Quantcast
The MFWire
Manage Email Alerts | Sponsorships | About MFWire | Who We Are

Subscribe to MFWire.com's News Alerts [click]

Rating:Putnam Reorganizes Funds, Assets Reach 10-Year Low Not Rated 0.0 Email Routing List Email & Route  Print Print
Monday, May 15, 2006

Putnam Reorganizes Funds, Assets Reach 10-Year Low

by: Neil Anderson, Managing Editor

The mutual fund assets of Putnam Investments have fallen to their lowest level in over ten years, the Financial Times reported Monday. On Friday, the Boston-based fund group announced the proposed merger of its two of its funds, and new management for its largest fund.

According to data released by Financial Research, Putnam’s mutual fund assets, excluding money market funds, fell to $99.5 billion at the end of March, after investors withdrew approximately $4 billion in the first quarter of 2006. This drop comes in the wake of outflows in 2005 of $21 billion, higher than those at any of the other large U.S. fund groups.

Putnam’s fortunes have failed to turn around since 2003 -- when Putnam paid $190 million to settle charges that its employees had improperly traded shares of their own mutual funds -- but the investment exodus began before the scandal. All told, investors have withdrawn $100 billion from Putnam over the past years, bringing its managed assets down to less than half of their peak total of $240 billion in 1999.

Charles Haldeman who replaced Lawrence Lasser as president and CEO, has overseen fund fee reductions, ad campaigns, layoffs, and the replacement of a majority of the company’s top executives, all in an effort to get Putnam back on its feet.

It's not certain whether recent operational changes are connected to the firm's continuing woes. On Friday,Reuters reported that Putnam has replaced the manager of the Putnam Fund for Growth and Income, Putnam’s largest fund offering. Eric Harthun, previously a portfolio member of the Putnam Small Cap Value Fund, and deputy head of investments Joshua Brooks will serve as co-portfolio leaders of the Fund for Growth and Income. Current portfolio leader Hugh Mullin will leave Putnam after ten years as a manager for the fund. He has been the portfolio leader since 2002.

The $15.6 billion fund, which peaked at $32.3 billion in 2000, returned 5.2 percent in 2005, and 6.47 percent so far in 2006.

The trustees of Putnam have also decided to merge two of the firm’s funds. Under the proposal, the Putnam Managed High Yield Trust, a closed-end fund with net assets of approximately $67 million, would be merged into the Putnam High Yield Trust, an open-end fund with net assets of $2.41 billion. In a press release, Putnam cited the two funds’ “similar investment objectives and strategies” as the main reason behind the merger.

According to Putnam, the merger would result in lower shareholder expenses for the Putnam Managed High Yield Trust, and should be tax-free. The merger must approved by the shareholders of the Putnam Managed High Yield Trust prior to a special shareholder meeting August 8. If completed, it will bring a 1 to 2 percent redemption fee for those wishing to redeem or exchange their shares. 

Stay ahead of the news ... Sign up for our email alerts now
CLICK HERE

0.0
 Do You Recommend This Story?



GO TO: MFWire
Return to Top
 News Archives
2025: Q1
2024: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2023: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2022: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2021: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2020: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2019: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2018: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2017: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2016: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2015: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2014: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2013: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2012: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2011: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2010: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2009: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2008: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2007: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2006: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2005: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2004: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2003: Q4Q3Q2Q1
2002: Q4Q3Q2Q1
 Subscribe via RSS:
Raw XML
Add to My Yahoo!
follow us in feedly


  1. MMI webinar - Enhancing the Advisor Experience, January 16
  2. MFDF webinar - AI and Fund Compliance, January 21
  3. MFDF In Focus - In Focus: Small Boards' Use of Skills Matrices, January 22
  4. IDC webinar - SEC Enforcement Trends: What Fund Directors Should Know, January 23
  5. ICI webinar - Legal and Compliance Career Opportunities in the Asset Management Industry, January 24
  6. FSI OneVoice 2025, Jan 27-29
  7. MFDF 2025 Directors' Institute, Jan 27-29
  8. Nicsa webinar - An Intro to Irish and Luxembourg Investment Platforms for US Asset Managers, January 29
  9. WE South - Dallas | Texas Stock Exchange, Politics, & Product Development, January 30
  10. 2025 ICI Innovate, Feb 3-5
  11. Nicsa webinar - AI In Operations: Boosting Productivity for Wealth & Asset Management Firms, February 5
  12. MFDF In Focus: Understanding Distribution - What the Data Can Tell You, February 6
  13. MFDF Director Discussion Series - Open Forum, February 10
  14. MFDF Director Discussion Series - Open Forum, February 11
  15. MMI Darden-in-Residence II, Feb 24-6
  16. 2025 MMI RIA Forum, February 27
  17. IDC Core Responsibilities of Fund Directors, February 27
  18. Citywire Scottsdale CIO Summit 2025, Feb 27-28
  19. Expect Miracles In Manhattan 2025, February 27
  20. T3 Technology Conference 2025, Mar 3-6
  21. IMEA Distribution Intelligence Summit, Mar 4-5
  22. Nicsa 2025 Strategic Leadership Forum, Mar 5-7
  23. Citywire Pro Buyer New York Due Diligence Retreat 2025, Mar 6-7
  24. MFDF 2025 Fund Governance & Regulatory Insights Conference, Mar 6-7
  25. MFDF 15(c) White Paper Webinar Series: Part 3 - Gartenberg Factors Analysis and Challenges, March 12
  26. ICI Investment Management Conference, Mar 16-19




©All rights reserved to InvestmentWires, Inc. 1997-2025
14 Wall Street | 20th Floor | New York, NY 10005 | P: 212-331-8968 | F: 212-331-8998
Privacy Policy :: Terms of Use