Schedule 14A Information
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(A) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
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Templeton Emerging Markets Fund
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TEMPLETON EMERGING MARKETS FUND
IMPORTANT SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
These materials are for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Meeting”) scheduled for March 1, 2016, at 12 Noon, Eastern time. The enclosed materials discuss the proposals (the “Proposals” or each, a “Proposal”) to be voted on at the Meeting, and contain the Notice of Meeting, proxy statement and proxy card. A proxy card is, in essence, a ballot. When you vote your proxy, it tells us how you wish to vote on important issues relating to Templeton Emerging Markets Fund (the “Fund”). If you specify a vote on a Proposal, your proxy will be voted as you indicate. If you specify a vote on a Proposal, but not all Proposals, your proxy will be voted as specified on such Proposal and, on the Proposal for which no vote is specified, your proxy will be voted FOR such Proposal. If you simply sign, date and return the proxy card, but do not specify a vote on any Proposal, your proxy will be voted FOR the Proposals.
We urge you to spend a few minutes reviewing the Proposals in the proxy statement. Then, please fill out and sign the proxy card and return it to us so that we know how you would like to vote. When shareholders return their proxies promptly, the Fund may be able to save money by not having to conduct additional mailings.
We welcome your comments. If you have any questions, call Fund Information at (800) DIAL BEN®/342-5236.
TELEPHONE AND INTERNET VOTING
For your convenience, you may be able to vote by telephone or through the Internet, 24 hours a day. If your account is eligible, instructions are enclosed.
TEMPLETON EMERGING MARKETS FUND
NOTICE OF 2016 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
The Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Meeting”) of Templeton Emerging Markets Fund (the “Fund”) will be held at the Fund’s offices, 300 S.E. 2nd Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301-1923 on March 1, 2016, at 12 Noon, Eastern time.
During the Meeting, shareholders of the Fund will vote on the following Proposals:
1. The election of four Trustees of the Fund to hold office for the terms specified.
2. The ratification of the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2016.
By Order of the Board of Trustees,
Lori A. Weber
Vice President and Secretary
December 30, 2015
Please sign and promptly return the proxy card or voting instruction form in the enclosed self-addressed envelope regardless of the number of shares you own. If you have any questions, call Fund Information at (800) DIAL BEN®/342-5236.
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE SHAREHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON MARCH 1, 2016
The Fund’s Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders, Proxy Statement and form of Proxy are available on the Internet at www.astproxyportal.com/ast/19931/. The form of Proxy on the Internet site cannot be used to cast your vote.
PROXY STATEMENT
¿ INFORMATION ABOUT VOTING
Who is asking for my vote?
The Board of Trustees of Templeton Emerging Markets Fund (the “Fund”), in connection with the Fund’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Meeting”), has requested your vote.
Who is eligible to vote?
Shareholders of record at the close of business on December 11, 2015, are entitled to be present and to vote at the Meeting or any adjourned Meeting. Each share of record is entitled to one vote (and a proportionate fractional vote for each fractional share) on each matter presented at the Meeting. The Notice of Meeting, the proxy statement, and the proxy card were first mailed to shareholders of record on or about December 30, 2015.
On what issues am I being asked to vote?
You are being asked to vote on two Proposals:
1. The election of four Trustees of the Fund; and
2. The ratification of the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2016.
How do the Fund’s Trustees recommend that I vote?
The Trustees unanimously recommend that you vote FOR the election of the four nominees for Trustee and FOR the ratification of the selection of PwC as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2016.
How do I ensure that my vote is accurately recorded?
You may attend the Meeting and vote in person or you may complete and return the enclosed proxy card. If you are eligible to vote by telephone or through the Internet, instructions are enclosed.
Proxy cards that are properly signed, dated and received at or prior to the Meeting will be voted as specified. If you specify a vote on any of the Proposals, your proxy will be voted as you indicate. If you simply sign, date and return the proxy card, but do not specify a vote on either Proposal 1 or 2, your shares will be voted FOR the election of all nominees for Trustee and FOR the ratification of the selection of PwC as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2016.
May I revoke my proxy?
You may revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted by forwarding a written revocation or a later-dated proxy to the Fund that is received by the Fund at or prior to the Meeting, or by attending the Meeting and voting in person.
What if my shares are held in a brokerage account?
If your shares are held by your broker, then in order to vote in person at the Meeting, you will need to obtain a “Legal Proxy” from your broker and present it to the Inspector of Election at the Meeting. Also, in order to revoke your proxy, you may need to forward your written revocation or a later-dated proxy card to your broker rather than to the Fund.
May I attend the Meeting in Person?
Shareholders of record at the close of business on December 11, 2015 are entitled to attend the Meeting. Eligible shareholders who intend to attend the Meeting in person will need to bring proof of share ownership, such as a shareholder statement or a letter from a custodian or broker-dealer confirming ownership, as of December 11, 2015 and a valid picture identification, such as a driver’s license or passport, for admission to the Meeting. Seating is very limited. Shareholders without proof of ownership and identification will not be admitted.
¿ THE PROPOSALS
PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF TRUSTEES
How are nominees selected?
The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the “Board” or the “Trustees”) has a Nominating Committee consisting of Edith E. Holiday (Chairperson), Frank J. Crothers and Frank A. Olson, none of whom is an “interested person” of the Fund as defined by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). Trustees who are not interested persons of the Fund are referred to as the “Independent Trustees,” and Trustees who are interested persons of the Fund are referred to as the “Interested Trustees.”
