Prospectus
Franklin U.S. Long-Short Fund
Franklin Strategic Series
INVESTMENT STRATEGY
GROWTH
SEPTEMBER 1, 1999 AS AMENDED MAY 1, 2000
[Insert Franklin Templeton Ben Head]
The SEC has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the
adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a
criminal offense.
CONTENTS
THE FUND
[Begin callout]
INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE INVESTING
[End callout]
[insert page #] Goal and Strategies
[insert page #] Main Risks
[insert page #] Performance
[insert page #] Fees and Expenses
[insert page #] Management
[insert page #] Distributions and Taxes
YOUR ACCOUNT
[Begin callout]
INFORMATION ABOUT SALES CHARGES, ACCOUNT TRANSACTIONS AND SERVICES
[End callout]
[insert page #] Sales Charges
[insert page #] Buying Shares
[insert page #] Investor Services
[insert page #] Selling Shares
[insert page #] Account Policies
[insert page #] Questions
FOR MORE INFORMATION
[Begin callout]
WHERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FUND
[End callout]
Back Cover
THE FUND
[Insert graphic of bullseye and arrows] GOAL AND STRATEGIES
GOAL The fund's principal investment goal is to provide long-term capital
appreciation in both up and down (bull and bear) markets with less volatility
than the overall stock market.
MAIN INVESTMENT STRATEGIES Under normal market conditions, the fund will
have both long and short positions in equity securities, primarily common
stocks of U.S. companies. The fund may invest up to 35% of its assets in
foreign equity securities, including depositary receipts of foreign issuers.
An equity security, or stock, represents a proportionate share of ownership
of a company; its value is based on the success of the company's business,
any income paid to stockholders, the value of its assets, and general market
conditions.
[Begin Callout]
The fund's investment philosophy is that a combination of long and short
equity positions can provide positive returns in either up or down markets as
well as reduce volatility risk.
[End Callout]
When the fund takes a long position, it purchases a stock outright. When the
fund takes a short position, it sells a stock it does not own at the current
market price and delivers to the buyer stock that it has borrowed. To
complete, or close out, the short sale transaction, the fund buys the same
stock in the market and returns it to the lender. The fund makes money when
the market price of the stock goes down after the sale. Conversely, if the
price of the stock goes up after the sale, the fund will lose money when it
has to pay more to replace the stock it borrowed than it received when it
sold it short.
The fund manager constructs the fund's portfolio on a stock-by-stock basis.
Every purchase is evaluated by weighing the potential gains against
associated risks. The fund buys stocks "long" that it believes will go up in
price and sells stocks "short" that it believes will go down in price. The
fund manager does not attempt to time the direction of the entire market, but
keeps the flexibility to shift its net exposure (the value of securities held
long less the value of securities held short) depending on which market
opportunities look more attractive, long or short. As a result, there may be
times when the fund holds up to 20% of its assets in cash or cash
equivalents, not including proceeds of short sales, although the fund
generally intends to have all of its assets invested in equities at all
times. In addition, there may be times when the fund is fully invested and
will borrow money from banks (be leveraged) in an amount up to one-third of
the value of its total assets in order to take advantage of opportunities to
buy more stocks, either long or short.
The fund may invest in stock of companies of any size. A significant amount
of the fund's assets may be invested in smaller companies (those with a
market capitalization of less than $1.5 billion).
TEMPORARY INVESTMENTS When the manager believes market or economic
conditions are unfavorable for investors, the manager may invest up to 100%
of the fund's assets in a temporary defensive manner or hold a substantial
portion of the fund's portfolio in cash. Temporary defensive investments
generally may include short term debt instruments. The manager also may
invest in these types of securities or hold cash while looking for suitable
investment opportunities or to maintain liquidity. In these circumstances,
the fund may be unable to achieve its investment goal.
[Insert graphic of chart with line going up and down] MAIN RISKS
[Begin callout]
Because the securities the fund holds fluctuate in price, the value of your
investment in the fund will go up and down. This means you could lose money
over short or even extended periods.
[End callout]
STOCKS Although this may not be the case in foreign markets, in the U.S.
stocks, as a class, have historically outperformed other types of investments
over the long term. Individual stock prices, however, tend to go up and down
more dramatically over the short term. These price movements may result from
factors affecting individual companies or industries, or the securities
market as a whole.
The fund seeks to minimize its exposure to the risk of general equity market
volatility by selling stocks short to offset the stocks it holds long, but
cannot eliminate all risk. Due to the composition of the portfolio, however,
you should expect the fund's performance to fluctuate independently of the
overall stock market as represented by indices such as the S&P 500 and the
Nasdaq.
SHORT SALES Despite the intent to reduce risk by having both long and short
positions, it is possible that the fund's long positions will decline in
value at the same time that the value of the stocks sold short increases
thereby increasing the potential for loss. The fund may not always be able
to close out a short position at any particular time or at an acceptable
price. A lender may request the borrowed securities be returned to it on
short notice and the fund may have to buy the borrowed securities at an
unfavorable price. If this occurs at a time when other short sellers of the
same security also want to close out their positions, a "short squeeze" can
occur. A short squeeze occurs when demand is greater than supply for the
stock sold short. A short squeeze makes it more likely that the fund will
have to cover its short sale at an unfavorable price. If that happens, the
fund will lose some or all of the potential profit from, or even incur a loss
as a result of, the short sale.
Until the fund replaces a borrowed security, it will set aside assets as
collateral for the borrowed security, as required by law. The fund is also
required to repay the lender any dividends or interest that accrue on the
stock during the period of the loan. Depending on the arrangements made with
the broker or custodian, the fund may or may not receive any payments
(including interest) on collateral deposited with the broker or custodian.
In addition, short selling may produce higher than normal portfolio turnover
and result in increased transaction costs to the fund.
BORROWING/LEVERAGE Borrowing money to increase the fund's combined long and
short exposure and enhance returns creates special risks. The use of
leverage may make any change in the fund's net asset value even greater and
thus result in increased volatility of returns. The fund's assets that are
used as collateral to secure the borrowing may decrease in value while the
borrowing is outstanding, which may force the fund to use its other assets to
increase the collateral. Leverage also creates interest expense that may
lower overall fund returns.
SMALLER COMPANIES Smaller companies may offer substantial opportunities for
capital growth, but they also involve substantial risks and should be
considered speculative. Historically, small and mid-size company securities
have been more volatile in price than larger company securities, especially
over the short-term. Among the reasons for the greater price volatility are
the less certain growth prospects of smaller companies, the lower degree of
liquidity in the markets for such securities, and the greater sensitivity of
smaller companies to changing economic conditions.
Small companies may also lack depth of management, be unable to generate
funds necessary for growth or development, or be developing or marketing new
products or services for which markets are not yet established and may never
become established.
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER The fund manager will sell a stock or close a short
position when it believes it is appropriate to do so, regardless of how long
the fund has held or been short the securities. It is expected that the
fund's turnover rate will exceed 100% per year. The rate of portfolio
turnover will not be a limiting factor for the fund manager in making
decisions on when to buy or sell stocks. High turnover will increase the
fund's transaction costs and may increase your tax liability if the
transactions result in capital gains.
FOREIGN SECURITIES Investing in foreign securities, including securities of
depositary receipts, typically involves more risks than investing in U.S.
securities. Certain of these risks also may apply to securities of U.S.
companies with significant foreign operations. These risks can increase the
potential for losses in the fund and affect its share price.
CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATES. Foreign securities may be issued and traded in
foreign currencies. As a result, their values may be affected by changes in
exchange rates between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar, as well as
between currencies of countries other than the U.S. For example, if the value
of the U.S. dollar goes up compared to a foreign currency, an investment
traded in that foreign currency will go down in value because it will be
worth less U.S. dollars. The impact of the euro, a relatively new currency
adopted by certain European countries to replace their national currencies,
is unclear at this time.
POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS. The political, economic and social
structures of some foreign countries may be less stable and more volatile
than those in the U.S. Investments in these countries may be subject to the
risks of internal and external conflicts, currency devaluations, foreign
ownership limitations and tax increases. It is possible that a government may
take over the assets or operations of a company or impose restrictions on the
exchange or export of currency or other assets. Some countries also may have
different legal systems that may make it difficult for the fund to vote
proxies, exercise shareholder rights, and pursue legal remedies with respect
to its foreign investments.
TRADING PRACTICES. Brokerage commissions and other fees generally are higher
for foreign securities. Government supervision and regulation of foreign
stock exchanges, currency markets, trading systems and brokers may be less
than in the U.S. The procedures and rules governing foreign transactions and
custody (holding of the fund's assets) also may involve delays in payment,
delivery or recovery of money or investments.
AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION. Foreign companies may not be subject to the same
disclosure, accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and
practices as U.S. companies. Thus, there may be less information publicly
available about foreign companies than about most U.S. companies.
LIMITED MARKETS. Certain foreign securities may be less liquid (harder to
sell) and more volatile than many U.S. securities. This means the fund may at
times be unable to sell foreign securities at favorable prices.
EMERGING MARKETS. The risks of foreign investments typically are greater in
less developed countries, sometimes referred to as emerging markets. For
example, political and economic structures in these countries may be less
established and may change rapidly. These countries also are more likely to
experience high levels of inflation, deflation or currency devaluation, which
can harm their economies and securities markets and increase volatility. In
fact, short-term volatility in these markets, and declines of 50% or more,
are not uncommon.
INTEREST RATE Increases in interest rates may make it harder for smaller and
emerging market companies to obtain credit to expand or to make interest
payments, as well as increase the cost of borrowing for the fund.
More detailed information about the fund, its policies, and risks can be
found in the fund's Statement of Additional Information (SAI).
[Begin callout]
Mutual fund shares are not deposits or obligations of, or guaranteed or
endorsed by, any bank, and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board, or any other agency of the U.S.
government. Mutual fund shares involve investment risks, including the
possible loss of principal.
[End callout]
[Insert graphic of a bull and a bear] PERFORMANCE
Because the fund is new, it does not have a full calendar year of
performance.
[Insert graphic of percentage sign] FEES AND EXPENSES
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and
hold shares of the fund.
SHAREHOLDER FEES (FEES PAID DIRECTLY FROM YOUR INVESTMENT)
Maximum sales charge (load) as a percentage of
offering price 5.75%
Load imposed on purchases 5.75%
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) None 1
Exchange fee 2 $5.00
Please see "Sales Charges" on page 12 for an explanation of how and when
these sales charges apply.
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (expenses deducted from fund assets) 3
Management fees 4 1.00%
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees 0.35%
Other expenses 3 0.21%
-----
Total annual fund operating expenses 4 1.56%
=====
1. Except for investments of $1 million or more (see page 12) and purchases
by certain retirement plans without an initial sales charge.
2. This fee is only for market timers (see page 23).
3. The management fees and distribution and service (12b-1) fees shown are
based on the fund's maximum contractual amount. Other expenses are estimated
for the current fiscal year.
4. The manager and administrator have agreed in advance to waive their
respective fees and to assume as their own expense certain expenses otherwise
payable by the fund. With this reduction, management and administration fees
are estimated to be 0% and total fund operating expenses are estimated to be
0% for the current fiscal year. The manager and administrator may end this
arrangement at any time upon notice to the fund's Board of Trustees.
EXAMPLE
This example can help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the
cost of investing in other mutual funds. It assumes:
o You invest $10,000 for the periods shown;
o Your investment has a 5% return each year;
o The fund's operating expenses remain the same; and
o You sell your shares at the end of the periods shown.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions
your costs would be:
1 YEAR 3 YEARS
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 725 1 $ 1,039
1. Assumes a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) will not apply.
[Insert graphic of briefcase] MANAGEMENT
Franklin Advisers, Inc. (Advisers), 777 Mariners Island Blvd., San Mateo, CA
94404, is the fund's investment manager. Together, Advisers and its
affiliates manage over $229 billion in assets.
The team responsible for the fund's management is:
CHARLES E. JOHNSON, VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVISERS
Mr. Johnson has been a manager of the fund since January 2000. He joined the
Franklin Templeton Group in 1981.
MICHAEL R. WARD, PORTFOLIO MANAGER of Advisers
Mr. Ward has been a manager of the fund since 1999. He joined the Franklin
Templeton Group in 1992.
The fund pays Advisers a fee for managing the fund's assets. The fee is equal
to an annual rate of 1% of the average daily net assets of the fund.
[Insert graphic of dollar signs and stacks of coins] DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
INCOME AND CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS The fund intends to pay a dividend at
least annually representing substantially all of its net investment income
and any net realized capital gains. The amount of this distribution will
vary and there is no guarantee the fund will pay dividends.
To receive a distribution, you must be a shareholder on the record date. The
record date for the fund's distributions will vary. Please keep in mind that
if you invest in the fund shortly before the record date of a distribution,
any distribution will lower the value of the fund's shares by the amount of
the distribution and you will receive some of your investment back in the
form of a taxable distribution. If you would like information on upcoming
record dates for the fund's distributions, please call 1-800/DIAL BEN(R).
TAX CONSIDERATIONS In general, fund distributions are taxable to you as
either ordinary income or capital gains. This is true whether you reinvest
your distributions in additional fund shares or receive them in cash. Any
capital gains the fund distributes are taxable to you as long-term capital
gains no matter how long you have owned your shares. Short sales may cause a
greater portion of fund distributions to be taxable as ordinary income and
not as capital gains.
[Begin callout]
BACKUP WITHHOLDING
By law, the fund must withhold 31% of your taxable distributions and
redemption proceeds if you do not provide your correct social security or
taxpayer identification number and certify that you are not subject to backup
withholding, or if the IRS instructs the fund to do so.
[End callout]
Every January, you will receive a statement that shows the tax status of
distributions you received for the previous year. Distributions declared in
December but paid in January are taxable as if they were paid in December.
When you sell your shares of the fund, you may have a capital gain or loss.
For tax purposes, an exchange of your fund shares for shares of a different
Franklin Templeton Fund is the same as a sale.
Fund distributions and gains from the sale or exchange of your shares
generally will be subject to state and local income tax. Non-U.S. investors
may be subject to U.S. withholding and estate tax. You should consult your
tax advisor about the federal, state, local or foreign tax consequences of
your investment in the fund.
YOUR ACCOUNT
[Insert graphic of percentage sign] SALES CHARGES
THE SALES CHARGE
MAKES UP THIS % WHICH EQUALS THIS
OF THE OFFERING % OF YOUR NET
WHEN YOU INVEST THIS AMOUNT PRICE INVESTMENT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
Under $50,000 5.75 6.10
$50,000 but under $100,000 4.50 4.71
$100,000 but under $250,000 3.50 3.63
$250,000 but under $500,000 2.50 2.56
$500,000 but under $1 2.00 2.04
million
INVESTMENTS OF $1 MILLION OR MORE If you invest $1 million or more, either
as a lump sum or through our cumulative quantity discount or letter of intent
programs (see page 13), you can buy shares without an initial sales charge.
However, there is a 1% contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) on any shares
you sell within 12 months of purchase.
The CDSC is based on the current value of the shares being sold or their net
asset value when purchased, whichever is less. There is no CDSC on shares
you acquire by reinvesting your dividends or capital gains distributions.
[Begin callout]
The HOLDING PERIOD FOR THE CDSC begins on the day you buy your shares. Your
shares will age one month on that same date the next month and each following
month.
For example, if you buy shares on the 18th of the month, they will age one
month on the 18th day of the next month and each following month.
[End callout]
To keep your CDSC as low as possible, each time you place a request to sell
shares we will first sell any shares in your account that are not subject to
a CDSC. If there are not enough of these to meet your request, we will sell
the shares in the order they were purchased. We will use this same method if
you exchange your shares into another Franklin Templeton Fund (please see
page 18 for exchange information).
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE (12B-1) FEES The fund has a distribution plan,
sometimes known as a Rule 12b-1 plan, that allows the fund to pay
distribution fees of up to 0.35% per year to those who sell and distribute
the fund's shares and provide other services to shareholders. Because these
fees are paid out of the fund's assets on an on-going basis, over time these
fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than
paying other types of sales charges.
SALES CHARGE REDUCTIONS AND WAIVERS
If you qualify for any of the sales charge reductions or waivers below,
please let us know at the time you make your investment to help ensure you
receive the lower sales charge.
QUANTITY DISCOUNTS We offer several ways for you to combine your purchases
in the Franklin Templeton Funds to take advantage of the lower sales charges
for large purchases of fund shares.
[Begin callout]
The FRANKLIN TEMPLETON FUNDS include all of the Franklin Templeton U.S.
registered mutual funds, except Franklin Templeton Variable Insurance
Products Trust and Templeton Capital Accumulator Fund, Inc.
[End callout]
o CUMULATIVE QUANTITY DISCOUNT - lets you combine all of your shares in
the Franklin Templeton Funds for purposes of calculating the sales charge.
You also may combine the shares of your spouse, and your children or
grandchildren, if they are under the age of 21. Certain company and
retirement plan accounts also may be included.
o LETTER OF INTENT (LOI) - expresses your intent to buy a stated dollar
amount of shares over a 13-month period and lets you receive the same sales
charge as if all shares had been purchased at one time. We will reserve a
portion of your shares to cover any additional sales charge that may apply
if you do not buy the amount stated in your LOI.
