a_premierincomefund.htm

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

FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number: (811-05452 )

Exact name of registrant as specified in charter: Putnam Premier Income Trust

Address of principal executive offices: One Post Office Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02109

Name and address of agent for service:  Beth S. Mazor, Vice President 
  One Post Office Square 
  Boston, Massachusetts 02109 
 
Copy to:  John W. Gerstmayr, Esq. 
  Ropes & Gray LLP 
  One International Place 
  Boston, Massachusetts 02110 
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (617) 292-1000 

Date of fiscal year end: July 31, 2006


Date of reporting period: August 1, 2005 - July 31, 2006

 

Item 1. Report to Stockholders:

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




What makes Putnam different?


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

THE PRUDENT MAN RULE

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


A time-honored tradition
in money management

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

A prudent approach to investing

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

Funds for every investment goal

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

A commitment to doing
what’s right for investors

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

Industry-leading service

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


Putnam
Premier Income
Trust

7| 31| 06

Annual Report

Message from the Trustees  2 
About the fund  4 
Report from the fund managers  7 
Performance  13 
Your fund’s management  16 
Terms and definitions  19 
Trustee approval of management contract  20 
Other information for shareholders  25 
Financial statements  27 
Federal tax information  81 
Compliance certifications  82 
Shareholder meeting results  83 
About the Trustees  84 
Officers  90 

Cover photograph: © Richard H. Johnson


Message from the Trustees

Dear Fellow Shareholder

Over the last three months of your fund’s reporting period, investors were particularly preoccupied with the course of the economy. Beginning in May, a more pessimistic outlook pervaded the markets as leading economic indicators began to warn of slower growth and the Federal Reserve (the Fed) continued its series of interest-rate increases. The resulting correction undercut much of the progress that markets had achieved in the previous three months of the period.

However, we believe that today’s higher interest rates, far from being a threat to global economic fundamentals, are in fact an integral part of them. Economic growth may, indeed, be slowing somewhat as a result of the higher rates, but we consider this a typical development for the middle of an economic cycle, and one that could help provide the basis for a longer and more durable business expansion and a continued healthy investment environment. The recent correction brought valuations back to attractive levels, creating opportunities in a wide array of markets and sectors. Furthermore, since the Fed paused in its tightening cycle shortly after the close of the reporting period, the market atmosphere has gradually become more optimistic. Putnam Investments’ management team, under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Ed Haldeman, continues to focus on investment performance, and the investment professionals managing your fund have been working to take advantage of the opportunities presented by this environment.

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We would like to take this opportunity to announce the retirement of one of your fund’s Trustees, John Mullin, an independent Trustee of the Putnam funds since 1997. We thank him for his service.

In the following pages, members of your fund’s management team discuss the fund’s performance and strategies for the fiscal period ended July 31, 2006, and provide their outlook for the months ahead. As always, we thank you for your support of the Putnam funds.



Putnam Premier Income Trust: seeking broad
diversification across global bond markets


When Putnam Premier Income Trust was launched in 1988, its three-pronged focus on U.S. investment-grade bonds, high-yield corporate bonds, and non-U.S. bonds was considered innovative. Lower-rated, higher-yielding corporate bonds were relatively new, having just been established in the late 1970s. And, at the time of the fund’s launch, few investors were venturing outside the United States for fixed-income opportunities.

The bond investment landscape has undergone a transformation in the nearly two decades since. New sectors such as mortgage- and asset-backed securities now make up over one third of the U.S. investment-grade market. The high-yield corporate bond sector has also grown significantly. Outside the United States, the advent of the euro has resulted in a large market of European bonds. And there are also growing opportunities to invest in the debt of emerging-market countries.

The fund’s original investment focus has been enhanced to keep pace with this market expansion. To process the market’s increasing complexity, Putnam’s 100-member fixed-income group aligns teams of specialists with the varied investment opportunities. Each team identifies what it considers to be compelling strategies within its area of expertise. Your fund’s management team selects from among these strategies, systematically building a diversified portfolio that seeks to carefully balance risk and return.

We believe the fund’s multi-strategy approach is well suited to the expanding opportunities of today’s global bond marketplace. As different factors drive the performance of the various fixed-income

Optimizing the risk/return trade-off across multiple sectors

Putnam believes that building a diversified portfolio with multiple income-generating strategies is the best way to pursue your fund’s objectives. The fund’s portfolio is composed of a broad spectrum of government, credit, and securitized debt instruments.



sectors, the fund’s diversified strategy can take advantage of changing market leadership in pursuit of high current income.

International investing involves certain risks, such as currency fluctuations, economic instability, and political developments. Additional risks may be associated with emerging-market securities, including illiquidity and volatility. Lower-rated bonds may offer higher yields in return for more risk. Mutual funds that invest in government securities are not guaranteed. Mortgage-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk. Mutual funds that invest in bonds are subject to certain risks, including interest-rate risk, credit risk, and inflation risk. As interest rates rise, the prices of bonds fall. Long-term bonds are more exposed to interest-rate risk than short-term bonds. Unlike bonds, bond funds have ongoing fees and expenses. While diversification can help protect returns from excessive volatility, it cannot ensure protection against a market loss.

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

More assets at work While open-end funds must maintain a cash position to meet redemptions, closed-end funds are not subject to redemptions and can keep more of their assets invested in the market.

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

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



Putnam Premier Income Trust seeks high current income by investing in U.S. government and agency, high-yield corporate, and international fixed-income securities. Fund holding and sector classifications reflect the diversification of the fixed-income market. The fund is designed for investors seeking a higher level of income who can accept a moderately higher level of risk.

Highlights

For the 12 months ended July 31, 2006, Putnam Premier Income Trust had a total return at net asset value (NAV) of 3.94% . The fund’s return at market price was 1.14% .

The fund’s primary benchmark, the Lehman Government Bond Index, returned 1.24% for the period.

The average return of the fund’s Lipper category, Flexible Income Funds (closed-end), was 2.73% .

Additional fund performance, comparative performance, and Lipper data can be found in the performance section beginning on page 13.

Performance

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

Total return for periods ended 7/31/06

Since the fund’s inception (2/29/88), average annual return is 8.19% at NAV and 6.87% at market price.

  Average annual return      Cumulative return 
  NAV  Market price  NAV  Market price 

10 years  6.62%  6.54%  89.89%  88.35% 

5 years  8.84  6.82  52.74  39.11 

3 years  8.58  5.50  28.02  17.44 

1 year  3.94  1.14  3.94  1.14 


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

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Report from the fund managers

The year in review

The 12-month period ended July 31, 2006, was challenging but modestly positive for fixed-income investments, though signs of stronger inflationary pressures became increasingly evident as the period drew to a close. Short-term interest rates continued their rise as the Fed pursued its two-year program of tightening the federal funds rate, and longer-term rates increased in reaction to strong global growth as well as some anticipated inflation risks. At the same time, continued investor demand for higher yields helped drive up prices of high-yield and emerging-market bonds. Because your fund invests in a variety of fixed-income sources, its results at NAV were well ahead of the returns of its all-bond benchmark index. The fund’s results at NAV also outpaced the average return for its Lipper category. Securitized bonds, discussed in more detail later in this report, were the primary driver of this strong performance.

Because the U.S. dollar strengthened over the period, the fund’s modest positions in non-dollar-denominated securities slightly impaired returns, as small gains on such investments turned into losses when translated into U.S. dollars. However, we partly hedged the fund’s foreign-exchange exposure, which helped to mitigate these adverse effects.

Market overview

Bond yields in the United States, as well as overseas, rose throughout the period, responding to continued global growth and monetary policy tightening. Because yields of fixed-income instruments move in the opposite direction of their prices, this trend led to lower prices for most government bonds. However, strong demand for yield, worldwide economic expansion, and robust demand for commodities led to favorable performance within other sectors of the

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fixed-income market, such as high-yield and emerging-market bonds.

In the United States, the Fed continued to raise short-term interest rates in an effort to head off a higher level of price inflation without undermining economic growth. The Federal Open Market Committee met eight times during the course of the fund’s fiscal year, and raised short-term rates by a quarter of a percentage point at each meeting. As of July 31, 2006, the federal funds rate —the overnight lending rate that banks charge each other, which guides other short-term rates — stood at 5.25% . Longer-term Treasury rates also rose for the period, but by much less, as foreign purchasing continued to prop up Treasury security prices. (Note that given the inverted relationship of bond yields and prices, this also lowered yields for these securities.)

Since mid-2004, the Fed has led the global effort to cool excessive economic growth that might lead to a resurgence in inflation. Foreign central banks now seem to be leading the charge in battling inflationary pressures. Following the close of the period, the Fed declined to increase short-term rates at its August 8 meeting, explaining that it believed that inflation would moderate as U.S. growth slowed. In contrast, foreign central banks worldwide have recently enacted a series of short-term rate increases that have maintained upward pressure on global interest rates.

Market sector performance

These indexes provide an overview of performance in different market sectors for the 12 months ended 7/31/06.

Bonds   

Lehman Government Bond Index (U.S. Treasury and agency securities)  1.24% 

Citigroup Non-U.S. World Government Bond Index (international government bonds)  1.56% 

JP Morgan Global High Yield Index (global high-yield corporate bonds)  4.64% 

JP Morgan Global Diversified Emerging Markets Index (global emerging-market bonds)  7.94% 
  
Equities   

S&P 500 Index (broad stock market)  5.38% 

MSCI EAFE Index (international stocks)  24.01% 

Russell 2000 Index (small-company stocks)  4.24% 


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Strategy overview

Your fund’s managers believe that using multiple income-generating strategies to build a diversified portfolio is the best way to pursue the fund’s objective. The fund’s portfolio includes a broad spectrum of government, credit, and securitized debt instruments. The fund’s investment process involves aligning teams of specialists with these varied investment opportunities. Each team identifies what it considers to be the most compelling strategies within its area of expertise. The fund’s management team then draws from these strategies, systematically building an array of investments that seeks to carefully balance risk and return.

During the period, we continued to maintain a conservative posture regarding both duration — a measure of interest-rate sensitivity — and credit risk. Despite the Fed’s recent pause, the global trend in monetary policy is toward tightening, or higher rates. Therefore, we have kept the fund’s duration short in order to lessen the portfolio’s vulnerability to the negative impact of rising rates. With regard to credit risk, despite our expectation of continued global economic growth, we believe that the yield advantages offered by bonds from non-government entities (in particular, investment-grade corporate issuers) over those of government securities are typically too small to compensate investors adequately for the additional risk the bonds carry.

Comparison of top sector weightings

This chart shows how the fund’s top weightings have changed over the last six months. Weightings are shown as a percentage of net assets. Holdings will vary over time.


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For defensive purposes, we continued to maintain a higher level of credit quality than we have in past years by keeping the fund’s exposure to high-yield bonds relatively low and maintaining significant exposure to structured/securitized instruments with short maturities. Substantial positions in international holdings, especially emerging-market debt, further diversified the fund’s sources of return.

Your fund’s holdings

During the fund’s most recent fiscal year, the fund’s position in securitized bonds, or structured securities, contributed positively to returns. These securities currently offer higher income than corporate bonds of comparable credit quality. They also offer short maturities, which provides us with the flexibility to shift to other fixed-income securities, should interest rates rise sharply. The most common types of securitized bonds are mortgage-backed securities (MBSs) issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae). Other types of securitized bonds include asset-backed securities (ABSs), which are typically backed by car loans and credit card payments, and commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBSs), which are backed by loans on large commercial real estate projects, such as office parks or shopping malls.

Top holdings

This table shows the fund’s top holdings, and the percentage of the fund’s net assets that each comprised, as of 7/31/06. The fund’s holdings will change over time.

Holding (percent of fund’s net assets)  Coupon (%) and maturity date 

Securitized sector   

Federal National Mortgage Association 30 Yr Conventional (4.3%)  5.5%, 2036 

Federal National Mortgage Association 15 Yr Conventional (3.2%)  5%, 2021 

First Franklin Mortgage Loan Asset Backed Certificates (1.0%)  5.685%, 2034 
  
Credit sector   

Gazprom OAO 144A notes (0.3%)  9.625%, 2013 

L-3 Communications Corp. (0.3%)  6.125%, 2013 

Echostar DBS Corp. (0.3%)  6.625%, 2014 
  
Government sector   

Japan (Government of) bonds (5.0%)  0.2%, 2007 

U.S. Treasury bonds (4.1%)  6.25%, 2030 

U.S. Treasury bonds (2.5%)  7.50%, 2016 


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As the period began, the fund favored European government bonds over U.S. Treasury bonds, a decision that proved helpful to performance. European bonds benefited from the Fed’s series of interest-rate increases and the European Central Bank’s increasingly aggressive stance against inflation. However, in mid-July, the Japanese central bank ended its five-year zero interest-rate policy with an increase in short-term interest rates. In our judgment, this signaled the emergence of the Japanese economy from its prolonged restructuring. Consequently, we shifted much of the fund’s international bond exposure from European to Japanese positions.

Lastly, the fund’s higher level of exposure to high-yield and emerging-market bonds than that of its benchmark index contributed significantly to relative performance. (It should be noted that for defensive reasons we have actually kept the fund’s allocations in these credit sectors at much lower absolute levels than in past years.) Emerging-market bonds posted solid returns, as issuing countries benefited from higher commodities prices and the execution of economic policies that have evolved significantly beyond those of the 1970s and 1980s. The fund’s positions in Argentina and Brazil performed extremely well; in Argentina, government revenues rose sharply in response to a sustained economic rebound, and Brazilian bonds benefited from the country’s tight fiscal and monetary policy. However, holdings in Mexico detracted from performance, since Mexico’s bonds lagged due to investor uncertainty in the run-up to the presidential election. The fund no longer holds these bonds.

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

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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.

Though the U.S. economy could continue to slow in the months ahead, we believe that accelerating growth in Europe and Japan will take up the slack. Although the Fed paused from its credit tightening program in early August, it remains to be seen whether inflationary pressures will force the Fed to resume raising rates later in 2006. However, we do expect foreign central banks to continue to tighten credit overseas in the coming months. This shift in “inflation-fighting” leadership and global growth dynamics means that central bank behavior is likely to be less predictable over the next 12 months. This, coupled with an upward drift in interest rates, could represent a significant challenge to asset markets in general. In addition, because of the risk that Japanese investors will increasingly prefer to invest domestically (and drain capital from markets outside Japan), we remain concerned about the potential for a sudden widening of credit spreads. Therefore, we are continuing to position the fund defensively with regard to both duration and credit. As part of this defensive posture, we are maintaining an emphasis on structured securities, which tend to have shorter maturities and are of higher quality.

As part of positioning a shorter-duration portfolio, we have decreased our allocation to long-maturity bonds somewhat, in part because demand for these securities from pension funds has slackened. In addition, the fund continues to have relatively light exposure to intermediate-maturity bonds. Going forward, we will remain vigilant regarding any possible disruptions to the global economy and fixed-income markets, and continue our efforts to keep the fund positioned defensively while diversifying the portfolio across a broad range of fixed-income sectors and securities.

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

International investing involves certain risks, such as currency fluctuations, economic instability, and political developments. Additional risks may be associated with emerging-market securities, including illiquidity and volatility. 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. Lower-rated bonds may offer higher yields in return for more risk. Mutual funds that invest in government securities are not guaranteed. Mortgage-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk.

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Your fund’s performance

This section shows your fund’s performance for periods ended July 31, 2006, the end of its fiscal year. In accordance with regulatory requirements for mutual funds, we also include performance as of the most recent calendar quarter-end. Performance should always be considered in light of a fund’s investment strategy. Data represents past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. More recent returns may be less or more than those shown. Investment return, net asset value, and market price will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or a loss when you sell your shares.

Fund performance

Total return for periods ended 7/31/06

  NAV  Market price 

Annual average     
Life of fund (since 2/29/88)  8.19%  6.87% 

10 years  89.89  88.35 
Annual average  6.62  6.54 

5 years  52.74  39.11 
Annual average  8.84  6.82 

3 years  28.02  17.44 
Annual average  8.58  5.50 

1 year  3.94  1.14 


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

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Comparative index returns

For periods ended 7/31/06

    Citigroup    Lipper 
    Non-U.S.  JP Morgan  Flexible 
  Lehman  World  Global  Income Funds 
  Government  Government  High Yield  (closed-end) 
  Bond Index  Bond Index  Index  category average† 

Annual average         
Life of fund         
(since 2/29/88)  7.14%  6.80%  —*  7.27% 

10 years  81.38  58.79  95.88%  76.38 
Annual average  6.14  4.73  6.95  5.73 

5 years  24.48  55.32  55.98  45.89 
Annual average  4.48  9.21  9.30  7.61 

3 years  9.76  19.82  31.46  25.13 
Annual average  3.15  6.21  9.55  7.69 

1 year  1.24  1.56  4.64  2.73 


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

* The inception date of the JP Morgan Global High Yield Index was 12/31/93.

† Over the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year periods ended 7/31/06, there were 7 funds in this Lipper category.

Fund price and distribution information

For the 12-month period ended 7/31/06

Distributions     

Number  12   

Income  $0.360   

Capital gains     

Total  $0.360   
 
Share value:  NAV  Market price 

7/31/05  $7.16  $6.31 

7/31/06  7.02  6.02 
  
Current yield (end of period)     

Current dividend rate1  5.13%  5.98% 


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

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Fund performance for most recent calendar quarter

Total return for periods ended 6/30/06

  NAV  Market price 

Annual average     
Life of fund (since 2/29/88)  8.16%  6.86% 

10 years  89.19  82.29 
Annual average  6.58  6.19 

5 years  52.67  38.51 
Annual average  8.83  6.73 

3 years  24.33  11.73 
Annual average  7.53  3.77 

1 year  3.03  –1.40 


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Your fund’s management

Your fund is managed by the members of the Putnam Core Fixed-Income and Core Fixed-Income High Yield teams. D. William Kohli is the Portfolio Leader, and Rob Bloemker, Jeffrey Kaufman, Paul Scanlon, and David Waldman are Portfolio Members of your fund. The Portfolio Leader and Portfolio Members coordinate the teams’ management of the fund.

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

Investment team fund ownership

The table below shows how much the fund’s current Portfolio Leader and Portfolio Members have invested in the fund and in all Putnam mutual funds (in dollar ranges). Information shown is as of July 31, 2006, and July 31, 2005.


Trustee and Putnam employee fund ownership

As of July 31, 2006, all of the Trustees on the Board of the Putnam funds owned fund shares. The table below shows the approximate value of investments in the fund and all Putnam funds as of that date by the Trustees and Putnam employees. These amounts include investments by the Trustees’ and employees’ immediate family members and investments through retirement and deferred compensation plans.

    Total assets in 
  Assets in the fund  all Putnam funds 

Trustees  $59,000  $ 87,000,000 

Putnam employees  $14,000  $409,000,000 


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Fund manager compensation

The total 2005 fund manager compensation that is attributable to your fund is approximately $1,800,000. This amount includes a portion of 2005 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 2005 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 2005, the calculation reflects annualized 2005 compensation or an estimate of 2006 compensation, as applicable.

Other Putnam funds managed by the Portfolio Leader and Portfolio Members

D. William Kohli is also a Portfolio Leader of Putnam Diversified Income Trust and Putnam Master Intermediate Income Trust, and a Portfolio Member of Putnam Global Income Trust.

Rob Bloemker is also a Portfolio Member of Putnam American Government Income Fund, Putnam Diversified Income Trust, Putnam Income Fund, Putnam Limited Duration Government Income Fund, Putnam Master Intermediate Income Trust, and Putnam U.S. Government Income Trust.

Jeffrey Kaufman is also a Portfolio Member of Putnam Diversified Income Trust and Putnam Master Intermediate Income Trust.

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

David Waldman is also a Portfolio Member of Putnam Diversified Income Trust and Putnam Master Intermediate Income Trust.

D. William Kohli, Rob Bloemker, Jeffrey Kaufman, Paul Scanlon, and David Waldman 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

Your fund’s Portfolio Leader and Portfolio Members did not change during the year ended July 31, 2006.

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Putnam fund ownership by Putnam’s Executive Board

The table below shows how much the members of Putnam’s Executive Board have invested in all Putnam mutual funds (in dollar ranges). Information shown is as of July 31, 2006, and July 31, 2005.

    $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 

Philippe Bibi  2006             

Chief Technology Officer  2005           

Joshua Brooks  2006           

Deputy Head of Investments  2005           

William Connolly  2006           

Head of Retail Management  N/A           

Kevin Cronin  2006           

Head of Investments  2005           

Charles Haldeman, Jr.  2006           

President and CEO  2005           

Amrit Kanwal  2006           

Chief Financial Officer  2005           

Steven Krichmar  2006           

Chief of Operations  2005           

Francis McNamara, III  2006           

General Counsel  2005           

Richard Robie, III  2006           

Chief Administrative Officer  2005           

Edward Shadek  2006           

Deputy Head of Investments  2005           

Sandra Whiston  2006           

Head of Institutional Management  N/A           


N/A indicates the individual was not a member of Putnam’s Executive Board as of 7/31/05.

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Terms and definitions

Important terms

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

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

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

Comparative indexes

Citigroup Non-U.S. World Government Bond Index is an unmanaged index of international investment-grade fixed-income securities, excluding the United States.

JP Morgan Global Diversified Emerging Markets Bond Index is an unmanaged index of global emerging-market fixed-income securities.

JP Morgan Global High Yield Index is an unmanaged index of global high-yield fixed-income securities.

Lehman Government Bond Index is an unmanaged index of U.S. Treasury and agency securities.

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

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

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

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

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

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Trustee approval of
management contract

General conclusions

The Board of Trustees of the Putnam funds oversees the management of each fund and, as required by law, determines annually whether to approve the continuance of your fund’s management contract with Putnam Management and the sub-management contract between Putnam Management’s affiliate, Putnam Investments Limited (“PIL”), and Putnam Management. In this regard, the Board of Trustees, with the assistance of its Contract Committee consisting solely of Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) of the Putnam funds (the “Independent Trustees”), requests and evaluates all information it deems reasonably necessary under the circumstances. Over the course of several months ending in June 2006, the Contract Committee met four times to consider the information provided by Putnam Management and other information developed with the assistance of the Board’s independent counsel and independent staff. The Contract Committee reviewed and discussed key aspects of this information with all of the Independent Trustees. Upon completion of this review, the Contract Committee recommended, and the Independent Trustees approved, the continuance of your fund’s management contract and sub-management contract, effective July 1, 2006. (Because PIL is an affiliate of Putnam Management and Putnam Management remain fully responsible for all services provided by PIL, the Trustees have not evaluated PIL as a separate entity, and all subsequent references to Putnam Management below include reference to PIL as necessary or appropriate in the context.)

This approval was based on the following conclusions:

That the fee schedule 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 services, 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 and how the Trustees considered these factors are described below, although individual Trustees may have evaluated the information presented differently, giving different weights to various factors. It is also important to recognize that the fee arrangements for your fund and the other Putnam funds are the result of many years of review and discussion between the Independent Trustees and Putnam Management, that certain aspects of such arrangements may receive greater scrutiny in some years than others, and that the Trustees’ conclusions may be based, in part, on their consideration of these same arrangements in prior years.

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Management fee schedules and categories; total expenses

The Trustees reviewed the management fee schedules in effect for all Putnam funds, including fee levels and breakpoints, and the assignment of funds to particular fee categories. In reviewing fees and expenses, the Trustees generally focused their attention on material changes in circumstances — for example, changes in a fund’s size or investment style, changes in Putnam Management’s operating costs, or changes in competitive practices in the mutual fund industry — that suggest that consideration of fee changes might be warranted. The Trustees concluded that the circumstances did not warrant changes to the management fee structure of your fund, which had been carefully developed over the years, re-examined on many occasions and adjusted where appropriate. The Trustees focused on two areas of particular interest, as discussed further below:

Competitiveness. The Trustees reviewed comparative fee and expense information for competitive funds, which indicated that, in a custom peer group of competitive funds selected by Lipper Inc., your fund ranked in the 67th percentile in management fees and in the 67th percentile in total expenses as of December 31, 2005 (the first percentile being the least expensive funds and the 100th percentile being the most expensive funds). The Trustees expressed their intention to monitor this information closely to ensure that fees and expenses of your fund continue to meet evolving competitive standards.

Economies of scale. Your fund currently has the benefit of breakpoints in its management fee that provide shareholders with significant economies of scale, which means that the effective management fee rate of a fund (as a percentage of fund assets) declines as a fund grows in size and crosses specified asset thresholds. Conversely, as a fund shrinks in size — as has been the case for many Putnam funds in recent years — these breakpoints result in increasing fee levels. In recent years, the Trustees have examined the operation of the existing breakpoint structure during periods of both growth and decline in asset levels. The Trustees concluded that the fee schedules in effect for the funds represented an appropriate sharing of economies of scale at current asset levels. In reaching this conclusion, the Trustees considered the Contract Committee’s stated intent to continue to work with Putnam Management to plan for an eventual resumption in the growth of assets, including a study of potential economies that might be produced under various growth assumptions.

In connection with their review of the management fees and total expenses of the Putnam funds, the Trustees also reviewed the costs of the services to be provided and profits to be realized by Putnam Management and its affiliates from the relationship with the funds. This information included trends in revenues, expenses and profitability of Putnam Management and its affiliates relating to the investment management and distribution services provided to the funds. In this regard, the Trustees also reviewed an analysis of Putnam Management’s revenues, expenses and profitability with respect to the funds’ management contracts, allocated on a fund-by-fund basis. Because many of the costs incurred by Putnam Management in managing the funds are not readily identifiable to particular funds, the Trustees observed that the methodology for allocating

21


costs is an important factor in evaluating Putnam Management’s costs and profitability, both as to the Putnam funds in the aggregate and as to individual funds. The Trustees reviewed Putnam Management’s cost allocation methodology with the assistance of independent consultants and concluded that this methodology was reasonable and well-considered.

Investment performance

The quality of the investment process provided by Putnam Management represented a major factor in the Trustees’ evaluation of the quality of services provided by Putnam Management under your fund’s management contract. The Trustees were assisted in their review of the Putnam funds’ investment process and performance by the work of the Investment Process Committee of the Trustees and the Investment Oversight Committee of the Trustees, which meet on a regular monthly basis with the funds’ portfolio teams throughout the year. The Trustees concluded that Putnam Management generally provides a high-quality investment process — as measured by the experience and skills of the individuals assigned to the management of fund portfolios, the resources made available to such personnel, and in general the ability of Putnam Management to attract and retain high-quality personnel — but also recognize that this does not guarantee favorable investment results for every fund in every time period. The Trustees considered the investment performance of each fund over multiple time periods and considered information comparing each 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 discussed with senior management of Putnam Management the factors contributing to such underperfor-mance and actions being taken to improve performance. The Trustees recognized that, in recent years, Putnam Management has made significant changes in its investment personnel and processes and in the fund product line to address areas of underperformance. In particular, they noted the important contributions of Putnam Management’s leadership in attracting, retaining and supporting high-quality investment professionals and in systematically implementing an investment process that seeks to merge the best features of fundamental and quantitative analysis. The Trustees indicated their intention to continue to monitor performance trends to assess the effectiveness of these changes and to evaluate whether additional changes to address areas of underperformance are warranted.

In the case of your fund, the Trustees considered that your fund’s common share cumulative total return performance at net asset value was in the following percentiles of its Lipper Inc. peer group (Lipper Flexible Income Funds (closed-end)) for the one-, three- and five-year periods ended March 31, 2006 (the first percentile being the best performing funds and the 100th percentile being the worst performing funds):

22


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

56  34  34 

(Because of the passage of time, these performance results may differ from the performance results for more recent periods shown elsewhere in this report. Over the one-, three- and five-year periods ended March 31, 2006, there were 8, 8, and 8 funds, respectively, in your fund’s Lipper peer group.* Past performance is no guarantee of future performance.)

As a general matter, the Trustees concluded that cooperative efforts between the Trustees and Putnam Management represent the most effective way to address investment performance problems. The Trustees noted that investors in the Putnam funds have, in effect, placed their trust in the Putnam organization, under the oversight of the funds’ Trustees, to make appropriate decisions regarding the management of the funds. Based on the responsiveness of Putnam Management in the recent past to Trustee concerns about investment performance, the Trustees concluded that it is preferable to seek change within Putnam Management to address performance shortcomings. In the Trustees’ view, the alternative of terminating a management contract and engaging a new investment adviser for an underperforming fund would entail significant disruptions and would not provide any greater assurance of improved investment performance.

