497K 1 filing57815779.htm PRIMARY DOCUMENT

January 1, 2013

Before you invest, you may want to review the Fund's prospectus, which contains more information about the Fund and its risks. You can find the Fund’s prospectus, statement of additional information and other information about the Fund online at www.franklintempleton.com/prospectus. You can also get this information at no cost by calling (800) DIAL BEN/342-5236 or by sending an e-mail request to prospectus@franklintempleton.com. The Fund's prospectus and statement of additional information, both dated January 1, 2013, as may be supplemented, are all incorporated by reference into this Summary Prospectus.


Class A Class B Class C Advisor Class
TCWAX TCWBX TCWCX TACWX
 

SUMMARY PROSPECTUS

Templeton
China World Fund

Templeton

Investment Goal

Long-term capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts in Class A if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Franklin Templeton funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and under “Your Account” on page 27 in the Fund's Prospectus and under “Buying and Selling Shares” on page 43 of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.


SHAREHOLDER FEES (fees paid directly from your investment)
    Class A  Class B1  Class C  Advisor
Class 
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as percentage of offering price)  5.75%  None  None  None 
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as percentage of the lower of original purchase price or sale proceeds)  None  4.00%  1.00%  None 

1. New or additional investments into Class B are no longer permitted.



ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
    Class A  Class B  Class C  Advisor
Class 
Management fees  1.10%  1.10%  1.10%  1.10% 
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees  0.30%  1.00%  0.99%  None 
Other expenses  0.47%  0.47%  0.47%  0.47% 
Total annual Fund operating expenses  1.87%  2.57%  2.56%  1.57% 


Example

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of the period. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

    1 Year  3 Years  5 Years  10 Years 
Class A    $ 754  $ 1,129  $ 1,528  $ 2,639 
Class B    $ 660  $ 1,099  $ 1,565  $ 2,734 
Class C    $ 359  $ 796  $ 1,360  $ 2,895 
Advisor Class    $ 160  $ 496  $ 855  $ 1,867 
If you do not sell your shares: 
Class B    $ 260  $ 799  $ 1,365  $ 2,734 
Class C    $ 259  $ 796  $ 1,360  $ 2,895 

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual Fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 7.13% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in securities of "China companies." The Fund invests primarily in the equity securities of China companies, which are those:

  • that are organized under the laws of, or with a principal office in, the People's Republic of China (China), Hong Kong or Taiwan; or
  • for which the principal trading market is in China, Hong Kong or Taiwan; or
  • that derive at least 50% of their revenues from goods or services sold or produced, or have at least 50% of their assets, in China.

The equity securities in which the Fund invests are primarily common stock. The Fund also invests in American, Global and European Depositary Receipts. China companies may be any size, and include smaller capitalization companies. In addition to the Fund's main investments, the Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in securities that do not qualify as China company securities, but whose issuers, in the judgment of the investment manager, are expected to benefit from developments in the economy of China, Hong Kong or Taiwan. The Fund is a "non-diversified" fund, which means it generally invests a greater proportion of its assets in the securities of one or more issuers and invests overall in a smaller number of issuers than a diversified fund.

When choosing equity investments for the Fund, the investment manager applies a fundamental research, value-oriented, long-term approach, focusing on the market price of a company’s securities relative to the investment manager’s evaluation of the company’s long-term earnings, asset value and cash flow potential. The investment manager also considers a company’s profit and loss outlook, balance sheet strength, cash flow trends and asset value in relation to the current price.

Principal Risks

You could lose money by investing in the Fund. Mutual fund shares are not deposits or obligations of, or guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank, and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board, or any other agency of the U.S. government.

Foreign Securities   Investing in foreign securities typically involves more risks than investing in U.S. securities, and includes risks associated with: political and economic developments - the political, economic and social structures of some foreign countries may be less stable and more volatile than those in the U.S.; trading practices - government supervision and regulation of foreign security and currency markets, trading systems and brokers may be less than in the U.S.; availability of information - foreign issuers may not be subject to the same disclosure, accounting and financial reporting standards and practices as U.S. issuers; limited markets - the securities of certain foreign issuers may be less liquid (harder to sell) and more volatile; and currency exchange rate fluctuations and policies. Although not typically subject to currency exchange rate risk, depositary receipts may be subject to the same risks as foreign securities generally. The risks of foreign investments typically are greater in less developed countries or emerging market countries.

There are special risks associated with investments in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, including exposure to currency fluctuations, less liquidity, expropriation, confiscatory taxation, nationalization and exchange control regulations (including currency blockage). Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation and interest rates have had, and may continue to have, negative effects on the economy and securities markets of China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. In addition, investments in Taiwan could be adversely affected by its political and economic relationship with China. China, Hong Kong and Taiwan are deemed by the investment manager to be emerging markets countries, which means an investment in these countries have more heightened risks than general foreign investing due to a lack of established legal, political, business and social frameworks in these countries to support securities markets.

