Putnam Reports Quarterly Performance for One Closed-End Fund

Putnam Investments today announced quarterly performance results for one closed-end fund over the three months ended April 30, 2009.

Putnam Premier Income Trust

The per-share net asset value (NAV) for Putnam Premier Income Trust (PPT) was $4.84 as of the close of business on April 30, 2009. The per-share NAV for this fund was $4.46, as of January 31, 2009. The share price as traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on April 30, 2009 was $4.30. The share price for this fund was $4.32 as of January 31, 2009. The fund’s total return for the three months ended April 30, 2009 was 11.90%, based on net asset value, and 2.64% based on NYSE share price.

Additional quarterly data is as follows:

Three months

ended

April 30, 2009

Three months

ended

April 30, 2008

        
      
      
        
          Total investment income
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
      
      
        
          Total
        
        
          $
        
        
          13,753,479
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
          24,990,274
        
      
      
        
          Per share*
        
        
          $
        
        
          .10
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
          .16
        
      
      
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
           
        
      
      
        
          Net investment income
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
      
      
        
          Total
        
        
          $
        
        
          12,292,398
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
          22,955,843
        
      
      
        
          Per share*
        
        
          $
        
        
          .09
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
          .15
        
      
      
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
           
        
      
      
        
          Net realized and unrealized gain(loss) on investments
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
      
      
        
          Total
        
        
          $
        
        
          58,679,529
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
          (20,668,438)
        
      
      
        
          Per share*
        
        
          $
        
        
          .42
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
          (.13)
        
      
      
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
           
        
      
      
        
          Net increase in net assets resulting from operations
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
      
      
        
          Total
        
        
          $
        
        
          70,971,927
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
          2,287,405
        
      
      
        
          Per share*
        
        
          $
        
        
          .51
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
          .02
        
      
      
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
           
        
      
      
        
          Net assets available at the end of the period
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
      
      
        
          Total
        
        
          $
        
        
          678,431,916
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
          1,044,687,024
        
      
      
        
          Per share*
        
        
          $
        
        
          4.84
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
          6.92
        
      
      
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
           
        
      
      
        
          * per common share
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
      
    
    

About Putnam Investments

Founded in 1937, Putnam Investments is a leading global money management firm with over 70 years of investment experience. As of December 31, 2008, Putnam managed $102 billion in assets. Putnam has offices in Boston, London, Tokyo, Singapore and Sydney. For more information, go to www.putnam.com.

For any Putnam fund request a prospectus from your financial representative or by calling Putnam at 1-800-225-1581. The prospectus includes investment objectives, risks, fees, expenses, and other information that you should read and consider carefully before investing.

Putnam mutual funds are distributed by Putnam Retail Management.