GOF P10 11/20
SUPPLEMENT DATED NOVEMBER 5, 2020
TO THE CURRENTLY EFFECTIVE PROSPECTUSES
OF EACH OF THE FUNDS LISTED BELOW
Franklin Alternative Strategies Funds
Franklin K2 Alternative Strategies Fund
Franklin K2 Long Short Credit Fund
Franklin California Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin California Tax-Free Trust
Franklin California Intermediate-Term Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Custodian Funds
Franklin DynaTech Fund
Franklin Focused Growth Fund
Franklin Growth Fund
Franklin Income Fund
Franklin U.S. Government Securities Fund
Franklin Utilities Fund
Franklin Federal Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Fund Allocator Series
Franklin Corefolio Allocation Fund
Franklin Founding Funds Allocation Fund
Franklin LifeSmart™ Retirement Income Fund
Franklin LifeSmart™ 2020 Retirement Target Fund
Franklin LifeSmart™ 2025 Retirement Target Fund
Franklin LifeSmart™ 2030 Retirement Target Fund
Franklin LifeSmart™ 2035 Retirement Target Fund
Franklin LifeSmart™ 2040 Retirement Target Fund
Franklin LifeSmart™ 2045 Retirement Target Fund
Franklin LifeSmart™ 2050 Retirement Target Fund
Franklin LifeSmart™ 2055 Retirement Target Fund
Franklin Conservative Allocation Fund
Franklin Moderate Allocation Fund
Franklin Growth Allocation Fund
Franklin Payout 2020 Fund
Franklin Payout 2021 Fund
Franklin Payout 2022 Fund
Franklin Payout 2023 Fund
Franklin International Core Equity (IU) Fund
Franklin U.S. Core Equity (IU) Fund
Franklin Emerging Market Core Equity (IU) Fund
Franklin Global Trust
Franklin Emerging Markets Debt Opportunities Fund
Franklin International Growth Fund
Franklin International Small Cap Growth Fund
Franklin Gold and Precious Metals Fund
Franklin High Income Trust
Franklin High Income Fund
Franklin Investors Securities Trust
Franklin Adjustable U.S. Government Securities Fund
Franklin Convertible Securities Fund
Franklin Equity Income Fund
Franklin Floating Rate Daily Access Fund
Franklin Low Duration Total Return Fund
Franklin Managed Income Fund
Franklin Total Return Fund
Franklin Managed Trust
Franklin Rising Dividends Fund
Franklin Municipal Securities Trust
Franklin California High Yield Municipal Fund
Franklin Tennessee Municipal Bond Fund
Franklin Mutual Series Funds
Franklin Mutual Beacon Fund
Franklin Mutual European Fund
Franklin Mutual Financial Services Fund
Franklin Mutual Global Discovery Fund
Franklin Mutual Quest Fund
Franklin Mutual Shares Fund
Franklin New York Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin New York Tax-Free Trust
Franklin New York Intermediate-Term Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Real Estate Securities Trust
Franklin Real Estate Securities Fund
Franklin Strategic Mortgage Portfolio
Franklin Strategic Series
Franklin Biotechnology Discovery Fund
Franklin Growth Opportunities Fund
Franklin Natural Resources Fund
Franklin Small Cap Growth Fund
Franklin Small-Mid Cap Growth Fund
Franklin Strategic Income Fund
Franklin Templeton SMACS: Series E
Franklin Templeton SMACS: Series I
Franklin Templeton SMACS: Series CH
Franklin Templeton SMACS: Series H
Franklin Tax-Free Trust
Franklin Federal Intermediate-Term Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Federal Limited-Term Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin High Yield Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Massachusetts Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin New Jersey Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Alabama Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Florida Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Georgia Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Kentucky Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Louisiana Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Maryland Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Missouri Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Municipal Green Bond Fund
Franklin North Carolina Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Virginia Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Arizona Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Colorado Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Connecticut Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Michigan Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Minnesota Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Ohio Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Oregon Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Pennsylvania Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin U.S. Government Money Fund
Franklin Value Investors Trust
Franklin MicroCap Value Fund
Franklin Mutual U.S. Value Fund
Franklin Small Cap Value Fund
Templeton China World Fund
Templeton Developing Markets Trust
Templeton Funds
Templeton Foreign Fund
Templeton World Fund
Templeton International Climate Change Fund
Templeton Global Investment Trust
Templeton Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund
Templeton Global Balanced Fund
Templeton Global Smaller Companies Fund
Templeton Growth Fund, Inc.