Brokerage and soft-dollar allocations; other benefits

The Trustees considered various potential benefits that Putnam Management may receive in connection with the services it provides under the management contract with your fund. These include benefits related to brokerage and soft-dollar allocations, whereby a portion of the commissions paid by a fund for brokerage may be used to acquire research services that may be useful to Putnam Management in managing the assets of the fund and of other clients. The Trustees indicated their continued intent to monitor the potential benefits associated with the allocation of fund brokerage to ensure that the principle of seeking “best price and execution” remains paramount in the portfolio trading process.

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

* The percentile rankings for your fund’s common share annualized total return performance in the Lipper Flexible Income Funds (closed-end) category for the one-, five- and ten-year periods ended June 30, 2006, were 63%, 25%, and 38%, respectively. Over the one-, five- and ten-year periods ended June 30, 2006, the fund ranked 5 out of 7, 2 out of 7, and 3 out of 7 funds, respectively. Note that this more recent information was not available when the Trustees approved the continuance of your fund’s management contract.

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Comparison of retail and institutional fee schedules

The information examined by the Trustees as part of their annual contract review has included for many years information regarding fees charged by Putnam Management and its affiliates to institutional clients such as defined benefit pension plans, college endowments, etc. This information included comparison of such fees with fees charged to the funds, as well as a detailed assessment of the differences in the services provided to these two types of clients. The Trustees observed, in this regard, that the differences in fee rates between institutional clients and the mutual funds are by no means uniform when examined by individual asset sectors, suggesting that differences in the pricing of investment management services to these types of clients reflect to a substantial degree historical competitive forces operating in separate market places. The Trustees considered the fact that fee rates across all asset sectors are higher on average for mutual funds than for institutional clients, as well as the differences between the services that Putnam Management provides to the Putnam funds and those that it provides to institutional clients of the firm, but did not rely on such comparisons to any significant extent in concluding that the management fees paid by your fund are reasonable.

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Other information
for shareholders

Important notice regarding share repurchase program

In September 2006, the Trustees of your fund approved an extension of the current share repurchase program being implemented by Putnam Investments on behalf of your fund. The plan, as extended, allows your fund to repurchase, in the 24 months ending October 6, 2007, up to 10% of the shares outstanding as of October 7, 2005.

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, 2006, are available on the Putnam Individual Investor Web site, www.putnam.com/individual, and on the SEC’s Web site, www.sec.gov. If you have questions about finding forms on the SEC’s Web site, you may call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. You may also obtain the Putnam funds’ proxy voting guidelines and procedures at no charge by calling Putnam’s Shareholder Services at 1-800-225-1581.

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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.

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Financial statements

A guide to 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. (For funds with preferred shares, the amount subtracted from total assets includes the liquidation preference of preferred shares.)

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

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

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

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Report of Independent Registered
Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Trustees and Shareholders
Putnam Premier Income Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Putnam Premier Income Trust, including the fund’s portfolio, as of July 31, 2006, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform our audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of July 31, 2006 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers or by other appropriate auditing procedures. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Putnam Premier Income Trust as of July 31, 2006, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.


Boston, Massachusetts
September 18, 2006

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The fund’s portfolio 7/31/06     
 
 
U.S. GOVERNMENT AND AGENCY MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS (13.6%)*   
  Principal amount  Value 

U.S. Government Agency Mortgage Obligations (13.6%)     
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation     
Pass-Through Certificates     
7 1/2s, with due dates from March 1, 2026 to May 1, 2027  $ 20,683  $ 21,570 
Federal National Mortgage Association     
Pass-Through Certificates     
8s, July 1, 2024  437  448 
7 1/2s, with due dates from October 1, 2022     
to August 1, 2030  95,155  98,740 
6 1/2s, October 1, 2034  276,812  280,792 
6 1/2s, April 1, 2016  57,351  58,248 
6s, TBA, August 1, 2036  5,500,000  5,464,336 
5 1/2s, with due dates from August 1, 2021 to May 1, 2036  1,769,281  1,719,075 
5 1/2s, with due dates from December 1, 2011     
to January 1, 2021  1,818,368  1,799,340 
5 1/2s, TBA, August 1, 2036  58,600,000  56,906,097 
5s, with due dates from January 1, 2021 to May 1, 2021  225,114  218,678 
5s, TBA, August 1, 2021  43,000,000  41,773,829 
4 1/2s, with due dates from May 1, 2020 to June 1, 2034  6,024,395  5,557,578 
4 1/2s, TBA, September 1, 2021  27,200,000  25,948,376 
4 1/2s, TBA, August 1, 2021  40,000,000  38,196,876 

Total U.S. government and agency mortgage obligations (cost $176,478,912)  $ 178,043,983 
 
 
U.S. TREASURY OBLIGATIONS (12.7%)*     
  Principal amount  Value 

 
U.S. Treasury Bonds     
7 1/2s, November 15, 2016  $ 27,040,000  $ 32,346,600 
6 1/4s, May 15, 2030  46,303,000  53,306,329 
6 1/4s, August 15, 2023  18,225,000  20,409,153 
U.S. Treasury Notes     
4 1/4s, August 15, 2013  29,883,000  28,678,342 
4s, November 15, 2012  3,000  2,852 
3 1/4s, August 15, 2008  20,856,000  20,173,291 
U.S. Treasury Strip zero %, November 15, 2024  28,450,000  11,043,664 

Total U.S. treasury obligations (cost $165,662,645)    $ 165,960,231 

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FOREIGN GOVERNMENT BONDS AND NOTES (19.2%)*       
    Principal amount  Value 

Argentina (Republic of ) FRB 5.59s, 2012    $ 11,392,500  $ 10,564,645 
Austria (Republic of ) 144A notes Ser. EMTN, 3.8s, 2013  EUR  8,000,000  10,187,584 
Barbados (Government of ) 144A bonds 6 5/8s, 2035    $ 980,000  922,474 
Brazil (Federal Republic of ) bonds 10 1/2s, 2014    1,865,000  2,301,410 
Brazil (Federal Republic of ) bonds 8 7/8s, 2019    4,785,000  5,533,853 
Brazil (Federal Republic of ) bonds 5.794s, 2016 (S)    2,760,000  1,271,261 
Brazil (Federal Republic of ) notes 11s, 2012    5,195,000  6,285,950 
Brazil (Federal Republic of ) notes 8 3/4s, 2025    5,112,000  5,891,580 
Canada (Government of ) bonds 5 1/2s, 2010  CAD  3,730,000  3,453,386 
Canada (Government of ) bonds Ser. WL43, 5 3/4s, 2029  CAD  1,340,000  1,413,629 
Colombia (Republic of ) notes 10s, 2012 (S)    $ 3,765,000  4,325,985 
Colombia (Republic of ) notes 0.005s, 2015    885,000,000  428,588 
France (Government of ) bonds 5 3/4s, 2032  EUR  2,605,000  4,118,411 
France (Government of ) bonds 5 1/2s, 2010  EUR  6,300,000  8,605,535 
France (Government of ) bonds 4s, 2013  EUR  7,700,000  9,938,190 
France (Government of ) bonds 4s, 2009  EUR  1,520,000  1,961,824 
France (Government of ) bonds Ser. OATe, 3s, 2012  EUR  8,441,862  11,644,333 
Germany (Federal Republic of ) bonds Ser. 97, 6s, 2007  EUR  10,560,000  13,784,475 
Germany (Federal Republic of ) bonds Ser. 97, 6s, 2007  EUR  8,820,000  11,383,745 
Ireland (Republic of ) bonds 5s, 2013  EUR  14,800,000  20,218,067 
Japan (Government of ) bonds Ser. 239, 0.2s, 2007  JPY  7,500,000,000  65,121,264 
Peru (Republic of ) bonds 7.35s, 2025    $ 1,300,000  1,322,750 
Philippines (Republic of ) bonds 9 1/2s, 2024    4,880,000  5,673,000 
Russia (Federation of ) unsub. stepped-coupon 5s       
(7 1/2s, 3/31/07), 2030 ††    4,787,000  5,213,043 
Russia (Federation of ) 144A unsub. stepped-coupon 5s       
(7 1/2s, 3/31/07), 2030 ††    5,612,700  6,112,230 
Russia (Ministry of Finance) debs. Ser. V, 3s, 2008    4,040,000  3,838,000 
South Africa (Republic of ) notes 7 3/8s, 2012    2,780,000  2,960,700 
South Africa (Republic of ) notes 6 1/2s, 2014    2,585,000  2,640,578 
Spain (Kingdom of ) bonds 5s, 2012  EUR  4,600,000  6,245,783 
Sweden (Government of ) debs. Ser. 1041, 6 3/4s, 2014  SEK  59,875,000  9,922,622 
United Mexican States bonds Ser. MTN, 8.3s, 2031    $ 4,545,000  5,465,363 
Venezuela (Republic of ) notes 10 3/4s, 2013    1,975,000  2,397,650 

Total foreign government bonds and notes (cost $238,201,471)    $ 251,147,908 

 
 
CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (17.8%)*       
    Principal amount  Value 

Basic Materials (1.4%)       
Chaparral Steel Co. company guaranty 10s, 2013    $ 950,000  $ 1,047,375 
Cognis Holding GmbH & Co. 144A sr. notes 9 1/2s,       
2014 (Germany)  EUR  514,000  733,584 
Compass Minerals International, Inc. sr. disc.       
notes stepped-coupon Ser. B, zero % (12s, 6/1/08), 2013 ††    $ 555,000  510,600 
Compass Minerals International, Inc.       
sr. notes stepped-coupon zero % (12 3/4s,       
12/15/07), 2012 ††    1,490,000  1,434,125 
Covalence Specialty Materials Corp. 144A       
sr. sub. notes 10 1/4s, 2016    925,000  899,563 

30


CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (17.8%)* continued       
    Principal amount  Value 

Basic Materials continued       
Crystal US Holdings, LLC sr. disc.       
notes stepped-coupon Ser. A, zero % (10s, 10/1/09), 2014 ††  $ 659,000  $ 520,610 
Equistar Chemicals LP/Equistar Funding Corp. company       
guaranty 10 1/8s, 2008    1,128,000  1,188,630 
Gerdau Ameristeel Corp. sr. notes 10 3/8s, 2011 (Canada)    1,315,000  1,420,200 
Huntsman, LLC company guaranty 11 5/8s, 2010    500,000  550,625 
Huntsman, LLC company guaranty 11 1/2s, 2012    380,000  423,700 
Innophos, Inc. company guaranty 8 7/8s, 2014    317,000  317,000 
International Steel Group, Inc. sr. notes 6 1/2s, 2014    250,000  236,250 
Jefferson Smurfit Corp. company guaranty 7 1/2s, 2013    490,000  443,450 
JSG Holding PLC 144A sr. notes 11 1/2s, 2015 (Ireland) ‡‡  EUR  370,310  480,548 
Lyondell Chemical Co. company guaranty 10 1/2s, 2013  $ 300,000  329,250 
MDP Acquisitions PLC sr. notes 9 5/8s, 2012 (Ireland)    170,000  175,950 
MDP Acquisitions PLC sr. notes Ser. EUR, 10 1/8s,       
2012 (Ireland)  EUR  845,000  1,174,182 
Nalco Co. sr. sub. notes 9s, 2013  EUR  140,000  188,555 
Nalco Co. sr. sub. notes 8 7/8s, 2013  $ 1,141,000  1,152,410 
Novelis, Inc. 144A sr. notes 8s, 2015    1,575,000  1,523,813 
PQ Corp. company guaranty 7 1/2s, 2013    184,000  176,640 
Rockwood Specialties Group, Inc. company       
guaranty 7 5/8s, 2014  EUR  700,000  913,297 
Steel Dynamics, Inc. company guaranty 9 1/2s, 2009  $ 1,335,000  1,378,388 
Sterling Chemicals, Inc. sec. notes 10s, 2007 ‡‡    289,802  276,761 
Stone Container Corp. sr. notes 9 3/4s, 2011    21,000  21,709 
Stone Container Corp. sr. notes 8 3/8s, 2012    399,000  379,549 
Stone Container Finance company guaranty 7 3/8s, 2014 (Canada)  290,000  258,100 
United States Steel Corp. sr. notes 9 3/4s, 2010    635,000  676,275 
      18,831,139 

 
Capital Goods (1.4%)       
Allied Waste North America, Inc. company       
guaranty Ser. B, 8 1/2s, 2008    1,422,000  1,477,103 
Blount, Inc. sr. sub. notes 8 7/8s, 2012    1,076,000  1,086,760 
Browning-Ferris Industries, Inc. sr. notes 6 3/8s, 2008    780,000  778,050 
Crown Cork & Seal Co. Inc. debs. 8s, 2023    285,000  263,625 
Crown Euro Holdings SA company guaranty 6 1/4s,       
2011 (France)  EUR  209,000  278,418 
Decrane Aircraft Holdings Co. company       
guaranty zero %, 2008 (acquired 7/23/04, cost $633,705) ‡  $ 1,932,000  1,352,400 
L-3 Communications Corp. company guaranty 6 1/8s, 2013    4,677,000  4,478,228 
L-3 Communications Corp. sr. sub. notes 5 7/8s, 2015    1,509,000  1,414,688 
Legrand SA debs. 8 1/2s, 2025 (France)    1,573,000  1,793,220 
Manitowoc Co., Inc. (The) company guaranty 10 1/2s, 2012    104,000  112,580 
Manitowoc Co., Inc. (The) sr. notes 7 1/8s, 2013    425,000  409,063 
Milacron Escrow Corp. sec. notes 11 1/2s, 2011    242,000  223,850 
Mueller Group, Inc. sr. sub. notes 10s, 2012    331,000  357,480 
Owens-Brockway Glass company guaranty 7 3/4s, 2011    186,000  189,720 
Owens-Brockway Glass sr. sec. notes 8 3/4s, 2012    1,737,000  1,832,535 
Owens-Illinois, Inc. debs. 7 1/2s, 2010    207,000  203,895 

31


CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (17.8%)* continued     
  Principal amount  Value 

Capital Goods continued     
Siebe PLC 144A sr. unsub. 6 1/2s, 2010 (United Kingdom)  $ 420,000  $ 427,392 
Terex Corp. company guaranty 9 1/4s, 2011  365,000  386,900 
Terex Corp. company guaranty Ser. B, 10 3/8s, 2011  915,000  962,470 
    18,028,377 

 
Communication Services (1.0%)     
American Cellular Corp. company guaranty 9 1/2s, 2009  375,000  384,375 
Cincinnati Bell Telephone company guaranty 6.3s, 2028  285,000  242,250 
Cincinnati Bell, Inc. company guaranty 7s, 2015  1,040,000  985,400 
Citizens Communications Co. sr. notes 6 1/4s, 2013  3,321,000  3,163,253 
Digicel, Ltd. 144A sr. notes 9 1/4s, 2012 (Jamaica)  625,000  651,563 
Inmarsat Finance PLC company guaranty 7 5/8s, 2012     
(United Kingdom)  433,000  441,660 
Inmarsat Finance PLC company guaranty stepped-coupon     
zero % (10 3/8s, 10/15/08), 2012 (United Kingdom) ††  1,683,000  1,438,965 
iPCS, Inc. sr. notes 11 1/2s, 2012  580,000  649,600 
IWO Holdings, Inc. sec. FRN 9.257s, 2012  160,000  165,200 
Qwest Communications International, Inc. company     
guaranty 7 1/2s, 2014  844,000  827,120 
Qwest Corp. debs. 7 1/4s, 2025  382,000  363,378 
Qwest Corp. notes 8 7/8s, 2012  2,424,000  2,611,860 
Qwest Corp. sr. notes 7 5/8s, 2015  797,000  809,951 
Rogers Cantel, Inc. debs. 9 3/4s, 2016 (Canada)  335,000  388,600 
Rural Cellular Corp. sr. sub. notes 9 3/4s, 2010  290,000  290,725 
    13,413,900 

 
Consumer Cyclicals (3.2%)     
Boyd Gaming Corp. sr. sub. notes 8 3/4s, 2012  1,135,000  1,190,331 
Boyd Gaming Corp. sr. sub. notes 7 3/4s, 2012  315,000  313,425 
Boyd Gaming Corp. sr. sub. notes 6 3/4s, 2014  265,000  248,438 
CanWest Media, Inc. company guaranty 8s, 2012 (Canada)  892,075  869,773 
Dex Media West, LLC/Dex Media Finance Co.     
sr. notes Ser. B, 8 1/2s, 2010  1,150,000  1,181,625 
Dex Media, Inc. notes 8s, 2013  356,000  356,000 
FelCor Lodging LP company guaranty 8 1/2s, 2008 (R)  1,012,000  1,065,130 
Ford Motor Credit Corp. notes 7 7/8s, 2010  480,000  451,604 
Ford Motor Credit Corp. notes 7 3/8s, 2009  708,000  667,838 
Ford Motor Credit Corp. 144A sr. unsecd. notes 9 3/4s, 2010  873,000  864,052 
General Motors Acceptance Corp. FRN 6.457s, 2007  680,000  675,693 
General Motors Acceptance Corp. FRN Ser. MTN, 6.039s, 2007  1,360,000  1,354,731 
General Motors Acceptance Corp. notes 7 3/4s, 2010  176,000  175,837 
General Motors Acceptance Corp. notes 6 7/8s, 2012  404,000  389,885 
General Motors Acceptance Corp. notes 6 3/4s, 2014 (S)  1,018,000  958,262 
General Motors Acceptance Corp.sr. unsub. notes 5.85s, 2009  209,000  200,844 
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (The) sr. notes 9s, 2015  765,000  736,313 
Host Marriott LP sr. notes Ser. M, 7s, 2012 (R)  1,460,000  1,460,000 
Jostens IH Corp. company guaranty 7 5/8s, 2012  1,393,000  1,349,469 
Levi Strauss & Co. sr. notes 9 3/4s, 2015  1,275,000  1,306,875 

32


CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (17.8%)* continued     
  Principal amount  Value 

Consumer Cyclicals continued     
Levi Strauss & Co. sr. notes 8 7/8s, 2016  $ 560,000  $ 543,200 
Meritage Homes Corp. company guaranty 6 1/4s, 2015  455,000  373,669 
Meritor Automotive, Inc. notes 6.8s, 2009  135,000  130,950 
MGM Mirage, Inc. company guaranty 8 1/2s, 2010  885,000  923,719 
MGM Mirage, Inc. company guaranty 6s, 2009  1,929,000  1,875,953 
Mirage Resorts, Inc. debs. 7 1/4s, 2017  173,000  165,215 
Movie Gallery, Inc. sr. unsecd. notes 11s, 2012  369,000  289,665 
Owens Corning notes 7 1/2s, 2005 (In default) † ****  1,036,000  673,400 
Oxford Industries, Inc. sr. notes 8 7/8s, 2011  880,000  884,400 
Park Place Entertainment Corp. sr. notes 7s, 2013  945,000  967,426 
Park Place Entertainment Corp.     
sr. sub. notes 7 7/8s, 2010  745,000  771,075 
Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. sr. sub. notes 8 1/4s, 2012  475,000  473,813 
PRIMEDIA, Inc. sr. notes 8s, 2013  1,336,000  1,172,340 
R.H. Donnelley Corp. sr. disc. notes Ser. A-2,     
6 7/8s, 2013  129,000  117,068 
R.H. Donnelley Corp. sr. notes 6 7/8s, 2013  521,000  472,808 
Reader’s Digest Association, Inc. (The)     
sr. notes 6 1/2s, 2011  705,000  682,969 
Resorts International Hotel and Casino, Inc. company     
guaranty 11 1/2s, 2009  875,000  936,250 
Scientific Games Corp. company guaranty 6 1/4s, 2012  1,226,000  1,143,245 
Sealy Mattress Co. sr. sub. notes 8 1/4s, 2014  1,425,000  1,425,000 
Standard Pacific Corp. sr. notes 7 3/4s, 2013  257,000  238,368 
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. company     
guaranty 7 7/8s, 2012  1,085,000  1,144,675 
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.     
debs. 7 3/8s, 2015  1,000,000  1,027,500 
Station Casinos, Inc. sr. notes 6s, 2012  910,000  854,263 
Station Casinos, Inc. sr. sub. notes 6 7/8s, 2016  990,000  910,800 
Tenneco Automotive, Inc. company guaranty 8 5/8s, 2014 (S)  553,000  548,853 
Tenneco Automotive, Inc. sec. notes Ser. B, 10 1/4s, 2013  846,000  922,140 
Texas Industries, Inc. sr. unsecd. notes 7 1/4s, 2013  318,000  318,398 
THL Buildco, Inc. (Nortek Holdings, Inc.)     
sr. sub. notes 8 1/2s, 2014  1,207,000  1,128,545 
Trump Entertainment Resorts, Inc. sec. notes 8 1/2s, 2015  229,000  219,840 
United Auto Group, Inc. company guaranty 9 5/8s, 2012  985,000  1,026,863 
Vertis, Inc. company guaranty Ser. B, 10 7/8s, 2009  1,415,000  1,404,388 
Vertis, Inc. 144A sub. notes 13 1/2s, 2009  1,158,000  984,300 
Wynn Las Vegas, LLC/Wynn Las Vegas Capital Corp. 1st     
mtge. 6 5/8s, 2014  1,087,000  1,024,498 
    41,591,721 

 
Consumer Staples (2.6%)     
Affinity Group, Inc. sr. sub. notes 9s, 2012  1,055,000  1,055,000 
AMC Entertainment, Inc. sr. sub. notes 8s, 2014  884,000  817,700 
Archibald Candy Corp. company guaranty 10s,     
2007 (In default) (F) †  173,688  9,076 

33


CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (17.8%)* continued     
  Principal amount  Value 

Consumer Staples continued     
Avis Budget Care Rental, LLC 144A sr. notes 7 3/4s, 2016  $ 560,000  $ 546,000 
Brand Services, Inc. company guaranty 12s, 2012  1,090,000  1,226,250 
CCH I Holdings LLC company guaranty stepped-coupon     
zero % (12 1/8s, 11/15/07), 2015 ††  284,000  171,820 
CCH I LLC secd. notes 11s, 2015  2,450,000  2,198,875 
CCH II, LLC/Capital Corp. sr. notes Ser. B, 10 1/4s, 2010  499,000  503,366 
CCH, LLC/Capital Corp. sr. notes 10 1/4s, 2010  166,000  167,660 
Church & Dwight Co., Inc. company guaranty 6s, 2012  865,000  807,694 
Cinemark USA, Inc. sr. sub. notes 9s, 2013  34,000  35,615 
Cinemark, Inc. sr. disc. notes stepped-coupon zero %     
(9 3/4s, 3/15/09), 2014 ††  1,915,000  1,503,275 
Constellation Brands, Inc. sr. sub. notes Ser. B,     
8 1/8s, 2012  805,000  831,163 
CSC Holdings, Inc. debs. 7 5/8s, 2018  382,000  379,135 
CSC Holdings, Inc. sr. notes Ser. B, 7 5/8s, 2011  717,000  721,481 
CSC Holdings, Inc. 144A sr. notes 7 1/4s, 2012  2,008,000  1,940,230 
Dean Foods Co. company guaranty 7s, 2016  522,000  505,035 
Dean Foods Co. sr. notes 6 5/8s, 2009  869,000  864,655 
Del Monte Corp. company guaranty 6 3/4s, 2015  640,000  596,800 
Del Monte Corp. sr. sub. notes 8 5/8s, 2012  1,085,000  1,125,688 
DirecTV Holdings, LLC company guaranty 6 3/8s, 2015  1,999,000  1,851,574 
Echostar DBS Corp. company guaranty 6 5/8s, 2014  4,144,000  3,998,960 
Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. notes 6 1/4s, 2014 (S)  233,000  188,730 
Jean Coutu Group, Inc. sr. notes 7 5/8s, 2012 (Canada)  1,025,000  996,813 
Jean Coutu Group, Inc. sr. sub. notes 8 1/2s, 2014 (Canada)  505,000  471,544 
Pinnacle Foods Holding Corp. sr. sub. notes 8 1/4s, 2013  1,439,000  1,410,220 
Playtex Products, Inc. company guaranty 9 3/8s, 2011  330,000  344,438 
Playtex Products, Inc. sec. notes 8s, 2011  1,490,000  1,544,013 
Prestige Brands, Inc. sr. sub. notes 9 1/4s, 2012  873,000  859,905 
Rainbow National Services, LLC 144A     
sr. notes 8 3/4s, 2012  936,000  989,820 
Remington Arms Co., Inc. company guaranty 10 1/2s, 2011  950,000  838,375 
Sbarro, Inc. company guaranty 11s, 2009  1,410,000  1,424,100 
Scotts Co. (The) sr. sub. notes 6 5/8s, 2013  495,000  475,819 
Six Flags, Inc. sr. notes 9 5/8s, 2014  721,000  654,308 
Young Broadcasting, Inc. company guaranty 10s, 2011  844,000  774,370 
Young Broadcasting, Inc. sr. sub. notes 8 3/4s, 2014  710,000  596,400 
    33,425,907 

 
Energy (3.6%)     
Arch Western Finance, LLC sr. notes 6 3/4s, 2013  2,598,000  2,474,595 
Bluewater Finance, Ltd. company guaranty 10 1/4s,     
2012 (Cayman Islands)  940,000  956,450 
CHC Helicopter Corp. sr. sub. notes 7 3/8s, 2014 (Canada)  1,577,000  1,482,380 
Chesapeake Energy Corp. sr. notes 7 1/2s, 2013  1,991,000  2,003,444 
Comstock Resources, Inc. sr. notes 6 7/8s, 2012  995,000  935,300 
Dresser, Inc. company guaranty 10 1/8s, 2011  1,348,000  1,374,960 
EXCO Resources, Inc. company guaranty 7 1/4s, 2011  1,410,000  1,374,750 
Forest Oil Corp. sr. notes 8s, 2011  1,465,000  1,505,288 

34


CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (17.8%)* continued     
  Principal amount  Value 

Energy continued     
Forest Oil Corp. sr. notes 8s, 2008  $ 390,000  $ 400,238 
Gazprom OAO 144A notes 9 5/8s, 2013 (Germany)  3,820,000  4,469,400 
Harvest Operations Corp. sr. notes 7 7/8s, 2011 (Canada)  1,140,000  1,091,550 
Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. sr. notes Ser. B,     
6 1/8s, 2014  1,013,000  944,623 
Massey Energy Co. sr. notes 6 5/8s, 2010  1,497,000  1,497,000 
Newfield Exploration Co. sr. notes 7 5/8s, 2011  1,360,000  1,390,600 
Newfield Exploration Co. sr. sub. notes 6 5/8s, 2014  698,000  676,188 
Offshore Logistics, Inc. company guaranty 6 1/8s, 2013  910,000  844,025 
Oslo Seismic Services, Inc. 1st mtge. 8.28s, 2011  880,216  896,620 
Pacific Energy Partners/Pacific Energy Finance Corp.     
sr. notes 7 1/8s, 2014  695,000  701,950 
Peabody Energy Corp. sr. notes 5 7/8s, 2016  1,470,000  1,323,000 
Pemex Finance, Ltd. bonds 9.69s, 2009     
(Cayman Islands)  1,277,250  1,349,773 
Pemex Project Funding Master Trust company     
guaranty 10s, 2027  2,500,000  3,156,250 
Pemex Project Funding Master Trust company     
guaranty 8 5/8s, 2022  1,215,000  1,403,325 
Pemex Project Funding Master Trust company     
guaranty 5 3/4s, 2015  3,855,000  3,672,593 
Pemex Project Funding Master Trust 144A company     
guaranty 5 3/4s, 2015  3,492,000  3,326,769 
PetroHawk Energy Corp. 144A sr. notes 9 1/8s, 2013  1,710,000  1,748,475 
Plains Exploration & Production Co.     
sr. notes 7 1/8s, 2014  1,352,000  1,338,480 
Plains Exploration & Production Co.     
sr. sub. notes 8 3/4s, 2012  1,230,000  1,286,888 
Pogo Producing Co. sr. sub. notes Ser. B, 8 1/4s, 2011  1,270,000  1,308,100 
Pride International, Inc. sr. notes 7 3/8s, 2014  1,619,000  1,635,190 
Seabulk International, Inc. company guaranty 9 1/2s, 2013  1,150,000  1,270,750 
    47,838,954 