TO SIGN UP FOR THESE PROGRAMS, COMPLETE THE APPROPRIATE SECTION OF YOUR
ACCOUNT APPLICATION.
REINSTATEMENT PRIVILEGE If you sell shares of a Franklin Templeton Fund, you
may reinvest some or all of the proceeds within 365 days without an initial
sales charge. The proceeds must be reinvested within the same share class,
except proceeds from the sale of Class B shares will be reinvested in Class A
shares.
Certain Franklin Templeton Funds offer multiple share classes not offered by
this fund. For purposes of this privilege, the fund's shares are considered
Class A shares.
If you paid a CDSC when you sold your Class A shares, we will credit your
account with the amount of the CDSC paid but a new CDSC will apply. For
Class B shares reinvested in Class A, a new CDSC will not apply, although
your account will not be credited with the amount of any CDSC paid when you
sold your Class B shares.
Proceeds immediately placed in a Franklin Bank Certificate of Deposit (CD)
also may be reinvested without an initial sales charge if you reinvest them
within 365 days from the date the CD matures, including any rollover.
This privilege does not apply to shares you buy and sell under our exchange
program. Shares purchased with the proceeds from a money fund may be subject
to a sales charge.
SALES CHARGE WAIVERS Fund shares may be purchased without an initial sales
charge or CDSC by various individuals, institutions and retirement plans or
by investors who reinvest certain distributions and proceeds within 365
days. The CDSC also may be waived for certain redemptions and
distributions. If you would like information about available sales charge
waivers, call your investment representative or call Shareholder Services at
1-800/632-2301. For information about retirement plans, you may call
Retirement Services at 1-800/527-2020. A list of available sales charge
waivers also may be found in the Statement of Additional Information (SAI).
GROUP INVESTMENT PROGRAM Allows established groups of 11 or more investors
to invest as a group. For sales charge purposes, the group's investments are
added together. There are certain other requirements and the group must have
a purpose other than buying fund shares at a discount.
[Insert graphic of a paper with lines
and someone writing] BUYING SHARES
MINIMUM INVESTMENTS
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
INITIAL ADDITIONAL
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Regular accounts $1,000 $50
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Automatic investment plans $50 ($25 $50 ($25
for an for an
Education Education
IRA) IRA)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
UGMA/UTMA accounts $100 $50
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Retirement accounts no minimum no minimum
(other than IRAs, IRA rollovers,
Education IRAs or Roth IRAs)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
IRAs, IRA rollovers, Education IRAs or
Roth IRAs $250 $50
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Broker-dealer sponsored wrap account
programs $250 $50
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Full-time employees, officers, trustees
and directors of Franklin Templeton
entities, and their immediate family $100 $50
members
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU MAY ONLY BUY SHARES OF A FUND ELIGIBLE FOR SALE IN YOUR
STATE OR JURISDICTION.
Certain Franklin Templeton Funds offer multiple share classes not offered by
this fund. Please note that for selling or exchanging your shares, or for
other purposes, the fund's shares are considered Class A shares.
ACCOUNT APPLICATION If you are opening a new account, please complete and
sign the enclosed account application. To save time, you can sign up now for
services you may want on your account by completing the appropriate sections
of the application (see the next page).
BUYING SHARES
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
OPENING AN ACCOUNT ADDING TO AN ACCOUNT
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
[Insert graphic
of hands shaking]
Contact your investment Contact your investment
THROUGH YOUR representative representative
INVESTMENT
REPRESENTATIVE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Make your check payable Make your check payable
[Insert graphic to Franklin U.S. to Franklin U.S.
of envelope] Long-Short Fund. Long-Short Fund.
Include your account
BY MAIL Mail the check and your number on the check.
signed application to
Investor Services. Fill out the deposit
slip from your account
statement. If you do
not have a slip,
include a note with
your name, the fund
name, and your account
number.
Mail the check and
deposit slip or note to
Investor Services.
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
[Insert graphic Call to receive a wire Call to receive a wire
of three control number and wire control number and wire
lightning bolts] instructions. instructions.
Wire the funds and mail To make a same day wire
your signed application investment, please call
BY WIRE to Investor Services. us by 1:00 p.m. Pacific
Please include the wire time and make sure your
1-800/632-2301 control number or your wire arrives by 3:00
(or new account number on p.m.
1-650/312-2000 the application.
collect)
To make a same day wire
investment, please call
us by 1:00 p.m. Pacific
time and make sure your
wire arrives by 3:00
p.m.
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
[Insert graphic Call Shareholder Call Shareholder
of two arrows Services at the number Services at the number
pointing in below, or send signed below or our automated
opposite written instructions. TeleFACTS system, or
directions] The TeleFACTS system send signed written
cannot be used to open a instructions.
BY EXCHANGE new account.
(Please see page 18 for (Please see page 18 for
TeleFACTS(R) information on information on
1-800/247-1753 exchanges.) exchanges.)
(around-the-clock
access)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
FRANKLIN TEMPLETON INVESTOR SERVICES P.O. BOX 997151,
SACRAMENTO, CA 95899-9983
CALL TOLL-FREE: 1-800/632-2301
(MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 5:30 A.M. TO 5:00 P.M., PACIFIC TIME
SATURDAY 6:30 A.M. TO 2:30 P.M., PACIFIC TIME)
[Insert graphic of person with a headset] INVESTOR SERVICES
AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT PLAN This plan offers a convenient way for you to
invest in the fund by automatically transferring money from your checking or
savings account each month to buy shares. To sign up, complete the
appropriate section of your account application and mail it to Investor
Services. If you are opening a new account, please include the minimum
initial investment of $50 ($25 for an Education IRA) with your application.
AUTOMATIC PAYROLL DEDUCTION You may invest in the fund automatically by
transferring money from your paycheck to the fund by electronic funds
transfer. If you are interested, indicate on your application that you would
like to receive an Automatic Payroll Deduction Program kit.
DISTRIBUTION OPTIONS You may reinvest distributions you receive from the
fund in an existing account in the same share class of the fund or another
Franklin Templeton Fund. Initial sales charges and CDSCs will not apply if
you reinvest your distributions within 365 days. You can also have your
distributions deposited in a bank account, or mailed by check. Deposits to a
bank account may be made by electronic funds transfer.
[Begin callout]
For Franklin Templeton Trust Company retirement plans, special forms may be
needed to receive distributions in cash. Please call 1-800/527-2020 for
information.
[End callout]
Please indicate on your application the distribution option you have chosen,
otherwise we will reinvest your distributions in the fund.
RETIREMENT PLANS Franklin Templeton offers a variety of retirement plans for
individuals and businesses. These plans require separate applications and
their policies and procedures may be different than those described in this
prospectus. For more information, including a free retirement plan brochure
or application, please call Retirement Services at 1-800/527-2020.
TELEFACTS(R) Our TeleFACTS system offers around-the-clock access to
information about your account or any Franklin Templeton Fund. This service
is available from touch-tone phones at 1-800/247-1753. For a free TeleFACTS
brochure, call 1-800/DIAL BEN.
TELEPHONE PRIVILEGES You will automatically receive telephone privileges
when you open your account, allowing you and your investment representative
to sell or exchange your shares and make certain other changes to your
account by phone.
For accounts with more than one registered owner, telephone privileges also
allow the fund to accept written instructions signed by only one owner for
transactions and account changes that could otherwise be made by phone. For
all other transactions and changes, all registered owners must sign the
instructions.
As long as we take certain measures to verify telephone requests, we will not
be responsible for any losses that may occur from unauthorized requests. Of
course, you can decline telephone exchange or redemption privileges on your
account application.
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE You can exchange shares between most Franklin Templeton
Funds within the same class*, generally without paying any additional sales
charges. If you exchange shares held for less than six months, however, you
may be charged the difference between the initial sales charge of the two
funds if the difference is more than 0.25%. If you exchange shares from a
money fund, a sales charge may apply no matter how long you have held the
shares.
[Begin callout]
An EXCHANGE is really two transactions: a sale of one fund and the purchase
of another. In general, the same policies that apply to purchases and sales
apply to exchanges, including minimum investment amounts. Exchanges also
have the same tax consequences as ordinary sales and purchases.
[End callout]
Generally exchanges may only be made between identically registered accounts,
unless you send written instructions with a signature guarantee. Any CDSC
will continue to be calculated from the date of your initial investment and
will not be charged at the time of the exchange. The purchase price for
determining a CDSC on exchanged shares will be the price you paid for the
original shares. If you exchange shares subject to a CDSC into a Class A
money fund, the time your shares are held in the money fund will not count
towards the CDSC holding period.
Frequent exchanges can interfere with fund management or operations and drive
up costs for all shareholders. To protect shareholders, there are limits on
the number and amount of exchanges you may make (please see "Market Timers"
on page 23).
*Class Z shareholders of Franklin Mutual Series Fund Inc. may exchange into
the fund without any sales charge. Advisor Class shareholders of another
Franklin Templeton Fund also may exchange into the fund without any sales
charge.Advisor Class shareholders who exchange their shares for shares of the
fund and later decide they would like to exchange into another fund that
offers Advisor Class may do so.
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN This plan allows you to automatically sell your
shares and receive regular payments from your account. A CDSC may apply to
withdrawals that exceed certain amounts. Certain terms and minimums apply.
To sign up, complete the appropriate section of your application.
[Insert graphic of a certificate] SELLING SHARES
You can sell your shares at any time.
SELLING SHARES IN WRITING Generally, requests to sell $100,000 or less can
be made over the phone or with a simple letter. Sometimes, however, to
protect you and the fund we will need written instructions signed by all
registered owners, with a signature guarantee for each owner, if:
[Begin callout]
A SIGNATURE GUARANTEE helps protect your account against fraud.
You can obtain a signature guarantee at most banks and securities dealers.
A notary public CANNOT provide a signature guarantee.
[End callout]
o you are selling more than $100,000 worth of shares
o you want your proceeds paid to someone who is not a registered owner
o you want to send your proceeds somewhere other than the address of
record, or preauthorized bank or brokerage firm account
We also may require a signature guarantee on instructions we receive from an
agent, not the registered owners, or when we believe it would protect the
fund against potential claims based on the instructions received.
SELLING RECENTLY PURCHASED SHARES If you sell shares recently purchased with
a check or draft, we may delay sending you the proceeds until your check or
draft has cleared, which may take seven business days or more. A certified
or cashier's check may clear in less time.
REDEMPTION PROCEEDS Your redemption check will be sent within seven days
after we receive your request in proper form. We are not able to receive or
pay out cash in the form of currency. Redemption proceeds may be delayed if
we have not yet received your signed account application.
RETIREMENT PLANS You may need to complete additional forms to sell shares in
a Franklin Templeton Trust Company retirement plan. For participants under
age 591/2, tax penalties may apply. Call Retirement Services at
1-800/527-2020 for details.
SELLING SHARES
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
TO SELL SOME OR ALL OF YOUR SHARES
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
[Insert graphic of
hands shaking]
Contact your investment representative
THROUGH YOUR
INVESTMENT
REPRESENTATIVE
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
[Insert graphic of Send written instructions and endorsed
envelope] share certificates (if you hold share
certificates) to Investor Services.
BY MAIL Corporate, partnership or trust
accounts may need to send additional
documents.
Specify the fund, the account number
and the dollar value or number of
shares you wish to sell. Be sure to
include all necessary signatures and
any additional documents, as well as
signature guarantees if required.
A check will be mailed to the name(s)
and address on the account, or
otherwise according to your written
instructions.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
[Insert graphic of As long as your transaction is for
phone] $100,000 or less, you do not hold share
certificates and you have not changed
BY PHONE your address by phone within the last
15 days, you can sell your shares by
1-800/632-2301 phone.
A check will be mailed to the name(s)
and address on the account. Written
instructions, with a signature
guarantee, are required to send the
check to another address or to make it
payable to another person.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
[Insert graphic of You can call or write to have
three lightning redemption proceeds sent to a bank
bolts] account. See the policies above for
selling shares by mail or phone.
Before requesting to have redemption
proceeds sent to a bank account, please
BY ELECTRONIC FUNDS make sure we have your bank account
TRANSFER (ACH) information on file. If we do not have
this information, you will need to send
written instructions with your bank's
name and address, a voided check or
savings account deposit slip, and a
signature guarantee if the ownership of
the bank and fund accounts is different.
If we receive your request in proper
form by 1:00 p.m. Pacific time,
proceeds sent by ACH generally will be
available within two to three business
days.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
[Insert graphic of Obtain a current prospectus for the
two arrows pointing fund you are considering.
in opposite
directions] Call Shareholder Services at the number
below or our automated TeleFACTS
BY EXCHANGE system, or send signed written
instructions. See the policies above
TeleFACTS(R) for selling shares by mail or phone.
1-800/247-1753
(around-the-clock If you hold share certificates, you
access) will need to return them to the fund
before your exchange can be processed.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
FRANKLIN TEMPLETON INVESTOR SERVICES P.O. BOX 997151,
SACRAMENTO, CA 95899-9983
CALL TOLL-FREE: 1-800/632-2301
(MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 5:30 A.M. TO 5:00 P.M., PACIFIC TIME
SATURDAY 6:30 A.M. TO 2:30 P.M., PACIFIC TIME)
[Insert graphic of paper and pen] ACCOUNT POLICIES
CALCULATING SHARE PRICE The fund calculates the net asset value per share
(NAV) each business day at the close of trading on the New York Stock
Exchange (normally 1:00 p.m. Pacific time). The fund's NAV is calculated by
dividing its net assets by the number of its shares outstanding.
[Begin callout]
When you buy shares, you pay the offering price. The offering price is the
NAV plus any applicable sales charge.
When you sell shares, you receive the NAV minus any applicable contingent
deferred sales charge (CDSC).
[End callout]
The fund's assets are generally valued at their market value. If market
prices are unavailable, or if an event occurs after the close of the trading
market that materially affects the values, assets may be valued at their fair
value. If the fund holds securities listed primarily on a foreign exchange
that trades on days when the fund is not open for business, the value of your
shares may change on days that you cannot buy or sell shares.
Requests to buy and sell shares are processed at the NAV next calculated
after we receive your request in proper form.
ACCOUNTS WITH LOW BALANCES If the value of your account falls below $250
($50 for employee and UGMA/UTMA accounts) because you sell some of your
shares, we may 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 may close your account and mail the proceeds to the address of
record. You will not be charged a CDSC if your account is closed for this
reason.
STATEMENTS AND REPORTS You will receive quarterly account statements that
show all your account transactions during the quarter. You also will receive
written notification after each transaction affecting your account (except
for distributions and transactions made through automatic investment or
withdrawal programs, which will be reported on your quarterly statement). You
also will receive the fund's financial reports every six months. To reduce
fund expenses, we try to identify related shareholders in a household and
send only one copy of the financial reports. If you need additional copies,
please call 1-800/DIAL BEN.
If there is a dealer or other investment representative of record on your
account, he or she also will receive copies of all notifications and
statements and other information about your account directly from the fund.
STREET OR NOMINEE ACCOUNTS You may transfer your shares from the street or
nominee name account of one dealer to another, as long as both dealers have
an agreement with Franklin Templeton Distributors, Inc. We will process the
transfer after we receive authorization in proper form from your delivering
securities dealer.
JOINT ACCOUNTS Unless you specify a different registration, accounts with
two or more owners are registered as "joint tenants with rights of
survivorship" (shown as "Jt Ten" on your account statement). To make any
ownership changes to a joint account, all owners must agree in writing,
regardless of the law in your state.
MARKET TIMERS The fund may restrict or refuse exchanges by market timers.
If accepted, each exchange by a market timer will be charged $5 by
Franklin/Templeton Investor Services, Inc., the fund's transfer agent. You
will be considered a market timer if you have (i) requested an exchange out
of the fund within two weeks of an earlier exchange request, or (ii)
exchanged shares out of the fund more than twice in a calendar quarter, or
(iii) exchanged shares equal to at least $5 million, or more than 1% of the
fund's net assets, or (iv) otherwise seem to follow a timing pattern. Shares
under common ownership or control are combined for these limits.
ADDITIONAL POLICIES Please note that the fund maintains additional policies
and reserves certain rights, including:
o The fund may refuse any order to buy shares, including any purchase
under the exchange privilege.
o At any time, the fund may change its investment minimums or waive or
lower its minimums for certain purchases.
o The fund may modify or discontinue the exchange privilege on 60 days'
notice.
o In unusual circumstances, we may temporarily suspend redemptions, or
postpone the payment of proceeds, as allowed by federal securities laws.
o For redemptions over a certain amount, the fund reserves the right to
make payments in securities or other assets of the fund, in the case of an
emergency or if the payment by check, wire or electronic funds transfer
would be harmful to existing shareholders.
o To permit investors to obtain the current price, dealers are responsible
for transmitting all orders to the fund promptly.
DEALER COMPENSATION Qualifying dealers who sell fund shares may receive
sales commissions and other payments. These are paid by Franklin Templeton
Distributors, Inc. (Distributors) from sales charges, distribution and
service (12b-1) fees and its other resources.
COMMISSION (%) ---
Investment under $50,000 5.00
$50,000 but under $100,000 3.75
$100,000 but under $250,000 2.80
$250,000 but under $500,000 2.00
$500,000 but under $1 million 1.60
$1 million or more up to 1.00 1
12B-1 FEE TO DEALER 0.25 2
A dealer commission of up to 1% may be paid on NAV purchases by certain
retirement plans 1 and up to 0.25% on NAV purchases by certain trust companies
and bank trust departments, eligible governmental authorities, and
broker-dealers or others on behalf of clients participating in comprehensive
fee programs.
