to May 2001, he was a
Director of Graphic Packaging International Corp. Prior to February
2004, he was a Director of Alex Brown Realty, Inc.
Mr. Mullin is also a past Director of Adolph Coors Company; ACX
Technologies, Inc.; Crystal Brands, Inc.; Dillon, Read & Co., Inc.;
Fisher-Price, Inc.; and The Ryland Group, Inc. Mr. Mullin is a graduate
of Washington & Lee University and The Wharton Graduate School,
University of Pennsylvania.
Robert E. Patterson (3/15/45), Trustee since 1984
Mr. Patterson is Senior Partner of Cabot Properties, L.P. and Chairman
of Cabot Properties, Inc. (a private equity firm investing in commercial
real estate).
Mr. Patterson serves as Chairman Emeritus and Trustee of the Joslin
Diabetes Center and as a Director of Brandywine Trust Group, LLC. Prior
to June 2003, he was a Trustee of Sea Education Association. Prior to
December 2001, he was President and Trustee of Cabot Industrial Trust (a
publicly traded real estate investment trust). Prior to February 1998,
he was Executive Vice President and Director of Acquisitions of Cabot
Partners Limited Partnership (a registered investment adviser involved
in institutional real estate investments). Prior to 1990, he served as
Executive Vice President of Cabot, Cabot & Forbes Realty Advisors, Inc.
(the predecessor company of Cabot Partners).
Mr. Patterson practiced law and held various positions in state
government and was the founding Executive Director of the Massachusetts
Industrial Finance Agency. Mr. Patterson is a graduate of Harvard
College and Harvard Law School.
W. Thomas Stephens (9/2/42), Trustee since 1997
Mr. Stephens is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Boise Cascade,
L.L.C. (a paper, forest products and timberland assets company).
Mr. Stephens serves as a Director of TransCanada Pipelines Limited.
Until 2004, Mr. Stephens was a Director of Xcel Energy Incorporated (a
public utility company), Qwest Communications, and Norske Canada, Inc.
(a paper manufacturer). Until 2003, Mr. Stephens was a Director of
Mail-Well, Inc. (a diversified printing company). He served as Chairman
of Mail-Well until 2001 and as CEO of MacMillan- Bloedel, Ltd. (a forest
products company) until 1999.
Prior to 1996, Mr. Stephens was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
Johns Manville Corporation. He holds B.S. and M.S. degrees from the
University of Arkansas.
Richard B. Worley (11/15/45), Trustee since 2004
Mr. Worley is Managing Partner of Permit Capital, LLC, an investment
management firm.
Mr. Worley serves on the Executive Committee of the University of
Pennsylvania Medical Center, is a Trustee of The Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation (a philanthropic organization devoted to health care issues)
and is a Director of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (a historical
preservation organization). Mr. Worley also serves on the investment
committees of Mount Holyoke College and World Wildlife Fund (a wildlife
conservation organization).
Prior to joining Permit Capital LLC in 2002, Mr. Worley served as Chief
Strategic Officer of Morgan Stanley Investment Management. He previously
served as President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment
Officer of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Investment Management and as a
Managing Director of Morgan Stanley, a financial services firm. Mr.
Worley also was the Chairman of Miller Anderson & Sherrerd, an
investment management firm.
Mr. Worley holds a B.S. degree from University of Tennessee and pursued
graduate studies in economics at the University of Texas.
Charles E. Haldeman, Jr.* (10/29/48), Trustee since 2004
Mr. Haldeman is President and Chief Executive Officer of Putnam, LLC
("Putnam Investments"). He is a member of Putnam Investments' Executive
Board of Directors and Advisory Council. Prior to November 2003, Mr.
Haldeman served as Co-Head of Putnam Investments' Investment Division.
Prior to joining Putnam Investments in 2002, Mr. Haldeman held executive
positions in the investment management industry. He previously served as
Chief Executive Officer of Delaware Investments and President & Chief
Operating Officer of United Asset Management. Mr. Haldeman was also a
partner and director of Cooke & Bieler, Inc. (an investment management
firm).
Mr. Haldeman currently serves as a Trustee of Dartmouth College and as
Emeritus Trustee of Abington Memorial Hospital. He is a graduate of
Dartmouth College, Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School. Mr.
