N-CSRS 1 a_premierinc.htm PUTNAM PREMIER INCOME TRUST a_premierinc.htm

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number:

(811-05452)

Exact name of registrant as specified in charter:

Putnam Premier Income Trust

Address of principal executive offices:

100 Federal Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110

Name and address of agent for service:

Stephen Tate, Vice President

100 Federal Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02110

Copy to:

Bryan Chegwidden, Esq.

Ropes & Gray LLP

1211 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10036

James E. Thomas, Esq.

Ropes & Gray LLP

800 Boylston Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02199

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

(617) 292-1000

Date of fiscal year end:

July 31, 2025

Date of reporting period:

August 1, 2024 – January 31, 2025

Item 1. Report to Stockholders:

The following is a copy of the report transmitted to stockholders pursuant to Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940:







Message from the Trustees

March 17, 2025

Dear Fellow Shareholder:

We are pleased to provide the semi-annual report of Putnam Premier Income Trust for the six-month reporting period ended January 31, 2025. Please read on for Fund performance information during the Fund’s reporting period.

We extend our sincere thanks to Kenneth R. Leibler, who retired from the Board on June 30, 2024, after serving as a Trustee since 2006 and Chair of the Board since 2018. Effective July 1, 2024, Barbara M. Baumann, a Trustee since 2010 and Vice Chair from 2022 to 2024, was appointed Chair of the Board. Effective May 17, 2024, Gregory G. McGreevey joined the Board as an independent Trustee, having previously served as Senior Managing Director, Investments, at Invesco Ltd. until 2023.

As always, we remain committed to providing you with excellent service and a full spectrum of investment choices. For more information on your Fund, visit www.franklintempleton.com. Here you can gain immediate access to market and investment information, including:

• Fund prices and performance,
• Market insights and commentaries from our portfolio managers, and
• A host of educational resources.

We look forward to helping you meet your financial goals.





Allocations are shown as a percentage of the fund’s net assets as of 1/31/25. Cash and Equivalents, if any, represent the market value weights of cash, derivatives, short-term securities, and other unclassified assets in the portfolio. Allocations may not total 100% because the chart includes the notional value of certain derivatives (the economic value for purposes of calculating periodic payment obligations), including to-be-announced mortgage security trades, if any, in addition to the market value of securities. Holdings and allocations may vary over time.

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Other information for shareholders

Important notice regarding share repurchase program

In September 2024, 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, 2024, up to 10% of the fund’s common shares outstanding as of September 30, 2024.

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 semian-nual 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

The Investment Manager is committed to managing our funds in the best interests of our shareholders. The Putnam Investments’ 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, 2024, are available at franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents 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 Investments’ 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.

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Important notice regarding Putnam’s privacy policy

In order to conduct business with our shareholders, we must obtain certain personal information such as account holders’ names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and dates of birth. Using this information, we are able to maintain accurate records of accounts and transactions.

It is our policy to protect the confidentiality of our shareholder information, whether or not a shareholder currently owns shares of our funds. In particular, it is our policy not to sell information about you or your accounts to outside marketing firms. We have safeguards in place designed to prevent unauthorized access to our computer systems and procedures to protect personal information from unauthorized use.

Under certain circumstances, we must share account information with outside vendors who provide services to us, such as mailings and proxy solicitations. In these cases, the service providers enter into confidentiality agreements with us, and we provide only the information necessary to process transactions and perform other services related to your account. Finally, it is our policy to share account information with your financial representative, if you’ve listed one on your Putnam account.

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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 or your intermediary.

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

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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.

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Trustee approval of management and sub-advisory contracts

At its meeting on September 27, 2024, the Board of Trustees of your fund, including all of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as this term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”)) of the Putnam mutual funds, closed-end funds and exchange-traded funds (collectively, the “funds”) (the “Independent Trustees”), approved a new Sub-Advisory Agreement with respect to your fund (the “New FTIML Sub-Advisory Agreement”) between Franklin Advisers, Inc. (“Franklin Advisers”) and its affiliate, Franklin Templeton Investment Management Limited (“FTIML”). Franklin Advisers and FTIML are each direct or indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries of Franklin Resources, Inc. (“Franklin Templeton”). (Because FTIML is an affiliate of Franklin Advisers and Franklin Advisers remains fully responsible for all services provided by FTIML, the Trustees did not attempt to evaluate FTIML as a separate entity.)

The Board of Trustees, with the assistance of its Contract Committee (which consists solely of Independent Trustees) and its independent legal counsel (as that term is defined in Rule 0 – 1(a)(6) (i) under the 1940 Act), requested and evaluated all information it deemed reasonably necessary under the circumstances in connection with its review of the New FTIML Sub-Advisory Agreement. At its September 2024 meeting, the Contract Committee met with representatives of Franklin Templeton, and separately in executive session, to consider the information provided. At the September 2024 Board of Trustees’ meetings, the Contract Committee also met in executive session with the other Independent Trustees to discuss its observations and recommendations. Throughout this process, the Contract Committee was assisted by the members of the Board of Trustees’ independent staff and by independent legal counsel for the Independent Trustees.

Considerations in connection with the Trustees’ approval of the New FTIML Sub-Advisory Agreement

The Trustees considered the proposed New FTIML Sub-Advisory Agreement in connection with the planned November 1, 2024 merger (the “Merger”) of Putnam Investments Limited (“PIL”), an affiliate of Franklin Advisers and a sub-adviser to your fund prior to the Merger, with and into FTIML. The Trustees considered that, in connection with the Merger, PIL investment professionals would become employees of FTIML, and, upon consummation of the Merger, PIL would cease to exist as a separate legal entity.

The Trustees noted that Franklin Templeton viewed the Merger as a further step in the integration of the legacy Putnam and Franklin Templeton organizations, offering potential operational efficiencies and enhanced investment resources for the funds. The Trustees also considered, among other factors, that:

• The Merger and the New FTIML Sub-Advisory Agreement would not result in any reduction or material change in the nature or the level of the sub-advisory services provided to the funds;

• The PIL portfolio managers who are responsible for the day-to-day management of the applicable funds would be the same immediately prior to, and immediately after, the Merger, and these investment personnel would have access to the same research and other resources to support their respective investment advisory functions and operate under the same conditions both immediately before and after the Merger;

• Despite a change in the sub-advisory fee structure for certain funds, the New FTIML Sub-Advisory Agreement would not result in an increase in the advisory fee rates payable by each fund, as Franklin Advisers would be responsible for overseeing the investment advisory services provided to the applicable funds by FTIML under the New FTIML Sub-Advisory Agreement and would compensate FTIML for such services out of the fees it receives under each fund’s Management Contract with Franklin Advisers; and

• The terms of the New FTIML Sub-Advisory Agreement were substantially similar to those under the sub-management contract between Franklin Advisers and PIL with respect to the fund (the “PIL Sub-Management Contract”).1

The Trustees also considered that, prior to the Merger, counsel to Franklin Advisers and FTIML had provided a legal opinion that the Merger and the appointment of FTIML as sub-adviser to the funds would not result in an “assignment” under


1 The PIL Sub-Management Contract was operative until the effective date of the Merger, November 1, 2024, and was replaced by the New FTIML Sub-Advisory Agreement effective as of that date.

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the 1940 Act of the PIL Sub-Management Contract and that the New FTIML Sub-Advisory Agreement did not require shareholder approval.

The Trustees also took into account that they had most recently approved the fund’s PIL Sub-Management Contract in June 2024. Because, other than the parties to the contract, the revised sub-advisory fee structure for certain funds, and certain other non-substantive changes to contractual terms, the New FTIML Sub-Advisory Agreement was substantially similar to the PIL Sub-Management Contract, the Trustees relied to a considerable extent on their previous approval of the PIL Sub-Management Contract.

Board of Trustees’ Conclusions

After considering the factors described above, as well as other factors, the Board of Trustees, including all of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the fees payable under the New FTIML Sub-Advisory Agreement represented reasonable compensation in light of the nature and quality of the services that would be provided to the funds, and determined to approve the New FTIML Sub-Advisory Agreement for your fund. These conclusions were based on a comprehensive consideration of all information provided to the Trustees and were not the result of any single factor.

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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, which is calculated separately for each class of shares. (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 period.

Financial highlights provide an overview of the fund’s investment results, per-share distributions, expense ratios, net investment income ratios, and portfolio turnover (not required for money market funds) in one summary table, reflecting the five most recent reporting periods. In a semiannual report, the highlights table also includes the current reporting period.

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The fund’s portfolio 1/31/25 (Unaudited)
MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (35.1%)* Principal
amount
Value
Agency collateralized mortgage obligations (11.2%)
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation      
REMICs Ser. 4077, Class IK, IO, 5.00%, 7/15/42   $806,890 $156,079
REMICs Ser. 5093, Class YI, IO, 4.50%, 12/25/50   3,559,585 765,622
REMICs Ser. 5024, Class HI, IO, 4.50%, 10/25/50   8,609,377 1,953,913
REMICs Ser. 4984, Class IL, IO, 4.50%, 6/25/50   4,394,489 918,860
REMICs Ser. 4000, Class PI, IO, 4.50%, 1/15/42   294,603 41,480
REMICs Ser. 5134, Class IC, IO, 4.00%, 8/25/51   7,200,914 1,459,725
REMICs Ser. 23-5349, Class IB, IO, 4.00%, 12/15/46   4,058,090 820,305
REMICs Ser. 4105, Class HI, IO, 3.50%, 7/15/41   355,621 22,242
Strips Ser. 304, Class C37, IO, 3.50%, 12/15/27   92,284 2,239
REMICs IFB Ser. 5011, Class SA, IO, ((-1 x US 30 Day Average SOFR) + 6.14%), 1.785%, 9/25/50   7,209,774 966,524
REMICs IFB Ser. 5002, Class SJ, IO, ((-1 x US 30 Day Average SOFR) + 5.99%), 1.635%, 7/25/50   6,732,243 674,002
REMICs IFB Ser. 4945, Class SL, IO, ((-1 x US 30 Day Average SOFR) + 5.94%), 1.585%, 1/25/50   4,429,310 461,861
REMICs IFB Ser. 4839, Class WS, IO, ((-1 x US 30 Day Average SOFR) + 5.99%), 1.579%, 8/15/56   4,468,005 546,874
Federal National Mortgage Association      
REMICs Ser. 16-3, Class NI, IO, 6.00%, 2/25/46   1,399,384 216,356
Interest Strip Ser. 374, Class 6, IO, 5.50%, 8/25/36   66,573 11,148
REMICs Ser. 15-30, IO, 5.50%, 5/25/45   2,107,028 308,124
Interest Strip Ser. 378, Class 19, IO, 5.00%, 6/25/35   182,879 26,727
REMICs Ser. 20-76, Class BI, IO, 4.50%, 11/25/50   6,363,074 1,443,992
REMICs Ser. 12-127, Class BI, IO, 4.50%, 11/25/42   261,227 54,055
REMICs IFB Ser. 10-35, Class SG, IO, ((-1 x US 30 Day Average SOFR) + 6.29%), 1.935%, 4/25/40   517,885 49,128
REMICs IFB Ser. 18-20, Class SB, IO, ((-1 x US 30 Day Average SOFR) + 6.14%), 1.785%, 3/25/48   2,635,745 221,594
REMICs IFB Ser. 18-38, Class SA, IO, ((-1 x US 30 Day Average SOFR) + 6.09%), 1.735%, 6/25/48   4,779,953 501,687
REMICs IFB Ser. 17-32, Class SA, IO, ((-1 x US 30 Day Average SOFR) + 6.04%), 1.685%, 5/25/47   5,785,034 495,029
REMICs IFB Ser. 19-43, Class JS, IO, ((-1 x US 30 Day Average SOFR) + 5.94%), 1.585%, 8/25/49   2,569,276 231,152
REMICs FRB Ser. 19-61, Class S, IO, ((-1 x US 30 Day Average SOFR) + 5.89%), 1.535%, 11/25/49   5,109,238 570,555
REMICs IFB Ser. 11-101, Class SA, IO, ((-1 x US 30 Day Average SOFR) + 5.79%), 1.435%, 10/25/41   1,171,942 98,426
Government National Mortgage Association      
Ser. 24-4, Class IG, IO, 5.00%, 12/20/52   3,813,464 678,056
Ser. 16-42, IO, 5.00%, 2/20/46   1,595,772 315,297
Ser. 18-127, Class IC, IO, 5.00%, 10/20/44   2,768,986 562,250
Ser. 14-76, IO, 5.00%, 5/20/44   650,809 139,257
Ser. 12-146, IO, 5.00%, 12/20/42   466,223 101,057
Ser. 17-26, Class MI, IO, 5.00%, 11/20/39   2,200,533 363,137
Ser. 15-79, Class GI, IO, 5.00%, 10/20/39   389,890 88,243
Ser. 18-94, Class AI, IO, 4.50%, 7/20/48   1,197,610 242,472


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MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (35.1%)* cont. Principal
amount
Value
Agency collateralized mortgage obligations cont.
Government National Mortgage Association      
Ser. 21-122, Class GI, IO, 4.50%, 11/20/47   $6,753,561 $1,532,434
Ser. 13-34, Class IH, IO, 4.50%, 3/20/43   909,810 172,519
Ser. 17-42, Class IC, IO, 4.50%, 8/20/41   808,106 153,785
Ser. 21-214, Class AI, IO, 4.00%, 12/20/51   5,066,215 1,017,514
Ser. 20-13, Class AI, IO, 4.00%, 3/20/46   8,450,285 1,150,894
Ser. 15-53, Class MI, IO, 4.00%, 4/16/45   1,550,537 291,027
Ser. 15-64, Class YI, IO, 4.00%, 11/20/44   998,565 149,007
Ser. 17-93, Class TI, IO, 4.00%, 3/20/44   254,108 3,859
Ser. 21-156, IO, 3.50%, 7/20/51   8,170,895 1,372,115
Ser. 20-167, Class PI, IO, 3.50%, 11/20/50   4,822,642 846,470
Ser. 12-140, Class IC, IO, 3.50%, 11/20/42   1,749,196 286,523
Ser. 12-128, Class IA, IO, 3.50%, 10/20/42   1,723,815 277,234
Ser. 12-113, Class ID, IO, 3.50%, 9/20/42   740,864 115,023
Ser. 15-52, Class KI, IO, 3.50%, 11/20/40   612,633 33,486
Ser. 16-H18, Class QI, IO, 3.296%, 6/20/66 W   2,292,874 117,966
Ser. 24-186, IO, 3.00%, 9/20/51   8,019,060 1,283,868
Ser. 21-59, Class IP, IO, 3.00%, 4/20/51   6,796,594 1,138,217
Ser. 20-175, Class NI, IO, 3.00%, 11/20/50   5,362,511 898,312
Ser. 16-H23, Class NI, IO, 2.713%, 10/20/66 W   9,713,931 398,747
Ser. 15-H20, Class CI, IO, 2.678%, 8/20/65 W   3,701,877 180,485
Ser. 16-H22, Class AI, IO, 2.629%, 10/20/66 W   3,637,408 144,845
Ser. 18-H15, Class KI, IO, 2.23%, 8/20/68 W   3,715,985 143,582
Ser. 17-H19, Class MI, IO, 2.094%, 4/20/67 W   1,896,218 81,050
IFB Ser. 23-35, Class SH, IO, ((-1 x US 30 Day Average SOFR) + 6.45%), 2.077%, 2/20/53   13,217,431 1,004,940
Ser. 16-H06, Class DI, IO, 2.066%, 7/20/65   5,802,615 165,189
Ser. 15-H10, Class BI, IO, 2.022%, 4/20/65 W   2,331,283 97,012
Ser. 16-H03, Class DI, IO, 2.02%, 12/20/65 W   2,733,954 94,308
Ser. 17-H16, Class JI, IO, 2.003%, 8/20/67 W   9,808,951 425,924
Ser. 16-H09, Class BI, IO, 1.93%, 4/20/66 W   4,317,669 189,623
Ser. 15-H25, Class EI, IO, 1.927%, 10/20/65 W   2,393,785 71,249
IFB Ser. 21-98, Class SK, IO, ((-1 x CME Term SOFR 1 Month) + 6.19%), 1.887%, 6/20/51   9,366,025 1,220,083
IFB Ser. 21-77, Class SM, IO, ((-1 x CME Term SOFR 1 Month) + 6.19%), 1.887%, 5/20/51   5,929,678 721,183
IFB Ser. 21-59, Class SM, IO, ((-1 x CME Term SOFR 1 Month) + 6.19%), 1.887%, 4/20/51   11,933,024 1,421,755
IFB Ser. 21-59, Class SQ, IO, ((-1 x CME Term SOFR 1 Month) + 6.19%), 1.887%, 4/20/51   4,044,938 512,637
Ser. 15-H20, Class AI, IO, 1.88%, 8/20/65 W   3,249,292 78,314
Ser. 15-H23, Class BI, IO, 1.817%, 9/20/65 W   3,449,927 72,473
Ser. 17-H11, Class DI, IO, 1.798%, 5/20/67 W   3,701,724 175,343
FRB Ser. 21-116, Class ES, IO, ((-1 x CME Term SOFR 1 Month) + 6.09%), 1.78%, 11/20/47   6,363,581 618,725
IFB Ser. 14-60, Class SD, IO, ((-1 x CME Term SOFR 1 Month) + 6.07%), 1.767%, 4/20/44   3,188,706 331,810
IFB Ser. 20-97, Class QS, IO, ((-1 x CME Term SOFR 1 Month) + 6.04%), 1.737%, 7/20/50   3,267,403 382,556
Ser. 16-H24, Class CI, IO, 1.728%, 10/20/66 W   2,470,756 49,131


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MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (35.1%)* cont. Principal
amount
Value
Agency collateralized mortgage obligations cont.
Government National Mortgage Association      
IFB Ser. 20-63, Class SP, IO, ((-1 x CME Term SOFR 1 Month) + 5.99%), 1.687%, 5/20/50   $3,949,529 $442,242
IFB Ser. 20-63, Class PS, IO, ((-1 x CME Term SOFR 1 Month) + 5.99%), 1.687%, 4/20/50   5,095,481 602,060
IFB Ser. 19-96, Class SY, IO, ((-1 x CME Term SOFR 1 Month) + 5.99%), 1.687%, 8/20/49   3,928,775 445,438
IFB Ser. 19-83, Class SY, IO, ((-1 x CME Term SOFR 1 Month) + 5.99%), 1.687%, 7/20/49   3,476,420 377,420
IFB Ser. 19-89, Class PS, IO, ((-1 x CME Term SOFR 1 Month) + 5.99%), 1.687%, 7/20/49   4,273,149 415,812
Ser. 17-H12, Class QI, IO, 1.672%, 5/20/67 W   3,335,946 114,937
Ser. 18-H02, Class EI, IO, 1.659%, 1/20/68 W   7,367,621 340,598
IFB Ser. 19-152, Class ES, IO, ((-1 x CME Term SOFR 1 Month) + 5.94%), 1.637%, 12/20/49   2,309,017 239,197
IFB Ser. 19-110, Class SQ, IO, ((-1 x CME Term SOFR 1 Month) + 5.94%), 1.637%, 9/20/49   3,879,906 410,023
Ser. 14-H21, Class BI, IO, 1.625%, 10/20/64 W   3,647,672 83,254
Ser. 13-H08, Class CI, IO, 1.625%, 2/20/63 W   1,760,253 54,631
IFB Ser. 20-63, Class AS, IO, ((-1 x CME Term SOFR 1 Month) + 5.89%), 1.587%, 8/20/43   4,282,614 444,092
Ser. 17-H16, Class IG, IO, 1.567%, 7/20/67 W   7,978,691 195,374
Ser. 17-H06, Class BI, IO, 1.477%, 2/20/67 W   3,913,087 123,611
Ser. 18-H05, Class BI, IO, 1.457%, 2/20/68 W   4,876,832 221,642
Ser. 16-H03, Class AI, IO, 1.43%, 1/20/66 W   9,240,453 332,860
Ser. 17-H08, Class NI, IO, 1.413%, 3/20/67 W   5,178,422 170,391
Ser. 16-H10, Class AI, IO, 1.317%, 4/20/66 W   6,810,803 153,720
Ser. 17-H02, Class BI, IO, 1.287%, 1/20/67 W   2,334,021 85,761
Ser. 17-H09, IO, 1.211%, 4/20/67 W   5,566,137 160,928
IFB Ser. 14-119, Class SA, IO, ((-1 x CME Term SOFR 1 Month) + 5.49%), 1.187%, 8/20/44   1,367,845 102,660
40,445,336
Commercial mortgage-backed securities (11.8%)
BANK FRB Ser. 24-BNK48, Class XA, IO, 1.148%, 10/15/57 W   9,728,153 826,121
Bank5      
FRB Ser. 24-5YR7, Class XA, 1.334%, 6/15/57 W   10,895,615 555,618
FRB Ser. 24-5YR10, Class XA, 1.191%, 10/15/57 W   14,880,211 708,392
FRB Ser. 24-5YR12, Class XA, IO, 0.498%, 12/15/57 W   11,034,442 244,590
BBCMS Mortgage Trust      
FRB Ser. 24-5C29, Class XA, IO, 1.60%, 9/15/57 W   16,441,351 1,045,698
FRB Ser. 24-5C31, Class XA, IO, 1.061%, 12/15/57 W   4,847,930 218,837
FRB Ser. 24-C26, Class XA, IO, 1.014%, 5/15/57 W   5,711,908 429,635
FRB Ser. 22-C14, Class XA, IO, 0.701%, 2/15/55 W   10,493,977 373,494
BDS, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 21-FL9, Class A, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 1.18%), 5.483%, 11/16/38 (Cayman Islands)   258,346 258,900
Benchmark Mortgage Trust      
FRB Ser. 24-V10, Class XA, IO, 1.306%, 9/15/57 W   14,079,769 727,012
FRB Ser. 24-V11, Class XA, IO, 0.56%, 11/15/57 W   20,387,000 502,466