1. During the first year after purchase, dealers may not be eligible to
receive the 12b-1 fee.
2. The fund may pay up to 0.35% to Distributors or others, out of which 0.10%
generally will be retained by Distributors for its distribution expenses.
[Insert graphic of question mark]QUESTIONS
If you have any questions about the fund or your account, you can write to us
at P.O. Box 997151, Sacramento, CA 95899-9983. You can also call us at one
of the following numbers. For your protection and to help ensure we provide
you with quality service, all calls may be monitored or recorded.
HOURS (PACIFIC TIME,
DEPARTMENT NAME TELEPHONE NUMBER MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Shareholder Services 1-800/632-2301 5:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
(Saturday)
Fund Information 1-800/DIAL BEN 5:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
(1-800/342-5236) 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
(Saturday)
Retirement Services 1-800/527-2020 5:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Advisor Services 1-800/524-4040 5:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Institutional 1-800/321-8563 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Services
TDD (hearing 1-800/851-0637 5:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
impaired)
FOR MORE INFORMATION
You can learn more about the fund in the following document:
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI)
Contains more information about the fund, its investments and policies. It is
incorporated by reference (is legally a part of this prospectus).
For a free copy of the SAI, please contact your investment representative or
call us at the number below.
FRANKLIN(R)TEMPLETON(R)
1-800/DIAL BEN(R) (1-800/342-5236)
TDD (Hearing Impaired) 1-800/851-0637
www.franklintempleton.com
You can also obtain information about the fund by visiting the SEC's Public
Reference Room in Washington, D.C. (phone 1-202/942-8090) or the EDGAR
Database on the SEC's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. You can obtain
copies of this information, after paying a duplicating fee, by writing to the
SEC's Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102 or by electronic
request at the following E-mail address: [email protected].
Investment Company Act file #811-6243 404p 05/00
FRANKLIN U.S. LONG-SHORT FUND
FRANKLIN STRATEGIC SERIES
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
SEPTEMBER 1, 1999, AS AMENDED MAY 1, 2000
[Insert Franklin Templeton Ben Head]
P.O. BOX 997151, SACRAMENTO, CA 95899-9983 1-800/DIAL BEN(R)
This Statement of Additional Information (SAI) is not a prospectus. It
contains information in addition to the information in the fund's prospectus.
The fund's prospectus, dated September 1, 1999, as amended May 1, 2000, which
we may further amend from time to time, contains the basic information you
should know before investing in the fund. You should read this SAI together
with the fund's prospectus.
For a free copy of the current prospectus, contact your investment
representative or call 1-800/DIAL BEN (1-800/342-5236).
CONTENTS
Goal and Strategies
Risks
Officers and Trustees
Management and Other Services
Portfolio Transactions
Distributions and Taxes
Organization, Voting Rights and Principal Holders
Buying and Selling Shares
Pricing Shares
The Underwriter
Performance
Miscellaneous Information
Financial Statements
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MUTUAL FUNDS, ANNUITIES, AND OTHER INVESTMENT PRODUCTS:
o ARE NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE
FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, OR ANY OTHER AGENCY OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT;
o ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR GUARANTEED OR ENDORSED BY, ANY
BANK;
o ARE SUBJECT TO INVESTMENT RISKS, INCLUDING THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF
PRINCIPAL.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GOAL AND STRATEGIES
The fund's principal investment goal is to provide long-term capital
appreciation in both up (bull) and down (bear) markets with less volatility
than the overall stock market. This goal is fundamental, which means it may
not be changed without shareholder approval.
One measure of risk is volatility of returns. Over time, the fund aims to
achieve its returns with reduced volatility and reduced market correlation as
compared to a traditional equity fund that holds only long positions. A
traditional equity fund is fully exposed to the equity market and thus bears
the full market risk of its investments. The fund, however, reduces its
exposure to market movements by combining a short portfolio (being in a
position to profit when securities prices go down) with a long portfolio
(being in a position to profit when securities prices go up). The fund's
"net" exposure is the gross amount of securities held long minus the gross
amount of securities held short -- the short portfolio offsets the long
portfolio. The fund will maintain a flexible approach with regard to the
amount of its "net exposure." It will shift its net exposure depending on
the relative attractiveness of long versus short opportunities in the
market. Reduced exposure to the equity market should contribute to lower
overall volatility of the fund's returns. In addition, the fund's variation
in returns should be somewhat different from a traditional U.S. equity fund.
Traditional U.S. equity funds normally produce positive returns in bull
markets and negative returns in bear markets making them correlated with the
overall market. A primary goal of the fund is to provide positive returns in
both bull and bear markets. If this is achieved, the fund will have
imperfect correlation with the overall market. The fund manager believes the
fund's risk and correlation profile can be used to effectively diversify
investors' U.S. equity portfolios.
The fund is constructed on a stock-by-stock basis. The fund manager attempts
to create a portfolio of stocks by analyzing risk/reward profiles. The fund
manager believes that every position - long and short - can be evaluated by
weighing potential gains against associated risk. Within the long portfolio,
the fund manager looks for companies with strong or improving fundamentals,
or valuable assets that are not fully appreciated by the market. Once these
fundamental factors are determined, they are considered against various
valuation metrics and a risk/reward profile is constructed. Companies that
compare favorably are long purchase candidates. Within the short portfolio,
risk/reward profiles are also generated. The fund manager looks for
companies whose fundamentals are likely to deteriorate or whose market
valuations are excessive. The fund manager focuses on short sale candidates
with a large number of associated risk factors or potential negative future
events that may cause the stock to underperform or decline in value.
EQUITY SECURITIES The purchaser of an equity security typically receives an
ownership interest in the company as well as certain voting rights. The
owner of an equity security may participate in a company's success through
the receipt of dividends, which are distributions of earnings by the company
to its owners. Equity security owners may also participate in a company's
success or lack of success through increases or decreases in the value of the
company's shares as traded in the public trading market for such shares.
Equity securities generally take the form of common stock or preferred
stock. Preferred stockholders typically receive greater dividends but may
receive less appreciation than common stockholders because of the terms of
the issuance of preferred stocks and may have greater voting rights as well.
Equity securities may also include convertible securities, warrants, or
rights. Warrants or rights give the holder the right to purchase a common
stock at a given time for a specified price.
SHORT SALES In a short sale, the fund sells a security it does not own in
anticipation of a decline in the market value of that security. To complete
the transaction, the fund must borrow the security to make delivery to the
buyer. The fund is then obligated to replace the security borrowed by
purchasing it at the market price at the time of replacement. Until the
security is replaced, the fund must pay the lender any dividends or interest
that accrues during the period of the loan. To borrow the security, the fund
may also be required to pay a premium, which would increase the cost of the
security sold. The proceeds of the short sale will be retained by the
broker, to the extent necessary to meet margin requirements, until the short
position is closed out.
The fund will incur a loss as a result of the short sale if the price of the
security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which
the fund replaces the borrowed security, and the fund will realize a gain if
the security declines in price between those same dates. The amount of any
gain will be decreased, and the amount of any loss increased, by the amount
of any premium, dividends or interest the fund is required to pay in
connection with the short sale.
The fund will segregate, in accordance with the law, an amount equal to the
difference between (a) the market value of the securities sold short at the
time they were sold short and (b) any cash or securities required to be
deposited as collateral with the broker in connection with the short sale
(not including the proceeds from the short sale). The segregated amount will
be marked-to-market daily and at no time will the amount segregated and
deposited with the broker as collateral be less than the market value of the
securities at the time they sold short.
BORROWING When the fund enters into a short sale transaction, it agrees with
the selling broker to maintain cash or marginable collateral equal to the
marked-to-market value of securities sold short. The agreement with the
broker provides that if the fund does not increase the collateral when
requested, the broker will, in effect, lend the shortfall to the fund and
charge the fund interest on the amount of the shortfall. The fund may also
borrow from banks when the fund has all of its assets invested, but wants to
take advantage of opportunities to buy more stocks, either long or short.
Under federal securities laws, a fund may borrow from banks up to one-third
its total assets (including the amount borrowed) provided that it maintains
continuous asset coverage of 300% with respect to such borrowings and sells
(within three days) sufficient portfolio holdings to restore such coverage if
it should decline to less than 300% due to market fluctuations or otherwise,
even if disadvantageous from an investment standpoint. The federal
securities laws also permit a fund, under specified conditions, to enter into
a borrowing arrangement with a non-bank. In addition to borrowing for
leverage purposes, the fund also may borrow money to meet redemptions in
order to avoid forced, unplanned sales of portfolio securities. This allows
the fund greater flexibility to buy and sell portfolio securities for
investment or tax considerations, rather than for cash flow considerations.
FOREIGN SECURITIES The fund may invest up to 35% of its total assets in
foreign securities traded in the U.S. or directly in foreign markets. The
fund may buy American, European, and Global Depositary Receipts. Depositary
receipts are certificates typically issued by a bank or trust company that
give their holders the right to receive securities (a) of a foreign issuer
deposited in a U.S. bank or trust company (American Depositary Receipts), or
(b) of a foreign or U.S. issuer deposited in a foreign bank or trust company
(Global Depositary Receipts, GDRs or European Depositary Receipts, EDRs).
The fund may invest in sponsored or unsponsored depositary receipts. In
sponsored programs, an issuer has made arrangements to have its securities
traded in the form of depositary receipts. In unsponsored programs, the
issuer may not be directly involved in the creation of the program. Although
regulatory requirements with respect to sponsored and unsponsored programs
are generally similar, in some cases it may be easier to obtain financial
information from an issuer that has participated in the creation of a
sponsored program. Accordingly, there may be less information available
regarding issuers of securities underlying unsponsored programs, and there
may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the
depositary receipts.
EMERGING MARKETS. Emerging market countries include: (i) countries that are
generally considered low or middle income countries by the International Bank
for Reconstruction and Development (commonly known as the World Bank) and the
International Finance Corporation; or (ii) countries that are classified by
United Nations or otherwise regarded by their authorities as emerging, or
(iii) countries with a market capitalization of less than 3% of the Morgan
Stanley Capital World Index.
SMALL COMPANIES Small companies are often overlooked by investors or
undervalued in relation to their earnings power. Small companies generally
are not as well known to the investing public and have less of an investor
following than larger companies. Because of these relative inefficiencies in
the market place, they may provide greater opportunities for long-term
capital growth. These companies may be undervalued because they are part of
an industry that is out of favor with investors, although the individual
companies may have high rates of earnings growth and be financially sound.
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER Portfolio turnover is a measure of how frequently a
portfolio's securities are bought and sold. As required by the SEC, annual
portfolio turnover is calculated generally as the dollar value of the lesser
of a portfolio's purchases or sales of portfolio securities during a given
year, divided by the monthly average value of the portfolio's securities
during that year (excluding securities whose maturity or expiration at the
time of acquisition were less than one year). For example, a portfolio
reporting a 100% portfolio turnover rate would have purchased and sold
securities worth as much as the monthly average value of its portfolio
securities during the year. Higher portfolio turnover rates generally
increase transaction costs, which are portfolio expenses, and may increase
your tax liability if the transactions result in capital gains.
The portfolio turnover rate for this fund is expected to exceed 100% because
of the fund's investment strategy. This is because shifting the portfolio's
long and short positions based on market opportunities and engaging in short
sales cause portfolio turnover. In addition, redemptions or exchanges by
investors may require the liquidation of portfolio securities. A decision to
buy and sell a security may therefore be made without regard to the length of
time a security has been held.
TEMPORARY INVESTMENTS When the manager believes market or economic
conditions are unfavorable for investors, the manager may invest up to 100%
of the fund's assets in a temporary defensive manner or hold a substantial
portion of the fund's portfolio in cash. Unfavorable market or economic
conditions may include excessive volatility or a prolonged general decline in
the securities markets, the securities in which the fund normally invests, or
the economies of the countries where the fund invests.
Temporary defensive investments generally may include high-grade commercial
paper, repurchase agreements, and other money market equivalents. To the
extent allowed by exemptions granted under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended (1940 Act), and the fund's other investment policies and
restrictions, the manager also may invest the fund's assets in shares of one
or more money market funds managed by the manager or its affiliates. The
manager also may invest in these types of securities or hold cash while
looking for suitable investment opportunities or to maintain liquidity.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS The fund generally will have a portion of its assets in
cash or cash equivalents for a variety of reasons, including waiting for a
special investment opportunity or taking a defensive position. To earn
income on this portion of its assets, the fund may enter into repurchase
agreements. Under a repurchase agreement, the fund agrees to buy securities
guaranteed as to payment of principal and interest by the U.S. government or
its agencies from a qualified bank or broker-dealer and then to sell the
securities back to the bank or broker dealer after a short period of time
(generally, less than seven days) at a higher price. The bank or
broker-dealer must transfer to the fund's custodian securities with an
initial market value of at least 102% of the dollar amount invested by the
fund in each repurchase agreement. The manager will monitor the value of such
securities daily to determine that the value equals or exceeds the repurchase
price.
Repurchase agreements may involve risks in the event of default or insolvency
of the bank or broker-dealer, including possible delays or restrictions upon
the fund's ability to sell the underlying securities. The fund will enter
into repurchase agreements only with parties who meet certain
creditworthiness standards, i.e., banks or broker-dealers that the manager
has determined present no serious risk of becoming involved in bankruptcy
proceedings within the time frame contemplated by the repurchase transaction.
LOANS OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES To generate additional income, the fund may
lend certain of its portfolio securities to qualified banks and
broker-dealers. These loans may not exceed 33 1/3% of the value of the fund's
total assets, measured at the time of the most recent loan. For each loan,
the borrower must maintain with the fund's custodian collateral (consisting
of any combination of cash, securities issued by the U.S. government and its
agencies and instrumentalities, or irrevocable letters of credit) with a
value at least equal to 100% of the current market value of the loaned
securities. The fund retains all or a portion of the interest received on
investment of the cash collateral or receives a fee from the borrower. The
fund also continues to receive any distributions paid on the loaned
securities. The fund may terminate a loan at any time and obtain the return
of the securities loaned within the normal settlement period for the security
involved.
Where voting rights with respect to the loaned securities pass with the
lending of the securities, the manager intends to call the loaned securities
to vote proxies, or to use other practicable and legally enforceable means to
obtain voting rights, when the manager has knowledge that, in its opinion, a
material event affecting the loaned securities will occur or the manager
otherwise believes it necessary to vote. As with other extensions of credit,
there are risks of delay in recovery or even loss of rights in collateral in
the event of default or insolvency of the borrower. The fund will loan its
securities only to parties who meet creditworthiness standards approved by
the fund's board of trustees, i.e., banks or broker-dealers that the manager
has determined present no serious risk of becoming involved in bankruptcy
proceedings within the time frame contemplated by the loan.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS The fund has adopted the following restrictions as
fundamental policies. This means they may only be changed if the change is
approved by (i) more than 50% of the fund's outstanding shares or (ii) 67% or
more of the fund's shares present at a shareholder meeting if more than 50%
of the fund's outstanding shares are represented at the meeting in person or
by proxy, whichever is less.
The fund may not:
1. Borrow money, except that the fund may borrow money from banks or other
persons in privately arranged transactions that are not intended to be
publicly distributed, or affiliated investment companies, to the extent
permitted by the 1940 Act, or any exemptions therefrom which may be granted
by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), or for temporary or
emergency purposes and then in an amount not exceeding 33 1/3% of the value
of the fund's total assets (including the amount borrowed).
2. Act as an underwriter except to the extent the fund may be deemed to be
an underwriter when disposing of securities it owns or when selling its own
shares.
3. Make loans to other persons except (a) through the lending of its
portfolio securities, (b) through the purchase of debt securities, loan
participations and/or engaging in direct corporate loans in accordance with
its investment objectives and policies, and (c) to the extent the entry into
a repurchase agreement is deemed to be a loan. The fund may also make loans
to affiliated investment companies to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act or
any exemptions therefrom which may be granted by the SEC.
4. Purchase or sell real estate and commodities, except that the fund may
purchase or sell securities of real estate investment trusts, may purchase
or sell currencies, may enter into futures contracts on securities,
currencies, and other indices or any other financial instruments, and may
purchase and sell options on such futures contracts..
5. Issue securities senior to the fund's presently authorized shares of
beneficial interest. Except that this restriction shall not be deemed to
prohibit the fund from (a) making any permitted borrowings, loans, mortgages
or pledges, (b) entering into options, futures contracts, forward contracts,
repurchase transactions or reverse repurchase transactions, or (c) making
short sales of securities to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and any
rule or order thereunder, or SEC staff interpretations thereof.
6. Concentrate (invest more than 25% of its total assets) in securities of
issuers in a particular industry (other than securities issued or guaranteed
by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities or
securities of other investment companies).
7. Purchase the securities of any one issuer (other than the U.S.
government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities or securities of other
investment companies) if immediately after such investment (a) more than 5%
of the value of the fund's total assets would be invested in such issuer or
(b) more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer would
be owned by the fund, except that up to 25% of the value of such fund's total
assets may be invested without regard to such 5% and 10% limitations.
