PIM Putnam Master Intermediate Income Trust

Message from the Trustees

May 14, 2021

Dear Fellow Shareholder:

As society continues to grapple with the Covid-19 pandemic, optimism remains tempered by concern about newer, more aggressive strains of the virus. After infection rates dropped early in the year, they began to rise again in some areas during March. At the same time, the pace of vaccinations accelerated, and several states eased restrictions on consumer activity.

Markets appear to expect an improving economy. The S&P 500 Index crossed the 4,000 threshold as the calendar turned to April. In addition, yields rose in the bond market. This is typically a sign that fixed-income investors anticipate both higher gross domestic product (GDP) growth and the risk of inflation.

No matter how markets move, Putnam’s portfolio managers and analysts keep their focus on researching new opportunities and potential risks. This active approach is intended to serve you through changing conditions.

As always, thank you for investing with Putnam.

When Putnam Master Intermediate 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.

In the more than 30 years since then, the fixed-income landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation, but the spirit of ingenuity that helped launch the fund is still with it today.

A veteran portfolio management team

The fund’s managers strive to build a well-diversified portfolio that carefully balances risk and return, targeting opportunities in interest rates, credit, mortgages, and currencies from across the full spectrum of the global bond markets.

Fund allocations are shown as a percentage of the fund’s net assets as of 3/31/21. Cash and net other assets, if any, represent the market value weights of cash, derivatives, short-term securities, and other unclassified assets in the portfolio. Summary information may differ from the portfolio schedule included in the financial statements due to the inclusion of derivative securities, any interest accruals, the use of different classifications of securities for presentation purposes and rounding. Allocations may not total 100% because the table includes the notional value of certain derivatives (the economic value for purposes of calculating periodic payment obligations), in addition to the market value of securities. Holdings and allocations may vary over time. For more information on current fund holdings, see pages 20–99.

Data are historical. Past performance does not guarantee future results. More recent returns may be less or more than those shown. Investment return and net asset value 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. Fund returns in the bar chart are at NAV. See below and pages 11–12 for additional performance information, including fund returns at market price. Index and Lipper results should be compared with fund performance at NAV.

* The fund’s benchmark, the ICE BofA U.S. Treasury Bill Index, was introduced on 6/30/92, which post-dates the inception of the fund.

† Source: Lipper, a Refinitiv company.

‡ Returns for the six-month period are not annualized, but cumulative.

This comparison shows your fund’s performance in the context of broad market indexes for the six months ended 3/31/21. See above and pages 11–12 for additional fund performance information. Index descriptions can be found on pages 14–15.

* Source: Bloomberg Index Services Limited.

Bill, what was the fund’s investment environment like during the reporting period?

As 2020 came to a close, news of multiple Covid-19 vaccines fueled hopes of returning to more normalcy in the economy, markets, and society. In the early months of the new year, widespread vaccine distribution bolstered investor optimism about the strength of the economic recovery in 2021. A $1.9 trillion aid package signed into law by President Biden in early March provided a further boost to market sentiment.

Against this backdrop, rising prices for stocks and commodities helped lift the overall market environment. Credit performed well with yield spreads tightening across the quality spectrum. [Spreads are the yield advantage credit-sensitive bonds offer over comparable-maturity U.S. Treasuries. Bond prices rise as spreads tighten and fall as spreads widen.] However, concerns about the potential inflationary impact of additional stimulus on top of an already-recovering economy led to an exodus from government bonds. This drove longer-term interest rates higher and placed a degree of pressure on the credit market. After

Credit qualities are shown as a percentage of the fund’s net assets as of 3/31/21. A bond rated BBB or higher (A-3 or higher, for short-term debt) is considered investment grade. This chart reflects the highest security rating provided by one or more of Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch. To-be-announced (TBA) mortgage commitments, if any, are included based on their issuer ratings. Ratings may vary over time.

Cash, derivative instruments, and net other assets are shown in the not-rated category. Payables and receivables for TBA mortgage commitments are included in the not-rated category and may result in negative weights. The fund itself has not been rated by an independent rating agency.

beginning the period at 0.68%, the yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note reached 1.74% by March 31. Similarly, the 30-year Treasury rose from 1.45% to 2.41%.