The Nominating Committee is responsible for selecting candidates to serve as Trustees and recommending such candidates (a) for selection and nomination as Independent Trustees by the incumbent Independent Trustees and the full Board; and (b) for selection and nomination as Interested Trustees by the full Board. In considering a candidate’s qualifications, the Nominating Committee generally considers the potential candidate’s educational background, business or professional experience, and reputation. In addition, the Nominating Committee has established as minimum qualifications for Board membership as an Independent Trustee: (1) that such candidate be independent from relationships with the Fund’s investment manager and other principal service providers both within the terms and the spirit of the statutory independence requirements specified under the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder; (2) that such candidate demonstrate an ability and willingness to make the considerable time commitment, including personal attendance at Board meetings, believed necessary to his or her function as an effective Board member; and (3) that such candidate have no continuing relationship as a director, officer or board member of any U.S. registered investment company other than those within the Franklin Templeton Investments fund complex or a closed-end business development company primarily investing in non-public entities. The Nominating Committee has not adopted any specific policy on the issue of diversity, but will take this into account, among other factors, in its consideration of new candidates to the Board.
When the Board has or expects to have a vacancy, the Nominating Committee receives and reviews information on individuals qualified to be recommended to the full Board as nominees for election as Trustees, including any recommendations by “Qualifying Fund Shareholders” (as defined below). Such individuals are evaluated based upon the criteria described above. To date, the Nominating Committee has been able to identify, and expects to continue to be able to identify, from its own resources an ample number of qualified candidates. The Nominating Committee, however, will review recommendations from Qualifying Fund Shareholders to fill vacancies on the Board if these recommendations are submitted in writing and addressed to the Nominating Committee at the Fund’s offices and are presented with appropriate background material concerning the candidate that demonstrates his or her ability to serve as a Trustee, including as an Independent Trustee, of the Fund. A Qualifying Fund Shareholder is a shareholder who (i) has continuously owned of record, or beneficially through a financial intermediary, shares of the Fund having a net asset value of not less than two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) during the twenty-four month period prior to submitting the recommendation; and (ii) provides a written notice to the Nominating Committee containing the following information: (a) the name and address of the Qualifying Fund Shareholder making the recommendation; (b) the number of shares of the Fund which are owned of record and beneficially by the Qualifying Fund Shareholder and the length of time that the shares have been owned by the Qualifying Fund Shareholder; (c) a description of all arrangements and understandings between the Qualifying Fund Shareholder and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the recommendation is being made; (d) the name, age, date of birth, business address and residence address of the person or persons being recommended; (e) such other information regarding each person recommended by the Qualifying Fund Shareholder as would be required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) had the nominee been nominated by the Board; (f) whether the shareholder making the recommendation believes the person recommended would or would not be an “interested person” of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act; and (g) the written consent of each person recommended to serve as a Trustee of the Fund if so nominated and elected/appointed.
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The Nominating Committee may amend these procedures from time to time, including the procedures relating to the evaluation of nominees and the process for submitting recommendations to the Nominating Committee.
The Board has adopted and approved a formal written charter for the Nominating Committee. A copy of the charter was included in the Fund’s proxy statement for its 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
Who are the nominees and Trustees?
The Board is divided into three classes. Each class has a term of three years. Each year, the term of office of one class expires. This year, the terms of four Trustees expire: Frank A. Olson, Constantine D. Tseretopoulos, Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. and Gregory E. Johnson. These individuals have been nominated for three-year terms, set to expire at the 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. These terms continue, however, until their successors are duly elected and qualified. All of the nominees are currently members of the Board. Among these nominees, Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. and Gregory E. Johnson are deemed to be Interested Trustees. The remaining nominees are deemed to be Independent Trustees. In addition, all of the current nominees and Trustees are also directors or trustees of other investment companies within the Franklin Templeton Investments fund complex.
Interested Trustees of the Fund hold director and/or officer positions with, or are principal stockholders of, Franklin Resources, Inc. (“Resources”) and its affiliates. Resources is a publicly owned holding company, a principal stockholder of which is Rupert H. Johnson, Jr., who beneficially owned approximately 17.56% of its outstanding shares as of August 31, 2015. The shares deemed to be beneficially owned by Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. include certain shares held by a private charitable foundation or by his spouse, of which he disclaims beneficial ownership. Resources, a global investment management organization operating as Franklin Templeton Investments, is primarily engaged, through various subsidiaries, in providing investment management, share distribution, transfer agent and administrative services to a family of investment companies. Resources is a New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) listed holding company (NYSE: BEN). Rupert H. Johnson, Jr., Chairman of the Board, Trustee and Vice President of the Fund, is the uncle of Gregory E. Johnson, a Trustee of the Fund. There are no other family relationships among the Trustees or nominees for Trustee.
Each nominee currently is available and has consented to serve if elected. If any of the nominees should become unavailable, the designated proxy holders will vote in their discretion for another person or persons who may be nominated to serve as Trustees.
In addition to personal qualities, such as integrity, in considering candidates for the Fund Board, the Nominating Committee seeks to find persons of good reputation whose experience and background evidence that such person has the ability to comprehend, discuss and critically analyze materials and issues presented, in exercising judgments and reaching informed conclusions relevant to fulfillment of a Fund Trustee’s duties and fiduciary obligations. Information on the business activities of the nominees and other Trustees during the past five years and beyond appears below and it is believed that the specific background of each Trustee evidences such ability and is appropriate to his or her serving on the Fund’s Board. As indicated, Harris J. Ashton and Frank A. Olson have both served as chief executive officers of NYSE listed public corporations; Larry D. Thompson and Edith E. Holiday each have legal backgrounds, including high level legal positions with departments of the U.S. Government; David W. Niemiec has served as a chief financial officer of a major corporation; Ann Torre Bates has served as a chief financial officer of a major corporation and as a board member of a number of public companies; J. Michael Luttig has fifteen years of judicial experience as a Federal Appeals Court Judge; Robert E. Wade has over thirty years of experience as a practicing attorney; Constantine D. Tseretopoulos has professional and executive experience as founder and Chief of Staff of a hospital; Frank J. Crothers has served as the chief executive officer of several foreign closely held corporations; and Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. and Gregory E. Johnson are both high ranking executive officers of Resources.
Listed below with the business activities of the nominees and Trustees are their names and years of birth, their positions and length of service with the Fund and the number of portfolios in the Franklin Templeton Investments fund complex that they oversee.
