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Franklin Templeton Introduces First Suite of Passive ETFs

October 30, 2017

16 Single Country and Regional ETFs Will Be Available to US Investors

SAN MATEO, Calif., Oct. 30, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Franklin Templeton Investments today announced that it will introduce its first passive ETFs, with an initial suite of 16 single country and regional market-cap weighted ETFs. These ETFs will be listed on NYSE Arca on Monday, November 6, in one of the largest simultaneous listings on the NYSE in the last decade.

These new passive ETFs will allow investors to gain exposure to a specific region or country at a low, cost-effective fee. The funds’ expense ratios are among the lowest in the industry for their respective categories, empowering more investors with the ability and options to realize the full potential of beta-driven solutions. The suite consists of ETFs that will target exposures to developed countries at an expense ratio of 0.09% and emerging markets at 0.19%.

“In 2016, we began executing upon a multi-year strategy to create a world class ETF business, building an experienced ETF team and leveraging the deep expertise and resources of Franklin Templeton Investments,” said Jenny Johnson, president and COO of Franklin Resources, Inc. “Following successful launches of our Franklin LibertyShares™ ETF platform in the US, Canada and Europe, we are now introducing a suite of passive ETFs covering both single country and regional exposures.”

Patrick O’Connor, head of Global ETFs for Franklin Templeton Investments, added that, “Our goal is to provide investors with the flexibility to construct diversified portfolios across active, smart beta and passive ETF strategies. Our new suite of passive ETFs will provide a cost-effective way to access beta solutions, further rounding out our offerings for US investors."

Dina Ting, vice president and senior portfolio manager, and Louis Hsu, vice president and portfolio manager, Global ETFs, will manage the suite of country and regional ETFs, which will include:

                  Ticker ETF Name Expense
 Ratio %
                                             
  FLAU Franklin FTSE Australia ETF 0.09% 
  FLCA Franklin FTSE Canada ETF 0.09% 
  FLEE Franklin FTSE Europe ETF 0.09% 
  FLEH Franklin FTSE Europe Hedged ETF 0.09% 
  FLFR Franklin FTSE France ETF 0.09% 
  FLGR Franklin FTSE Germany ETF 0.09% 
  FLHK Franklin FTSE Hong Kong ETF 0.09% 
  FLIY Franklin FTSE Italy ETF 0.09% 
  FLJP Franklin FTSE Japan ETF 0.09% 
  FLJH Franklin FTSE Japan Hedged ETF 0.09% 
  FLGB    Franklin FTSE United Kingdom ETF 0.09% 
  FLKR Franklin FTSE South Korea ETF 0.09% 
  FLBR Franklin FTSE Brazil ETF 0.19% 
  FLCH Franklin FTSE China ETF 0.19% 
  FLMX Franklin FTSE Mexico ETF 0.19% 
  FLTW Franklin FTSE Taiwan ETF 0.19% 

The new ETFs will be market cap-weighted and benchmarked to country and regional indices from FTSE Russell, leveraging the global index provider’s capabilities and expertise across developed and emerging markets. FTSE Russell is one of the largest index providers in the marketplace globally, with approximately $15 trillion in assets currently benchmarked to its indices.

“We continue to see significant interest from our clients in passive and smart beta strategies that complement our active fund management capabilities,” added Johnson. “Franklin Templeton remains committed to offering a comprehensive suite of investment strategies and solutions that will provide clients with broad access across investment styles, asset classes and geographies. This is an exciting new chapter in our 70-year history as we evolve our capabilities to address our clients’ needs in the ETF arena.”

Johnson and O’Connor will join a group of Franklin Templeton Investments executives in ringing the NYSE opening bell on November 6, 2017 to mark the commencement of trading of this suite of passive ETFs.

Through its Franklin LibertyShares ETF platform, the firm currently offers an actively managed suite of equity and fixed income ETFs, and a smart beta suite covering both US and international equity markets. Franklin LibertyShares has over $938 million in assets under management globally as of September 30, 2017.

Visit Franklin LibertyShares’ Capital Markets Corner for insights on ETF investing or libertyshares.com for general information on the firm’s ETFs.

Important Information about the Funds

All investments involve risks, including possible loss of principal. Special risks are associated with foreign investing, including currency fluctuations, economic instability and political developments. Investments in developing markets involve heightened risks related to the same factors, in addition to those associated with these markets’ smaller size, lesser liquidity and lack of established legal, political, business and social frameworks to support securities markets. Because the funds invest their assets primarily in companies in a specific country or region a fund may also experience greater volatility than a fund that is more broadly diversified geographically. The non-diversified funds may invest in a relatively small number of issuers and, as a result, be subject to a greater risk of loss with respect to their portfolio securities. Derivatives, including currency management strategies, involve costs and can create economic leverage in the portfolio which may result in significant volatility and cause a fund to participate in losses on an amount that exceeds the fund’s initial investment. A fund may not achieve the anticipated benefits, and may realize losses when a counterparty fails to perform as promised. These and other risk considerations are discussed in the funds’ prospectus.

ETFs trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may trade at prices above or below the ETF’s net asset value. Brokerage commissions and ETF expenses will reduce returns.

ETF shares may be bought or sold throughout the day at their market price, not their Net Asset Value (NAV), on the exchange on which they are listed. Shares of ETFs are tradable on secondary markets and may trade either at a premium or a discount to their NAV on the secondary market.

Investors should carefully consider a fund’s investment goals, risks, charges and expenses before investing. To obtain a summary prospectus and/or prospectus, which contains this and other information, talk to your financial advisor, call us at (800) DIAL BEN/342-5236 or visit libertyshares.com. Please carefully read a prospectus before you invest or send money.

All rights in the FTSE indices (the “Indices”) vest in FTSE International Limited (“FTSE”). “FTSE®” is a trade mark of the London Stock Exchange Group companies and is used by FTSE under license. The Franklin FTSE ETFs (the "ETFs") have been developed solely by Franklin Templeton. The Index is calculated by FTSE or its agent. FTSE and its licensors are not connected to and do not sponsor, advise, recommend, endorse or promote the ETFs and do not accept any liability whatsoever to any person arising out of (a) the use of, reliance on or any error in the Indices or (b) investment in or operation of the ETFs. FTSE makes no claim, prediction, warranty or representation either as to the results to be obtained from the ETFs or the suitability of the Index for the purpose to which it is being put by Franklin Templeton.

About Franklin Templeton Investments

The funds’ principal underwriter is Franklin Templeton Distributors, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN), a global investment management organization operating as Franklin Templeton Investments. Franklin Templeton Investments provides global and domestic investment management to retail, institutional and sovereign wealth clients in over 170 countries. Through specialized teams, the company has expertise across all asset classes – including equity, fixed income, alternative and custom solutions. The company’s more than 650 investment professionals are supported by its integrated, worldwide team of risk management professionals and global trading desk network. With offices in over 30 countries, the California-based company has 70 years of investment experience and over $753 billion in assets under management as of September 30, 2017. For more information, please visit franklintempleton.com.

Copyright © 2017. Franklin Templeton Investments. All rights reserved.

  

From:  Franklin Templeton Investments
Corporate Communications:  Pholida Barclay, (212) 632-3204, pholida.barclay@franklintempleton.com 
Prosek Partners:  Cary Ruterman, (212) 279-3115 x123, cruterman@prosek.com
libertyshares.com

Source: Franklin Resources, Inc.