Within this environment, ascending bond yields weighed on investment-grade [IG] debt despite spread tightening. Convertible bonds and high-yield credit, meanwhile, posted strong gains, aided by better-than-expected corporate earnings and higher oil prices.

Which holdings and strategies drove the fund’s performance?

Reflecting strong investor demand for risk, our corporate credit holdings provided a major boost to results during most of the period. Convertible bonds led the way, as this equity-sensitive sector was particularly strong at the end of 2020. High-yield bonds also added considerable value. Positions in investment-grade credit helped, albeit more modestly.

Our mortgage-credit holdings provided a further meaningful boost. The commercial mortgage sector continued to heal following the dramatic downturn that occurred during the first quarter of 2020. Investor concerns that the Covid-19 pandemic might permanently impair cash flows in certain segments of the commercial mortgage-backed securities [CMBS] market waned as U.S. vaccine distribution increased.

Agency credit-risk transfer securities [CRTs] also performed well. CRTs benefited from stabilization in the residential mortgage market amid falling delinquencies and fewer people participating in the government’s mortgage forbearance program. Strength in the housing market fueled by robust demand and limited supply provided a further tailwind for the sector.

Investments in emerging-market [EM] debt also contributed, primarily during the first half of the period. At the end of 2020, investor optimism about the prospects for a global recovery as vaccine distribution began fueled a

rally in EM bonds. Positions in the Ivory Coast, the Dominican Republic, Senegal, Mexico, and Egypt added the most value.

What about detractors?

The fund’s interest-rate and yield-curve positioning was the only material detractor. Duration has been a very good risk diversifier over time, and normally benefits during risk-off periods when interest rates decline. During the six-month period, however, our positioning suffered amid rising interest rates.

How did you use derivatives during the period?

We used credit default swaps to gain exposure to CMBS via CMBX, and also to hedge the fund’s credit and market risks. We used bond futures and interest-rate swaps to take tactical positions at various points along the yield curve and to hedge the risk associated with the fund’s curve positioning. We employed interest-rate swaps to gain exposure to rates in various countries. We also utilized options to hedge the fund’s interest-rate risk, to isolate the prepayment risk associated with our holdings of collateralized mortgage obligations [CMOs], and to help manage overall downside risk. In addition, we used total return swaps as a hedging tool, and to help manage the portfolio’s sector exposure, as well as its inflation risk. Lastly, we used currency forward contracts to hedge the foreign exchange risk associated with non-U.S. bonds and to efficiently gain exposure to foreign currencies.

What is your near-term outlook?

As the economy reopens amid widespread distribution of Covid-19 vaccines, we believe gross domestic product growth will be robust, particularly in the second and third quarters of 2021. We’re also anticipating a strong recovery in corporate earnings growth. Since, in our

Top holdings

	% of fund’s	Coupon	Maturity
	net assets	(%)	date
Government Sector
Senegal (Republic of) sr. unsec. unsub. notes Ser. REGS	1.26%	6.25%	2024
Ghana (Republic of) sr. unsec. bonds Ser. REGS	0.76%	8.125%	2032
Ivory Coast (Republic of) sr. unsec. unsub. bonds Ser. REGS	0.71%	5.25%	2030
Securitized Sector
Federal National Mortgage Association REMICs Ser. 20-75,	0.86%	4.00%	2050
Class MI, IO
Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust FRB Ser. 06-OA10, Class 4A1,	0.81%	0.489%	2046
(1 Month US LIBOR + 0.38%)
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation REMICs IFB Ser. 5011,	0.65%	6.25%	2050
Class SA, IO, ((-1 x 1 Month US LIBOR) + 6.25%)
Credit Sector
Petroleos Mexicanos company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. FRB	0.60%	5.95%	2031
CCO Holdings, LLC/CCO Holdings Capital Corp. 144A sr. unsec. bonds	0.49%	5.375%	2029
Pertamina Persero PT 144A sr. unsec. unsub. notes	0.42%	5.875%	2022

This table shows the fund’s top holdings across three key sectors and the percentage of the fund’s net assets that each represented as of 3/31/21. Short-term investments, TBA commitments, and derivatives, if any, are excluded. Holdings may vary over time.

view, growth expectations are already reflected in current market prices, we are cautiously watching for economic data surprises in the coming months.