Templeton Income Trust
Templeton Emerging Markets Bond Fund
Templeton Global Bond Fund
Templeton Global Total Return Fund
Templeton International Bond Fund
Templeton Institutional Funds
Foreign Smaller Companies Series
International Equity Series
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I. The first paragraph under the “Your Account – Account Policies – Accounts with Low Balances” section of the prospectus is replaced with the following:
If your account has been open for more than one year and its value falls below $500, we will mail you a notice asking you to bring the account back up to its applicable minimum investment amount. If you choose not to do so within 30 days, we will close your account and proceeds will be sent by Electronic Fund Transfer (ACH) to your bank information on file. If we do not have this information, proceeds will be mailed to the address of record. You will not be charged a CDSC if your account is closed for this reason. This policy does not apply to: (1) certain broker-controlled accounts established through the National Securities Clearing Corporation’s Networking system; (2) Class A or A1 accounts established pursuant to a conversion from Class C or C1, and any remaining Class C or C1 accounts involved in the conversion, with a low balance due to the conversion; (3) tax-deferred retirement plan accounts; (4) active automatic investment plan accounts; (5) accounts in an Advisory Fee Program; (6) accounts held through a 529 college savings program; (7) Coverdell Education Savings Plan accounts; and (8) accounts currently maintained via robo advice driven services where account investments and reallocations are done through an automated, algorithm-driven platform.
II. The “Your Account – Account Policies – Dealer Compensation – Purchases of certain share classes through financial intermediaries – Other financial intermediary compensation” section of the prospectus is replaced with the following:
Other financial intermediary compensation Except with respect to Class R6 shares, Distributors may make marketing support payments (a portion of which may be reimbursable under the terms of the Fund's Rule 12b-1 distribution plans) to certain dealers and other financial intermediaries, such as banks, insurance companies, or plan administrators, in connection with their efforts to educate financial advisors or provide other services which may facilitate, directly or indirectly, investment in Franklin Templeton mutual funds. In the case of any one intermediary, marketing support payments generally will not exceed 0.05% of the total assets of Franklin Templeton mutual funds attributable to that intermediary, on an annual basis. For an intermediary exceeding $50 billion in total assets of Franklin Templeton mutual funds, Distributors may agree to make annual marketing support payments up to a limit of 0.06% of such assets. In other limited circumstances, Distributors or an affiliate will have alternative arrangements with an intermediary that provide for payments in excess of the 0.05% limitation, which may include arrangements based on assets or sales of the funds, combined assets or sales of related funds, or other criteria. Marketing support payments made to organizations located outside the U.S., with respect to investments in the Fund by non-U.S. persons, also may exceed this limitation. Any assets held on behalf of Employer Sponsored Retirement Plans for which payment is made to a financial intermediary pursuant to the following paragraph will be excluded from the calculation of marketing support payments pursuant to this paragraph. You should contact your financial intermediary to determine the amount of any compensation it may receive from Distributors or its affiliates.
Except with respect to Class R6 shares, Distributors and/or its affiliates may also make payments (a portion of which may be reimbursable under the terms of the Fund’s Rule 12b-1 distribution plans) to certain financial intermediaries in connection with their activities that are intended to assist in the sale of shares of Franklin Templeton mutual funds, directly or indirectly, to certain Employer Sponsored Retirement Plans. In the case of any one financial intermediary, such payments will not exceed 0.10% of the total assets of Franklin Templeton mutual funds held, directly or indirectly, by such Employer Sponsored Retirement Plans, on an annual basis.
A number of factors will be considered in determining these payments, including the qualifying financial intermediary’s sales, assets and redemption rates, the nature and quality of any servicing provided by the financial intermediary, and the quality of the financial intermediary’s relationship with Distributors. Distributors will, on an annual basis, determine the advisability of continuing these payments. These payments may be in addition to any shareholder servicing fees paid by the Fund’s transfer agent from payments it receives under its agreement with the Fund.