12 Premier Income Trust



MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (35.1%)* cont. Principal
amount
Value
Commercial mortgage-backed securities cont.
BMO Mortgage Trust      
FRB Ser. 24-5C6, Class XA, IO, 1.353%, 9/15/57 W   $12,367,004 $649,607
FRB Ser. 24-5C8, Class XA, IO, 1.021%, 12/15/57 W   5,935,901 257,125
CD Commercial Mortgage Trust Ser. 17-CD4, Class B, 3.947%, 5/10/50 W   1,008,000 937,275
CFCRE Commercial Mortgage Trust Ser. 16-C7, Class A3, 3.839%, 12/10/54   908,000 885,886
CFCRE Commercial Mortgage Trust 144A FRB Ser. 11-C2, Class E, 5.08%, 12/15/47 W   424,000 393,944
COMM Mortgage Trust      
FRB Ser. 14-CR16, Class C, 4.786%, 4/10/47 W   912,000 858,489
FRB Ser. 14-CR20, Class C, 4.736%, 11/10/47 W   854,238 824,108
Ser. 13-CR12, Class AM, 4.30%, 10/10/46   380,828 355,789
Ser. 14-UBS5, Class AM, 4.193%, 9/10/47 W   525,250 515,036
Ser. 15-DC1, Class B, 4.035%, 2/10/48 W   906,000 874,000
Ser. 14-UBS3, Class AM, 4.012%, 6/10/47   701,279 670,547
Ser. 15-CR22, Class B, 3.926%, 3/10/48 W   370,000 361,103
FRB Ser. 15-LC19, Class B, 3.829%, 2/10/48 W   621,000 610,627
Ser. 15-DC1, Class AM, 3.724%, 2/10/48   365,000 361,952
COMM Mortgage Trust 144A      
FRB Ser. 13-CR13, Class D, 5.093%, 11/10/46 W   1,081,000 663,754
FRB Ser. 14-CR17, Class D, 4.871%, 5/10/47 W   725,000 594,138
FRB Ser. 14-CR19, Class D, 4.511%, 8/10/47 W   194,952 185,461
Ser. 12-CR3, Class F, 4.292%, 10/15/45 (In default) † W   395,189 23,573
CSAIL Commercial Mortgage Trust      
FRB Ser. 15-C2, Class B, 4.208%, 6/15/57 W   471,000 453,354
Ser. 15-C2, Class AS, 3.849%, 6/15/57 W   617,000 604,697
Ser. 15-C1, Class AS, 3.791%, 4/15/50 W   870,000 860,201
Ser. 16-C5, Class A5, 3.757%, 11/15/48   468,000 462,899
DBUBS Mortgage Trust 144A FRB Ser. 11-LC3A, Class D, 5.385%, 8/10/44 W   446,109 428,739
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Multifamily Structured Credit Risk FRB Ser. 21-MN1, Class M2, 8.101%, 1/25/51   555,000 568,201
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation 144A Multifamily Structured Credit Risk FRB Ser. 21-MN3, Class M2, 8.351%, 11/25/51   1,746,000 1,812,317
Government National Mortgage Association FRB Ser. 24-32, IO, 0.706%, 6/16/63 W   10,875,357 550,853
GS Mortgage Securities Corp., II 144A FRB Ser. 13-GC10, Class D, 4.552%, 2/10/46 W   1,298,000 1,295,423
GS Mortgage Securities Trust FRB Ser. 19-GC42, Class XA, IO, 0.805%, 9/10/52 W   13,773,685 407,083
GS Mortgage Securities Trust 144A      
FRB Ser. 14-GC24, Class D, 4.441%, 9/10/47 W   485,000 270,677
FRB Ser. 13-GC13, Class AS, 3.874%, 7/10/46 W   699,860 677,044
JPMBB Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust      
FRB Ser. 14-C23, Class C, 4.59%, 9/15/47 W   436,000 413,044
Ser. 15-C31, Class A3, 3.801%, 8/15/48   438,251 434,700
Ser. 16-C1, Class A5, 3.576%, 3/17/49   275,000 271,286


Premier Income Trust 13



MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (35.1%)* cont. Principal
amount
Value
Commercial mortgage-backed securities cont.
JPMBB Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust 144A      
FRB Ser. 14-C18, Class D, 4.51%, 2/15/47 W   $513,000 $444,771
FRB Ser. 14-C23, Class D, 4.09%, 9/15/47 W   287,000 247,884
FRB Ser. C14, Class D, 4.09%, 8/15/46 W   500,000 385,767
JPMDB Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust      
FRB Ser. 18-C8, Class C, 4.756%, 6/15/51 W   402,000 348,673
Ser. 18-C8, Class B, 4.522%, 6/15/51   504,000 454,896
JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust FRB Ser. 13-LC11, Class D, 4.417%, 4/15/46 W   574,000 150,675
JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust 144A      
FRB Ser. 07-CB20, Class E, 7.615%, 2/12/51 W   23,266 28,553
FRB Ser. 12-C6, Class E, 4.964%, 5/15/45 W   432,000 414,068
FRB Ser. 13-LC11, Class E, 3.25%, 4/15/46 (In default) † W   1,390,000 94,868
LSTAR Commercial Mortgage Trust 144A Ser. 17-5, Class A5, 3.549%, 3/10/50   1,149,000 1,107,758
Morgan Stanley Bank of America Merrill Lynch Trust FRB Ser. 15-C22, Class C, 4.193%, 4/15/48 W   1,263,000 1,091,714
Morgan Stanley Bank of America Merrill Lynch Trust 144A      
FRB Ser. 13-C12, Class D, 4.803%, 10/15/46 W   416,000 378,228
FRB Ser. 13-C10, Class F, 3.981%, 7/15/46 W   1,988,000 135,592
Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust      
FRB Ser. 18-H3, Class C, 4.849%, 7/15/51 W   404,000 377,874
FRB Ser. 16-UB11, Class C, 3.691%, 8/15/49 W   663,000 632,443
Multifamily Connecticut Avenue Securities Trust 144A      
FRB Ser. 20-01, Class M10, 8.215%, 3/25/50   1,459,974 1,486,856
FRB Ser. 19-01, Class M10, 7.715%, 10/25/49   1,126,002 1,139,477
Ready Capital Mortgage Financing, LLC 144A FRB Ser. 22-FL9, Class A, 6.778%, 6/25/37   301,884 302,713
SG Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust Ser. 16-C5, Class A4, 3.055%, 10/10/48   1,034,000 1,002,160
Shelter Growth CRE Issuer, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 22-FL4, Class A, 6.596%, 6/17/37 (Bermuda)   579,098 580,494
TIAA Real Estate CDO, Ltd. 144A Ser. 03-1A, Class E, 8.00%, 12/28/38 (In default)   1,081,996 81
UBS Commercial Mortgage Trust FRB Ser. 17-C3, Class C, 4.381%, 8/15/50 W   498,000 461,848
Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust      
FRB Ser. 15-SG1, Class B, 4.443%, 9/15/48 W   559,000 531,162
FRB Ser. 15-LC22, Class AS, 4.207%, 9/15/58 W   360,000 356,846
Ser. 15-NXS4, Class A4, 3.718%, 12/15/48   383,000 379,216
Ser. 15-C31, Class A4, 3.695%, 11/15/48   891,000 882,259
Ser. 15-NXS3, Class A4, 3.617%, 9/15/57   866,000 858,125
Ser. 20-C56, Class A2, 2.498%, 6/15/53   35,042 32,848
FRB Ser. 19-C52, Class XA, IO, 1.559%, 8/15/52 W   6,853,422 371,015
FRB Ser. 24-5C1, Class XA, 1.029%, 7/15/57 W   12,865,094 515,579
Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust 144A      
FRB Ser. 15-C30, Class D, 4.488%, 9/15/58 W   265,000 256,557
Ser. 14-LC16, Class D, 3.938%, 8/15/50   682,932 86,021
FRB Ser. 13-LC12, Class D, 3.837%, 7/15/46 W   356,000 184,230


14 Premier Income Trust



MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (35.1%)* cont. Principal
amount
Value
Commercial mortgage-backed securities cont.
WF-RBS Commercial Mortgage Trust      
FRB Ser. 14-C23, Class B, 4.294%, 10/15/57 W   $275,000 $254,265
Ser. 14-C21, Class C, 4.234%, 8/15/47 W   365,000 347,656
WF-RBS Commercial Mortgage Trust 144A      
FRB Ser. 12-C9, Class E, 4.876%, 11/15/45 W   393,608 384,167
FRB Ser. 13-C15, Class D, 4.186%, 8/15/46 W   1,310,502 551,486
42,682,520
Residential mortgage-backed securities (non-agency) (12.1%)
A&D Mortgage Trust 144A Ser. 24-NQM1, Class A1, 6.195%, 2/25/69   1,486,869 1,498,947
American Home Mortgage Investment Trust FRB Ser. 07-1, Class GA1C, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 0.30%), 4.615%, 5/25/47   595,805 347,830
Bear Stearns Alt-A Trust FRB Ser. 05-10, Class 11A1, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 0.61%), 4.925%, 1/25/36   92,778 86,926
Chevy Chase Funding, LLC Mortgage-Backed Certificates 144A FRB Ser. 06-4A, Class A2, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 0.29%), 4.605%, 11/25/47   439,083 380,039
Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust, Inc. FRB Ser. 07-AMC3, Class A2D, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 0.46%), 4.775%, 3/25/37   1,459,633 1,224,054
Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust      
FRB Ser. 06-OA10, Class 1A1, (Federal Reserve US 12 Month Cumulative Avg 1 yr CMT + 0.96%), 5.706%, 8/25/46   185,313 169,568
FRB Ser. 06-OA7, Class 1A2, (Federal Reserve US 12 Month Cumulative Avg 1 yr CMT + 0.94%), 5.686%, 6/25/46   282,487 268,879
FRB Ser. 05-38, Class A3, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 0.81%), 5.125%, 9/25/35   358,271 320,449
FRB Ser. 05-59, Class 1A1, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 0.77%), 5.075%, 11/20/35   928,934 877,823
FRB Ser. 06-OA10, Class 3A1, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 0.49%), 4.805%, 8/25/46   434,158 380,630
FRB Ser. 06-OA10, Class 4A1, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 0.49%), 4.805%, 8/25/46   2,391,118 2,015,238
FRB Ser. 07-OH1, Class A1D, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 0.32%), 4.635%, 4/25/47   335,680 285,270
FRB Ser. 06-OA7, Class 1A1, 3.28%, 6/25/46 W   788,121 748,351
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation      
Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt FRN Ser. 15-HQA2, Class B, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 10.61%), 14.965%, 5/25/28   823,741 879,092
Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt FRN Ser. 16-DNA1, Class B, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 10.11%), 14.465%, 7/25/28   2,787,383 2,984,562
Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt FRN Ser. 15-DNA3, Class B, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 9.46%), 13.815%, 4/25/28   1,279,818 1,345,996
Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt FRN Ser. 15-DNA1, Class B, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 9.31%), 13.665%, 10/25/27   719,938 732,624
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation 144A      
Structured Agency Credit Risk Trust FRB Ser. 19-HQA1, Class B2, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 12.36%), 16.715%, 2/25/49   254,000 315,690
Structured Agency Credit Risk Trust REMICs FRB Ser. 20-DNA5, Class B2, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 11.50%), 15.851%, 10/25/50   491,000 686,070
Structured Agency Credit Risk Trust FRB Ser. 19-HQA2, Class B2, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 11.36%), 15.715%, 4/25/49   298,000 359,836


Premier Income Trust 15



MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (35.1%)* cont. Principal
amount
Value
Residential mortgage-backed securities (non-agency) cont.
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation 144A      
Structured Agency Credit Risk Trust FRB Ser. 18-HQA2, Class B2, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 11.11%), 15.465%, 10/25/48   $1,619,000 $2,071,633
Structured Agency Credit Risk Trust FRB Ser. 19-DNA1, Class B2, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 10.86%), 15.215%, 1/25/49   315,000 394,456
Structured Agency Credit Risk Trust FRB Ser. 19-DNA2, Class B2, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 10.61%), 14.965%, 3/25/49   252,000 306,027
Structured Agency Credit Risk Trust REMICs FRB Ser. 20-DNA4, Class B2, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 10.11%), 14.465%, 8/25/50   966,000 1,338,660
Structured Agency Credit Risk Trust REMICs FRB Ser. 20-HQA3, Class B2, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 10.11%), 14.465%, 7/25/50   1,027,000 1,389,393
Structured Agency Credit Risk Trust FRB Ser. 18-DNA3, Class B2, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 7.86%), 12.215%, 9/25/48   389,000 456,010
Structured Agency Credit Risk Trust REMICs FRB Ser. 20-HQA2, Class B2, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 7.71%), 12.065%, 3/25/50   625,000 761,959
Structured Agency Credit Risk Trust REMICs FRB Ser. 21-DNA3, Class B2, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 6.25%), 10.601%, 10/25/33   299,000 372,445
Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt FRN Ser. 22-DNA2, Class M2, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 3.75%), 8.101%, 2/25/42   450,000 471,865
Structured Agency Credit risk Debt FRN Class M1B, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 3.35%), 7.701%, 6/25/43   700,000 737,616
Seasoned Credit Risk Transfer Trust Ser. 19-2, Class M, 4.75%, 8/25/58 W   685,000 653,800
Seasoned Credit Risk Transfer Trust Ser. 17-3, Class M2, 4.75%, 7/25/56 W   859,850 836,549
Seasoned Credit Risk Transfer Trust Ser. 19-4, Class M, 4.50%, 2/25/59 W   346,000 321,452
Federal National Mortgage Association      
Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 16-C03, Class 2B, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 12.86%), 17.215%, 10/25/28   238,011 268,963
Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 16-C02, Class 1B, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 12.36%), 16.715%, 9/25/28   2,292,058 2,534,701
Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 16-C03, Class 1B, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 11.86%), 16.215%, 10/25/28   1,286,190 1,439,079
Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 16-C01, Class 1B, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 11.86%), 16.215%, 8/25/28   828,519 911,812
Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 16-C05, Class 2B, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 10.86%), 15.215%, 1/25/29   267,127 298,982
Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 16-C04, Class 1B, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 10.36%), 14.715%, 1/25/29   265,787 296,404
Connecticut Avenue Securities FRB Ser. 16-C06, Class 1B, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 9.36%), 13.715%, 4/25/29   394,503 440,953
Federal National Mortgage Association 144A      
Connecticut Avenue Securities Trust FRB Ser. 22-R02, Class 2B1, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 4.50%), 8.851%, 1/25/42   402,000 423,964
Connecticut Avenue Securities Trust FRB Ser. 19-R03, Class 1B1, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 4.21%), 8.565%, 9/25/31   460,392 492,353
Connecticut Avenue Securities Trust FRB Ser. 20-R01, Class 1B1, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 3.36%), 7.715%, 1/25/40   459,000 475,124
Connecticut Avenue Securities Trust FRB Ser. 22-R02, Class 2M2, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 3.00%), 7.351%, 1/25/42   1,640,000 1,688,352


16 Premier Income Trust




MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES (35.1%)* cont. Principal
amount
Value
Residential mortgage-backed securities (non-agency) cont.
GSR Mortgage Loan Trust FRB Ser. 07-OA1, Class 2A3A, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 0.42%), 4.735%, 5/25/37   $508,188 $281,746
HarborView Mortgage Loan Trust FRB Ser. 05-2, Class 1A,
(CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 0.63%), 4.933%, 5/19/35
  400,674 120,387
Home Re, Ltd. 144A FRB Ser. 21-2, Class B1, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 4.15%), 8.501%, 1/25/34 (Bermuda)   300,000 305,222
JPMorgan Mortgage Trust 144A FRB Ser. 24-9, Class A11, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 1.35%), 5.701%, 2/25/55   509,026 510,769
LHOME Mortgage Trust 144A Ser. 23-RTL2, Class A1, 8.00%, 6/25/28   786,000 795,327
MFA Trust Ser. 24-NPL1, Class A1, stepped-coupon 6.33%
(9.33%, 9/25/27), 9/25/54 ††
  690,380 693,348
Morgan Stanley Re-REMIC Trust 144A FRB Ser. 10-R4, Class 4B, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 0.34%), 2.883%, 2/26/37   359,876 328,440
Morgan Stanley Residential Mortgage Loan Trust 144A FRB Ser. 24-4, Class AF, (US 30 Day Average SOFR + 1.35%), 5.701%, 9/25/54   320,470 321,848
MortgageIT Trust FRB Ser. 05-3, Class M2, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 0.91%), 5.22%, 8/25/35   58,228 55,705
NYMT Loan Trust 144A Ser. 22-BPL1, Class A1, stepped-coupon 3.967% (5.967%, 7/25/25), 11/25/27 ††   362,371 362,506
Saluda Grade Alternative Mortgage Trust 144A      
Ser. 24-RTL5, Class A1, stepped-coupon 7.762% (9.262%, 9/1/26), 4/25/30 ††   1,400,000 1,415,172
Ser. 24-RTL4, Class A1, stepped-coupon 7.50% (8.50%, 7/1/26), 2/25/30 ††   928,000 936,024
Structured Asset Mortgage Investments II Trust FRB Ser. 07-AR1, Class 2A1, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 0.47%), 4.785%, 1/25/37   486,505 422,329
Towd Point Mortgage Trust 144A      
Ser. 19-2, Class A2, 3.75%, 12/25/58 W   1,033,000 925,934
Ser. 18-5, Class M1, 3.25%, 7/25/58 W   815,000 679,774
WaMu Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates Trust FRB Ser. 05-AR13, Class A1C3, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 1.09%), 5.405%, 10/25/45   201,334 194,225
43,639,182
Total mortgage-backed securities (cost $132,272,627) $126,767,038

CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (26.5%)* Principal
amount
Value
Basic materials (2.4%)
ArcelorMittal SA sr. unsec. unsub. notes 7.00%, 10/15/39 (France)   $515,000 $552,569
Arcosa, Inc. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 6.875%, 8/15/32   115,000 117,960
ATI, Inc. sr. unsec. notes 4.875%, 10/1/29   1,080,000 1,033,934
Avient Corp. 144A sr. unsec. notes 6.25%, 11/1/31   100,000 99,865
Boise Cascade Co. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 4.875%, 7/1/30   475,000 450,533
Braskem Idesa SAPI sr. notes Ser. REGS, 7.45%, 11/15/29 (Mexico)   500,000 419,758
Builders FirstSource, Inc. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. bonds 6.375%, 6/15/32   530,000 537,228
Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 7.375%, 5/1/33   225,000 223,936


Premier Income Trust 17



CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (26.5%)* cont. Principal
amount
Value
Basic materials cont.
Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 7.00%, 3/15/32   $220,000 $219,736
Commercial Metals Co. sr. unsec. notes 4.375%, 3/15/32   595,000 542,323
Constellium SE company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes Ser. REGS, 3.125%, 7/15/29 (France) EUR 650,000 633,727
Constellium SE 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes 6.375%, 8/15/32 (France)   $385,000 379,838
Huntsman International, LLC sr. unsec. notes 4.50%, 5/1/29   480,000 459,161
IHS Holding, Ltd. company guaranty sr. unsec. notes Ser. REGS, 6.25%, 11/29/28 (Nigeria)   400,000 379,426
Intelligent Packaging, Ltd., Finco, Inc./Intelligent Packaging, Ltd. LLC Co-Issuer 144A sr. notes 6.00%, 9/15/28 (Canada)   460,000 458,031
Miter Brands Acquisition Holdco, Inc./MIWD Borrower, LLC 144A company guaranty sr. notes 6.75%, 4/1/32   455,000 460,774
Novelis Corp. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 6.875%, 1/30/30   169,000 173,142
Quikrete Holdings, Inc. 144A sr. notes 6.375%, 3/1/32   165,000 165,617
Quikrete Holdings, Inc. 144A sr. unsec. notes 6.75%, 3/1/33   80,000 80,300
Smyrna Ready Mix Concrete, LLC 144A sr. notes 8.875%, 11/15/31   965,000 1,029,627
Standard Industries Solutions, Inc./NY 144A sr. unsec. notes 6.50%, 8/15/32   290,000 293,078
8,710,563
Capital goods (1.6%)
Adient Global Holdings, Ltd. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 7.50%, 2/15/33 (Ireland)   80,000 81,166
Ambipar Lux SARL 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 10.875%, 2/5/33 (Brazil)   400,000 405,700
Benteler International AG 144A company guaranty sr. notes 10.50%, 5/15/28 (Austria)   955,000 1,016,173
Boeing Co. (The) sr. unsec. notes 2.95%, 2/1/30   31,000 27,823
Boeing Co. (The) sr. unsec. notes 2.70%, 2/1/27   303,000 290,104
Boeing Co. (The) sr. unsec. unsub. notes 6.298%, 5/1/29   89,000 92,627
Bombardier, Inc. 144A sr. unsec. notes 7.00%, 6/1/32 (Canada)   1,020,000 1,041,381
GFL Environmental, Inc. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 4.75%, 6/15/29 (Canada)   466,000 449,329
Pactiv Evergreen Group Issuer, Inc./Pactiv Evergreen Group Issuer, LLC 144A company guaranty sr. notes 4.00%, 10/15/27   580,000 581,364
Ritchie Bros Holdings, Inc. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes 7.75%, 3/15/31   607,000 639,913
Spirit AeroSystems, Inc. 144A sr. unsub. notes 9.375%, 11/30/29   206,000 221,738
Terex Corp. 144A sr. unsec. notes 6.25%, 10/15/32   135,000 133,623
TransDigm, Inc. 144A sr. notes 6.875%, 12/15/30   420,000 430,588
TransDigm, Inc. 144A sr. notes 6.625%, 3/1/32   145,000 147,657
Waste Pro USA, Inc. 144A sr. unsec. notes 7.00%, 2/1/33   105,000 106,431
5,665,617
Communication services (1.5%)
American Tower Corp. sr. unsec. sub. notes 2.75%, 1/15/27 R   910,000 875,720
AT&T, Inc. sr. unsec. notes 4.10%, 2/15/28   910,000 893,483
CCO Holdings, LLC/CCO Holdings Capital Corp. 144A sr. unsec. unsub. notes 4.75%, 2/1/32   541,000 481,903


18 Premier Income Trust



CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (26.5%)* cont. Principal
amount
Value
Communication services cont.
T-Mobile USA, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 3.375%, 4/15/29   $1,820,000 $1,706,577
T-Mobile USA, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 2.05%, 2/15/28   500,000 461,292
Vmed O2 UK Financing I PLC sr. notes Ser. REGS, 3.25%, 1/31/31 (United Kingdom) EUR 610,000 595,715
Zegona Finance PLC 144A sr. notes 8.625%, 7/15/29 (United Kingdom)   $435,000 465,461
5,480,151
Consumer cyclicals (5.3%)
Allied Universal Holdco, LLC/Allied Universal Finance Corp. 144A sr. notes 7.875%, 2/15/31   450,000 461,841
Banijay Entertainment SASU 144A sr. notes 8.125%, 5/1/29 (France)   795,000 827,418
Bath & Body Works, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. sub. bonds 6.875%, 11/1/35   985,000 1,017,266
Boyd Gaming Corp. 144A sr. unsec. bonds 4.75%, 6/15/31   490,000 457,460
Caesars Entertainment, Inc. 144A sr. notes 7.00%, 2/15/30   509,000 524,970
Carnival Holdings Bermuda, Ltd. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes 10.375%, 5/1/28 (Bermuda)   193,000 205,521
Cinemark USA, Inc. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 5.25%, 7/15/28   595,000 583,756
Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. 144A company guaranty sr. notes 7.875%, 4/1/30   445,000 461,011
Crocs, Inc. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 4.125%, 8/15/31   640,000 562,787
Dufry One BV company guaranty sr. unsec. notes Ser. REGS, 3.375%, 4/15/28 (Netherlands) EUR 560,000 576,750
FirstCash, Inc. 144A sr. unsec. notes 6.875%, 3/1/32 (Mexico)   $814,000 826,301
Hyundai Capital America 144A sr. unsec. notes 4.55%, 9/26/29 (South Korea)   470,000 458,352
Levi Strauss & Co. sr. unsec. notes 3.375%, 3/15/27 EUR 668,000 692,689
Light & Wonder International, Inc. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 7.25%, 11/15/29   $995,000 1,027,067
Mattel, Inc. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 3.75%, 4/1/29   585,000 551,445
McGraw-Hill Education, Inc. 144A sr. notes 7.375%, 9/1/31   339,000 353,021
McGraw-Hill Education, Inc. 144A sr. notes 5.75%, 8/1/28   260,000 256,134
News Corp. 144A sr. unsec. notes 3.875%, 5/15/29   590,000 551,409
Outfront Media Capital, LLC/Outfront Media Capital Corp. 144A company guaranty sr. notes 7.375%, 2/15/31   168,000 176,173
Outfront Media Capital, LLC/Outfront Media Capital Corp. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 5.00%, 8/15/27   565,000 556,130
Prime Security Services Borrower, LLC/Prime Finance, Inc. 144A company guaranty notes 6.25%, 1/15/28   455,000 454,846
Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. 144A sr. unsec. notes 6.25%, 3/15/32   50,000 50,905
Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. 144A sr. unsec. notes 6.00%, 2/1/33   425,000 428,632
Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. 144A sr. unsec. notes 5.625%, 9/30/31   175,000 173,812
RR Donnelley & Sons Co. 144A sr. notes 9.50%, 8/1/29   440,000 453,469
Sinclair Television Group, Inc. 144A sr. notes 8.125%, 2/15/33   334,000 336,098