8. Sell short the securities of any one issuer, if immediately after such
investment (a) the market value of such issuer's securities sold short would
exceed more than 5% of the value of the fund's total assets, or (b) the
securities sold short would constitute more than 10% of the outstanding
voting securities of such issuer.
If a bankruptcy or other extraordinary event occurs concerning a particular
security the fund owns, the fund may receive stock, real estate, or other
investments that the fund would not, or could not, buy. If this happens, the
fund intends to sell such investments as soon as practicable while trying to
maximize the return to shareholders.
Generally, the policies and restrictions discussed in this SAI and in the
prospectus apply when the fund makes an investment. In most cases, the fund
is not required to sell a security because circumstances change and the
security no longer meets one or more of the fund's policies or restrictions.
If a percentage restriction or limitation is met at the time of investment, a
later increase or decrease in the percentage due to a change in the value or
liquidity of portfolio securities will not be considered a violation of the
restriction or limitation.
RISKS
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOREIGN SECURITIES The values of foreign (and U.S.) securities is affected
by general economic conditions and individual company and industry earnings
prospects. While foreign securities may offer significant opportunities for
gain, they also involve additional risks that can increase the potential for
losses in a fund. These risks can be significantly greater for investments in
emerging markets. Investments in depositary receipts also involve some or
all of the risks described below.
The political, economic, and social structures of some countries in which the
fund invests may be less stable and more volatile than those in the U.S. The
risks of investing in these countries include the possibility of the
imposition of exchange controls, expropriation, restrictions on removal of
currency or other assets, nationalization of assets, and punitive taxes.
There may be less publicly available information about a foreign company or
government than about a U.S. company or public entity. Certain countries'
financial markets and services are less developed than those in the U.S. or
other major economies. As a result, they may not have uniform accounting,
auditing, and financial reporting standards and may have less government
supervision of financial markets. Foreign securities markets may have
substantially lower trading volumes than U.S. markets, resulting in less
liquidity and more volatility than experienced in the U.S. Transaction costs
on foreign securities markets are generally higher than in the U.S. The
settlement practices may be cumbersome and result in delays that may affect
portfolio liquidity. The fund may have greater difficulty voting proxies,
exercising shareholder rights, pursuing legal remedies, and obtaining
judgments with respect to foreign investments in foreign courts than with
respect to domestic issuers in U.S. courts.
EMERGING MARKETS Investments in companies domiciled in emerging countries may
be subject to potentially higher risks, making these investments more
volatile, than investments in developed countries. These risks include (i)
less social, political and economic stability; (ii) the risk that the small
size of the markets for such securities and the low or nonexistent volume of
trading may result in a lack of liquidity and in greater price volatility;
(iii) the existence of certain national policies which may restrict the
fund's investment opportunities, including restrictions on investment in
issuers or industries deemed sensitive to national interests; (iv) foreign
taxation; (v) the absence of developed legal structures governing private or
foreign investment or allowing for judicial redress for injury to private
property; (vi) the absence, until recently in many developing countries, of a
capital market structure or market-oriented economy, and (vii) the
possibility that recent favorable economic developments in some emerging
countries may be slowed or reversed by unanticipated political or social
events in such countries.
In addition, many countries in which the fund may invest have experienced
substantial, and in some periods extremely high, rates of inflation for many
years. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had and may
continue to have negative effects on the economies and securities markets of
certain countries. Moreover, the economies of some emerging countries may
differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as
growth of gross domestic product, rate of inflation, currency depreciation,
capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments
position.
Investments in emerging countries may involve risks of nationalization,
expropriation and confiscatory taxation. For example, the Communist
governments of a number of Eastern European countries expropriated large
amounts of private property in the past, in many cases without adequate
compensation, and there can be no assurance that such expropriation will not
occur in the future. In the event of expropriation, the fund could lose a
substantial portion of any investments it has made in the affected countries.
Further, no accounting standards exist in certain emerging countries.
Finally, even though the currencies of some emerging countries, such as
certain Eastern European countries may be convertible into U.S. dollars, the
conversion rates may be artificial to the actual market values and may be
adverse to the fund's shareholders.
Repatriation, that is, the return to an investor's homeland, of investment
income, capital and proceeds of sales by foreign investors may require
governmental registration or approval in some developing countries. Delays in
or a refusal to grant any required governmental registration or approval for
such repatriation could adversely affect the fund. Further, the economies of
emerging countries generally are heavily dependent upon international trade
and, accordingly, have been and may continue to be adversely affected by
trade barriers, exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency
values and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the
countries with which they trade. These economies also have been and may
continue to be adversely affected by economic conditions in the countries
with which they trade. These economies also have been and may continue to be
adversely affected by economic conditions in the countries in the countries
with which they trade.
EURO On January 1, 1999, the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)
introduced a new single currency called the euro. By July 1, 2002, the euro,
which will be implemented in stages, will have replaced the national
currencies of the following member countries: Austria, Belgium, Finland,
France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and
Spain.
Currently, the exchange rate of the currencies of each of these countries is
fixed to the euro. The euro trades on currency exchanges and is available for
non-cash transactions. The participating countries currently issue sovereign
debt exclusively in euro. By July 1, 2002, euro-denominated bills and coins
will replace the bills and coins of the above countries.
The new European Central Bank has control over each country's monetary
policies. Therefore, the participating countries no longer control their own
monetary policies by directing independent interest rates for their
currencies. The national governments of the participating countries, however,
have retained the authority to set tax and spending policies and public debt
levels.
The change to the euro as a single currency is new and untested. It is not
possible to predict the impact of the euro on currency values or on the
business or financial condition of European countries and issuers, and
issuers in other regions, whose securities the fund may hold, or the impact,
if any, on fund performance. In the first six months of the euro's existence,
the exchange rates of the euro versus many of the world's major currencies
steadily declined. In this environment, U.S. and other foreign investors
experienced erosion of their investment returns on their euro-denominated
securities. The transition and the elimination of currency risk among EMU
countries may change the economic environment and behavior of investors,
particularly in European markets.
While the implementation of the euro could have a negative effect on the
fund, the fund's manager and its affiliated service providers are taking
steps they believe are reasonably designed to address the euro issue.
OFFICERS AND TRUSTEES
Franklin Strategic Series Trust has a board of trustees. The board is
responsible for the overall management of the trust, including general
supervision and review of the fund's investment activities. The board, in turn,
elects the officers of the trust who are responsible for administering the
trust's day-to-day operations.
The name, age and address of the officers and board members, as well as their
affiliations, positions held with the trust, and principal occupations during
the past five years are shown below.
Frank H. Abbott, III (79)
1045 Sansome Street, San Francisco, CA 94111
TRUSTEE
President and Director, Abbott Corporation (an investment company); director
or trustee, as the case may be, of 28 of the investment companies in the
Franklin Templeton Group of Funds; and FORMERLY, Director, MotherLode Gold
Mines Consolidated (gold mining) (until 1996) and Vacu-Dry Co. (food
processing) (until 1996).
Harris J. Ashton (67)
191 Clapboard Ridge Road, Greenwich, CT 06830
TRUSTEE
Director, RBC Holdings, Inc. (bank holding company) and Bar-S Foods (meat
packing company); director or trustee, as the case may be, of 48 of the
investment companies in the Franklin Templeton Group of Funds; and FORMERLY,
President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, General Host
Corporation (nursery and craft centers) (until 1998).
Harmon E. Burns (55)
777 Mariners Island Blvd., San Mateo, CA 94404
VICE PRESIDENT AND TRUSTEE
Vice Chairman, Member - Office of the Chairman and Director, Franklin
Resources, Inc.; Executive Vice President and Director, Franklin Templeton
Distributors, Inc. and Franklin Templeton Services, Inc.; Executive Vice
President, Franklin Advisers, Inc.; Director, Franklin Investment Advisory
Services, Inc. and Franklin/Templeton Investor Services, Inc.; and officer
and/or director or trustee, as the case may be, of most of the other
subsidiaries of Franklin Resources, Inc. and of 52 of the investment
companies in the Franklin Templeton Group of Funds.
S. Joseph Fortunato (67)
Park Avenue at Morris County, P.O. Box 1945
Morristown, NJ 07962-1945
TRUSTEE
Member of the law firm of Pitney, Hardin, Kipp & Szuch; and director or
trustee, as the case may be, of 50 of the investment companies in the
Franklin Templeton Group of Funds.
Edith E. Holiday (48)
3239 38th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20016
TRUSTEE
Director, Amerada Hess Corporation (exploration and refining of oil and gas)
(1993-present), Hercules Incorporated (chemicals, fibers and resins)
(1993-present), Beverly Enterprises, Inc. (health care) (1995-present), H.J.
Heinz Company (processed foods and allied products) (1994-present) and RTI
International Metals, Inc. (manufacture and distribution of titanium) (July
1999-present); director or trustee, as the case may be, of 25 of the
investment companies in the Franklin Templeton Group of Funds; 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).
*Charles B. Johnson (67)
777 Mariners Island Blvd., San Mateo, CA 94404
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND TRUSTEE
Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Member - Office of the
Chairman and Director, Franklin Resources, Inc.; Chairman of the Board and
Director, Franklin Investment Advisory Services, Inc.; Chairman of the Board,
Franklin Advisers, Inc.; Vice President, Franklin Templeton Distributors,
Inc.; Director, Franklin/Templeton Investor Services, Inc. and Franklin
Templeton Services, Inc.; officer and/or director or trustee, as the case may
be, of most of the other subsidiaries of Franklin Resources, Inc. and of 49
of the investment companies in the Franklin Templeton Group of Funds.
*Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. (59)
777 Mariners Island Blvd., San Mateo, CA 94404
PRESIDENT AND TRUSTEE
Vice Chairman, Member - Office of the Chairman and Director, Franklin
Resources, Inc.; Executive Vice President and Director, Franklin Templeton
Distributors, Inc.; Director, Franklin Advisers, Inc., Franklin Investment
Advisory Services, Inc. and Franklin/Templeton Investor Services, Inc.;
Senior Vice President, Franklin Advisory Services, LLC; and officer and/or
director or trustee, as the case may be, of most of the other subsidiaries of
Franklin Resources, Inc. and of 52 of the investment companies in the
Franklin Templeton Group of Funds.
Frank W.T. LaHaye (71)
20833 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite 102, Cupertino, CA 95014
TRUSTEE
Chairman, Peregrine Venture Management Company (venture capital); Director,
The California Center for Land Recycling (redevelopment); director or
trustee, as the case may be, of 28 of the investment companies in the
Franklin Templeton Group of Funds; and FORMERLY, General Partner, Miller &
LaHaye and Peregrine Associates, the general partners of Peregrine Venture
funds.
Gordon S. Macklin (71)
8212 Burning Tree Road, Bethesda, MD 20817
TRUSTEE
Director, Martek Biosciences Corporation, MCI WorldCom, Inc. (information
services), MedImmune, Inc. (biotechnology), Overstock.com (internet
services), White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. (holding company) and
Spacehab, Inc. (aerospace services); director or trustee, as the case may be,
of 48 of the investment companies in the Franklin Templeton Group of Funds;
and FORMERLY, Chairman, White River Corporation (financial services) (until
1998) and Hambrecht & Quist Group (investment banking) (until 1992), and
President, National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (until 1987).
Martin L. Flanagan (39)
777 Mariners Island Blvd., San Mateo, CA 94404
VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
President, Member - Office of the President, Chief Financial Officer and
Chief Operating Officer, Franklin Resources, Inc.; Senior Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer and Director, Franklin/Templeton Investor Services,
Inc.; Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Franklin Mutual
Advisers, LLC; Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and
Director, Templeton Worldwide, Inc.; Executive Vice President, Chief
Operating Officer and Director, Templeton Investment Counsel, Inc.; Executive
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Franklin Advisers, Inc.; Chief
Financial Officer, Franklin Advisory Services, LLC and Franklin Investment
Advisory Services, Inc.; Director, Franklin Templeton Services, Inc.; officer
and/or director of some of the other subsidiaries of Franklin Resources,
Inc.; and officer and/or director or trustee, as the case may be, of 52 of
the investment companies in the Franklin Templeton Group of Funds.
Deborah R. Gatzek (51)
1840 Gateway Drive, San Mateo, CA 94404
Secretary
Partner, Stradley, Ronon, Stevens & Young, LLP; officer of 34 of the
investment companies in the Franklin Templeton Group of Funds; and FORMERLY,
Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Franklin Resources, Inc., Senior
Vice President, Franklin Templeton Services, Inc. and Franklin Templeton
Distributors, Inc., Executive Vice President, Franklin Advisers, Inc., Vice
President, Franklin Advisory Services, LLC and Franklin Mutual Advisers, LLC,
and Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Chief Operating Officer, Franklin
Investment Advisory Services, Inc. (until January 2000).
David Goss (52)
777 Mariners Island Blvd., San Mateo, CA 94404
VICE PRESIDENT
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Franklin Select Realty
Trust, Property Resources, Inc., Property Resources Equity Trust, Franklin
Real Estate Management, Inc. and Franklin Properties, Inc.; officer and
director of some of the other subsidiaries of Franklin Resources, Inc.;
officer of 53 of the investment companies in the Franklin Templeton Group of
Funds; and FORMERLY, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director,
Franklin Real Estate Income Fund and Franklin Advantage Real Estate Income
Fund (until 1996).
Barbara J. Green (52)
777 Mariners Island Blvd., San Mateo, CA 94404
VICE PRESIDENT
Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Franklin Resources, Inc.; Senior
Vice President, Templeton Worldwide, Inc. and Templeton Global Investors,
Inc.; officer of some of the other subsidiaries of Franklin Resources, Inc.
and of 53 of the investment companies in the Franklin Templeton Group of
Funds; and FORMERLY, Deputy Director, Division of Investment Management,
Executive Assistant and Senior Advisor to the Chairman, Counselor to the
Chairman, Special Counsel and Attorney Fellow, U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission (1986-1995), Attorney, Rogers & Wells (until 1986), and Judicial
Clerk, U.S. District Court (District of Massachusetts) (until 1979).
Charles E. Johnson (43)
777 Mariners Island Blvd., San Mateo, CA 94404
VICE PRESIDENT
President, Member - Office of the President and Director, Franklin Resources,
Inc.; Senior Vice President, Franklin Templeton Distributors, Inc.; President
and Director, Templeton Worldwide, Inc. and Franklin Advisers, Inc.;
Director, Templeton Investment Counsel, Inc.; President, Franklin Investment
Advisory Services, Inc.; officer and/or director of some of the other
subsidiaries of Franklin Resources, Inc.; and officer and/or director or
trustee, as the case may be, of 33 of the investment companies in the
Franklin Templeton Group of Funds.
Edward V. McVey (62)
777 Mariners Island Blvd., San Mateo, CA 94404
VICE PRESIDENT
Senior Vice President and National Sales Manager, Franklin Templeton
Distributors, Inc.; and officer of 29 of the investment companies in the
Franklin Templeton Group of Funds.
Kimberley Monasterio (36)
777 Mariners Island Blvd., San Mateo, CA 94404
TREASURER AND PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING OFFICER
Vice President, Franklin Templeton Services, Inc.; and officer of 33 of the
investment companies in the Franklin Templeton Group of Funds.
Murray L. Simpson (62)
777 Mariners Island Blvd., San Mateo, CA 94404
VICE PRESIDENT
Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Franklin Resources, Inc.;
officer and/or director of some of the subsidiaries of Franklin Resources,
Inc.; officer of 53 of the investment companies in the Franklin Templeton
Group of Funds; and FORMERLY, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director,
Templeton Franklin Investment Services (Asia) Limited (until January 2000)
and Director, Templeton Asset Management Ltd. (until 1999).
*This board member is considered an "interested person" under federal
securities laws.
Note: Charles B. Johnson and Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. are brothers and the
father and uncle, respectively, of Charles E. Johnson.
The trust pays noninterested board members $1,575 for each of the trust's
eight regularly scheduled meetings plus $1,050 per meeting attended. Board
members who serve on the audit committee of the trust and other funds in the
Franklin Templeton Group of Funds receive a flat fee of $2,000 per committee
meeting attended, a portion of which is allocated to the trust. Members of a
committee are not compensated for any committee meeting held on the day of a
board meeting. Noninterested board members also may serve as directors or
trustees of other funds in the Franklin Templeton Group of Funds and may
receive fees from these funds for their services. The fees payable to
noninterested board members by the trust are subject to reductions resulting
from fee caps limiting the amount of fees payable to board members who serve
on other boards within the Franklin Templeton Group of Funds. The following
table provides the total fees paid to noninterested board members by the
trust and by the Franklin Templeton Group of Funds.
NUMBER OF BOARDS
TOTAL FEES IN THE FRANKLIN
TOTAL FEES RECEIVED FROM TEMPLETON GROUP
RECEIVED THE FRANKLIN OF FUNDS ON
FROM THE TEMPLETON GROUP WHICH EACH
NAME TRUST 1 OF FUNDS 2 SERVES 3
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Frank H. Abbott, III $13,935 $156,060 28
Harris J. Ashton 16,280 363,165 48
S. Joseph Fortunato 15,279 363,238 50
Edith E. Holiday 18,975 237,265 25
Frank W.T. LaHaye 16,035 156,060 28
Gordon S. Macklin 16,280 363,165 48
1. For the fiscal year ended April 30, 1999. During the period from April
30, 1998, through May 31, 1998, fees at the rate of $300 for each of the
Trust's eight meetings, plus $300 per meeting attended were in effect.
