https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1005942/000092881619001962/a_eqspectsupp.htm497 1 a_eqspectsupp.htm PUTNAM FUNDS TRUST
Prospectus Supplement December 20, 2019
Putnam Equity Spectrum Fund
Prospectuses dated August 30, 2019
Putnam Investment Management, LLC (“Putnam Management”), the investment manager of Putnam Equity Spectrum Fund (“Equity Spectrum Fund”), has recommended, and Equity Spectrum Fund’s Board of Trustees has approved, and recommended that shareholders approve, the proposed merger of Equity Spectrum Fund with and into Putnam Focused Equity Fund (“Focused Equity Fund”). Putnam Management and the Board of Trustees believe that the proposed merger is in the best interests of Equity Spectrum Fund and its shareholders.
Equity Spectrum Fund and Focused Equity Fund have identical investment objectives, with Equity Spectrum Fund and Focused Equity Fund seeking capital appreciation. Equity Spectrum Fund and Focused Equity Fund also pursue similar investment strategies, with each fund investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets in equity investments. Equity Spectrum Fund invests in equity securities of companies of any size and Focused Equity Fund invests mainly in equity securities of large and midsize companies. Effective upon completion of the proposed merger, Putnam Management anticipates that Jacquelyne Cavanaugh (the current portfolio manager of Equity Spectrum Fund) and Walter Scully (a portfolio manager of certain other Putnam funds) will become portfolio managers for Focused Equity Fund to serve with Daniel Schiff, Focused Equity Fund’s current portfolio manager. A full description of Focused Equity Fund, the similarities and differences between it and Equity Spectrum Fund, and the terms of the proposed merger will be contained in a combined prospectus/proxy statement (that will include details regarding another proposed merger discussed below) (the “prospectus/proxy statement”), expected to be mailed to shareholders in February 2020. The prospectus/proxy statement will solicit shareholder votes to approve the proposed merger.
Completion of the proposed merger is subject to a number of conditions, including approval by shareholders of Equity Spectrum Fund. A special meeting of shareholders of Equity Spectrum Fund is currently scheduled for April 21, 2020, although the shareholder meeting may be adjourned to a later date. The proposed merger is expected to be a tax-free reorganization for federal income tax purposes. If shareholders of the fund do not approve the proposed merger, the merger will not proceed.
Putnam Management has also recommended, and the applicable funds’ Boards of Trustees have approved, and recommended that shareholders approve, the merger of Putnam Capital Spectrum Fund with and into Focused Equity Fund. The merger of Putnam Capital Spectrum Fund with and into Focused Equity Fund is subject to approval by shareholders of Putnam Capital Spectrum Fund. Neither merger is contingent upon the other.
If shareholders approve the proposed Equity Spectrum Fund merger, Putnam Management currently expects that Equity Spectrum Fund will make dispositions of certain portfolio holdings before the merger. These sales, which are anticipated to commence upon shareholder approval of the proposed merger, would result in brokerage commissions and other transaction costs, and may result in the realization of capital gains that would be distributed to shareholders as taxable distributions.
Equity Spectrum Fund will be closed to new accounts on or about March 20, 2020. At any time before the close of the proposed merger, you can sell your shares back to the fund or exchange them for shares of another Putnam fund any day the New York Stock Exchange is open. Shares may be sold or exchanged by mail, by phone, or online at putnam.com. Some restrictions may apply. Such exchanges will be taxable transactions.
The foregoing is not an offer to sell, nor a solicitation of an offer to buy, shares of Focused Equity Fund, nor is it a solicitation of any proxy. For more information regarding Focused Equity Fund, or to receive a free copy of the prospectus/proxy statement relating to the proposed merger (and containing important information about fees, expenses and risk considerations) once a registration statement relating to the merger has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and becomes effective, please call 1-800-225-1581. The prospectus/proxy statement relating to the proposed merger will also be available for free on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s web site (
http://www.sec.gov). Please read the prospectus/proxy statement relating to the proposed merger carefully before making any investment decisions...