In light of expectations for sturdier growth, we believe U.S. Treasury yields could rise further this year. That said, we think the trend toward higher rates will be gradual, as bond investors adjust their growth and inflation outlooks, leading to periods of market volatility.

In addition to interest rates and Covid-19 vaccine progress, we are also monitoring inflation metrics. Given base effects from the prior year and an expected demand surge as the economy fully reopens, we believe any uptick in inflation will be temporary.

We believe today’s monetary and fiscal policies are more closely aligned for economic stimulus than they’ve been in the past 20 years. As a result, we will be alert to signs that we think may cause the U.S. Federal Reserve to shift from its dovish posture sooner than currently expected.

What are your current views on the various sectors in which the fund invests?

Looking first at high-yield bonds, we have a constructive intermediate-term view of corporate fundamentals and the market’s supply-and-demand backdrop, although we expect the ongoing global health crisis to have an effect. Also, even though bond spreads retightened following their sizable widening in March 2020, and compressed further on favorable vaccine news, we think valuations remain relatively attractive.

In IG credit, we believe that a significant amount of anticipated good news has been priced in by the market. As of period end, IG corporate spreads had tightened considerably, making valuations in this sector less attractive. Consequently, security selection and sector rotation will be of utmost importance

This chart shows how the fund’s security type weightings have changed over the past six months. Allocations are shown as a percentage of the fund’s net assets. Cash and net other assets, if any, represent the market value weights of cash, derivatives, short-term securities, and other unclassified assets in the portfolio. Current period summary information may differ from the portfolio schedule included in the financial statements due to the inclusion of derivative securities, any interest accruals, the use of different classifications of securities for presentation purposes, and rounding.

Allocations may not total 100% because the table includes the notional value of certain derivatives (the economic value for purposes of calculating periodic payment obligations), in addition to the market value of securities. Holdings and allocations may vary over time.

as we navigate this market. That said, we think U.S. IG credit is still more attractive to foreign investors compared with bonds from Europe or the United Kingdom, after adjusting for foreign-exchange hedging costs.

Within the CMBS market, while there continues to be a degree of negative sentiment toward certain property types, we continue to have conviction in the fund’s CMBX exposure. [CMBX is a group of tradeable indexes that each reference a basket of 25 CMBS issued in a particular year.] We believe current valuations fairly compensate investors for existing risk levels and provide an attractive risk premium.

While some parts of the CMBS market will likely continue to struggle, there are CMBS backed by what we consider to be strong underlying collateral that have suffered amid widespread fear of the sector. We think many of these bonds represent attractive investment opportunities.

Within residential mortgage credit, against the backdrop of robust home sales and a rebound in mortgage originations, we continue to find value across numerous market segments.

In prepayment-sensitive areas of the market, we continue to find value in agency interest-only [IO] CMOs, as well as inverse IOs backed by jumbo loans and more seasoned collateral. Overall, we view prepayment-related opportunities as attractive sources of diversification for the fund.

In non-U.S. sovereign debt in both developed and emerging markets, we think the economic recovery will be strongest in countries with large service sectors and effective vaccine distribution. We also prefer countries that can

ABOUT DERIVATIVES

Derivatives are an increasingly common type of investment instrument, the performance of which is derived from an underlying security, index, currency, or other area of the capital markets. Derivatives employed by the fund’s managers generally serve one of two main purposes: to implement a strategy that may be difficult or more expensive to invest in through traditional securities, or to hedge unwanted risk associated with a particular position.

For example, the fund’s managers might use currency forward contracts to capitalize on an anticipated change in exchange rates between two currencies. This approach would require a significantly smaller outlay of capital than purchasing traditional bonds denominated in the underlying currencies. In another example, the managers may identify a bond that they believe is undervalued relative to its risk of default, but may seek to reduce the interest-rate risk of that bond by using interest-rate swaps, a derivative through which two parties “swap” payments based on the movement of certain rates.