Haldeman is also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder.
George Putnam, III* (8/10/51), Trustee since 1984 and President since 2000
Mr. Putnam is President of New Generation Research, Inc. (a publisher of
financial advisory and other research services), and of New Generation
Advisers, Inc. (a registered investment advisor to private funds). Mr.
Putnam founded the New Generation companies in 1986.
Mr. Putnam is a Director of The Boston Family Office, LLC (a registered
investment adviser). He is a Trustee of St. Mark's School, Shore Country
Day School, and until 2002 was a Trustee of the Sea Education
Association.
Mr. Putnam previously worked as an attorney with the law firm of Dechert
LLP (formerly known as Dechert Price & Rhoads) in Philadelphia. He is a
graduate of Harvard College, Harvard Business School and Harvard Law
School.
The address of each Trustee is One Post Office Square, Boston, MA 02109.
As of May 31, 2005, there were 108 Putnam Funds. All Trustees serve as
Trustees of all Putnam funds.
Each Trustee serves for an indefinite term, until his or her
resignation, retirement at age 72, death, or removal.
* Trustees who are or may be deemed to be "interested persons" (as
defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940) of the fund, Putnam
Management, Putnam Retail Management, or Marsh & McLennan Companies,
Inc., the parent company of Putnam, LLC and its affiliated companies.
Messrs. Haldeman and Putnam III are deemed "interested persons" by
virtue of their positions as officers of the fund, Putnam Management or
Putnam Retail Management and as shareholders of Marsh & McLennan
Companies, Inc. Mr. Putnam, III is the President of your fund and each
of the other Putnam funds. Mr. Haldeman is President and Chief Executive
Officer of Putnam Investments.
Officers
In addition to George Putnam, III, the other officers of the
fund are shown below:
Charles E. Porter (7/26/38)
Executive Vice President, Associate Treasurer
and Principal Executive Officer
Since 1989
Jonathan S. Horwitz (6/4/55)
Senior Vice President and Treasurer
Since 2004
Prior to 2004, Managing Director,
Putnam Investments
Steven D. Krichmar (6/27/58)
Vice President and Principal Financial Officer
Since 2002
Senior Managing Director, Putnam Investments.
Prior to July 2001, Partner,
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Michael T. Healy (1/24/58)
Assistant Treasurer and Principal
Accounting Officer
Since 2000
Managing Director, Putnam Investments
Beth S. Mazor (4/6/58)
Vice President
Since 2002
Senior Vice President, Putnam Investments
Daniel T. Gallagher (2/27/62)
Senior Vice President, Staff Counsel and
Compliance Liaison
Since 2004
Prior to 2004, Associate, Ropes & Gray LLP;
prior to 2000, Law Clerk, Massachusetts
Supreme Judicial Court
Francis J. McNamara, III (8/19/55)
Vice President and Chief Legal Officer
Since 2004
Senior Managing Director, Putnam
Investments, Putnam Management and
Putnam Retail Management. Prior to 2004,
General Counsel, State Street Research &
Management Company
James P. Pappas (2/24/53)
Vice President
Since 2004
Managing Director, Putnam Investments and
Putnam Management. During 2002, Chief
Operating Officer, Atalanta/Sosnoff Management
Corporation; prior to 2001, President and Chief
Executive Officer, UAM Investment Services, Inc.
Richard S. Robie, III (3/30/60)
Vice President
Since 2004
Senior Managing Director, Putnam
Investments, Putnam Management and
Putnam Retail Management. Prior to 2003,
Senior Vice President, United Asset
Management Corporation
Charles A. Ruys de Perez (10/17/57)
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer
Since 2004
Managing Director, Putnam Investments
Mark C. Trenchard (6/5/62)
Vice President and BSA Compliance Officer
Since 2002
Senior Vice President, Putnam Investments
Judith Cohen (6/7/45)
Vice President, Clerk and Assistant Treasurer
Since 1993
The address of each Officer is One Post Office Square, Boston, MA 02109.
Putnam puts your interests first
In January 2004, Putnam began introducing a number of
voluntary initiatives designed to reduce fund expenses,
provide investors with more useful information, and help
safeguard the interests of all Putnam investors. Visit
www.putnaminvestments.com for details.