 
Financial (0.9%)     
Bosphorus Financial Services, Ltd. 144A sec. FRN     
6.97s, 2012 (Cayman Islands)  2,828,000  2,806,765 
Crescent Real Estate Equities LP notes 7 1/2s, 2007 (R)  600,000  604,500 
Finova Group, Inc. notes 7 1/2s, 2009  853,740  247,585 
UBS Luxembourg SA for Sberbank unsec.     
sub. notes 6.23s (7.429s, 2/11/10), 2015 (Luxembourg) ††  2,730,000  2,709,525 
VTB Capital SA bonds 6 1/4s, 2035 (Luxembourg)  1,724,000  1,706,760 
VTB Capital SA sr. notes 6 1/4s, 2035 (Luxembourg)  1,065,000  1,054,350 
VTB Capital SA 144A notes 7 1/2s, 2011 (Luxembourg)  2,595,000  2,714,370 
    11,843,855 

 
Health Care (1.3%)     
Community Health Systems, Inc.     
sr. sub. notes 6 1/2s, 2012  355,000  334,588 
DaVita, Inc. company guaranty 6 5/8s, 2013  335,000  319,088 

35


CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (17.8%)* continued     
  Principal amount  Value 

Health Care continued     
Extendicare Health Services, Inc.     
sr. sub. notes 6 7/8s, 2014  $ 600,000  $ 624,000 
HCA, Inc. debs. 7.19s, 2015  1,035,000  853,928 
HCA, Inc. notes 8.36s, 2024  990,000  805,455 
HCA, Inc. notes 7.69s, 2025  900,000  710,391 
MedQuest, Inc. company guaranty Ser. B, 11 7/8s, 2012  1,100,000  1,034,000 
Omnicare, Inc. sr. sub. notes 6 1/8s, 2013  1,450,000  1,355,750 
Service Corp. International 144A sr. notes 8s, 2017  333,000  310,939 
Service Corporation International debs. 7 7/8s, 2013  112,000  113,120 
Service Corporation International notes Ser. *, 7.7s, 2009  515,000  524,656 
Service Corporation International sr. notes 6 3/4s, 2016  1,039,000  968,868 
Stewart Enterprises, Inc. sr. notes 6 1/4s, 2013  1,412,000  1,267,270 
Tenet Healthcare Corp. notes 7 3/8s, 2013  750,000  650,625 
Tenet Healthcare Corp. sr. notes 9 7/8s, 2014  1,467,000  1,400,985 
Triad Hospitals, Inc. sr. notes 7s, 2012  1,585,000  1,575,094 
Triad Hospitals, Inc. sr. sub. notes 7s, 2013  409,000  390,595 
US Oncology, Inc. company guaranty 9s, 2012  835,000  868,400 
Vanguard Health Holding Co. II, LLC     
sr. sub. notes 9s, 2014  1,081,000  1,045,868 
Ventas Realty LP/Capital Corp. company guaranty 9s, 2012 (R)  590,000  644,575 
Ventas Realty LP/Capital Corp. company     
guaranty 6 3/4s, 2010 (R)  392,000  392,980 
Ventas Realty LP/Capital Corp. sr. notes 6 5/8s, 2014 (R)  337,000  328,996 
    16,520,171 

 
Technology (0.5%)     
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. sr. notes 7 3/4s, 2012  649,000  651,434 
Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. sr. notes Ser. B, 7 1/8s, 2014  2,386,000  2,433,720 
Iron Mountain, Inc. company guaranty 8 5/8s, 2013  435,000  442,613 
Iron Mountain, Inc. sr. sub. notes 8 1/4s, 2011  770,000  775,775 
New ASAT Finance, Ltd. company guaranty 9 1/4s, 2011     
(Cayman Islands)  25,000  19,750 
SunGard Data Systems, Inc. company guaranty 9 1/8s, 2013  660,000  674,025 
Xerox Corp. sr. notes 7 5/8s, 2013  1,727,000  1,744,270 
    6,741,587 

 
Transportation (0.1%)     
CalAir, LLC/CalAir Capital Corp. company guaranty 8 1/8s, 2008  1,490,000  1,447,163 

 
Utilities & Power (1.8%)     
AES Corp. (The) sr. notes 8 7/8s, 2011  107,000  112,751 
AES Corp. (The) sr. notes 8 3/4s, 2008  60,000  62,250 
AES Corp. (The) 144A sec. notes 9s, 2015  1,113,000  1,195,084 
AES Corp. (The) 144A sec. notes 8 3/4s, 2013  895,000  961,006 
ANR Pipeline Co. debs. 9 5/8s, 2021  462,000  548,781 
Centrais Electricas Brasileirass SA 144A     
sr. notes 7 3/4s, 2015 (Brazil)  1,196,000  1,197,555 
CMS Energy Corp. sr. notes 8.9s, 2008  1,690,000  1,761,825 
CMS Energy Corp. sr. notes 7 3/4s, 2010  350,000  358,313 

36


CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (17.8%)* continued     
  Principal amount  Value 

Utilities & Power continued     
Colorado Interstate Gas Co. debs. 6.85s, 2037  $ 615,000  $ 618,559 
Colorado Interstate Gas Co. sr. notes 5.95s, 2015  173,000  159,600 
Edison Mission Energy 144A sr. notes 7 3/4s, 2016  284,000  280,450 
Edison Mission Energy 144A sr. notes 7 1/2s, 2013  338,000  333,775 
El Paso Natural Gas Co. debs. 8 5/8s, 2022  370,000  404,823 
El Paso Production Holding Co. company     
guaranty 7 3/4s, 2013  1,939,000  1,970,509 
Ferrellgas LP/Finance sr. notes 6 3/4s, 2014  1,010,000  959,500 
Midwest Generation, LLC sec. sr. notes 8 3/4s, 2034  1,321,000  1,405,214 
Mission Energy Holding Co. sec. notes 13 1/2s, 2008  1,445,000  1,614,788 
Monongahela Power Co. 1st mtge. 6.7s, 2014  775,000  808,967 
Northwestern Corp. sec. notes 5 7/8s, 2014  624,000  617,362 
Orion Power Holdings, Inc. sr. notes 12s, 2010  1,115,000  1,273,888 
SEMCO Energy, Inc. sr. notes 7 3/4s, 2013  993,000  990,808 
Teco Energy, Inc. notes 7.2s, 2011  350,000  357,438 
Teco Energy, Inc. notes 7s, 2012  550,000  550,000 
Teco Energy, Inc. sr. notes 6 3/4s, 2015  63,000  61,898 
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. debs. 7s, 2028  145,000  136,750 
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. unsecd. notes 7 1/2s, 2017  291,000  295,454 
Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Corp. debs. 7 1/4s, 2026  875,000  858,594 
Utilicorp Canada Finance Corp. company     
guaranty 7 3/4s, 2011 (Canada)  1,188,000  1,235,520 
Utilicorp United, Inc. sr. notes 9.95s, 2011  36,000  39,558 
Williams Cos., Inc. (The) notes 8 3/4s, 2032  280,000  302,400 
Williams Cos., Inc. (The) notes 8 1/8s, 2012  290,000  303,775 
Williams Cos., Inc. (The) notes 7 5/8s, 2019  1,045,000  1,055,450 
Williams Cos., Inc. (The) 144A notes 6 3/8s, 2010  336,000  328,860 
York Power Funding 144A notes 12s, 2007     
(Cayman Islands) (In default) (F) †  419,508  34,987 
    23,196,492 

Total corporate bonds and notes (cost $236,241,210)    $ 232,879,266 
 
 
COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS (13.5%)*     
  Principal amount  Value 

Amresco Commercial Mortgage Funding I Ser. 97-C1,     
Class G, 7s, 2029  $ 720,000  $ 721,761 
Banc of America Commercial Mortgage, Inc. 144A     
Ser. 01-1, Class J, 6 1/8s, 2036  318,946  316,379 
Ser. 01-1, Class K, 6 1/8s, 2036  718,000  552,652 
Banc of America Large Loan 144A     
FRB Ser. 02-FL2A, Class L1, 8.337s, 2014  412,000  411,236 
FRB Ser. 02-FL2A, Class K1, 7.837s, 2014  100,000  99,841 
FRB Ser. 05-BOCA, Class M, 7.469s, 2016  693,000  692,993 
FRB Ser. 05-MIB1, Class K, 7.369s, 2022  1,187,000  1,168,822 
FRB Ser. 05-ESHA, Class K, 7.159s, 2020  1,396,000  1,396,756 
FRB Ser. 05-BOCA, Class L, 7.069s, 2016  300,000  299,997 
FRB Ser. 06-LAQ, Class L, 6.895s, 2021  673,000  675,123 

37


COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS (13.5%)* continued     
    Principal amount  Value 

Banc of America Large Loan 144A       
FRB Ser. 06-LAQ, Class M, 6.8s, 2021  $ 808,000  $ 810,034 
FRB Ser. 05-BOCA, Class K, 6.719s, 2016    275,000  274,998 
FRB Ser. 05-BOCA, Class J, 6.469s, 2016    200,000  199,998 
FRB Ser. 05-BOCA, Class H, 6.319s, 2016    100,000  99,999 
Bear Stearns Commercial Mortgage Securities, Inc.       
144A FRB Ser. 05-LXR1, Class J, 7.019s, 2018    1,229,000  1,229,000 
Bear Stearns Commercial Mortgage       
Securitization Corp. Ser. 00-WF2, Class F, 8.198s, 2032    481,000  531,061 
Broadgate Financing PLC sec. FRB Ser. D, 5.553s,       
2023 (United Kingdom)  GBP  897,250  1,670,129 
Commercial Mortgage Acceptance Corp. Ser. 97-ML1, IO       
(Interest only), 0.916s, 2017  $ 6,950,230  82,534 
Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through       
Certificates 144A       
FRB Ser. 01-FL5A, Class G, 5.963s, 2013 (acquired       
9/26/05, cost $2,093,480) ‡    2,104,000  2,093,480 
FRB Ser. 05-F10A, Class A1, 5.469s, 2017    5,990,068  5,987,899 
Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust       
Ser. 06-OA10, Class XBI, IO, 0.338s, 2046    12,358,972  646,374 
IFB Ser. 06-14CB, Class A9, IO, zero %, 2036    2,358,559  12,714 
IFB Ser. 06-19CB, Class A2, IO, zero %, 2036    916,982  3,152 
IFB Ser. 06-20CB, Class A14, IO, zero %, 2036    1,325,740  2,486 
IFB Ser. 06-6CB, Class 1A3, IO, zero %, 2036    16,454,056  38,564 
CRESI Finance Limited Partnership 144A       
FRB Ser. 06-A, Class D, 6.149s, 2017    167,000  167,000 
FRB Ser. 06-A, Class C, 5.949s, 2017    495,000  495,000 
Criimi Mae Commercial Mortgage Trust 144A       
Ser. 98-C1, Class B, 7s, 2033    3,957,000  3,968,475 
CS First Boston Mortgage Securities Corp. 144A       
FRB Ser. 05-TFLA, Class L, 7.219s, 2020    1,356,000  1,355,986 
Ser. 1998-C2, Class F, 6 3/4s, 2030    3,176,400  3,331,364 
FRB Ser. 05-TFLA, Class K, 6.669s, 2020    758,000  757,994 
Ser. 98-C1, Class F, 6s, 2040    1,880,000  1,827,416 
Ser. 02-CP5, Class M, 5 1/4s, 2035    691,000  616,754 
Deutsche Mortgage & Asset Receiving Corp.       
Ser. 98-C1, Class X, IO, 0.981s, 2031    54,600,224  919,249 
DLJ Commercial Mortgage Corp.       
Ser. 98-CF2, Class B4, 6.04s, 2031    552,708  549,497 
Ser. 98-CF2, Class B5, 5.95s, 2031    1,771,365  1,605,529 
DLJ Mortgage Acceptance Corp. 144A       
Ser. 97-CF1, Class B2, 8.16s, 2030    539,000  431,200 
Ser. 97-CF1, Class B1, 7.91s, 2030    519,000  524,316 
European Loan Conduit FRB Ser. 6X, Class E, 6.49s,       
2010 (United Kingdom)  GBP  696,718  1,302,585 
European Loan Conduit 144A       
FRB Ser. 6A, Class F, 6.99s, 2010 (United Kingdom)  GBP  251,440  470,187 
FRB Ser. 22A, Class D, 5.59s, 2014 (Ireland)  GBP  995,000  1,857,466 
European Prime Real Estate PLC 144A FRB Ser. 1-A,       
Class D, 5.608s, 2014 (United Kingdom)  GBP  722,792  1,349,039 

38


COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS (13.5%)* continued     
  Principal amount  Value 

Fannie Mae     
IFB Ser. 06-70, Class BS, 14.3s, 2036  $ 634,000  $ 735,404 
Ser. 06-20, Class IP, IO, 8s, 2030  800,059  169,533 
IFB Ser. 06-62, Class PS, 7.59s, 2036  1,624,889  1,714,385 
Ser. 04-W8, Class 3A, 7 1/2s, 2044  838,664  874,903 
Ser. 04-W2, Class 5A, 7 1/2s, 2044  2,930,596  3,055,776 
Ser. 04-T2, Class 1A4, 7 1/2s, 2043  709,323  739,409 
Ser. 03-W4, Class 4A, 7 1/2s, 2042  221,521  229,781 
Ser. 03-W3, Class 1A3, 7 1/2s, 2042  456,091  474,198 
Ser. 02-T19, Class A3, 7 1/2s, 2042  578,864  601,893 
Ser. 03-W2, Class 1A3, 7 1/2s, 2042  9,255  9,623 
Ser. 02-W1, Class 2A, 7 1/2s, 2042  922,527  954,007 
Ser. 02-14, Class A2, 7 1/2s, 2042  4,214  4,372 
Ser. 01-T10, Class A2, 7 1/2s, 2041  579,929  600,675 
Ser. 02-T4, Class A3, 7 1/2s, 2041  2,518  2,608 
Ser. 01-T8, Class A1, 7 1/2s, 2041  6,538  6,760 
Ser. 01-T7, Class A1, 7 1/2s, 2041  2,288,033  2,364,359 
Ser. 01-T3, Class A1, 7 1/2s, 2040  352,506  364,525 
Ser. 01-T1, Class A1, 7 1/2s, 2040  1,114,973  1,154,809 
Ser. 99-T2, Class A1, 7 1/2s, 2039  449,524  468,280 
Ser. 00-T6, Class A1, 7 1/2s, 2030  220,305  228,424 
Ser. 02-W7, Class A5, 7 1/2s, 2029  376,992  391,667 
Ser. 01-T4, Class A1, 7 1/2s, 2028  1,038,634  1,084,614 
Ser. 02-W3, Class A5, 7 1/2s, 2028  2,020  2,096 
IFB Ser. 06-76, Class QB, 7 1/2s, 2036  4,007,000  4,199,133 
IFB Ser. 06-60, Class TK, 7.06s, 2036  1,137,938  1,128,425 
Ser. 04-W12, Class 1A3, 7s, 2044  961,935  990,610 
Ser. 01-T10, Class A1, 7s, 2041  2,290,285  2,345,721 
IFB Ser. 06-63, Class SP, 6.99s, 2036  4,365,652  4,484,676 
IFB Ser. 06-70, Class PK, 6.2s, 2036  1,100,000  1,093,952 
IFB Ser. 06-60, Class CS, 5.291s, 2036  1,884,082  1,688,132 
IFB Ser. 05-74, Class CS, 5.211s, 2035  1,346,164  1,295,672 
IFB Ser. 05-74, Class CP, 5.005s, 2035  1,180,814  1,141,966 
IFB Ser. 05-76, Class SA, 5.005s, 2034  1,671,699  1,596,794 
IFB Ser. 06-27, Class SP, 4.822s, 2036  1,553,000  1,489,097 
IFB Ser. 06-8, Class HP, 4.822s, 2036  1,935,054  1,843,932 
IFB Ser. 06-8, Class WK, 4.822s, 2036  2,935,321  2,765,526 
IFB Ser. 05-106, Class US, 4.822s, 2035  2,879,945  2,779,389 
IFB Ser. 05-99, Class SA, 4.822s, 2035  1,406,475  1,344,574 
IFB Ser. 05-114, Class SP, 4.771s, 2036  815,703  756,565 
IFB Ser. 05-95, Class CP, 3.896s, 2035  223,341  211,269 
IFB Ser. 05-95, Class OP, 3.722s, 2035  704,000  608,351 
IFB Ser. 05-93, Class AS, 3.412s, 2034  622,951  543,306 
IFB Ser. 05-83, Class QP, 3.393s, 2034  451,117  399,352 
IFB Ser. 02-36, Class QH, IO, 2.665s, 2029  384,862  4,820 
IFB Ser. 03-66, Class SA, IO, 2.265s, 2033  2,644,216  192,533 
IFB Ser. 03-48, Class S, IO, 2.165s, 2033  1,189,947  85,527 
IFB Ser. 05-56, Class TP, 1.995s, 2033  535,006  459,155 
IFB Ser. 05-113, Class DI, IO, 1.845s, 2036  1,849,675  99,197 
IFB Ser. 04-51, Class S0, IO, 1.665s, 2034  654,531  31,704 

39


COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS (13.5%)* continued     
  Principal amount  Value 

Fannie Mae     
IFB Ser. 05-95, Class CI, IO, 1.315s, 2035  $ 2,964,143  $ 159,723 
IFB Ser. 05-84, Class SG, IO, 1.315s, 2035  5,209,333  275,704 
IFB Ser. 05-87, Class SG, IO, 1.315s, 2035  6,518,628  298,648 
IFB Ser. 05-69, Class AS, IO, 1.315s, 2035  1,366,934  67,706 
IFB Ser. 04-92, Class S, IO, 1.315s, 2034  4,209,018  211,768 
IFB Ser. 05-104, Class SI, IO, 1.315s, 2033  6,842,497  353,107 
IFB Ser. 05-83, Class QI, IO, 1.305s, 2035  746,312  45,081 
IFB Ser. 05-92, Class SC, IO, 1.295s, 2035  6,944,207  360,785 
IFB Ser. 06-20, Class PI, IO, 1.295s, 2030  6,936,877  243,636 
IFB Ser. 05-83, Class SL, IO, 1.285s, 2035  13,423,130  614,057 
IFB Ser. 06-20, Class IG, IO, 1.265s, 2036  18,701,112  782,311 
IFB Ser. 06-8, Class NS, IO, 1.245s, 2036  8,916,714  450,410 
IFB Ser. 06-45, Class SM, IO, 1.215s, 2036  4,580,221  210,406 
IFB Ser. 06-20, Class IB, IO, 1.205s, 2036  8,015,283  321,894 
IFB Ser. 05-95, Class OI, IO, 1.205s, 2035  419,706  25,194 
IFB Ser. 06-42, Class CI, IO, 1.165s, 2036  14,819,600  681,061 
IFB Ser. 03-112, Class SA, IO, 1.115s, 2028  2,599,274  76,971 
IFB Ser. 06-58, Class SI, IO, 1.155s, 2036  8,763,679  411,861 
Ser. 03-W17, Class 12, IO, 1.157s, 2033  5,875,214  171,061 
Ser. 03-W10, Class 1A, IO, 1.058s, 2043  8,660,785  121,795 
Ser. 03-W10, Class 3A, IO, 1.038s, 2043  10,341,021  161,716 
IFB Ser. 05-67, Class BS, IO, 0.765s, 2035  3,464,613  107,186 
IFB Ser. 05-74, Class SE, IO, 0.715s, 2035  7,612,647  190,525 
Ser. 00-T6, IO, 0.754s, 2030  9,349,879  134,405 
IFB Ser. 05-87, Class SE, IO, 0.665s, 2035  25,798,643  628,742 
IFB Ser. 04-54, Class SW, IO, 0.615s, 2033  1,601,020  37,794 
Ser. 02-T18, IO, 0.524s, 2042  16,216,196  187,254 
Ser. 05-113, Class DO, PO (Principal only), zero %, 2036  284,318  223,576 
Ser. 363, Class 1, PO, zero %, 2035  8,564,964  6,046,771 
Ser. 361, Class 1, PO, zero %, 2035  6,303,905  4,791,389 
Ser. 04-38, Class AO, PO, zero %, 2034  1,122,190  795,352 
Ser. 342, Class 1, PO, zero %, 2033  545,720  407,414 
Ser. 02-82, Class TO, PO, zero %, 2032  413,424  315,300 
Ser. 04-61, Class CO, PO, zero %, 2031  919,000  683,075 
Ser. 99-51, Class N, PO, zero %, 2029  167,595  134,233 
Ser. 99-52, Class MO, PO, zero %, 2026  1,072  1,047 
FRB Ser. 05-117, Class GF, zero %, 2036  682,788  643,101 
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.     
Structured Pass-Through Securities     
Ser. T-59, Class 1A3, 7 1/2s, 2043  944,447  986,320 
Ser. T-58, Class 4A, 7 1/2s, 2043  13,072  13,578 
Ser. T-41, Class 3A, 7 1/2s, 2032  2,259,651  2,341,721 
Ser. T-60, Class 1A2, 7s, 2044  4,358,775  4,484,473 
Ser. T-57, Class 1AX, IO, 0.460s, 2043  5,236,402  50,382 
FFCA Secured Lending Corp. Ser. 00-1, Class X, IO, 1.382s, 2020  11,554,453  635,561 
First Union Commercial Mortgage Trust 144A     
Ser. 99-C1, Class G, 5.35s, 2035  891,000  553,708 
First Union-Lehman Brothers Commercial Mortgage     
Trust II Ser. 97-C2, Class G, 7 1/2s, 2029  1,219,000  1,321,553 

40


COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS (13.5%)* continued     
  Principal amount  Value 

Freddie Mac     
IFB Ser. 3153, Class UK, 8.227s, 2036  $ 98,715  $ 103,787 
Ser. 3114, Class BL, IO, 7 1/2s, 2030  317,215  61,613 
IFB Ser. 2963, Class SV, 7 1/8s, 2034  613,000  613,742 
IFB Ser. 3182, Class PS, 7 1/8s, 2032  471,000  491,773 
IFB Ser. 2996, Class SA, 5.036s, 2035  990,950  885,042 
IFB Ser. 3081, Class DC, 5.001s, 2035  1,141,698  1,060,974 
IFB Ser. 3114, Class GK, 4.925s, 2036  754,428  704,281 
IFB Ser. 2979, Class AS, 4.588s, 2034  502,638  472,008 
IFB Ser. 3072, Class SA, 4.441s, 2035  437,110  392,187 
IFB Ser. 3072, Class SM, 4.111s, 2035  703,821  622,304 
IFB Ser. 3072, Class SB, 3.965s, 2035  664,399  583,997 
IFB Ser. 3065, Class DC, 3.754s, 2035  1,708,217  1,490,324 
IFB Ser. 3050, Class SA, 3.453s, 2034  1,227,461  1,068,184 
IFB Ser. 2828, Class TI, IO, 1.681s, 2030  1,657,306  92,706 
IFB Ser. 3033, Class SF, IO, 1.601s, 2035  2,445,019  87,104 
IFB Ser. 3028, Class ES, IO, 1.381s, 2035  8,240,941  501,223 
IFB Ser. 3042, Class SP, IO, 1.381s, 2035  1,934,033  118,363 
IFB Ser. 3045, Class DI, IO, 1.361s, 2035  17,869,596  707,954 
IFB Ser. 3054, Class CS, IO, 1.331s, 2035  1,921,971  82,285 
IFB Ser. 3107, Class DC, IO, 1.501s, 2035  8,633,604  521,281 
IFB Ser. 3066, Class SI, IO, 1.331s, 2035  5,572,868  325,996 
IFB Ser. 3031, Class BI, IO, 1.321s, 2035  1,577,003  98,375 
IFB Ser. 3067, Class SI, IO, 1.281s, 2035  6,482,045  393,813 
IFB Ser. 3114, Class TS, IO, 1.281s, 2030  11,020,785  449,500 
IFB Ser. 3114, Class BI, IO, 1.281s, 2030  4,731,409  179,096 
IFB Ser. 3174, Class BS, IO, 1.151s, 2036  5,436,173  202,737 
IFB Ser. 3065, Class DI, IO, 1.421s, 2035  1,242,863  71,360 
IFB Ser. 3081, Class DI, IO, 1.111s, 2035  1,617,131  75,588 
IFB Ser. 3016, Class SP, IO, 0.741s, 2035  1,635,371  44,462 
IFB Ser. 3016, Class SQ, IO, 0.741s, 2035  3,904,528  112,255 
IFB Ser. 2937, Class SY, IO, 0.731s, 2035  1,511,276  39,671 
IFB Ser. 2815, Class S, IO, 0.631s, 2032  3,805,664  91,564 
Ser. 236, PO, zero %, 2036  1,492,286  1,112,898 
Ser. 3045, Class DO, PO, zero %, 2035  1,366,510  1,043,042 
Ser. 231, PO, zero %, 2035  8,683,930  6,200,768 
Ser. 228, PO, zero %, 2035  6,263,568  4,661,575 
Ser. 215, PO, zero %, 2031  335,647  274,811 
Ser. 2235, PO, zero %, 2030  398,802  305,582 
FRB Ser. 3022, Class TC, zero %, 2035  301,807  349,483 
FRB Ser. 2986, Class XT, zero %, 2035  182,935  198,313 
FRB Ser. 3046, Class WF, zero %, 2035  436,710  434,241 
FRB Ser. 3054, Class XF, zero %, 2034  187,833  193,879 
GE Capital Commercial Mortgage Corp. 144A     
Ser. 00-1, Class F, 7.513s, 2033  251,000  264,626 
Ser. 00-1, Class G, 6.131s, 2033  1,159,000  1,017,294 
GMAC Commercial Mortgage Securities, Inc. 144A     
Ser. 99-C3, Class G, 6.974s, 2036  1,022,427  1,020,845 

41


COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS (13.5%)* continued     
    Principal amount    Value 

Government National Mortgage Association       
IFB Ser. 05-66, Class SP, 2.938s, 2035    $ 1,038,563  $ 898,950 
IFB Ser. 06-26, Class S, IO, 1.122s, 2036    2,512,375  108,278 
IFB Ser. 05-65, Class SI, IO, .972s, 2035    4,177,597  152,282 
IFB Ser. 05-68, Class SI, IO, .922s, 2035    13,825,404  548,418 
IFB Ser. 06-14, Class S, IO, 0.872s, 2036    4,154,707  138,615 
IFB Ser. 05-51, Class SJ, IO, 0.822s, 2035    4,101,635  151,541 
IFB Ser. 05-68, Class S, IO, 0.822s, 2035    8,089,841  290,241 
Ser. 98-2, Class EA, PO, zero %, 2028    161,606  122,677 
GS Mortgage Securities Corp. II 144A FRB       
Ser. 03-FL6A, Class L, 8.619s, 2015    417,000  419,346 
LB Commercial Conduit Mortgage Trust 144A       
Ser. 99-C1, Class G, 6.41s, 2031    492,082  454,044 
Ser. 98-C4, Class J, 5.6s, 2035    965,000  851,019 
Lehman Brothers Floating Rate Commercial Mortgage       
Trust 144A FRB Ser. 03-LLFA, Class L, 9.08s, 2014    1,181,000  1,182,215 
Lehman Mortgage Trust, IFB Ser. 06-3, Class 1A7, IO,       
0.015s, 2036    1,612,261  6,297 
Lehman Mortgage Trust, Ser. 06-4, Class 1A3, IO, 5s, 2036    2,485,000  15,919 
Mach One Commercial Mortgage Trust 144A       
Ser. 04-1A, Class J, 5.45s, 2040    1,154,000  931,314 
Ser. 04-1A, Class K, 5.45s, 2040    411,000  322,796 
Ser. 04-1A, Class L, 5.45s, 2040    187,000  132,697 
Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors, Inc. Ser. 96-C2,       
Class JS, IO, 2.147s, 2028    6,385,451  317,133 
Mezz Cap Commercial Mortgage Trust 144A Ser. 04-C1,       
Class X, IO, 8.049s, 2037    1,433,428  520,793 
Morgan Stanley Capital I Ser. 98-CF1, Class E,       
7.35s, 2032    2,455,000  2,510,561 
Morgan Stanley Capital I 144A Ser. 04-RR, Class F7, 6s, 2039    3,360,000  2,335,240 
Mortgage Capital Funding, Inc.       
FRB Ser. 98-MC2, Class E, 7.095s, 2030    459,501  469,153 
Ser. 97-MC2, Class X, IO, 1.419s, 2012    5,215,548  40,134 
Permanent Financing PLC FRB Ser. 8, Class 2C, 5.7s,       
2042 (United Kingdom)    1,112,000  1,111,709 
PNC Mortgage Acceptance Corp. 144A Ser. 00-C1,       
Class J, 6 5/8s, 2010    285,000  266,267 
Quick Star PLC FRB Ser. 1, Class D, 5.59s, 2011       
(United Kingdom)  GBP  644,271  1,202,724 
SBA CMBS Trust 144A Ser. 05-1A, Class E, 6.706s, 2035    $ 595,000  587,271 
STRIPS 144A       
Ser. 03-1A, Class M, 5s, 2018 (Cayman Islands)    316,000  262,280 
Ser. 03-1A, Class N, 5s, 2018 (Cayman Islands)    376,000  285,789 
Ser. 04-1A, Class M, 5s, 2018 (Cayman Islands)    345,000  285,380 
Ser. 04-1A, Class N, 5s, 2018 (Cayman Islands)    325,000  247,203 
Titan Europe PLC 144A       
FRB Ser. 05-CT2A, Class E, 5.763s, 2014 (Ireland)  GBP  674,000  1,258,223 
FRB Ser. 05-CT1A, Class D, 5.702s, 2014 (Ireland)  GBP  1,228,269  2,292,932 
FRB Ser. 04-2A, Class D, 3.992s, 2014 (Ireland)  EUR  686,117  875,485 
FRB Ser. 04-2A, Class C, 3.592s, 2014 (Ireland)  EUR  308,015  393,027 