Like any other investment, derivatives may not appreciate in value and may lose money. Derivatives may amplify traditional investment risks through the creation of leverage and may be less liquid than traditional securities. And because derivatives typically represent contractual agreements between two financial institutions, derivatives entail “counterparty risk,” which is the risk that the other party is unable or unwilling to pay. Putnam monitors the counterparty risks we assume. For example, Putnam often enters into collateral agreements that require the counterparties to post collateral on a regular basis to cover their obligations to the fund. Counterparty risk for exchange-traded futures and centrally cleared swaps is mitigated by the daily exchange of margin and other safeguards against default through their respective clearinghouses.

contain government expenditures despite political pressures to raise them.

Thanks for your time and for bringing us up to date, Bill.

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

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. Current and future portfolio holdings are subject to risk. Statements in the Q&A concerning the fund’s performance or portfolio composition relative to those of the fund’s Lipper peer group may reference information produced by Lipper Inc. or through a third party.

Of special interest

Due to a reduced level of portfolio income, the fund decreased its targeted distribution rate in December 2020. The fund currently expects to make monthly distributions of $0.022 per share, down from $0.030 per share. The fund’s targeted distribution rate may change from time to time or be discontinued, depending on market conditions and other factors.

HOW CLOSED-END FUNDS DIFFER FROM OPEN-END FUNDS

Closed-end funds and open-end funds share many common characteristics but also have some key differences that you should understand as you consider your portfolio strategies.

More assets at work Open-end funds are subject to ongoing sales and redemptions that can generate transaction costs for long-term shareholders. Closed-end funds, however, are typically fixed pools of capital that do not need to hold cash in connection with sales and redemptions, allowing the funds to keep more assets actively invested.

Traded like stocks Closed-end fund shares are traded on stock exchanges and, as a result, their prices fluctuate because of the influence of several factors.

They have a market price Like an open-end fund, a closed-end fund has a per-share net asset value (NAV). However, closed-end funds also have a “market price” for their shares — which is how much you pay when you buy shares of the fund, and how much you receive when you sell them.

When looking at a closed-end fund’s performance, you will usually see that the NAV and the market price differ. The market price can be influenced by several factors that cause it to vary from the NAV, including fund distributions, changes in supply and demand for the fund’s shares, changing market conditions, and investor perceptions of the fund or its investment manager. A fund’s performance at market price typically differs from its results at NAV.

Your fund’s performance

This section shows your fund’s performance, price, and distribution information for periods ended March 31, 2021, the end of the first half of its current fiscal year. Performance should always be considered in light of a fund’s investment strategy. Data represent 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 3/31/21

Performance assumes reinvestment of distributions and does not account for taxes. Performance includes the deduction of management fees and administrative expenses.

Comparative index returns For periods ended 3/31/21

Index and Lipper results should be compared with fund performance at net asset value. Lipper calculates performance differently than the closed-end funds it ranks, due to varying methods for determining a fund’s monthly reinvestment net asset value.

Source: Bloomberg Index Services Limited.

^* The fund’s benchmark, the ICE BofA U.S. Treasury Bill Index, was introduced on 6/30/92, which post-dates the inception of the fund.

^† The JPMorgan Global High Yield Index was introduced on 12/31/93, which post-dates the fund’s inception.

^‡ Over the 6-month, 1-year, 3-year, 5-year, 10-year, and life-of-fund periods ended 3/31/21 , there were 63, 56, 36, 27, 17, and 4 funds, respectively, in this Lipper category.

Fund price and distribution information For the six-month period ended 3/31/21

The classification of distributions, if any, is an estimate. Final distribution information will appear on your year-end tax forms.

^* Most recent distribution, including any return of capital and excluding capital gains, annualized and divided by NAV or market price at end of period.