To the extent permitted by SEC and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority rules and other applicable laws and regulations, Distributors may, in addition to marketing support payments, pay or allow other promotional incentives or payments to financial intermediaries, such as payments related to transaction support, various financial intermediary-sponsored events intended to educate financial advisers and their clients about the Franklin Templeton mutual funds, and data analytics and support.
Sales of Fund shares, as well as shares of other mutual funds in Franklin Templeton, is not considered a factor in the selection of financial intermediaries to execute the Fund’s portfolio transactions. Accordingly, the allocation of portfolio transactions for execution by financial intermediaries that sell Fund shares is not considered marketing support payments to such financial intermediaries.
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You can find further details in the SAI about the payments made by Distributors and the services provided by your financial advisor. Your financial advisor may charge you additional fees or commissions other than those disclosed in this prospectus. You should ask your financial advisor for information about any payments it receives from Distributors and any services it provides, as well as about fees and/or commissions it charges.
III. The “Appendix A – Ameriprise Financial” section in the prospectus is replaced with the following:
CLASS A AND CLASS C PURCHASES THROUGH AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL
Automatic exchange of Class C shares. Class C shares will automatically exchange to Class A shares in the month of the 10-year anniversary of the purchase date. Effective January 15, 2021, the anniversary year of the purchase date will change to 7-years.
Class A Shares Front-End Sales Charge Waivers Available at Ameriprise Financial:
The following information applies to Class A shares purchases if you have an account with or otherwise purchase Fund shares through Ameriprise Financial:
Effective June 1, 2018, shareholders purchasing Fund shares through an Ameriprise Financial platform or account will be eligible for the following front-end sales charge waivers and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this Fund’s prospectus or SAI:
· Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs or SAR-SEPs.
· Shares purchased through an Ameriprise Financial investment advisory program (if an Advisory or similar share class for such investment advisory program is not available).
· Shares purchased by third party investment advisors on behalf of their advisory clients through Ameriprise Financial’s platform (if an Advisory or similar share class for such investment advisory program is not available).
· Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same Fund (but not any other fund within the same fund family).
· Shares exchanged from Class C shares of the same fund in the month of or following the 10-year anniversary of the purchase date (effective January 15, 2021, the anniversary year of the purchase date will change to 7-years). To the extent that this prospectus elsewhere provides for a waiver with respect to such shares following a shorter holding period, that waiver will apply to exchanges following such shorter period. To the extent that this prospectus elsewhere provides for a waiver with respect to exchanges of Class C shares for load waived shares, that waiver will also apply to such exchanges.
· Employees and registered representatives of Ameriprise Financial or its affiliates and their immediate family members.
· Shares purchased by or through qualified accounts (including IRAs, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, 401(k)s, 403(b) TSCAs subject to ERISA and defined benefit plans) that are held by a covered family member, defined as an Ameriprise financial advisor and/or the advisor’s spouse, advisor’s lineal ascendant (mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, great grandmother, great grandfather), advisor’s lineal descendant (son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter, great grandson, great granddaughter) or any spouse of a covered family member who is a lineal descendant.
· Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (i.e. Rights of Reinstatement).
IV. The “Appendix A – Edward J. Jones & Co.” section in the prospectus is replaced with the following:
Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. ("EDWARD JONES")
Policies Regarding Transactions Through Edward Jones
Effective on or after December 1, 2020, the following information supersedes prior information with respect to transactions and positions held in fund shares through an Edward Jones system. Clients of Edward Jones (also referred to as “shareholders”) purchasing fund shares on the Edward Jones commission and fee-based platforms are eligible only for the following sales charge discounts (also referred to as “breakpoints”) and waivers, which can differ from discounts and waivers described elsewhere in the mutual fund prospectus or statement of additional information ("SAI") or through another broker-dealer. In all instances, it is the shareholder’s responsibility to inform Edward Jones at the time of purchase of any relationship, holdings of the Franklin Templeton and Legg Mason Funds, or other facts qualifying the purchaser for discounts or waivers. Edward Jones can ask for documentation of such circumstance. Shareholders should contact Edward Jones if they have questions regarding their eligibility for these discounts and waivers.