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Nominees for Independent Trustee to serve until 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders: |
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|
Name, Year of Birth and Address |
Position |
Length of |
Number of |
Other Directorships Held During |
|
Frank A. Olson (1932) |
Trustee |
Since 2003 |
146 |
Hess Corporation (exploration and refining of oil and gas) (1998–2013). |
|
Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: |
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|
Director of various companies; and formerly, Chairman of the Board, The Hertz Corporation (car rental) (1980–2000) and Chief Executive Officer (1977–1999); and Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, UAL Corporation (airlines) (June–December 1987). |
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|
Constantine D. Tseretopoulos (1954) |
Trustee |
Since 1999 |
25 |
None |
|
Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: |
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|
Physician, Chief of Staff, owner and operator of the Lyford Cay Hospital (1987–present); director of various nonprofit organizations; and formerly, Cardiology Fellow, University of Maryland (1985–1987); and Internal Medicine Resident, Greater Baltimore Medical Center (1982–1985). |
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Nominees for Interested Trustee to serve until 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders: |
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|
Name, Year of Birth and Address |
Position |
Length of |
Number of |
Other Directorships Held During |
|
**Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. (1940) |
Chairman of the Board, Trustee and Vice President |
Chairman of the Board and Trustee since 2013 and Vice President since 1996 |
146 |
None |
|
Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: |
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|
Vice Chairman, Member—Office of the Chairman and Director, Franklin Resources, Inc.; Director, Franklin Advisers, Inc.; Senior Vice President, Franklin Advisory Services, LLC; and officer and/or director or trustee, as the case may be, of some of the other subsidiaries of Franklin Resources, Inc. and of 43 of the investment companies in Franklin Templeton Investments. |
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|
**Gregory E. Johnson (1961) |
Trustee |
Since 2007 |
163 |
None |
|
Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: |
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|
Chairman of the Board, Member—Office of the Chairman, Director and Chief Executive Officer, Franklin Resources, Inc.; officer and/or director or trustee, as the case may be, of some of the other subsidiaries of Franklin Resources, Inc. and of 45 of the investment companies in Franklin Templeton Investments; Vice Chairman, Investment Company Institute; and formerly, President, Franklin Resources, Inc. (1994–2015). |
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Independent Trustees serving until 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders: |
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|
Name, Year of Birth and Address |
Position |
Length of |
Number of |
Other Directorships Held During |
|
Ann Torre Bates (1958) |
Trustee |
Since 2008 |
42 |
Navient Corporation (loan management, servicing and asset recovery) (2014–present), Ares Capital Corporation (specialty finance company) (2010–present), United Natural Foods, Inc. (distributor of natural, organic and specialty foods) (2013–present), Allied Capital Corporation (financial services) (2003–2010) and SLM Corporation (Sallie Mae) (1997–2014). |
|
Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: |
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Director of various companies; and formerly, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, NHP Incorporated (manager of multifamily housing) (1995–1997); and Vice President and Treasurer, US Airways, Inc. (until 1995). |
||||
|
David W. Niemiec (1949) |
Trustee |
Since 2005 |
42 |
Emeritus Corporation (assisted living) (1999–2010) and OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (pharmaceutical products) (2006–2010). |
|
Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: |
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|
Advisor, Saratoga Partners (private equity fund); and formerly, Managing Director, Saratoga Partners (1998–2001) and SBC Warburg Dillon Read (investment banking) (1997–1998); Vice Chairman, Dillon, Read & Co. Inc. (investment banking) (1991–1997); and Chief Financial Officer, Dillon, Read & Co. Inc. (1982–1997). |
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|
Larry D. Thompson. (1945) |
Trustee |
Since 2005 |
146 |
Cbeyond, Inc. (business communications provider) (2010–2012), The Southern Company (energy company) (2014–present; previously 2010–2012) and Graham Holdings Company (education and media organization) (2011–present). |
|
Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: |
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|
Director of various companies; John A. Sibley Professor of Corporate and Business Law, University of Georgia School of Law (January 2015; previously 2011–2012); and formerly, Executive Vice President—Government Affairs, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, PepsiCo, Inc. (consumer products) (2012–2014); Senior Vice President—Government Affairs, General Counsel and Secretary, PepsiCo, Inc. (2004–2011); Senior Fellow of The Brookings Institution (2003–2004); Visiting Professor, University of Georgia School of Law (2004); and Deputy Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice (2001–2003). |
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|
Robert E. Wade (1946) |
Trustee |
Since 2006 |
42 |
El Oro Ltd (investments) (2003–present). |
|
Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: |
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|
Attorney at law engaged in private practice (1972–2008) and member of various boards. |
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5
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Independent Trustees serving until 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders: |
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|
Name, Year of Birth and Address |
Position |
Length of |
Number of Portfolios in |
Other Directorships Held During |
|
Harris J. Ashton (1932) |
Trustee |
Since 1992 |
146 |
Bar-S Foods (meat packing company) (1981–2010). |
|
Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: |
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Director of various companies; and formerly, Director, RBC Holdings, Inc. (bank holding company) (until 2002); and President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, General Host Corporation (nursery and craft centers) (until 1998). |
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|
Frank J. Crothers (1944) |
Trustee |
Since 1999 |
25 |
Fortis, Inc. (utility holding company) (2007–present) and AML Foods Limited (retail distributors) (1989–present). |
|
Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: |
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Director and Vice Chairman, Caribbean Utilities Company, Ltd.; director of various other private business and nonprofit organizations; and formerly, Chairman, Atlantic Equipment and Power Ltd. (1977–2003). |
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|
Edith E. Holiday (1952) |
Lead Independent Trustee |
Trustee since 1996 and Lead Independent Trustee since 2007 |
146 |
Hess Corporation (exploration and refining of oil and gas) (1993–present), RTI International Metals, Inc. (manufacture and distribution of titanium) (1999–2015), Canadian National Railway (railroad) (2001–present), White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. (holding company) (2004–present) and H.J. Heinz Company (processed foods and allied products) (1994–2013). |
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Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: |
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Director or Trustee of various companies and trusts; and formerly, Assistant to the President of the United States and Secretary of the Cabinet (1990–1993); General Counsel to the United States Treasury Department (1989–1990); and Counselor to the Secretary and Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs and Public Liaison-United States Treasury Department (1988–1989). |
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|
J. Michael Luttig (1954) |
Trustee |
Since 2009 |
146 |
Boeing Capital Corporation (aircraft financing) (2006–2013). |
|
Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: |
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Executive Vice President, General Counsel and member of the Executive Council, The Boeing Company (aerospace company); and formerly, Federal Appeals Court Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (1991–2006). |
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* We base the number of portfolios on each separate series of the U.S. registered investment companies within the Franklin Templeton Investments fund complex. These portfolios have a common investment manager or affiliated investment manager, and also may share a common underwriter.
** Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. and Gregory E. Johnson are “interested persons” of the Fund as defined by the 1940 Act. The 1940 Act limits the percentage of interested persons that can comprise a fund’s board of trustees. Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. is considered an interested person of the Fund due to his position as an officer, director and major shareholder of Resources, which is the parent company of the Fund’s investment manager, and his position with the Fund. Gregory E. Johnson is considered an interested person of the Fund due to his position as an officer and director of Resources. Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. is the uncle of Gregory E. Johnson. The remaining Trustees of the Fund are Independent Trustees.
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Independent Trustees:
Name of Trustee |
Dollar Range of Equity |
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in all Funds in the |
|
Harris J. Ashton................................................................................... |
$1—$10,000 |
Over $100,000 |
|
Ann Torre Bates.................................................................................. |
None |
Over $100,000 |
|
Frank J. Crothers................................................................................. |
None |
Over $100,000 |
|
Edith E. Holiday.................................................................................. |
$1—$10,000 |
Over $100,000 |
|
J. Michael Luttig.................................................................................. |
$10,001—$50,000 |
Over $100,000 |
|
David W. Niemiec............................................................................... |
None |
Over $100,000 |
|
Frank A. Olson..................................................................................... |
None |
Over $100,000 |
|
Larry D. Thompson............................................................................. |
None |
Over $100,000 |
|
Constantine D. Tseretopoulos........................................................... |
None |
Over $100,000 |
|
Robert E. Wade.................................................................................... |
None |
Over $100,000 |
|
Rupert H. Johnson, Jr......................................................................... |
None |
Over $100,000 |
|
Gregory E. Johnson............................................................................. |
None |
Over $100,000 |
(1) Dollar range based on NYSE closing price on December 11, 2015.
How often do the Trustees meet and what are they paid?
The role of the Trustees is to provide general oversight of the Fund’s business and to ensure that the Fund is operated for the benefit of all of the Fund’s shareholders. The Trustees anticipate meeting at least five times during the current fiscal year to review the operations of the Fund and the Fund’s investment performance, and will meet more frequently as necessary. The Trustees also oversee the services furnished to the Fund by Templeton Asset Management Ltd.—Hong Kong branch, the Fund’s investment manager (the “Investment Manager”), and various other service providers.
The Fund’s Independent Trustees constitute the sole independent Board members of 14 investment companies in the Franklin Templeton Investments fund complex for which each Independent Trustee currently is paid a $155,000 annual retainer fee, together with a $7,000 per meeting fee for attendance at each regularly scheduled Board meeting, a portion of which fees are allocated to the Fund. To the extent held, compensation also may be paid for attendance at specially called Board meetings. The Fund’s Lead Independent Trustee is paid an annual supplemental retainer of $25,000 for service to such investment companies, a portion of which is allocated to the Fund. Board members who serve on the Audit Committee of the Fund and such other investment companies receive a flat fee of $3,000 per Audit Committee meeting attended in person and $2,000 per Audit Committee telephonic meeting attended, a portion of which is allocated to the Fund. David W. Niemiec, who serves as Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Fund and such other investment companies, receives an additional fee of $15,000 per year, a portion of which is allocated to the Fund. Members of a committee are not separately compensated for any committee meeting held on the day of a regularly scheduled Board meeting.
During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, there were five meetings of the Board, three meetings of the Audit Committee, and four meetings of the Nominating Committee. Each Trustee then in office attended at least 75% of the aggregate of the total number of meetings of the Board and the total number of meetings held by all committees of the Board on which the Trustee served. The Fund does not currently have a formal policy regarding Trustees’ attendance at the annual shareholders’ meeting. No Trustees attended the Fund’s last annual meeting held on March 2, 2015.
Independent Trustees are also reimbursed for expenses incurred in connection with attending Board meetings. The Interested Trustees and certain officers of the Fund who are shareholders of Resources are not compensated by the Fund for their services, but may receive indirect remuneration due to their participation in management fees and other fees received by the Investment Manager and its affiliates from the funds in Franklin Templeton Investments. The Investment Manager or its affiliates pay the salaries and expenses of the officers and the Interested Trustees. No pension or retirement benefits are accrued as part of Fund expenses.
7
|
Name of Trustee |
Aggregate from the Fund(1) |
Total Compensation from |
Number of Boards within |
|
Harris J. Ashton.................................................. |
$ 2,721 |
$ 493,000 |
41 |
|
Ann Torre Bates(4)............................................... |
2,807 |
480,429 |
18 |
|
Frank J. Crothers................................................ |
2,797 |
201,000 |
14 |
|
Edith E. Holiday................................................. |
2,832 |
532,000 |
41 |
|
J. Michael Luttig................................................. |
2,769 |
509,000 |
41 |
|
David W. Niemiec.............................................. |
2,841 |
428,016 |
18 |
|
Frank A. Olson.................................................... |
2,769 |
493,000 |
41 |
|
Larry D. Thompson............................................ |
2,769 |
509,000 |
41 |
|
Constantine D. Tseretopoulos.......................... |
2,804 |
204,000 |
14 |
|
Robert E. Wade(4)................................................ |
2,769 |
602,000 |
18 |
(1) Compensation received for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015.