Cost-cutting initiatives
Reduced sales charges
The maximum sales charge for class A shares has been
reduced to 5.25% for equity funds (formerly 5.75%) and
3.75% for most income funds (formerly 4.50%). The maximum
sales charge for class M shares has been reduced to 3.25%
for equity funds (formerly 3.50%).*
Lower class B purchase limit
To help ensure that investors are in the most
cost-effective share class, the maximum amount that can be
invested in class B shares has been reduced to $100,000.
(Larger trades or accumulated amounts will be refused.)
Ongoing expenses will be limited
Through calendar 2005, total ongoing expenses, including
management fees for all funds, will be maintained at or
below the average of each fund's industry peers in its
Lipper load-fund universe. For more information, please
see the Statement of Additional information.
Improved disclosure
Putnam fund prospectuses and shareholder reports have been
revised to disclose additional information that will help
shareholders compare funds and weigh their costs and risks
along with their potential benefits. Shareholders will find
easy-to-understand information about fund expense ratios,
portfolio manager compensation, risk comparisons, turnover
comparisons, brokerage commissions, and employee and
trustee ownership of Putnam funds. Disclosure of breakpoint
discounts has also been enhanced to alert investors to
potential cost savings.
Protecting investors' interests
Short-term trading fee introduced
To discourage short-term trading, which can interfere with
a fund's long-term strategy, a 2% short-term trading fee
will be imposed on any Putnam fund shares (other than money
market funds) redeemed or exchanged within five calendar
days of purchase.
* The maximum sales charge for class A shares of Putnam
Limited Duration Government Income Fund (formerly Putnam
Intermediate U.S. Government Income Fund) and Putnam
Floating Rate Income Fund remains 3.25%.
Fund information
One of the largest mutual fund families in the United States, Putnam
Investments has a heritage of investment leadership dating back to Judge
Samuel Putnam, whose Prudent Man Rule has defined fiduciary tradition
and practice since 1830. 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 presently 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
Marketing Services
Putnam Retail Management
One Post Office Square
Boston, MA 02109
Custodian
Putnam Fiduciary
Trust Company
Legal Counsel
Ropes & Gray LLP
Independent Registered
Public Accounting Firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Trustees
John A. Hill, Chairman
Jameson Adkins Baxter
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
Beth S. Mazor
Vice President
Daniel T. Gallagher
Senior Vice President,
Staff Counsel and
Compliance Liaison
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
This report is for the information of shareholders of Putnam
Massachusetts Tax Exempt Income Fund. It may also be used as sales
literature when preceded or accompanied by the current prospectus, the
most recent copy of Putnam's Quarterly Performance Summary, and Putnam's
Quarterly Ranking Summary. For more recent performance, please visit
www.putnaminvestments.com. Investors should carefully consider the
investment objective, risks, charges, and expenses of a fund, which are
described in its prospectus. For this and other information or to
request a prospectus, call 1-800-225-1581 toll free. Please read the
prospectus carefully before investing. The fund's Statement of
Additional Information contains additional information about the fund's
Trustees and is available without charge upon request by calling
1-800-225-1581.
[LOGO OMITTED]
PUTNAM INVESTMENTS
The Putnam Funds
One Post Office Square
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
PUTNAM
INVESTMENTS
Call 1-800-225-1581 or visit our Web site
www.putnaminvestments.com.
AN047-225867 7/05
Not FDIC Insured May Lose Value No Bank Guarantee
Item 2. Code of Ethics:
- -----------------------
(a) All officers of the Fund, including its principal executive, financial and
accounting officers, are employees of Putnam Investment Management, LLC,
the Fund's investment manager. As such they are subject to a comprehensive
Code of Ethics adopted and administered by Putnam Investments which is
designed to protect the interests of the firm and its clients. The Fund
has adopted a Code of Ethics which incorporates the Code of Ethics of
Putnam Investments with respect to all of its officers and Trustees who are
employees of Putnam Investment Management, LLC. For this reason, the Fund
has not adopted a separate code of ethics governing its principal
executive, financial and accounting officers.