Premier Income Trust 19



CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (26.5%)* cont. Principal
amount
Value
Consumer cyclicals cont.
Six Flags Entertainment Corp. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 7.25%, 5/15/31   $610,000 $628,866
Standard Industries, Inc. sr. unsec. notes Ser. REGS, 2.25%, 11/21/26 EUR 560,000 570,757
Station Casinos, LLC 144A sr. unsec. bonds 4.625%, 12/1/31   $625,000 567,755
Taylor Morrison Communities, Inc. 144A sr. unsec. bonds 5.125%, 8/1/30   1,056,000 1,021,591
Toll Brothers Finance Corp. company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 3.80%, 11/1/29   485,000 457,741
Verisure Midholding AB company guaranty sr. unsec. notes Ser. REGS, 5.25%, 2/15/29 (Sweden) EUR 1,310,000 1,370,246
Veritiv Operating Co. 144A company guaranty sr. notes 10.50%, 11/30/30   $75,000 81,603
Viking Ocean Cruises Ship VII, Ltd. 144A sr. notes 5.625%, 2/15/29 (Bermuda)   767,000 759,837
Volkswagen Group of America Finance, LLC 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 1.625%, 11/24/27   510,000 462,845
Wynn Resorts Finance, LLC/Wynn Resorts Capital Corp. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes 7.125%, 2/15/31   155,000 162,170
19,108,674
Consumer staples (1.4%)
Aramark Services, Inc. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 5.00%, 2/1/28   459,000 450,330
Ashtead Capital, Inc. 144A notes 4.00%, 5/1/28   475,000 459,498
Avis Budget Finance PLC company guaranty sr. unsec. notes Ser. REGS, 7.25%, 7/31/30 EUR 410,000 443,879
Avis Budget Finance PLC 144A sr. unsec. notes 7.25%, 7/31/30 EUR 245,000 265,245
EquipmentShare.com, Inc. 144A notes 9.00%, 5/15/28   $435,000 458,971
Haleon US Capital, LLC company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes 3.375%, 3/24/29   485,000 457,678
Herc Holdings, Inc. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 6.625%, 6/15/29   140,000 143,203
JBS USA LUX SA/JBS USA Food Co./JBS USA Finance, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 5.50%, 1/15/30 (Luxembourg)   460,000 461,096
JBS USA LUX SA/JBS USA Food Co./JBS USA Finance, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 3.00%, 2/2/29 (Luxembourg)   244,000 224,911
Philip Morris International, Inc. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 5.125%, 2/15/30   900,000 908,214
United Rentals North America, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes 4.00%, 7/15/30   196,000 181,626
VM Consolidated, Inc. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 5.50%, 4/15/29   560,000 544,113
4,998,764
Energy (3.4%)
6297782 LLC 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 5.026%, 10/1/29   460,000 452,759
Aker BP ASA 144A sr. unsec. notes 5.60%, 6/13/28 (Norway)   450,000 458,336
Antero Resources Corp. 144A sr. unsec. notes 5.375%, 3/1/30   555,000 543,473
Chesapeake Energy Corp. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 6.75%, 4/15/29   454,000 459,228


20 Premier Income Trust



CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (26.5%)* cont. Principal
amount
Value
Energy cont.
Civitas Resources, Inc. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes 8.75%, 7/1/31   $925,000 $976,719
Ecopetrol SA sr. unsec. unsub. bonds 8.875%, 1/13/33 (Colombia)   1,170,000 1,206,644
Encino Acquisition Partners Holdings, LLC 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 8.50%, 5/1/28   405,000 416,311
Expand Energy Corp. company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 5.375%, 2/1/29   560,000 553,693
Hess Midstream Operations LP 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 5.50%, 10/15/30   184,000 181,788
Hess Midstream Operations LP 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 4.25%, 2/15/30   590,000 552,291
KazMunayGas National Co. JSC sr. unsec. unsub. bonds Ser. REGS, 6.375%, 10/24/48 (Kazakhstan)   1,000,000 924,773
Kinetik Holdings LP 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 5.875%, 6/15/30   1,005,000 997,775
Matador Resources Co. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes 6.875%, 4/15/28   731,000 745,013
Petrobras Global Finance BV company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. bonds 6.50%, 7/3/33 (Brazil)   683,000 686,739
Petroleos Mexicanos company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes 6.70%, 2/16/32 (Mexico)   460,000 400,189
Petroleos Mexicanos company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes 6.49%, 1/23/27 (Mexico)   410,000 396,761
Rockcliff Energy II, LLC 144A sr. unsec. notes 5.50%, 10/15/29   476,000 452,351
Targa Resources Corp. company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes 6.15%, 3/1/29   440,000 457,470
Transocean Poseidon, Ltd. 144A company guaranty sr. notes 6.875%, 2/1/27   270,000 271,056
Venture Global LNG, Inc. 144A sr. notes 8.375%, 6/1/31   985,000 1,037,290
12,170,659
Financials (5.2%)
Acrisure, LLC/Acrisure Finance, Inc. 144A sr. notes 7.50%, 11/6/30   435,000 450,044
AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust company guaranty sr. unsec. sub. notes 4.625%, 9/10/29 (Ireland)   670,000 656,558
AIB Group PLC 144A sr. unsec. notes 6.608%, 9/13/29 (Ireland)   435,000 456,063
Air Lease Corp. sr. unsec. sub. notes 5.85%, 12/15/27   1,000,000 1,026,342
Aircastle, Ltd. 144A sr. unsec. notes 5.25%, 8/11/25   455,000 455,569
Ares Capital Corp. sr. unsec. sub. notes 7.00%, 1/15/27   905,000 936,697
Athene Global Funding 144A notes 5.583%, 1/9/29   450,000 455,043
Aviation Capital Group, LLC 144A sr. unsec. notes 5.375%, 7/15/29   455,000 456,521
Bank of America Corp. sr. unsec. notes 6.204%, 11/10/28   955,000 989,612
Bank of America Corp. unsec. sub. notes Ser. L, 4.183%, 11/25/27   470,000 463,098
CaixaBank SA 144A sr. unsec. notes 6.208%, 1/18/29 (Spain)   445,000 458,095
Dresdner Funding Trust I 144A jr. unsec. sub. notes 8.151%, 6/30/31   200,000 219,707
F&G Annuities & Life, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 7.40%, 1/13/28   440,000 458,590
Ford Motor Co. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 5.80%, 3/5/27   200,000 201,870
Ford Motor Co. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 4.125%, 8/17/27   290,000 281,266
GA Global Funding Trust 144A notes 4.40%, 9/23/27   500,000 492,971
Jefferson Capital Holdings, LLC 144A sr. unsec. notes 9.50%, 2/15/29   995,000 1,064,288


Premier Income Trust 21



CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (26.5%)* cont. Principal
amount
Value
Financials cont.
Jones Deslauriers Insurance Management, Inc. 144A sr. notes 8.50%, 3/15/30 (Canada)   $420,000 $447,272
JPMorgan Chase & Co. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 6.07%, 10/22/27   1,810,000 1,851,596
Morgan Stanley sr. unsec. notes 5.123%, 2/1/29   1,350,000 1,358,118
MPT Operating Partnership LP/MPT Finance Corp 144A company guaranty sr. notes 8.50%, 2/15/32   340,000 345,698
Nationstar Mortgage Holdings, Inc. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 5.75%, 11/15/31   1,100,000 1,065,382
New York Life Global Funding 144A sr. notes 4.90%, 6/13/28   455,000 457,775
Protective Life Global Funding 144A 5.467%, 12/8/28   585,000 596,450
RHP Hotel Properties LP/RHP Finance Corp. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. sub. notes 6.50%, 4/1/32   455,000 458,761
Toronto-Dominion Bank (The) sr. unsec. notes 5.264%, 12/11/26 (Canada)   325,000 328,733
UBS Group AG 144A sr. unsec. notes 5.428%, 2/8/30 (Switzerland)   375,000 379,427
USB AG/Stamford, CT sr. unsec. unsub. notes 7.50%, 2/15/28   265,000 284,679
VICI Properties LP sr. unsec. unsub. notes 4.95%, 2/15/30   935,000 919,922
Wells Fargo & Co. sr. unsec. unsub. FRN Ser. MTN, 5.574%, 7/25/29   895,000 912,011
XHR LP 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 6.625%, 5/15/30   80,000 80,963
19,009,121
Government (0.2%)
Transnet SOC, Ltd. sr. unsec. notes Ser. REGS, 8.25%, 2/6/28 (South Africa)   650,000 663,401
663,401
Health care (1.5%)
Elanco Animal Health, Inc. sr. unsec. notes Ser. WI, 6.65%, 8/28/28   525,000 540,953
GE HealthCare Technologies, Inc. sr. unsec. notes 4.80%, 8/14/29   460,000 457,709
Illumina, Inc. sr. unsec. sub. notes 4.65%, 9/9/26   258,000 257,327
Kedrion SpA 144A company guaranty sr. notes 6.50%, 9/1/29 (Italy)   1,120,000 1,068,889
Pharmacia, LLC company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 6.60%, 12/1/28   955,000 1,017,197
Tenet Healthcare Corp. company guaranty sr. notes 6.75%, 5/15/31   1,005,000 1,029,471
Teva Pharmaceutical Finance Netherlands III BV company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes 8.125%, 9/15/31 (Israel)   989,000 1,108,605
5,480,151
Technology (0.8%)
Broadcom Corp./Broadcom Cayman Finance, Ltd. company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes 3.875%, 1/15/27   455,000 448,391
Gartner, Inc. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 3.625%, 6/15/29   990,000 927,670
Imola Merger Corp. 144A sr. notes 4.75%, 5/15/29   598,000 570,816
Motorola Solutions, Inc. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 5.00%, 4/15/29   455,000 455,731
Seagate HDD Cayman company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 9.625%, 12/1/32 (Cayman Islands)   339,000 385,648
2,788,256
Transportation (0.2%)
Air France-KLM sr. unsec. notes 8.125%, 5/31/28 (France) EUR 500,000 582,783
OneSky Flight, LLC 144A sr. unsec. notes 8.875%, 12/15/29   $156,000 159,939
742,722


22 Premier Income Trust




CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES (26.5%)* cont. Principal
amount
Value
Utilities and power (3.0%)
Ameren Corp. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 5.00%, 1/15/29   $325,000 $325,125
Buffalo Energy Mexico Holdings/Buffalo Energy Infrastructure/Buffalo Energy 144A company guaranty sr. bonds 7.875%, 2/15/39 (Mexico)   530,000 537,353
Constellation Energy Generation, LLC sr. unsec. notes 5.60%, 3/1/28   445,000 453,901
Diamond II, Ltd. 144A company guaranty sr. notes 7.95%, 7/28/26 (India)   1,220,000 1,240,981
Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes Ser. A, 6.00%, 12/1/28   435,000 453,698
Electricite De France SA 144A jr. unsec. sub. FRB 9.125%, perpetual maturity (France)   535,000 608,983
Energo-Pro a.s. 144A sr. unsec. notes 11.00%, 11/2/28 (Czech Republic)   700,000 756,594
Energy Transfer LP company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 5.25%, 4/15/29   905,000 909,523
Eversource Energy sr. unsec. unsub. notes 5.45%, 3/1/28   450,000 456,657
Kinder Morgan, Inc. company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes 5.00%, 2/1/29   555,000 554,125
NRG Energy, Inc. 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. bonds 6.25%, 11/1/34   250,000 246,492
Pacific Gas and Electric Co. sr. notes 6.10%, 1/15/29   440,000 446,431
Perusahaan Perseroan Persero PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara sr. unsec. unsub. notes Ser. REGS, 5.45%, 5/21/28 (Indonesia)   400,000 403,799
PG&E Corp. sr. sub. notes 5.25%, 7/1/30   1,045,000 983,413
Southern Co. (The) sr. unsec. notes 5.50%, 3/15/29   570,000 581,973
Virginia Electric and Power Co. sr. unsec. unsub. notes Ser. A, 2.875%, 7/15/29   1,000,000 922,910
Vistra Operations Co., LLC 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. notes 6.875%, 4/15/32   465,000 478,822
Vistra Operations Co., LLC 144A company guaranty sr. unsec. unsub. notes 4.375%, 5/1/29   590,000 560,513
10,921,293
Total corporate bonds and notes (cost $94,330,595) $95,739,372

U.S. GOVERNMENT AND AGENCY
MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS (22.8%)*
Principal
amount
Value
U.S. Government Guaranteed Mortgage Obligations (10.3%)
Government National Mortgage Association Pass-Through Certificates    
5.50%, TBA, 2/1/55 $11,000,000 $10,922,656
5.50%, 5/20/49 37,871 38,260
5.00%, TBA, 2/1/55 8,000,000 7,775,000
5.00%, 5/20/49 110,828 108,769
4.50%, TBA, 2/1/55 12,000,000 11,349,375
4.50%, with due dates from 10/20/49 to 1/20/50 103,521 98,167
4.00%, TBA, 2/1/55 7,000,000 6,446,563
3.50%, with due dates from 8/20/49 to 3/20/50 319,652 283,637
37,022,427


Premier Income Trust 23




U.S. GOVERNMENT AND AGENCY
MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS (22.8%)*
cont.
Principal
amount
Value
U.S. Government Agency Mortgage Obligations (12.5%)
Federal National Mortgage Association Pass-Through Certificates    
5.00%, with due dates from 1/1/49 to 8/1/49 $107,557 $105,591
Uniform Mortgage-Backed Securities    
6.50%, TBA, 2/1/55 16,000,000 16,405,619
5.50%, TBA, 2/1/55 21,000,000 20,741,896
5.00%, TBA, 2/1/55 4,000,000 3,862,981
3.00%, TBA, 2/1/55 2,000,000 1,701,143
2.50%, TBA, 2/1/55 3,000,000 2,445,395
45,262,625
Total U.S. government and agency mortgage obligations (cost $81,550,702) $82,285,052

U.S. TREASURY OBLIGATIONS (—%)* Principal
amount
Value
U.S. Treasury Notes    
4.375%, 8/31/28 i $102,000 $104,184
2.25%, 3/31/26 i 64,000 63,065
Total U.S. treasury obligations (cost $167,249) $167,249

FOREIGN GOVERNMENT AND AGENCY
BONDS AND NOTES (8.2%)*
Principal
amount
Value
Armenia (Republic of) sr. unsec. notes Ser. REGS, 3.60%, 2/2/31 (Armenia)   $500,000 $415,886
Benin (Republic of) sr. unsec. bonds Ser. REGS, 4.95%, 1/22/35 (Benin) EUR 470,000 423,148
Benin (Republic of) sr. unsec. notes Ser. REGS, 4.875%, 1/19/32 (Benin) EUR 258,000 246,770
Benin (Republic of) 144A sr. unsec. notes 7.96%, 2/13/38 (Benin)   $850,000 806,969
Brazil (Federal Republic of) sr. unsec. unsub. notes 6.125%, 3/15/34 (Brazil)   2,360,000 2,263,998
Brazil (Federal Republic of) sr. unsec. unsub. notes 6.00%, 10/20/33 (Brazil)   430,000 413,176
Bulgaria (Republic of) sr. unsec. bonds 5.00%, 3/5/37 (Bulgaria)   260,000 245,234
Bulgaria (Republic of) sr. unsec. bonds Ser. 30Y, 1.375%, 9/23/50 (Bulgaria) EUR 632,000 396,677
Chile (Republic of) sr. unsec. unsub. bonds 5.65%, 1/13/37 (Chile)   $300,000 302,257
Chile (Republic of) sr. unsec. unsub. bonds 4.85%, 1/22/29 (Chile)   520,000 516,403
Colombia (Republic of) sr. unsec. unsub. notes 8.00%, 11/14/35 (Colombia)   1,240,000 1,252,927
Costa Rica (Government of) sr. unsec. unsub. notes Ser. REGS, 6.125%, 2/19/31 (Costa Rica)   710,000 717,604
Cote d’lvoire (Republic of) sr. unsec. notes Ser. REGS, 4.875%, 1/30/32 (Cote d’lvoire) EUR 2,060,000 1,907,312
Dominican (Republic of) sr. unsec. unsub. notes Ser. REGS, 6.875%, 1/29/26 (Dominican Republic)   $715,000 723,580
Dominican (Republic of) sr. unsec. unsub. notes Ser. REGS, 6.00%, 7/19/28 (Dominican Republic)   1,350,000 1,347,705
Egypt (Arab Republic of) sr. unsec. notes Ser. REGS, 7.60%, 3/1/29 (Egypt)   930,000 909,650
Egypt (Republic of) 144A sr. unsec. notes 8.625%, 2/4/30 (Egypt)   700,000 697,521
Gabon (Republic of) sr. unsec. notes Ser. REGS, 6.625%, 2/6/31 (Gabon)   810,000 642,532


24 Premier Income Trust




FOREIGN GOVERNMENT AND AGENCY
BONDS AND NOTES (8.2%)*
cont.
Principal
amount
Value
Guatemala (Republic of) sr. unsec. unsub. bonds Ser. REGS, 6.60%, 6/13/36 (Guatemala)   $1,480,000 $1,464,176
Hungary (Government of) sr. unsec. notes Ser. REGS, 5.25%, 6/16/29 (Hungary)   420,000 416,481
Indonesia (Republic of) 144A sr. unsec. unsub. notes 4.35%, 1/8/27 (Indonesia)   900,000 896,834
Iraq (Republic of) sr. unsec. notes Ser. REGS, 5.80%, 1/15/28 (Iraq)   847,500 835,042
Jordan (Kingdom of) sr. unsec. notes Ser. REGS, 7.50%, 1/13/29 (Jordan)   450,000 450,412
Mongolia (Government of) sr. unsec. notes Ser. REGS, 5.125%, 4/7/26 (Mongolia)   670,000 661,672
Panama (Republic of) sr. unsec. unsub. bonds 7.50%, 3/1/31 (Panama)   1,610,000 1,651,757
Paraguay (Republic of) sr. unsec. notes Ser. REGS, 3.849%, 6/28/33 (Paraguay)   970,000 846,802
Philippines (Republic of) sr. unsec. unsub. bonds 5.50%, 2/4/35 (Philippines)   790,000 794,693
Romania (Government of) sr. unsec. bonds Ser. REGS, 5.625%, 2/22/36 (Romania) EUR 800,000 788,915
Romania (Government of) 144A sr. unsec. notes 6.375%, 1/30/34 (Romania)   $1,170,000 1,119,608
Serbia (Republic of) sr. unsec. notes 6.25%, 5/26/28 (Serbia)   950,000 971,855
Serbia (Republic of) sr. unsec. notes Ser. REGS, 6.50%, 9/26/33 (Serbia)   830,000 860,492
South Africa (Republic of) sr. unsec. bonds 5.75%, 9/30/49 (South Africa)   250,000 187,188
South Africa (Republic of) sr. unsec. bonds 5.00%, 10/12/46 (South Africa)   600,000 416,159
South Africa (Republic of) sr. unsec. unsub. notes 5.875%, 6/22/30 (South Africa)   450,000 435,044
Turkey (Republic of) sr. unsec. unsub. notes 9.125%, 7/13/30 (Turkey)   660,000 733,319
United Mexican States sr. unsec. unsub. bonds 2.659%, 5/24/31 (Mexico)   1,500,000 1,233,724
Uzbekistan (Republic of) sr. unsec. notes Ser. REGS, 6.90%, 2/28/32 (Uzbekistan)   720,000 708,875
Total foreign government and agency bonds and notes (cost $29,785,403) $29,702,397

SENIOR LOANS (5.9%)*c Principal
amount
Value
Basic materials (0.3%)
Nouryon Finance BV bank term loan FRN Ser. B, (EURIBOR 3 Month ACT/360 + 3.50%), 6.204%, 4/3/28 (Netherlands) EUR 440,000 $458,738
Quikrete Holdings, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 2.25%), 6.562%, 3/26/29   $455,388 457,096
Treasure Holdco, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 4.25%), 8.764%, 10/10/31   200,000 201,313
1,117,147
Capital goods (0.8%)
Chart Industries, Inc. bank term loan FRN (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 2.50%), 6.805%, 3/18/30   953,044 959,000
Clarios Global LP bank term loan FRN Class B, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 2.75%), 7.055%, 1/14/32   131,578 132,017