(2) Compensation received for the 12 months ended September 30, 2015.
(3) We base the number of boards on the number of U.S. registered investment companies in the Franklin Templeton Investments fund complex. This number does not include the total number of series or funds within each investment company for which the Board members are responsible. Franklin Templeton Investments currently includes 45 U.S. registered investment companies, with approximately 164 U.S. based funds or series.
(4) Ms. Bates and Mr. Wade also are independent trustees of Franklin Mutual Series Funds and may, in the future, receive payments pursuant to a discontinued retirement plan that generally provides payments to independent board members who have served seven years or longer for such fund.
Board members historically have followed a policy of having substantial investments in one or more of the funds in Franklin Templeton Investments, as is consistent with their individual financial goals. In February 1998, this policy was formalized through adoption of a requirement that each Board member invest one-third of the fees received for serving as a director or trustee of a Templeton fund (excluding committee fees) in shares of one or more Templeton funds (which may include the Fund) until the value of such investments equals or exceeds five times the annual retainer and regular Board meeting fees paid to such Board member. Investments in the name of family members or entities controlled by a Board member constitute fund holdings of such Board member for purposes of this policy, and a three-year phase-in period applies to such investment requirements for newly elected Board members. In implementing such policy, a Board member’s fund holdings existing on February 27, 1998, were valued as of such date with subsequent investments valued at cost.
Who are the Executive Officers of the Fund?
Officers of the Fund are appointed by the Trustees and serve at the pleasure of the Board. Listed below, for the Executive Officers, are their names, years of birth and addresses, as well as their positions and length of service with the Fund, and principal occupations during at least the past five years.
|
Name, Year of Birth and Address |
Position |
Length of Time Served |
|
Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. |
Chairman of the Board, Trustee and Vice President |
Chairman of the Board and Trustee since 2013 and Vice President since 1996 |
|
Please refer to the table “Nominees for Interested Trustee to serve until 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders” for additional information about Mr. Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. |
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Mark Mobius (1936) |
President and Chief Executive Officer— Investment Management |
President since 1987 and Chief Executive Officer—Investment Management since 2002 |
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Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: |
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Portfolio Manager of various Templeton advisory affiliates; Executive Chairman, Templeton Emerging Markets Group; and officer and/or director, as the case may be, of some of the other subsidiaries of Franklin Resources, Inc. and of six of the investment companies in Franklin Templeton Investments. |
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Laura F. Fergerson (1962) |
Chief Executive Officer— Finance and Administration |
Since 2009 |
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Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: |
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Senior Vice President, Franklin Templeton Services, LLC; Vice President, Franklin Advisers, Inc. and Franklin Templeton Institutional, LLC; and officer of 45 of the investment companies in Franklin Templeton Investments. |
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Robert C. Rosselot (1960) |
Chief Compliance Officer |
Since 2013 |
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Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: |
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Director, Global Compliance, Franklin Templeton Investments; Vice President, Franklin Templeton Companies, LLC; officer of 45 of the investment companies in Franklin Templeton Investments; and formerly, Senior Associate General Counsel, Franklin Templeton Investments (2007–2013); and Secretary and Vice President, Templeton Group of Funds (2004–2013). |
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Mark H. Otani (1968) |
Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer |
Since 2009 |
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Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: |
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Treasurer, U.S. Fund Administration & Reporting, Franklin Templeton Investments; and officer of 14 of the investment companies in Franklin Templeton Investments. |
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Selena L. Holmes (1965) |
Vice President— AML Compliance |
Since 2012 |
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Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: |
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Director, Global Compliance Monitoring; Chief Compliance Officer, Franklin Alternative Strategies Advisers, LLC; Vice President, Franklin Templeton Companies, LLC; and officer of 45 of the investment companies in Franklin Templeton Investments. |
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Lori A. Weber (1964) |
Vice President and Secretary |
Vice President since 2011 and Secretary since 2013 |
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Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: |
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Senior Associate General Counsel, Franklin Templeton Investments; Assistant Secretary, Franklin Resources, Inc.; Vice President and Secretary, Templeton Investment Counsel, LLC; and officer of 45 of the investment companies in Franklin Templeton Investments. |
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Craig S. Tyle (1960) |
Vice President and Assistant Secretary |
Since 2005 |
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Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: |
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General Counsel and Executive Vice President, Franklin Resources, Inc.; and officer of some of the other subsidiaries of Franklin Resources, Inc. and of 45 of the investment companies in Franklin Templeton Investments. |
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Alison E. Baur (1964) |
Vice President and Assistant Secretary |
Since 2012 |
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Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: |
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Deputy General Counsel, Franklin Templeton Investments; and officer of some of the other subsidiaries of Franklin Resources, Inc. and of 45 of the investment companies in Franklin Templeton Investments. |
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Aliya S. Gordon (1973) |
Vice President and Assistant Secretary |
Since 2009 |
| Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: | ||
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Senior Associate General Counsel, Franklin Templeton Investments; and officer of 45 of the investment companies in Franklin Templeton Investments. |
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Steven J. Gray (1955) |
Vice President and Assistant Secretary |
Since 2009 |
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Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: |
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Senior Associate General Counsel, Franklin Templeton Investments; Vice President, Franklin Templeton Distributors, Inc. and Franklin Alternative Strategies Advisers, LLC; and officer of 45 of the investment companies in Franklin Templeton Investments. |
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Kimberly H. Novotny (1972) |
Vice President and Assistant Secretary |
Since 2013 |
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Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: |
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Associate General Counsel, Franklin Templeton Investments; Vice President, Fiduciary Trust International of the South and Templeton Investment Counsel, LLC; Assistant Secretary, Franklin Resources, Inc.; and officer of 45 of the investment companies in Franklin Templeton Investments. |
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Karen L. Skidmore (1952) |
Vice President and Assistant Secretary |
Since 2009 |
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Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: |
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Senior Associate General Counsel, Franklin Templeton Investments; and officer of 45 of the investment companies in Franklin Templeton Investments. |
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Navid J. Tofigh (1972) |
Vice President and Assistant Secretary |
Since November 2015 |
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Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: |
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Associate General Counsel, Franklin Templeton Investments; and officer of 45 of the investment companies in Franklin Templeton Investments. |
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8
|
¿ PROPOSAL 2: |
RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM |
How are independent auditors selected?