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Breakpoints
· Breakpoint pricing, otherwise known as volume pricing, at dollar thresholds as described in the prospectus.
Rights of Accumulation ("ROA")
· The applicable sales charge on a purchase of Class A shares is determined by taking into account all share classes (except any assets held in group retirement plans) of the Franklin Templeton and Legg Mason Funds held by the shareholder or in an account grouped by Edward Jones with other accounts for the purpose of providing certain pricing considerations (“pricing groups”). If grouping assets as a shareholder, this includes all share classes held on the Edward Jones platform and/or held on another platform. The inclusion of eligible fund family assets in the ROA calculation is dependent on the shareholder notifying Edward Jones of such assets at the time of calculation.
· The employer maintaining a SEP IRA plan and/or SIMPLE IRA plan may elect to establish or change ROA for the IRA accounts associated with the plan to a plan-level grouping as opposed to including all share classes at a shareholder or pricing group level.
· ROA is determined by calculating the higher of cost minus redemptions or market value (current shares x NAV).
Letter of Intent ("LOI")
·
Through a LOI, shareholders can receive the sales charge and
breakpoint discounts for purchases shareholders intend to make over a 13-month
period from the date Edward Jones receives the LOI. The LOI is determined by
calculating the higher of cost or market value of qualifying holdings at LOI
initiation in combination with the value that the shareholder intends to buy
over a 13-month period to calculate the front-end sales charge and any
breakpoint discounts. Each purchase the shareholder makes during that 13-month period
will receive the sales charge and breakpoint discount that applies to the total
amount. The inclusion of eligible fund family assets in the LOI calculation is
dependent on the shareholder notifying Edward Jones of such assets at the time
of calculation. Purchases made before the LOI is received by Edward Jones are
not adjusted under the LOI and will not reduce the sales charge previously paid.
Sales charges will be adjusted if LOI is not met.
· If the employer maintaining a SEP IRA plan and/or SIMPLE IRA plan has elected to establish or change ROA for the IRA accounts associated with the plan to a plan-level grouping, LOIs will also be at the plan-level and may only be established by the employer.
Sales Charge Waivers
Sales charges are waived for the following shareholders and in the following situations:
· Associates of Edward Jones and its affiliates and their family members who are in the same pricing group (as determined by Edward Jones under its policies and procedures) as the associate. This waiver will continue for the remainder of the associate’s life if the associate retires from Edward Jones in good-standing and remains in good standing pursuant to Edward Jones' policies and procedures.
· Shares purchased in an Edward Jones fee-based program.
· Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment.
· Shares purchased from the proceeds of redeemed shares of the same fund family so long as the following conditions are met: 1) the proceeds are from the sale of shares within 60 days of the purchase, and 2) the sale and purchase are made in the same share class and the same account or the purchase is made in an individual retirement account with proceeds from liquidations in a non-retirement account.
· Shares exchanged into Class A shares from another share class so long as the exchange is into the same fund and was initiated at the discretion of Edward Jones. Edward Jones is responsible for any remaining CDSC due to the fund company, if applicable. Any future purchases are subject to the applicable sales charge as disclosed in the prospectus.
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· Exchanges from Class C shares to Class A shares of the same fund, generally, in the 84th month following the anniversary of the purchase date or earlier at the discretion of Edward Jones.
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge ("CDSC") Waivers
If the shareholder purchases shares that are subject to a CDSC and those shares are redeemed before the CDSC is expired, the shareholder is responsible to pay the CDSC except in the following conditions:
· The death or disability of the shareholder.
· Systematic withdrawals with up to 10% per year of the account value.
· Return of excess contributions from an Individual Retirement Account (IRA).
· Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts if the redemption is taken in or after the year the shareholder reaches qualified age based on applicable IRS regulations.
· Shares sold to pay Edward Jones fees or costs in such cases where the transaction is initiated by Edward Jones.
· Shares exchanged in an Edward Jones fee-based program.
· Shares acquired through NAV reinstatement.
· Shares redeemed at the discretion of Edward Jones for Minimum Balances, as described below.