42


COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS (13.5%)* continued     
    Principal amount  Value 

URSUS EPC 144A FRB Ser. 1-A, Class D, 5.64s, 2012       
(Ireland)  GBP  684,793  $ 1,278,371 
Wachovia Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust 144A FRB       
Ser. 05-WL5A, Class L, 8.669s, 2018  $ 917,000  909,352 

Total collateralized mortgage obligations (cost $181,206,083)      $ 177,116,455 
 
 
ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES (12.7%)*       
    Principal amount  Value 

Americredit Automobile Receivables Trust 144A       
Ser. 05-1, Class E, 5.82s, 2012  $ 557,594  $ 556,953 
Ameriquest Finance NIM Trust 144A Ser. 04-RN9,       
Class N2, 10s, 2034 (Cayman Islands)    516,977  480,789 
Arcap REIT, Inc. 144A       
Ser. 03-1A, Class E, 7.11s, 2038    743,000  762,227 
Ser. 04-1A, Class E, 6.42s, 2039    420,000  408,365 
Asset Backed Securities Corp. Home Equity       
Loan Trust 144A       
FRB Ser. 06-HE2, Class M10, 7.885s, 2036    1,001,000  901,538 
FRB Ser. 06-HE2, Class M11, 7.885s, 2036    886,000  720,385 
Aviation Capital Group Trust 144A FRB Ser. 03-2A,       
Class G1, 6.078s, 2033    553,064  553,885 
Bank One Issuance Trust FRB Ser. 03-C4, Class C4,       
6.399s, 2011    740,000  751,027 
Bear Stearns Asset Backed Securities NIM Trust 144A       
Ser. 04-HE10, Class A1, 4 1/4s, 2034       
(Cayman Islands)    25,421  25,262 
Bear Stearns Asset Backed Securities, Inc.       
Ser. 04-FR3, Class M6, 8.635s, 2034    507,000  506,366 
FRB Ser. 06-PC1, Class M9, 7.135s, 2035    364,000  296,774 
Bear Stearns Asset Backed Securities, Inc. 144A FRB       
Ser. 06-HE2, Class M10, 7.635s, 2036    552,000  499,905 
Bombardier Capital Mortgage       
Securitization Corp.       
Ser. 00-A, Class A4, 8.29s, 2030    1,693,967  1,217,009 
Ser. 00-A, Class A2, 7.575s, 2030    307,490  214,172 
Ser. 99-B, Class A4, 7.3s, 2016    1,447,533  971,047 
Ser. 99-B, Class A3, 7.18s, 2015    2,474,127  1,631,764 
FRB Ser. 00-A, Class A1, 5.529s, 2030    324,357  184,884 
Broadhollow Funding, LLC 144A FRB Ser. 04-A,       
Class Sub, 6.57s, 2009    1,174,000  1,187,618 
Capital Auto Receivables Asset Trust 144A Ser. 06-1,       
Class D, 7.16s, 2013    500,000  496,523 
CARSSX Finance, Ltd. 144A       
FRB Ser. 04-AA, Class B4, 10.869s, 2011       
(Cayman Islands)    330,105  344,726 
FRB Ser. 04-AA, Class B3, 8.719s, 2011       
(Cayman Islands)    56,179  57,426 

43


ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES (12.7%)* continued     
  Principal amount  Value 

Chase Credit Card Master Trust FRB Ser. 03-3,     
Class C, 6.410s, 2010  $ 860,000  $ 874,458 
CHEC NIM Ltd., 144A     
Ser. 04-2, Class N2, 8s, 2034 (Cayman Islands)  56,273  56,020 
Ser. 04-2, Class N3, 8s, 2034 (Cayman Islands)  112,000  106,450 
Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust, Inc.     
FRB Ser. 06-WMC1, Class M10, 8.885s, 2035  177,000  158,643 
FRB Ser. 05-HE4, Class M11, 7.885s, 2035  599,000  499,791 
FRB Ser. 05-HE4, Class M12, 7.435s, 2035  899,000  721,518 
Conseco Finance Securitizations Corp.     
Ser. 01-4, Class B1, 9.4s, 2033  1,434  7 
Ser. 00-2, Class A5, 8.85s, 2030  2,220,000  1,865,224 
Ser. 00-2, Class A4, 8.48s, 2030  127,514  126,957 
Ser. 00-4, Class A6, 8.31s, 2032  7,133,000  6,064,327 
Ser. 00-5, Class A7, 8.2s, 2032  1,053,000  890,312 
Ser. 00-1, Class A5, 8.06s, 2031  2,313,481  2,001,568 
Ser. 00-4, Class A5, 7.97s, 2032  470,000  373,593 
Ser. 00-5, Class A6, 7.96s, 2032  463,000  393,294 
Ser. 00-4, Class A4, 7.73s, 2031  1,033,728  973,772 
Ser. 01-3, Class M2, 7.44s, 2033  298,489  26,864 
Ser. 01-4, Class A4, 7.36s, 2033  523,000  504,883 
Ser. 00-6, Class A5, 7.27s, 2032  196,900  178,608 
FRB Ser. 01-4, Class M1, 7.096s, 2033  573,000  217,740 
Ser. 01-1, Class A5, 6.99s, 2032  1,709,000  1,556,397 
Ser. 01-3, Class A4, 6.91s, 2033  5,996,000  5,642,668 
Ser. 02-1, Class A, 6.681s, 2033  2,825,980  2,840,927 
Ser. 01-3, Class A3, 5.79s, 2033  10,088  10,072 
Consumer Credit Reference IDX Securities 144A FRB     
Ser. 02-1A, Class A, 7.437s, 2007  1,494,000  1,518,278 
Countrywide Asset Backed Certificates 144A     
Ser. 04-6N, Class N1, 6 1/4s, 2035  100,800  100,336 
Ser. 04-BC1N, Class Note, 5 1/2s, 2035  51,140  50,195 
Countrywide Home Loans     
FRB Ser. 05-22, Class 2A1, 5.304s, 2035  846,405  837,676 
Ser. 06-0A5, Class X, IO, 1.362s, 2046  9,827,980  482,554 
Ser. 05-2, Class 2X, IO, zero %, 2035  13,258,588  302,462 
Countrywide Home Loans 144A IFB Ser. 05-R1,     
Class 1AS, IO, 0.747s, 2035 (SN)  8,462,983  169,260 
Crest, Ltd. 144A Ser. 03-2A, Class E2, 8s, 2038     
(Cayman Islands)  838,000  805,855 
DB Master Finance, LLC 144A Ser. 06-1, Class M1,     
8.285s, 2031  545,000  552,502 
First Chicago Lennar Trust 144A Ser. 97-CHL1,     
Class E, 7.636s, 2039  3,460,001  3,508,116 
First Franklin Mortgage Loan Asset Backed     
Certificates FRB Ser. 04-FF7, Class A4, 5.685s, 2034  13,045,184  13,065,739 
Fremont NIM Trust 144A     
Ser. 04-3, Class B, 7 1/2s, 2034  84,469  78,874 
Ser. 04-3, Class A, 4 1/2s, 2034  70,176  69,785 

44


ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES (12.7%)* continued       
    Principal amount  Value 

Gears Auto Owner Trust Ser. 05-AA, Class E1, 8.22s, 2012  $ 1,347,000  $ 1,327,812 
Granite Mortgages PLC       
FRB Ser. 02-1, Class 1C, 6.8s, 2042 (United Kingdom)    620,808  623,680 
FRB Ser. 03-2, Class 3C, 6.287s, 2043       
(United Kingdom)  GBP  2,090,000  4,011,247 
FRB Ser. 03-2, Class 2C1, 5.2s, 2043 (United Kingdom)  EUR  2,785,000  3,673,063 
Green Tree Financial Corp.       
Ser. 94-6, Class B2, 9s, 2020  $ 1,703,968  1,488,625 
Ser. 94-4, Class B2, 8.6s, 2019    689,469  497,705 
Ser. 93-1, Class B, 8.45s, 2018    1,392,322  1,322,742 
Ser. 99-5, Class A5, 7.86s, 2030    8,746,000  7,628,251 
Ser. 96-8, Class M1, 7.85s, 2027    754,000  633,474 
Ser. 95-8, Class B1, 7.3s, 2026    704,416  559,036 
Ser. 95-4, Class B1, 7.3s, 2025    726,329  715,888 
Ser. 97-6, Class M1, 7.21s, 2029    873,000  654,750 
Ser. 95-F, Class B2, 7.1s, 2021    129,863  130,106 
Ser. 99-3, Class A7, 6.74s, 2031    1,438,000  1,364,924 
Ser. 99-3, Class A5, 6.16s, 2031    63,555  63,952 
Greenpoint Manufactured Housing       
Ser. 00-3, Class IA, 8.45s, 2031    3,512,596  3,203,934 
Ser. 99-5, Class A4, 7.59s, 2028    104,790  105,908 
GS Auto Loan Trust 144A Ser. 04-1, Class D, 5s, 2011    712,336  709,263 
GSAMP Trust 144A       
Ser. 04-NIM2, Class N, 4 7/8s, 2034    261,673  260,547 
Ser. 04-NIM1, Class N2, zero %, 2034    377,789  278,242 
GSMPS Mortgage Loan Trust 144A       
IFB Ser. 05-RP1, Class 1AS, IO, 0.857s, 2035 (SN)    50,516,058  1,341,270 
IFB Ser. 06-RP1, Class 1AS, IO, 0.433s, 2036 (SN)    8,193,371  168,016 
Guggenheim Structured Real Estate Funding, Ltd. FRB       
Ser. 05-1A, Class E, 7.185s, 2030 (Cayman Islands)    721,000  721,000 
Guggenheim Structured Real Estate Funding, Ltd. 144A       
FRB Ser. 05-2A, Class E, 7.385s, 2030       
(Cayman Islands)    729,000  733,884 
HASCO NIM Trust 144A Ser. 05-OP1A, Class A, 6 1/4s, 2035    644,581  622,794 
Holmes Financing PLC FRB Ser. 8, Class 2C, 6.227s,       
2040 (United Kingdom)    458,000  459,008 
LNR CDO, Ltd. 144A       
FRB Ser. 03-1A, Class EFL, 8.4s, 2036       
(Cayman Islands)    1,485,000  1,605,134 
FRB Ser. 02-1A, Class FFL, 8.15s, 2037       
(Cayman Islands)    2,440,000  2,440,000 
Long Beach Mortgage Loan Trust       
FRB Ser. 06-2, Class M10, 7.885s, 2036    627,000  528,248 
Ser. 04-3, Class S1, IO, 4 1/2s, 2006    1,488,459  31,630 
Long Beach Mortgage Loan Trust 144A FRB Ser. 06-2,       
Class B, 7.885s, 2036    627,000  490,628 
Lothian Mortgages PLC 144A FRB Ser. 3A, Class D,       
5.537s, 2039 (United Kingdom)  GBP  1,700,000  3,173,560 
Madison Avenue Manufactured Housing Contract FRB       
Ser. 02-A, Class B1, 8.635s, 2032  $ 2,025,781  1,418,047 

45


ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES (12.7%)* continued     
  Principal amount  Value 

MASTR Adjustable Rate Mortgages Trust Ser. 04-13,     
Class 3A6, 3.786s, 2034  $ 554,000  $ 527,270 
MASTR Asset Backed Securities NIM Trust 144A     
Ser. 04-CI5, Class N2, 9s, 2034 (Cayman Islands)  214,317  64,295 
Ser. 04-HE1A, Class Note, 5.191s, 2034     
(Cayman Islands)  16,342  16,255 
MBNA Credit Card Master Note Trust FRB Ser. 03-C5,     
Class C5, 6.549s, 2010  860,000  875,444 
Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors, Inc.     
Ser. 03-WM3N, Class N1, 8s, 2034  7,355  7,254 
FRB Ser. 05-A9, Class 3A1, 5.298s, 2035  1,104,209  1,093,857 
Ser. 05-1, Class 1A, 4.762s, 2035  36,949  36,597 
Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors, Inc. 144A     
Ser. 04-FM1N, Class N1, 5s, 2035 (Cayman Islands)  19,712  19,484 
Mid-State Trust Ser. 11, Class B, 8.221s, 2038  271,370  264,977 
Morgan Stanley ABS Capital I FRB Ser. 04-HE8,     
Class B3, 8.585s, 2034  458,000  464,829 
Morgan Stanley Auto Loan Trust 144A Ser. 04-HB2,     
Class E, 5s, 2012  291,074  281,270 
Morgan Stanley Mortgage Loan Trust Ser. 05-5AR,     
Class 2A1, 5.408s, 2035  3,542,649  3,528,811 
N-Star Real Estate CDO, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 04-2A,     
Class C1, 7.4s, 2039 (Cayman Islands)  500,000  514,141 
Navistar Financial Corp. Owner Trust     
Ser. 05-A, Class C, 4.84s, 2014  479,760  469,609 
Ser. 04-B, Class C, 3.93s, 2012  205,672  199,560 
Oakwood Mortgage Investors, Inc.     
Ser. 99-D, Class A1, 7.84s, 2029  2,215,190  1,921,538 
Ser. 00-A, Class A2, 7.765s, 2017  335,104  259,786 
Ser. 95-B, Class B1, 7.55s, 2021  542,000  357,720 
Ser. 00-D, Class A4, 7.4s, 2030  1,945,000  1,242,818 
Ser. 02-B, Class A4, 7.09s, 2032  867,000  756,601 
Ser. 99-B, Class A4, 6.99s, 2026  2,376,499  2,067,244 
Ser. 01-D, Class A4, 6.93s, 2031  1,562,585  1,096,418 
Ser. 01-C, Class A2, 5.92s, 2017  2,359,970  1,227,517 
Ser. 02-C, Class A1, 5.41s, 2032  2,943,525  2,478,543 
Ser. 01-D, Class A2, 5.26s, 2019  323,452  211,814 
Ser. 01-E, Class A2, 5.05s, 2019  2,225,037  1,710,891 
Ser. 02-A, Class A2, 5.01s, 2020  706,243  537,018 
Oakwood Mortgage Investors, Inc. 144A Ser. 01-B,     
Class A4, 7.21s, 2030  595,883  519,928 
Ocean Star PLC 144A     
FRB Ser. 04-A, Class E, 11.664s, 2018 (Ireland)  1,695,000  1,765,449 
FRB Ser. 05-A, Class E, 9.764s, 2012 (Ireland)  466,000  475,600 
Option One Mortgage Loan Trust FRB Ser. 05-4,     
Class M11, 7.885s, 2035  783,000  689,285 
Park Place Securities, Inc. FRB Ser. 04-MCW1,     
Class A2, 5.765s, 2034  4,425,429  4,430,961 

46


ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES (12.7%)* continued       
    Principal amount  Value 

Park Place Securities, Inc. 144A       
FRB Ser. 05-WCW2, Class M11, 7.885s, 2035  $ 299,000  $ 225,838 
FRB Ser. 04-MHQ1, Class M10, 7.885s, 2034    300,000  275,034 
People’s Choice Net Interest Margin Note 144A       
Ser. 04-2, Class B, 5s, 2034    180,369  179,699 
Permanent Financing PLC       
FRB Ser. 3, Class 3C, 6.45s, 2042 (United Kingdom)    680,000  687,960 
FRB Ser. 6, Class 3C, 5.4s, 2042 (United Kingdom)  GBP  1,731,000  3,231,431 
Residential Asset Securities Corp. Ser. 01-KS3,       
Class AII, 5.615s, 2031  $ 7,142,263  7,144,205 
Residential Asset Securities Corp. 144A       
FRB Ser. 05-KS10, Class B, 8.135s, 2035    778,000  688,904 
Ser. 04-N10B, Class A1, 5s, 2034    76,583  76,248 
Residential Asset Securitization Trust IFB       
Ser. 06-A7CB, Class 1A6, IO, 0.165s, 2036    912,621  9,839 
Residential Mortgage Securities 144A FRB Ser. 20A,       
Class B1A, 5.433s, 2038 (United Kingdom)  GBP  250,000  464,180 
Rural Housing Trust Ser. 87-1, Class D, 6.33s, 2026  $ 211,864  211,682 
SAIL Net Interest Margin Notes 144A       
Ser. 03-3, Class A, 7 3/4s, 2033 (Cayman Islands)    33,837  11,843 
Ser. 03-BC2A, Class A, 7 3/4s, 2033 (Cayman Islands)    145,799  14,580 
Ser. 03-10A, Class A, 7 1/2s, 2033 (Cayman Islands)    96,609  33,813 
Ser. 03-5, Class A, 7.35s, 2033 (Cayman Islands)    25,156  12,578 
Ser. 03-8A, Class A, 7s, 2033 (Cayman Islands)    14,179  1,702 
Ser. 03-9A, Class A, 7s, 2033 (Cayman Islands)    20,059  2,006 
Ser. 03-6A, Class A, 7s, 2033 (Cayman Islands)    6,641  3,321 
Ser. 03-7A, Class A, 7s, 2033 (Cayman Islands)    40,481  14,168 
Ser. 04-10A, Class A, 5s, 2034 (Cayman Islands)    124,924  124,469 
Ser. 04-AA, Class A, 4 1/2s, 2034 (Cayman Islands)    3,568  3,560 
Sasco Net Interest Margin Trust 144A       
Ser. 05-WF1A, Class A, 4 3/4s, 2035    96,923  96,372 
Ser. 03-BC1, Class B, zero %, 2033 (Cayman Islands)    530,404  63,649 
Sharps SP I, LLC Net Interest Margin Trust 144A       
Ser. 04-HS1N, Class Note, 5.92s, 2034       
(Cayman Islands)    7,936  7,936 
Ser. 04-HE2N, Class NA, 5.43s, 2034 (Cayman Islands)    15,268  15,154 
Soundview Home Equity Loan Trust 144A FRB Ser. 05-4,       
Class M10, 7.885s, 2036    463,000  420,607 
South Coast Funding 144A FRB Ser. 3A, Class A2,       
6.36s, 2038 (Cayman Islands)    200,000  200,180 
Structured Asset Investment Loan Trust FRB       
Ser. 04-9, Class A4, 5.685s, 2034    9,142,274  9,148,805 
Structured Asset Investment Loan Trust 144A       
FRB Ser. 06-BNC2, Class B1, 7.885s, 2036    600,000  534,974 
FRB Ser. 05-HE3, Class M11, 7.885s, 2035    858,000  698,904 
Structured Asset Receivables Trust 144A FRB       
Ser. 05-1, 5.575s, 2015    3,501,697  3,500,604 
TIAA Real Estate CDO, Ltd. Ser. 03-1A, Class E, 8s,       
2038 (Cayman Islands)    904,000  908,570 

47


ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES (12.7%)* continued     
  Principal amount    Value 

TIAA Real Estate CDO, Ltd. 144A Ser. 02-1A,     
Class IV, 6.84s, 2037 (Cayman Islands)  $ 756,000  $ 744,594 
Wells Fargo Home Equity Trust 144A Ser. 04-2,     
Class N2, 8s, 2034 (Cayman Islands)  95,673  95,674 
Wells Fargo Mortgage Backed Securities Trust     
Ser. 05-AR16, Class 2A1, 4.945s, 2035  39,909  39,497 
Ser. 05-AR13, Class 1A4, IO, 0.742s, 2035  29,600,562  532,161 
Whinstone Capital Management, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 1A,     
Class B3, 6.385s, 2044 (United Kingdom)  1,438,000  1,437,955 
Whole Auto Loan Trust 144A Ser. 04-1, Class D, 5.6s, 2011  389,259  386,387 

Total asset-backed securities (cost $167,868,032)    $ 165,742,605 
 
 
SENIOR LOANS (7.4%)* (c)     
  Principal amount    Value 

Basic Materials (0.7%)     
Celanese Corp. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, 7.499s, 2011  $ 525,538  $ 526,086 
Georgia-Pacific Corp. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, 7.24s, 2013  1,641,750  1,639,456 
Graphic Packaging Corp. bank term loan FRN Ser. C,     
7.922s, 2010  262,187  264,060 
Hercules, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, 7.01s, 2010  792,139  791,545 
Huntsman International, LLC bank term loan FRN     
Ser. B, 7.044s, 2012  1,162,244  1,155,615 
Innophos, Inc. bank term loan FRN 7.679s, 2010  451,914  452,479 
Nalco Co. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, 7.208s, 2010  517,064  516,030 
NewPage Corp. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, 8.499s, 2011  387,058  388,025 
Novelis, Inc. bank term loan FRN 7.38s, 2012  344,451  345,850 
Novelis, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, 7.38s, 2012  598,256  600,687 
Rockwood Specialties Group, Inc. bank term loan FRN     
Ser. E, 7.126s, 2012  1,998,721  2,001,220 
Smurfit-Stone Container Corp. bank term loan FRN     
5.234s, 2010  43,665  43,835 
Smurfit-Stone Container Corp. bank term loan FRN     
Ser. B, 7.589s, 2011  227,214  228,098 
Smurfit-Stone Container Corp. bank term loan FRN     
Ser. C, 7.54s, 2011  106,294  106,707 
    9,059,693 

 
Capital Goods (0.3%)     
Allied Waste Industries, Inc. bank term loan FRN     
Ser. A, 5.334s, 2012  29,934  29,766 
Allied Waste Industries, Inc. bank term loan FRN     
Ser. B, 6.982s, 2012  76,390  75,968 
Graham Packaging Corp. bank term loan FRN Ser. B,     
7.747s, 2011  791,960  793,445 
Hexcel Corp. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, 7.188s, 2012  728,935  728,935 
Mueller Group, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B,     
7.465s, 2012  923,823  927,617 

48


SENIOR LOANS (7.4%)* (c) continued     
  Principal amount  Value 

Capital Goods continued     
Solo Cup Co. bank term loan FRN 7.823s, 2011  $ 537,377  $ 538,832 
Terex Corp. bank term loan FRN Ser. D, 7.231s, 2013  100,000  100,125 
Transdigm, Inc. bank term loan FRN 7.449s, 2013  450,000  450,985 
    3,645,673 

 
Communication Services (0.6%)     
Centennial Cellular Operating Co., LLC bank term     
loan FRN Ser. B, 7.68s, 2011  1,761,369  1,765,457 
Consolidated Communications Holdings bank term loan     
FRN Ser. D, 7.165s, 2011  297,884  296,209 
Fairpoint Communications, Inc. bank term loan FRN     
Ser. B, 7 1/4s, 2012  541,884  538,497 
Intelsat, Ltd. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, 7.758s, 2013  1,200,000  1,203,000 
Level 3 Communications, Inc. bank term loan FRN 8.413s, 2011  318,000  318,000 
Madison River Capital, LLC bank term loan FRN     
Ser. B, 7.73s, 2012  1,219,013  1,219,013 
PanAmSat Corp. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, 7.981s, 2013  1,200,000  1,203,857 
Syniverse Holdings, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B,     
7 1/4s, 2012  1,037,570  1,036,273 
Windstream Corp. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, 5 3/4s, 2013  580,000  581,709 
    8,162,015 

 
Consumer Cyclicals (1.7%)     
Adams Outdoor Advertising, LP bank term loan FRN     
7.265s, 2012  830,761  831,453 
Boise Cascade Corp. bank term loan FRN Ser. D,     
7.182s, 2011  1,145,391  1,146,041 
Boyd Gaming Corp. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, 6.804s, 2010  1,237,374  1,235,054 
CCM Merger, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, 7.417s, 2012  1,187,011  1,180,779 
Coinmach Service Corp. bank term loan FRN Ser. B-1,     
7.781s, 2012  548,890  551,864 
Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. bank term loan FRN Ser. B,     
8s, 2012  755,167  757,763 
Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. bank term loan FRN Ser. C,     
8s, 2012  1,214,833  1,219,010 
Custom Building Products bank term loan FRN Ser. B,     
7.749s, 2011  1,181,498  1,184,452 
Dex Media West, LLC bank term loan FRN Ser. B1,     
6.731s, 2010  998,374  991,718 
Dex Media West, LLC/Dex Media Finance Co. bank term     
loan FRN Ser. B, 6.784s, 2010  493,783  490,360 
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (The) bank term loan FRN     
7.954s, 2010  465,000  466,550 
Landsource, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, 7 7/8s, 2010  150,000  150,000 
Mega Bloks, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, 6.99s,     
2012 (Canada)  123,539  123,307 
Neiman Marcus Group, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B,     
7.77s, 2013  712,025  717,010 

49


SENIOR LOANS (7.4%)* (c) continued     
  Principal amount    Value 

Consumer Cyclicals continued     
Nortek Holdings, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B,     
7.35s, 2011  $ 394,975  $ 393,494 
Oriental Trading Co. bank term loan FRN 8.231s, 2013  350,000  350,875 
Penn National Gaming, Inc. bank term loan FRN     
Ser. B, 6.911s, 2012  545,875  546,830 
PRIMEDIA, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, 7 5/8s, 2013  297,000  292,471 
R.H. Donnelley Finance Corp. bank term loan FRN     
Ser. A-3, 6.73s, 2009  155,933  154,179 
R.H. Donnelley Finance Corp. bank term loan FRN     
Ser. D, 6.818s, 2011  2,055,524  2,038,182 
R.H. Donnelley, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. D1,     
6.922s, 2011  776,061  770,240 
Raycom Media, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, 7s, 2013  795,846  789,877 
Sealy Corp. bank term loan FRN Ser. D, 7.092s, 2012  443,046  442,908 
Standard-Pacific Corp. bank term loan FRN Ser. B,     
6.671s, 2013  199,999  195,749 
Sun Media Corp. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, 7.126s,     
2009 (Canada)  300,582  300,080 
Trump Hotel & Casino Resort, Inc. bank term loan FRN     
Ser. B-1, 8.03s, 2012  167,977  168,712 
Trump Hotel & Casino Resort, Inc. bank term loan FRN     
Ser. DD, 5.62s, 2012 (U)  168,500  169,237 
TRW Automotive, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B,     
7.188s, 2010  1,045,793  1,043,178 
TRW Automotive, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B2,     
6.813s, 2010  234,820  234,820 
Venetian Casino Resort, LLC bank term loan FRN     
Ser. B, 7 1/4s, 2011  1,012,507  1,010,134 
Venetian Casino Resort, LLC bank term loan FRN     
Ser. DD, 7 1/4s, 2011  208,764  208,275 
Veterinary Centers of America, Inc. bank term loan     
FRN Ser. B, 6 7/8s, 2011  495,895  495,895 
Visant Holding Corp. bank term loan FRN Ser. C,     
7.068s, 2010  1,056,773  1,060,736 
Wembley, Inc. bank term loan FRN 6.99s, 2011     
(United Kingdom)  247,500  247,036 
William Carter Holdings Co. (The) bank term loan FRN     
Ser. B, 6.702s, 2012  196,947  196,290 
    22,154,559 