The Board has a standing Audit Committee currently comprised of David W. Niemiec (Chairman), Ann Torre Bates, Frank J. Crothers and Constantine D. Tseretopoulos, all of whom are Independent Trustees and considered to be “independent” as that term is defined by the NYSE’s listing standards. The Audit Committee is responsible for the appointment, compensation and retention of the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm (“independent auditors”), including evaluating their independence, recommending the selection of the Fund’s independent auditors to the full Board, and meeting with such independent auditors to consider and review matters relating to the Fund’s financial reports and internal controls.
Which independent auditors did the Board select?
The Audit Committee and the Board have selected the firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) as the independent auditors for the Fund for the current fiscal year. PwC has examined and reported on the fiscal year-end financial statements dated August 31, 2015, and certain related SEC filings. You are being asked to ratify the Board’s selection of PwC for the current fiscal year ending August 31, 2016. Services to be performed by the independent auditors include examining and reporting on the fiscal year-end financial statements of the Fund and certain related filings with the SEC.
The selection of PwC as the independent auditors for the Fund for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2016, was recommended by the Audit Committee and approved by the Board on October 20, 2015. PwC’s reports on the financial statements of the Fund for the fiscal years for which it has served as auditors did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, nor were qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
The Audit Committee and the Board have been advised by PwC that neither PwC nor any of its members have any material direct or indirect financial interest in the Fund. Representatives of PwC are not expected to be present at the Meeting, but will have the opportunity to make a statement if they wish, and will be available should any matter arise requiring their presence.
9
¿ AUDITOR INFORMATION
Audit Fees. The aggregate fees paid to PwC for professional services rendered by PwC for the audit of the Fund’s annual financial statements or for services that are normally provided by PwC in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements were $44,474 for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, and $43,152 for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014.
Audit-Related Fees. There were no fees paid to PwC for assurance and related services rendered by PwC to the Fund that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Fund’s financial statements and not reported under “Audit Fees” above for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2015, and August 31, 2014.
In addition, the Audit Committee pre-approves PwC’s engagement for audit-related services to be provided to the Investment Manager and certain entities controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Investment Manager that provide ongoing services to the Fund, which engagements relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund. For the fiscal years ended August 31, 2015, and August 31, 2014, there were no fees paid to PwC for such services.
Tax Fees. There were no fees paid to PwC for professional services rendered by PwC to the Fund for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2015, and August 31, 2014.
In addition, the Audit Committee pre-approves PwC’s engagement for tax services to be provided to the Investment Manager and certain entities controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Investment Manager that provide ongoing services to the Fund, which engagements relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund. The fees for these services were $0 for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, and $3,830 for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014. The services for which these fees were paid included technical tax consultation for withholding tax reporting for foreign governments and requirements on local countries’ self-certification forms.
All Other Fees. The aggregate fees paid for products and services provided by PwC to the Fund, other than the services reported above, were $0 for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, and $95 for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014. The services for which these fees were paid included review of materials provided to the Board in connection with the investment management contract renewal process.
In addition, the Audit Committee pre-approves PwC’s engagement for other services to be provided to the Investment Manager and certain entities controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Investment Manager that provide ongoing services to the Fund, which engagements relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund. The fees for these services were $0 for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, and $170,461 for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014. The services for which these fees were paid included review of materials provided to the Board in connection with the investment management contract renewal process and certifying assets under management.
Aggregate Non-Audit Fees. The aggregate fees paid to PwC for non-audit services provided by PwC to the Fund or to the Investment Manager and to any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Investment Manager that provides ongoing services to the Fund, which engagements relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund, were $0 for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, and $174,386 for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014. The aggregate non-audit fees for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, include the amounts shown under Tax Fees (including services provided to the Investment Manager and its control entities) and All Other Fees (including services provided to the Investment Manager and its control entities).
The Audit Committee has determined that the provision of the non-audit services that were rendered to the Investment Manager and to any entities controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Investment Manager that provide ongoing services to the Fund is compatible with maintaining PwC’s independence.
Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures. As of the date of this proxy statement, the Audit Committee has not adopted written pre-approval policies and procedures within the meaning of Regulation S-X. As a result, all such services described above and provided by PwC must be directly pre-approved by the Audit Committee or by a designated member of the Audit Committee.
Audit Committee Charter. The Board has adopted and approved a formal written charter for the Audit Committee which sets forth the Audit Committee’s responsibilities. A copy of the charter was included in the Fund’s proxy statement for its 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
As required by the charter, the Audit Committee reviewed the Fund’s audited financial statements and met with management, as well as with PwC, the Fund’s independent auditors, to discuss the financial statements.
10
Audit Committee Report. The Audit Committee received the written disclosures and the letter from PwC required by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) regarding PwC’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence. The Audit Committee also received the report of PwC regarding the results of their audit. In connection with the Audit Committee’s review of the financial statements and PwC’s report, the members of the Audit Committee discussed with a representative of PwC, PwC’s independence, as well as the matters required to be discussed by Auditing Standard No. 16, Communications with Audit Committees, issued by the PCAOB, including the following: PwC’s responsibilities in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards; PwC’s responsibilities for information prepared by management that accompanies the Fund’s audited financial statements and any procedures performed and the results; the initial selection of, and whether there were any changes in, significant accounting policies or their application; management’s judgments and accounting estimates; whether there were any significant audit adjustments; whether there were any disagreements with management; whether there was any consultation with other accountants; whether there were any major issues discussed with management prior to PwC’s retention; whether the auditors encountered any difficulties in dealing with management in performing the audit; and PwC’s judgments about the quality of the Fund’s accounting principles.