Premier Income Trust 25



SENIOR LOANS (5.9%)*c cont. Principal
amount
Value
Capital goods cont.
CPM Holdings, Inc. bank term loan FRN (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 4.50%), 8.809%, 9/28/28   $367,528 $351,142
Madison IAQ, LLC bank term loan FRN (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 2.50%), 6.762%, 6/15/28   440,436 441,812
TK Elevator US Newco, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 3.50%), 7.737%, 4/15/30   292,329 294,841
TransDigm, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. J, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 2.50%), 6.829%, 2/28/31   265,993 267,290
WEC US Holdings, Ltd. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 2.25%), 6.559%, 1/20/31   442,775 444,546
2,890,648
Communication services (0.4%)
CSC Holdings, LLC bank term loan FRN (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 2.50%), 7.174%, 4/15/27   460,156 429,600
DIRECTV Financing, LLC bank term loan FRN Ser. B, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 5.25%), 9.802%, 8/2/29   947,348 942,478
1,372,078
Consumer cyclicals (1.5%)
APi Group DE, Inc. bank term loan FRN Class B, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 2.00%), 6.312%, 1/3/29   191,140 191,850
Banijay Group US Holding, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B,
(CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 3.25%), 7.583%, 3/1/28
  193,035 194,314
Caesars Entertainment, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 2.25%), 6.562%, 1/24/31   491,288 493,488
Carnival Corp. bank term loan FRN Class B, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 2.00%), 6.302%, 10/18/28   802,768 807,115
EMRLD Borrower LP bank term loan FRN Ser. B, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 2.50%), 6.829%, 6/18/31   44,888 45,100
Flutter Entertainment PLC bank term loan FRN Class B, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 1.75%), 6.079%, 11/29/30   237,600 238,110
Gray Television, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. D, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 3.00%), 7.423%, 10/27/28   521,929 481,205
Hunter Douglas, Inc. bank term loan FRN Class B, (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 3.25%), 7.553%, 1/14/32   401,436 404,113
PetSmart, LLC bank term loan FRN Ser. B, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 3.75%), 8.162%, 1/29/28   448,298 449,979
PG Investment Co. 59 SARL bank term loan FRN Ser. B, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 3.00%), 7.329%, 3/26/31   199,500 201,121
Scientific Games Holdings LP bank term loan FRN Ser. B,
(CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 3.00%), 7.296%, 4/4/29
  457,688 459,785
Station Casinos, LLC bank term loan FRN (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 2.00%), 6.375%, 3/7/31   104,213 104,545
White Cap Buyer, LLC bank term loan FRN Ser. B, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 3.25%), 7.562%, 10/19/29   1,034,754 1,038,329
5,109,054
Consumer staples (0.2%)
IRB Holding Corp. bank term loan FRN Class B, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 2.50%), 6.812%, 3/10/28   588,337 590,888
Verde Purchaser, LLC bank term loan FRN (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 4.50%), 8.829%, 12/2/30   72,829 73,031
663,919


26 Premier Income Trust




SENIOR LOANS (5.9%)*c cont. Principal
amount
Value
Energy (0.4%)
CQP Holdco LP bank term loan FRN Class B, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 2.00%), 6.329%, 12/31/30   $1,521,791 $1,526,524
1,526,524
Financials (0.1%)
Alliant Holdings Intermediate, LLC bank term loan FRN Ser. B, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 2.75%), 7.052%, 9/12/31   436,700 438,584
438,584
Health care (0.9%)
Bausch + Lomb Corp. bank term loan FRN (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 4.00%), 8.329%, 9/29/28   274,223 277,052
Bausch + Lomb Corp. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 3.25%), 7.661%, 5/5/27   738,860 743,441
DaVita, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B1, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 2.00%), 6.312%, 5/6/31   259,350 260,290
Medline Borrower LP bank term loan FRN Class B, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 2.25%), 6.562%, 10/23/28   401,283 403,633
Pacific Dental Services, Inc. bank term loan FRN (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 2.75%), 7.049%, 3/10/31   392,038 395,819
Phoenix Guarantor, Inc. bank term loan FRN Class B, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 2.50%), 6.812%, 2/21/31   456,556 458,898
Phoenix Newco, Inc. bank term loan FRN Class B, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 2.50%), 6.812%, 11/15/28   539,613 542,481
Waystar Technologies, Inc. bank term loan FRN Class B, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 2.25%), 6.562%, 10/22/29   206,265 207,554
3,289,168
Technology (0.9%)
Ahead DB Holdings, LLC bank term loan FRN Ser. B3, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 3.50%), 7.829%, 2/3/31   202,654 204,526
Cloud Software Group, Inc. bank term loan FRN (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 3.50%), 7.829%, 3/29/29   750,776 756,643
Dun & Bradstreet Corp. (The) bank term loan FRN Ser. B2,
(CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 2.25%), 6.561%, 1/18/29
  436,700 438,032
Idera, Inc. bank term loan FRN (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 3.50%), 7.791%, 3/2/28   437,800 418,511
McAfee Corp. bank term loan FRN Class B, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 3.00%), 7.309%, 3/1/29   483,788 486,146
Proofpoint, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 3.00%), 7.312%, 8/31/28   522,020 525,773
UKG, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 3.00%), 7.30%, 1/31/31   457,700 460,938
3,290,569
Transportation (0.4%)
American Airlines, Inc. bank term loan FRN (CME Term SOFR 3 Month + 4.75%), 9.305%, 4/20/28   772,778 792,542
Genesee & Wyoming, Inc. bank term loan FRN Ser. B, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 1.75%), 6.079%, 4/5/31   299,250 299,314
WestJet Loyalty LP bank term loan FRN Ser. B, (CME Term SOFR 1 Month + 3.25%), 7.579%, 2/14/31   372,187 374,048
1,465,904
Total senior loans (cost $21,146,314) $21,163,595


Premier Income Trust 27



CONVERTIBLE BONDS AND NOTES (2.9%)* Principal
amount
Value
Capital goods (0.1%)
Axon Enterprise, Inc. company guaranty cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.50%, 12/15/27   $78,000 $223,124
Fluor Corp. cv. sr. unsec. notes 1.125%, 8/15/29   141,000 175,954
399,078
Consumer cyclicals (0.6%)
Block, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes 0.25%, 11/1/27   100,000 87,525
Booking Holdings, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.75%, 5/1/25   90,000 227,071
Burlington Stores, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 1.25%, 12/15/27   76,000 113,772
Carnival Corp. company guaranty cv. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 5.75%, 12/1/27   119,000 261,622
Global Payments, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes 1.50%, 3/1/31   177,000 174,168
Liberty Media Corp.-Liberty Formula One cv. sr. unsec. notes 2.25%, 8/15/27   199,000 251,364
Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes 3.125%, 1/15/29   155,000 229,881
Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 2.875%, 1/15/30   164,000 171,134
Meritage Homes Corp. 144A company guaranty cv. sr. unsec. notes 1.75%, 5/15/28   144,000 145,008
Patrick Industries, Inc. company guaranty cv. sr. unsec. notes 1.75%, 12/1/28   83,000 128,785
Rivian Automotive, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes 4.625%, 3/15/29   122,000 121,441
Shift4 Payments, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes 0.50%, 8/1/27   158,000 185,808
Spectrum Brands, Inc. 144A company guaranty cv. sr. unsec. notes 3.375%, 6/1/29   72,000 70,740
2,168,319
Consumer staples (0.3%)
Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. (The) cv. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 2.375%, 12/15/28   88,000 120,004
Etsy, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.25%, 6/15/28   243,000 201,604
Itron, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes 1.375%, 7/15/30   203,000 212,541
Shake Shack, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes zero %, 3/1/28   137,000 136,401
Uber Technologies, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes Ser. 2028, 0.875%, 12/1/28   198,000 230,670
Wayfair, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 3.25%, 9/15/27   176,000 196,328
1,097,548
Energy (0.1%)
Nabors Industries, Inc. company guaranty cv. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 1.75%, 6/15/29   138,000 99,748
Northern Oil and Gas, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 3.625%, 4/15/29   133,000 153,316
253,064
Financials (0.2%)
Coinbase Global, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes 0.25%, 4/1/30   89,000 103,997
Digital Realty Trust LP 144A cv. company guaranty sr. unsec. sub. notes 1.875%, 11/15/29   258,000 261,741
Welltower OP, LLC 144A company guaranty cv. sr. unsec. notes 3.125%, 7/15/29   109,000 130,637
Welltower OP, LLC 144A company guaranty cv. sr. unsec. notes 2.75%, 5/15/28 R   187,000 272,646
769,021


28 Premier Income Trust



CONVERTIBLE BONDS AND NOTES (2.9%)* cont. Principal
amount
Value
Health care (0.4%)
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 1.00%, 9/15/27   $139,000 $159,656
BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes 1.25%, 5/15/27   109,000 101,001
Dexcom, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 0.375%, 5/15/28   248,000 229,819
Exact Sciences Corp. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes 1.75%, 4/15/31   226,000 212,734
Haemonetics Corp. 144A cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes 2.50%, 6/1/29   107,000 103,148
Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 1.00%, 8/15/28   143,000 169,896
Insulet Corp. cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.375%, 9/1/26   130,000 172,671
Lantheus Holdings, Inc. company guaranty cv. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 2.625%, 12/15/27   100,000 136,009
Merit Medical Systems, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes 3.00%, 2/1/29   82,000 113,701
Repligen Corp. cv. sr. unsec. notes 1.00%, 12/15/28   95,000 103,185
Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 1.25%, 9/15/27   45,000 48,308
1,550,128
Technology (1.0%)
Akamai Technologies, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.375%, 9/1/27   183,000 189,085
Bentley Systems, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes 0.375%, 7/1/27   161,000 146,430
Box, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes 1.50%, 9/15/29   111,000 110,945
Datadog, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes zero %, 12/1/29   181,000 178,101
Guidewire Software, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes 1.25%, 11/1/29   216,000 234,900
HubSpot, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.375%, 6/1/25   16,000 44,032
Impinj, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 1.125%, 5/15/27   53,000 70,424
Lumentum Holdings, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes 0.50%, 6/15/28   245,000 242,489
Microchip Technology, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.75%, 6/1/30   105,000 97,822
MicroStrategy, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes zero %, 12/1/29   230,000 200,804
MKS Instruments, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes 1.25%, 6/1/30   144,000 146,485
Nutanix, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.50%, 12/15/29   145,000 151,018
ON Semiconductor Corp. company guaranty cv. sr. unsec. notes 0.50%, 3/1/29   194,000 175,019
OSI Systems,Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes 2.25%, 8/1/29   109,000 130,654
Parsons Corp. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes 2.625%, 3/1/29   89,000 96,610
Progress Software Corp. 144A cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes 3.50%, 3/1/30   124,000 136,090
Seagate HDD Cayman company guaranty cv. sr. unsec. notes 3.50%, 6/1/28 (Cayman Islands)   223,000 288,200
Snap, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes zero %, 5/1/27   127,000 111,760
Snowflake, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. notes zero %, 10/1/27   220,000 289,300
Tyler Technologies, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes 0.25%, 3/15/26   199,000 249,944
Vertex, Inc. 144A cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes 0.75%, 5/1/29   112,000 189,311
Wolfspeed, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. notes 1.875%, 12/1/29   182,000 71,890
Workiva, Inc. cv. sr. unsec. sub. notes 1.25%, 8/15/28   145,000 146,124
3,697,437
Utilities and power (0.2%)
CMS Energy Corp. cv. sr. unsec. notes 3.375%, 5/1/28   112,000 116,200
NRG Energy, Inc. company guaranty cv. sr. unsec. bonds 2.75%, 6/1/48   60,000 149,736


Premier Income Trust 29




CONVERTIBLE BONDS AND NOTES (2.9%)* cont. Principal
amount
Value
Utilities and power cont.
PG&E Corp. cv. sr. notes 4.25%, 12/1/27   $202,000 $206,541
Southern Co. (The) cv. sr. unsec. unsub. notes 3.875%, 12/15/25   206,000 217,588
690,065
Total convertible bonds and notes (cost $9,971,215) $10,624,660

INVESTMENT COMPANIES (1.6%)* Shares Value
Franklin Ultra Short Bond ETF L 231,380 $5,778,623
Total investment companies (cost $5,751,839) $5,778,623

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (19.7%)* Principal amount/
shares
Value
Barclays Bank PLC commercial paper 4.466%, 4/7/25 (United Kingdom) $1,800,000 $1,785,552
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce/New York, NY FRN certificates of deposit 4.650%, 2/9/26 1,800,000 1,799,382
Putnam Government Money Market Fund Class P 4.09% L Shares 37,685,057 37,685,057
Putnam Short Term Investment Fund Class P 4.54% L Shares 22,115,968 22,115,968
State Street Institutional U.S. Government Money Market Fund, Premier Class 4.33% P Shares 2,542,000 2,542,000
U.S. Treasury Bills 4.283%, 3/25/25 $500,000 497,070
U.S. Treasury Bills 4.312%, 4/8/25 # ∆ 1,700,000 1,687,329
U.S. Treasury Bills 4.299%, 4/22/25 1,300,000 1,288,240
Victory Receivables Corp. asset-backed commercial paper 4.459%, 4/15/25 (Japan) 1,800,000 1,783,825
Total short-term investments (cost $71,184,314) $71,184,423

TOTAL INVESTMENTS
Total investments (cost $446,160,258) $443,412,409

Key to holding’s currency abbreviations
AUD Australian Dollar
CAD Canadian Dollar
CHF Swiss Franc
EUR Euro
GBP British Pound
NOK Norwegian Krone
NZD New Zealand Dollar
SEK Swedish Krona
Key to holding’s abbreviations
bp Basis Points
CME Chicago Mercantile Exchange
CMT U.S. Constant Maturity Treasury
DAC Designated Activity Company
ETF Exchange Traded Fund
FRB Floating Rate Bonds: The rate shown is the current interest rate at the close of the reporting period. Rates may be subject to a cap or floor. For certain securities, the rate may represent a fixed rate currently in place at the close of the reporting period.


30 Premier Income Trust




FRN Floating Rate Notes: The rate shown is the current interest rate or yield at the close of the reporting period. Rates may be subject to a cap or floor. For certain securities, the rate may represent a fixed rate currently in place at the close of the reporting period.
IFB Inverse Floating Rate Bonds, which are securities that pay interest rates that vary inversely to changes in the market interest rates. As interest rates rise, inverse floaters produce less current income. The rate shown is the current interest rate at the close of the reporting period. Rates may be subject to a cap or floor.
IO Interest Only
JSC Joint Stock Company
MTN Medium Term Notes
OTC Over-the-counter
REGS Securities sold under Regulation S may not be offered, sold or delivered within the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933.
REMICs Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduits
SOFR Secured Overnight Financing Rate
STIBOR Stockholm Interbank Offered Rate
TBA To Be Announced Commitments
Notes to the fund’s portfolio
Unless noted otherwise, the notes to the fund’s portfolio are for the close of the fund’s reporting period, which ran from August 1, 2024 through January 31, 2025 (the reporting period). Within the following notes to the portfolio, references to “Franklin Advisers” represent Franklin Advisers, Inc., the fund’s investment manager, a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Franklin Resources, Inc., and references to “ASC 820” represent Accounting Standards Codification 820 Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures.
* Percentages indicated are based on net assets of $360,747,374.
This security is non-income-producing.
†† The interest rate and date shown parenthetically represent the new interest rate to be paid and the date the fund will begin accruing interest at this rate.
# This security, in part or in entirety, was pledged and segregated with the broker to cover margin requirements for futures contracts at the close of the reporting period. Collateral at period end totaled $595,260 and is included in Investments in securities on the Statement of assets and liabilities (Notes 1 and 9).
This security, in part or in entirety, was pledged and segregated with the custodian for collateral on certain derivative contracts at the close of the reporting period. Collateral at period end totaled $1,474,322 and is included in Investments in securities on the Statement of assets and liabilities (Notes 1 and 9).
c Senior loans are exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, but contain certain restrictions on resale and cannot be sold publicly. These loans pay interest at rates which adjust periodically. The interest rates shown for senior loans are the current interest rates at the close of the reporting period. Senior loans are also subject to mandatory and/or optional prepayment which cannot be predicted. As a result, the remaining maturity may be substantially less than the stated maturity shown (Notes 1 and 7).
i This security was pledged, or purchased with cash that was pledged, to the fund for collateral on certain derivative contracts (Note 1).
L Affiliated company (Note 5). The rate quoted in the security description is the annualized 7-day yield of the fund at the close of the reporting period.
P This security was pledged, or purchased with cash that was pledged, to the fund for collateral on certain derivative contracts and TBA commitments. The rate quoted in the security description is the annualized 7-day yield of the fund at the close of the reporting period.
R Real Estate Investment Trust.
W The rate shown represents the weighted average coupon associated with the underlying mortgage pools. Rates may be subject to a cap or floor.


Premier Income Trust 31




Unless otherwise noted, the rates quoted in Short-term investments security descriptions represent the weighted average yield to maturity.
Debt obligations are considered secured unless otherwise indicated.
144A after the name of an issuer represents securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers.
See Note 1 to the financial statements regarding TBA commitments.
The dates shown on debt obligations are the original maturity dates.
DIVERSIFICATION BY COUNTRY
Distribution of investments by country of risk at the close of the reporting period, excluding collateral received, if any (as a percentage of Portfolio Value):
United States 86.0% Canada 0.6%
Mexico 0.9 Colombia 0.6
Brazil 0.9 Dominican Republic 0.5
France 0.8 Other 9.1
United Kingdom 0.6 Total 100.0%


FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACTS at 1/31/25 (aggregate face value $33,614,332) (Unaudited)
Counterparty Currency Contract
type*
Delivery
date
Value Aggregate
face value
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
Bank of America N.A.
Canadian Dollar Sell 4/16/25 $414 $418 $4
Euro Sell 3/19/25 1,366,427 1,384,760 18,333
Japanese Yen Buy 2/19/25 952,812 985,272 (32,460)
New Zealand Dollar Sell 4/16/25 24,568 24,228 (340)
Norwegian Krone Sell 3/19/25 88,390 90,788 2,398
Swedish Krona Sell 3/19/25 408,451 418,118 9,667
Swiss Franc Buy 3/19/25 86,502 90,052 (3,550)
Barclays Bank PLC
Australian Dollar Sell 4/16/25 52,988 52,464 (524)
Canadian Dollar Sell 4/16/25 125,968 127,063 1,095
Euro Sell 3/19/25 1,049,586 1,063,716 14,130
Norwegian Krone Sell 3/19/25 24,489 25,156 667
Swiss Franc Buy 3/19/25 192,754 200,517 (7,763)
Citibank, N.A.
Australian Dollar Sell 4/16/25 677,592 671,018 (6,574)
Euro Sell 3/19/25 1,198,339 1,214,055 15,716
Norwegian Krone Sell 3/19/25 207,012 212,683 5,671
Swedish Krona Sell 3/19/25 531,843 544,477 12,634
Goldman Sachs International
Canadian Dollar Sell 4/16/25 13,667 13,785 118
Japanese Yen Buy 2/19/25 1,641,865 1,698,633 (56,768)
Swiss Franc Buy 3/19/25 282,898 294,292 (11,394)
HSBC Bank PLC
Australian Dollar Sell 4/16/25 80,291 81,223 932
British Pound Sell 3/19/25 417,291 420,832 3,541
Euro Sell 3/19/25 1,262,996 1,281,060 18,064


32 Premier Income Trust



FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACTS at 1/31/25 (aggregate face value $33,614,332) (Unaudited) cont.
Counterparty Currency Contract
type*
Delivery
date
Value Aggregate
face value
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
HSBC Bank PLC cont.
Norwegian Krone Sell 3/19/25 $34,375 $34,631 $256
Swedish Krona Sell 3/19/25 106,419 107,916 1,497
Swiss Franc Buy 3/19/25 54,174 54,916 (742)
HSBC Bank USA, National Association
Australian Dollar Buy 4/16/25 80,291 81,223 (932)
Australian Dollar Sell 4/16/25 80,291 79,508 (783)
British Pound Buy 3/19/25 417,291 420,832 (3,541)
British Pound Sell 3/19/25 417,291 426,800 9,509
Euro Buy 3/19/25 1,262,996 1,281,060 (18,064)
Euro Sell 3/19/25 1,262,996 1,278,727 15,731
Norwegian Krone Buy 3/19/25 34,375 34,631 (256)
Norwegian Krone Sell 3/19/25 34,375 35,306 931
Swedish Krona Buy 3/19/25 106,419 107,916 (1,497)
Swedish Krona Sell 3/19/25 106,419 108,983 2,564
Swiss Franc Buy 3/19/25 54,174 56,362 (2,188)
Swiss Franc Sell 3/19/25 54,174 54,916 742
JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.
British Pound Sell 3/19/25 566,678 579,506 12,828
Canadian Dollar Sell 4/16/25 297,698 300,150 2,452
Euro Sell 3/19/25 716,426 725,973 9,547
Norwegian Krone Sell 3/19/25 19,878 20,416 538
Swiss Franc Buy 3/19/25 86,502 87,311 (809)
Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC
Australian Dollar Sell 4/16/25 1,364,637 1,352,281 (12,356)
Euro Sell 3/19/25 2,082,748 2,115,333 32,585
New Zealand Dollar Sell 4/16/25 937,655 924,554 (13,101)
NatWest Markets PLC
British Pound Buy 3/19/25 169,718 171,173 (1,455)
British Pound Sell 3/19/25 169,718 173,529 3,811
Euro Buy 3/19/25 29,418 29,503 (85)
Euro Sell 3/19/25 29,418 29,916 498
Swiss Franc Buy 3/19/25 86,502 90,005 (3,503)
Swiss Franc Sell 3/19/25 86,502 87,308 806
State Street Bank and Trust Co.
Australian Dollar Buy 4/16/25 303,937 305,075 (1,138)
Euro Sell 3/19/25 2,860,401 2,900,440 40,039
Norwegian Krone Sell 3/19/25 421,030 432,339 11,309
Swedish Krona Sell 3/19/25 229,368 234,874 5,506
Toronto-Dominion Bank
British Pound Sell 3/19/25 275,715 279,546 3,831
Canadian Dollar Sell 4/16/25 980,685 989,213 8,528
Euro Sell 3/19/25 2,821,939 2,859,499 37,560
Japanese Yen Buy 2/19/25 8,828 9,129 (301)
Norwegian Krone Sell 3/19/25 429,653 441,265 11,612


Premier Income Trust 33




FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACTS at 1/31/25 (aggregate face value $33,614,332) (Unaudited) cont.
Counterparty Currency Contract
type*
Delivery
date
Value Aggregate
face value
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
UBS AG
Australian Dollar Sell 4/16/25 $29,977 $29,679 $(298)
Canadian Dollar Sell 4/16/25 811,716 818,383 6,667
Euro Sell 3/19/25 581,810 589,686 7,876
Japanese Yen Buy 2/19/25 1,697,030 1,755,289 (58,259)
New Zealand Dollar Sell 4/16/25 94,093 92,772 (1,321)
Swedish Krona Sell 3/19/25 11,845 12,130 285
WestPac Banking Corp.
Australian Dollar Sell 4/16/25 18,782 18,594 (188)
Euro Sell 3/19/25 99,792 101,124 1,332
Unrealized appreciation 331,810
Unrealized (depreciation) (240,190)
Total $91,620
* The exchange currency for all contracts listed is the United States Dollar.