2. For the calendar year ended December 31, 1999.
3. We base the number of boards on the number of registered investment
companies in the Franklin Templeton Group of Funds. This number does not
include the total number of series or funds within each investment company
for which the board members are responsible. The Franklin Templeton Group of
Funds currently includes 53 registered investment companies, with
approximately 155 U.S. based funds or series.
Noninterested board members are reimbursed for expenses incurred in
connection with attending board meetings, paid pro rata by each fund in the
Franklin Templeton Group of Funds for which they serve as director or
trustee. No officer or board member received any other compensation,
including pension or retirement benefits, directly or indirectly from the
fund or other funds in the Franklin Templeton Group of Funds. Certain
officers or board members who are shareholders of Franklin Resources, Inc.
may be deemed to receive indirect remuneration by virtue of their
participation, if any, in the fees paid to its subsidiaries.
Board members historically have followed a policy of having substantial
investments in one or more of the funds in the Franklin Templeton Group of
Funds, 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 fees received for serving as a director or
trustee of a Templeton fund in shares of one or more Templeton funds and
one-third of fees received for serving as a director or trustee of a Franklin
fund in shares of one or more Franklin funds until the value of such
investments equals or exceeds five times the annual fees paid 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, are valued as of
such date with subsequent investments valued at cost.
MANAGEMENT AND OTHER SERVICES
MANAGER AND SERVICES PROVIDED The fund's manager is Franklin Advisers, Inc.
(Advisers). The manager is a wholly owned subsidiary of Franklin Resources,
Inc. (Resources), a publicly owned company engaged in the financial services
industry through its subsidiaries. Charles B. Johnson and Rupert H. Johnson,
Jr. are the principal shareholders of Resources.
The manager provides investment research and portfolio management services,
and selects the securities for the fund to buy, hold or sell. The manager
also selects the brokers who execute the fund's portfolio transactions. The
manager provides periodic reports to the board, which reviews and supervises
the manager's investment activities. To protect the fund, the manager and its
officers, directors and employees are covered by fidelity insurance.
The manager and its affiliates manage numerous other investment companies and
accounts. The manager may give advice and take action with respect to any of
the other funds it manages, or for its own account, that may differ from
action taken by the manager on behalf of the fund. Similarly, with respect to
the fund, the manager is not obligated to recommend, buy or sell, or to
refrain from recommending, buying or selling any security that the manager
and access persons, as defined by applicable federal securities laws, may buy
or sell for its or their own account or for the accounts of any other fund.
The manager is not obligated to refrain from investing in securities held by
the fund or other funds it manages.
The fund, its manager and principal underwriter have each adopted a code of
ethics, as required by federal securities laws. Under the code of ethics,
employees who are designated as access persons may engage in personal
securities transactions, including transactions involving securities that are
being considered for the fund or that are currently held by the fund, subject
to certain general restrictions and procedures. The personal securities
transactions of access persons of the fund, its manager and principal
underwriter will be governed by the code of ethics.
MANAGEMENT FEES The fund pays the manager a fee equal to an annual rate of 1%
of the average daily net assets of the fund.
The fee is computed at the close of business on the last business day of each
month according to the terms of the management agreement.
ADMINISTRATOR AND SERVICES PROVIDED Franklin Templeton Services, Inc. (FT
Services) has an agreement with the fund to provide certain administrative
services and facilities for the fund. FT Services is wholly owned by
Resources and is an affiliate of the fund's manager and principal
underwriter.
The administrative services FT Services provides include preparing and
maintaining books, records, and tax and financial reports, and monitoring
compliance with regulatory requirements.
ADMINISTRATION FEES The fund pays FT Services a monthly fee equal to an
annual rate of 0.20% of the fund's average daily net assets.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICING AND TRANSFER AGENT Franklin/Templeton Investor
Services, Inc. (Investor Services) is the fund's shareholder servicing agent
and acts as the fund's transfer agent and dividend-paying agent. Investor
Services is located at 777 Mariners Island Blvd., San Mateo, CA 94404. Please
send all correspondence to Investor Services to P.O. Box 997151, Sacramento,
CA 95899-9983.
For its services, Investor Services receives a fixed fee per account. The
fund also will reimburse Investor Services for certain out-of-pocket
expenses, which may include payments by Investor Services to entities,
including affiliated entities, that provide sub-shareholder services,
recordkeeping and/or transfer agency services to beneficial owners of the
fund. The amount of reimbursements for these services per benefit plan
participant fund account per year will not exceed the per account fee payable
by the fund to Investor Services in connection with maintaining shareholder
accounts.
CUSTODIAN Bank of New York, Mutual Funds Division, 90 Washington Street, New
York, NY 10286, acts as custodian of the fund's securities and other assets.
AUDITOR PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, 333 Market Street, San Francisco, CA
94105, is the fund's independent auditor. The auditor gives an opinion on the
financial statements included in the trust's Annual Report to Shareholders
and reviews the trust's registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission (SEC).
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
The manager selects brokers and dealers to execute the fund's portfolio
transactions in accordance with criteria set forth in the management
agreement and any directions that the board may give.
When placing a portfolio transaction, the manager seeks to obtain prompt
execution of orders at the most favorable net price. For portfolio
transactions on a securities exchange, the amount of commission paid is
negotiated between the manager and the broker executing the transaction. The
determination and evaluation of the reasonableness of the brokerage
commissions paid are based to a large degree on the professional opinions of
the persons responsible for placement and review of the transactions. These
opinions are based on the experience of these individuals in the securities
industry and information available to them about the level of commissions
being paid by other institutional investors of comparable size. The manager
will ordinarily place orders to buy and sell over-the-counter securities on a
principal rather than agency basis with a principal market maker unless, in
the opinion of the manager, a better price and execution can otherwise be
obtained. Purchases of portfolio securities from underwriters will include a
commission or concession paid by the issuer to the underwriter, and purchases
from dealers will include a spread between the bid and ask price.
The manager may pay certain brokers commissions that are higher than those
another broker may charge, if the manager determines in good faith that the
amount paid is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and
research services it receives. This may be viewed in terms of either the
particular transaction or the manager's overall responsibilities to client
accounts over which it exercises investment discretion. The services that
brokers may provide to the manager include, among others, supplying
information about particular companies, markets, countries, or local,
regional, national or transnational economies, statistical data, quotations
and other securities pricing information, and other information that provides
lawful and appropriate assistance to the manager in carrying out its
investment advisory responsibilities. These services may not always directly
benefit the fund. They must, however, be of value to the manager in carrying
out its overall responsibilities to its clients.
It is not possible to place a dollar value on the special executions or on
the research services the manager receives from dealers effecting
transactions in portfolio securities. The allocation of transactions to
obtain additional research services allows the manager to supplement its own
research and analysis activities and to receive the views and information of
individuals and research staffs of other securities firms. As long as it is
lawful and appropriate to do so, the manager and its affiliates may use this
research and data in their investment advisory capacities with other clients.
If the fund's officers are satisfied that the best execution is obtained, the
sale of fund shares, as well as shares of other funds in the Franklin
Templeton Group of Funds, also may be considered a factor in the selection of
broker-dealers to execute the fund's portfolio transactions.
Because Franklin Templeton Distributors, Inc. (Distributors) is a member of
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., it may sometimes
receive certain fees when the fund tenders portfolio securities pursuant to a
tender-offer solicitation. To recapture brokerage for the benefit of the
fund, any portfolio securities tendered by the fund will be tendered through
Distributors if it is legally permissible to do so. In turn, the next
management fee payable to the manager will be reduced by the amount of any
fees received by Distributors in cash, less any costs and expenses incurred
in connection with the tender.
If purchases or sales of securities of the fund and one or more other
investment companies or clients supervised by the manager are considered at
or about the same time, transactions in these securities will be allocated
among the several investment companies and clients in a manner deemed
equitable to all by the manager, taking into account the respective sizes of
the funds and the amount of securities to be purchased or sold. In some cases
this procedure could have a detrimental effect on the price or volume of the
security so far as the fund is concerned. In other cases it is possible that
the ability to participate in volume transactions may improve execution and
reduce transaction costs to the fund.
Because the fund may, from time to time, invest in broker-dealers, it is
possible that the fund will own more than 5% of the voting securities of one
or more broker-dealers through whom the fund places portfolio brokerage
transactions. In such circumstances, the broker-dealer would be considered an
affiliated person of the fund. To the extent the fund places brokerage
transactions through such a broker-dealer at a time when the broker-dealer is
considered to be an affiliate of the fund, the fund will be required to
adhere to certain rules relating to the payment of commissions to an
affiliated broker-dealer. These rules require the fund to adhere to
procedures adopted by the board relating to ensuring that the commissions
paid to such broker-dealers do not exceed what would otherwise be the usual
and customary brokerage commissions for similar transactions.
DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
Distributions are subject to approval by the board. The fund does not pay
"interest" or guarantee any fixed rate of return on an investment in its
shares.
DISTRIBUTIONS OF NET INVESTMENT INCOME The fund receives income generally in
the form of dividends and interest on its investments. This income, less
expenses incurred in the operation of the fund, constitutes the fund's net
investment income from which dividends may be paid to you. Any distributions
by the fund from such income will be taxable to you as ordinary income,
whether you receive them in cash or in additional shares.
DISTRIBUTIONS OF CAPITAL GAINS The fund may derive capital gains and losses
in connection with sales or other dispositions of its portfolio securities.
Distributions from net short-term capital gains will be taxable to you as
ordinary income. Distributions from net long-term capital gains will be
taxable to you as long-term capital gain, regardless of how long you have
held your shares in the fund. Any net capital gains realized by the fund
generally will be distributed once each year, and may be distributed more
frequently, if necessary, to reduce or eliminate excise or income taxes on
the fund.
EFFECT OF FOREIGN INVESTMENTS ON DISTRIBUTIONS Most foreign exchange gains
realized on the sale of debt securities are treated as ordinary income by the
fund. Similarly, foreign exchange losses realized on the sale of debt
securities generally are treated as ordinary losses. These gains when
distributed will be taxable to you as ordinary income, and any losses will
reduce the fund's ordinary income otherwise available for distribution to
you. This treatment could increase or decrease the fund's ordinary income
distributions to you, and may cause some or all of the fund's previously
distributed income to be classified as a return of capital. The fund may be
subject to foreign withholding taxes on income from certain foreign
securities. This, in turn could reduce ordinary income distributions to you.
INFORMATION ON THE TAX CHARACTER OF DISTRIBUTIONS The fund will inform you
of the amount of your ordinary income dividends and capital gains
distributions at the time they are paid, and will advise you of their tax
status for federal income tax purposes shortly after the close of each
calendar year. If you have not held fund shares for a full year, the fund
may designate and distribute to you, as ordinary income or capital gain, a
percentage of income that is not equal to the actual amount of such income
earned during the period of your investment in the fund.
ELECTION TO BE TAXED AS A REGULATED INVESTMENT COMPANY The fund intends to
be treated as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the
Internal Revenue Code. As a regulated investment company, the fund generally
pays no federal income tax on the income and gains it distributes to you.
The board reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of the fund as
a regulated investment company if it determines such course of action to be
beneficial to shareholders. In such case, the fund will be subject to
federal, and possibly state, corporate taxes on its taxable income and gains,
and distributions to you will be taxed as ordinary dividend income to the
extent of the fund's earnings and profits.
EXCISE TAX DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS To avoid federal excise taxes, the
Internal Revenue Code requires the fund to distribute to you by December 31
of each year, at a minimum, the following amounts: 98% of its taxable
ordinary income earned during the calendar year; 98% of its capital gain net
income earned during the twelve month period ending October 31; and 100% of
any undistributed amounts from the prior year. The fund intends to declare
and pay these distributions in December (or to pay them in January, in which
case you must treat them as received in December) but can give no assurances
that its distributions will be sufficient to eliminate all taxes.
REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES Redemptions (including redemptions in kind) and
exchanges of fund shares are taxable transactions for federal and state
income tax purposes. If you redeem your fund shares, or exchange your fund
shares for shares of a different Franklin Templeton Fund, the IRS will
require that you report any gain or loss on your redemption or exchange. If
you hold your shares as a capital asset, the gain or loss that you realize
will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term or short-term, generally
depending on how long you hold your shares.
Beginning after the year 2005 (2000 for certain shareholders), gains from the
sale of fund shares held for more than five years may be subject to a reduced
tax rate.
Any loss incurred on the redemption or exchange of shares held for six months
or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any
long-term capital gains distributed to you by the fund on those shares. All
or a portion of any loss that you realize upon the redemption of your fund
shares will be disallowed to the extent that you buy other shares in the fund
(through reinvestment of dividends or otherwise) within 30 days before or
after your share redemption. Any loss disallowed under these rules will be
added to your tax basis in the new shares you buy.
DEFERRAL OF BASIS If you redeem some or all of your shares in the fund, and
then reinvest the sales proceeds in the fund or in another Franklin Templeton
Fund within 90 days of buying the original shares, the sales charge that
would otherwise apply to your reinvestment may be reduced or eliminated. The
IRS will require you to report any gain or loss on the redemption of your
original shares in the fund. In doing so, all or a portion of the sales
charge that you paid for your original shares in the fund will be excluded
from your tax basis in the shares sold (for the purpose of determining gain
or loss upon the sale of such shares). The portion of the sales charge
excluded will equal the amount that the sales charge is reduced on your
reinvestment. Any portion of the sales charge excluded from your tax basis
in the shares sold will be added to the tax basis of the shares you acquire
from your reinvestment.
U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES States grant tax-free status to dividends paid to
you from interest earned on certain U.S. government securities, subject in
some states to minimum investment or reporting requirements that must be met
by the fund. Investments in Government National Mortgage Association or
Federal National Mortgage Association securities, bankers' acceptances,
commercial paper and repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government
securities generally do not qualify for tax-free treatment. The rules on
exclusion of this income are different for corporations.
DIVIDENDS-RECEIVED DEDUCTION FOR CORPORATIONS If you are a corporate
shareholder, you should note that the fund anticipates that only a small
percentage of the dividends it pays will qualify for the dividends-received
deduction. You may be allowed to deduct these qualified dividends, thereby
reducing the tax that you would otherwise be required to pay on these
dividends. The dividends-received deduction will be available only with
respect to dividends designated by the fund as eligible for such treatment.
All dividends (including the deducted portion) must be included in your
alternative minimum taxable income calculation.
SHORT SALES AND INVESTMENT IN COMPLEX SECURITIES In general, entry into
short sales may cause the fund to cease to accrue a holding period for
securities during any period in which it is insulated from risk of loss.
Short sales may cause the fund to realize more short term capital gain that,
when distributed, is taxable to shareholders as ordinary income.
The fund may invest in complex securities. These investments may be subject
to numerous special and complex tax rules. These rules could affect whether
gains and losses recognized by the fund are treated as ordinary income or
capital gain, accelerate the recognition of income to the fund (possibly
causing the fund to sell securities to raise the cash for necessary
distributions) and/or defer the fund's ability to recognize losses, and, in
limited cases, subject the fund to U.S. federal income tax on income from
certain foreign securities. These rules may affect the amount, timing or
character of the income distributed to you by the fund.
ORGANIZATION, VOTING RIGHTS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS
The fund is a diversified series of Franklin Strategic Series (trust), an
open-end management investment company, commonly called a mutual fund. The
trust was organized as a Delaware business trust on January 25, 1991, and is
registered with the SEC.
Certain funds in the Franklin Templeton Funds offer multiple classes of
shares. The different classes have proportionate interests in the same
portfolio of investment securities. They differ, however, primarily in their
sales charge structures and Rule 12b-1 plans. Because the fund's sales charge
structure and Rule 12b-1 plan are similar to those of Class A shares, shares
of the fund are considered Class A shares for redemption, exchange and other
purposes.
The trust has noncumulative voting rights. For board member elections, this
gives holders of more than 50% of the shares voting the ability to elect all
of the members of the board. If this happens, holders of the remaining shares
voting will not be able to elect anyone to the board.
The trust does not intend to hold annual shareholder meetings. The trust or a
series of the trust may hold special meetings, however, for matters requiring
shareholder approval. A meeting may be called by the board to consider the
removal of a board member if requested in writing by shareholders holding at
least 10% of the outstanding shares. In certain circumstances, we are
required to help you communicate with other shareholders about the removal of
a board member. A special meeting also may be called by the board in its
discretion.
As of April 3, 2000, the principal shareholder of the fund, beneficial or of
record, was:
NAME AND ADDRESS PERCENTAGE (%)
- --------------------------------------------
Franklin Resources, Inc.
555 Airport Blvd.
Burlingame, CA 94010 100
Note: Charles B. Johnson and Rupert H. Johnson, Jr., who are officers and/or
trustees of the trust, may be considered beneficial holders of the fund
shares held by Franklin Resources, Inc. (Resources). As principal
shareholders of Resources, they may be able to control the voting of
Resources' shares of the fund.
From time to time, the number of fund shares held in the "street name"
accounts of various securities dealers for the benefit of their clients or in
centralized securities depositories may exceed 5% of the total shares
outstanding.
As of April 3, 2000 the officers and board members, as a group, owned of
record and beneficially less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the fund.