Region Focus   Because the Fund invests its assets primarily in companies in a specific region, the Fund is subject to greater risks of adverse developments in that region and/or the surrounding regions than a fund that is more broadly diversified geographically. Political, social or economic disruptions in the region, even in countries in which the Fund is not invested, may adversely affect the value of securities values held by the Fund.

Market   The market values of securities owned by the Fund will go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. A security’s market value may be reduced by market activity or other results of supply and demand unrelated to the issuer. This is a basic risk associated with all securities. When there are more sellers than buyers, prices tend to fall. Likewise, when there are more buyers than sellers, prices tend to rise.

Individual stock prices tend to go up and down more dramatically than those of other types of investments. A slower-growth or recessionary economic environment could have an adverse effect on the prices of the various stocks held by the Fund.

Smaller Companies   Securities issued by smaller companies may be more volatile in price than those of larger companies, involve substantial risks and should be considered speculative. Such risks may include greater sensitivity to economic conditions, less certain growth prospects, lack of depth of management and funds for growth and development and limited or less developed product lines and markets. In addition, smaller companies may be particularly affected by interest rate increases, as they may find it more difficult to borrow money to continue or expand operations, or may have difficulty in repaying any loans.

Non-Diversification   Because the Fund is non-diversified, it may be more sensitive to economic, business, political or other changes affecting similar issuers or investments than a diversified fund, which may result in greater fluctuation in the value of the Fund’s shares and greater risk of loss.

Value Style Investing   A value stock may not increase in price as anticipated by the investment manager if other investors fail to recognize the company's value and bid up the price, the markets favor faster-growing companies, or the factors that the investment manager believes will increase the price of the security do not occur.

Management   The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed investment portfolio. The Fund's investment manager applies investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Fund, but there can be no guarantee that these decisions will produce the desired results.

Performance

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund's performance from year to year for Class A shares. The table shows how the Fund's average annual returns for 1 year, 5 years, 10 years or since inception, as applicable, compared with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. You can obtain updated performance information at franklintempleton.com or by calling (800) DIAL BEN/342-5236.

Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown.

CLASS A ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS


Best Quarter:  Q2'09  32.45% 
Worst Quarter:  Q3'11  -21.23% 
As of September 30, 2012, the Fund's year-to-date return was 6.61%. 



AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS
(figures reflect sales charges)
For the periods ended December 31, 2011
    1 Year  5 Years  10 Years 
Templeton China World Fund - Class A         
         Return Before Taxes  -18.50%  4.66%  16.53% 
         Return After Taxes on Distributions  -18.53%  3.90%  15.84% 
         Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares  -11.59%  3.83%  14.77% 
Templeton China World Fund - Class B    -17.54%  4.84%  16.59% 
Templeton China World Fund - Class C    -15.00%  5.18%  16.44% 
Templeton China World Fund - Advisor Class    -13.27%  6.23%  17.61% 
MSCI Golden Dragon Index (index reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)  -18.36%  1.60%  8.55% 

Historical performance for the Fund prior to its conversion from a closed-end fund to an open-end fund in 2003 is based on the performance of the Fund's predecessor closed-end fund. The Fund's performance has been adjusted to reflect differences in all charges, fees and expenses between the Fund and the predecessor closed-end fund.

The after-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are shown only for Class A and after-tax returns for other classes will vary.

Investment Manager

Templeton Asset Management Ltd. (Asset Management)

Portfolio Managers

MARK MOBIUS, PH.D.   Executive Chairman of Templeton Emerging Markets Group, Portfolio Manager of Asset Management and portfolio manager of the Fund since inception (1993).

EDDIE CHOW, CFA   Investment Analyst of Asset Management and portfolio manager of the Fund since 2002.

ALLAN LAM   Portfolio Manager of Asset Management and portfolio manager of the Fund since 2011.

DENNIS LIM   Co-Chief Executive Officer and Director of Asset Management and portfolio manager of the Fund since 2011.

TOM WU   Director of Asset Management and portfolio manager of the Fund since 2011.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

You may purchase or redeem shares of the Fund on any business day online through our website at franklintempleton.com, by mail (Franklin Templeton Investor Services, P.O. Box 33030, St. Petersburg, FL 33733-8030), or by telephone at (800) 632-2301. The minimum initial purchase for most accounts is $1,000 (or $50 under an automatic investment plan).

Taxes

The Fund’s distributions are generally taxable to you as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and
Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your financial advisor or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.


Franklin Templeton Investments

Franklin Templeton Distributors, Inc.
One Franklin Parkway
San Mateo, CA 94403-1906
franklintempleton.com

Templeton
China World Fund

Investment Company Act file #811-07876

© 2013 Franklin Templeton Investments. All rights reserved.

188 PSUM 01/13

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