FUTURES CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 1/31/25 (Unaudited)
Number of
contracts
Notional
amount
Value Expiration
date
Unrealized appreciation
Euro-Bobl 5 yr (Short) 62 $7,552,957 $7,552,959 Mar-25 $115,080
U.S. Treasury Note 2 yr (Short) 300 61,687,500 61,687,500 Mar-25 32,356
U.S. Treasury Note Ultra 10 yr (Short) 28 3,118,500 3,118,500 Mar-25 71,969
Unrealized appreciation 219,405
Unrealized (depreciation)
Total $219,405

FORWARD PREMIUM SWAP OPTION CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 1/31/25 (Unaudited)
Counterparty
Fixed right or obligation % to receive or (pay)/Floating rate index/
Maturity date
Expiration
date/strike
Notional/
contract
amount
Premium
receivable/
(payable)
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
BNP Paribas
(4.125)/US SOFR/Nov-37 (Purchased) Nov-27/4.125   $1,201,500 $(55,629) $8,954
3.625/US SOFR/Nov-37 (Purchased) Nov-27/3.625   1,201,500 (55,629) (15,019)
Bank of America N.A.
(3.987)/US SOFR/Mar-40 (Purchased) Mar-30/3.987   14,185,200 (1,400,732) 80,955
3.987/US SOFR/Mar-40 (Purchased) Mar-30/3.987   14,185,200 (1,400,732) (152,959)
3.725/US SOFR/Nov-36 (Purchased) Nov-26/3.725   4,605,400 (629,260) (90,920)
(4.225)/US SOFR/Nov-36 (Purchased) Nov-26/4.225   4,605,400 (658,857) (49,020)
(3.61)/US SOFR/Oct-34 (Purchased) Oct-29/3.61   1,989,900 (78,104) 19,226
3.61/US SOFR/Oct-34 (Purchased) Oct-29/3.61   1,989,900 (78,104) (21,099)
Barclays Bank PLC
3.00/US SOFR/Dec-48 (Purchased) Dec-38/3.00   39,734,000 (2,634,364) (249,212)
3.10/US SOFR/Dec-42 (Purchased) Dec-32/3.10   32,618,500 (1,380,089) (93,746)


34 Premier Income Trust



FORWARD PREMIUM SWAP OPTION CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 1/31/25 (Unaudited) cont.
Counterparty
Fixed right or obligation % to receive or (pay)/Floating rate index/
Maturity date
Expiration
date/strike
Notional/
contract
amount
Premium
receivable/
(payable)
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
Citibank, N.A.
2.588/6 month EUR-EURIBOR/Jul-32 (Written) Jul-27/2.588 EUR 12,170,100 $364,096 $112,441
(2.588)/6 month EUR-EURIBOR/Jul-32 (Written) Jul-27/2.588 EUR 12,170,100 364,096 6,843
4.50/US SOFR/Dec-30 (Written) Dec-25/4.50   $32,661,200 188,618 (95,795)
(4.00)/US SOFR/Dec-30 (Purchased) Dec-25/4.00   16,330,600 (184,536) 99,584
Deutsche Bank AG
4.495/6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW/Jul-35 (Purchased) Jul-25/4.495 AUD 16,226,800 (357,441) (94,042)
(4.495)/6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW/Jul-35 (Purchased) Jul-25/4.495 AUD 16,226,800 (357,441) (167,979)
(2.239)/6 month EUR-EURIBOR/May-58 (Written) May-28/2.239 EUR 1,599,700 224,505 25,122
2.239/6 month EUR-EURIBOR/May-58 (Written) May-28/2.239 EUR 1,599,700 224,505 54,014
(2.25)/6 month EUR-EURIBOR/Apr-54 (Written) Apr-34/2.25 EUR 1,049,200 147,524 (2,045)
2.25/6 month EUR-EURIBOR/Apr-54 (Written) Apr-34/2.25 EUR 1,049,200 147,524 13,884
JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.
2.495/6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW/Nov-46 (Purchased) Nov-26/2.495 AUD 5,302,300 (329,739) (259,423)
(2.495)/6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW/Nov-46 (Purchased) Nov-26/2.495 AUD 5,302,300 (329,739) 605,408
1.445/6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW/Mar-40 (Purchased) Mar-30/1.445 AUD 4,317,900 (161,857) (131,779)
(1.445)/6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW/Mar-40 (Purchased) Mar-30/1.445 AUD 4,317,900 (161,857) 463,203
1.441/6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW/Jul-45 (Purchased) Jul-25/1.441 AUD 2,068,300 (122,324) (108,614)
(1.441)/6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW/Jul-45 (Purchased) Jul-25/1.441 AUD 2,068,300 (122,324) 415,538
(2.622)/6 month EUR-EURIBOR/Jul-32 (Written) Jul-27/2.622 EUR 24,340,200 722,659 (10,403)
2.622/6 month EUR-EURIBOR/Jul-32 (Written) Jul-27/2.622 EUR 24,340,200 722,659 238,996
2.452/6 month EUR-EURIBOR/Jan-48 (Purchased) Jan-28/2.452 EUR 16,236,600 (1,268,890) 82,333
(2.452)/6 month EUR-EURIBOR/Jan-48 (Purchased) Jan-28/2.452 EUR 16,236,600 (1,268,890) (97,223)
1.201/6 month EUR-EURIBOR/Apr-39 (Purchased) Apr-29/1.201 EUR 12,962,000 (257,878) (72,774)
(4.201)/6 month EUR-EURIBOR/Apr-39 (Purchased) Apr-29/4.201 EUR 12,962,000 (324,787) (126,225)
(2.665)/6 month EUR-EURIBOR/Apr-43 (Written) Apr-33/2.665 EUR 4,930,500 410,719 7,197


Premier Income Trust 35




FORWARD PREMIUM SWAP OPTION CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 1/31/25 (Unaudited) cont.
Counterparty
Fixed right or obligation % to receive or (pay)/Floating rate index/
Maturity date
Expiration
date/strike
Notional/
contract
amount
Premium
receivable/
(payable)
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. cont.
2.665/6 month EUR-EURIBOR/Apr-43 (Written) Apr-33/2.665 EUR 4,930,500 $410,719 $57,481
(3.515)/US SOFR/Dec-40 (Written) Dec-30/3.515   $24,864,400 1,755,427 507,259
3.515/US SOFR/Dec-40 (Written) Dec-30/3.515   24,864,400 1,864,830 (574,170)
(3.475)/US SOFR/Dec-38 (Written) Dec-28/3.475   16,341,800 1,096,535 457,211
3.475/US SOFR/Dec-38 (Written) Dec-28/3.475   16,341,800 1,096,535 (374,047)
(3.0925)/US SOFR/Mar-43 (Written) Mar-33/3.0925   2,852,600 239,618 92,710
3.0925/US SOFR/Mar-43 (Written) Mar-33/3.0925   2,852,600 239,618 (101,852)
Mizuho Capital Markets LLC
(3.5825)/US SOFR/Aug-44 (Written) Aug-34/3.5825   7,500,000 647,625 138,990
3.5825/US SOFR/Aug-44 (Written) Aug-34/3.5825   7,500,000 647,625 (132,233)
3.884/US SOFR/Jan-38 (Purchased) Jan-28/3.884   4,030,200 (178,135) (5,207)
(4.384)/US SOFR/Jan-38 (Purchased) Jan-28/4.384   4,030,200 (185,591) 5,304
Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC
2.492/6 month EUR-EURIBOR/Jun-51 (Written) Jun-31/2.492 EUR 19,189,200 2,447,368 481,846
(2.492)/6 month EUR-EURIBOR/Jun-51 (Written) Jun-31/2.492 EUR 19,189,200 2,447,368 (110,523)
(2.634)/6 month EUR-EURIBOR/Jun-47 (Purchased) Jun-27/2.634 EUR 15,351,400 (1,398,888) (534,541)
2.634/6 month EUR-EURIBOR/Jun-47 (Purchased) Jun-27/2.634 EUR 15,351,400 (1,398,888) 42,362
(2.952)/6 month EUR-EURIBOR/Jun-49 (Purchased) Jun-29/2.952 EUR 15,175,100 (1,204,758) (310,539)
(2.352)/6 month EUR-EURIBOR/Aug-49 (Purchased) Aug-29/2.352 EUR 6,587,700 (821,451) (99,675)
2.352/6 month EUR-EURIBOR/Aug-49 (Purchased) Aug-29/2.352 EUR 6,587,700 (821,451) (87,613)
UBS AG
(2.00)/6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW/Sep-46 (Purchased) Sep-36/2.00 AUD 4,626,600 (246,251) 272,920
2.00/6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW/Sep-46 (Purchased) Sep-36/2.00 AUD 4,626,600 (246,251) (106,537)
(2.70)/6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW/Apr-47 (Purchased) Apr-37/2.70 AUD 2,202,100 (133,708) 80,074
2.70/6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW/Apr-47 (Purchased) Apr-37/2.70 AUD 2,202,100 (133,708) (49,673)
Unrealized appreciation 4,369,855
Unrealized (depreciation) (4,324,887)
Total $44,968


36 Premier Income Trust




TBA SALE COMMITMENTS OUTSTANDING at 1/31/25 (proceeds receivable $18,560,313) (Unaudited)
Agency Principal
amount
Settlement
date
Value
Uniform Mortgage-Backed Securities, 4.50%, 2/1/55 $12,000,000 2/13/25 $11,294,062
Uniform Mortgage-Backed Securities, 4.00%, 2/1/55 8,000,000 2/13/25 7,316,250
Total $18,610,312

CENTRALLY CLEARED INTEREST RATE SWAP CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 1/31/25 (Unaudited)
Notional amount Value Upfront
premium
received
(paid)
Termination
date
Payments
made by fund
Payments
received by fund
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
  $203,032,000 $690,106 E $(496,209) 3/19/27 3.85% — Annually US SOFR — Annually $193,897
  276,260,000 3,528,116 E 1,942,039 3/19/30 US SOFR — Annually 3.75% — Annually (1,586,082)
  88,449,000 2,484,532 E (1,107,344) 3/19/35 3.75% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 1,377,189
  15,359,000 1,163,920 E (1,143,158) 3/19/55 3.55% — Annually US SOFR — Annually 20,763
AUD 1,368,400 3,148 E (18) 1/27/43 4.91% — Semiannually 6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW — Semiannually 3,130
AUD 22,394,000 121,083 (118) 2/15/29 6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW — Semiannually 4.226% — Semiannually 101,943
AUD 3,068,800 6,029 E (38) 4/7/40 5.092% — Semiannually 6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW — Semiannually (6,067)
AUD 41,312,000 84,217 12,835 12/18/26 3.61% — Quarterly 3 month AUD-BBR-BBSW — Quarterly 125,634
AUD 36,992,200 858,678 223,666 12/18/34 6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW — Semiannually 3.92% — Semiannually (656,195)
AUD 20,053,000 199,509 266,777 12/18/29 6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW — Semiannually 3.701% — Semiannually 56,823
AUD 59,453,000 690,966 118,459 12/18/29 3.64% — Semiannually 3 month AUD-BBR-BBSW — Semiannually 856,253
AUD 81,134,000 38,486 (131) 10/15/25 3 month AUD-BBR-BBSW — Quarterly 4.14% — Quarterly 32,458
AUD 11,080,000 184,741 E (166,877) 3/19/35 4.05% — Semiannually 6 month AUD-BBR-BBSW — Semiannually 17,865
AUD 11,395,000 10,364 E 18,132 3/19/27 3 month AUD-BBR-BBSW — Quarterly 3.65% — Quarterly 7,768
CAD 9,962,000 22,805 E 10,236 3/19/27 Canadian Overnight Repo Rate — Semiannually 2.65% — Semiannually 33,041


Premier Income Trust 37




CENTRALLY CLEARED INTEREST RATE SWAP CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 1/31/25 (Unaudited) cont.
Notional amount Value Upfront
premium
received
(paid)
Termination
date
Payments
made by fund
Payments
received by fund
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
CAD 4,906,000 $13,972 E $(61,744) 3/19/35 2.85% — Semiannually Canadian Overnight Repo Rate — Semiannually $(75,716)
CHF 2,636,000 27,979 E (12,787) 3/19/35 Swiss Average Rate Overnight — Annually 0.35% — Annually (40,766)
EUR 13,076,000 97,777 E 57,454 3/19/27 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 1.85% — Annually (40,323)
EUR 8,769,000 144,542 E (197,111) 3/19/30 1.95% — Annually 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually (52,239)
EUR 5,679,000 183,741 E 134,073 3/19/35 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 2.05% — Annually (49,668)
EUR 5,480,000 200,338 E 290,729 3/19/55 6 month EUR-EURIBOR — Semiannually 2.05% — Annually 90,392
GBP 4,961,000 1,569 E 1,362 3/19/27 Sterling Overnight Index Average — Annually 4.05% — Annually 2,931
GBP 122,000 1,933 E (648) 3/19/35 3.85% — Annually Sterling Overnight Index Average — Annually 1,285
NOK 55,894,000 249,883 E (263,028) 3/19/35 3.25% — Annually 6 month NOK-NIBOR-NIBR — Semiannually (13,145)
NZD 1,203,000 19,572 E 10,088 3/19/35 3 month NZD-BBR-FRA — Quarterly 3.75% — Semiannually (9,484)
SEK 59,623,000 124,970 E (86,663) 3/19/35 2.25% — Annually 3 month SEK-STIBOR-SIDE — Quarterly 38,306
Total $(450,024) $429,993
E Extended effective date.


38 Premier Income Trust




OTC TOTAL RETURN SWAP CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 1/31/25 (Unaudited)
Swap counterparty/
Notional amount
Value Upfront
premium
received
(paid)
Termination
date
Payments
received (paid)
by fund
Total return
received by
or paid by fund
Unrealized
depreciation
Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC
  $2,391,316 $2,303,047 $— 9/29/25 (0.165%) — Annually Ephesus Funding DAC, 3.80%, Series 2020−01, 9/22/2025 — Annually $(56,034)
Upfront premium received Unrealized appreciation
Upfront premium (paid) Unrealized (depreciation) (56,034)
Total $— Total $(56,034)

OTC CREDIT DEFAULT CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING — PROTECTION SOLD at 1/31/25 (Unaudited)
Swap counterparty/
Referenced debt*
Rating*** Upfront
premium
received
(paid)**
Notional
amount
Value Termi-
nation
date
Payments
received
by fund
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
Bank of America N.A.
CMBX NA BBB−.6 Index CCC/P $1,539   $11,823 $1,559 5/11/63 300 bp — Monthly $(14)
CMBX NA BBB−.6 Index CCC/P 9,980   63,930 8,432 5/11/63 300 bp — Monthly 1,585
CMBX NA BBB−.6 Index CCC/P 16,545   117,351 15,479 5/11/63 300 bp — Monthly 1,135
CMBX NA BBB−.6 Index CCC/P 19,586   142,310 18,771 5/11/63 300 bp — Monthly 898
Citigroup Global Markets, Inc.
CMBX NA BB.13 Index B+/P 1,082,145   2,531,000 801,062 12/16/72 500 bp — Monthly 283,548
CMBX NA BB.6 Index CCC-/P 241,859   711,155 163,139 5/11/63 500 bp — Monthly 79,414
CMBX NA BBB−.16 Index BBB−/P 14,321   63,000 7,888 4/17/65 300 bp — Monthly 6,470
Goldman Sachs International
CMBX NA BB.6 Index CCC-/P 38,887   114,521 26,271 5/11/63 500 bp — Monthly 12,727
CMBX NA BBB−.16 Index BBB−/P 6,777   33,000 4,132 4/17/65 300 bp — Monthly 2,664
JPMorgan Securities LLC
CMBX NA BB.10 Index CCC+/P 17,251   215,000 87,828 5/11/63 500 bp — Monthly (70,367)
CMBX NA BB.6 Index CCC-/P 10,811   10,736 2,463 5/11/63 500 bp — Monthly 8,358
Merrill Lynch International
CMBX NA A.13 Index A-/P 52,396   402,000 24,683 12/16/72 200 bp — Monthly 27,869
CMBX NA A.13 Index A-/P 53,512   402,000 24,683 12/16/72 200 bp — Monthly 28,986
CMBX NA BB.6 Index CCC-/P 28,625   130,881 30,024 5/11/63 500 bp — Monthly (1,271)


Premier Income Trust 39




OTC CREDIT DEFAULT CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING — PROTECTION SOLD at 1/31/25 (Unaudited) cont.
Swap counterparty/
Referenced debt*
Rating*** Upfront
premium
received
(paid)**
Notional
amount
Value Termi-
nation
date
Payments
received
by fund
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC
CMBX NA BB.6 Index CCC-/P $163,951   $470,865 $108,016 5/11/63 500 bp — Monthly $56,394
CMBX NA BBB−.16 Index BBB−/P 7,729   34,000 4,257 4/17/65 300 bp — Monthly 3,492
Upfront premium received 1,765,914 Unrealized appreciation 513,540
Upfront premium (paid) Unrealized (depreciation) (71,652)
Total $1,765,914 Total $441,888
* Payments related to the referenced debt are made upon a credit default event.
** Upfront premium is based on the difference between the original spread on issue and the market spread on day of execution.
*** Ratings for an underlying index represent the average of the ratings of all the securities included in that index. The Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s or Fitch ratings are believed to be the most recent ratings available at January 31, 2025. Securities rated by Fitch are indicated by “/F.” Securities rated by Putnam are indicated by “/P.” The Putnam rating categories are comparable to the Standard & Poor’s classifications.

OTC CREDIT DEFAULT CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING — PROTECTION PURCHASED at 1/31/25 (Unaudited)
Swap counterparty/
Referenced debt*
Upfront
premium
received
(paid)**
Notional
amount
Value Termi-
nation
date
Payments
(paid)
by fund
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
Citigroup Global Markets, Inc.
CMBX NA BB.10 Index   $(774,528)   $1,669,000 $681,787 11/17/59 (500 bp) — Monthly $(94,362)
CMBX NA BB.10 Index   (244,221)   606,000 247,551 11/17/59 (500 bp) — Monthly 2,740
CMBX NA BB.10 Index   (243,818)   605,000 247,143 11/17/59 (500 bp) — Monthly 2,736
CMBX NA BB.10 Index   (128,559)   319,000 130,312 11/17/59 (500 bp) — Monthly 1,443
CMBX NA BB.6 Index   (30,905)   119,634 27,444 5/11/63 (500 bp) — Monthly (3,578)
CMBX NA BB.8 Index   (155,013)   333,644 141,999 10/17/57 (500 bp) — Monthly (13,339)
CMBX NA BBB−.10 Index   (339,336)   1,129,000 190,124 11/17/59 (300 bp) — Monthly (149,871)
CMBX NA BBB−.6 Index   (143,487)   335,413 44,241 5/11/63 (300 bp) — Monthly (99,442)
Goldman Sachs International
CMBX NA BB.8 Index   (54,713)   124,883 53,150 10/17/57 (500 bp) — Monthly (1,685)
Merrill Lynch International
CMBX NA BB.10 Index   (33,229)   584,000 238,564 11/17/59 (500 bp) — Monthly 204,767


40 Premier Income Trust




OTC CREDIT DEFAULT CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING — PROTECTION PURCHASED at 1/31/25 (Unaudited) cont.
Swap counterparty/
Referenced debt*
Upfront
premium
received
(paid)**
Notional
amount
Value Termi-
nation
date
Payments
(paid)
by fund
Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC
CMBX NA BB.8 Index   $(10,981)   $23,299 $9,916 10/17/57 (500 bp) — Monthly $(1,087)
CMBX NA BBB−.10 Index   (340,501)   1,053,000 177,325 11/17/59 (300 bp) — Monthly (166,458)
Upfront premium received Unrealized appreciation 211,686
Upfront premium (paid) (2,499,291) Unrealized (depreciation) (529,822)
Total $(2,499,291) Total $(318,136)
* Payments related to the referenced debt are made upon a credit default event.
** Upfront premium is based on the difference between the original spread on issue and the market spread on day of execution.

CENTRALLY CLEARED CREDIT DEFAULT CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING — PROTECTION SOLD at 1/31/25
(Unaudited)
Referenced debt* Rating*** Upfront
premium
received
(paid)**
Notional
amount
Value Termi-
nation
date
Payments
received
by fund
Unrealized
appreciation
CDX NA HY Series 43 Index B+/P $(1,333,542)   $18,289,000 $1,488,469 12/20/29 500 bp — Quarterly $264,153
Total $(1,333,542) $264,153
* Payments related to the referenced debt are made upon a credit default event.
** Upfront premium is based on the difference between the original spread on issue and the market spread on day of execution.
*** Ratings for an underlying index represent the average of the ratings of all the securities included in that index. The Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s or Fitch ratings are believed to be the most recent ratings available at January 31, 2025. Securities rated by Fitch are indicated by “/F.” Securities rated by Putnam are indicated by “/P.” The Putnam rating categories are comparable to the Standard & Poor’s classifications.


Premier Income Trust 41



ASC 820 establishes a three-level hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements. The valuation hierarchy is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of the fund’s investments. The three levels are defined as follows:

Level 1: Valuations based on quoted prices for identical securities in active markets.

Level 2: Valuations based on quoted prices in markets that are not active or for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly.

