Franklin Templeton Funds - Merger of the FTF Martin Currie Asia Unconstrained Fund into the FTF Templeton Global Emerging Markets Fund

Following the extraordinary general meeting (“EGM”) of shareholders in the FTF Martin Currie Asia Unconstrained Fund on Friday 28^th February 2025 at 11:30am, we can confirm that we have received shareholder approval to merge the FTF Martin Currie Asia Unconstrained Fund into the FTF Templeton Global Emerging Markets Fund. The merger will be effective as of 12.01 pm on Friday 14^th March (the “merger effective date”). A copy of the minutes from the EGM can be accessed here at the ‘Key documents’ section of this page.

As a reminder to our shareholders, as the EGM has now taken place and the merger has been approved, no further votes on the merger can be accepted.

For further information please refer to the merger document pack. Other key dates relating to the merger can also be accessed here at the `Summary of the merger and key dates' section of this page. As noted in the merger document pack, we will write to all shareholders with confirmation of the number and class of shares that they have been issued in the FTF Templeton Global Emerging Markets Fund within 10 business days of the merger effective date.

We are proposing to merge the FTF Martin Currie Asia Unconstrained Fund (the "Merging Fund") into the FTF Templeton Global Emerging Markets Fund (the "Receiving Fund") (the "Merger"). Both the Merging Fund and the Receiving Fund are sub-funds of the Franklin Templeton Funds umbrella fund range. 

We are proposing the Merger in the best interests of our shareholders, as currently, both the Merging Fund and the Receiving Fund are relatively small with broadly similar investment objectives and geographic exposure, but by merging these funds we believe we can generate immediate cost reduction benefits for Shareholders (by spreading fixed running costs across a larger number of Shareholders) and improve the prospects of growing the Receiving Fund in the future which may generate further cost reductions, through economies of scale, in the longer term.

In order to progress with the Merger, the Merger needs to be approved by shareholders in the Merging Fund. Approval will be sought at an Extraordinary General Meeting (often abbreviated to ‘EGM’) of shareholders in the Merging Fund which is being held at 11:30 AM on Friday, 28th February 2025 at Franklin Templeton’s London office: Cannon Place, 78 Cannon Street, London EC4N 6HL.

More information about the EGM, including who is eligible to vote, and how to vote, is set out in the Merger document pack which is found at the end of this webpage.

If 75% of the votes which are validly cast at the EGM are cast in favour of the Merger, it will be approved to go ahead. We consider that the proposed Merger is in the best interest of investors in the Merging Fund and would urge investors to exercise their right to vote in the EGM. If you have questions about the proposed Merger, or would like to attend the EGM in person please contact our Client Service team. You can do this:

• By email to [email protected]; or
• By telephone UK freephone on 0800 305 306, or +44(0)20 7904 1843 if you are outside the UK (telephone calls may be recorded); or
• By writing to us at: Franklin Templeton, PO Box 24064, Edinburgh, EH3 1EX.

If you would like to speak to our team on the telephone, lines are open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5.30pm.

If you need any additional support to help you understand this letter, or any of our communications, please let the Client Service team know, and they will do their best to help you.

We will keep this webpage updated with the latest details about the proposal, including the results of the EGM – so please do check regularly to make sure you have the latest information available to you.

We believe that the proposed Merger is in the best interests of Shareholders as it is expected to deliver cost reduction benefits and has the potential to deliver good outcomes for Shareholders in the longer term.

We urge all investors in the Merging Fund to read the Merger document pack which has been posted to you, and which is also linked to in the “Key documents” section of this webpage. If you have any questions please contact our Client Service team who can be reached:

• By email to [email protected]; or
• By telephone UK freephone on 0800 305 306, or +44(0)20 7904 1843 if you are outside the UK (telephone calls may be recorded); or
• By writing to us at: Franklin Templeton, PO Box 24064, Edinburgh, EH3 1EX.

If you would like to speak to our team on the telephone, lines are open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5.30pm.