Consider these risks before investing

Emerging-market securities carry illiquidity and volatility risks. Lower-rated bonds may offer higher yields in return for more risk. Bond investments are subject to interest-rate risk (the risk of bond prices falling if interest rates rise) and credit risk (the risk of an issuer defaulting on interest or principal payments). Interest-rate risk is generally greater for longer-term bonds, and credit risk is generally greater for below-investment-grade bonds. Unlike bonds, funds that invest in bonds have fees and expenses. The value of investments in the fund’s portfolio may fall or fail to rise over extended periods of time for a variety of reasons, including general economic, political, or financial market conditions; investor sentiment and market perceptions; government actions or geopolitical events or changes, and factors related to a specific issuer, geography, industry, or sector. These and other factors may lead to increased volatility and reduced liquidity in the fund’s portfolio holdings. Funds that invest in government securities are not guaranteed. Mortgage-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk and the risk that they may increase in value less when interest rates decline and decline in value more when interest rates rise. The fund’s investments in mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed securities, and in certain other securities and derivatives, may be or become illiquid. The fund’s concentration in an industry group comprising privately issued residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities and mortgage-backed securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities may make the fund’s net asset value more susceptible to economic, market, political, and other developments affecting the housing or real estate markets and the servicing of mortgage loans secured by real estate properties. The fund currently has significant investment exposure to commercial mortgage-backed securities, which, during periods of difficult economic conditions, may experience an increase in delinquencies and losses as a result of the effects of those conditions on commercial real estate markets, the ability of commercial tenants to make loan payments, and the ability of a property to attract and retain commercial tenants. International investing involves currency, economic, and political risks. You can lose money by investing in the fund. The fund’s shares trade on a stock exchange at market prices, which may be lower than the fund’s net asset value. Our investment techniques, analyses, and judgments may not produce the outcome we intend. The investments we select for the fund may not perform as well as other securities that we do not select for the fund. We, or the fund’s other service providers, may experience disruptions or operating errors that could have a negative effect on the fund. You can lose money by investing in the fund.

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.

Fixed-income terms

Current rate is the annual rate of return earned from dividends or interest of an investment. Current rate is expressed as a percentage of the price of a security, fund share, or principal investment.

Mortgage-backed security (MBS), also known as a mortgage “pass-through,” is a type of asset-backed security that is secured by a mortgage or collection of mortgages. The following are types of MBSs:

• Agency credit-risk transfer security (CRT) is backed by a reference pool of agency mortgages. Unlike a regular agency pass-through, the principal invested in a CRT is not backed by a U.S. government agency. To compensate investors for this risk, a CRT typically offers a higher yield than conventional pass-through securities. Similar to a CMBS, a CRT is structured into various tranches for investors, offering different levels of risk and yield based on the underlying reference pool.

• Agency “pass-through” has its principal and interest backed by a U.S. government agency, such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac).

• Collateralized mortgage obligation (CMO) represents claims to specific cash flows from pools of home mortgages. The streams of principal and interest payments on the mortgages are distributed to the different classes of CMO interests in “tranches.” Each tranche may have different principal balances, coupon rates, prepayment risks, and maturity dates. A CMO is highly sensitive to changes in interest rates and any resulting change in the rate at which homeowners sell their properties, refinance, or otherwise prepay loans. CMOs are subject to prepayment, market, and liquidity risks.

_° Interest-only (IO) security is a type of CMO in which the underlying asset is the interest portion of mortgage, Treasury, or bond payments.

• Non-agency residential mortgage-backed security (RMBS) is an MBS not backed by Fannie Mae, Ginnie Mae, or Freddie Mac. One type of RMBS is an Alt-A mortgage-backed security.

• Commercial mortgage-backed security (CMBS) is secured by the loan on a commercial property.

Yield curve is a graph that plots the yields of bonds with equal credit quality against their differing maturity dates, ranging from shortest to longest. It is used as a benchmark for other debt, such as mortgage or bank lending rates.

Comparative indexes

Bloomberg Barclays Government/ Credit Bond Index is an unmanaged index of U.S. Treasuries, agency securities, and investment-grade corporate bonds.

Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is an unmanaged index of U.S. investment-grade fixed-income securities.

CMBX Index tracks the performance of a basket of CMBS issued in a particular year.