 
Consumer Staples (2.2%)     
Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. bank term loan     
FRN Ser. B2, 7.481s, 2013  100,000  99,875 
Affinion Group, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B,     
7.931s, 2013  1,924,695  1,931,313 
Affinity Group Holdings bank term loan FRN Ser. B2,     
7.85s, 2009  224,198  225,039 
AMC Entertainment, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B,     
7.475s, 2013  348,250  349,121 

50


SENIOR LOANS (7.4%)* (c) continued     
  Principal amount  Value 

Consumer Staples continued     
Ashtead Group PLC bank term loan FRN Ser. B, 6.938s,     
2009 (United Kingdom)  $ 643,500  $ 642,293 
Avis Budget Car Rental bank term loan FRN Ser. B,     
6.35s, 2012  700,000  693,438 
Brand Services, Inc. bank term loan FRN 7.464s, 2009  249,371  249,371 
Burger King Corp. bank term loan FRN Ser. B-1, 7s, 2013  350,254  348,832 
Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corp. bank term     
loan FRN Ser. B, 7.53s, 2013  698,250  678,175 
Cablevision Systems Corp. bank term loan FRN Ser. B,     
7.034s, 2013  2,144,625  2,131,015 
CBRL Group, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, 6.63s, 2013  306,428  303,977 
CBRL Group, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. DD, 5 3/4s, 2007 (U)  42,724  42,243 
Cebridge Connections, Inc. bank term loan FRN     
Ser. B, 7.739s, 2013  650,000  645,357 
Century Cable Holdings bank term loan FRN 10 1/4s, 2009  1,220,000  1,169,021 
Charter Communications bank term loan FRN Ser. B,     
7.755s, 2013  1,600,254  1,602,019 
Cinemark, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. C, 7.26s, 2011  494,937  494,782 
DirecTV Holdings, LLC bank term loan FRN Ser. B,     
6.9s, 2013  1,363,224  1,361,141 
Domino’s, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, 6.978s, 2010  785,020  784,693 
Gray Television, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B,     
7.01s, 2012  248,750  248,439 
Insight Midwest, LP/Insight Capital, Inc. bank term     
loan FRN 7 3/8s, 2009  136,500  136,493 
Jack-in-the-Box, Inc. bank term loan FRN 6.748s, 2008  841,774  843,527 
Jean Coutu Group, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B,     
7 5/8s, 2011 (Canada)  954,144  954,795 
Mediacom Communications Corp. bank term loan FRN     
Ser. C, 7.094s, 2015  987,500  982,210 
Mediacom Communications Corp. bank term loan FRN     
Ser. DD, 7.38s, 2015  240,000  238,700 
MGM Studios, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, 7.749s, 2011  1,215,965  1,217,106 
Olympus Cable Holdings, LLC bank term loan FRN     
Ser. B, 10 1/4s, 2010  735,000  704,337 
Prestige Brands, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B,     
7.23s, 2011  952,107  952,901 
Prestige Brands, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B-1,     
7.664s, 2011  412,680  413,023 
Regal Cinemas, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B,     
7.488s, 2010  1,209,917  1,202,629 
Reynolds American, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B,     
7.256s, 2012  500,000  502,032 
Six Flags, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, 7.609s, 2009  808,189  813,673 
Spanish Broadcasting Systems, Inc. bank term loan     
FRN 7 1/4s, 2012  791,980  790,000 
Spectrum Brands, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B,     
8.334s, 2013  1,130,695  1,129,847 

51


SENIOR LOANS (7.4%)* (c) continued     
  Principal amount  Value 

Consumer Staples continued     
Universal City Development bank term loan FRN     
Ser. B, 7.378s, 2011  $ 1,203,661  $ 1,202,908 
Warner Music Group bank term loan FRN Ser. B,     
7.311s, 2011  960,289  961,130 
Young Broadcasting, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B,     
7.734s, 2012  1,459,218  1,452,378 
    28,497,833 

 
Energy (0.5%)     
CR Gas Storage bank term loan FRN 7.033s, 2013  121,212  120,758 
CR Gas Storage bank term loan FRN 7.033s, 2013  126,955  126,478 
CR Gas Storage bank term loan FRN Ser. B, 7.033s, 2013  665,076  662,582 
CR Gas Storage bank term loan FRN Ser. DD, 6 3/4s, 2013 (U)  84,848  84,530 
Dresser, Inc. bank term loan FRN 8.65s, 2010  360,000  364,500 
EPCO Holding, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. C,     
7.388s, 2010  594,000  595,949 
Key Energy Services, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B,     
8.9s, 2012  1,741,250  1,747,054 
Meg Energy Corp. bank term loan FRN 7 1/2s, 2013 (Canada)  224,438  224,478 
Meg Energy Corp. bank term loan FRN Ser. DD, 6s,     
2013 (Canada) (U)  225,000  223,915 
Petroleum Geo-Services ASA bank term loan FRN     
Ser. B, 8s, 2012 (Norway)  100,176  100,627 
Targa Resources, Inc. bank term loan FRN 7.33s, 2012  976,492  977,799 
Targa Resources, Inc. bank term loan FRN 5.374s, 2012  236,129  236,445 
Universal Compression, Inc. bank term loan FRN     
Ser. B, 7s, 2012  295,006  295,498 
Vulcan Energy Corp. bank term loan FRN Ser. B,     
6.689s, 2011  815,074  814,055 
    6,574,668 

 
Financial (0.4%)     
Ameritrade Holding Corp. bank term loan FRN Ser. B,     
6.85s, 2013  1,017,405  1,014,607 
Capital Automotive bank term loan FRN 7.1s, 2010 (R)  2,246,608  2,245,049 
Fidelity National Information Solutions bank term     
loan FRN Ser. B, 7.099s, 2013  929,942  929,669 
Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc (The) bank term loan FRN     
Ser. B, 6.975s, 2012  537,305  536,364 
Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc (The) bank term loan FRN     
Ser. C, 6.981s, 2012  310,570  310,027 
    5,035,716 

 
Health Care (0.5%)     
Alderwoods Group, Inc. bank term loan FRN 7.389s, 2009  833,518  833,344 
Community Health Systems, Inc. bank term loan FRN     
Ser. B, 6.97s, 2011  630,775  630,282 
DaVita, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, 7.436s, 2012  418,532  418,943 

52


SENIOR LOANS (7.4%)* (c) continued     
  Principal amount  Value 

Health Care continued     
Fresenius Medical Care AG & CO KGAA bank term loan     
FRN Ser. B, 6.851s, 2013 (Germany)  $ 184,000  $ 182,262 
Healthsouth Corp. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, 8.52s, 2013  2,350,000  2,343,636 
Kinetic Concepts, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B,     
7 1/4s, 2011  99,941  100,358 
LifePoint, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, 6.905s, 2012  1,173,412  1,167,709 
Psychiatric Solutions, Inc. bank term loan FRN     
Ser. B, 6.91s, 2012  307,692  307,308 
Stewart Enterprises, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B,     
6.826s, 2011  212,080  212,080 
    6,195,922 

 
Technology (0.3%)     
AMI Semiconductor, Inc. bank term loan FRN 6.85s, 2012  1,209,833  1,210,337 
Aspect Software, Inc. bank term loan FRN 8 1/2s, 2011  50,000  49,938 
Extensity, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, 7.711s, 2011  50,000  49,969 
JDA Software Group, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B,     
7.788s, 2013  150,000  150,000 
SunGard Data Systems, Inc. bank term loan FRN     
Ser. B, 7.66s, 2013  1,209,847  1,214,082 
UGS Corp. bank term loan FRN Ser. C, 7.35s, 2012  851,448  850,384 
    3,524,710 

 
Transportation (0.1%)     
Mid Western Aircraft Systems bank term loan FRN     
Ser. B, 7.746s, 2012  247,500  248,243 
Travelcenters of America bank term loan FRN Ser. B,     
7.023s, 2011  1,044,750  1,043,705 
United Airlines bank term loan FRN Ser. B, 8 5/8s, 2012  568,750  574,793 
United Airlines bank term loan FRN Ser. DD, 9 1/8s, 2012  81,250  82,113 
    1,948,854 

 
Utilities & Power (0.2%)     
El Paso Corp. bank term loan FRN 4.98s, 2009  406,000  406,406 
El Paso Corp. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, 8 1/4s, 2009  637,852  638,729 
NRG Energy, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, 7.231s, 2013  1,367,573  1,370,849 
    2,415,984 

 
Total senior loans (cost $97,808,376)    $ 97,215,627 
 
 
UNITS (0.2%)* (cost $2,676,027)     
  Units  Value 

XCL, Ltd. Equity Units (F)  1,327  $ 2,618,429 

53


PREFERRED STOCKS (0.2%)*     
  Shares  Value 

First Republic Capital Corp. 144A 10.50% pfd.  750  $ 798,750 
Ion Media Networks, Inc. 14.25% cum. pfd. PIK  20  171,000 
Rural Cellular Corp. Ser. B, 11.375% cum. pfd.  828  1,001,880 

Total preferred stocks (cost $1,533,744)    $ 1,971,630 
 
COMMON STOCKS (0.1%)*     
  Shares  Value 

Coinmach Service Corp. IDS (Income Deposit Securities)  45,911  $ 774,978 
Comdisco Holding Co., Inc.  908  13,874 
Contifinancial Corp. Liquidating Trust Units  5,273,336  1,648 
Knology, Inc. †  381  3,863 
Sterling Chemicals, Inc. †  497  6,913 
Sun Healthcare Group, Inc. †  1,662  14,410 
USA Mobility, Inc.  27  466 
VFB LLC (acquired various dates from 6/21/99 through     
12/08/03, cost $1,311,474) (F) ‡ †  1,795,382  38,152 
WHX Corp. †  36,177  314,740 

Total common stocks (cost $8,984,801)    $ 1,169,044 
 
CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCKS (—%)*     
  Shares  Value 

Emmis Communications Corp. Ser. A, $3.125     
cum. cv. pfd.  4,826  $ 212,344 
Ion Media Networks, Inc. 144A 9.75%  35  245,000 

Total convertible preferred stocks (cost $596,736)    $  457,344 
 
CONVERTIBLE BONDS AND NOTES (—%)* (cost $165,000)     
  Principal amount  Value 

Manor Care, Inc. 144A cv. sr. notes 2 1/8s, 2035  $165,000  $ 194,081 

54


PURCHASED OPTIONS OUTSTANDING (0.4%)*       
      Expiration date/   
    Contract amount  strike price  Value 

Option on an interest rate swap         
with Citibank, N.A. London for the right         
to receive a fixed rate of 4.55% versus         
the six month EUR-EURIBOR-Telerate         
maturing on June 8, 2016.  EUR  47,270,000  Jun-11/$4.56  $ 1,343,249 
Option on an interest rate swap         
with Lehman Brothers for the right         
to receive a fixed rate of 4.545%         
versus the six month         
EUR-EURIBOR-Telerate maturing on         
June 9, 2016.  EUR  47,270,000  Jun-11/$4.55  1,314,900 
Option on an interest rate swap         
with Citibank, N.A. London for the         
right to pay a fixed rate of 4.55%         
versus the six month EUR-EURIBOR-Telerate       
maturing on June 8, 2016.  EUR  47,270,000  Jun-11/ $4.56  1,106,808 
Option on an interest rate swap         
with Lehman Brothers Special         
Financing, Inc. for the right to pay         
a fixed rate swap of 4.545% semi-annually         
versus the six month EUR-EURIBOR-Telerate       
maturing June 9, 2016.  EUR  47,270,000  Jun-11/$4.55  1,103,792 

 
Total purchased options outstanding (cost $4,938,590)    $  4,868,749 
 
 
WARRANTS (—%)* †         
  Expiration  Strike     
  date  price  Warrants  Value 

Dayton Superior Corp. 144A  6/15/09  .01  1,980  $ 20 
MDP Acquisitions PLC 144A (Ireland)  10/01/13  EUR .001  960  26,880 
Ubiquitel, Inc. 144A  4/15/10  22.74  3,210  32 

Total warrants (cost $219,448)        $ 26,932 
 
 
EQUITY VALUE CERTIFICATES (—%)* † (cost $107,609)     
    Maturity date  Certificates  Value 

ONO Finance PLC 144A (United Kingdom)    3/16/11  780  $ 8 

55


SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (13.8%)*       
  Principal amount/shares    Value 

Short-term investments held as collateral for loaned       
securities with yields ranging from 5.27% to 5.44%       
and due dates ranging from August 1, 2006,       
to August 23, 2006 (d)  $ 4,721,404  $ 4,719,780 
Putnam Prime Money Market Fund (e)    171,684,435  171,684,435 
U.S. Treasury Bills 4.75%, August 17, 2006 #    4,011,000  4,002,577 

Total short-term investments (cost $180,406,792)      $ 180,406,792 

 
TOTAL INVESTMENTS       
Total investments (cost $1,463,095,476)      $ 1,459,819,084 

* Percentages indicated are based on net assets of $1,310,078,473.

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

† Non-income-producing security.

(S) Securities on loan, in part or in entirety, at July 31, 2006.

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

‡ Restricted, excluding 144A securities, as to public resale. The total market value of restricted securities held at July 31, 2006 was $3,484,032 or 0.3% of net assets.

(SN) The securities noted above were purchased during the period for an aggregate cost of $2,283,487. During the period, questions arose regarding a potential misidentification of the characteristics of these securities. As a result of initial inquiries into the matter, the values of these securities were adjusted. As of July 31, 2006, the aggregate values of these securities totaled $1,678,546. An investigation of the facts surrounding the acquisition and valuation of these securities is currently underway to determine whether the Fund may have claims against other parties in this regard.

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

# This security was pledged and segregated with the custodian to cover margin requirements for futures contracts at July 31, 2006.

(R) Real Estate Investment Trust.

(c) Senior loans are exempt from registration under the Security Act of 1933, as amended, but contain certain restrictions on resale and cannot be sold publicly. These loans pay interest at rates which adjust periodically. The interest rate shown for senior loans are the current interest rates at July 31, 2006. Senior loans are also subject to mandatory and/or optional prepayment which cannot be predicted. As a result, the remaining maturity may be substantially less than the stated maturity shown (Notes 1 and 6).

(d) See Note 1 to the financial statements.

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

(F) Security is valued at fair value following procedures approved by the Trustees.

(U) A portion of the position represents unfunded loan commitments (Note 7).

At July 31, 2006, liquid assets totaling $342,346,420 have been designated as collateral for open forward commitments, swap contracts and forward contracts.

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

TBA after the name of a security represents to be announced securities (Note 1).

The rates shown on Floating Rate Bonds (FRB) and Floating Rate Notes (FRN) are the current interest rates at July 31, 2006.

Inverse Floating Rate Bonds (IFB) are securities that pay interest rates that vary inversely to changes in the market interest rates. As interest rates rise, inverse floaters produce less current income. The interest rates shown are the current interest rates at July 31, 2006.

56


DIVERSIFICATION BY COUNTRY

Distribution of investments by country of issue at July 31, 2006 (as a percentage of Portfolio Value):

Argentina  0.7% 
Austria  0.7 
Brazil  1.5 
Canada  1.0 
Cayman Islands  1.1 
France  2.6 
Germany  2.1 
Ireland  2.2 
Japan  4.5 
Luxembourg  0.6 
Russia  1.0 
Sweden  0.7 
United Kingdom  1.9 
United States  76.9 
Other  2.5 

Total  100.0% 

WRITTEN OPTIONS OUTSTANDING at 7/31/06 (premiums received $921,579)     
    Contract  Expiration date/   
    amount  strike price  Value 

Option on an interest rate swap with Citibank         
for the obligation to pay a fixed rate of 0.60%         
versus the six month JPY-LIBOR maturing on         
January 31, 2008.  JPY  30,355,300,000  Jan-07/$0.60  $1,059,332 
Option on an interest rate swap with Citibank         
for the obligation to pay a fixed rate of 1.165%         
versus the one year JPY-LIBOR maturing on         
April 3, 2008.  JPY  25,769,748,000  Apr-03/$1.17  416,658 

Total        $1,475,990 

57


FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACTS TO BUY at 7/31/06 (aggregate face value $159,026,937)   
        Unrealized 
    Aggregate  Delivery  appreciation/ 
  Value  face value  date  (depreciation) 

Australian Dollar  $38,524,737  $37,964,313  10/18/06  $ 560,424 
British Pound  34,018,448  33,575,296  9/20/06  443,152 
Canadian Dollar  9,735,546  9,779,947  10/18/06  (44,401) 
Czech Korunas  6,591,838  6,600,578  9/20/06  (8,740) 
Danish Krone  2,391,370  2,432,767  9/20/06  (41,397) 
Euro  9,939,200  9,818,258  9/20/06  120,942 
Japanese Yen  16,062,644  16,095,763  8/16/06  (33,119) 
Malaysian Ringgit  3,328,597  3,309,499  8/16/06  19,098 
Norwegian Krone  4,905,661  4,882,257  9/20/06  23,404 
Polish Zloty  4,411,278  4,333,379  9/20/06  77,899 
South African Rand  3,367,484  3,257,590  10/18/06  109,894 
South Korean Won  6,993,542  7,189,885  8/16/06  (196,343) 
Swedish Krona  6,598,742  6,615,574  9/20/06  (16,832) 
Swiss Franc  9,815,698  9,875,891  9/20/06  (60,193) 
Thai Baht  3,348,072  3,295,940  8/16/06  52,132 

Total        $1,005,920 
 
 
FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACTS TO SELL at 7/31/06 (aggregate face value $297,619,617)   
        Unrealized 
    Aggregate  Delivery  appreciation/ 
  Value  face value  date  (depreciation) 

British Pound  $ 31,950,430  $ 31,541,732  9/20/06  $(408,698) 
Canadian Dollar  17,519,343  17,433,906  10/18/06  (85,437) 
Euro  124,967,244  125,461,307  9/20/06  494,063 
Japanese Yen  75,853,917  75,852,402  8/16/06  (1,515) 
New Zealand Dollar  921  914  10/18/06  (7) 
Norwegian Krone  6,605,518  6,493,136  9/20/06  (112,382) 
Singapore Dollar  3,290,440  3,278,132  8/16/06  (12,308) 
Swedish Krona  26,803,662  26,825,076  9/20/06  21,414 
Swiss Franc  10,782,588  10,733,012  9/20/06  (49,573) 

Total        $(154,443) 

58


FUTURES CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 7/31/06       
        Unrealized 
  Number of    Expiration  appreciation/ 
  contracts  Value  date  (depreciation) 

Euro-Yen 90 day TFX (Short)  300  $65,108,810  Dec-06  $ (24,220) 
Euro-Yen 90 day TFX (Short)  300  64,712,244  Dec-07  (33,866) 
Euro-Yen 90 dayTFX (Long)  600  129,791,557  Jun-07  59,812 
90 day Bank Bill (Long)  869  155,866,543  Dec-06  (53,431) 
Euro 90 day (Long)  636  150,334,500  Dec-06  (281,142) 
Euro 90 day (Short)  102  24,133,200  Mar-07  8,648 
Euro 90 day (Long)  346  81,759,800  Sep-06  (394,516) 
Canadian Government Bond 10 yr (Long)  23  2,293,283  Sep-06  9,068 
Euro-Bobl 5 yr (Long)  126  17,667,676  Sep-06  47,937 
Euro-Bund 10 yr (Short)  216  32,191,951  Sep-06  (218,285) 
Japanese Government Bond 10 yr (Long)  85  98,059,780  Sep-06  341,084 
U.K. Gilt 10 yr (Long)  63  12,905,170  Sep-06  (51,953) 
U.S. Treasury Note 10 yr (Long)  252  26,719,875  Sep-06  172,300 
U.S. Treasury Note 2 yr (Short)  1,605  326,567,344  Sep-06  70,411 
U.S. Treasury Note 5 yr (Short)  1,479  154,139,531  Sep-06  (706,793) 
U.S. Treasury Bond 20 yr (Short)  283  30,643,594  Sep-06  (498,309) 

Total        $(1,553,255) 
 
 
TBA SALE COMMITMENTS OUTSTANDING at 7/31/06 (proceeds receivable $84,349,031)   
    Principal  Settlement   
    amount  date  Value 

5s, August 1, 2021    $21,500,000  8/17/06  $20,886,915 
4 1/2s, September 1, 2021    40,000,000  9/18/06  38,159,375 
4 1/2s, August 1, 2021    27,200,000  8/17/06  25,973,876 

Total        $85,020,166 

59


INTEREST RATE SWAP CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 7/31/06     
      Payments  Payments  Unrealized 
Swap counterparty /  Termination  made by  received by  appreciation/ 
Notional amount  date  fund per annum  fund per annum  (depreciation) 

Bank of America, N.A.         
  $900,000  9/1/15  3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA  4.53%  $(54,295) 

  32,700,000  3/30/09  3.075%  3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA  1,673,286 

  6,900,000  1/27/14  4.35%  3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA  480,936 

Citibank, N.A.         
NOK  93,000,000  7/14/10  6 month NOK-NIBOR-NIBR  3.40%  (572,986) 

EUR  11,000,000  7/14/10  2.7515%  6 month   
        EUR-EURIBOR-Telerate  566,746 

  $46,380,000  7/27/09  5.504%  3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA  (176,218) 

JPY  5,544,600,000  4/26/11  6 month JPY-LIBOR-BBA  1.56125%  267,956 

JPY  2,400,000,000  4/22/13  1.9225%  6 month JPY-LIBOR-BBA  (254,622) 

JPY  10,565,597,000 (E)  4/3/08  1 year JPY-LIBOR-BBA  1.165%  84,030 

EUR  40,770,000  4/26/11  3.8345%  6 month   
        EUR-EURIBOR-Telerate  33,775 

JPY  750,000,000  4/21/36  6 month JPY-LIBOR-BBA  2.775%  96,752 

EUR  4,600,000  7/22/10  2.825%  6 month   
        EUR-EURIBOR-Telerate  222,250 

NOK  36,700,000  7/22/10  6 month NOK-NIBOR-NIBR  3.52%  (202,111) 

JPY  2,600,000,000  2/10/16  6 month JPY-LIBOR-BBA  1.755%  (488,816) 

Credit Suisse First Boston International       
  $11,257,600  7/9/14  4.945%  3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA  403,370 

Credit Suisse International         
EUR  5,062,000  7/17/21  6 month EUR-EURIBOR-     
      Telerate  4.445%  87,438 

CHF  35,768,000  7/17/09  2.555%  6 month CHF-LIBOR-BBA  (42,958) 

CHF  7,255,000  7/17/21  3.3125%  6 month CHF-LIBOR-BBA  (63,413) 

CHF  29,020,000  7/17/13  6 month CHF-LIBOR-BBA  2.9925%  132,194 

EUR  19,571,000  7/17/13  4.146%  6 month   
        EUR-EURIBOR-Telerate  (189,591) 

EUR  23,621,000  7/17/09  6 month EUR-EURIBOR-     
      Telerate  3.896%  89,986 

GBP  2,910,000  4/3/36  GBP 7,330,962 at maturity  6 month USD-LIBOR-BBA  283,416 

Deutsche Bank AG         
ZAR  23,880,000  7/6/11  3 month ZAR-JIBAR-SAFEX  9.16%  14,236 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.         
JPY  5,079,000,000  7/24/13  1.7875%  6 month JPY-LIBOR-BBA  148,314 

JPY  20,972,000,000  7/24/08  6 month JPY-LIBOR-BBA  0.905%  (96,864) 

GBP  14,090,000  7/19/16  6 month GBP-LIBOR-BBA  5.045%  171,673 

  $ 139,343,000  5/4/08  3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA  5.37%  (116,162) 

  45,120,000  5/4/16  5.62375%  3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA  (326,199) 

GBP  52,652,000  6/30/08  5.095%  6 month GBP-LIBOR-BBA  (133,986) 

JPY  7,420,000,000  6/6/13  1.83%  6 month JPY-LIBOR-BBA  (5,824) 

  $ 13,000,000  5/10/35  5.062%  3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA  1,095,473 

  30,000,000  5/10/15  3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA  4.687%  (1,757,128) 

GBP  7,050,000  7/19/36  4.5975%  6 month GBP-LIBOR-BBA  (137,537) 

  $56,000,000  5/10/07  4.062%  3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA  783,281 

  66,000,000  3/6/16  3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA  5.176%  (886,380) 


60


INTEREST RATE SWAP CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 7/31/06 continued   
        Payments  Payments  Unrealized 
Swap counterparty /    Termination  made by  received by  appreciation/ 
Notional amount    date  fund per annum  fund per annum  (depreciation) 

Lehman Brothers Special Financing, Inc.       
JPY  4,600,000,000    10/21/15  1.61%  6 month JPY-LIBOR-BBA  $1,374,030 

  $ 6,900,000    1/26/14  4.3375%  3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA  486,192 

  18,032,000    12/11/13  3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA  4.641%  (931,068) 

GBP  2,685,000    3/15/36  6,499,938 GBP at maturity  6 month GBP-LIBOR-BBA  320,542 

  $132,000,000    3/6/08  3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA  5.133%  1,030,498 

Merrill Lynch Capital Services, Inc.       
EUR  6,900,000    7/26/10  2.801%  6 month   
          EUR-EURIBOR-Telerate  338,991 

NOK  54,900,000    7/26/10  6 month NOK-NIBOR-NIBR  3.54%  (296,838) 

JPY  11,230,000,000    12/15/07  0.7411%  6 month JPY-LIBOR-BBA  (210,383) 

  $16,600,000  (E)  11/22/16  4.1735%  3 month U.S. Bond Market   
          Association Municipal Swap   
          Index  (160,886) 

  11,600,000  (E)  11/22/16  3 month USD-LIBOR-BBA  5.711%  143,376 

Total            $3,224,476 

(E) See Note 1 to the financial statements regarding extended effective dates.