The board members may own shares in other funds in the Franklin Templeton
Group of Funds.
BUYING AND SELLING SHARES
The fund continuously offers its shares through securities dealers who have
an agreement with Franklin Templeton Distributors, Inc. (Distributors). A
securities dealer includes any financial institution that, either directly or
through affiliates, has an agreement with Distributors to handle customer
orders and accounts with the fund. This reference is for convenience only and
does not indicate a legal conclusion of capacity. Banks and financial
institutions that sell shares of the fund may be required by state law to
register as securities dealers.
For investors outside the U.S., the offering of fund shares may be limited in
many jurisdictions. An investor who wishes to buy shares of the fund should
determine, or have a broker-dealer determine, the applicable laws and
regulations of the relevant jurisdiction. Investors are responsible for
compliance with tax, currency exchange or other regulations applicable to
redemption and purchase transactions in any jurisdiction to which they may be
subject. Investors should consult appropriate tax and legal advisors to
obtain information on the rules applicable to these transactions.
All checks, drafts, wires and other payment mediums used to buy or sell
shares of the fund must be denominated in U.S. dollars. We may, in our sole
discretion, either (a) reject any order to buy or sell shares denominated in
any other currency or (b) honor the transaction or make adjustments to your
account for the transaction as of a date and with a foreign currency exchange
factor determined by the drawee bank. We may deduct any applicable banking
charges imposed by the bank from your account.
When you buy shares, if you submit a check or a draft that is returned unpaid
to the fund we may impose a $10 charge against your account for each returned
item.
If you buy shares through the reinvestment of dividends, the shares will be
purchased at the net asset value determined on the business day following the
dividend record date (sometimes known as the "ex-dividend date"). The
processing date for the reinvestment of dividends may vary and does not
affect the amount or value of the shares acquired.
INITIAL SALES CHARGES The maximum initial sales charge is 5.75%. The initial
sales charge may be reduced for certain large purchases, as described in the
prospectus. We offer several ways for you to combine your purchases in the
Franklin Templeton Funds to take advantage of the lower sales charges for
large purchases. The Franklin Templeton Funds include the U.S. registered
mutual funds in the Franklin Group of Funds(R) and the Templeton Group of Funds
except Franklin Templeton Variable Insurance Products Trust and Templeton
Capital Accumulator Fund, Inc.
CUMULATIVE QUANTITY DISCOUNT. For purposes of calculating the sales charge,
you may combine the amount of your current purchase with the cost or current
value, whichever is higher, of your existing shares in the Franklin Templeton
Funds. You also may combine the shares of your spouse, children under the age
of 21 or grandchildren under the age of 21. If you are the sole owner of a
company, you also may add any company accounts, including retirement plan
accounts. Companies with one or more retirement plans may add together the
total plan assets invested in the Franklin Templeton Funds to determine the
sales charge that applies.
LETTER OF INTENT (LOI). You may buy shares at a reduced sales charge by
completing the letter of intent section of your account application. A letter
of intent is a commitment by you to invest a specified dollar amount during a
13 month period. The amount you agree to invest determines the sales charge
you pay. By completing the letter of intent section of the application, you
acknowledge and agree to the following:
o You authorize Distributors to reserve 5% of your total intended purchase
in shares registered in your name until you fulfill your LOI. Your periodic
statements will include the reserved shares in the total shares you own,
and we will pay or reinvest dividend and capital gain distributions on the
reserved shares according to the distribution option you have chosen.
o You give Distributors a security interest in the reserved shares and
appoint Distributors as attorney-in-fact.
o Distributors may sell any or all of the reserved shares to cover any
additional sales charge if you do not fulfill the terms of the LOI.
o Although you may exchange your shares, you may not sell reserved shares
until you complete the LOI or pay the higher sales charge.
After you file your LOI with the fund, you may buy shares at the sales charge
applicable to the amount specified in your LOI. Sales charge reductions based
on purchases in more than one Franklin Templeton Fund will be effective only
after notification to Distributors that the investment qualifies for a
discount. Any purchases you made within 90 days before you filed your LOI
also may qualify for a retroactive reduction in the sales charge. If you file
your LOI with the fund before a change in the fund's sales charge, you may
complete the LOI at the lower of the new sales charge or the sales charge in
effect when the LOI was filed.
Your holdings in the Franklin Templeton Funds acquired more than 90 days
before you filed your LOI will be counted towards the completion of the LOI,
but they will not be entitled to a retroactive reduction in the sales charge.
Any redemptions you make during the 13 month period, except in the case of
certain retirement plans, will be subtracted from the amount of the purchases
for purposes of determining whether the terms of the LOI have been completed.
If the terms of your LOI are met, the reserved shares will be deposited to an
account in your name or delivered to you or as you direct. If the amount of
your total purchases, less redemptions, is more than the amount specified in
your LOI and is an amount that would qualify for a further sales charge
reduction, a retroactive price adjustment will be made by Distributors and
the securities dealer through whom purchases were made. The price adjustment
will be made on purchases made within 90 days before and on those made after
you filed your LOI and will be applied towards the purchase of additional
shares at the offering price applicable to a single purchase or the dollar
amount of the total purchases.
If the amount of your total purchases, less redemptions, is less than the
amount specified in your LOI, the sales charge will be adjusted upward,
depending on the actual amount purchased (less redemptions) during the
period. You will need to send Distributors an amount equal to the difference
in the actual dollar amount of sales charge paid and the amount of sales
charge that would have applied to the total purchases if the total of the
purchases had been made at one time. Upon payment of this amount, the
reserved shares held for your account will be deposited to an account in your
name or delivered to you or as you direct. If within 20 days after written
request the difference in sales charge is not paid, we will redeem an
appropriate number of reserved shares to realize the difference. If you
redeem the total amount in your account before you fulfill your LOI, we will
deduct the additional sales charge due from the sale proceeds and forward the
balance to you.
For LOIs filed on behalf of certain retirement plans, the level and any
reduction in sales charge for these plans will be based on actual plan
participation and the projected investments in the Franklin Templeton Funds
under the LOI. These plans are not subject to the requirement to reserve 5%
of the total intended purchase or to the policy on upward adjustments in
sales charges described above, or to any penalty as a result of the early
termination of a plan, nor are these plans entitled to receive retroactive
adjustments in price for investments made before executing the LOI.
GROUP PURCHASES. If you are a member of a qualified group, you may buy shares
at a reduced sales charge that applies to the group as a whole. The sales
charge is based on the combined dollar value of the group members' existing
investments, plus the amount of the current purchase.
A qualified group is one that:
o Was formed at least six months ago,
o Has a purpose other than buying fund shares at a discount,
o Has more than 10 members,
o Can arrange for meetings between our representatives and group members,
o Agrees to include Franklin Templeton Fund sales and other materials in
publications and mailings to its members at reduced or no cost to
Distributors,
o Agrees to arrange for payroll deduction or other bulk transmission of
investments to the fund, and
o Meets other uniform criteria that allow Distributors to achieve cost
savings in distributing shares.
A qualified group generally does not include a 403(b) plan that only allows
salary deferral contributions.
WAIVERS FOR INVESTMENTS FROM CERTAIN PAYMENTS. Fund shares may be purchased
without an initial sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) by
investors who reinvest within 365 days:
o Dividend and capital gain distributions from any Franklin Templeton
Fund. The distributions generally must be reinvested in the same share
class. Certain exceptions apply, however, to Class C shareholders of
another Franklin Templeton Fund who chose to reinvest their distributions
in shares of the fund before November 17, 1997, and to Advisor Class or
Class Z shareholders of a Franklin Templeton Fund who may reinvest their
distributions in the fund.
o Annuity payments received under either an annuity option or from death
benefit proceeds, if the annuity contract offers as an investment option
the Franklin Templeton Variable Insurance Products Trust. You should
contact your tax advisor for information on any tax consequences that may
apply.
o Redemption proceeds from a repurchase of shares of Franklin Floating
Rate Trust, if the shares were continuously held for at least 12 months.
If you immediately placed your redemption proceeds in a Franklin Bank CD or
a Franklin Templeton money fund, you may reinvest them as described above.
The proceeds must be reinvested within 365 days from the date the CD
matures, including any rollover, or the date you redeem your money fund
shares.
o Redemption proceeds from the sale of Class A shares of any of the
Templeton Global Strategy Funds if you are a qualified investor.
If you paid a CDSC when you redeemed your Class A shares from a Templeton
Global Strategy Fund, a new CDSC will apply to your purchase of fund shares
and the CDSC holding period will begin again. We will, however, credit your
fund account with additional shares based on the CDSC you previously paid
and the amount of the redemption proceeds that you reinvest.
If you immediately placed your redemption proceeds in a Franklin Templeton
money fund, you may reinvest them as described above. The proceeds must be
reinvested within 365 days from the date they are redeemed from the money
fund.
o Distributions from an existing retirement plan invested in the Franklin
Templeton Funds
WAIVERS FOR CERTAIN INVESTORS. Fund shares also may be purchased without an
initial sales charge or CDSC by various individuals and institutions due to
anticipated economies in sales efforts and expenses, including:
o Trust companies and bank trust departments agreeing to invest in
Franklin Templeton Funds over a 13 month period at least $1 million of
assets held in a fiduciary, agency, advisory, custodial or similar capacity
and over which the trust companies and bank trust departments or other plan
fiduciaries or participants, in the case of certain retirement plans, have
full or shared investment discretion. We may accept orders for these
accounts by telephone or other means of electronic data transfer directly
from the bank or trust company, with payment by federal funds received by
the close of business on the next business day following the order.
Effective June 1, 2000, the requirement to agree to invest at least $1
million in Franklin Templeton Funds over a 13 month period will no longer
apply.
o Any state or local government or any instrumentality, department,
authority or agency thereof that has determined the fund is a legally
permissible investment and that can only buy fund shares without paying
sales charges. Please consult your legal and investment advisors to
determine if an investment in the fund is permissible and suitable for you
and the effect, if any, of payments by the fund on arbitrage rebate
calculations.
o Broker-dealers, registered investment advisors or certified financial
planners who have entered into an agreement with Distributors for clients
participating in comprehensive fee programs
o Qualified registered investment advisors who buy through a broker-dealer
or service agent who has entered into an agreement with Distributors
o Registered securities dealers and their affiliates, for their investment
accounts only
o Current employees of securities dealers and their affiliates and their
family members, as allowed by the internal policies of their employer
o Officers, trustees, directors and full-time employees of the Franklin
Templeton Funds or the Franklin Templeton Group, and their family members,
consistent with our then-current policies
o Any investor who is currently a Class Z shareholder of Franklin Mutual
Series Fund Inc. (Mutual Series), or who is a former Mutual Series Class Z
shareholder who had an account in any Mutual Series fund on October 31,
1996, or who sold his or her shares of Mutual Series Class Z within the
past 365 days
o Investment companies exchanging shares or selling assets pursuant to a
merger, acquisition or exchange offer
o Accounts managed by the Franklin Templeton Group
o Certain unit investment trusts and their holders reinvesting
distributions from the trusts
o Group annuity separate accounts offered to retirement plans
o Chilean retirement plans that meet the requirements described under
"Retirement plans" below
RETIREMENT PLANS. Retirement plans sponsored by an employer (i) with at least
100 employees, or (ii) with retirement plan assets of $1 million or more, or
(iii) that agrees to invest at least $500,000 in the Franklin Templeton Funds
over a 13 month period may buy shares without an initial sales charge.
Retirement plans that are not qualified retirement plans (employer sponsored
pension or profit-sharing plans that qualify under section 401 of the
Internal Revenue Code, including 401(k), money purchase pension, profit
sharing and defined benefit plans), SIMPLEs (savings incentive match plans
for employees) or SEPs (employer sponsored simplified employee pension plans
established under section 408(k) of the Internal Revenue Code) must also meet
the group purchase requirements described above to be able to buy shares
without an initial sales charge. We may enter into a special arrangement with
a securities dealer, based on criteria established by the fund, to add
together certain small qualified retirement plan accounts for the purpose of
meeting these requirements.
For retirement plan accounts opened on or after May 1, 1997, a CDSC may apply
if the retirement plan is transferred out of the Franklin Templeton Funds or
terminated within 365 days of the retirement plan account's initial purchase
in the Franklin Templeton Funds.
SALES IN TAIWAN. Under agreements with certain banks in Taiwan, Republic of
China, the fund's shares are available to these banks' trust accounts without
a sales charge. The banks may charge service fees to their customers who
participate in the trusts. A portion of these service fees may be paid to
Distributors or one of its affiliates to help defray expenses of maintaining
a service office in Taiwan, including expenses related to local literature
fulfillment and communication facilities.
The fund's shares may be offered to investors in Taiwan through securities
advisory firms known locally as Securities Investment Consulting Enterprises.
In conformity with local business practices in Taiwan, shares may be offered
with the following schedule of sales charges:
Size of Purchase - U.S. Dollars Sales Charge (%)
- ------------------------------------------------------------
Under $30,000 3.0
$30,000 but less than $50,000 2.5
$50,000 but less than $100,000 2.0
$100,000 but less than $200,000 1.5
$200,000 but less than $400,000 1.0
$400,000 or more 0
DEALER COMPENSATION Securities dealers may at times receive the entire sales
charge. A securities dealer who receives 90% or more of the sales charge may
be deemed an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Financial institutions or their affiliated brokers may receive an agency
transaction fee in the percentages indicated in the dealer compensation table
in the fund's prospectus.
Distributors may pay the following commissions, out of its own resources, to
securities dealers who initiate and are responsible for purchases of $1
million or more: 1% on sales of $1 million to $2 million, plus 0.80% on sales
over $2 million to $3 million, plus 0.50% on sales over $3 million to $50
million, plus 0.25% on sales over $50 million to $100 million, plus 0.15% on
sales over $100 million.
These breakpoints are reset every 12 months for purposes of additional
purchases.
Distributors or one of its affiliates may pay up to 1%, out of its own
resources, to securities dealers who initiate and are responsible for
purchases by certain retirement plans without an initial sales charge. These
payments may be made in the form of contingent advance payments, which may be
recovered from the securities dealer or set off against other payments due to
the dealer if shares are sold within 12 months of the calendar month of
purchase. Other conditions may apply. All terms and conditions may be imposed
by an agreement between Distributors, or one of its affiliates, and the
securities dealer.
In addition to the payments above, Distributors and/or its affiliates may
provide financial support to securities dealers that sell shares of the
Franklin Templeton Group of Funds. This support is based primarily on the
amount of sales of fund shares and/or total assets with the Franklin
Templeton Group of Funds. The amount of support may be affected by: total
sales; net sales; levels of redemptions; the proportion of a securities
dealer's sales and marketing efforts in the Franklin Templeton Group of
Funds; a securities dealer's support of, and participation in, Distributors'
marketing programs; a securities dealer's compensation programs for its
registered representatives; and the extent of a securities dealer's marketing
programs relating to the Franklin Templeton Group of Funds. Financial support
to securities dealers may be made by payments from Distributors' resources,
from Distributors' retention of underwriting concessions and, in the case of
funds that have Rule 12b-1 plans, from payments to Distributors under such
plans. In addition, certain securities dealers may receive brokerage
commissions generated by fund portfolio transactions in accordance with the
rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
Distributors routinely sponsors due diligence meetings for registered
representatives during which they receive updates on various Franklin
Templeton Funds and are afforded the opportunity to speak with portfolio
managers. Invitation to these meetings is not conditioned on selling a
specific number of shares. Those who have shown an interest in the Franklin
Templeton Funds, however, are more likely to be considered. To the extent
permitted by their firm's policies and procedures, registered
representatives' expenses in attending these meetings may be covered by
Distributors.
CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE (CDSC) If you invest $1 million or more,
either as a lump sum or through our cumulative quantity discount or letter of
intent programs, a CDSC may apply on any shares you sell within 12 months of
purchase. The CDSC is 1% of the value of the shares sold or the net asset
value at the time of purchase, whichever is less.
Certain retirement plan accounts opened on or after May 1, 1997, and that
qualify to buy shares without an initial sales charge also may be subject to
a CDSC if the retirement plan is transferred out of the Franklin Templeton
Funds or terminated within 365 days of the account's initial purchase in the
Franklin Templeton Funds.
CDSC WAIVERS. The CDSC generally will be waived for:
o Account fees
o Sales of shares purchased without an initial sales charge by certain
retirement plan accounts if (i) the account was opened before May 1, 1997,
or (ii) the securities dealer of record received a payment from
Distributors of 0.25% or less, or (iii) Distributors did not make any
payment in connection with the purchase, or (iv) the securities dealer of
record has entered into a supplemental agreement with Distributors
o Redemptions by investors who purchased $1 million or more without an
initial sales charge if the securities dealer of record waived its
commission in connection with the purchase
o Redemptions by the fund when an account falls below the minimum required
account size
o Redemptions following the death of the shareholder or beneficial owner
o Redemptions through a systematic withdrawal plan, up to 1% monthly, 3%
quarterly, 6% semiannually or 12% annually of your account's net asset
value depending on the frequency of your plan
o Redemptions by an employee benefit plan: (i) that is a customer of
Franklin Templeton Defined Contribution Services; and/or (ii) whose assets
are held by Franklin Templeton Bank & Trust as trustee or custodian (not
applicable to Class B)
o Distributions from individual retirement accounts (IRAs) due to death or
disability or upon periodic distributions based on life expectancy
o Returns of excess contributions (and earnings, if applicable) from
retirement plan accounts
o Participant initiated distributions from employee benefit plans or
participant initiated exchanges among investment choices in employee
benefit plans
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE If you request the exchange of the total value of your
account, declared but unpaid income dividends and capital gain distributions
will be reinvested in the fund and exchanged into the new fund at net asset
value when paid. Backup withholding and information reporting may apply.