ICE BofA (Intercontinental Exchange Bank of America) U.S. Treasury Bill Index is an unmanaged index that tracks the performance of U.S. dollar-denominated U.S. Treasury bills publicly issued in the U.S. domestic market. Qualifying securities must have a remaining term of at least one month to final maturity and a minimum amount outstanding of $1 billion.

FTSE Non-U.S. World Government Bond Index is an unmanaged index generally considered to be representative of the world bond market, excluding the United States.

JPMorgan Global High Yield Index is an unmanaged index that is designed to mirror the investable universe of the U.S. dollar global high-yield corporate debt market, including domestic (U.S.) and international (non-U.S.) issues. International issues comprise both developed and emerging markets.

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.

BLOOMBERG^® is a trademark and service mark of Bloomberg Finance L.P. and its affiliates (collectively “Bloomberg”). BARCLAYS^® is a trademark and service mark of Barclays Bank Plc (collectively with its affiliates, “Barclays”), used under license. Bloomberg or Bloomberg’s licensors, including Barclays, own all proprietary rights in the Bloomberg Barclays Indices. Neither Bloomberg nor Barclays approves or endorses this material, or guarantees the accuracy or completeness of any information herein, or makes any warranty, express or limited, as to the results to be obtained therefrom, and to the maximum extent allowed by law, neither shall have any liability or responsibility for injury or damages arising in connection therewith.

ICE Data Indices, LLC (“ICE BofA”), used with permission. ICE BofA permits use of the ICE BofA indices and related data on an “as is” basis; makes no warranties regarding same; does not guarantee the suitability, quality, accuracy, timeliness, and/or completeness of the ICE BofA indices or any data included in, related to, or derived therefrom; assumes no liability in connection with the use of the foregoing; and does not sponsor, endorse, or recommend Putnam Investments, or any of its products or services.

FTSE Russell is the source and owner of the trademarks, service marks, and copyrights related to the FTSE Indexes. FTSE^® is a trademark of FTSE Russell.

Lipper, a Refinitiv company, 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.

Other information for shareholders

Important notice regarding share repurchase program

In September 2020, the Trustees of your fund approved the renewal of a share repurchase program that had been in effect since 2005. This renewal allows your fund to repurchase, in the 365 days beginning October 1, 2020, up to 10% of the fund’s common shares outstanding as of September 30, 2020.

Important notice regarding delivery of shareholder documents

In accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations, Putnam sends a single notice of internet availability, or a single printed copy, of annual and semiannual shareholder reports, prospectuses, and proxy statements to Putnam shareholders who share the same address, unless a shareholder requests otherwise. If you prefer to receive your own copy of these documents, please call Putnam at 1-800-225-1581, and Putnam will begin sending individual copies within 30 days.

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, 2020, are available in the Individual Investors section of putnam.com and on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. If you have questions about finding forms on the SEC’s website, 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.

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-PORT within 60 days of the end of such fiscal quarter. Shareholders may obtain the fund’s Form N-PORT on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Prior to its use of Form N-PORT, the fund filed its complete schedule of its portfolio holdings with the SEC on Form N-Q, which is available online at www.sec.gov.

Trustee and employee fund ownership

Putnam employees and members of the Board of Trustees place their faith, confidence, and, most importantly, investment dollars in Putnam mutual funds. As of March 31, 2021, Putnam employees had approximately $559,000,000 and the Trustees had approximately $79,000,000 invested in Putnam mutual funds. These amounts include investments by the Trustees’ and employees’ immediate family members as well as investments through retirement and deferred compensation plans.

Summary of Putnam closed-end funds’ amended and restated dividend reinvestment plans

Putnam Managed Municipal Income Trust, Putnam Master Intermediate Income Trust, Putnam Municipal Opportunities Trust and Putnam Premier Income Trust (each, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”) each offer a dividend reinvestment plan (each, a “Plan” and collectively, the “Plans”). If you participate in a Plan, all income dividends and capital gain distributions are automatically reinvested in Fund shares by the Fund’s agent, Putnam Investor Services, Inc. (the “Agent”). If you are not participating in a Plan, every month you will receive all dividends and other distributions in cash, paid by check and mailed directly to you.