Minimum Purchase Amounts
· Initial purchase minimum: $250
· Subsequent purchase minimum: none
Minimum Balances
· Edward Jones has the right to redeem at its discretion fund holdings with a balance of $250 or less. The following are examples of accounts that are not included in this policy:
o A fee-based account held on an Edward Jones platform
o A 529 account held on an Edward Jones platform
o An account with an active systematic investment plan or letter of intent (LOI)
Exchanging Share Classes
· At any time it deems necessary, Edward Jones has the authority to exchange at NAV a shareholder’s holdings in a fund to Class A shares of the same fund.
Please keep this supplement with your prospectus for future reference.
GOF SA5 11/20
SUPPLEMENT DATED NOVEMBER 5, 2020
TO THE CURRENTLY EFFECTIVE STATEMENTS OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
OF EACH OF THE FUNDS LISTED BELOW
Franklin Alternative Strategies Funds
Franklin K2 Alternative Strategies Fund
Franklin K2 Long Short Credit Fund
Franklin California Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin California Tax-Free Trust
Franklin California Intermediate-Term Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Custodian Funds
Franklin DynaTech Fund
Franklin Focused Growth Fund
Franklin Growth Fund
Franklin Income Fund
Franklin U.S. Government Securities Fund
Franklin Utilities Fund
Franklin Federal Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Fund Allocator Series
Franklin Corefolio Allocation Fund
Franklin Founding Funds Allocation Fund
Franklin LifeSmart™ Retirement Income Fund
Franklin LifeSmart™ 2020 Retirement Target Fund
Franklin LifeSmart™ 2025 Retirement Target Fund
Franklin LifeSmart™ 2030 Retirement Target Fund
Franklin LifeSmart™ 2035 Retirement Target Fund
Franklin LifeSmart™ 2040 Retirement Target Fund
Franklin LifeSmart™ 2045 Retirement Target Fund
Franklin LifeSmart™ 2050 Retirement Target Fund
Franklin LifeSmart™ 2055 Retirement Target Fund
Franklin Conservative Allocation Fund
Franklin Moderate Allocation Fund
Franklin Growth Allocation Fund
Franklin Payout 2020 Fund
Franklin Payout 2021 Fund
Franklin Payout 2022 Fund
Franklin Payout 2023 Fund
Franklin International Core Equity (IU) Fund
Franklin U.S. Core Equity (IU) Fund
Franklin Emerging Market Core Equity (IU) Fund
Franklin Global Trust
Franklin Emerging Markets Debt Opportunities Fund
Franklin International Growth Fund
Franklin International Small Cap Growth Fund
Franklin Gold and Precious Metals Fund
Franklin High Income Trust
Franklin High Income Fund
Franklin Investors Securities Trust
Franklin Adjustable U.S. Government Securities Fund
Franklin Convertible Securities Fund
Franklin Equity Income Fund
Franklin Floating Rate Daily Access Fund
Franklin Low Duration Total Return Fund
Franklin Managed Income Fund
Franklin Total Return Fund
Franklin Managed Trust
Franklin Rising Dividends Fund
Franklin Municipal Securities Trust
Franklin California High Yield Municipal Fund
Franklin Tennessee Municipal Bond Fund
Franklin Mutual Series Funds
Franklin Mutual Beacon Fund
Franklin Mutual European Fund
Franklin Mutual Financial Services Fund
Franklin Mutual Global Discovery Fund
Franklin Mutual Quest Fund
Franklin Mutual Shares Fund
Franklin New York Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin New York Tax-Free Trust
Franklin New York Intermediate-Term Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Real Estate Securities Trust
Franklin Real Estate Securities Fund
Franklin Strategic Mortgage Portfolio
Franklin Strategic Series
Franklin Biotechnology Discovery Fund
Franklin Growth Opportunities Fund
Franklin Natural Resources Fund
Franklin Small Cap Growth Fund
Franklin Small-Mid Cap Growth Fund
Franklin Strategic Income Fund
Franklin Templeton SMACS: Series E
Franklin Templeton SMACS: Series I
Franklin Templeton SMACS: Series CH
Franklin Templeton SMACS: Series H
Franklin Tax-Free Trust
Franklin Federal Intermediate-Term Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Federal Limited-Term Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin High Yield Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Massachusetts Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin New Jersey Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Alabama Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Florida Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Georgia Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Kentucky Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Louisiana Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Maryland Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Missouri Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Municipal Green Bond Fund
Franklin North Carolina Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Virginia Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Arizona Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Colorado Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Connecticut Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Michigan Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Minnesota Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Ohio Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Oregon Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin Pennsylvania Tax-Free Income Fund
Franklin U.S. Government Money Fund
Franklin Value Investors Trust
Franklin MicroCap Value Fund
Franklin Mutual U.S. Value Fund
Franklin Small Cap Value Fund
Templeton China World Fund
Templeton Developing Markets Trust
Templeton Funds
Templeton Foreign Fund
Templeton World Fund
Templeton International Climate Change Fund
Templeton Global Investment Trust
Templeton Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund
Templeton Global Balanced Fund
Templeton Global Smaller Companies Fund
Templeton Growth Fund, Inc.