Level 3: Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the fund’s net assets as of the close of the reporting period:



Valuation inputs
Investments in securities: Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Convertible bonds and notes $— $10,624,660 $—
Corporate bonds and notes 95,739,372
Foreign government and agency bonds and notes 29,702,397
Investment companies 5,778,623
Mortgage-backed securities 126,767,038
Senior loans 21,163,595
U.S. government and agency mortgage obligations 82,285,052
U.S. treasury obligations 167,249
Short-term investments 40,227,057 30,957,366
Totals by level $46,005,680 $397,406,729 $—
Valuation inputs
Other financial instruments: Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Forward currency contracts $— $91,620 $—
Futures contracts 219,405
Forward premium swap option contracts 44,968
TBA sale commitments (18,610,312)
Interest rate swap contracts 880,017
Total return swap contracts (56,034)
Credit default contracts 2,454,824
Totals by level $219,405 $(15,194,917) $—


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


42 Premier Income Trust



Statement of assets and liabilities 1/31/25 (Unaudited)

ASSETS   
Investment in securities, at value (Notes 1 and 9):   
Unaffiliated issuers (identified cost $380,607,394)  $377,832,761 
Affiliated issuers (identified cost $65,552,864) (Note 5)  65,579,648 
Cash  425,110 
Foreign currency (cost $539,867) (Note 1)  539,866 
Interest and other receivables  3,690,216 
Receivable for investments sold  786,255 
Receivable for sales of TBA securities (Note 1)  18,588,979 
Receivable for variation margin on futures contracts (Note 1)  61,991 
Receivable for variation margin on centrally cleared swap contracts (Note 1)  1,593,037 
Unrealized appreciation on forward premium swap option contracts (Note 1)  4,369,855 
Unrealized appreciation on forward currency contracts (Note 1)  331,810 
Unrealized appreciation on OTC swap contracts (Note 1)  725,226 
Premium paid on OTC swap contracts (Note 1)  2,499,291 
Deposits with broker (Note 1)  4,053,445 
Receivable from broker (Note 1)  7,363 
Total assets  481,084,853 
 
LIABILITIES   
Payable for investments purchased  5,881,165 
Payable for purchases of TBA securities (Note 1)  81,006,161 
Payable for compensation of Manager (Note 2)  660,401 
Payable for custodian fees (Note 2)  52,780 
Payable for investor servicing fees (Note 2)  45,358 
Payable for Trustee compensation and expenses (Note 2)  160,710 
Payable for administrative services (Note 2)  611 
Payable for variation margin on futures contracts (Note 1)  25,084 
Payable for variation margin on centrally cleared swap contracts (Note 1)  1,522,710 
Distributions payable to shareholders  2,472,616 
Unrealized depreciation on forward premium swap option contracts (Note 1)  4,324,887 
Unrealized depreciation on OTC swap contracts (Note 1)  657,508 
Premium received on OTC swap contracts (Note 1)  1,765,914 
Unrealized depreciation on forward currency contracts (Note 1)  240,190 
TBA sale commitments, at value (proceeds receivable $18,560,313) (Note 1)  18,610,312 
Collateral on certain derivative contracts and TBA commitments, at value (Notes 1 and 9)  2,709,249 
Other accrued expenses  201,823 
Total liabilities  120,337,479 
 
Net assets  $360,747,374 
 
REPRESENTED BY   
Paid-in capital (Unlimited shares authorized) (Notes 1 and 4)  $611,425,173 
Total distributable earnings (Note 1)  (250,677,799) 
Total — Representing net assets applicable to capital shares outstanding  $360,747,374 
 
COMPUTATION OF NET ASSET VALUE   
Net asset value per share   
($360,747,374 divided by 95,567,537 shares)  $3.77 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

Premier Income Trust 43 

 



Statement of operations Six months ended 1/31/25 (Unaudited)

INVESTMENT INCOME   
Interest  $10,268,055 
Dividends (including dividend income of $1,523,898 from investments in affiliated issuers) (Note 5)  1,523,898 
Total investment income  11,791,953 
 
EXPENSES   
Compensation of Manager (Note 2)  1,385,474 
Investor servicing fees (Note 2)  91,616 
Custodian fees (Note 2)  36,476 
Trustee compensation and expenses (Note 2)  6,521 
Administrative services (Note 2)  3,821 
Other  217,252 
Fees waived and reimbursed by Manager (Note 2)  (46,780) 
Total expenses  1,694,380 
Expense reduction (Note 2)  (1,801) 
Net expenses  1,692,579 
 
Net investment income  10,099,374 
 
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS)   
Net realized gain (loss) on:   
Securities from unaffiliated issuers (Notes 1 and 3)  (2,639,490) 
Foreign currency transactions (Note 1)  (3,101) 
Forward currency contracts (Note 1)  972,658 
Futures contracts (Note 1)  (524,957) 
Swap contracts (Note 1)  1,263,114 
Written options (Note 1)  35,112 
Total net realized loss  (896,664) 
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:   
Securities from unaffiliated issuers and TBA sale commitments  (2,291,856) 
Securities from affiliated issuers (Note 5)  26,784 
Assets and liabilities in foreign currencies  28,667 
Forward currency contracts  (277,757) 
Futures contracts  1,056,791 
Swap contracts  (472,686) 
Written options  559,558 
Total change in net unrealized depreciation  (1,370,499) 
 
Net loss on investments  (2,267,163) 
 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations  $7,832,211 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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Statement of changes in net assets

DECREASE IN NET ASSETS  Six months ended 1/31/25*  Year ended 7/31/24 
Operations     
Net investment income  $10,099,374  $23,349,281 
Net realized loss on investments     
and foreign currency transactions  (896,664)  (22,356,765) 
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)     
of investments and assets and liabilities     
in foreign currencies  (1,370,499)  31,011,496 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations  7,832,211  32,004,012 
Distributions to shareholders (Note 1):     
From ordinary income     
Net investment income  (14,910,914)  (20,299,800) 
From return of capital    (9,704,516) 
Decrease from capital share transactions (Note 4)  (107,871)  (3,872,140) 
Total decrease in net assets  (7,186,574)  (1,872,444) 
 
NET ASSETS     
Beginning of period  367,933,948  369,806,392 
End of period  $360,747,374  $367,933,948 
 
NUMBER OF FUND SHARES     
Shares outstanding at beginning of period  95,598,021  96,715,303 
Shares repurchased (Note 4)  (30,484)  (1,117,282) 
Shares outstanding at end of period  95,567,537  95,598,021 

 

*Unaudited.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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Financial highlights
(For a common share outstanding throughout the period)

PER-SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE             
  Six           
  months           
  ended**      Year ended     
  1/31/25  7/31/24  7/31/23  7/31/22  7/31/21  7/31/20 
Net asset value, beginning of period  $3.85  $3.82  $4.12  $4.62  $4.80  $5.44 
Investment operations:             
Net investment income a  .11  .24  .23  .21  .21  .24 
Net realized and unrealized             
gain (loss) on investments  (.03)  .10  (.23)  (.41)  (.04)  (.47) 
Total from investment operations  .08  .34    (.20)  .17  (.23) 
Less distributions:             
From net investment income  (.16)  (.21)  (.26)  (.26)  (.07)  (.34) 
From return of capital    (.10)  (.05)  (.05)  (.28)  (.08) 
Total distributions  (.16)  (.31)  (.31)  (.31)  (.35)  (.42) 
Increase from shares repurchased b  f  f  .01  .01  f  .01 
Net asset value, end of period  $3.77  $3.85  $3.82  $4.12  $4.62  $4.80 
Market price, end of period  $3.63  $3.63  $3.65  $3.89  $4.65  $4.74 
Total return at market price (%) c  4.33*  8.53  2.08  (9.87)  5.63  (3.19) 
 
RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA             
Net assets, end of period             
(in thousands)  $360,747  $367,934  $369,806  $409,600  $472,126  $492,108 
Ratio of expenses to average             
net assets (%) d  .46*g,h  .94g  .99  .96  .94  .94 
Ratio of net investment income             
to average net assets (%)  2.75*g,h  6.41g  5.76  4.88  4.21  4.67 
Portfolio turnover (%) e  343*  1,008  1,280  1,665  1,023  943 

 

* Not annualized.

** Unaudited.

a Per share net investment income has been determined on the basis of the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period.

b See Note 4.

c Total return assumes dividend reinvestment.

d Includes amounts paid through expense offset arrangements, if any (Note 2).

e Portfolio turnover includes TBA purchase and sale commitments.

f Amount represents less than $0.01 per share.

g Reflects waivers of certain fund expenses in connection with investments in Putnam Government Money Market Fund in effect during the period. As a result of such waivers, the expenses of the fund reflect a reduction of the following amounts (Notes 2 and 5):

  Percentage of average 
  net assets 
January 31, 2025  0.01% 
July 31, 2024  0.02 

 

h Reflects a waiver of certain fund expenses in connection with investments in Franklin Ultra Short Bond ETF during the period. As a result of such waiver, the expenses of the fund reflect a reduction of less than 0.01% as a percentage of average net assets (Notes 2 and 5).

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

46 Premier Income Trust 

 



Notes to financial statements 1/31/25 (Unaudited)

Unless otherwise noted, the “reporting period” represents the period from August 1, 2024 through January 31, 2025. The following table defines commonly used references within the Notes to financial statements:

References to  Represent 
1940 Act  Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended 
Franklin Advisers  Franklin Advisers, Inc., the fund’s investment manager, a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of 
  Franklin Templeton 
Franklin Templeton  Franklin Resources, Inc. 
Franklin  Franklin Templeton Services, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Franklin Templeton 
Templeton Services   
FTIML  Franklin Templeton Investment Management Limited 
OTC  Over-the-counter 
PIL  Putnam Investments Limited, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Franklin Templeton 
PSERV  Putnam Investor Services, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Franklin Templeton 
Putnam Management  Putnam Investment Management, LLC, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of 
  Franklin Templeton 
SEC  Securities and Exchange Commission 
State Street  State Street Bank and Trust Company 

 

Putnam Premier Income Trust (the fund) is a Massachusetts business trust, which is registered under the 1940 Act as a non-diversified closed-end management investment company. The fund is currently operating as diversified fund. In the future, the fund may operate as a non-diversified fund to the extent permitted by applicable law. Under current law, shareholder approval would be required before the fund could operate as a non-diversified fund. The goal of the fund is to seek high current income consistent with the preservation of capital by allocating investments among U.S. government, high-yield and international fixed income securities. The fund seeks multiple sources of return outside the constraints of its benchmark, investing across traditional and alternative bond markets.

The fund’s shares trade on a stock exchange at market prices, which may be lower than the fund’s net asset value.

In the normal course of business, the fund enters into contracts that may include agreements to indemnify another party under given circumstances. The fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be, but have not yet been, made against the fund. However, the fund’s management team expects the risk of material loss to be remote.

The fund has entered into contractual arrangements with an investment adviser, administrator, transfer agent and custodian, who each provide services to the fund. Unless expressly stated otherwise, shareholders are not parties to, or intended beneficiaries of these contractual arrangements, and these contractual arrangements are not intended to create any shareholder right to enforce them against the service providers or to seek any remedy under them against the service providers, either directly or on behalf of the fund.

Under the fund’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust, any claims asserted by a shareholder against or on behalf of the fund, including claims against Trustees and Officers, must be brought in courts located within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Note 1: Significant accounting policies

The fund follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies (ASC 946) and applies the specialized accounting and reporting guidance in U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP), including, but not limited to, ASC 946. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The preparation of financial statements is in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations.

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Actual results could differ from those estimates. Subsequent events after the Statement of assets and liabilities date through the date that the financial statements were issued have been evaluated in the preparation of the financial statements.

Security valuation Portfolio securities and other investments are valued using policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees (Trustees). The Trustees have formed a Pricing Committee to oversee the implementation of these procedures. Under compliance policies and procedures approved by the Trustees, the Trustees have designated the fund’s investment manager as the valuation designee and has responsibility for oversight of valuation. The investment manager is assisted by the fund’s administrator in performing this responsibility, including leading the cross-functional Valuation Committee (VC). The VC is responsible for making fair value determinations, evaluating the effectiveness of the pricing policies of the fund and reporting to the Trustees.

Investments for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the last reported sales price on their principal exchange, or official closing price for certain markets, and are classified as Level 1 securities under Accounting Standards Codification 820 Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (ASC 820). If no sales are reported, as in the case of some securities that are traded OTC, a security is valued at the average of the last reported bid and ask prices, the “mid price”, and is generally categorized as a Level 2 security.

Investments in open-end investment companies (excluding exchange-traded funds), if any, which can be classified as Level 1 or Level 2 securities, are valued based on their net asset value. The net asset value of such investment companies equals the total value of their assets less their liabilities and divided by the number of their outstanding shares.

Market quotations are not considered to be readily available for certain debt obligations (including short-term investments with remaining maturities of 60 days or less) and other investments; such investments are valued on the basis of valuations furnished by an independent pricing service approved by the Trustees or dealers selected by the fund’s investment manager. Such services or dealers determine valuations for normal institutional-size trading units of such securities using methods based on market transactions for comparable securities and various relationships, generally recognized by institutional traders, between securities (which consider such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings). These securities will generally be categorized as Level 2.

Many securities markets and exchanges outside the U.S. close prior to the scheduled close of the New York Stock Exchange and therefore the closing prices for securities in such markets or on such exchanges may not fully reflect events that occur after such close but before the scheduled close of the New York Stock Exchange. Reliable prices are not readily available for equity securities in these circumstances, where the value of a security has been affected by events after the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded, but before the fund calculates its net asset value. To address this, the fund will fair value these securities as determined in accordance with procedures approved by the Trustees. This includes using an independent third-party pricing service to adjust the value of such securities to the latest indications of fair value at 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). These securities, which would generally be classified as Level 1 securities, will be transferred to Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy when they are valued at fair value. Securities quoted in foreign currencies, if any, are translated into U.S. dollars at the current exchange rate.

To the extent a pricing service or dealer is unable to value a security or provides a valuation that the fund’s investment manager does not believe accurately reflects the security’s fair value, the security will be valued at fair value by the fund’s investment manager, which has been designated as valuation designee pursuant to Rule 2a–5 under the 1940 Act, in accordance with policies and procedures approved by the Trustees. Certain investments, including certain restricted and illiquid securities and derivatives, are also valued at fair value following procedures approved by the Trustees. These valuations consider such factors as significant market or specific security events such as interest rate or credit quality changes, various relationships with other securities, discount rates, U.S. Treasury, U.S. swap and credit yields, index levels, convexity exposures, recovery rates, sales and other multiples and resale restrictions. These securities are classified as Level 2 or as Level 3 depending on the priority of the significant inputs.

To assess the continuing appropriateness of fair valuations, the Valuation Committee reviews and affirms the reasonableness of such valuations on a regular basis after considering all relevant information that is reasonably available. Such valuations and procedures are reviewed periodically by the Trustees. Certain securities may be valued on the basis of a price provided by a single source. The fair value of securities is generally determined as the amount that the fund could reasonably expect to realize from an orderly disposition of such securities over a reasonable period of time. By its nature, a fair value price is a good faith estimate of the value of a security in a current sale and does not reflect an actual market price, which may be different by a material amount.

48 Premier Income Trust 

 



Security transactions and related investment income Security transactions are recorded on the trade date (the date the order to buy or sell is executed). Gains or losses on securities sold are determined on the identified cost basis.

Interest income, net of any applicable withholding taxes, if any, is recorded on the accrual basis. Amortization and accretion of premiums and discounts on debt securities, if any, is recorded on the accrual basis.

Dividend income, net of any applicable withholding taxes, is recognized on the ex-dividend date except that certain dividends from foreign securities, if any, are recognized as soon as the fund is informed of the ex-dividend date. Non-cash dividends, if any, are recorded at the fair value of the securities received. Dividends representing a return of capital or capital gains, if any, are reflected as a reduction of cost and/or as a realized gain.

The fund may have earned certain fees in connection with its senior loan purchasing activities. These fees, if any, are treated as market discount and are amortized into income in the Statement of operations.

Stripped securities The fund may invest in stripped securities which represent a participation in securities that may be structured in classes with rights to receive different portions of the interest and principal. Interest-only securities receive all of the interest and principal-only securities receive all of the principal. If the interest-only securities experience greater than anticipated prepayments of principal, the fund may fail to recoup fully its initial investment in these securities. Conversely, principal-only securities increase in value if prepayments are greater than anticipated and decline if prepayments are slower than anticipated. The fair value of these securities is highly sensitive to changes in interest rates.

Foreign currency translation The accounting records of the fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. The fair value of foreign securities, currency holdings, and other assets and liabilities is recorded in the books and records of the fund after translation to U.S. dollars based on the exchange rates on that day. The cost of each security is determined using historical exchange rates. Income and withholding taxes are translated at prevailing exchange rates when earned or incurred. The fund does not isolate that portion of realized or unrealized gains or losses resulting from changes in the foreign exchange rate on investments from fluctuations arising from changes in the market prices of the securities. Such gains and losses are included with the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments. Net realized gains and losses on foreign currency transactions represent net realized exchange gains or losses on disposition of foreign currencies, currency gains and losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions and the difference between the amount of investment income and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the fund’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized appreciation and depreciation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities other than investments at the period end, resulting from changes in the exchange rate.

Options contracts The fund uses options contracts for hedging duration and convexity, for isolating prepayment risk and for managing downside risks.

The potential risk to the fund is that the change in value of options contracts may not correspond to the change in value of the hedged instruments. In addition, losses may arise from changes in the value of the underlying instruments if there is an illiquid secondary market for the contracts, if interest or exchange rates move unexpectedly or if the counterparty to the contract is unable to perform. Realized gains and losses on purchased options are included in realized gains and losses on investment securities. If a written call option is exercised, the premium originally received is recorded as an addition to sales proceeds. If a written put option is exercised, the premium originally received is recorded as a reduction to the cost of investments.

Exchange-traded options are valued at the last sale price. OTC traded options are valued using quotations from an independent pricing service.

Options on swaps are similar to options on securities except that the premium paid or received is to buy or grant the right to enter into a previously agreed upon interest rate or credit default contract. Forward premium swap option contracts include premiums that have extended settlement dates. The delayed settlement of the premiums is factored into the daily valuation of the option contracts. In the case of interest rate cap and floor contracts, in return for a premium, ongoing payments between two parties are based on interest rates exceeding a specified rate, in the case of a cap contract, or falling below a specified rate in the case of a floor contract.

Written option contracts outstanding at period end, if any, are listed after the fund’s portfolio.

Futures contracts The fund uses futures contracts for hedging treasury term structure risk and for yield curve positioning.

Premier Income Trust 49 

 



The potential risk to the fund is that the change in value of futures contracts may not correspond to the change in value of the hedged instruments. In addition, losses may arise from changes in the value of the underlying instruments, if there is an illiquid secondary market for the contracts, if interest or exchange rates move unexpectedly or if the counterparty to the contract is unable to perform. With futures, there is minimal counterparty credit risk to the fund since futures are exchange traded and the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange traded futures, guarantees the futures against default. Risks may exceed amounts recognized on the Statement of assets and liabilities. When the contract is closed, the fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.

Futures contracts are valued at the quoted daily settlement prices established by the exchange on which they trade. The fund and the broker agree to exchange an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in the value of the futures contract. Such receipts or payments are known as “variation margin.”

Futures contracts outstanding at period end, if any, are listed after the fund’s portfolio.

Forward currency contracts The fund buys and sells forward currency contracts, which are agreements between two parties to buy and sell currencies at a set price on a future date. These contracts are used for hedging currency exposures and for gaining exposure to currencies.

The U.S. dollar value of forward currency contracts is determined using current forward currency exchange rates supplied by a quotation service. The fair value of the contract will fluctuate with changes in currency exchange rates. The contract is marked to market daily and the change in fair value is recorded as an unrealized gain or loss. The fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed when the contract matures or by delivery of the currency. The fund could be exposed to risk if the value of the currency changes unfavorably, if the counterparties to the contracts are unable to meet the terms of their contracts or if the fund is unable to enter into a closing position. Risks may exceed amounts recognized on the Statement of assets and liabilities.

Forward currency contracts outstanding at period end, if any, are listed after the fund’s portfolio.

Interest rate swap contracts The fund entered into OTC and/or centrally cleared interest rate swap contracts, which are arrangements between two parties to exchange cash flows based on a notional principal amount, for hedging term structure risk, for yield curve positioning and for gaining exposure to rates in various countries.

An OTC and centrally cleared interest rate swap can be purchased or sold with an upfront premium. For OTC interest rate swap contracts, an upfront payment received by the fund is recorded as a liability on the fund’s books. An upfront payment made by the fund is recorded as an asset on the fund’s books. OTC and centrally cleared interest rate swap contracts are marked to market daily based upon quotations from an independent pricing service or market makers. Any change is recorded as an unrealized gain or loss on OTC interest rate swaps. Daily fluctuations in the value of centrally cleared interest rate swaps are settled through a central clearing agent and are recorded in variation margin on the Statement of assets and liabilities and recorded as unrealized gain or loss. Payments, including upfront premiums, received or made are recorded as realized gains or losses at the reset date or the closing of the contract. Certain OTC and centrally cleared interest rate swap contracts may include extended effective dates. Payments related to these swap contracts are accrued based on the terms of the contract.

The fund could be exposed to credit or market risk due to unfavorable changes in the fluctuation of interest rates or if the counterparty defaults, in the case of OTC interest rate contracts, or the central clearing agency or a clearing member defaults, in the case of centrally cleared interest rate swap contracts, on its respective obligation to perform under the contract. The fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty risk or central clearing risk is the fair value of the contract. This risk may be mitigated for OTC interest rate swap contracts by having a master netting arrangement between the fund and the counterparty and for centrally cleared interest rate swap contracts through the daily exchange of variation margin. There is minimal counterparty risk with respect to centrally cleared interest rate swap contracts due to the clearinghouse guarantee fund and other resources that are available in the event of a clearing member default. Risk of loss may exceed amounts recognized on the Statement of assets and liabilities.

OTC and centrally cleared interest rate swap contracts outstanding, including their respective notional amounts at period end, if any, are listed after the fund’s portfolio.

At the close of the reporting period, the fund has deposited cash valued at $2,633,831 in a segregated account to cover margin requirements on open centrally cleared interest rate swap contracts.

50 Premier Income Trust 

 



Total return swap contracts The fund entered into OTC and/or centrally cleared total return swap contracts, which are arrangements to exchange a market-linked return for a periodic payment, both based on a notional principal amount, for hedging sector exposure, for gaining exposure to specific sectors, for hedging inflation and for gaining exposure to inflation.

To the extent that the total return of the security, index or other financial measure underlying the transaction exceeds or falls short of the offsetting interest rate obligation, the fund will receive a payment from or make a payment to the counterparty. OTC and/or centrally cleared total return swap contracts are marked to market daily based upon quotations from an independent pricing service or market maker. Any change is recorded as an unrealized gain or loss on OTC total return swaps. Daily fluctuations in the value of centrally cleared total return swaps are settled through a central clearing agent and are recorded in variation margin on the Statement of assets and liabilities and recorded as unrealized gain or loss. Payments received or made are recorded as realized gains or losses. Certain OTC and/or centrally cleared total return swap contracts may include extended effective dates. Payments related to these swap contracts are accrued based on the terms of the contract. The fund could be exposed to credit or market risk due to unfavorable changes in the fluctuation of interest rates or in the price of the underlying security or index, the possibility that there is no liquid market for these agreements or that the counterparty may default on its obligation to perform. The fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty risk or central clearing risk is the fair value of the contract. This risk may be mitigated for OTC total return swap contracts by having a master netting arrangement between the fund and the counterparty and for centrally cleared total return swap contracts through the daily exchange of variation margin. There is minimal counterparty risk with respect to centrally cleared total return swap contracts due to the clearinghouse guarantee fund and other resources that are available in the event of a clearing member default. Risk of loss may exceed amounts recognized on the Statement of assets and liabilities.

OTC and/or centrally cleared total return swap contracts outstanding, including their respective notional amounts at period end, if any, are listed after the fund’s portfolio.

Credit default contracts The fund entered into OTC and/or centrally cleared credit default contracts for hedging credit risk, for gaining liquid exposure to individual names, for hedging market risk and for gaining exposure to specific sectors.

In OTC and centrally cleared credit default contracts, the protection buyer typically makes a periodic stream of payments to a counterparty, the protection seller, in exchange for the right to receive a contingent payment upon the occurrence of a credit event on the reference obligation or all other equally ranked obligations of the reference entity. Credit events are contract specific but may include bankruptcy, failure to pay, restructuring and obligation acceleration. For OTC credit default contracts, an upfront payment received by the fund is recorded as a liability on the fund’s books. An upfront payment made by the fund is recorded as an asset on the fund’s books. Centrally cleared credit default contracts provide the same rights to the protection buyer and seller except the payments between parties, including upfront premiums, are settled through a central clearing agent through variation margin payments. Upfront and periodic payments received or paid by the fund for OTC and centrally cleared credit default contracts are recorded as realized gains or losses at the reset date or close of the contract. The OTC and centrally cleared credit default contracts are marked to market daily based upon quotations from an independent pricing service or market makers. Any change in value of OTC credit default contracts is recorded as an unrealized gain or loss. Daily fluctuations in the value of centrally cleared credit default contracts are recorded in variation margin on the Statement of assets and liabilities and recorded as unrealized gain or loss. Upon the occurrence of a credit event, the difference between the par value and fair value of the reference obligation, net of any proportional amount of the upfront payment, is recorded as a realized gain or loss.