(c) In July 2004, Putnam Investment Management, LLC, the Fund's investment
manager, Putnam Retail Management Limited Partnership, the Fund's principal
underwriter, and Putnam Investments Limited, the sub-manager for a portion
of the assets of certain funds as determined by Putnam Management from time
to time, adopted several amendments to their Code of Ethics. Some of these
amendments were adopted as a result of Putnam Investment Management's
partial settlement order with the SEC on November 13, 2003. Insofar as such
Code of Ethics applies to the Fund's principal executive officer, principal
financial officer and principal accounting officer, the amendments provided
for the following: (i) a 90-day blackout period for all shares of Putnam
open-end funds (except for money market funds) purchased or sold (including
exchanges into or out of a fund) by Putnam employees and certain family
members; (ii) a one-year holding period for all access persons that operates
in the same manner as the 90-day rule; (iii) delivery by Putnam employees to
the Code of Ethics Administrator of both quarterly account statements for
all brokerage accounts (irrespective of activity in the accounts) and
account statements for any Putnam funds not held at Putnam or for any funds
sub-advised by Putnam; (iv) a prohibition of Putnam employees from making
more than 25 trades in individual securities in their personal accounts in
any given quarter; (v) the extension of the existing prohibition of access
persons from a purchase and sale or sale and purchase of an individual
security within 60 days to include trading based on tax-lot election; (vi)
the inclusion of trades in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (ultimate parent
company of Putnam Investment Management) securities in pre-clearance and
reporting requirements; (vii) a prohibition of limit and good-until-canceled
orders as inconsistent with the requirements of daily pre-clearance; (viii)
new limits and procedures for accounts managed by outside managers and
brokers, in order for trading in such accounts to be exempt from
pre-clearance requirements; (ix) a new gift and entertainment policy that
imposes a reporting obligation on all meals and entertainment and new limits
on non-meal entertainment; (x) a number of alternatives for the reporting of
irregular activity.
In December 2004, additional amendments to the Code of Ethics were adopted.
Insofar as such Code of Ethics applies to the Fund's principal executive
officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer, the
amendments provided for the following: (i) implementation of minimum
monetary sanctions for violations of the Code; (ii) expansion of the
definition of "access person" under the Code include all Putnam employees
with access to non-public information regarding Putnam-managed mutual fund
portfolio holdings; (iii) lengthening the period during which access persons
are required to complete quarterly reports; (iv) reducing the maximum number
of trades than can be made by Putnam employees in their personal accounts in
any calendar quarter from 25 trades to 10 trades; and (v) lengthening the
required holding period for securities by access persons from 60 days to 90
days.
In March 2005, additional amendments to the Code of Ethics were adopted,
that went into effect on April 1, 2005. Insofar as such Code of Ethics
applies to the Fund's principal executive officer, principal financial
officer and principal accounting officer, the amendments (i) prohibit Putnam
employees and their immediate family members from having any direct or
indirect personal financial interest in companies that do business with
Putnam (excluding investment holdings in public companies that are not
material to the employee), unless such interest is disclosed and approved by
the Code of Ethics Officer; (ii) prohibit Putnam employees from using Putnam
assets, letterhead or other resources in making political or campaign
contributions, solicitations or endorsements;(iii) require Putnam employees
to obtain pre-clearance of personal political or campaign contributions or
other gifts to government officials or political candidates in certain
jurisdictions and to officials or candidates with whom Putnam has or is
seeking to establish a business relationship and (iv) require Putnam
employees to obtain pre-approval from Putnam's Director of Government
Relations prior to engaging in lobbying activities.
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert:
- -----------------------------------------
The Funds' Audit and Pricing Committee is comprised solely of Trustees
who are "independent" (as such term has been defined by the Securities
and Exchange Commission ("SEC") in regulations implementing Section 407
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (the "Regulations")). The Trustees believe
that each of the members of the Audit and Pricing Committee also possess
a combination of knowledge and experience with respect to financial
accounting matters, as well as other attributes, that qualify them for
service on the Committee. In addition, the Trustees have determined
that all members of the Funds' Audit and Pricing Committee meet the
financial literacy requirements of the New York Stock Exchange's rules
and that Mr. Patterson, Mr. Stephens and Mr. Worley qualify as "audit
committee financial experts" (as such term has been defined by the
Regulations) based on their review of their pertinent experience and
education. Certain other Trustees, although not on the Audit and Pricing
Committee, would also qualify as "audit committee financial experts."