61


TOTAL RETURN SWAP CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 7/31/06     
 
      Fixed payments  Total return  Unrealized 
Swap counterparty /  Termination  received (paid) by  received by  appreciation/ 
Notional amount  date  fund per annum  or paid by fund  (depreciation) 

Credit Suisse International         
EUR  33,169,000  4/26/11  2.14%  French Non-  $(38,091) 
        revised Consumer   
        Price Index   
        excluding tobacco   

EUR  33,169,000  4/26/11  (2.15%)  Euro Non-revised  330,124 
        Consumer Price   
        Index excluding   
        tobacco   

GBP  2,910,000  4/3/36  3.1225%  GBP Non-revised  (64,993) 
        Retail Price   
        Index   

Goldman Sachs International         
$  2,644,000  9/15/11  678 bp (1 month  Ford Credit Auto  (3,700) 
      USD-LIBOR)  Owner Trust   
        Series 2005-B   
        Class D   

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.         
EUR  31,400,000  7/21/11  (2.295%)  Euro Non-revised  114,279 
        Consumer Price   
        Index excluding   
        tobacco   

EUR  31,400,000  7/21/11  2.2325%  Euro Non-revised  100,808 
        Consumer Price   
        Index excluding   
        tobacco   

EUR  21,620,000  6/16/14  2.245%  Euro Non-revised  1,411 
        Consumer Price   
        Index excluding   
        tobacco   

EUR  21,620,000  6/16/14  (2.275%)  Euro Non-revised  14,576 
        Consumer Price   
        Index excluding   
        tobacco   

Lehman Brothers Special Financing, Inc.         
GBP  2,685,000  3/15/36  4,063,876 GBP  GBP Non-revised  (65,161) 
      at maturity  Retail Price   
        Index   

 
Total          $389,253 

62


CREDIT DEFAULT CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 7/31/06       
 
  Upfront      Fixed payments  Unrealized 
Swap counterparty /  premium  Notional  Termination  received (paid) by appreciation/   
Referenced debt*  received (paid)**  amount  date  fund per annum  (depreciation) 

Bank of America, N.A.           
DJ CDX NA HY Series 3           
Index  $32,558  $1,728,000  6/20/10  360 bp  $88,235 

DJ CDX NA HY Series 4           
Index  70,302  3,552,000  6/20/10  360 bp  184,747 

DJ CDX NA HY Series 4           
Index  (29,081)  9,600,000  6/20/10  (360 bp)  (338,393) 

DJ CDX NA HY Series 4           
Index  (19,398)  4,800,000  6/20/10  (360 bp)  (174,054) 

L-3 Communications           
Corp. 7 5/8s, 2012    1,155,000  9/20/11  (111 bp)  (3,019) 

L-3 Communications           
Corp. 7 5/8s, 2012    460,000  6/20/11  (101 bp)  (90) 

Citibank, N.A.           
DJ CDX NA HY Series 6           
Index  1,033  826,750  6/20/11  (345 bp)  (1,724) 

DJ CDX NA HY Series 6           
Index  6,793  418,000  6/20/11  (345 bp)  5,398 

DJ CDX NA HY Series 6           
Index 25-35% tranche    3,307,000  6/20/11  80 bp  (19,706) 

DJ CDX NA HY Series 6           
Index 25-35% tranche    1,672,000  6/20/11  74 bp  (15,361) 

DJ CDX NA IG Series 4           
Index 3-7% tranche    4,761,000  6/20/15  (677.5 bp)  500,401 

Credit Suisse First Boston International         
Ford Motor Co., 7.45s,           
7/16/2031    2,720,000  9/20/07  (487.5 bp)  (21,074) 

Ford Motor Co., 7.45s,           
7/16/2031    3,300,000  9/20/08  725 bp  35,573 

Ford Motor Co., 7.45s,           
7/16/2031    580,000  9/20/07  (485 bp)  (4,340) 

Republic of Argentina,           
8.28s, 2033    2,315,000  7/20/09  (214 bp)  (50,540) 

Deutsche Bank AG           
Republic of Indonesia,           
6.75s, 2014    1,125,000  9/20/16  294 bp  33,285 

Republic of Indonesia,           
6.75s, 2014    1,125,000  9/20/16  292 bp  31,787 

Goldman Sachs Capital Markets, L.P.         
DJ CDX NA HY Series 3           
Index  22,336  1,824,000  6/20/10  (360 bp)  81,105 

DJ CDX NA HY Series 4           
Index  23,693  4,800,000  6/20/10  (360 bp)  (130,963) 

DJ CDX NA HY Series 5           
Index  (397,415)  26,966,000  12/20/10  (395 bp)  (1,354,934) 

DJ CDX NA HY Series 6           
Index  10,275  1,027,500  6/20/11  (345 bp)  6,848 

DJ CDX NA HY Series 6           
Index 25-35% tranche    4,110,000  6/20/11  74 bp  (35,391) 


63


CREDIT DEFAULT CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 7/31/06 continued     
 
  Upfront        Fixed payments  Unrealized 
Swap counterparty /  premium    Notional  Termination  received (paid) by  appreciation/  
Referenced debt*  received (paid)**    amount  date  fund per annum  (depreciation) 

Goldman Sachs Capital Markets, L.P. continued           
DJ CDX NA IG Series 5             
Index 3-7% tranche  $—    $1,480,000  12/20/10  (115 bp)  $(24,630) 

DJ CDX NA IG Series 5             
Index 3-7% tranche      1,589,000  12/20/10  (113 bp)  (25,151) 

Goldman Sachs International             
DJ CDX NA HY Series 6             
Index  2,563    1,025,000  6/20/11  (345 bp)  (856) 

DJ CDX NA HY Series 6             
Index 25-35% tranche      4,100,000  6/20/11  85 bp  (16,488) 

DJ CDX NA IG Series 6             
Index      4,309,000  6/20/13  55 bp  2,577 

DJ CDX NA IG Series 6             
Index  22,041    4,309,000  6/20/13  (50 bp)  21,910 

General Motors Corp., 7             
1/8s, 7/15/13      2,720,000  9/20/08  620 bp  26,181 

General Motors Corp., 7             
1/8s, 7/15/13      2,720,000  9/20/07  (427.5 bp)  (21,984) 

General Motors Corp., 7             
1/8s, 7/15/13      580,000  9/20/07  (425 bp)  (4,529) 

General Motors Corp., 7             
1/8s, 7/15/13      580,000  9/20/08  620 bp  5,646 

One of the underlying             
securities in the             
basket of BB CMBS             
securities      7,487,000  (a)  2.461%  373,540 

Ray Acquisition SCA, 9             
3/8s, 3/15/2015    EUR  1,200,000  9/20/08  (187 bp)  (999) 

Ray Acquisition SCA, 9             
3/8s, 3/15/2015    EUR  1,200,000  9/20/11  399 bp  (794) 

Lehman Brothers Special Financing, Inc.           
DJ CDX NA HY Series 3             
Index  35,829    $1,728,000  6/20/10  (360 bp)  91,506 

DJ CDX NA HY Series 4             
Index  40,392    9,600,000  6/20/10  (360 bp)  (268,920) 

DJ CDX NA HY Series 4             
Index  (44,612)    4,570,560  6/20/10  (360 bp)  (191,875) 

DJ CDX NA HY Series 6             
Index  (2,556)    1,022,500  6/20/11  (345 bp)  (5,966) 

DJ CDX NA HY Series 6             
Index  6,141    818,750  6/20/11  (345 bp)  3,410 

DJ CDX NA HY Series 6             
Index  10,100    1,010,000  6/20/11  (345 bp)  6,732 

DJ CDX NA HY Series 6             
Index 25-35% tranche      4,090,000  6/20/11  96 bp  2,863 

DJ CDX NA HY Series 6             
Index 25-35% tranche      3,275,000  6/20/11  74 bp  (28,740) 

DJ CDX NA HY Series 6             
Index 25-35% tranche      4,040,000  6/20/11  72 bp  (38,420) 

DJ CDX NA IG Series 4             
Index 3-7% tranche      1,082,000  6/20/12  309 bp  63,844 


64


CREDIT DEFAULT CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 7/31/06 continued     
 
  Upfront        Fixed payments  Unrealized 
Swap counterparty /  premium    Notional  Termination  received (paid) by  appreciation/  
Referenced debt*  received (paid)**    amount  date  fund per annum  (depreciation) 

Lehman Brothers Special Financing, Inc. continued           
DJ CDX NA IG Series 4             
Index 3-7% tranche  $ —    $4,248,500  6/20/10  (124.5 bp)  $(104,651) 

DJ iTraxx EUR Series 5             
Index  24,712  EUR  3,628,000  6/20/13  (50 bp)  (2,690) 

DJ iTraxx EUR Series 5             
Index 6-9% tranche    EUR  3,628,000  6/20/13  53.5 bp  (2,408) 

Merrill Lynch Capital Services, Inc.           
L-3 Communications             
Corp. 7 5/8s, 2012      $1,910,000  9/20/11  (111 bp)  (4,934) 

L-3 Communications             
Corp. 7 5/8s, 2012      1,152,000  6/20/11  (92 bp)  4,282 

Merrill Lynch International             
DJ CDX NA HY Series 4             
Index  43,007    2,208,000  6/20/10  360 bp  114,149 

Merrill Lynch International & Co. C.V.           
DJ CDX NA IG Series 5             
Index 3-7% tranche      1,480,000  12/20/12  246 bp  31,436 

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc.           
DJ CDX NA HY Series 6             
Index  (7,823)    1,043,000  6/20/11  (345 bp)  (11,301) 

DJ CDX NA HY Series 6             
Index  (5,251)    1,050,250  6/20/11  (345 bp)  (8,754) 

DJ CDX NA HY Series 6             
Index  (3,358)    671,500  6/20/11  (345 bp)  (5,597) 

DJ CDX NA HY Series 6             
Index      1,014,750  6/20/11  (345 bp)  (3,384) 

DJ CDX NA HY Series 6             
Index  10,450    1,045,000  6/20/11  (345 bp)  6,965 

DJ CDX NA HY Series 6             
Index 25-35% tranche      4,172,000  6/20/11  107.5 bp  23,921 

DJ CDX NA HY Series 6             
Index 25-35% tranche      4,201,000  6/20/11  106 bp  21,442 

DJ CDX NA HY Series 6             
Index 25-35% tranche      2,686,000  6/20/11  103.5 bp  10,720 

DJ CDX NA HY Series 6             
Index 25-35% tranche      4,059,000  6/20/11  88.5 bp  (10,176) 

DJ CDX NA HY Series 6             
Index 25-35% tranche      4,180,000  6/20/11  73 bp  (38,353) 

DJ CDX NA HY Series 6             
Index 25-35% tranche  16,981    1,045,000  6/20/11  345 bp  13,496 

DJ CDX NA HY Series 6             
Index 25-35% tranche      4,180,000  6/20/11  74 bp  (38,400) 

DJ CDX NA IG Series 4             
Index 3-7% tranche      8,031,500  6/20/10  (62 bp)  (18,543) 

DJ CDX NA IG Series 4             
Index 3-7% tranche      3,372,000  6/20/12  275 bp  140,439 

DJ CDX NA IG Series 4             
Index 3-7% tranche      3,257,000  6/20/10  (114 bp)  (68,332) 


65


CREDIT DEFAULT CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 7/31/06 continued     
 
  Upfront        Fixed payments  Unrealized 
Swap counterparty /  premium    Notional  Termination  received (paid) by  appreciation/ 
Referenced debt*  received (paid)**    amount  date  fund per annum  (depreciation) 

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, Inc. continued           
DJ CDX NA IG Series 4             
Index 3-7% tranche  $—    $1,082,000  6/20/10  (110.5 bp)  $(21,315) 

DJ CDX NA IG Series 5             
Index 3-7% tranche      1,480,000  12/20/12  248 bp  33,053 

DJ CDX NA IG Series 5             
Index 3-7% tranche      1,480,000  12/20/10  (115 bp)  (24,630) 

DJ iTraxx EUR Series 5             
Index    EUR  3,628,000  6/20/13  (50 bp)  (27,322) 

DJ iTraxx EUR Series 5             
Index 6-9% tranche    EUR  3,628,000  6/20/13  57 bp  7,859 

Total            $(1,196,381) 

* Payments related to the reference debt are made upon a credit default event.

** Upfront premium is based on the difference between the original spread on issue and the market spread on day of execution.

(a) Terminating on the date on which the notional amount is reduced to zero or the date on which the assets securing the reference entity are liquidated.

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

66


Statement of assets and liabilities 7/31/06

ASSETS   

Investment in securities, at value, including $4,614,862 of securities on loan (Note 1):   
Unaffiliated issuers (identified cost $1,291,411,041)  $1,288,134,649 
Affiliated issuers (identified cost $171,684,435) (Note 5)  171,684,435 

Cash  3,063,784 

Foreign currency (cost $8,015,576) (Note 1)  8,060,721 

Interest and other receivables  14,702,499 

Receivable for securities sold  8,149,119 

Receivable for sales of delayed delivery securities (Note 1)  84,667,184 

Unrealized appreciation on swap contracts (Note 1)  12,863,289 

Receivable for open forward currency contracts (Note 1)  1,911,804 

Receivable for closed forward currency contracts (Note 1)  1,410,083 

Receivable for closed swaps contracts (Note 1)  1,094,460 

Premiums paid on swap contracts (Note 1)  509,494 

Total assets  1,596,251,521 
 
LIABILITIES   

Payable for variation margin (Note 1)  427,883 

Distributions payable to shareholders  5,608,180 

Payable for securities purchased  1,703,439 

Payable for purchases of delayed delivery securities (Note 1)  167,735,017 

Payable for shares of the fund repurchased (Note 4)  1,559,263 

Payable for compensation of Manager (Note 2)  2,202,654 

Payable for investor servicing and custodian fees (Note 2)  40,582 

Payable for Trustee compensation and expenses (Note 2)  174,221 

Payable for administrative services (Note 2)  2,388 

Payable for open forward currency contracts (Note 1)  1,060,327 

Payable for closed forward currency contracts (Note 1)  3,298,552 

Written options outstanding, at value (premiums received $921,579) (Note 1)  1,475,990 

Premiums received on swap contracts (Note 1)  379,206 

Unrealized depreciation on swap contracts (Note 1)  10,445,941 

TBA sales commitments, at value (proceeds receivable $84,349,031) (Note 1)  85,020,166 

Collateral on securities loaned, at value (Note 1)  4,719,780 

Other accrued expenses  319,459 

Total liabilities  286,173,048 

Net assets applicable to common shares outstanding  $1,310,078,473 

(Continued on next page)

67


Statement of assets and liabilities (Continued)   
 
REPRESENTED BY   

Paid-in capital (Unlimited shares authorized) (Note 1)  $1,590,562,683 

Distributions in excess of net investment income (Note 1)  (773,361) 

Accumulated net realized loss on investments   
and foreign currency transactions (Note 1)  (277,032,056) 

Net unrealized depreciation of investments and assets   
and liabilities in foreign currencies  (2,678,793) 

Total — Representing net assets applicable to capital shares outstanding  $1,310,078,473 
 
COMPUTATION OF NET ASSET VALUE   

Net asset value per share   
($1,310,078,473 divided by 186,509,884 shares)  $7.02 

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

68


Statement of operations 7/31/06   
 
INVESTMENT INCOME   

Interest (including interest income of $7,061,342   
from investments in affiliated issuers)  $ 75,720,533 

Dividends  654,611 

Securities lending  842 

Total investment income  76,375,986 
 
EXPENSES   

Compensation of Manager (Note 2)  9,130,720 

Investor servicing fees (Note 2)  677,416 

Custodian fees (Note 2)  366,332 

Trustee compensation and expenses (Note 2)  62,906 

Administrative services (Note 2)  35,458 

Other  948,436 

Fees waived by Manager (Note 5)  (202,976) 

Total expenses  11,018,292 

Expense reduction (Note 2)  (503,447) 

Net expenses  10,514,845 

Net investment income  65,861,141 

Net realized loss on investments (Notes 1 and 3)  (5,413,794) 

Net realized loss on swap contracts (Note 1)  (79,394) 

Net realized gain on futures contracts (Note 1)  5,508,592 

Net realized loss on foreign currency transactions (Note 1)  (10,993,754) 

Net unrealized depreciation of assets and liabilities   
in foreign currencies during the year  (1,904,258) 

Net unrealized depreciation of investments, futures contracts, swap contracts,   
written options, and TBA sale commitments during the year  (17,808,995) 

Net loss on investments  (30,691,603) 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations  $ 35,169,538 

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

69


Statement of changes in net assets   
 
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS     
  Year ended  Year ended 
  7/31/06  7/31/05 

Operations:     
Net investment income  $ 65,861,141  $ 58,856,328 

Net realized gain (loss) on investments     
and foreign currency transactions  (10,978,350)  19,641,735 

Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments     
and assets and liabilities in foreign currencies  (19,713,253)  15,978,413 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations  35,169,538  94,476,476 

Distributions to shareholders: (Note 1)     

From net investment income  (69,087,605)  (80,509,420) 

Increase from issuance of shares in connection with     
merger of Putnam Master Income Trust (Note 9)    390,337,325 

Decrease from shares repurchased (Note 4)  (52,983,647)   

Total increase (decrease) in net assets  (86,901,714)  404,304,381 
 
NET ASSETS     

Beginning of year  1,396,980,187  992,675,806 

End of year (including distributions in excess and     
undistributed net investment income of $773,361     
and $8,324,672, respectively)  $1,310,078,473  $1,396,980,187 
 
NUMBER OF FUND SHARES     

Shares outstanding at beginning of year  195,156,300  141,198,870 

Shares issued in connection with the merger of Putnam     
Master Income Trust (Note 9)    53,957,430 

Shares repurchased (Note 4)  (8,646,416)   

Shares outstanding at end of year  186,509,884  195,156,300 

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

70


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

PER-SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE         
      Year ended     
  7/31/06  7/31/05  7/31/04  7/31/03  7/31/02 

Net asset value,           
beginning of period  $7.16  $7.03  $6.75  $6.22  $6.68 

Investment operations:           
Net investment income (a)  .34(d)  .36(d)  .44(d)  .51  .55 

Net realized and unrealized           
gain (loss) on investments  (.16)  .28  .31  .54  (.47) 

Total from           
investment operations  .18  .64  .75  1.05  .08 

Less distributions:           
From net investment income  (.36)  (.51)  (.47)  (.52)  (.53) 

From return of capital          (.01) 

Total distributions  (.36)  (.51)  (.47)  (.52)  (.54) 

Increase from shares repurchased  .04         

Net asset value,           
end of period  $7.02  $7.16  $7.03  $6.75  $6.22 

Market price,           
end of period  $6.02  $6.31  $6.29  $6.31  $6.03 

Total return at           
market price (%)(b)  1.14  8.35  7.18  13.41  4.44 
 
RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA           

Net assets, end of period           
(in thousands)  $1,310,078  $1,396,980  $992,676  $952,730  $877,649 

Ratio of expenses to           
average net assets (%)(c)  .81(d)  .84(d)  .83(d)  .85  .86 

Ratio of net investment income           
to average net assets (%)  4.86(d)  4.99(d)  6.19(d)  7.91  8.39 

Portfolio turnover (%)  104.97(e)  139.74(e)  78.43  96.21(f )  175.78(f ) 

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

(b) Total return assumes dividend reinvestment.

(c) Includes amounts paid through expense offset arrangements (Note 2).

(d) Reflects waivers of certain fund expenses in connection with Putnam Prime Money Market Fund during the period. As a result of such waivers, the expenses of the fund for the periods ended July 31, 2006, July 31, 2005 and July 31, 2004 reflect a reduction of 0.01%, 0.02% and less than 0.01% of average net assets, respectively (Note 5).

(e) Portfolio turnover excludes dollar roll transactions.

(f) Portfolio turnover excludes certain treasury note transactions executed in connection with a short-term trading strategy.

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

71


Notes to financial statements 7/31/06

Note 1: Significant accounting policies

Putnam Premier Income Trust (the “fund”), a Massachusetts business trust, is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. The fund’s investment objective is to seek high current income by allocating its investments among the U.S. government sector, high yield sector and international sector of the fixed-income securities market. The fund invests in higher yielding, lower-rated bonds that have a higher rate of default due to the nature of the investments.

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 Investments for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the last reported sales price on their principal exchange, or official closing price for certain markets. If no sales are reported — as in the case of some securities traded over-the-counter — a security is valued at its last reported bid price. Market quotations are not considered to be readily available for certain debt obligations; such investments are valued on the basis of valuations furnished by an independent pricing service approved by the Trustees or dealers selected by Putnam Investment Management, LLC (“Putnam Management”), the fund’s manager, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Putnam, LLC. Such services or dealers determine valuations for normal institutional-size trading units of such securities using methods based on market transactions for comparable securities and various relationships, generally recognized by institutional traders, between securities. Many securities markets and exchanges outside the U.S. close prior to the close of the New York Stock Exchange and therefore the closing prices for securities in such markets or on such exchanges may not fully reflect events that occur after such close but before the close of the New York Stock Exchange. Accordingly, on certain days, the fund will fair value foreign equity securities taking into account multiple factors, including movements in the U.S. securities markets. The number of days on which fair value prices will be used will depend on market activity and it is possible that fair value prices will be used by the fund to a significant extent. Securities quoted in foreign currencies, if any, are translated into U.S. dollars at the current exchange rate. Other investments, including certain restricted securities, are valued at fair value following procedures approved by the Trustees. Such valuations and procedures are reviewed periodically by the Trustees. The fair value of securities is generally determined as the amount that the fund could reasonably expect to realize from an orderly disposition of such securities over a reasonable period of time. By its nature, a fair value price is a good faith estimate of the value of a security at a given point in time and does not reflect an actual market price, which may be different by a material amount.

B) Joint trading account Pursuant to an exemptive order from the Securities and Exchange Commission, the fund may transfer uninvested cash balances, including cash collateral received under security lending arrangements, into a joint trading account along with the cash of other registered investment companies and certain other accounts managed by Putnam Investment Management, LLC (“Putnam Management”), the fund’s manager, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Putnam, LLC. These balances may be invested in issues of

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high-grade short-term investments having maturities of up to 397 days for collateral received under security lending arrangements and up to 90 days for other cash investments.

C) Repurchase agreements The fund, or any joint trading account, through its custodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities, the market value of which at the time of purchase is required to be in an amount at least equal to the resale price, including accrued interest. Collateral for certain tri-party repurchase agreements is held at the counterparty’s custodian in a segregated account for the benefit of the fund and the coun-terparty. Putnam Management is responsible for determining that the value of these underlying securities is at all times at least equal to the resale price, including accrued interest.

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

Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. All premiums/discounts are amortized/accreted on a yield-to-maturity basis. Dividend income, net of applicable withholding taxes, is recognized on the ex-dividend date except that certain dividends from foreign securities, if any, are recognized as soon as the fund is informed of the ex-dividend date. Non-cash dividends, if any, are recorded at the fair market value of the securities received. Dividends representing a return of capital or capital gains, if any, are reflected as a reduction of cost and/or as a realized gain when the amounts are conclusively determined.

Securities purchased or sold on a when-issued or forward commitment or delayed delivery basis may be settled a month or more after the trade date; interest income is accrued based on the terms of the securities. Losses may arise due to changes in the market value of the underlying securities or if the counterparty does not perform under the contract.

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

E) Stripped securities The fund may invest in stripped securities which represent a participation in securities that may be structured in classes with rights to receive different portions of the interest and principal. Interest-only securities receive all of the interest and principal-only securities receive all of the principal. If the interest-only securities experience greater than anticipated prepayments of principal, the fund may fail to recoup fully its initial investment in these securities. Conversely, principal-only securities increase in value if prepayments are greater than anticipated and decline if prepayments are slower than anticipated. The market value of these securities is highly sensitive to changes in interest rates.

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

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unrealized appreciation and depreciation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies arise from changes in the value of open forward currency contracts and assets and liabilities other than investments at the period end, resulting from changes in the exchange rate. Investments in foreign securities involve certain risks, including those related to economic instability, unfavorable political developments, and currency fluctuations, not present with domestic investments.

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

H) Futures and options contracts The fund may use futures and options contracts to hedge against changes in the values of securities the fund owns or expects to purchase, or for other investment purposes. The fund may also write options on swaps or securities it owns or in which it may invest to increase its current returns.

The potential risk to the fund is that the change in value of futures and options contracts may not correspond to the change in value of the hedged instruments. In addition, losses may arise from changes in the value of the underlying instruments, if there is an illiquid secondary market for the contracts, or if the counterparty to the contract is unable to perform. Risks may exceed amounts recognized on the statement of assets and liabilities. When the contract is closed, the fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Realized gains and losses on purchased options are included in realized gains and losses on investment securities. If a written call option is exercised, the premium originally received is recorded as an addition to sales proceeds. If a written put option is exercised, the premium originally received is recorded as a reduction to the cost of investments.

Futures contracts are valued at the quoted daily settlement prices established by the exchange on which they trade. The fund and the broker agree to exchange an amount of cash equal to the daily fluc-tuation in the value of the futures contract. Such receipts or payments are known as “variation margin.” Exchange traded options are valued at the last sale price or, if no sales are reported, the last bid price for purchased options and the last ask price for written options. Options traded over-the-counter are valued using prices supplied by dealers. Futures and written option contracts outstanding at period end, if any, are listed after the fund’s portfolio.

I) Total return swap contracts The fund may enter into total return swap contracts, which are arrangements to exchange a market linked return for a periodic payment, both based on a notional principal amount. To the extent that the total return of the security, index or other financial measure underlying the transaction exceeds or falls short of the offsetting interest rate obligation, the fund will receive a payment from or make a payment to the counterparty. Total return swap contracts are marked to market daily based upon quotations from market makers and the change, if any, is

74


recorded as unrealized gain or loss. Payments received or made are recorded as realized gains or loss. Certain total return swap contracts may include extended effective dates. Income related to these swap contracts is accrued based on the terms of the contract. The fund could be exposed to credit or market risk due to unfavorable changes in the fluctuation of interest rates or in the price of the underlying security or index, the possibility that there is no liquid market for these agreements or that the counterparty may default on its obligation to perform. Risk of loss may exceed amounts recognized on the statement of assets and liabilities. Total return swap contracts outstanding at period end, if any, are listed after the fund’s portfolio.

J) 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 an independent pricing service or 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. Certain interest rate swap contracts may include extended effective dates. Income related to these swap contracts is accrued based on the terms of the contract. The fund could be exposed to credit or market risk due to unfavorable changes in the fluctuation of interest rates or if the counter-party 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.

K) Credit default contracts The fund may enter into credit default contracts where one party, the protection buyer, makes an upfront or periodic payment to a counter party, the protection seller, in exchange for the right to receive a contingent payment. The maximum amount of the payment may equal the notional amount, at par, of the underlying index or security as a result of a related credit event. An upfront payment received by the fund, as the protection seller, is recorded as a liability on the fund’s books. An upfront payment made by the fund, as the protection buyer, is recorded as an asset on the fund’s books. Periodic payments received or paid by the fund are recorded as realized gains or losses. The credit default contracts are marked to market daily based upon quotations from an independent pricing service or market makers and the change, if any, is recorded as unrealized gain or loss. Payments received or made as a result of a credit event or termination of the contract are recognized, net of a proportional amount of the upfront payment, as realized gains or losses. In addition to bearing the risk that the credit event will occur, the fund could be exposed to market risk due to unfavorable changes in interest rates or in the price of the underlying security or index, the possibility that the fund may be unable to close out its position at the same time or at the same price as if it had purchased comparable publicly traded securities or that the counterparty may default on its obligation to perform. Risks of loss may exceed amounts recognized on the statement of assets and liabilities. Credit default contracts outstanding at period end, if any, are listed after the fund’s portfolio.

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

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risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased declines prior to the settlement date, which risk is in addition to the risk of decline in the value of the fund’s other assets. Unsettled TBA purchase commitments are valued at fair value of the underlying securities, according to the procedures described under “Security valuation” above. The contract is “marked-to-market” daily and the change in market value is recorded by the fund as an unrealized gain or loss.

Although the fund will generally enter into TBA purchase commitments with the intention of acquiring securities for its portfolio or for delivery pursuant to options contracts it has entered into, the fund may dispose of a commitment prior to settlement if Putnam Management deems it appropriate to do so.

M) TBA sale commitments The fund may enter into TBA sale commitments to hedge its portfolio positions or to sell mortgage-backed securities it owns under delayed delivery arrangements. Proceeds of TBA sale commitments are not received until the contractual settlement date. During the time a TBA sale commitment is outstanding, equivalent deliverable securities or an offsetting TBA purchase commitment deliverable on or before the sale commitment date, are held as “cover” for the transaction.

Unsettled TBA sale commitments are valued at fair value of the underlying securities, generally according to the procedures described under “Security valuation” above. The contract is “marked-to-market” daily and the change in market value is recorded by the fund as an unrealized gain or loss. If the TBA sale commitment is closed through the acquisition of an offsetting purchase commitment, the fund realizes a gain or loss. If the fund delivers securities under the commitment, the fund realizes a gain or a loss from the sale of the securities based upon the unit price established at the date the commitment was entered into. TBA sale commitments outstanding at period end, if any, are listed after the fund’s portfolio.

N) Dollar rollsTo enhance returns, the fund may enter into dollar rolls (principally using TBAs) in which the fund sells securities for delivery in the current month and simultaneously contracts to purchase similar securities on a specified future date. During the period between the sale and subsequent purchase, the fund will not be entitled to receive income and principal payments on the securities sold. The fund will, however, retain the difference between the initial sales price and the forward price for the future purchase. The fund will also be able to earn interest on the cash proceeds that are received from the initial sale. The fund may be exposed to market or credit risk if the price of the security changes unfavorably or the counterparty fails to perform under the terms of the agreement.

O) Security lending The fund may lend securities, through its agents, to qualified borrowers in order to earn additional income. The loans are collateralized by cash and/or securities in an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned. The market value of securities loaned is determined daily and any additional required collateral is allocated to the fund on the next business day. The risk of borrower default will be borne by the fund’s agents; the fund will bear the risk of loss with respect to the investment of the cash collateral. Income from securities lending is included in investment income on the statement of operations. At July 31, 2006, the value of securities loaned amounted to $4,614,862. The fund received cash collateral of $4,719,780 which is pooled with collateral of other Putnam funds into 24 issues of high grade short-term investments.