Upon a purchase (or, where applicable, upon registration of transfer on the shareholder records of a Fund) of shares of a Fund by a registered shareholder, each such shareholder will be deemed to have elected to participate in that Fund’s Plan. Each such shareholder will have all distributions by a Fund automatically reinvested in additional shares, unless such shareholder elects to terminate participation in a Plan by instructing the Agent to pay future distributions in cash. Shareholders who were not participants in a Plan as of January 31, 2010, will continue to receive distributions in cash but may enroll in a Plan at any time by contacting the Agent.

If you participate in a Fund’s Plan, the Agent will automatically reinvest subsequent distributions, and the Agent will send you a confirmation in the mail telling you how many additional shares were issued to your account.

To change your enrollment status or to request additional information about the Plans, you may contact the Agent either in writing, at P.O. Box 8383, Boston, MA 02266-8383, or by telephone at 1-800-225-1581 during normal East Coast business hours.

How you acquire additional shares through a Plan If the market price per share for your Fund’s shares (plus estimated brokerage commissions) is greater than or equal to their net asset value per share on the payment date for a distribution, you will be issued shares of the Fund at a value equal to the higher of the net asset value per share on that date or 95% of the market price per share on that date.

If the market price per share for your Fund’s shares (plus estimated brokerage commissions) is less than their net asset value per share on the payment date for a distribution, the Agent will buy Fund shares for participating accounts in the open market. The Agent will aggregate open-market purchases on behalf of all participants, and the average price (including brokerage commissions) of all shares purchased by the Agent will be the price per share allocable to each participant. The Agent will generally complete these open-market purchases within five business days following the payment date. If, before the Agent has completed open-market purchases, the market price per share (plus estimated brokerage commissions) rises to exceed the net asset value per share on the payment date, then the purchase price may exceed the net asset value per share, potentially resulting in the acquisition of fewer shares than if the distribution had been paid in newly issued shares.

How to withdraw from a Plan Participants may withdraw from a Fund’s Plan at any time by notifying the Agent, either in writing or by telephone. Such withdrawal will be effective immediately if notice is received by the Agent with sufficient time prior to any distribution record date; otherwise, such withdrawal will be effective with respect to any subsequent distribution following notice of withdrawal. There is no penalty for withdrawing from or not participating in a Plan.

Plan administration The Agent will credit all shares acquired for a participant under a Plan to the account in which the participant’s common shares are held. Each participant will

be sent reasonably promptly a confirmation by the Agent of each acquisition made for his or her account.

About brokerage fees Each participant pays a proportionate share of any brokerage commissions incurred if the Agent purchases additional shares on the open market, in accordance with the Plans. There are no brokerage charges applied to shares issued directly by the Funds under the Plans.

About taxes and Plan amendments

Reinvesting dividend and capital gain distributions in shares of the Funds does not relieve you of tax obligations, which are the same as if you had received cash distributions. The Agent supplies tax information to you and to the IRS annually. Each Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate its Plan upon 30 days’ written notice. However, the Agent may assign its rights, and delegate its duties, to a successor agent with the prior consent of a Fund and without prior notice to Plan participants.

If your shares are held in a broker or nominee name If your shares are held in the name of a broker or nominee offering a dividend reinvestment service, consult your broker or nominee to ensure that an appropriate election is made on your behalf. If the broker or nominee holding your shares does not provide a reinvestment service, you may need to register your shares in your own name in order to participate in a Plan.

In the case of record shareholders such as banks, brokers or nominees that hold shares for others who are the beneficial owners of such shares, the Agent will administer the Plan on the basis of the number of shares certified by the record shareholder as representing the total amount registered in such shareholder’s name and held for the account of beneficial owners who are to participate in the Plan.

Financial statements

These sections of the report, as well as the accompanying Notes, 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 non-investment 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 period.

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. Dividend sources are estimated at the time of declaration. Actual results may vary. Any non-taxable return of capital cannot be determined until final tax calculations are completed after the end of the fund’s fiscal year.

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 highlights table also includes the current reporting period.

The fund’s portfolio 3/31/21 (Unaudited)