The SEC has stated that the designation or identification of a person as
an audit committee financial expert pursuant to this Item 3 of Form N-CSR
does not impose on such person any duties, obligations or liability that
are greater than the duties, obligations and liability imposed on such
person as a member of the Audit and Pricing Committee and the Board of
Trustees in the absence of such designation or identification.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services:
- -----------------------------------------------
The following table presents fees billed in each of the last two fiscal
years for services rendered to the fund by the fund's independent auditors:
Audit Audit-Related Tax All Other
Fiscal year ended Fees Fees Fees Fees
- ----------------- ---------- ------------- ------- ---------
May 31, 2005 $40,336* $-- $6,463 $24
May 31, 2004 $36,148 * $-- $5,597 $75
* Includes fees of $9 and $151 billed by the fund's independent auditor
to the fund for audit procedures necessitated by regulatory and litigation
matters for the fiscal years ended May 31, 2005 and May 31, 2004,
respectively. These fees were reimbursed to the fund by Putnam.
For the fiscal years ended May 31, 2005 and May 31, 2004, the fund's
independent auditors billed aggregate non-audit fees in the amounts of $
188,600 and $ 136,521 respectively, to the fund, Putnam Management and any
entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with Putnam
Management that provides ongoing services to the fund.
Audit Fees represents fees billed for the fund's last two fiscal years.
Audit-Related Fees represents fees billed in the fund's last two fiscal
years for services traditionally performed by the fund's auditor, including
accounting consultation for proposed transactions or concerning financial
accounting and reporting standards and other audit or attest services not
required by statute or regulation.
Tax Fees represent fees billed in the fund's last two fiscal years for tax
compliance, tax planning and tax advice services. Tax planning and tax
advice services include assistance with tax audits, employee benefit plans
and requests for rulings or technical advice from taxing authorities.
All Other Fees Fees represent fees billed for services relating to an
analysis of recordkeeping fees and fund expense processing.
Pre-Approval Policies of the Audit and Pricing Committee. The Audit and
Pricing Committee of the Putnam funds has determined that, as a matter of
policy, all work performed for the funds by the funds' independent auditors
will be pre-approved by the Committee and will generally not be subject to
pre-approval procedures.
Under certain circumstances, the Audit and Pricing Committee believes that
it may be appropriate for Putnam Investment Management, LLC ("Putnam
Management") and certain of its affiliates to engage the services of the
funds' independent auditors, but only after prior approval by the Committee.
Such requests are required to be submitted in writing to the Committee and
explain, among other things, the nature of the proposed engagement, the
estimated fees, and why this work must be performed by that particular audit
firm. The Committee will review the proposed engagement at its next
meeting.
Since May 6, 2003, all work performed by the independent auditors for the
funds, Putnam Management and any entity controlling, controlled by or under
common control with Putnam Management that provides ongoing services to the
fund was pre-approved by the Committee or a member of the Committee pursuant
to the pre-approval policies discussed above. Prior to that date, the
Committee had a general policy to pre-approve the independent auditor's
engagements for non-audit services with the funds, Putnam Management and any
entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with Putnam
Management that provides ongoing services to the fund.
The following table presents fees billed by the fund's principal auditor for
services required to be approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule
2-01 of Regulation S-X.
Audit-Related Tax All Other Total Non-
Fiscal year ended Fees Fees Fees Audit Fees
- ----------------- ------------- ---- --------- ----------
May 31, 2005 $-- $-- $-- $--
May 31, 2004 $-- $-- $-- $--
Item 5. Audit Committee: Not applicable
- -------------------------
Item 6. Schedule of Investments: Not applicable
- --------------------------------
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures For Closed-End
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management Investment Companies: Not applicable
--------------------------------
Item 8. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Companies and Affiliated Purchasers: Not applicable
------------------------------------
Item 9. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders:
- ------------------------------------------------------------
Not applicable
Item 10. 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 11. Exhibits:
- ------------------
(a) The Code of Ethics of The Putnam Funds, which incorporates the
Code of Ethics of Putnam Investments, is filed herewith.
(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: July 28, 2005
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: July 28, 2005
By (Signature and Title): /s/Steven D. Krichmar
---------------------------
Steven D. Krichmar
Principal Financial Officer
Date: July 28, 2005