Based on its review and discussions with management and PwC, the Audit Committee did not become aware of any material misstatements or omissions in the financial statements. Accordingly, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited financial statements be included in the Fund’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, for filing with the SEC.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
David W. Niemiec (Chairman)
Ann Torre Bates
Frank J. Crothers
Constantine D. Tseretopoulos
¿ ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND’S BOARD OF TRUSTEES
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 and compliance matters. The Board also may receive special written reports or presentations on a variety of risk 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 Investments 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, if applicable.
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 the Fund’s portfolio, the reasons for the fair valuation and the methodology used to arrive at the fair value. Such reports also include information concerning illiquid securities within the Fund’s portfolio. 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 independent auditors in connection with the Committee’s review of the results of the audit of the Fund’s year-end financial statements.
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 Trustees meet regularly in executive session with the CCO and the 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 these 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.
11
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. The presentation covers such areas as investment risk, reputational risk, personnel risk, and business continuity risk.
Board Structure. Seventy-five percent or more of the Fund’s Board members consist of Independent Trustees who are not deemed to be “interested persons” by reason of their relationship with the Fund’s management or otherwise as provided under the 1940 Act. While the Chairman of the Board is an interested person, the Board is also served by a Lead Independent Trustee. The Lead Independent Trustee, together with independent counsel, reviews proposed agendas for Board meetings and generally acts as a liaison with Fund management with respect to questions and issues raised by the Independent Trustees. The Lead Independent Trustee also presides at separate meetings of Independent Trustees held in advance of each scheduled Board meeting where various matters, including those being considered at such Board meeting, are discussed. It is believed such structure and activities assure that proper consideration is given at Board meetings to matters deemed important to the Fund and its shareholders.
¿ ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND
The Investment Manager. The Investment Manager of the Fund is Templeton Asset Management Ltd.—Hong Kong Branch, a Singapore company with a branch office at The Chater House, 17th Floor, 8 Connaught Road Central, Hong Kong. Pursuant to an investment management agreement, the Investment Manager manages the investment and reinvestment of Fund assets. The Investment Manager is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Resources.
The Administrator. The administrator of the Fund is Franklin Templeton Services, LLC (“FT Services”), with offices at 300 S.E. 2nd Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301-1923. FT Services is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Resources and an affiliate of the Investment Manager. Pursuant to a subcontract for administrative services, FT Services performs certain administrative functions for the Fund.
The Transfer Agent. The transfer agent, registrar and dividend disbursement agent for the Fund is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219.
The Custodian. The custodian for the Fund is JPMorgan Chase Bank, 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017-2070.
Other Matters. The Fund’s latest audited financial statements and annual report for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015, are available free of charge. To obtain a copy, please call (800) DIAL BEN®/342-5236 or forward a written request to Franklin Templeton Investor Services, LLC, P.O. Box 33030, St. Petersburg, Florida 33733-8030.
Principal Shareholders. As of December 11, 2015, the Fund had 18,009,460 shares outstanding and total net assets of $222,266,175.91. The Fund’s shares are listed on the NYSE (NYSE: EMF). From time to time, the number of shares held in “street name” accounts of various securities dealers for the benefit of their clients may exceed 5% of the total shares outstanding. To the knowledge of the Fund’s management, as of December 11, 2015, there were no other entities holding beneficially or of record more than 5% of the Fund’s outstanding shares, except as shown in the following table:
|
Name and Address of Beneficial Ownership |
Amount and Nature |
Percent of |
|
City of London............................................................................................... |
2,347,304* |
13.03% |
|
77 Gracechurch Street London, England EC3V0AS |
|
|
* The nature of beneficial ownership is sole voting and dispositive power as reported on Form 13F-HR, filed with the SEC on November 12, 2015.
|
Lazard Asset Management LLC.............................................. |
1,376,994** |
7.65% |
|
30 Rockefeller Plaza 55th Floor New York, NY 10112 |
|
|
** The nature of beneficial ownership is sole voting and dispositive power as reported on Form 13F-HR, filed with the SEC on November 13, 2015.
12
|
1607 Capital Partners, LLC......................................................... |
1,326,391*** |
7.36% |
|
13 S. 13th Street Suite 400 Richmond, VA 23219 |
|
|
*** The nature of beneficial ownership is sole voting and dispositive power as reported on Form 13F-HR filed with the SEC on November 16, 2015.
In addition, to the knowledge of the Fund’s management, as of December 11, 2015, no nominee or Trustee of the Fund owned 1% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund, and the Trustees and officers of the Fund owned, as a group, less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.
Contacting the Board of Trustees. If a shareholder wishes to send a communication to the Board, such correspondence should be in writing and addressed to the Board of Trustees at the Fund’s offices, 300 S.E. 2nd Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301-1923, Attention: Secretary. The correspondence will be given to the Board for review and consideration.
¿ FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT VOTING AND THE MEETING
Solicitation of Proxies. Your vote is being solicited by the Trustees. The cost of soliciting proxies, including the fees of a proxy soliciting agent, is borne by the Fund. The Fund reimburses brokerage firms and others for their reasonable expenses in forwarding proxy material to the beneficial owners and soliciting them to execute proxies. In addition, the Fund may retain a professional proxy solicitation firm to assist with any necessary solicitation of proxies. The Fund expects that the solicitation would be primarily by mail, but also may include telephone, facsimile, electronic or other means of communication. If the Fund does not receive your proxy by a certain time, you may receive a telephone call from a proxy soliciting agent asking you to vote. If professional proxy solicitors are retained, it is expected that soliciting fees would be approximately $5,000, plus expenses. The Fund does not reimburse Trustees and officers of the Fund, or regular employees and agents of the Investment Manager involved in the solicitation of proxies. The Fund intends to pay all costs associated with the solicitation and the Meeting.