If a substantial number of shareholders should, within a short period, sell
their fund shares under the exchange privilege, the fund might have to sell
portfolio securities it might otherwise hold and incur the additional costs
related to such transactions. On the other hand, increased use of the
exchange privilege may result in periodic large inflows of money. If this
occurs, it is the fund's general policy to initially invest this money in
short-term, interest-bearing money market instruments, unless it is believed
that attractive investment opportunities consistent with the fund's
investment goal exist immediately. This money will then be withdrawn from the
short-term, interest-bearing money market instruments and invested in
portfolio securities in as orderly a manner as is possible when attractive
investment opportunities arise.
The proceeds from the sale of shares of an investment company generally are
not available until the seventh day following the sale. The funds you are
seeking to exchange into may delay issuing shares pursuant to an exchange
until that seventh day. The sale of fund shares to complete an exchange will
be effected at net asset value at the close of business on the day the
request for exchange is received in proper form.
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN Our systematic withdrawal plan allows you to sell
your shares and receive regular payments from your account on a monthly,
quarterly, semiannual or annual basis. The value of your account must be at
least $5,000 and the minimum payment amount for each withdrawal must be at
least $50. For retirement plans subject to mandatory distribution
requirements, the $50 minimum will not apply. There are no service charges
for establishing or maintaining a systematic withdrawal plan.
Each month in which a payment is scheduled, we will redeem an equivalent
amount of shares in your account, generally on the 25th day of the month. If
the 25th falls on a weekend or holiday, we will process the redemption on the
next business day. Beginning June 1, 2000, you may request to change the
processing date to the 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th or 20th of the month. For plans
set up on or after June 1, 2000, we will process redemptions on the day of
the month you have indicated on your account application or, if no day is
indicated, on the 20th day of the month (or next business day). When you sell
your shares under a systematic withdrawal plan, it is a taxable transaction.
To avoid paying sales charges on money you plan to withdraw within a short
period of time, you may not want to set up a systematic withdrawal plan if
you plan to buy shares on a regular basis. Shares sold under the plan also
may be subject to a CDSC.
Redeeming shares through a systematic withdrawal plan may reduce or exhaust
the shares in your account if payments exceed distributions received from the
fund. This is especially likely to occur if there is a market decline. If a
withdrawal amount exceeds the value of your account, your account will be
closed and the remaining balance in your account will be sent to you. Because
the amount withdrawn under the plan may be more than your actual yield or
income, part of the payment may be a return of your investment.
To discontinue a systematic withdrawal plan, change the amount and schedule
of withdrawal payments, or suspend one payment, we must receive instructions
from you at least three business days before a scheduled payment. The fund
may discontinue a systematic withdrawal plan by notifying you in writing and
will discontinue a systematic withdrawal plan automatically if all shares in
your account are withdrawn or if the fund receives notification of the
shareholder's death or incapacity.
REDEMPTIONS IN KIND The fund has committed itself to pay in cash (by check)
all requests for redemption by any shareholder of record, limited in amount,
however, during any 90-day period to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the
value of the fund's net assets at the beginning of the 90-day period. This
commitment is irrevocable without the prior approval of the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission (SEC). In the case of redemption requests in excess
of these amounts, the board reserves the right to make payments in whole or
in part in securities or other assets of the fund, in case of an emergency,
or if the payment of such a redemption in cash would be detrimental to the
existing shareholders of the fund. In these circumstances, the securities
distributed would be valued at the price used to compute the fund's net
assets and you may incur brokerage fees in converting the securities to cash.
The fund does not intend to redeem illiquid securities in kind. If this
happens, however, you may not be able to recover your investment in a timely
manner.
SHARE CERTIFICATES We will credit your shares to your fund account. We do
not issue share certificates unless you specifically request them. This
eliminates the costly problem of replacing lost, stolen or destroyed
certificates. If a certificate is lost, stolen or destroyed, you may have to
pay an insurance premium of up to 2% of the value of the certificate to
replace it.
Any outstanding share certificates must be returned to the fund if you want
to sell or exchange those shares or if you would like to start a systematic
withdrawal plan. The certificates should be properly endorsed. You can do
this either by signing the back of the certificate or by completing a share
assignment form. For your protection, you may prefer to complete a share
assignment form and to send the certificate and assignment form in separate
envelopes.
GENERAL INFORMATION If dividend checks are returned to the fund marked
"unable to forward" by the postal service, we will consider this a request by
you to change your dividend option to reinvest all distributions. The
proceeds will be reinvested in additional shares at net asset value until we
receive new instructions.
Distribution or redemption checks sent to you do not earn interest or any
other income during the time the checks remain uncashed. Neither the fund nor
its affiliates will be liable for any loss caused by your failure to cash
such checks. The fund is not responsible for tracking down uncashed checks,
unless a check is returned as undeliverable.
In most cases, if mail is returned as undeliverable we are required to take
certain steps to try to find you free of charge. If these attempts are
unsuccessful, however, we may deduct the costs of any additional efforts to
find you from your account. These costs may include a percentage of the
account when a search company charges a percentage fee in exchange for its
location services.
Sending redemption proceeds by wire or electronic funds transfer (ACH) is a
special service that we make available whenever possible. By offering this
service to you, the fund is not bound to meet any redemption request in less
than the seven day period prescribed by law. Neither the fund nor its agents
shall be liable to you or any other person if, for any reason, a redemption
request by wire or ACH is not processed as described in the prospectus.
Franklin Templeton Investor Services, Inc. (Investor Services) may pay
certain financial institutions that maintain omnibus accounts with the fund
on behalf of numerous beneficial owners for recordkeeping operations
performed with respect to such owners. For each beneficial owner in the
omnibus account, the fund may reimburse Investor Services an amount not to
exceed the per account fee that the fund normally pays Investor Services.
These financial institutions also may charge a fee for their services
directly to their clients.
If you buy or sell shares through your securities dealer, we use the net
asset value next calculated after your securities dealer receives your
request, which is promptly transmitted to the fund. If you sell shares
through your securities dealer, it is your dealer's responsibility to
transmit the order to the fund in a timely fashion. Your redemption proceeds
will not earn interest between the time we receive the order from your dealer
and the time we receive any required documents. Any loss to you resulting
from your dealer's failure to transmit your redemption order to the fund in a
timely fashion must be settled between you and your securities dealer.
Certain shareholder servicing agents may be authorized to accept your
transaction request.
For institutional accounts, there may be additional methods of buying or
selling fund shares than those described in this SAI or in the prospectus.
In the event of disputes involving multiple claims of ownership or authority
to control your account, the fund has the right (but has no obligation) to:
(a) freeze the account and require the written agreement of all persons
deemed by the fund to have a potential property interest in the account,
before executing instructions regarding the account; (b) interplead disputed
funds or accounts with a court of competent jurisdiction; or (c) surrender
ownership of all or a portion of the account to the IRS in response to a
notice of levy.
PRICING SHARES
When you buy shares, you pay the offering price. The offering price is the
net asset value (NAV) per share plus any applicable sales charge, calculated
to two decimal places using standard rounding criteria. When you sell shares,
you receive the NAV minus any applicable CDSC.
The value of a mutual fund is determined by deducting the fund's liabilities
from the total assets of the portfolio. The net asset value per share is
determined by dividing the net asset value of the fund by the number of
shares outstanding.
The fund calculates the NAV per share each business day at the close of
trading on the New York Stock Exchange (normally 1:00 p.m. Pacific time). The
fund does not calculate the NAV on days the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is
closed for trading, which include New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day,
Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day,
Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
When determining its NAV, the fund values cash and receivables at their
realizable amounts, and records interest as accrued and dividends on the
ex-dividend date. If market quotations are readily available for portfolio
securities listed on a securities exchange or on the Nasdaq National Market
System, the fund values those securities at the last quoted sale price of the
day or, if there is no reported sale, within the range of the most recent
quoted bid and ask prices. The fund values over-the-counter portfolio
securities within the range of the most recent quoted bid and ask prices. If
portfolio securities trade both in the over-the-counter market and on a stock
exchange, the fund values them according to the broadest and most
representative market as determined by the manager.
The fund determines the value of a foreign security as of the close of
trading on the foreign exchange on which the security is traded or as of the
close of trading on the NYSE, if that is earlier. The value is then converted
into its U.S. dollar equivalent at the foreign exchange rate in effect at
noon, New York time, on the day the value of the foreign security is
determined. If no sale is reported at that time, the foreign security is
valued within the range of the most recent quoted bid and ask prices.
Occasionally events that affect the values of foreign securities and foreign
exchange rates may occur between the times at which they are determined and
the close of the exchange and will, therefore, not be reflected in the
computation of the NAV. If events materially affecting the values of these
foreign securities occur during this period, the securities will be valued in
accordance with procedures established by the board.
Generally, trading in U.S. government securities and money market instruments
is substantially completed each day at various times before the close of the
NYSE. The value of these securities used in computing the NAV is determined
as of such times. Occasionally, events affecting the values of these
securities may occur between the times at which they are determined and the
close of the NYSE that will not be reflected in the computation of the NAV.
If events materially affecting the values of these securities occur during
this period, the securities will be valued at their fair value as determined
in good faith by the board.
Other securities for which market quotations are readily available are valued
at the current market price, which may be obtained from a pricing service,
based on a variety of factors including recent trades, institutional size
trading in similar types of securities (considering yield, risk and maturity)
and/or developments related to specific issues. Securities and other assets
for which market prices are not readily available are valued at fair value as
determined following procedures approved by the board. With the approval of
the board, the fund may use a pricing service, bank or securities dealer to
perform any of the above described functions.
THE UNDERWRITER
Franklin Templeton Distributors, Inc. (Distributors) acts as the principal
underwriter in the continuous public offering of the fund's shares.
Distributors is located at 777 Mariners Island Blvd., San Mateo, CA 94404.
Distributors pays the expenses of the distribution of fund shares, including
advertising expenses and the costs of printing sales material and
prospectuses used to offer shares to the public. The fund pays the expenses
of preparing and printing amendments to its registration statements and
prospectuses (other than those necessitated by the activities of
Distributors) and of sending prospectuses to existing shareholders.
Distributors may be entitled to reimbursement under the Rule 12b-1 plan, as
discussed below.
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE (12B-1) FEES The board has adopted a plan pursuant
to Rule 12b-1. The plan is designed to benefit the fund and its
shareholders. The plan is expected to, among other things, increase
advertising of the fund, encourage sales of the fund and service to its
shareholders, and increase or maintain assets of the fund so that certain
fixed expenses may be spread over a broader asset base, resulting in lower
per share expense ratios. In addition, a positive cash flow into the fund is
useful in managing the fund because the manager has more flexibility in
taking advantage of new investment opportunities and handling shareholder
redemptions.
Under the plan, the fund pays Distributors or others for the expenses of
activities that are primarily intended to sell shares of the fund. These
expenses also may include service fees paid to securities dealers or others
who have executed a servicing agreement with the fund, Distributors or its
affiliates who provide service or account maintenance to shareholders
(service fees); the expenses of printing prospectuses and reports used for
sales purposes, and of preparing and distributing sales literature and
advertisements; and a prorated portion of Distributors' overhead expenses
related to these activities. Together, these expenses, including the service
fees, are "eligible expenses."
The fund may pay up to 0.35% per year of the fund's average daily net assets.
Of this amount, the fund may pay up to 0.35% to Distributors or others, out
of which Distributors generally will retain 0.10% for distribution expenses.
The plan is a reimbursement plan. It allows the fund to reimburse
Distributors for eligible expenses that Distributors has shown it has
incurred. The fund will not reimburse more than the maximum amount allowed
under the plan.
In addition to the payments that Distributors or others are entitled to under
the plan, the plan also provides that to the extent the fund, the manager or
Distributors or other parties on behalf of the fund, the manager or
Distributors make payments that are deemed to be for the financing of any
activity primarily intended to result in the sale of fund shares within the
context of Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,
then such payments shall be deemed to have been made pursuant to the plan.
To the extent fees are for distribution or marketing functions, as
distinguished from administrative servicing or agency transactions, certain
banks may not participate in the plan because of applicable federal law
prohibiting certain banks from engaging in the distribution of mutual fund
shares. These banks, however, are allowed to receive fees under the plan for
administrative servicing or for agency transactions.
Distributors must provide written reports to the board at least quarterly on
the amounts and purpose of any payment made under the plan and any related
agreements, and furnish the board with such other information as the board
may reasonably request to enable it to make an informed determination of
whether the plan should be continued.
The plan has been approved according to the provisions of Rule 12b-1. The
terms and provisions of the plan also are consistent with Rule 12b-1.
PERFORMANCE
Performance quotations are subject to SEC rules. These rules require the use
of standardized performance quotations or, alternatively, that every
non-standardized performance quotation furnished by the fund be accompanied
by certain standardized performance information computed as required by the
SEC. Because the fund is new, standardized performance information has not
been computed. Included, however, is non-standardized performance
information for the fund for the period May 28, 1999, to March 31, 2000.
Also included is an explanation of the standardized methods of computing
performances mandated by the SEC and other methods that will be used by the
fund to compute or express performance. Regardless of the method used, past
performance does not guarantee future results, and is an indication of the
return to shareholders only for the limited historical period used.
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN Average annual total return is determined by
finding the average annual rates of return over the periods indicated below
that would equate an initial hypothetical $1,000 investment to its ending
redeemable value. The calculation assumes the maximum initial sales charge is
deducted from the initial $1,000 purchase, and income dividends and capital
gain distributions are reinvested at net asset value. The quotation assumes
the account was completely redeemed at the end of each period and the
deduction of all applicable charges and fees. If a change is made to the
sales charge structure, historical performance information will be restated
to reflect the maximum initial sales charge currently in effect.
When considering the average annual total return quotations, you should keep
in mind that the maximum initial sales charge reflected in each quotation is
a one time fee charged on all direct purchases, which will have its greatest
impact during the early stages of your investment. This charge will affect
actual performance less the longer you retain your investment in the fund.
The following SEC formula is used to calculate these figures:
n
P(1+T) = ERV
where:
P = a hypothetical initial payment of $1,000
T = average annual total return
n = number of years
ERV = ending redeemable value of a hypothetical $1,000 payment made at
the beginning of each period at the end of each period
CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN Like average annual total return, cumulative total
return assumes the maximum initial sales charge is deducted from the initial
$1,000 purchase, income dividends and capital gain distributions are
reinvested at net asset value, the account was completely redeemed at the end
of each period and the deduction of all applicable charges and fees.
Cumulative total return, however, is based on the actual return for a
specified period rather than on the average return over the periods indicated
above. The cumulative total return for the period May 28, 1999, to March 31,
2000, was 58.46%.
VOLATILITY Occasionally statistics may be used to show the fund's volatility
or risk. Measures of volatility or risk are generally used to compare the
fund's net asset value or performance to a market index. One measure of
volatility is beta. Beta is the volatility of a fund relative to the total
market, as represented by an index considered representative of the types of
securities in which the fund invests. A beta of more than 1.00 indicates
volatility greater than the market and a beta of less than 1.00 indicates
volatility less than the market. Another measure of volatility or risk is
standard deviation. Standard deviation is used to measure variability of net
asset value or total return around an average over a specified period of
time. The idea is that greater volatility means greater risk undertaken in
achieving performance.
OTHER PERFORMANCE QUOTATIONS The fund also may quote the performance of
shares without a sales charge. Sales literature and advertising may quote a
cumulative total return, average annual total return and other measures of
performance with the substitution of net asset value for the public offering
price.
Sales literature referring to the use of the fund as a potential investment
for IRAs, business retirement plans, and other tax-advantaged retirement
plans may quote a total return based upon compounding of dividends on which
it is presumed no federal income tax applies.
The fund may include in its advertising or sales material information
relating to investment goals and performance results of funds belonging to
the Franklin Templeton Group of Funds. Franklin Resources, Inc. is the parent
company of the advisors and underwriter of the Franklin Templeton Group of
Funds.
COMPARISONS To help you better evaluate how an investment in the fund may
satisfy your investment goal, advertisements and other materials about the
fund may discuss certain measures of fund performance as reported by various
financial publications. Materials also may compare performance (as calculated
above) to performance as reported by other investments, indices, and
averages. These comparisons may include, but are not limited to, the
following examples:
o Dow Jones(R) Composite Average and its component averages - a
price-weighted average of 65 stocks that trade on the New York Stock
Exchange. The average is a combination of the Dow Jones Industrial Average
(30 blue-chip stocks that are generally leaders in their industry), the Dow
Jones Transportation Average (20 transportation stocks), and the Dow Jones
Utilities Average (15 utility stocks involved in the production of
electrical energy).
o Standard & Poor's(R) 500 Stock Index or its component indices - a
capitalization-weighted index designed to measure performance of the broad
domestic economy through changes in the aggregate market value of 500
stocks representing all major industries.
o The New York Stock Exchange composite or component indices - an
unmanaged index of all industrial, utilities, transportation, and finance
stocks listed on the NYSE.
o Wilshire 5000 Equity Index - represents the return on the market value
of all common equity securities for which daily pricing is available.