In addition to bearing the risk that the credit event will occur, the fund could be exposed to market risk due to unfavorable changes in interest rates or in the price of the underlying security or index or the possibility that the fund may be unable to close out its position at the same time or at the same price as if it had purchased the underlying reference obligations. In certain circumstances, the fund may enter into offsetting OTC and centrally cleared credit default contracts which would mitigate its risk of loss. Risks of loss may exceed amounts recognized on the Statement of assets and liabilities. The fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty risk, either as the protection seller or as the protection buyer, is the fair value of the contract. This risk may be mitigated for OTC credit default contracts by having a master netting arrangement between the fund and the counterparty and for centrally cleared credit default contracts through the daily exchange of variation margin. Counterparty risk is further mitigated with respect to centrally cleared credit default swap contracts due to the clearinghouse guarantee fund and other resources that are available in the event of a clearing member default. Where the fund is a seller of protection, the maximum potential amount of future payments the fund may be required to make is equal to the notional amount.

Premier Income Trust 51 

 



OTC and centrally cleared credit default contracts outstanding, including their respective notional amounts at period end, if any, are listed after the fund’s portfolio.

At the close of the reporting period, the fund has deposited cash valued at $1,419,614 in a segregated account to cover margin requirements on open centrally cleared credit default contracts.

TBA commitments The fund may enter into TBA (to be announced) commitments to purchase securities for a fixed unit price at a future date beyond customary settlement time. Although the unit price and par amount have been established, the actual securities have not been specified. However, it is anticipated that the amount of the commitments will not significantly differ from the principal amount. The fund holds, and maintains until settlement date, cash or high-grade debt obligations in an amount sufficient to meet the purchase price, or the fund may enter into offsetting contracts for the forward sale of other securities it owns. Income on the securities will not be earned until settlement date.

The fund may also enter into TBA sale commitments to hedge its portfolio positions, to sell mortgage-backed securities it owns under delayed delivery arrangements or to take a short position in mortgage-backed securities. Proceeds of TBA sale commitments are not received until the contractual settlement date. During the time a TBA sale commitment is outstanding, either equivalent deliverable securities or an offsetting TBA purchase commitment deliverable on or before the sale commitment date are held as “cover” for the transaction, or other liquid assets in an amount equal to the notional value of the TBA sale commitment are segregated. If the TBA sale commitment is closed through the acquisition of an offsetting TBA purchase commitment, the fund realizes a gain or loss. If the fund delivers securities under the commitment, the fund realizes a gain or a loss from the sale of the securities based upon the unit price established at the date the commitment was entered into.

TBA commitments, which are accounted for as purchase and sale transactions, may be considered securities themselves, and involve a risk of loss due to changes in the value of the security prior to the settlement date as well as the risk that the counterparty to the transaction will not perform its obligations. Counterparty risk is mitigated by having a master agreement between the fund and the counterparty.

Unsettled TBA commitments are valued at their fair value according to the procedures described under “Security valuation” above. The contract is marked to market daily and the change in fair value is recorded by the fund as an unrealized gain or loss. Based on market circumstances, Franklin Advisers will determine whether to take delivery of the underlying securities or to dispose of the TBA commitments prior to settlement.

TBA purchase commitments outstanding at period end, if any, are listed within the fund’s portfolio and TBA sale commitments outstanding at period end, if any, are listed after the fund’s portfolio.

Master agreements The fund is a party to ISDA (International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc.) Master Agreements that govern OTC derivative and foreign exchange contracts and Master Securities Forward Transaction Agreements that govern transactions involving mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities that may result in delayed delivery (Master Agreements) with certain counterparties entered into from time to time. The Master Agreements may contain provisions regarding, among other things, the parties’ general obligations, representations, agreements, collateral requirements, events of default and early termination. With respect to certain counterparties, in accordance with the terms of the Master Agreements, collateral pledged to the fund is held in a segregated account by the fund’s custodian and, with respect to those amounts which can be sold or repledged, is presented in the fund’s portfolio. Collateral pledged to the fund which cannot be sold or repledged totaled $144,823 at the close of the reporting period.

Collateral pledged by the fund is segregated by the fund’s custodian and identified in the fund’s portfolio. Collateral can be in the form of cash or debt securities issued by the U.S. Government or related agencies or other securities as agreed to by the fund and the applicable counterparty. Collateral requirements are determined based on the fund’s net position with each counterparty.

With respect to ISDA Master Agreements, termination events applicable to the fund may occur upon a decline in the fund’s net assets below a specified threshold over a certain period of time. Termination events applicable to counterparties may occur upon a decline in the counterparty’s long-term or short-term credit ratings below a specified level. In each case, upon occurrence, the other party may elect to terminate early and cause settlement of all derivative and foreign exchange contracts outstanding, including the payment of any losses and costs resulting from such early termination, as reasonably determined by the terminating party. Any decision by one or more of the fund’s counterparties to elect early termination could impact the fund’s future derivative activity.

52 Premier Income Trust 

 



At the close of the reporting period, the fund had a net liability position of $1,507,081 on open derivative contracts subject to the Master Agreements. Collateral pledged by the fund at period end for these agreements totaled $1,474,322 and may include amounts related to unsettled agreements.

Interfund lending The fund, along with other Putnam funds, may participate in an interfund lending program pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC. This program allows the fund to lend to other Putnam funds that permit such transactions. Interfund lending transactions are subject to each fund’s investment policies and borrowing and lending limits. Interest earned or paid on the interfund lending transaction will be based on the average of certain current market rates. During the reporting period, the fund did not utilize the program.

Federal taxes It is the policy of the fund to distribute all of its taxable income within the prescribed time period and otherwise comply with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), applicable to regulated investment companies. It is also the intention of the fund to distribute an amount sufficient to avoid imposition of any excise tax under Section 4982 of the Code.

The fund is subject to the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification 740 Income Taxes (ASC 740). ASC 740 sets forth a minimum threshold for financial statement recognition of the benefit of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The fund did not have a liability to record for any unrecognized tax benefits in the accompanying financial statements. No provision has been made for federal taxes on income, capital gains or unrealized appreciation on securities held nor for excise tax on income and capital gains. Each of the fund’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remains subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service.

The fund may also be subject to taxes imposed by governments of countries in which it invests. Such taxes are generally based on either income or gains earned or repatriated. The fund accrues and applies such taxes to net investment income, net realized gains and net unrealized gains as income and/or capital gains are earned. In some cases, the fund may be entitled to reclaim all or a portion of such taxes, and such reclaim amounts, if any, are reflected as an asset and other income on the fund’s books. In many cases, however, the fund may not receive such amounts for an extended period of time, depending on the country of investment.

Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010, the fund will be permitted to carry forward capital losses incurred for an unlimited period and the carry forwards will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses. At July 31, 2024, the fund had the following capital loss carryovers available, to the extent allowed by the Code, to offset future net capital gain, if any:

  Loss carryover   
Short-term  Long-term  Total 
$101,352,242  $92,853,531  $194,205,773 

 

Pursuant to federal income tax regulations applicable to regulated investment companies, the fund has elected to defer $1,148,918 to its fiscal year ending July 31, 2025 of late year ordinary losses ((i) ordinary losses recognized between January 1, 2024 and July 31, 2024, and/or (ii) specified ordinary and currency losses recognized between November 1, 2023 and July 31, 2024).

Tax cost of investments includes adjustments to net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) which may not necessarily be final tax cost basis adjustments, but closely approximate the tax basis unrealized gains and losses that may be realized and distributed to shareholders. The aggregate identified cost on a tax basis is $475,561,164, resulting in gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of $20,888,164 and $68,012,431, respectively, or net unrealized depreciation of $47,124,267.

Distributions to shareholders Distributions to shareholders from net investment income, if any, are recorded by the fund on the ex-dividend date. Distributions from capital gains, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date and paid at least annually. The fund uses targeted distribution rates, whose principal source of the distribution is ordinary income. However,the balance of the distribution, if any, comes first from capital gain and then will constitute a return of capital. A return of capital is not taxable; rather it reduces a shareholder’s tax basis in their shares of the fund. The fund may make return of capital distributions to achieve the targeted distribution rates. The amount and character of income and gains to be distributed are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from generally accepted accounting principles. 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. Reclassifications are made to the fund’s capital accounts to reflect income and gains available for distribution (or available capital loss carryovers) under income tax regulations.

Premier Income Trust 53 

 



Note 2: Management fee, administrative services and other transactions

The fund pays Franklin Advisers for management and investment advisory services quarterly based on the average net assets (including assets, but excluding liabilities, attributable to leverage for investment purposes) of the fund. The fee is based on the following annual rates:

  of the first $500 million of average    of the next $5 billion of average 
0.750%  net assets,  0.480%  net assets, 
  of the next $500 million of average    of the next $5 billion of average 
0.650%  net assets,  0.470%  net assets, 
  of the next $500 million of average    of the next $5 billion of average 
0.600%  net assets,  0.460%  net assets, 
  of the next $5 billion of average    of the next $5 billion of average 
0.550%  net assets,  0.450%  net assets, 
  of the next $5 billion of average    of the next $5 billion of average 
0.525%  net assets,  0.440%  net assets, 
  of the next $5 billion of average    of the next $8.5 billion of average net 
0.505%  net assets,  0.430%  assets and 
  of the next $5 billion of average  0.420%  of any excess thereafter. 
0.490%  net assets,     

 

For the reporting period, the management fee represented an effective rate (excluding the impact from any expense waivers in effect) of 0.377% of the fund’s average net assets.

The fund invests in Putnam Government Money Market Fund and Franklin Ultra Short Bond ETF, both of which are open-end management investment companies managed by Franklin Advisers. Management fees paid by the fund are reduced by an amount equal to the management fees paid by Putnam Government Money Market Fund and Franklin Ultra Short Bond ETF with respect to assets invested by the fund in Putnam Government Money Market Fund and Franklin Ultra Short Bond ETF. During the reporting period, management fees paid were reduced by $46,099 and $681 relating to the fund’s investment in Putnam Government Money Market Fund and Franklin Ultra Short Bond ETF, respectively.

Franklin Advisers has retained Putnam Management as a sub-advisor for the fund pursuant to a sub-advisory agreement. Pursuant to the agreement, Putnam Management provides certain advisory and related services to the fund. Franklin Advisers pays a monthly fee to Putnam Management based on the costs of Putnam Management in providing these services to the fund, which may include a mark-up not to exceed 15% over such costs.

Effective November 1, 2024, FTIML is authorized by the Trustees to manage a separate portion of the assets of the fund as determined by Franklin Advisers from time to time. FTIML did not manage any portion of the assets of the fund during the reporting period. If Franklin Advisers were to engage the services of FTIML, Franklin Advisers (and not the fund) would pay a monthly sub-management fee to FTIML for its services at an annual rate of 0.20% of the average net assets (including assets, but excluding liabilities, attributable to leverage for investment purposes) of the portion of the fund managed by FTIML.

Prior to November 1, 2024, PIL was authorized by the Trustees to manage a separate portion of the assets of the fund as determined by Franklin Advisers from time to time. PIL did not manage any portion of the assets of the fund during the reporting period. If Franklin Advisers had engaged the services of PIL, Franklin Advisers (and not the fund) would have paid a quarterly sub-management fee to PIL for its services at an annual rate of 0.20% of the average net assets (including assets, but excluding liabilities, attributable to leverage for investment purposes) of the portion of the fund managed by PIL. Effective November 1, 2024, PIL merged into FTIML, and PIL investment professionals became employees of FTIML.

Franklin Templeton Services provides certain administrative services to the fund. The fee for those services is paid by the fund’s investment manager based on the fund’s average daily net assets and is not an additional expense of the fund.

The fund reimburses Franklin Advisers an allocated amount for the compensation and related expenses of certain officers of the fund and their staff who provide administrative services to the fund. The aggregate amount of all such reimbursements is determined annually by the Trustees.

54 Premier Income Trust 

 



Custodial functions for the fund’s assets are provided by State Street. Custodian fees are based on the fund’s asset level, the number of its security holdings and transaction volumes.

PSERV, an affiliate of Franklin Advisers, provides investor servicing agent functions to the fund. PSERV was paid a monthly fee for investor servicing at an annual rate of 0.05% of the fund’s average daily net assets. The amounts incurred for investor servicing agent functions during the reporting period are included in Investor servicing fees in the Statement of operations.

The fund has entered into expense offset arrangements with PSERV and State Street whereby PSERV’s and State Street’s fees are reduced by credits allowed on cash balances. For the reporting period, the fund’s expenses were reduced by $1,801 under the expense offset arrangements.

Each Independent Trustee of the fund receives an annual Trustee fee, of which $243, as a quarterly retainer, has been allocated to the fund, and an additional fee for each Trustees meeting attended. Trustees also are reimbursed for expenses they incur relating to their services as Trustees.

The fund has adopted a Trustee Fee Deferral Plan (the Deferral Plan) which allows the Trustees to defer the receipt of all or a portion of Trustees fees payable from July 1, 1995 through December 31, 2023. The deferred fees remain invested in certain Putnam funds until distribution in accordance with the Deferral Plan.

The fund has adopted an unfunded noncontributory defined benefit pension plan (the Pension Plan) covering all Trustees of the fund who have served as a Trustee for at least five years and were first elected prior to 2004. Benefits under the Pension Plan are equal to 50% of the Trustee’s average annual attendance and retainer fees for the three years ended December 31, 2005. The retirement benefit is payable during a Trustee’s lifetime, beginning the year following retirement, for the number of years of service through December 31, 2006. Pension expense for the fund is included in Trustee compensation and expenses in the Statement of operations. Accrued pension liability is included in Payable for Trustee compensation and expenses in the Statement of assets and liabilities. The Trustees have terminated the Pension Plan with respect to any Trustee first elected after 2003.

Note 3: Purchases and sales of securities

During the reporting period, the cost of purchases and the proceeds from sales, excluding short-term investments, were as follows:

  Cost of purchases  Proceeds from sales 
Investments in securities, including TBA commitments (Long-term)  $1,226,336,192  $1,228,699,633 
U.S. government securities (Long-term)     
Total  $1,226,336,192  $1,228,699,633 

 

The fund may purchase or sell investments from or to other Putnam funds in the ordinary course of business, which can reduce the fund’s transaction costs, at prices determined in accordance with SEC requirements and policies approved by the Trustees. During the reporting period, purchases or sales of long-term securities from or to other Putnam funds, if any, did not represent more than 5% of the fund’s total cost of purchases and/or total proceeds from sales.

Note 4: Shares repurchased

In September 2024, the Trustees approved the renewal of the repurchase program to allow the fund to repurchase up to 10% of its outstanding common shares over the 365 day period ending September 30, 2025 (based on shares outstanding as of September 30, 2024). Prior to this renewal, the Trustees had approved a repurchase program to allow the fund to repurchase up to 10% of its outstanding common shares over the 366 day period ending September 30, 2024 (based on shares outstanding as of September 30, 2023). Repurchases are made when the fund’s shares are trading at less than net asset value (and, therefore, increase the net asset value per share of the fund’s remaining shares) and in accordance with procedures approved by the fund’s Trustees.

For the reporting period, the fund repurchased 30,484 common shares for an aggregate purchase price of $107,871, which reflects a weighted-average discount from net asset value per share of 7.12%. The weighted-average discount reflects the payment of commissions by the fund to execute repurchase trades.

For the previous fiscal year, the fund repurchased 1,117,282 common shares for an aggregate purchase price of $3,872,140, which reflected a weighted-average discount from net asset value per share of 7.92%. The weighted-average discount reflected the payment of commissions by the fund to execute repurchase trades.

Premier Income Trust 55 

 



At the close of the reporting period, Putnam Investments, LLC owned approximately 5,642 shares of the fund (0.01% of the fund’s shares outstanding), valued at $21,270 based on net asset value.

Note 5: Affiliated transactions

Transactions during the reporting period with any company which is under common ownership or control, or involving securities of companies in which the fund owned at least 5% of the outstanding voting securities, were as follows:

          Change in     
          unrealized     
          appre-  Shares   
          ciation  outstanding  Fair 
  Fair value as  Purchase  Sale  Investment  (deprec-  and fair value  value as 
Name of affiliate  of 7/31/24  cost  proceeds  income  iation)  as of 1/31/25  of 1/31/25 
Short-term investments             
Putnam Government               
Money Market Fund               
Class P  $40,929,849  $56,883,825  $60,128,617  $785,947  $—  37,685,057  $37,685,057 
Putnam Short Term               
Investment Fund               
Class P  32,198,833  10,312,874  20,395,739  736,159    22,115,968  22,115,968 
Total Short-term               
investments  73,128,682  67,196,699  80,524,356  1,522,106      59,801,025 
Investment companies             
Franklin Ultra               
Short Bond ETF #    5,751,839    1,792  26,784  231,380  5,778,623 
Total investment               
companies    5,751,839    1,792  26,784    5,778,623 
Total  $73,128,682  $72,948,538  $80,524,356  $1,523,898  $26,784    $65,579,648 

 

Management fees paid by the fund are reduced by an amount equal to the management fees paid by Putnam Government Money Market Fund with respect to assets invested by the fund in Putnam Government Money Market Fund (Note 2). There were no realized or unrealized gains or losses during the period.

Management fees charged to Putnam Short Term Investment Fund have been waived by Franklin Advisers. There were no realized or unrealized gains or losses during the period.

# Management fees paid by the fund are reduced by an amount equal to the management fees paid by Franklin Ultra Short Bond ETF with respect to assets invested by the fund in Franklin Ultra Short Bond ETF (Note 2).

Note 6: Market, credit and other risks

In the normal course of business, the fund trades financial instruments and enters into financial transactions where risk of potential loss exists due to changes in the market (market risk) or failure of the contracting party to the transaction to perform (credit risk). The fund may be exposed to additional credit risk that an institution or other entity with which the fund has unsettled or open transactions will default. Investments in foreign securities involve certain risks, including those related to economic instability, unfavorable political developments, and currency fluctuations. The fund may invest in higher-yielding, lower-rated bonds that may have a higher rate of default. The fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in securitized debt instruments, including mortgage-backed and asset-backed investments. The yields and values of these investments are sensitive to changes in interest rates, the rate of principal payments on the underlying assets and the market’s perception of the issuers. The market for these investments may be volatile and limited, which may make them difficult to buy or sell.

56 Premier Income Trust 

 



Note 7: Senior loan commitments

Senior loans are purchased or sold on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis and may be settled a month or more after the trade date, which from time to time can delay the actual investment of available cash balances; interest income is accrued based on the terms of the securities. Senior loans can be acquired through an agent, by assignment from another holder of the loan, or as a participation interest in another holder’s portion of the loan. When the fund invests in a loan or participation, the fund is subject to the risk that an intermediate participant between the fund and the borrower will fail to meet its obligations to the fund, in addition to the risk that the borrower under the loan may default on its obligations.

Note 8: Summary of derivative activity

The volume of activity for the reporting period for any derivative type that was held during the period is listed below and was based on an average of the holdings at the end of each fiscal quarter:

Purchased swap option contracts (contract amount)  $464,400,000 
Written swap option contracts (contract amount)  $321,900,000 
Futures contracts (number of contracts)  400 
Forward currency contracts (contract amount)  $31,500,000 
OTC interest rate swap contracts (notional)  $1,600,000 
Centrally cleared interest rate swap contracts (notional)  $1,056,100,000 
OTC total return swap contracts (notional)  $2,400,000 
OTC credit default contracts (notional)  $13,900,000 
Centrally cleared credit default contracts (notional)  $19,000,000 

 

The following is a summary of the fair value of derivative instruments as of the close of the reporting period:

Fair value of derivative instruments as of the close of the reporting period   
  ASSET DERIVATIVES  LIABILITY DERIVATIVES 
Derivatives not         
accounted for as  Statement of    Statement of   
hedging instruments  assets and    assets and   
under ASC 815  liabilities location  Fair value  liabilities location  Fair value 
  Receivables, Net       
  assets — Unrealized       
Credit contracts  appreciation  $3,778,850 *  Payables  $1,380,060 
Foreign exchange         
contracts  Receivables  331,810  Payables  240,190 
  Investments,       
  Receivables, Net       
  assets — Unrealized    Payables, Net assets —   
Interest rate contracts  appreciation  10,646,984*  Unrealized depreciation  9,502,594* 
Total    $14,757,644    $11,122,844 

 

* Includes cumulative appreciation/depreciation of futures contracts and/or centrally cleared swaps as reported in the fund’s portfolio. Only current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of assets and liabilities.

Premier Income Trust 57 

 



The following is a summary of realized and change in unrealized gains or losses of derivative instruments in the Statement of operations for the reporting period (Note 1):

Amount of realized gain or (loss) on derivatives recognized in net gain or (loss) on investments   
Derivatives not accounted      Forward     
for as hedging instruments      currency     
under ASC 815  Options  Futures  contracts  Swaps  Total 
Credit contracts  $—  $—  $—  $(56,196)  $(56,196) 
Foreign exchange contracts      972,658    $972,658 
Interest rate contracts  (767,021)  (524,957)    1,319,310  $27,332 
Total  $(767,021)  $(524,957)  $972,658  $1,263,114  $943,794 
 
Change in unrealized appreciation or (depreciation) on derivatives recognized in net gain or (loss) 
on investments           
Derivatives not accounted      Forward     
for as hedging instruments      currency     
under ASC 815  Options  Futures  contracts  Swaps  Total 
Credit contracts  $—  $—  $—  $1,094,876  $1,094,876 
Foreign exchange contracts       (277,757)     $(277,757) 
Interest rate contracts  (1,489,423)  1,056,791     (1,567,562)  $(2,000,194) 
Total  $(1,489,423)  $1,056,791  $(277,757)  $(472,686)  $(1,183,075) 

 

58 Premier Income Trust 

 



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Premier Income Trust 59 

 



Note 9: Offsetting of financial and derivative assets and liabilities

The following table summarizes any derivatives, repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements, at the end of the reporting period, that are subject to an enforceable master netting agreement or similar agreement. For securities lending transactions or borrowing transactions associated with securities sold short, if any, see Note 1. For financial reporting purposes, the fund does not offset financial assets and financial liabilities that are subject to the master netting agreements in the Statement of assets and liabilities.

