PUTNAM HIGH INCOME CONVERTIBLE AND BOND FUND PUTNAM MASTER INTERMEDIATE INCOME TRUST PUTNAM PREMIER INCOME TRUST SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (Amendment No. ) Filed by the Registrant / X / Filed by a party other than the Registrant Check the appropriate box: / / Preliminary Proxy Statement / / Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e) (2)) / / Definitive Proxy Statement / x / Definitive Additional Materials / / Soliciting Material Pursuant to Sec. 240.14a-11(c) or Sec. 240.14a-12 PUTNAM HIGH INCOME CONVERTIBLE AND BOND FUND PUTNAM MASTER INTERMEDIATE INCOME TRUST PUTNAM PREMIER INCOME TRUST (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than Registrant) Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): / X / No fee required / / Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rule 14a 6(i)(1) and 0-11 (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: (5) Total fee paid: / / Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. / / Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. (1) Amount Previously Paid: (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: (3) Filing Party: (4) Date Filed: SHAREHOLDER LOGIN PROXY DIRECT-TM- BACK TO HOME CONTACT US SECURITY ? You can now submit your proxy voting instructions online. To do so please enter your Proxy Control Number in the area below. Your Internet Voting Control Number is located on your proxy ballot and identified as CONTROL NUMBER or INTERNET CONTROL NUMBER. Enter Control Number here: ____-____-____-____ CONTINUE Your browser must support JavaScript 1.1 or higher and be able to accept cookies in order to continue. Click on HELP button at the top for more information and navigation tips. If you are unable to vote your proxy using this service because of technical difficulties, you should refer to your Proxy Package for other voting options. [VERISIGN SECURE SITE LOGO] -C- 2001 PROXY DIRECT-TM- -- SERVICE OF ALAMO DIRECT MAIL SVCS, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. LEGAL STATEMENT PROXY DIRECT-TM- BACK TO HOME CONTACT US SECURITY ? [PUTNAM INVESTMENTS LOGO] WELCOME TO THE PUTNAM PROXY VOTING SITE YOUR INTERNET VOTE AUTHORIZES THE PROXIES LISTED ON YOUR PROXY CARD TO VOTE YOUR SHARES AT THE MEETING OF THE SHAREHOLDERS OF YOUR FUND TO BE HELD AT THE TIME AND PLACE AS SET FORTH ON YOUR PROXY CARD IN THE SAME MANNER AS IF YOU MARKED, SIGNED, AND RETURNED YOUR PROXY CARD. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR PROPOSAL 1 AND AGAINST PROPOSAL 2 /X/ CLICK HERE TO ACKNOWLEDGE... BACK TO HOME CONTACT US SECURITY -C- 2000 PROXY DIRECT-TM- PUTNAM PREMIER INCOME TRUST PROXY PROXY DIRECT-TM- BACK TO HOME CONTACT US SECURITY LEGAL STATEMENT ? [PUTNAM INVESTMENTS LOGO] Below is the list of your holdings. Text next to each holding's name indicates whether you wish to vote as the [INFORMATION LOGO] Board recommends or to submit your individual instructions. To change between BOARD RECOMMENDED and INDIVIDUAL instructions click on the name of the holding, then follow the additional instructions. YOU MUST CLICK VOTE NOW! BUTTON TO COMPLETE YOUR SESSION -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LIST OF YOUR HOLDINGS VOTING INSTRUCTIONS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Putnam Premier Income Trust -- as recommended by the Board -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Click on arrow to modify voting instructions ------------------------------------------------ [CROSS LOGO] HELP ME... [SOLID CIRCLE] ABORT [CUT CIRCLE] VOTE NOW! ----------------------- -------------------- ---------------------- If you need help navigating the You can quit Internet voting at Once you have completed site or experience problems any time, however, your voting selection of your voting during your online session, this instructions set up during this instructions and are ready to page may provide you with session will be disregarded submit them for processing click answers the Vote Now! button BACK TO HOME CONTACT US SECURITY -C- 2000 PROXY DIRECT-TM- PUTNAM PREMIER INCOME TRUST PROXY PROXYDIRECT -TM- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Back to Home Contact Us Security Legal Statement ? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (logo) PUTNAM INVESTMENTS Shareholder: John P. Sample ALAMO Direct Mail Services, Inc. 23-10 Square Circle Lane Someoldtown, TS 12345-6789 Account: ALAMO-TST01/ 435-XXXX-XXXX-123 Previous vote: None - Testing APPS/TR Setup Putnam Premier Income Trust ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Applicable Campaign Proposal Mark All For Against Board ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.01 Elect J.A. Baxter for Trustee /X/ For / /Withhold ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.02 Elect J.A. Hill for Trustee /X/ For / /Withhold ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.03 Elect R.J. Jackson for Trustee /X/ For / /Withhold ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.04 Elect P.L. Joskow for Trustee /X/ For / /Withhold ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.05 Elect E.T. Kennan for Trustee /X/ For / /Withhold ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.06 Elect L.J. Lasser for Trustee /X/ For / /Withhold ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.07 Elect J.H. Mullin, III for Trustee /X/ For / /Withhold ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.08 Elect R.E. Patterson for Trustee /X/ For / /Withhold ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.09 Elect G. Putnam, III for Trustee /X/ For / /Withhold ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.10 Elect A.J.C. Smith for Trustee /X/ For / /Withhold ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.11 Elect W.T. Stephens for Trustee /X/ For / /Withhold ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.12 Elect W.N. Thorndike for Trustee /X/ For / /Withhold ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.00 Proposal to convert your fund from / / For /X/Against / /Abstain closed-end to open-end status and authorize certain related amendments to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Voting Instructions Answers have been marked according to the Board's recommendation. Please change responses as appropriate before submission. If you have questions regarding any of the proposals, please call (800) 225-1581 / / Cancel / / Continue -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Back to Home Contact Us Security -C- 2000 PROXY DIRECT -TM- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PUTNAM PREMIER INCOME TRUST PROXY PROXY DIRECT-TM- BACK TO HOME CONTACT US SECURITY ? THANK YOU, YOUR VOTING INSTRUCTIONS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED FOR PROCESSING. IF NECESSARY, YOU CAN REVISIT INTERNET VOTING SITE ANYTIME BEFORE THE MEETING DATE ON THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 2001 AT 2:00:00 PM [EST] TO SUBMIT NEW VOTING INSTRUCTIONS. This is the summary of your voting instructions delivered to Putnam. It is not a receipt or vote confirmation. You may print this page for your records. NOTE: Internet voting for this proxy is currently in testing stage. Your vote has not been actually entered into the APPS/TR system for tabulation. INSTRUCTIONS SUBMITTED ON MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2001 TRANSACTION CODE: 2341234123-388321975 Putnam Premier Income Trust ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.01 Elect J.A. Baxter for Trustee VOTED FOR 1.02 Elect J.A. Hill for Trustee VOTED FOR 1.03 Elect R.J. Jackson for Trustee VOTED FOR 1.04 Elect P.L. Joskow for Trustee VOTED FOR 1.05 Elect E.T. Kennan for Trustee VOTED FOR 1.06 Elect L.J. Lasser for Trustee VOTED FOR 1.07 Elect J.H. Mullin, III for Trustee VOTED FOR 1.08 Elect R.E. Patterson for Trustee VOTED FOR 1.09 Elect G. Putnam, III for Trustee VOTED FOR 1.10 Elect A.J.C. Smith for Trustee VOTED FOR 1.11 Elect W.T. Stephens for Trustee VOTED FOR 1.12 Elect W.N. Thorndike for Trustee VOTED FOR 2.00 Convert fund from closed-end to open-end status and authorize related amendments VOTED AGAINST [ICON] IF YOU WISH TO VOTE ANOTHER CARD PLEASE CLICK HERE. [PUTNAM INVESTMENTS LOGO] BACK TO HOME CONTACT US SECURITY -C- 2000 PROXY DIRECT-TM- Closed End Fund Proxy Q&A FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY The following Q&A was prepared to help you answer questions from brokers and/or shareholders on the subject of the proxies being mailed to them for their votes. These proxies are sent to shareholders that were shareholders of record on 23 March 2001 for the following Putnam Closed End Funds: Putnam Master Intermediate Income Trust and Putnam Premier Income Trust. The vote is scheduled for 14 June 2001 Q: What are the two funds, the Putnam Master Intermediate Income Trust and Putnam Premier Income Trust, asking shareholders to vote on? A: Both funds are asking shareholders to vote on the normal yearly election of trustees. In addition, these two funds are asking shareholders to vote on the conversion of the funds from closed-end to open-end status. Q: How do Open-end and Closed-end fund differ? A: The differences are as follows: Open End Fund Closed End Fund Unlimited number of shares Fixed number of shares Fund bought and sold through Fund bought and sold through broker fund company Pricing used: NAV and Market Pricing used: NAV and POP Q: How are Closed-end funds priced? A: Many closed-end funds calculate the value of their portfolios every business day. Because closed-end fund's shares trade in the stock market based on investor demand, the fund's market price