Templeton Income Trust
Templeton Emerging Markets Bond Fund
Templeton Global Bond Fund
Templeton Global Total Return Fund
Templeton International Bond Fund
Templeton Institutional Funds
Foreign Smaller Companies Series
International Equity Series
1
I. In the “Officers and Trustees – Interested Board Members and Officers” table in the Statement of Additional Information (SAI), references to Robert C. Rosselot, if any, are removed, and the following is added:
Name, Year of Birth and Address |
Position |
Length of Time Served |
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Board Member |
Other Directorships Held During at Least the Past 5 Years |
Breda M. Beckerle (1958) 280 Park Avenue New York, NY 10017 |
Chief Compliance Officer |
Since October 2020 |
Not Applicable |
Not Applicable |
Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: Chief Compliance Officer, Fiduciary Investment Management International, Inc., Franklin Advisers, Inc., Franklin Advisory Services, LLC, Franklin Mutual Advisers, LLC, Franklin Templeton Institutional, LLC; and officer of 41 of the investment companies in Franklin Templeton. |
II. The “Officers and Trustees – Board role in risk oversight” or “Officers and Directors – Board role in risk oversight” (as applicable) section of the SAI is replaced with the following:
Board role in risk oversight The board, as a whole, considers risk management issues as part of its general oversight responsibilities throughout the year at regular board meetings, through regular reports that have been developed by management, in consultation with the board and its counsel. These reports address certain investment, valuation, liquidity and compliance matters. The board also may receive special written reports or presentations on a variety of risk issues (e.g., COVID-19 related issues), either upon the board’s request or upon the investment manager’s initiative. In addition, the Audit Committee of the board meets regularly with the investment manager’s internal audit group to review reports on their examinations of functions and processes within Franklin Templeton that affect the Fund.
With respect to investment risk, the board receives regular written reports describing and analyzing the investment performance of the Fund. In addition, the portfolio managers of the Fund meet regularly with the board to discuss portfolio performance, including investment risk. To the extent that the Fund changes a particular investment strategy that could have a material impact on the Fund’s risk profile, the board generally is consulted with respect to such change. To the extent that the Fund invests in certain complex securities, including derivatives, the board receives periodic reports containing information about exposure of the Fund to such instruments. In addition, the investment manager’s investment risk personnel meet regularly with the board to discuss a variety of issues, including the impact on the Fund of the investment in particular securities or instruments, such as derivatives and commodities.
With respect to valuation, the Fund’s administrator provides regular written reports to the board that enable the board to monitor the number of fair valued securities in a particular portfolio, the reasons for the fair valuation and the methodology used to arrive at the fair value. The board also reviews dispositional analysis information on the sale of securities that require special valuation considerations such as illiquid or fair valued securities. In addition, the Fund’s Audit Committee reviews valuation procedures and results with the Fund’s auditors in connection with such Committee’s review of the results of the audit of the Fund’s year-end financial statements.
With respect to liquidity risk, the board receives regular liquidity risk management reports under the Fund’s Liquidity Risk Management (LRM) Program that include information concerning illiquid securities within the Fund’s portfolio. The board also reviews, no less frequently than annually, a written report prepared by the LRM Program Administrator that addresses, among other items, the operation of the LRM Program and assesses its adequacy and effectiveness of implementation as well as any material changes to the LRM Program.