  Bank of America N.A. Barclays Bank PLC Barclays Capital, Inc. (clearing broker) BofA Securities, Inc. BNP Paribas Citibank, N.A. Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. Deutsche Bank AG Goldman Sachs International HSBC Bank PLC HSBC Bank USA, National Association JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. JPMorgan
Securities LLC
Merrill Lynch International Mizuho Capital Markets LLC Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC NatWest Markets PLC State Street Bank and Trust Co. Toronto- Dominion Bank UBS AG WestPac Banking Corp. Total
Assets:                                             
Centrally cleared                                             
interest rate                                             
swap contracts§  $ —  $ —  $ 1,593,037  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $ —  $1,593,037 
OTC Total return                                             
swap contracts*#                                             
OTC Credit default                                             
contracts —                                             
protection sold*#                                             
OTC Credit default                                             
contracts —                                             
protection                                             
purchased*#              1,706,194    53,028          237,996    183,937            2,181,155 
Centrally cleared                                             
credit default                                             
contracts§                                             
Futures                                             
contracts§                          61,991                  61,991 
Forward currency                                             
contracts#  30,402  15,892        34,021      118  24,290  29,477  25,365        32,585  5,115  56,854  61,531  14,828  1,332  331,810 
Forward premium                                             
swap option                                             
contracts#  100,181        8,954  218,868    93,020        2,927,336      144,294  524,208        352,994    4,369,855 
Total Assets  $130,583  $15,892  $1,593,037  $—  $8,954  $252,889  $1,706,194  $93,020  $53,146  $24,290  $29,477  $2,952,701  $61,991  $237,996  $144,294  $740,730  $5,115  $56,854  $61,531  $367,822  $1,332  $8,537,848 
Liabilities:                                             
Centrally cleared                                             
interest rate                                             
swap contracts§      1,498,558                                      1,498,558 
OTC Total return                                             
swap contracts*#                                56,034            56,034 
OTC Credit default                                             
contracts —                                             
protection sold*#  44,046            968,893    30,273        90,071  78,949    111,794            1,324,026 
OTC Credit default                                             
contracts —                                             
protection                                             
purchased*#                                             
Centrally cleared                                             
credit default                                             
contracts§      24,152                                      24,152 

 

60 Premier Income Trust  Premier Income Trust 61 

 



  Bank of America N.A. Barclays Bank PLC Barclays Capital, Inc. (clearing broker) BofA Securities, Inc. BNP Paribas Citibank, N.A. Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. Deutsche Bank AG Goldman Sachs International HSBC Bank PLC HSBC Bank USA, National Association JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. JPMorgan
Securities LLC
Merrill Lynch International Mizuho Capital Markets LLC Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC NatWest Markets PLC State Street Bank and Trust Co. Toronto- Dominion Bank UBS AG WestPac Banking Corp. Total
Futures                                             
contracts§  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $ 25,084  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $ 25,084 
Forward currency                                             
contracts#  36,350  8,287        6,574      68,162  742  27,261  809        25,457  5,043  1,138  301  59,878  188  240,190 
Forward premium                                             
swap option                                             
contracts#  313,998  342,958      15,019  95,795    264,066        1,856,510      137,440  1,142,891        156,210    4,324,887 
Total Liabilities  $394,394  $351,245  $1,522,710  $—  $15,019  $102,369  $968,893  $264,066  $98,435  $742  $27,261  $1,857,319  $115,155  $78,949  $137,440  $1,336,176  $5,043  $1,138  $301  $216,088  $188  $7,492,931 
Total Financial                                             
and Derivative                                             
Net Assets  $(263,811)  $(335,353)  $70,327  $—  $(6,065)  $150,520  $737,301  $(171,046)  $(45,289)  $23,548  $2,216  $1,095,382  $(53,164)  $159,047  $6,854  $(595,446)  $72  $55,716  $61,230  $151,734  $1,144  $1,044,917 
Total collateral                                             
received                                             
(pledged)†##  $(224,215)  $(312,852)  $—  $—  $—  $140,000  $689,000  $(171,046)  $—  $—  $2,216  $720,000  $(53,164)  $159,047  $—  $(595,446)  $—  $55,716  $61,230  $151,734  $—   
Net amount  $(39,596)  $(22,501)  $70,327  $—  $(6,065)  $10,520  $48,301  $—  $(45,289)  $23,548  $—  $375,382  $—  $—  $6,854  $—  $72  $—  $—  $—  $1,144   
Controlled                                             
collateral received                                             
(including TBA                                             
commitments)**  $—  $—  $—  $280,000  $—  $140,000  $689,000  $—  $—  $—  $104,184  $720,000  $358,000  $198,000  $—  $—  $—  $63,065  $100,000  $57,000  $—  $2,709,249 
Uncontrolled                                             
collateral received  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $144,823  $—  $144,823 
Collateral                                             
(pledged)                                             
(including TBA                                             
commitments)**  $(224,215)  $(312,852)  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $(204,043)  $—  $—  $—  $—  $(128,765)  $—  $—  $(604,447)  $—  $—  $—  $—  $—  $(1,474,322) 

 

* Excludes premiums, if any. Included in unrealized appreciation and depreciation on OTC swap contracts on the Statement of assets and liabilities.

** Included with Investments in securities on the Statement of assets and liabilities.

Additional collateral may be required from certain brokers based on individual agreements.

# Covered by master netting agreement (Note 1).

##Any over-collateralization of total financial and derivative net assets is not shown. Collateral may include amounts related to unsettled agreements.

§ Includes current day’s variation margin only as reported on the Statement of assets and liabilities, which is not collateralized. Cumulative appreciation/(depreciation) for futures contracts and centrally cleared swap contracts is represented in the tables listed after the fund’s portfolio. Collateral pledged for initial margin on futures contracts and centrally cleared swap contracts, which is not included in the table above, amounted to $595,260 and $4,053,445, respectively.

62 Premier Income Trust  Premier Income Trust 63 

 



Note 10: Operating segments

The fund has adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2023–07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280) — Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. The update is limited to disclosure requirements and does not impact the fund’s financial position or results of operations.

The fund operates as a single operating segment, which is an investment portfolio. The fund’s investment manager serves as the Chief Operating Decision Maker (CODM), evaluating fund-wide results and performance under a unified investment strategy. The CODM uses these measures to assess fund performance and allocate resources effectively. Internal reporting provided to the CODM aligns with the accounting policies and measurement principles used in the financial statements.

For information regarding segment assets, segment profit or loss, and significant expenses, refer to the Statement of assets and liabilities and the Statement of operations, along with the related notes to the financial statements. The fund’s portfolio provides details of the fund’s investments that generate returns such as interest, dividends, and realized and unrealized gains or losses. Performance metrics, including portfolio turnover and expense ratios, are disclosed in the Financial highlights.

64 Premier Income Trust 

 



Fund information

Investment Manager  Trustees  Michael J. Higgins 
Franklin Advisers, Inc.  Barbara M. Baumann, Chair  Vice President, Treasurer, 
One Franklin Parkway  Liaquat Ahamed  and Clerk 
San Mateo, CA 94403  Katinka Domotorffy   
  Catharine Bond Hill  Jonathan S. Horwitz 
Investment Sub-Advisors  Gregory G. McGreevey  Executive Vice President, 
Franklin Templeton Investment  Jennifer Williams Murphy  Principal Executive Officer, 
Management Limited  Marie Pillai  and Compliance Liaison 
Cannon Place, 78 Cannon Street  George Putnam III 
London, England EC4N 6HL  Robert L. Reynolds  Kelley Hunt 
Manoj P. Singh  AML Compliance Officer 
Putnam Investment  Mona K. Sutphen   
Management, LLC  Jane E. Trust  Monica Krogh 
100 Federal Street  Vice President and 
Boston, MA 02110  Officers  Assistant Treasurer 
Robert L. Reynolds   
Marketing Services  President, The Putnam Funds  Denere P. Poulack 
Franklin Distributors, LLC  Assistant Vice President, 
One Franklin Parkway  Kevin R. Blatchford  Assistant Clerk, and 
San Mateo, CA 94403  Vice President and  Assistant Treasurer 
Assistant Treasurer   
Custodian  Stephen J. Tate 
State Street Bank  James F. Clark  Vice President and 
and Trust Company  Vice President and  Chief Legal Officer 
Chief Compliance Officer   
Legal Counsel  Ryan Wheeler 
Ropes & Gray LLP  Graham Cole  Vice President and 
Vice President and  Assistant Treasurer 
  Assistant Treasurer   
  Jeffrey White 
  Lindsey Hicks  Vice President, 
  Vice President and  Principal Financial Officer, 
  Assistant Treasurer  Principal Accounting Officer, 
  and Assistant Treasurer 

 

Call 1-800-225-1581 Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, or visit putnam.com or franklintempleton.com anytime for up-to-date information about the fund’s NAV.




Item 2. Code of Ethics:

 

Not applicable

 

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert:

 

Not applicable

 

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services:

 

Not applicable

 

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants

 

Not applicable

 

Item 6. Investments:

 

The registrant’s schedule of investments in unaffiliated issuers is included in the Report to Stockholders in Item 1 above.

 

Item 7. Financial Statements and Financial Highlights for Open-End Management Investment Companies.

 

Not applicable

 

Item 8. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants for Open-End Management Investment Companies.

 

Not applicable

 

Item 9. Proxy Disclosure for Open-End Management Investment Companies.

 

Not applicable

 

Item 10. Remuneration Paid to Directors, Officers, and Others of Open-End Management Investment Companies.

 

Not applicable

 

Item 11. Statement Regarding Basis for Approval of Investment Advisory Contract.

 

Included in Item 1 above, as applicable

 

 

Item 12. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures For Closed-End Management Investment Companies:

 

Not applicable

 

Item 13. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Investment Companies

 

(a) Not applicable

 

 
 

(b) Effective September 30, 2024, Brett Kozlowski, Robert Davis and Robert Salvin are no longer Portfolio Managers of the fund and Patick A. Klein, Benjamin Cryer and Matthew J. Walkup were added as Portfolio Managers of the fund.

 

(a)(1) Portfolio Managers. The officers of the investment manager identified below are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the fund’s portfolio as of the filing date of this report.

 

Portfolio Managers Joined Fund

 

Employer

 

Positions Over Past Five Years

Albert Chan, CFA 2020

Franklin Advisors

2024 – Present

Putnam Investments

2002-2024

Portfolio Manager
Benjamin, Cryer, CFA 2024

Franklin Advisors

2006 – Present

Portfolio Manager

 

Patrick Klein, PhD 2024

Franklin Advisors

2005 – Present

Portfolio Manager
Michael Salm 2011

Franklin Advisors

2024 – Present

Putnam Investments

1997-2024

Portfolio Manager
Matthew Walkup 2024

Franklin Advisors

2005 – Present

Putnam Investments

2014-2024

Portfolio Manager

 

 

(a)(2) Other Accounts Managed by the Fund’s Portfolio Managers.

 

The following table shows the number and approximate assets of other investment accounts (or portions of investment accounts) that the fund’s Portfolio Managers managed as of the fund’s most recent fiscal year-end. Unless noted, none of the other accounts pays a fee based on the account’s performance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Portfolio Leader or Member

 

 

 

 

Other SEC-registered open-end and closed-end funds

 

 

 

 

Other accounts that pool assets from more than one client

 

Other accounts (including separate accounts, managed account programs and single-sponsor defined contribution plan offerings)

  Number of accounts Assets Number of accounts Assets Number of accounts Assets
Albert Chan 10 $9,973,600,000 8 $1,794,200,000 43* $2,791,600,000
Patrick Klein 21 $21,640,700,000 10 $2,596,700,000 15** $6,219,400,000
Michael Salm 25 $30,507,800,000 25*** $21,734,800,000 23**** $8,038,900,000
Benjamin Cryer 6 $4,415,700,000 3 $1,076,700,000 0 $—
Matthew Walkup 6 $2,870,600,000 1 $202,200,000 0 $—
 
 

 

* 1 account, with total assets of $421,500,000 pay an advisory fee based on account performance

**2 accounts, with total assets of $1,655.700,000 pay an advisory fee based on account performance

*** 1 account, with total assets of $11,900,000 pay an advisory fee based on account performance

**** 3 accounts, with total assets of $3,916,000,000 pay an advisory fee based on account performance

 

 

Potential conflicts of interest in managing multiple accounts. Like other investment professionals with multiple clients, the fund’s Portfolio Managers may face certain potential conflicts of interest in connection with managing both the fund and the other accounts listed under “Other Accounts Managed by the Fund’s Portfolio Managers” at the same time. The paragraphs below describe some of these potential conflicts, which the investment manager believes are faced by investment professionals at most major financial firms. As described below, the investment manager and the Trustees of the Putnam funds have adopted compliance policies and procedures that attempt to address certain of these potential conflicts.

 

The management of accounts with different advisory fee rates and/or fee structures, including accounts that pay advisory fees based on account performance (“performance fee accounts”), may raise potential conflicts of interest by creating an incentive to favor higher-fee accounts. These potential conflicts may include, among others:

 

• The most attractive investments could be allocated to higher-fee accounts or performance fee accounts.

• The trading of higher-fee accounts could be favored as to timing and/or execution price. For example, higher-fee accounts could be permitted to sell securities earlier than other accounts when a prompt sale is desirable or to buy securities at an earlier and more opportune time.

• The trading of other accounts could be used to benefit higher-fee accounts (front- running).

• The investment management team could focus their time and efforts primarily on higher-fee accounts due to a personal stake in compensation.

 

The investment manager attempts to address these potential conflicts of interest relating to higher-fee accounts through various compliance policies that are generally intended to place all accounts, regardless of fee structure, on the same footing for investment management purposes. For example, under the investment manager’s policies:

 

• Performance fee accounts must be included in all standard trading and allocation procedures with all other accounts.

• All accounts must be allocated to a specific category of account and trade in parallel with allocations of similar accounts based on the procedures generally applicable to all accounts in those groups (e.g., based on relative risk budgets of accounts).

 
 

• All trading must be effected through Putnam’s trading desks and normal queues and procedures must be followed (i.e., no special treatment is permitted for performance fee accounts or higher-fee accounts based on account fee structure).

• Front running is strictly prohibited.

• The fund’s Portfolio Manager(s) may not be guaranteed or specifically allocated any portion of a performance fee.

 

As part of these policies, the investment manager has also implemented trade oversight and review procedures in order to monitor whether particular accounts (including higher-fee accounts or performance fee accounts) are being favored over time.

Potential conflicts of interest may also arise when the Portfolio Manager(s) have personal investments in other accounts that may create an incentive to favor those accounts. As a general matter and subject to limited exceptions, the investment managers investment professionals do not have the opportunity to invest in client accounts, other than the Putnam funds. However, in the ordinary course of business, the investment manager or related persons may from time to time establish “pilot” or “incubator” funds for the purpose of testing proposed investment strategies and products prior to offering them to clients. These pilot accounts may be in the form of registered investment companies, private funds such as partnerships or separate accounts established by Putnam Management or an affiliate. The investment manager or an affiliate supplies the funding for these accounts. Putnam employees, including the fund’s Portfolio Manager(s), may also invest in certain pilot accounts. The investment manager, and to the extent applicable, the Portfolio Manager(s) will benefit from the favorable investment performance of those funds and accounts. Pilot funds and accounts may, and frequently do, invest in the same securities as the client accounts. The investment manager policy is to treat pilot accounts in the same manner as client accounts for purposes of trading allocation – neither favoring nor disfavoring them except as is legally required. For example, pilot accounts are normally included in the investment managers daily block trades to the same extent as client accounts (except that pilot accounts do not participate in initial public offerings).

 

A potential conflict of interest may arise when the fund and other accounts purchase or sell the same securities. On occasions when the Portfolio Manager(s) consider the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interests of the fund as well as other accounts, the investment managers trading desk may, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, aggregate the securities to be sold or purchased in order to obtain the best execution and lower brokerage commissions, if any. Aggregation of trades may create the potential for unfairness to the fund or another account if one account is favored over another in allocating the securities purchased or sold – for example, by allocating a disproportionate amount of a security that is likely to increase in value to a favored account. The investment manager trade allocation policies generally provide that each day’s transactions in securities that are purchased or sold by multiple accounts are, insofar as possible, averaged as to price and allocated between such accounts (including the fund) in a manner which in Franklin Advisers opinion is equitable to each account and in accordance with the amount being purchased or sold by each account. Certain exceptions exist for specialty, regional or sector accounts. Trade

 
 

allocations are reviewed on a periodic basis as part of the investment managers trade oversight procedures in an attempt to ensure fairness over time across accounts.

 

“Cross trades,” in which one Putnam account sells a particular security to another account (potentially saving transaction costs for both accounts), may also pose a potential conflict of interest. Cross trades may be seen to involve a potential conflict of interest if, for example, one account is permitted to sell a security to another account at a higher price than an independent third party would pay, or if such trades result in more attractive investments being allocated to higher-fee accounts. The investment manager and the fund’s Trustees have adopted compliance procedures that provide that any transactions between the fund and another Putnam-advised account are to be made at an independent current market price, as required by law.

 

Another potential conflict of interest may arise based on the different investment objectives and strategies of the fund and other accounts. For example, another account may have a shorter-term investment horizon or different investment objectives, policies or restrictions than the fund. Depending on another account’s objectives or other factors, the Portfolio Manager(s) may give advice and make decisions that may differ from advice given, or the timing or nature of decisions made, with respect to the fund. In addition, investment decisions are the product of many factors in addition to basic suitability for the particular account involved. Thus, a particular security may be bought or sold for certain accounts even though it could have been bought or sold for other accounts at the same time. More rarely, a particular security may be bought for one or more accounts managed by the Portfolio Manager(s) when one or more other accounts are selling the security (including short sales). There may be circumstances when purchases or sales of portfolio securities for one or more accounts may have an adverse effect on other accounts. As noted above, the investment manager has implemented trade oversight and review procedures to monitor whether any account is systematically favored over time.

 

The fund’s Portfolio Manager(s) may also face other potential conflicts of interest in managing the fund, and the description above is not a complete description of every conflict that could be deemed to exist in managing both the fund and other accounts.

 

(a)(3) Compensation of portfolio managers. The Investment Manager seeks to maintain a compensation program that is competitively positioned to attract, retain and motivate top-quality investment professionals. Portfolio managers receive a base salary, a cash incentive bonus opportunity, an equity compensation opportunity, and a benefits package. Portfolio manager compensation is reviewed annually, and the level of compensation is based on individual performance, the salary range for a portfolio manager’s level of responsibility and Franklin Templeton guidelines. Portfolio managers are provided no financial incentive to favor one fund or account over another. Each portfolio manager’s compensation consists of the following three elements:

Base salary  Each portfolio manager is paid a base salary.

 
 

Annual bonus  Annual bonuses are structured to align the interests of the portfolio manager with those of the Fund’s shareholders. Each portfolio manager is eligible to receive an annual bonus. Bonuses generally are split between cash (50% to 65%) and restricted shares of Franklin Resources, Inc (“Resources”) stock and mutual fund shares. The deferred equity-based compensation is intended to build a vested interest of the portfolio manager in the financial performance of both Resources and mutual funds advised by the Investment Manager. The bonus plan is intended to provide a competitive level of annual bonus compensation that is tied to the portfolio manager achieving consistently strong investment performance, which aligns the financial incentives of the portfolio manager and Fund shareholders. The Chief Investment Officer of the Investment Manager and/or other officers of the Investment Manager, with responsibility for the Fund, have discretion in the granting of annual bonuses to portfolio managers in accordance with Franklin Templeton guidelines. The following factors are generally used in determining bonuses under the plan:

 

Investment performance.  Primary consideration is given to the historic investment performance over the 1, 3 and 5 preceding years of all accounts managed by the portfolio manager. The pre-tax performance of each fund managed is measured relative to a relevant peer group and/or applicable benchmark as appropriate.
Non-investment performance.  The more qualitative contributions of the portfolio manager to the Investment Manager’s business and the investment management team, including professional knowledge, productivity, responsiveness to client needs and communication, are evaluated in determining the amount of any bonus award.
Responsibilities.  The characteristics and complexity of funds managed by the portfolio manager are factored in the Investment Manager’s appraisal.

 

Additional long-term equity-based compensation  Portfolio managers may also be awarded restricted shares or units of Resources stock or restricted shares or units of one or more mutual funds. Awards of such deferred equity-based compensation typically vest over time, so as to create incentives to retain key talent.

Benefits  Portfolio managers also participate in benefit plans and programs available generally to all employees of the Investment Manager.

(a)(4) Fund ownership. The following table shows the dollar ranges of shares of the fund owned by the professionals listed above at the end of the fund’s last two fiscal years, including investments by their immediate family members and amounts invested through retirement and deferred compensation plans.

 

*: Assets in the fund

 

 

 

Year $0 $0-$10,000 $10,001-$50,000 $50,001-$100,000 $100,001-$500,000 $500,001-$1,000,000 $1,000,001 and over
Michael Salm 2024 *            
  2023 *            
Patrick Klein 2024# *            
                 
Benjamin Cryer 2024# *            
                 
Albert Chan 2024 *            
  2023 *            
Matthew Walkup 2024# *            
                 
 
 

 

#Portfolio Manager of the fund effective September 30, 2024.

 

 

 

Item 14. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Companies and Affiliated Purchasers:

 

Registrant Purchase of Equity Securities    
        Maximum
      Total Number Number (or
      of Shares Approximate
      Purchased Dollar Value )
      as Part of Shares
      of Publicly that May Yet Be
  Total Number Average Announced Purchased
  of Shares Price Paid Plans or under the Plans
Period Purchased per Share Programs* or Programs**
         
August 1 - August 31, 2024 8,835,850
September 1 - September 30, 2024 8,835,850
October 1 - October 31, 2024 9,559,802
November 1 - November 30, 2024 30,484 $3.54 30,484 9,529,318
December 1 - December 31, 2024 9,529,318
January 1 - January 31, 2025 9,529,318
         

 

* In October 2005, the Board of Trustees of the Putnam Funds initiated the closed-end fund share repurchase program, which, as subsequently amended, authorized the fund to repurchase of up to 10% of its fund's outstanding common shares over the two-years ending October 5, 2007. The Trustees have subsequently renewed the program on an annual basis. The program renewed by the Board in September 2023, which was in effect between October 1, 2023 and September 30, 2024, allowed the fund to repurchase up to 9,643,172 of its shares. The program renewed by the Board in September 2024, which is in effect between October 1, 2024 and September 30, 2025, allows the fund to repurchase up to 9,559,802 of its shares.

 

**Information prior to October 1, 2024, is based on the total number of shares eligible for repurchase under the program, as amended through September 2023. Information from October 1, 2024 forward is based on the total number of shares eligible for repurchase under the program, as amended through September 2024.

 
 

 

 

 

Item 15. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders:

 

Not applicable

 

Item 16. Controls and Procedures:

 

(a) The registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded, based on their evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report, that the design and operation of such procedures are generally effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the registrant in this report is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission's rules and forms.

 

 

(b) Changes in internal control over financial reporting: Not applicable

 

Item 17. Disclosures of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Investment Companies:

 

Not Applicable

 

Item 18. Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation.

 

Not Applicable

 

 

Item 19. Exhibits:

 

(a)(1) Not applicable

 

(a)(2) Not applicable

 

(a)(3) A separate certification for each principal executive and principal financial officer of the registrant as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(a)), are filed herewith.

 

 

(b) The certifications required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, are filed herewith.

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Putnam Premier Income Trust

 

By (Signature and Title):

 
 

 

/s/Jeffrey White

Jeffrey White

Principal Accounting Officer

 

Date: March 27, 2025

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By (Signature and Title):

 

/s/Jonathan S. Horwitz

Jonathan S. Horwitz

Principal Executive Officer

 

Date: March 27, 2025

 

 

By (Signature and Title):

 

/s/Jeffrey White

Jeffrey White

Principal Financial Officer

 

Date: March 27, 2025