Comparisons of performance assume reinvestment of dividends.
o Lipper - Mutual Fund Performance Analysis and Lipper - Equity Fund
Performance Analysis - measure total return and average current yield for
the mutual fund industry and rank individual mutual fund performance over
specified time periods, assuming reinvestment of all distributions,
exclusive of any applicable sales charges.
o CDA Mutual Fund Report, published by CDA Investment Technologies, Inc. -
analyzes price, current yield, risk, total return, and average rate of
return (average annual compounded growth rate) over specified time periods
for the mutual fund industry.
o Mutual Fund Source Book, published by Morningstar, Inc. - analyzes
price, yield, risk, and total return for mutual funds.
o Financial publications: The WALL STREET JOURNAL, and BUSINESS WEEK,
CHANGING TIMES, FINANCIAL WORLD, FORBES, FORTUNE, and MONEY magazines -
provide performance statistics over specified time periods.
o Consumer Price Index (or Cost of Living Index), published by the U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics - a statistical measure of change, over time, in
the price of goods and services in major expenditure groups.
o Stocks, Bonds, Bills, and Inflation, published by Ibbotson Associates -
historical measure of yield, price, and total return for common and small
company stock, long-term government bonds, Treasury bills, and inflation.
o Savings and Loan Historical Interest Rates - as published in the U.S.
Savings & Loan League Fact Book.
o Historical data supplied by the research departments of CS First Boston
Corporation, the J.P. Morgan(R) companies, Salomon Smith Barney Inc., Merrill
Lynch, Lehman Brothers(R) and Bloomberg(R) L.P.
o Morningstar - information published by Morningstar, Inc., including
Morningstar proprietary mutual fund ratings. The ratings reflect
Morningstar's assessment of the historical risk-adjusted performance of a
fund over specified time periods relative to other funds within its
category.
From time to time, advertisements or information for the fund may include a
discussion of certain attributes or benefits to be derived from an investment
in the fund. The advertisements or information may include symbols,
headlines, or other material that highlights or summarizes the information
discussed in more detail in the communication.
Advertisements or information also may compare the fund's performance to the
return on certificates of deposit (CDs) or other investments. You should be
aware, however, that an investment in the fund involves the risk of
fluctuation of principal value, a risk generally not present in an investment
in a CD issued by a bank. CDs are frequently insured by an agency of the U.S.
government. An investment in the fund is not insured by any federal, state or
private entity.
In assessing comparisons of performance, you should keep in mind that the
composition of the investments in the reported indices and averages is not
identical to the fund's portfolio, the indices and averages are generally
unmanaged, and the items included in the calculations of the averages may not
be identical to the formula used by the fund to calculate its figures. In
addition, there can be no assurance that the fund will continue its
performance as compared to these other averages.
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
The fund may help you achieve various investment goals such as accumulating
money for retirement, saving for a down payment on a home, college costs and
other long-term goals. The Franklin College Costs Planner may help you in
determining how much money must be invested on a monthly basis to have a
projected amount available in the future to fund a child's college education.
(Projected college cost estimates are based upon current costs published by
the College Board.) The Franklin Retirement Planning Guide leads you through
the steps to start a retirement savings program. Of course, an investment in
the fund cannot guarantee that these goals will be met.
The fund is a member of the Franklin Templeton Group of Funds, one of the
largest mutual fund organizations in the U.S., and may be considered in a
program for diversification of assets. Founded in 1947, Franklin is one of
the oldest mutual fund organizations and now services approximately 3 million
shareholder accounts. In 1992, Franklin, a leader in managing fixed-income
mutual funds and an innovator in creating domestic equity funds, joined
forces with Templeton, a pioneer in international investing. The Mutual
Series team, known for its value-driven approach to domestic equity
investing, became part of the organization four years later. Together, the
Franklin Templeton Group has over $229 billion in assets under management for
more than 5 million U.S. based mutual fund shareholder and other accounts.
The Franklin Templeton Group of Funds offers 103 U.S. based open-end
investment companies to the public. The fund may identify itself by its
Nasdaq symbol or CUSIP number.
Currently, there are more mutual funds than there are stocks listed on the
New York Stock Exchange. While many of them have similar investment goals, no
two are exactly alike. Shares of the fund are generally sold through
securities dealers, whose investment representatives are experienced
professionals who can offer advice on the type of investments suitable to
your unique goals and needs, as well as the risks associated with such
investments.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FRANKLIN STRATEGIC SERIES
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
FRANKLIN U.S. LONG-SHORT FUND
CLASS A
-----------------------
PERIOD ENDED APRIL 30,
1999 1
-----------------------
PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE
(for a share outstanding throughout the period)
Net asset value, beginning of period $ 10.00
-----------------------
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income .05
Net realized and unrealized gains .23
-----------------------
Total from investment operations .28
-----------------------
Net asset value, end of period $ 10.28
=======================
Total return * 2.80%
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Net assets, end of period (000'$) $ 1,028
Ratios to average net assets:
Net investment income 4.22% 2
Portfolio turnover rate 13.47%
* Total return does not reflect sales commissions or the contingent deferred
sales charge, and is not annualized for periods less than one year.
1 For the period March 15, 1999 (inception date) to April 30, 1999.
2 Annualized.
Franklin Strategic Series
Statement of Investments, April 30, 1999
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Franklin U.S. Long-Short Fund SHARES VALUE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stocks 30.8%
a Commercial Services 2.3%
<S> <C> <C>
d Convergys Corp. 900 $ 16,763
Robert Half International Inc. 300 7,163
-------------
23,926
-------------
d Consumer Services 6.3%
a AT&T Corp. - Liberty Media Group, A 200 12,775
a Jones Intercable Inc., A 400 18,550
a MediaOne Group Inc. 200 16,313
a Rogers Communications Inc., B (Canada) 500 9,344
Shaw Communications Inc., B (Canada) 200 8,100
-------------
65,082
-------------
a Electronic Technology .8%
3Com Corp. 300 7,838
-------------
Energy Minerals 3.6%
d Devon Energy Corp. 400 13,300
d Tosco Corp. 300 8,025
Ultramar Diamond Shamrock Corp. 400 9,225
Unocal Corp. 150 6,234
-------------
36,784
-------------
Finance 7.7%
A.G. Edwards Inc. 300 10,500
d Bank One Corp. 200 11,800
d Citigroup Inc. 200 15,050
Dain Rauscher Corp. 100 4,288
d Fannie Mae 100 7,094
a,d Golden State Bancorp Inc. 300 7,369
a United Rentals Inc. 300 8,944
US Trust Corp. 150 13,706
-------------
78,751
-------------
a Industrial Services .5%
Safety-Kleen Corp. 300 4,763
-------------
d Non-Energy Minerals .5%
Ispat International NV, A, N.Y. shs. (Netherlands) 500 6,531
-------------
Producer Manufacturing 1.6%
Tyco International Ltd. 200 16,250
-------------
Real Estate 2.9%
d Boston Properties Inc. 300 10,894
d Equity Office Properties Trust 200 5,513
Host Marriott Corp. 500 6,656
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. 200 7,338
-------------
30,401
-------------
a Retail Trade .6%
Williams-Sonoma Inc. 200 5,800
-------------
a,d Technology Services 1.5%
Aspen Technologies Inc. 500 4,281
EMC Corp. 100 10,894
-------------
15,175
-------------
a,d Telecommunications 1.8%
Clearnet Communications Inc., A (Canada) 500 5,844
MCI WorldCom Inc. 150 12,324
-------------
18,168
-------------
d Utilities .7%
Enron Corp. 100 7,525
-------------
Total Long Term Investments (Cost $297,135) 316,994
-------------
PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT
-----------
Government Securities 38.9%
U.S. Treasury Bills, 5/06/99 (Cost $399,761) $ 400,000 $ 399,857
b Repurchase Agreement 30.9%
Joint Repurchase Agreement, 4.862%, 5/03/99, (Maturity Value 317,188 317,188
$317,317) (COST $317,188)
Barclays Capital Inc. (Maturity Value $32,769)
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. (Maturity Value $17,874)
Chase Securities Inc. (Maturity Value $32,769)
CIBC Oppenheimer Corp. (Maturity Value $32,769)
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. (Maturity Value $4,522)
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corp. (Maturity Value $32,769)
Dresdner Kleinwort Benson, North America LLC (Maturity Value $32,769)
Lehman Brothers Inc.(Maturity Value $32,769)
Paine Webber Inc. (Maturity Value $32,769)
Paribas Corp. (Maturity Value $32,769)
UBS Securities LLC (Maturity Value $32,769)
Collateralized by U.S. Treasury Bills & Notes
-------------
Total Investments (Cost $1,014,084) 100.6% 1,034,039
Securities Sold Short (6.9%) (70,606)
Other Assets, less Liabilities 6.3% 64,787
-------------
Net Assets 100.0% $ 1,028,220
-------------
c Securities Sold Short
ISSUER SHARES VALUE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
a BioTime Inc. 500 $ 6,000
a Blue Rhino Corp. 1,000 14,375
a Carriage Services Inc. 500 9,593
a DATA RACE Inc. 1,200 5,775
a EarthShell Corp. 1,000 9,750
a IDT Corp. 400 11,400
MicroFinancial Inc. 400 7,125
a SCM Microsystems Inc. 100 6,588
-------------
Total (Proceeds $68,400) $ 70,606
-------------
</TABLE>
a Non-income producing.
b See notes 1(b) regarding joint repurchase agreement.
c See notes 1(c) regarding securities sold short.
d See note 1(c) regarding securities segregated with broker for securities sold
short
See notes to financial statements.
Franklin Strategic Series
Financial Statements
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
April 30, 1999
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Franklin U.S. Long-Short Fund
Assets:
Investments in securities:
<S> <C>
Cost $ 696,896
--------------
Value 716,851
Repurchase agreements, at value and cost 317,188
Cash 386
Receivables:
Investment securities sold 6,926
Dividends and interest 104
Deposits with brokers for securities sold short 77,442
--------------
Total assets 1,118,897
--------------
Liabilities:
Payables:
Investment securities purchased 20,071
Securities sold short, at value (Proceeds $68,400) 70,606
--------------
Total liabilities 90,677
--------------
Net assets, at value $ 1,028,220
==============
Net assets consist of:
Undistributed net investment income $ 5,263
Net unrealized appreciation 17,749
Accumulated net realized gain 5,208
Capital shares 1,000,000
--------------
Net assets, at value $ 1,028,220
==============
Class A:
Net assets, at value $ 1,028,220
==============
Shares outstanding 100,000
==============
Net asset value per share* $ 10.28
==============
Maximum offering price per share (net asset value per share divided by 94.25%) $ 10.91
==============
</TABLE>
* Redemption price is equal to net asset value less any applicable contingent
deferred sales charge.
See notes to financial statements.
Franklin Strategic Series
Financial Statements
Statement of Operations
for the period March 15, 1999 (inception date) to April 30, 1999
Franklin U.S. Long-Short Fund
Investment income:
Dividends $ 309
Interest 4,954
------------
Total investment income 5,263
------------
Realized and unrealized gains
Net realized gain from:
Investments 3,139
Securities sold short 2,069
-----------
Net realized gain 5,028
Net unrealized appreciation on investments 17,749
------------
Net realized and unrealized gain 22,957
------------
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations $ 28,220
============
See notes to financial statements.
Franklin Strategic Series
Financial Statements
Statement of Changes in Net Assets
for the period March 15, 1999 (Inception date) to April 30, 1999
Franklin U.S. Long-Short Fund
1999
-----------------
Increase in net assets:
Operations:
Net investment income $ 5,263
Net realized gain from investments 5,208
Net unrealized appreciation on investments 17,749
-----------------
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations 28,220
Capital share transactions: (Note 2)
Class A 1,000,000
-----------------
Total capital share transactions 1,000,000
Net increase in net assets 1,028,220
Net assets
Beginning of period -
-----------------
End of period $ 1,028,220
-----------------
Undistributed net investment income included in net assets:
End of period $ 5,263
-----------------
See notes to financial statements.
FRANKLIN STRATEGIC SERIES
Notes to Financial Statements
1. ORGANIZATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Franklin U.S. Long Short Fund (the Fund) is a separate, diversified series of
the Franklin Strategic Series (the Trust) consisting of ten separate series,
which is an open-ended investment company registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940. The Fund seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation in
both a bull and bear market.
The following summarizes the Fund's significant accounting policies.
a. Security Valuation:
Securities listed or traded on a recognized national exchange or Nasdaq are
valued at the latest reported sales price. Over-the-counter securities and
listed securities for which no sale is reported are valued within the range
of the latest quoted bid and asked prices. Securities for which market
quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined
by management in accordance with procedures established by the Board of
Trustees.
b. Joint Repurchase Agreement:
The Fund may enter into a joint repurchase agreement whereby their uninvested
cash balance is deposited into a joint cash account to be used to invest in
one or more repurchase agreements. The value and face amount of the joint
repurchase agreement are allocated to the Fund based on its pro-rata
interest. A repurchase agreement is accounted for as a loan by the Fund to
the seller, collateralized by securities which are delivered to the Fund's
custodian. The market value, including accrued interest, of the initial
collateralization is required to be at least 102% of the dollar amount
invested by the Fund, with the value of the underlying securities marked to
market daily to maintain coverage of at least 100%. At April 30, 1999, all
outstanding repurchase agreements had been entered into on that date.
c. Securities Sold Short:
The Fund is engaged in selling securities short, which obligates the Fund to
replace a borrowed security with the same security at the current market
value. The Fund would incur a loss if the price of the security increases
between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund replaces
the borrowed security. The Fund would realize a gain if the price of the
security declines between those dates.
The Fund is required to establish a margin account with the broker lending
the security sold short. While the short sale is outstanding, the broker
retains the proceeds of the short sale and the Fund must maintain a deposit
for the broker consisting of cash and securities having a value equal to a
specified percentage of the value of the securities sold short.
d. Income Taxes:
No provision has been made for income taxes because the Fund's policy is to
qualify as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code and
to distribute substantially all of its taxable income.
e. Security Transactions, Investment Income, Expenses and Distributions:
Security transactions are accounted for on trade date. Realized gains and
losses on security transactions are determined on a specific identification
basis. Interest income and estimated expenses are accrued daily. Dividend
income and distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.
Common expenses incurred by the Trust are allocated among the Funds based on
the ratio of net assets of each Fund to the combined net assets. Other
expenses are charged to each Fund on a specific identification basis. The
expenses described will commence on the effective date of registration,
May 28, 1999.
f. Accounting Estimates:
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions
that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the
financial statements and the amounts of income and expense during the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
2. SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST
At April 30, 1999, there were an unlimited number of shares authorized ($.01
par value). Transactions in the Fund's shares were as follows:
Franklin
U.S. Long-Short Fund
----------------------
Shares Amount
----------------------
Class A Shares:
Period ended April 30,1999*
Shares sold 100,000 $ 1,000,000
----------------------
Net increase 100,000 $ 1,000,000
======================
*For the period March 15, 1999 (inception date) to April 30, 1999
3. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES
Certain officers and trustees of the Trust are also officers and/or directors
of Franklin Advisers, Inc. (Advisers), Franklin/Templeton Distributors, Inc.
(Distributors), Franklin Templeton Services, Inc. (FT Services), and
Franklin/Templeton Investor Services, Inc. (Investor Services), the Fund's
investment manager, principal underwriter, administrative manager and
transfer agent, respectively. The fees described below will commence on the
effective date, May 28, 1999.
The Fund pays an investment management fee to Advisers of 1.00% per year of
the average daily net assets of the Fund.
The Fund pays an administrative fee to FT Services of .20% based on the
Fund's average net assets.
At April 30, 1999, Franklin Resources Inc. owned 100% of the Fund.
4. INCOME TAXES
Net realized capital gains differ for financial statement and tax purposes
primarily due to differing treatments of wash sales.
At April 30,1999, the net unrealized appreciation based on the cost of
investments and short sales for income tax purposes of $946,084 was as follows:
Unrealized appreciation $ 24,780
Unrealized depreciation (7,431)
-----------
Net unrealized
appreciation $ 17,349
===========
5. INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS
Purchases and sales of securities (excluding short-term securities) for the
period ended April 30, 1999 aggregated $317,718 and $23,703, respectively.
FRANKLIN STRATEGIC SERIES
Independent Auditor's Report
To the Board of Trustees and Shareholders of
Franklin U.S. Long-Short Fund
In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including
the statement of investments, and the related statements of operations and of
changes in net assets and the financial highlights present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of the Franklin U.S. Long-Short Fund
(the "Fund") at April 30, 1999, and the results of its operations, the changes
in its net assets and the financial highlights for the period March 15, 1999
(inception date) to April 30, 1999, in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles. These financial statements and financial highlights
(hereafter referred to as "financial statements") are the responsibility of the
Fund's management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements based on our audit. We conducted our audit of these
financial statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards
which require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance
about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An
audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and
disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles
used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit, which included
confirmation of securities at April 30, 1999 by correspondence with the
custodian and brokers, provides a reasonable basis for the opinion expressed
above.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
San Francisco, California
May 28, 1999