With respect to compliance risks, the board receives regular compliance reports prepared by the investment manager’s compliance group and meets regularly with the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) to discuss compliance issues, including compliance risks. In accordance with SEC rules, the independent board members meet regularly in executive session with the CCO, and the Fund’s CCO prepares and presents an annual written compliance report to the board. The Fund’s board adopts compliance policies and procedures for the Fund and approves such procedures for the Fund’s service providers. The compliance policies and procedures are specifically designed to detect and prevent violations of the federal securities laws.
The investment manager periodically provides an enterprise risk management presentation to the board to describe the way in which risk is managed on a complex-wide level. Such presentation covers such areas as investment risk, reputational risk, personnel risk, and business continuity risk.
2
III. The “Fair Valuation and Liquidity” section of the prospectus is replaced with the following:
Fair Valuation
The Fund’s board of trustees has delegated to the investment manager the task of ensuring that regulatory guidelines governing the fair valuation for securities are applied to the Fund. The Fund’s administrator has formed a Valuation Committee (VC) to oversee these obligations. The VC oversees and administers the policies and procedures governing fair valuation determination of securities. The VC meets monthly to review and approve fair value reports and conduct other business, and meets whenever necessary to review potential significant market events and take appropriate steps to adjust valuations in accordance with established policies. The VC provides regular reports that document its activities to the board of trustees for its review and approval of pricing determinations at scheduled meetings.
The Fund's policies and procedures governing fair valuation determination of securities have been initially reviewed and approved by the board of trustees and any material amendments will also be reviewed and approved by the board. The investment manager's compliance staff conducts periodic reviews of compliance with the policies and provides at least annually a report to the board of trustees regarding the operation of the policies and any material changes recommended as a result of such review.
IV. The “Buying and Selling Shares – Initial Sales Charges – Purchases of certain share classes through financial intermediaries – Marketing Support Payments” section in the prospectus is replaced with the following:
Marketing support payments (applicable to all classes of shares except Class R6). Distributors may make payments to certain financial intermediaries in connection with their efforts to educate financial advisors and provide services which may facilitate, directly or indirectly, investment in Franklin Templeton mutual funds. A financial intermediary’s marketing support services may include business planning assistance, advertising, educating financial intermediary personnel about Franklin Templeton mutual funds and shareholder financial planning needs, placement on the financial intermediary’s list of offered funds, and access to sales meetings, sales representatives and management representatives of the financial intermediary. Distributors compensates financial intermediaries differently depending upon, among other factors, sales and assets levels, redemption rates and the level and/or type of marketing and educational activities provided by the financial intermediary. Such compensation may include financial assistance to financial intermediaries that enable Distributors to participate in and/or present at conferences or seminars, sales or training programs for invited registered representatives and other employees, client and investor events and other financial intermediary-sponsored events. These payments may vary depending upon the nature of the event. Distributors will, on an annual basis, determine whether to continue such payments. In the case of any one financial intermediary, marketing support payments generally will not exceed 0.05% of the total assets of Franklin Templeton mutual funds attributable to that financial intermediary, on an annual basis. For a financial intermediary exceeding $50 billion in total assets of Franklin Templeton mutual funds, Distributors may agree to make annual marketing support payments up to a limit of 0.06% of such assets. In other limited circumstances, Distributors or an affiliate will have alternative arrangements with an intermediary that provide for payments in excess of the 0.05% limitation, which may include arrangements based on assets or sales of the funds, combined assets or sales of related funds, or other criteria. Any assets held on behalf of Employer Sponsored Retirement Plans for which payment is made to a financial intermediary pursuant to the following paragraph will be excluded from the calculation of marketing support payments pursuant to this paragraph.