may trade at a higher price (premium) or lower price (discount) than its NAV. The NAV of a closed end fund is calculated exactly the same as an open-end fund; the NAV of a fund is the market value of all the fund's portfolio securities, minus expenses and liabilities, divided by the number of shares outstanding. Q: Why are the funds proposing to change their status from Closed-end to Open end? A: Your fund's governing legal documents require that shareholders be given the opportunity to vote on a proposal to convert your fund from a closed-end status to open-end status. This would occur if the fund's shares have traded at an average discount of more than 10% from their net asset value during the last 12 weeks of the fund's last fiscal year-end. Q: Who is asking for your vote? A: The Trustees of the funds. Q: Why are the Trustees recommending a vote against conversion? A: The Trustees believe that your fund's closed-end status provides investment benefits not available to open-end fund investors. They believe that your fund's operating expenses are likely to increase if converted to open-end status. That the conversion could cause the funds to shrink due to shareholder redemptions and, everything else being equal, would result in increased expense ratios for the remaining shareholders. The need to sell securities to meet redemptions may have adverse tax consequences to shareholders remaining in the fund. Finally, in light of the potential loss of the advantages of closed-end status and the potential increase of expenses that most likely would follow, conversion could result in a lower yield for shareholders. Q: What other possible consequences might result from conversion of your fund to Open-end status? A: Certain legal, accounting and other costs would be incurred in connection with the conversion of the funds to open-end status. Although it is difficult to estimate these costs with precision, these costs are estimated to be at least $100,000. The Trustees reserve the right to impose a temporary redemption fee of 2.00% of the value of the shares redeemed for a period of up to one-year following the fund's conversion. Q: What changes would be made in your fund's Declaration of Trust if shareholders vote to convert the fund to Open-end status? A: The Declaration of Trust would be amended to require your fund to purchase all shares offered to it for redemption at a price equal to the net asset value of the shares next determined, less any redemption or sales charge fixed by the Trustees. The Declaration of Trust would also be amended to eliminate certain provisions that relate specifically to the funds' closed-end status, such as the conversion provision that has necessitated this proposal. Finally, the Trustees would make certain necessary technical and non-material changes to your fund's Bylaws. Q: What percentages of shareholders, votes are required to approve the conversion? A: Approval of the conversion to open-end status and of the related amendments of your fund's Declaration of Trust will require the "yes" vote of a majority of the fund's outstanding shares. Q: If the conversion is not approved, will the fund continue in its current form? A: Yes Q: What are the Trustees recommending? A: The Trustees are for the fixing the number of Trustees as proposed and the election of all nominees; and are against the proposal of converting the funds from closed-end to open-end. The Trustees feel the conversion to open-end status would not be in the best long-term interest of shareholders. They believe that your fund's closed-end status provides investment benefits not available to open-end fund investors. Because your fund's shares are not redeemable, your fund is not required to maintain short-term, lower yielding investments in anticipation of possible redemption's, but can be fully invested in higher yielding securities in pursuit of the fund's investment objective. Q: Who is eligible to vote? A: Shareholders of record at the close of business on 23 March 2001. Each share is entitled to one vote. Q: When is the shareholder meeting? A: The shareholder meeting to determine the results will be on 14 June 2001 Q: How can a shareholder submit their vote? A: There are several ways to submit your vote. Your vote may be submitted by returning the proxy card by mail or via the internet. Internet voting instructions are located on the proxy card. Q: I did not receive a copy of the proxy statement; can you send me one? A: Additional proxy statements may be ordered off of your literature system. Q: I misplace my proxy card; how can another one be sent? A: Additional proxy cards may be ordered via email to Tarah Soares or Betty Creamer in the Proxy department. Shareholder information to be included is the fund name, shareholder address and account number.