Voting by Broker-Dealers. The Fund expects that, before the Meeting, broker-dealer firms holding shares of the Fund in “street name” for their customers will request voting instructions from their customers and beneficial owners. If these instructions are not received by the date specified in the broker-dealer firms’ proxy solicitation materials, the Fund understands that current NYSE Rules permit the broker-dealers to vote on the Proposals on behalf of their customers and beneficial owners. Certain broker-dealers may exercise discretion over shares held in their name for which no instructions are received by voting these shares in the same proportion as they vote shares for which they received instructions.
Quorum. A majority of the Fund’s shares entitled to vote at the Meeting—present in person or represented by proxy—constitutes a quorum at the Meeting. The shares over which broker-dealers have discretionary voting power, the shares that represent “broker non-votes” (i.e., shares held by brokers or nominees as to which (i) instructions have not been received from the beneficial owners or persons entitled to vote and (ii) the broker or nominee does not have discretionary voting power on a particular matter), and the shares whose proxies reflect an abstention on any item will all be counted as shares present and entitled to vote at the Meeting for purposes of determining whether the required quorum of shares exists.
Method of Tabulation. Provided a quorum is present or represented at the Meeting, Proposal 1, the election of Trustees, requires the affirmative vote of a plurality of the Fund’s shares present in person or represented by proxy and voting on the Proposal at the Meeting. Proposal 2, ratification of the selection of the independent auditors, requires the affirmative vote of (i) sixty-seven percent (67%) or more of the voting securities present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting, if the holders of more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund are present or represented by proxy; or (ii) more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, whichever is less. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be treated as votes present at the Meeting, but will not be treated as votes cast. Abstentions and broker non-votes, therefore, will have no effect on Proposal 1, but may have the effect of an “against” vote on Proposal 2.
Simultaneous Meetings. The Meeting is to be held at the same time as the annual meetings of shareholders of Templeton Emerging Markets Income Fund and Templeton Global Income Fund. If any shareholder at the Meeting objects to the holding of simultaneous meetings and moves for an adjournment of the Meeting to a time promptly after the simultaneous meetings, the persons designated as proxies will vote in favor of such adjournment.
13
Shareholder Proposals. The Fund anticipates that its 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held on or about March 1, 2017. A shareholder who wishes to submit a proposal for consideration for inclusion in the Fund’s proxy statement for the 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders must send such written proposal to the Fund’s offices at 300 S.E. 2nd Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301-1923, Attention: Secretary, so that it is received no later than September 1, 2016 in order to be included in the Fund’s proxy statement and proxy card relating to that meeting and presented at the meeting.
A shareholder of the Fund who has not submitted a written proposal for inclusion in the Fund’s proxy statement by September 1, 2016, as described above, may nonetheless present a proposal at the Fund’s 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders if such shareholder notifies the Fund in writing at the Fund’s offices, of such proposal not earlier than October 2, 2016 and not later than November 1, 2016. If a shareholder fails to give notice within these dates, then the matter shall not be eligible for consideration at the shareholders’ meeting. If, notwithstanding the effect of the foregoing notice provisions, a shareholder proposal is acted upon at the 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the persons designated as proxies for the 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders may exercise discretionary voting power with respect to any shareholder proposal not received by the Fund at the Fund’s offices by November 15, 2016. A shareholder proposal may be presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders only if such proposal concerns a matter that may be properly brought before the meeting under applicable federal proxy rules and state law. In addition to the requirements set forth above, a shareholder must comply with the following:
1. A shareholder intending to present a proposal must (i) be entitled to vote at the meeting; (ii) comply with the notice procedures set forth in this proxy statement and in the Fund’s By-Laws; and (iii) have been a shareholder of record at the time the shareholder’s notice was received by the Secretary of the Fund.
2. A notice regarding a nomination for the election of a Trustee shall set forth in writing (i) the name, age, business address and, if known, residence address of each nominee proposed in such notice; (ii) the principal occupation or employment of each such nominee; (iii) the number of outstanding shares of the Fund which are beneficially owned by each such nominee; and (iv) all such other information regarding each such nominee as would have been required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the SEC had each such nominee been nominated by the Trustees of the Fund. In addition, the shareholder making such nomination shall promptly provide any other information reasonably requested by the Fund.
3. A notice regarding a business proposal shall set forth in writing as to each matter: (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting; (ii) the name and address, as they appear on the Fund’s books, of the shareholder proposing such business; (iii) the number of shares of the Fund which are beneficially owned by the shareholder; (iv) any material interest of the shareholder in such business; and (v) all such other information regarding each such matter that would have been required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the SEC had each such matter been proposed by the Trustees of the Fund.
Submission of a proposal by a shareholder does not guarantee that the proposal will be included in the Fund’s proxy statement or presented at the meeting.
By Order of the Board of Trustees,
Lori A. Weber
Vice President and Secretary
December 30, 2015
14
TLEMF PROXY 12/15
|
Proxy for Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on March 1, 2016 The undersigned hereby revokes all previous proxies for his/her shares of Templeton | ||||||||||||||||||
| Emerging | Markets | Fund | (the | "Fund") | and | appoints | TARA | E . | GORMEL, | |||||||||
| KIMBERLY H . NOVOTNY and LORI A. WEBER, and each of them, proxies of the | ||||||||||||||||||
| undersigned with full power of substitution to vote all shares of the Fund that the | ||||||||||||||||||
| undersigned is entitled to vote at the Fund's Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the "Meeting") | ||||||||||||||||||
| to be held at 300 S. E. 2nd Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301 - 1923 at 12 Noon, Eastern | ||||||||||||||||||
| time, on March 1, 2016, including any postponements or adjournments thereof, upon the | ||||||||||||||||||
| matters set forth below and instructs them to vote upon any other matters that may properly | ||||||||||||||||||
| be acted upon at the Meeting, including any matters presented for which the Fund was not | ||||||||||||||||||
| given timely notice . | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1.1 | (Continued and to be signed on the reverse side.) | 14475 | ||||||||||||||||