Distributors may also make marketing support payments to financial intermediaries in connection with their activities that are intended to assist in the sale of shares of Franklin Templeton mutual funds, directly or indirectly, to certain Employer Sponsored Retirement Plans that have retained such financial intermediaries as plan service providers. Payments may be made on account of activities that may include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: business planning assistance for financial intermediary personnel, educating financial intermediary personnel about Franklin Templeton mutual funds, access to sales meetings, sales representatives, wholesalers, and management representatives of the financial intermediary, and detailed sales reporting. A financial intermediary may perform the services itself or may arrange with a third party to perform the services. In the case of any one financial intermediary, such payments will not exceed 0.10% of the total assets of Franklin Templeton mutual funds held, directly or indirectly, by such Employer Sponsored Retirement Plans, on an annual basis. Distributors will, on an annual basis, determine whether to continue such payments.
Consistent with the provisions and limitations set forth in its Rule 12b-1 distribution plans, the Fund may reimburse Distributors for the cost of a portion of these marketing support payments.
3
Marketing support payments may be in addition to any servicing and other fees paid by Investor Services, as described further below and under “Management and Other Services - Shareholder servicing and transfer agent” above.
The following list includes FINRA member firms (or, in some instances, their respective affiliates) that, as of March 31, 2020, Distributors anticipates will receive marketing support payments. In addition to member firms of FINRA, Distributors also makes marketing support payments, and Distributors’ non-fund affiliates may make administrative services payments, to certain other financial intermediaries, such as banks, insurance companies, and plan administrators, that sell mutual fund shares or provide services to Franklin Templeton mutual funds and shareholders. These firms may not be included in this list. You should ask your financial intermediary if it receives such payments.
ADP Retirement Services, American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc., American Enterprise Investment Services, Inc., American United Life Insurance Company, Ascensus, Inc., AXA Advisors, LLC, BBVA Securities, Inc., Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc., Cadaret Grant & Co., Inc., Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., Cetera Advisors LLC, Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, Cetera Financial Specialists LLC, Cetera Investment Services LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., Citizens Securities, Inc., Commonwealth Financial Network, CUNA Brokerage Services, Inc., CUSO Financial Services, L.P., Digital Retirement Solutions, Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. (dba Edward Jones), Empower Retirement, ePlan Services, Inc., Fidelity Investments Institutional Operations Company, Inc., First Allied Securities, Inc., First Command Financial Planning, Inc., FPS Services LLC, FSC Securities Corporation, Goldman, Sachs & Co., Group 3 Financial LLC, Investacorp, Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, John Hancock Distributors LLC, KMS Financial Services, Inc., Lincoln Financial Advisors Corporation, Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation, Lincoln Investment Planning, Inc., Lincoln Retirement Services Company LLC, LPL Financial LLC, M&T Securities, Inc., Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc., Minnesota Life Insurance Company, MML Investors Services, LLC, Morgan Stanley, MSCS Financial Services LLC, Nationwide Financial Services, Inc., Newport Retirement Services, Inc., NEXT Financial Group, Inc., Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC, Paychex Securities Corporation, PFS Investments Inc., PNC Investments LLC, Principal Financial Group, Prudential Insurance Company of America, Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., RBC Capital Markets LLC, Robert W. Baird & Co., Inc., Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., SagePoint Financial, Inc., Securities America, Inc., Securities Service Network, Inc., Sorrento Pacific Financial, LLC, Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, TD Ameritrade Trust Company, TFS Securities, Inc., The Huntington Investment Company, The Investment Center, Inc., TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC, Transamerica Advisors Life Insurance Company, Transamerica Retirement Solutions Corporation, Triad Advisors, Inc., UBS Financial Services Inc., UnionBanc Investment Services, LLC, U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc., Voya Financial Advisors, Inc., Voya Institutional Plan Services LLP, Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC and Woodbury Financial Services, Inc.
Marketing support payments made to organizations located outside the U.S., with respect to investments in the Fund by non-U.S. persons, may exceed the above-stated limitation.
In addition to marketing support payments, to the extent permitted by SEC and FINRA rules and other applicable laws and regulations, Distributors may from time to time at its expense make or allow other promotional incentives or additional payments to financial intermediaries that sell or arrange for the sale of shares of the Fund. These payments may include additional compensation to financial intermediaries, including financial intermediaries not listed above, related to transaction support, various financial intermediary-sponsored events intended to educate financial advisers and their clients about the Franklin Templeton mutual funds, and data analytics and support.
Please keep this supplement with your SAI for future reference.
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