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

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At July 31, 2006, the fund had a capital loss carryover of $269,212,648 available to the extent allowed by the Code to offset future net capital gain, if any. The amount of the carryover and the expiration dates are:

Loss Carryover  Expiration 

$31,644,770  July 31, 2007 

60,809,014  July 31, 2008 

51,721,443  July 31, 2009 

44,917,486  July 31, 2010 

80,119,935  July 31, 2011 


Pursuant to federal income tax regulations applicable to regulated investment companies, the fund has elected to defer to its fiscal year ending July 31, 2007, $8,533,540 of losses recognized during the period November 1, 2005 to July 31, 2006.

Q) Distributions to shareholders Distributions to shareholders from net investment income are recorded by the fund on the ex-dividend date. Distributions from capital gains, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date and paid at least annually. The amount and character of income and gains to be distributed are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from generally accepted accounting principles.

These differences include temporary and permanent differences of foreign currency gains and losses, post-October loss deferrals, the expiration of a capital loss carryover, dividends payable, unrealized gains and losses on certain futures contracts, market discount, income on swap contracts, amortization and accretion and interest only securities. 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 July 31, 2006, the fund reclassified $5,871,569 to decrease undistributed net investment income and $19,554,312 to decrease paid-in-capital, with a decrease to accumulated net realized losses of $25,425,881.

The tax basis components of distributable earnings and the federal tax cost as of July 31, 2006 were as follows:

Unrealized appreciation  $ 32,190,130 
Unrealized depreciation  (36,409,878) 
  ——————————————— 
Net unrealized depreciation  (4,219,748) 
Undistributed ordinary income  7,275,082 
Capital loss carryforward  (269,212,648) 
Post-October loss  (8,533,540) 
Cost for federal income   
tax purposes  $1,464,038,832 

Note 2: Management fee, administrative
services and other transactions

Putnam Management is paid for management and investments advisory services quarterly based on the “average weekly assets” of the fund. “Average weekly assets” is defined to mean the average of the weekly determinations of the difference between the total assets of the fund (including any assets attributable to leverage for investment purposes through incurrence of indebtedness) and the total liabilities of the fund (excluding liabilities incurred in connection with leverage for investment purposes). This fee is based on the following annual rates: 0.75% of the first $500 million of average weekly assets, 0.65% of the next $500 million, 0.60% of the next $500 million, and 0.55% of the next $5 billion, with additional breakpoints at higher asset levels.

Prior to January 1, 2006, the fund’s management fee was based on the following annual rates: 0.75% of the first $500 million of average weekly assets, 0.65% of the next $500 million, 0.60% of the next $500 million and 0.55% thereafter.

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

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

Custodial functions for the fund’s assets are provided by Putnam Fiduciary Trust Company (“PFTC”), a subsidiary of Putnam, LLC. PFTC receives fees for custody services based on the fund’s asset level, the number of its security holdings and transaction volumes. Putnam Investor Services, a division of PFTC, provides investor servicing agent functions to the fund. Putnam Investor Services is paid a monthly fee for investor servicing at an annual rate of 0.05% of the fund’s average net assets. During the year ended July 31, 2006, the fund incurred $1,043,748 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 July 31, 2006, the fund’s expenses were reduced by $503,447 under these arrangements.

Each independent Trustee of the fund receives an annual Trustee fee, of which $500, as a quarterly retainer, has been allocated to the fund, and an additional fee for each Trustees meeting attended. Trustees receive additional fees for attendance at certain committee meetings, industry seminars and for certain compliance-related matters. Trustees also are reimbursed for expenses they incur relating to their services as Trustees. George Putnam, III, who is not an independent Trustee, also receives the foregoing fees for his services as Trustee.

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

The fund has adopted an unfunded noncontribu-tory defined benefit pension plan (the “Pension Plan”) covering all Trustees of the fund who have served as a Trustee for at least five years and were first elected prior to 2004. Benefits under the Pension Plan are equal to 50% of the Trustee’s average annual attendance and retainer fees for the three years ended December 31, 2005. 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.

Note 3: Purchases and sales of securities

During the year ended July 31, 2006, cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investment securities other than U.S. government securities and short-term investments aggregated $1,202,700,576 and $1,209,736,027 respectively. Purchases and sales of U.S. government securities aggregated $23,051,702 and $20,657,776, respectively.

Written option transactions during the year ended July 31, 2006 are summarized as follows:

  Contract  Premiums 
  Amounts  Received 

Written options     
outstanding at     
beginning of year    $   

Options opened  JPY 56,125,048,000  921,579 
Options expired       
Options closed       

Written options     
outstanding at     
end of year  JPY 56,125,048,000  $921,579 

Note 4: Share repurchase program

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

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October 6, 2006. In March 2006, the Trustees approved an increase in this repurchase program to allow the fund to repurchase a total of up to 10% of its outstanding shares over the same period. In September 2006, the Trustees extended the program on its existing terms through October 6, 2007. Repurchases will only be made when the fund’s shares are trading at less than net asset value and in accordance with procedures approved by the fund’s Trustees.

For the year ended July 31, 2006, the fund repurchased 8,646,416 common shares for an aggregate purchase price of $52,983,647, which reflects a weighted-average discount from net asset value per share of 12.9% .

Note 5: Investment in Putnam Prime
Money Market Fund

Pursuant to an exemptive order from the Securities and Exchange Commission, the fund invests in Putnam Prime Money Market Fund, an open-end management investment company managed by Putnam Management. Management fees paid by the fund are reduced by an amount equal to the management and administrative services fees paid by Putnam Prime Money Market Fund with respect to assets invested by the fund in Putnam Prime Money Market Fund. For the year ended July 31, 2006, management fees paid were reduced by $202,976 relating to the fund’s investment in Putnam Prime Money Market Fund. Income distributions earned by the fund are recorded as income in the statement of operations and totaled $7,061,342 for the year ended July 31, 2006. During the year ended July 31, 2006, cost of purchases and cost of sales of investments in Putnam Prime Money Market Fund aggregated $619,390,957 and $640,327,671, respectively.

Note 6: Senior loan commitments

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

Note 7: Unfunded loan commitments

As of July 31, 2006, the fund had unfunded loan commitments of $520,974 which could be extended at the option of the borrower, pursuant to the following loan agreements with the following borrowers:

Borrower  Unfunded Commitments 

CIR Gas  $ 84,848 

Cracker Barrel  42,724 

MEG Energy  225,000 

Trump Casino  168,402 


Note 8: Regulatory matters and litigation

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

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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.

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

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

Note 9: Acquisition of Putnam Master
Income Trust

On February 25, 2005, the fund issued 53,957,430, shares in exchange for 53,329,917 shares of Putnam Master Income Trust to acquire that fund’s net assets in a tax-free exchange approved by the shareholders. The net assets of the fund and Putnam Master Income Trust on February 25, 2005 valuation date, were $1,021,456,879 and $390,337,325, respectively. On February 25, 2005, Putnam Master Income Trust had distributions in excess of net investment income of $6,574,029, accumulated net realized loss of $79,376,154 and unrealized appreciation of $8,668,150. The aggregate net assets of the fund immediately following the acquisition were $1,411,794,204.

Information presented in the Statement of changes in net assets reflect only operations of Putnam Premier Income Trust.

Note 10: New accounting pronouncement

In June 2006, FASB issued Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (the “Interpretation”). The Interpretation prescribes a minimum threshold for financial statement recognition of the benefit of a tax position taken or expected to be taken by a filer in the filer’s tax return. The Interpretation will become effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006 but will also apply to tax positions reflected in the fund’s financial statements as of that date. No determination has been made whether the adoption of the Interpretation will require the fund to make any adjustments to its net assets or have any other effect on the fund’s financial statements.

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Federal tax information
(Unaudited)

The fund has designated 0.93% of the distributions from net investment income as qualifying for the dividends received deduction for corporations.

For its tax year ended July 31, 2006, the fund hereby designates 0.93%, or the maximum amount allowable, of its net taxable ordinary income as qualified dividends taxed at individual net capital gain rates.

The Form 1099 you receive in January 2007 will show the tax status of all distributions paid to your account in calendar 2006.

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Compliance certifications
(Unaudited)

On July 21, 2006, your fund submitted a CEO annual certification to the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) on which the fund’s principal executive officer certified that he was not aware, as of that date, of any violation by the fund of the NYSE’s Corporate Governance listing standards. In addition, as required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and related SEC rules, the fund’s principal executive and principal financial officers have made quarterly certifications, included in filings with the SEC on Forms N-CSR and N-Q, relating to, among other things, the fund’s disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting.

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Shareholder meeting
results (Unaudited)

The annual meeting of shareholders of the fund was held on June 29, 2006.

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

  Votes for  Votes withheld 

Jameson A. Baxter  157,705,371  11,338,010 

Charles B. Curtis  157,728,297  11,315,084 

Myra R. Drucker  157,712,751  11,330,630 

Charles E. Haldeman, Jr.  157,818,759  11,224,622 

John A. Hill  157,728,316  11,315,065 

Paul L. Joskow  157,754,240  11,289,141 

Elizabeth T. Kennan  157,614,741  11,428,640 

Robert E. Patterson  157,785,119  11,258,262 

George Putnam, III  157,768,582  11,274,799 

W. Thomas Stephens  147,052,748  21,990,633 

Richard B. Worley  157,746,287  11,297,094 


A proposal to convert the fund to an open-end investment company and approve certain related changes to the fund’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust was defeated as follows:

Votes for  Votes against  Abstentions  Broker non-votes 

30,287,224  52,719,616  3,345,694  82,690,847 


A shareholder proposal to reduce the Board of Trustees by one-third was defeated as follows:

Votes for  Votes against  Abstentions 

24,963,682  57,982,656  3,406,196 


All tabulations are rounded to nearest whole number.

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About the Trustees

Jameson A. Baxter (Born 1943), Trustee since 1994, Vice Chairman since 2005

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 (Born 1940), 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 and Under Secretary of the U.S. Department 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.

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Myra R. Drucker (Born 1948), Trustee since 2004

Ms. Drucker is Chair of the Board of Trustees of Commonfund (a not-for-profit firm specializing in asset management for educational endowments and foundations), Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of Sarah Lawrence College, and a member of the Investment Committee of the Kresge Foundation (a charitable trust). She is also a director of New York Stock Exchange LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the publicly-traded NYSE Group, Inc. She is an advisor to Hamilton Lane LLC and RCM Capital Management (investment management firms).

Ms. Drucker is 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.

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 (Born 1942), 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 Chairman 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

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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 (Born 1947), 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 plc (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). He also serves on the Board of Overseers of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. 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 (Born 1938), 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. Until 2006, she was 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.

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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.

Robert E. Patterson (Born 1945), 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 (Born 1942), 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).

Until 2005, Mr. Stephens was a director of TransCanadaPipelines, Ltd. 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.

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Richard B. Worley (Born 1945), 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.* (Born 1948), 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 on the Board of Governors of the Investment Company Institute and as a Trustee of Dartmouth College, and he is a member of the Partners HealthCare Systems Investment Committee. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College, Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School. Mr. Haldeman is also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder.

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George Putnam, III* (Born 1951), 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 and 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 July 31, 2006, 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.

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Officers

In addition to George Putnam, III, the other officers of the fund are shown below:

Charles E. Porter (Born 1938)  Richard S. Robie, III (Born 1960) 
Executive Vice President, Associate Treasurer,  Vice President 
Compliance Liaison and Principal  Since 2004 
Executive Officer   
Since 1989  Senior Managing Director, Putnam 
  Investments, Putnam Management 
Jonathan S. Horwitz (Born 1955)  and Putnam Retail Management. Prior 
Senior Vice President and Treasurer  to 2003, Senior Vice President, United 
Since 2004  Asset Management Corporation 
   
Prior to 2004, Managing Director,  Francis J. McNamara, III (Born 1955) 
Putnam Investments  Vice President and Chief Legal Officer 
  Since 2004 
Steven D. Krichmar (Born 1958)   
Vice President and Principal Financial Officer  Senior Managing Director, Putnam 
Since 2002  Investments, Putnam Management 
  and Putnam Retail Management. Prior 
Senior Managing Director, Putnam  to 2004, General Counsel, State Street 
Investments. Prior to July 2001, Partner,  Research & Management Company 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP   
  Charles A. Ruys de Perez (Born 1957) 
Michael T. Healy (Born 1958)  Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer 
Assistant Treasurer and Principal  Since 2004 
Accounting Officer   
Since 2000  Managing Director, Putnam Investments 
   
Managing Director, Putnam Investments  Mark C. Trenchard (Born 1962) 
  Vice President and BSA Compliance Officer 
Beth S. Mazor (Born 1958)  Since 2002 
Vice President  Managing Director, Putnam Investments 
Since 2002   
  Judith Cohen (Born 1945) 
Managing Director, Putnam Investments  Vice President, Clerk and Assistant Treasurer 
  Since 1993 
James P. Pappas (Born 1953)   
Vice President  Wanda M. McManus (Born 1947) 
Since 2004  Vice President, Senior Associate Treasurer 
  and Assistant Clerk 
Managing Director, Putnam Investments  Since 2005 
and Putnam Management. During 2002,   
Chief Operating Officer, Atalanta/Sosnoff  Nancy E. Florek (Born 1957) 
Management Corporation; prior to 2001,  Vice President, Assistant Clerk, 
President and Chief Executive Officer,  Assistant Treasurer and Proxy Manager 
UAM Investment Services, Inc.    Since 2005 

The address of each Officer is One Post Office Square, Boston, MA 02109.

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Fund information

About Putnam Investments

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

Investment Manager  Myra R. Drucker  Beth S. Mazor 
Putnam Investment  Charles E. Haldeman, Jr.  Vice President 
Management, LLC  Paul L. Joskow 
One Post Office Square  Elizabeth T. Kennan  James P. Pappas 
Boston, MA 02109  Robert E. Patterson  Vice President   
George Putnam, III 
Investment Sub-Manager  W. Thomas Stephens  Richard S. Robie, III 
Putnam Investments Limited    Richard B. Worley  Vice President   
57-59 St. James Street   
London, England SW1A 1LD  Officers  Francis J. McNamara, III 
George Putnam, III  Vice President and 
Marketing Services    President  Chief Legal Officer   
Putnam Retail Management   
One Post Office Square  Charles E. Porter  Charles A. Ruys de Perez 
Boston, MA 02109  Executive Vice President,  Vice President and 
  Associate Treasurer,  Chief Compliance Officer   
Custodian  Compliance Liaison and   
Putnam Fiduciary    Principal Executive Officer  Mark C. Trenchard   
Trust Company    Vice President and 
  Jonathan S. Horwitz  BSA Compliance Officer   
Legal Counsel  Senior Vice President   
Ropes & Gray LLP    and Treasurer  Judith Cohen   
  Vice President, Clerk and 
Independent Registered    Steven D. Krichmar  Assistant Treasurer   
Public Accounting Firm  Vice President and   
KPMG LLP    Principal Financial Officer  Wanda M. McManus 
  Vice President, Senior Associate   
Trustees    Michael T. Healy  Treasurer and Assistant Clerk   
John A. Hill, Chairman  Assistant Treasurer and   
Jameson Adkins Baxter,    Principal Accounting Officer  Nancy T. Florek   
Vice Chairman    Vice President, Assistant Clerk, 
Charles B. Curtis    Assistant Treasurer   
  and Proxy Manager   

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

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Item 2. Code of Ethics:

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

(c) None

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert:

The Funds' Audit and Compliance 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 Compliance 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 Compliance Committee meet the financial literacy requirements of the New York Stock Exchange's rules and that Mr. Patterson, Mr. Stephens and Mr. Hill 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 Compliance 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 Compliance Committee and the Board of Trustees in the absence of such designation or identification.

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services:

The following table presents fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for services rendered to the fund by the fund’s independent auditor:

Fiscal         
year  Audit  Audit-Related  Tax  All Other 
ended  Fees  Fees  Fees  Fees 
 
July 31, 2006  $65,580  $--  $ 4,680  $ 862 
July 31, 2005  $42,192  $ 18,000*  $ 4,192  $ - 

* Includes fees billed to the fund for services relating to one or more fund mergers. A portion of such fees was paid by Putnam Management.

For the fiscal years ended July 31, 2006 and July 31, 2005, the fund’s independent auditor billed aggregate non-audit fees in the amounts of $ 5,542 and $ 22,192 respectively, to the fund, Putnam Management and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with Putnam Management that provides ongoing services to the fund.

Audit Fees represent fees billed for the fund’s last two fiscal years.

Audit-Related Fees represent fees billed in the fund’s last two fiscal years for services traditionally performed by the fund’s auditor, including accounting consultation for proposed transactions or


concerning financial accounting and reporting standards and other audit or attest services not required by statute or regulation.

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

All Other Fees represent fees billed for services relating to the review of expense allocation methodology.

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

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

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

Fiscal  Audit-    All  Total 
year  Related  Tax  Other  Non-Audit 
ended  Fees  Fees  Fees  Fees 
July 31,         
2006  $ -  $ -  $ -  $ - 
July         
30, 2005  $ -  $ -  $ -  $ - 

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants

(a) The fund has a separately-designated Audit and Compliance Committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Audit and Compliance Committee of the fund's Board of Trustees is composed of the following persons:

Robert E. Patterson (Chairperson)
W. Thomas Stephens
John A. Hill

(b) Not applicable

Item 6. Schedule of Investments:

The registrant’s schedule of investments in unaffiliated issuers is included in the report to shareholders in Item 1 above.


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

Proxy voting guidelines of the Putnam funds

The proxy voting guidelines below summarize the funds’ positions on various issues of concern to investors, and give a general indication of how fund portfolio securities will be voted on proposals dealing with particular issues. The funds’ proxy voting service is instructed to vote all proxies relating to fund portfolio securities in accordance with these guidelines, except as otherwise instructed by the Proxy Coordinator, a member of the Office of the Trustees who is appointed to assist in the coordination and voting of the funds’ proxies.

The proxy voting guidelines are just that – guidelines. The guidelines are not exhaustive and do not include all potential voting issues. Because proxy issues and the circumstances of individual companies are so varied, there may be instances when the funds may not vote in strict adherence to these guidelines. For example, the proxy voting service is expected to bring to the Proxy Coordinator’s attention proxy questions that are company-specific and of a non-routine nature and that, even if covered by the guidelines, may be more appropriately handled on a case-by-case basis.

Similarly, Putnam Management’s investment professionals, as part of their ongoing review and analysis of all fund portfolio holdings, are responsible for monitoring significant corporate developments, including proxy proposals submitted to shareholders, and notifying the Proxy Coordinator of circumstances where the interests of fund shareholders may warrant a vote contrary to these guidelines. In such instances, the investment professionals will submit a written recommendation to the Proxy Coordinator and the person or persons designated by Putnam Management’s Legal and Compliance Department to assist in processing referral items pursuant to the funds’ “Proxy Voting Procedures.” The Proxy Coordinator, in consultation with the funds’ Senior Vice President, Executive Vice President, and/or the Chair of the Board Policy and Nominating Committee, as appropriate, will determine how the funds’ proxies will be voted. When indicated, the Chair of the Board Policy and Nominating Committee may consult with other members of the Committee or the full Board of Trustees.

The following guidelines are grouped according to the types of proposals generally presented to shareholders. Part I deals with proposals that have been put forth by management and approved and recommended by a company’s board of directors. Part II deals with proposals submitted by shareholders for inclusion in proxy statements. Part III addresses unique considerations pertaining to non-U.S. issuers.

The Putnam funds will disclose their proxy votes in accordance with the timetable established by SEC rules (i.e., not later than August 31 of each year for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30).


I. BOARD-APPROVED PROPOSALS

The vast majority of matters presented to shareholders for a vote involve proposals made by a company itself (sometimes referred to as “management proposals”), which have been approved and recommended by its board of directors. In view of the enhanced corporate governance practices currently being implemented in public companies and of the funds’ intent to hold corporate boards accountable for their actions in promoting shareholder interests, the funds’ proxies generally will be voted for the decisions reached by majority independent boards of directors, except as otherwise indicated in these guidelines. Accordingly, the funds’ proxies will be voted for board-approved proposals, except as follows:

Matters relating to the Board of Directors

Uncontested Election of Directors

The funds’ proxies will be voted for the election of a company’s nominees for the board of directors, except as follows:

* The funds will withhold votes for the entire board of directors if

the board does not have a majority of independent directors,

the board has not established independent nominating, audit, and compensation committees,

the board has more than 19 members or fewer than five members, absent special circumstances,

the board has not acted to implement a policy requested in a shareholder proposal that received the support of a majority of the shares of the company cast at its previous two annual meetings, or

the board has adopted or renewed a shareholder rights plan (commonly referred to as a “poison pill”) without shareholder approval during the current or prior calendar year.

* The funds will on a case-by-case basis withhold votes from the entire board of directors where the board has approved compensation arrangements for one or more company executives that the funds determine are unreasonably excessive relative to the company’s performance.

* The funds will withhold votes for any nominee for director who:

is considered an independent director by the company and who has received compensation from the company other than for service as a director (e.g., investment banking, consulting, legal, or financial advisory fees),

attends less than 75% of board and committee meetings without valid reasons for the absences (e.g., illness, personal emergency, etc.),

as a director of a public company (Company A), is employed as a senior executive of another public company (Company B) if a director of Company B serves as a senior executive of Company A (commonly referred to as an “interlocking directorate”), or


serves on more than five unaffiliated public company boards (for the purpose of this guideline, boards of affiliated registered investment companies will count as one board).

Commentary:

Board independence: Unless otherwise indicated, for the purposes of determining whether a board has a majority of independent directors and independent nominating, audit, and compensation committees, an “independent director” is a director who (1) meets all requirements to serve as an independent director of a company under the final NYSE Corporate Governance Rules (e.g., no material business relationships with the company and no present or recent employment relationship with the company (including employment of an immediate family member as an executive officer)), and (2) has not accepted directly or indirectly any consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fee from the company other than in his or her capacity as a member of the board of directors or any board committee. The funds’ Trustees believe that the receipt of any amount of compensation for services other than service as a director raises significant independence issues.

Board size: The funds’ Trustees believe that the size of the board of directors can have a direct impact on the ability of the board to govern effectively. Boards that have too many members can be unwieldy and ultimately inhibit their ability to oversee management performance. Boards that have too few members can stifle innovation and lead to excessive influence by management.

Time commitment: Being a director of a company requires a significant time commitment to adequately prepare for and attend the company’s board and committee meetings. Directors must be able to commit the time and attention necessary to perform their fiduciary duties in proper fashion, particularly in times of crisis. The funds’ Trustees are concerned about over-committed directors. In some cases, directors may serve on too many boards to make a meaningful contribution. This may be particularly true for senior executives of public companies (or other directors with substantially full-time employment) who serve on more than a few outside boards. The funds may withhold votes from such directors on a case-by-case basis where it appears that they may be unable to discharge their duties properly because of excessive commitments.

Interlocking directorships: The funds’ Trustees believe that interlocking directorships are inconsistent with the degree of independence required for outside directors of public companies.

Corporate governance practices: Board independence depends not only on its members’ individual relationships, but also on the board’s overall attitude toward management. Independent boards are committed to good corporate governance practices and, by providing objective independent judgment, enhancing shareholder value. The funds may withhold votes on a case-by-case basis from some or all directors who, through their lack of independence, have failed to observe good corporate governance practices or, through specific corporate action, have demonstrated a disregard for the interest of shareholders. Such instances may include cases where a board of directors has approved compensation arrangements for one or more members of management that, in the judgment of the funds’ Trustees, are excessive by reasonable corporate standards relative to the company’s record of performance.

Contested Elections of Directors

* The funds will vote on a case-by-case basis in contested elections of directors.

Classified Boards

* The funds will vote against proposals to classify a board, absent special circumstances indicating that shareholder interests would be better served by this structure.


Commentary: Under a typical classified board structure, the directors are divided into three classes, with each class serving a three-year term. The classified board structure results in directors serving staggered terms, with usually only a third of the directors up for re-election at any given annual meeting. The funds’ Trustees generally believe that it is appropriate for directors to stand for election each year, but recognize that, in special circumstances, shareholder interests may be better served under a classified board structure.

Other Board-Related Proposals

The funds will generally vote for board-approved proposals that have been approved by a majority independent board, and on a case-by-case basis on board-approved proposals where the board fails to meet the guidelines’ basic independence standards (i.e., majority of independent directors and independent nominating, audit, and compensation committees).

Executive Compensation

The funds generally favor compensation programs that relate executive compensation to a company’s long-term performance. The funds will vote on a case-by-case basis on board-approved proposals relating to executive compensation, except as follows:

* Except where the funds are otherwise withholding votes for the entire board of directors, the funds will vote for stock option and restricted stock plans that will result in an average annual dilution of 1.67% or less (based on the disclosed term of the plan and including all equity-based plans).

* The funds will vote against stock option and restricted stock plans that will result in an average annual dilution of greater than 1.67% (based on the disclosed term of the plan and including all equity-based plans).

* The funds will vote against any stock option or restricted stock plan where the company's actual grants of stock options and restricted stock under all equity-based compensation plans during the prior three (3) fiscal years have resulted in an average annual dilution of greater than 1.67% .

* The funds will vote against stock option plans that permit the replacing or repricing of underwater options (and against any proposal to authorize such replacement or repricing of underwater options).

* The funds will vote against stock option plans that permit issuance of options with an exercise price below the stock’s current market price.

* Except where the funds are otherwise withholding votes for the entire board of directors, the funds will vote for an employee stock purchase plan that has the following features: (1) the shares purchased under the plan are acquired for no less than 85% of their market value; (2) the offering period under the plan is 27 months or less; and (3) dilution is 10% or less.

Commentary: Companies should have compensation programs that are reasonable and that align shareholder and management interests over the longer term. Further, disclosure of compensation programs should provide absolute transparency to shareholders regarding the sources and amounts of, and the factors influencing, executive compensation. Appropriately designed equity-based compensation plans can be an effective way to align the interests of long-term shareholders with the interests of management. The funds may vote against executive compensation proposals on a case-by-case basis where compensation is excessive by reasonable corporate standards, or where a company fails to provide transparent disclosure of


executive compensation. In voting on a proposal relating to executive compensation, the funds will consider whether the proposal has been approved by an independent compensation committee of the board.

Capitalization

Many proxy proposals involve changes in a company’s capitalization, including the authorization of additional stock, the issuance of stock, the repurchase of outstanding stock, or the approval of a stock split. The management of a company’s capital structure involves a number of important issues, including cash flow, financing needs, and market conditions that are unique to the circumstances of the company. As a result, the funds will vote on a case-by-case basis on board-approved proposals involving changes to a company’s capitalization, except that where the funds are not otherwise withholding votes from the entire board of directors:

* The funds will vote for proposals relating to the authorization and issuance of additional common stock (except where such proposals relate to a specific transaction).

* The funds will vote for proposals to effect stock splits (excluding reverse stock splits).

* The funds will vote for proposals authorizing share repurchase programs.

Commentary: A company may decide to authorize additional shares of common stock for reasons relating to executive compensation or for routine business purposes. For the most part, these decisions are best left to the board of directors and senior management. The funds will vote on a case-by-case basis, however, on other proposals to change a company’s capitalization, including the authorization of common stock with special voting rights, the authorization or issuance of common stock in connection with a specific transaction (e.g., an acquisition, merger or reorganization), or the authorization or issuance of preferred stock. Actions such as these involve a number of considerations that may affect a shareholder’s investment and that warrant a case-by-case determination.

Acquisitions, Mergers, Reincorporations, Reorganizations and Other Transactions

Shareholders may be confronted with a number of different types of transactions, including acquisitions, mergers, reorganizations involving business combinations, liquidations, and the sale of all or substantially all of a company’s assets, which may require their consent. Voting on such proposals involves considerations unique to each transaction. As a result, the funds will vote on a case-by-case basis on board-approved proposals to effect these types of transactions, except as follows:

* The funds will vote for mergers and reorganizations involving business combinations designed solely to reincorporate a company in Delaware.

Commentary: A company may reincorporate into another state through a merger or reorganization by setting up a “shell” company in a different state and then merging the company into the new company. While reincorporation into states with extensive and established corporate laws – notably Delaware – provides companies and shareholders with a more well-defined legal framework, shareholders must carefully consider the reasons for a reincorporation into another jurisdiction, including especially an offshore jurisdiction.

Anti-Takeover Measures

Some proxy proposals involve efforts by management to make it more difficult for an outside party to take control of the company without the approval of the company’s board of directors.


These include the adoption of a shareholder rights plan, requiring supermajority voting on particular issues, the adoption of fair price provisions, the issuance of blank check preferred stock, and the creation of a separate class of stock with disparate voting rights. Such proposals may adversely affect shareholder rights, lead to management entrenchment, or create conflicts of interest. As a result, the funds will vote against board-approved proposals to adopt such anti-takeover measures, except as follows:

* The funds will vote on a case-by-case basis on proposals to ratify or approve shareholder rights plans; and

* The funds will vote on a case-by-case basis on proposals to adopt fair price provisions.

Commentary: The funds’ Trustees recognize that poison pills and fair price provisions may enhance shareholder value under certain circumstances. As a result, the funds will consider proposals to approve such matters on a case-by-case basis.

Other Business Matters

Many proxies involve approval of routine business matters, such as changing a company’s name, ratifying the appointment of auditors, and procedural matters relating to the shareholder meeting. For the most part, these routine matters do not materially affect shareholder interests and are best left to the board of directors and senior management of the company. The funds will vote for board-approved proposals approving such matters, except as follows:

* The funds will vote on a case-by-case basis on proposals to amend a company’s charter or bylaws (except for charter amendments necessary or to effect stock splits to change a company’s name or to authorize additional shares of common stock).

* The funds will vote against authorization to transact other unidentified, substantive business at the meeting.

* The funds will vote on a case-by-case basis on other business matters where the funds are otherwise withholding votes for the entire board of directors.

Commentary: Charter and bylaw amendments and the transaction of other unidentified, substantive business at a shareholder meeting may directly affect shareholder rights and have a significant impact on shareholder value. As a result, the funds do not view such items as routine business matters. Putnam Management’s investment professionals and the funds’ proxy voting service may also bring to the Proxy Coordinator’s attention company-specific items that they believe to be non-routine and warranting special consideration. Under these circumstances, the funds will vote on a case-by-case basis.

II. SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

SEC regulations permit shareholders to submit proposals for inclusion in a company’s proxy statement. These proposals generally seek to change some aspect of the company’s corporate governance structure or to change some aspect of its business operations. The funds generally will vote in accordance with the recommendation of the company’s board of directors on all shareholder proposals, except as follows:

* The funds will vote for shareholder proposals to declassify a board, absent special circumstances which would indicate that shareholder interests are better served by a classified board structure.


* The funds will vote for shareholder proposals to require shareholder approval of shareholder rights plans.

* The funds will vote for shareholder proposals that are consistent with the funds’ proxy voting guidelines for board-approved proposals.

* The funds will vote on a case-by-case basis on other shareholder proposals where the funds are otherwise withholding votes for the entire board of directors.

Commentary: In light of the substantial reforms in corporate governance that are currently underway, the funds’ Trustees believe that effective corporate reforms should be promoted by holding boards of directors – and in particular their independent directors – accountable for their actions, rather than imposing additional legal restrictions on board governance through piecemeal proposals. Generally speaking, shareholder proposals relating to business operations are often motivated primarily by political or social concerns, rather than the interests of shareholders as investors in an economic enterprise. As stated above, the funds’ Trustees believe that boards of directors and management are responsible for ensuring that their businesses are operating in accordance with high legal and ethical standards and should be held accountable for resulting corporate behavior. Accordingly, the funds will generally support the recommendations of boards that meet the basic independence and governance standards established in these guidelines. Where boards fail to meet these standards, the funds will generally evaluate shareholder proposals on a case-by-case basis.

III. VOTING SHARES OF NON-U.S. ISSUERS

Many of the Putnam funds invest on a global basis, and, as a result, they may be required to vote shares held in non-U.S. issuers – i.e., issuers that are incorporated under the laws of foreign jurisdictions and that are not listed on a U.S. securities exchange or the NASDAQ stock market. Because non-U.S. issuers are incorporated under the laws of countries and jurisdictions outside the U.S., protection for shareholders may vary significantly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Laws governing non-U.S. issuers may, in some cases, provide substantially less protection for shareholders. As a result, the foregoing guidelines, which are premised on the existence of a sound corporate governance and disclosure framework, may not be appropriate under some circumstances for non-U.S. issuers.

In many non-U.S. markets, shareholders who vote proxies of a non-U.S. issuer are not able to trade in that company’s stock on or around the shareholder meeting date. This practice is known as “share blocking.” In countries where share blocking is practiced, the funds will vote proxies only with direction from Putnam Management’s investment professionals.

In addition, some non-U.S. markets require that a company’s shares be re-registered out of the name of the local custodian or nominee into the name of the shareholder for the meeting. This practice is known as “share re-registration.” As a result, shareholders, including the funds, are not able to trade in that company’s stock until the shares are re-registered back in the name of the local custodian or nominee. In countries where share re-registration is practiced, the funds will generally not vote proxies.

The funds will vote proxies of non-U.S. issuers in accordance with the foregoing guidelines where applicable, except as follows:

Uncontested Election of Directors

Japan


* For companies that have established a U.S.-style corporate structure, the funds will withhold votes for the entire board of directors if

the board does not have a majority of outside directors,

the board has not established nominating and compensation committees composed of a majority of outside directors, or

the board has not established an audit committee composed of a majority of independent directors.

* The funds will withhold votes for the appointment of members of a company’s board of statutory auditors if a majority of the members of the board of statutory auditors is not independent.

Commentary:

Board structure: Recent amendments to the Japanese Commercial Code give companies the option to adopt a U.S.-style corporate structure (i.e., a board of directors and audit, nominating, and compensation committees). The funds will vote for proposals to amend a company’s articles of incorporation to adopt the U.S.-style corporate structure.

Definition of outside director and independent director: Corporate governance principles in Japan focus on the distinction between outside directors and independent directors. Under these principles, an outside director is a director who is not and has never been a director, executive, or employee of the company or its parent company, subsidiaries or affiliates. An outside director is “independent” if that person can make decisions completely independent from the managers of the company, its parent, subsidiaries, or affiliates and does not have a material relationship with the company (i.e., major client, trading partner, or other business relationship; familial relationship with current director or executive; etc.). The guidelines have incorporated these definitions in applying the board independence standards above.

Korea

* The funds will withhold votes for the entire board of directors if

the board does not have a majority of outside directors,

the board has not established a nominating committee composed of at least a majority of outside directors, or

the board has not established an audit committee composed of at least three members and in which at least two-thirds of its members are outside directors.

Commentary: For purposes of these guideline, an “outside director” is a director that is independent from the management or controlling shareholders of the company, and holds no interests that might impair performing his or her duties impartially from the company, management or controlling shareholder. In determining whether a director is an outside director, the funds will also apply the standards included in Article 415-2(2) of the Korean Commercial Code (i.e., no employment relationship with the company for a period of two years before serving on the committee, no director or employment relationship with the company’s largest shareholder, etc.) and may consider other business relationships that would affect the independence of an outside director.

United Kingdom


* The funds will withhold votes for the entire board of directors if

the board does not have at least a majority of independent non-executive directors,

the board has not established nomination committees composed of a majority of independent non-executive directors, or

the board has not established compensation and audit committees composed of (1) at least three directors (in the case of smaller companies, two directors) and (2) solely of independent non-executive directors.

* The funds will withhold votes for any nominee for director who is considered an independent director by the company and who has received compensation from the company other than for service as a director (e.g., investment banking, consulting, legal, or financial advisory fees).

Commentary:

Application of guidelines: Although the U.K.’s Combined Code on Corporate Governance (“Combined Code”) has adopted the “comply and explain” approach to corporate governance, the funds’ Trustees believe that the guidelines discussed above with respect to board independence standards are integral to the protection of investors in U.K. companies. As a result, these guidelines will be applied in a prescriptive manner.

Definition of independence: For the purposes of these guidelines, a non-executive director shall be considered independent if the director meets the independence standards in section A.3.1 of the Combined Code (i.e., no material business or employment relationships with the company, no remuneration from the company for non-board services, no close family ties with senior employees or directors of the company, etc.), except that the funds do not view service on the board for more than nine years as affecting a director’s independence.

Smaller companies: A smaller company is one that is below the FTSE 350 throughout the year immediately prior to the reporting year.

Canada

In January 2004, Canadian securities regulators issued proposed policies that would impose new corporate governance requirements on Canadian public companies. The recommended practices contained in these new corporate governance requirements mirror corporate governance reforms that have been adopted by the NYSE and other U.S. national securities exchanges and stock markets. As a result, the funds will vote on matters relating to the board of directors of Canadian issuers in accordance with the guidelines applicable to U.S. issuers.

Commentary: Like the U.K.’s Combined Code, the proposed policies on corporate governance issued by Canadian securities regulators embody the “comply and explain” approach to corporate governance. Because the funds’ Trustees believe that the board independence standards contained in the proxy voting guidelines are integral to the protection of investors in Canadian companies, these standards will be applied in a prescriptive manner.

Other Matters

* The funds will vote for shareholder proposals calling for a majority of a company’s directors to be independent of management.


* The funds will vote for shareholder proposals seeking to increase the independence of board nominating, audit, and compensation committees.

* The funds will vote for shareholder proposals that implement corporate governance standards similar to those established under U.S. federal law and the listing requirements of U.S. stock exchanges, and that do not otherwise violate the laws of the jurisdiction under which the company is incorporated.

* The funds will vote on a case-by-case basis on proposals relating to (1) the issuance of common stock in excess of 20% of the company’s outstanding common stock where shareholders do not have preemptive rights, or (2) the issuance of common stock in excess of 100% of the company’s outstanding common stock where shareholders have preemptive rights.

As adopted January 13, 2006

Proxy Voting Procedures of the Putnam Funds

The proxy voting procedures below explain the role of the funds’ Trustees, the proxy voting service and the Proxy Coordinator, as well as how the process will work when a proxy question needs to be handled on a case-by-case basis, or when there may be a conflict of interest.

The role of the funds’ Trustees

The Trustees of the Putnam funds exercise control of the voting of proxies through their Board Policy and Nominating Committee, which is composed entirely of independent Trustees. The Board Policy and Nominating Committee oversees the proxy voting process and participates, as needed, in the resolution of issues that need to be handled on a case-by-case basis. The Committee annually reviews and recommends, for Trustee approval, guidelines governing the funds’ proxy votes, including how the funds vote on specific proposals and which matters are to be considered on a case-by-case basis. The Trustees are assisted in this process by their independent administrative staff (“Office of the Trustees”), independent legal counsel, and an independent proxy voting service. The Trustees also receive assistance from Putnam Investment Management, LLC (“Putnam Management”), the funds’ investment advisor, on matters involving investment judgments. In all cases, the ultimate decision on voting proxies rests with the Trustees, acting as fiduciaries on behalf of the shareholders of the funds.

The role of the proxy voting service

The funds have engaged an independent proxy voting service to assist in the voting of proxies. The proxy voting service is responsible for coordinating with the funds’ custodians to ensure that all proxy materials received by the custodians relating to the funds’ portfolio securities are processed in a timely fashion. To the extent applicable, the proxy voting service votes all proxies in accordance with the proxy voting guidelines established by the Trustees. The proxy voting service will refer proxy questions to the Proxy Coordinator (described below) for instructions under circumstances where: (1) the application of the proxy voting guidelines is unclear; (2) a particular proxy question is not covered by the guidelines; or (3) the guidelines call for specific instructions on a case-by-case basis. The proxy voting service is also requested to call to the Proxy Coordinator’s attention specific proxy questions that, while governed by a guideline, appear to involve unusual or controversial issues. The funds also utilize research services relating to proxy questions provided by the proxy voting service and by other firms.


The role of the Proxy Coordinator

Each year, a member of the Office of the Trustees is appointed Proxy Coordinator to assist in the coordination and voting of the funds’ proxies. The Proxy Coordinator will deal directly with the proxy voting service and, in the case of proxy questions referred by the proxy voting service, will solicit voting recommendations and instructions from the Office of the Trustees, the Chair of the Board Policy and Nominating Committee, and Putnam Management’s investment professionals, as appropriate. The Proxy Coordinator is responsible for ensuring that these questions and referrals are responded to in a timely fashion and for transmitting appropriate voting instructions to the proxy voting service.

Voting procedures for referral items

As discussed above, the proxy voting service will refer proxy questions to the Proxy Coordinator under certain circumstances. When the application of the proxy voting guidelines is unclear or a particular proxy question is not covered by the guidelines (and does not involve investment considerations), the Proxy Coordinator will assist in interpreting the guidelines and, as appropriate, consult with one of more senior staff members of the Office of the Trustees and the Chair of the Board Policy and Nominating Committee on how the funds’ shares will be voted.

For proxy questions that require a case-by-case analysis pursuant to the guidelines or that are not covered by the guidelines but involve investment considerations, the Proxy Coordinator will refer such questions, through a written request, to Putnam Management’s investment professionals for a voting recommendation. Such referrals will be made in cooperation with the person or persons designated by Putnam Management’s Legal and Compliance Department to assist in processing such referral items. In connection with each such referral item, the Legal and Compliance Department will conduct a conflicts of interest review, as described below under “Conflicts of Interest,” and provide a conflicts of interest report (the “Conflicts Report”) to the Proxy Coordinator describing the results of such review. After receiving a referral item from the Proxy Coordinator, Putnam Management’s investment professionals will provide a written recommendation to the Proxy Coordinator and the person or persons designated by the Legal and Compliance Department to assist in processing referral items. Such recommendation will set forth (1) how the proxies should be voted; (2) the basis and rationale for such recommendation; and (3) any contacts the investment professionals have had with respect to the referral item with non-investment personnel of Putnam Management or with outside parties (except for routine communications from proxy solicitors). The Proxy Coordinator will then review the investment professionals’ recommendation and the Conflicts Report with one of more senior staff members of the Office of the Trustees in determining how to vote the funds’ proxies. The Proxy Coordinator will maintain a record of all proxy questions that have been referred to Putnam Management’s investment professionals, the voting recommendation, and the Conflicts Report.

In some situations, the Proxy Coordinator and/or one of more senior staff members of the Office of the Trustees may determine that a particular proxy question raises policy issues requiring consultation with the Chair of the Board Policy and Nominating Committee, who, in turn, may decide to bring the particular proxy question to the Committee or the full Board of Trustees for consideration.

Conflicts of interest

Occasions may arise where a person or organization involved in the proxy voting process may have a conflict of interest. A conflict of interest may exist, for example, if Putnam Management has a business relationship with (or is actively soliciting business from) either the company soliciting the proxy or a third party that has a material interest in the outcome of a proxy vote or that is actively lobbying for a particular outcome of a proxy vote. Any individual with knowledge of a personal conflict of interest (e.g., familial relationship with company management) relating to a particular referral item shall disclose that conflict to the Proxy Coordinator and the Legal and Compliance


Department and otherwise remove himself or herself from the proxy voting process. The Legal and Compliance Department will review each item referred to Putnam Management’s investment professionals to determine if a conflict of interest exists and will provide the Proxy Coordinator with a Conflicts Report for each referral item that (1) describes any conflict of interest; (2) discusses the procedures used to address such conflict of interest; and (3) discloses any contacts from parties outside Putnam Management (other than routine communications from proxy solicitors) with respect to the referral item not otherwise reported in an investment professional’s recommendation. The Conflicts Report will also include written confirmation that any recommendation from an investment professional provided under circumstances where a conflict of interest exists was made solely on the investment merits and without regard to any other consideration.

As adopted March 11, 2005

Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies

(a)(1) Investment management teams. Putnam Management’s, Putnam Investments Limited’s and The Putnam Advisory Company’s (for funds having Putnam Investments Limited and/or The Putnam Advisory Company as sub-manager) investment professionals are organized into investment management teams, with a particular team dedicated to a specific asset class. The members of the team or teams identified in the shareholder report included in Item 1 of this report manage the fund’s investments. The names of all team members can be found at www.putnam.com.

The team members identified as the fund’s Portfolio Leader(s) and Portfolio Member(s) coordinate team efforts related to the fund and are primarily responsible for the day-today management of the fund’s portfolio. In addition to these individuals, each team also includes other investment professionals, whose analysis, recommendations and research inform investment decisions made for the fund.

Portfolio Leaders  Joined  Employer  Positions Over Past Five Years 
  Fund     
William Kohli  2002  Putnam Management  Director, Core Fixed Income Team 
    1994-Present   
 
Portfolio       
Members       
Rob Bloemker  2002  Putnam Management  Team Leader, Mortgage and 
    1999-Present  Government 
      Previously, Mortgage Specialist 
Jeff Kaufman  2005  Putnam Management  Team Leader Emerging Markets 
    1998-Present  Debt 
 
Paul Scanlon  2005  Putnam Management  Team Leader, Core Fixed Income 
    1990-Present  High Yield. Previously, Portfolio 
      Manager; Analyst 
Dave Waldman  1998  Putnam Management  Director of Fixed Income 
1997-Present  Quantitative Research; 



(a)(2) Other Accounts Managed by the Fund’s Portfolio Managers.

The following table shows the number and approximate assets of other investment accounts (or portions of investment accounts) that the fund’s Portfolio Leader(s) and Portfolio Member(s) managed as of the fund’s most recent fiscal year-end. The other accounts may include accounts for which the individual was not designated as a portfolio member. Unless noted, none of the other accounts pays a fee based on the account’s performance.

          Other accounts (including 
          separate accounts, managed 
Portfolio      Other accounts that pool  account programs and single- 
Leader or  Other SEC-registered open-  assets from more than one  sponsor defined contribution plan 
Member  end and closed-end funds  client   offerings)  

Number  Assets  Number  Assets  Number  Assets 
  of    of    of   
  accounts    accounts    accounts   

William Kohli  5  $4,136,700,000  6  $457,600,000  2  $90,000,000 

Rob Bloemker  14  $11,068,900,000  12  $10,807,800,000  22*  $5,761,600,000 

Jeff Kaufman  3  $4,003,700,000  2  $63,200,000  4  $217,100,000 

Paul Scanlon  14  $8,547,600,000  7  $523,000,000  7  $427,400,000 

Dave Waldman  3  $4,003,700,000  0  $ -  1  $100,000 


* 5 accounts, with total assets of $1,112,900,000, pay an advisory fee based on account performance.

Potential conflicts of interest in managing multiple accounts. Like other investment professionals with multiple clients, the fund’s Portfolio Leader(s) and Portfolio Member(s) may face certain potential conflicts of interest in connection with managing both the fund and the other accounts listed under “Other Accounts Managed by the Fund’s Portfolio Managers” at the same time. The paragraphs below describe some of these potential conflicts, which Putnam Management believes are faced by investment professionals at most major financial firms. As described below, Putnam Management and the Trustees of the Putnam funds have adopted compliance policies and procedures that attempt to address certain of these potential conflicts.

The management of accounts with different advisory fee rates and/or fee structures, including accounts that pay advisory fees based on account performance (“performance fee accounts”), may raise potential conflicts of interest by creating an incentive to favor higher-fee accounts. These potential conflicts may include, among others:


• The most attractive investments could be allocated to higher-fee accounts or performance fee accounts.

• The trading of higher-fee accounts could be favored as to timing and/or execution price. For example, higher-fee accounts could be permitted to sell securities earlier than other accounts when a prompt sale is desirable or to buy securities at an earlier and more opportune time.

• The trading of other accounts could be used to benefit higher-fee accounts (front- running).

• The investment management team could focus their time and efforts primarily on higher-fee accounts due to a personal stake in compensation.

Putnam Management attempts to address these potential conflicts of interest relating to higher-fee accounts through various compliance policies that are generally intended to place all accounts, regardless of fee structure, on the same footing for investment management purposes. For example, under Putnam Management’s policies:

• Performance fee accounts must be included in all standard trading and allocation procedures with all other accounts.

• All accounts must be allocated to a specific category of account and trade in parallel with allocations of similar accounts based on the procedures generally applicable to all accounts in those groups (e.g., based on relative risk budgets of accounts).

• All trading must be effected through Putnam’s trading desks and normal queues and procedures must be followed (i.e., no special treatment is permitted for performance fee accounts or higher-fee accounts based on account fee structure).

• Front running is strictly prohibited.

• The fund’s Portfolio Leader(s) and Portfolio Member(s) may not be guaranteed or specifically allocated any portion of a performance fee.

As part of these policies, Putnam Management has also implemented trade oversight and review procedures in order to monitor whether particular accounts (including higher-fee accounts or performance fee accounts) are being favored over time.

Potential conflicts of interest may also arise when the Portfolio Leader(s) or Portfolio Member(s) have personal investments in other accounts that may create an incentive to favor those accounts. As a general matter and subject to limited exceptions, Putnam Management’s investment professionals do not have the opportunity to invest in client accounts, other than the Putnam funds. However, in the ordinary course of business, Putnam Management or related persons may from time to time establish “pilot” or “incubator” funds for the purpose of testing proposed investment strategies and products prior to offering them to clients. These pilot accounts may be in the form of registered investment companies, private funds such as partnerships or separate accounts established by Putnam Management or an affiliate. Putnam Management or an affiliate supplies the funding for these accounts. Putnam employees, including the fund’s Portfolio Leader(s) and Portfolio Member(s), may also invest in certain pilot accounts. Putnam Management, and to the extent applicable, the Portfolio Leader(s) and Portfolio


Member(s) will benefit from the favorable investment performance of those funds and accounts. Pilot funds and accounts may, and frequently do, invest in the same securities as the client accounts. Putnam Management’s policy is to treat pilot accounts in the same manner as client accounts for purposes of trading allocation – neither favoring nor disfavoring them except as is legally required. For example, pilot accounts are normally included in Putnam Management’s daily block trades to the same extent as client accounts (except that pilot accounts do not participate in initial public offerings).

A potential conflict of interest may arise when the fund and other accounts purchase or sell the same securities. On occasions when the Portfolio Leader(s) or Portfolio Member(s) consider the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interests of the fund as well as other accounts, Putnam Management’s trading desk may, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, aggregate the securities to be sold or purchased in order to obtain the best execution and lower brokerage commissions, if any. Aggregation of trades may create the potential for unfairness to the fund or another account if one account is favored over another in allocating the securities purchased or sold – for example, by allocating a disproportionate amount of a security that is likely to increase in value to a favored account. Putnam Management’s trade allocation policies generally provide that each day’s transactions in securities that are purchased or sold by multiple accounts are, insofar as possible, averaged as to price and allocated between such accounts (including the fund) in a manner which in Putnam Management’s opinion is equitable to each account and in accordance with the amount being purchased or sold by each account. Certain exceptions exist for specialty, regional or sector accounts. Trade allocations are reviewed on a periodic basis as part of Putnam Management’s trade oversight procedures in an attempt to ensure fairness over time across accounts.

“Cross trades,” in which one Putnam account sells a particular security to another account (potentially saving transaction costs for both accounts), may also pose a potential conflict of interest. Cross trades may be seen to involve a potential conflict of interest if, for example, one account is permitted to sell a security to another account at a higher price than an independent third party would pay. Putnam Management and the fund’s Trustees have adopted compliance procedures that provide that any transactions between the fund and another Putnam-advised account are to be made at an independent current market price, as required by law.

Another potential conflict of interest may arise based on the different investment objectives and strategies of the fund and other accounts. For example, another account may have a shorter-term investment horizon or different investment objectives, policies or restrictions than the fund. Depending on another account’s objectives or other factors, the Portfolio Leader(s) and Portfolio Member(s) may give advice and make decisions that may differ from advice given, or the timing or nature of decisions made, with respect to the fund. In addition, investment decisions are the product of many factors in addition to basic suitability for the particular account involved. Thus, a particular security may be bought or sold for certain accounts even though it could have been bought or sold for other accounts at the same time. More rarely, a particular security may be bought for one or more accounts managed by the Portfolio Leader(s) or Portfolio Member(s) when one


or more other accounts are selling the security (including short sales). There may be circumstances when purchases or sales of portfolio securities for one or more accounts may have an adverse effect on other accounts. As noted above, Putnam Management has implemented trade oversight and review procedures to monitor whether any account is systematically favored over time.

The fund’s Portfolio Leader(s) and Portfolio Member(s) may also face other potential conflicts of interest in managing the fund, and the description above is not a complete description of every conflict that could be deemed to exist in managing both the fund and other accounts.

(a)(3) Compensation of investment professionals. Putnam Management believes that its investment management teams should be compensated primarily based on their success in helping investors achieve their goals. The portion of Putnam Investments’ total incentive compensation pool that is available to Putnam Management’s Investment Division is based primarily on its delivery, across all of the portfolios it manages, of consistent, dependable and superior performance over time. The peer group for the fund, which is identified in the shareholder report included in Item 1, is its broad investment category as determined by Lipper Inc. The portion of the incentive compensation pool available to each investment management team varies based primarily on its delivery, across all of the portfolios it manages, of consistent, dependable and superior performance over time on (i) for tax-exempt funds, a tax-adjusted basis to recognize the different federal income tax treatment for capital gains distributions and exempt-interest distributions a before-tax basis or (ii) for taxable funds, on a before-tax basis.

Consistent performance means being above median over one year.

· Dependable performance means not being in the 4th quartile of the peer group over one, three or five years.

· Superior performance (which is the largest component of Putnam Management’s incentive compensation program) means being in the top third of the peer group over three and five years.

In determining an investment management team’s portion of the incentive compensation pool and allocating that portion to individual team members, Putnam Management retains discretion to reward or penalize teams or individuals, including the fund’s Portfolio Leader(s) and Portfolio Member(s), as it deems appropriate, based on other factors. The size of the overall incentive compensation pool each year is determined by Putnam Management’s parent company, Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., and depends in large part on Putnam’s profitability for the year, which is influenced by assets under management. Incentive compensation is generally paid as cash bonuses, but a portion of incentive compensation may instead be paid as grants of restricted stock, options or other forms of compensation, based on the factors described above. In addition to incentive compensation, investment team members receive annual salaries that are typically based on seniority and experience. Incentive compensation generally represents at least 70% of the total compensation paid to investment team members.


(a)(4) Fund ownership. The following table shows the dollar ranges of shares of the fund owned by the professionals listed above at the end of the fund’s last two fiscal years, including investments by their immediate family members and amounts invested through retirement and deferred compensation plans.

(b) Not applicable

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

Registrant Purchase of Equity Securities     
        Maximum 
      Total Number  Number (or 
      of Shares  Approximate 
      Purchased  Dollar Value ) 
      as Part  of Shares 
      of Publicly  that May Yet Be 
  Total Number  Average  Announced  Purchased 
  of Shares  Price Paid  Plans or  under the Plans 
Period  Purchased  per Share  Programs  or Programs * 
 
October 7- October         
31,2005  257,121  $6.10  257,121  19,258,509 
November 1 -         
November 30,         
2005  975,781  $6.04  975,781  18,282,728 
December 1 -         
December 31, 2005  975,781  $6.10  975,781  17,306,947 
January 1 -         
January 31, 2006  975,781  $6.27  975,781  16,331,166 


February 1 -         
February 28, 2006  801,821  $6.20  801,821  15,529,345 
March 1 - March 31,         
2006  797,540  $6.21  797,540  14,731,805 
April 1 - April 30,         
2006  878,505  $6.13  878,505  13,853,300 
May 1 - May 31,         
2006  1,025,038  $6.09  1,025,038  12,828,262 
June 1 - June 30,         
2006  986,290  $6.07  986,290  11,841,972 
July 1 - July 31,         
2006  972,758  $6.07  972,758  10,869,214 

The Board of Trustees announced a repurchase plan on October 7, 2005 for which 9,757,815 shares were approved for repurchase by the fund. The repurchase plan was approved through October 6, 2006. On March 10, 2006, the Trustees announced that the repurchase program was increased to allow repurchases of up to a total of 19,515,630 shares over the original term of the program. On September 15, 2006, the Trustees voted to extend the term of the repurchase program through October 6, 2006. This extension did not affect the number of shares eligible for repurchase under the program.

*Information is based on the total number of shares eligible for repurchase under the program, as amended through September 15, 2006

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

Not applicable

Item 11. Controls and Procedures:

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

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

Item 12. Exhibits:

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

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

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

SIGNATURES


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

Putnam Premier Income Trust

By (Signature and Title):

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

Date: September 28, 2006

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

By (Signature and Title):

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

Date: September 28, 2006

By (Signature and Title):

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

Date: September 28, 2006