PROSPECTUS & APPLICATION
FRANKLIN MUNICIPAL
SECURITIES TRUST
OCTOBER 1, 1998
INVESTMENT STRATEGY
TAX-FREE INCOME
Franklin Arkansas Municipal Bond Fund
Franklin California High Yield Municipal Fund
Franklin Hawaii Municipal Bond Fund
Franklin Tennessee Municipal Bond Fund
Franklin Washington Municipal Bond Fund
Please read this prospectus before investing, and keep it for future
reference. It contains important information, including how each fund invests
and the services available to shareholders.
To learn more about each fund and its policies, you may request a copy of the
funds' Statement of Additional Information ("SAI"), dated October 1, 1998,
which we may amend from time to time.
We have filed the SAI with the SEC and have incorporated it by reference into
this prospectus.
For a free copy of the SAI or a larger print version of this prospectus,
contact your investment representative or call 1-800/DIAL BEN.
MUTUAL FUND SHARES ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR GUARANTEED OR ENDORSED
BY, ANY BANK, AND ARE NOT FEDERALLY 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.
LIKE ALL MUTUAL FUND SHARES, 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.
FRANKLIN MUNICIPAL SECURITIES TRUST
The California High Yield Fund may invest up to 100% of its net assets in
non-investment grade bonds. These are commonly known as "junk bonds." Their
default and other risks are greater than those of higher rated securities.
You should carefully consider these risks before investing in the fund.
Please see "What Are the Risks of Investing in the Funds?"
THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFERING OF THE SECURITIES HEREIN DESCRIBED IN ANY
STATE, JURISDICTION OR COUNTRY IN WHICH THE OFFERING IS NOT AUTHORIZED. NO
SALES REPRESENTATIVE, DEALER, OR OTHER PERSON IS AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS
PROSPECTUS. FURTHER INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM DISTRIBUTORS.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABOUT THE FUNDS
Expense Summary ........................................................ 2
Financial Highlights ................................................... 4
How Do the Funds Invest Their Assets? .................................. 8
What Are the Risks of Investing in the Funds? .......................... 13
Who Manages the Funds? ................................................. 15
How Taxation Affects the Funds and Their Shareholders .................. 19
How Is the Trust Organized? ............................................ 22
ABOUT YOUR ACCOUNT
How Do I Buy Shares? ................................................... 23
May I Exchange Shares for Shares of Another Fund? ...................... 30
How Do I Sell Shares? .................................................. 33
What Distributions Might I Receive From the Funds? ..................... 35
Transaction Procedures and Special Requirements ........................ 36
Services to Help You Manage Your Account ............................... 40
What If I Have Questions About My Account? ............................. 43
GLOSSARY
Useful Terms and Definitions ........................................... 44
APPENDIX
Description of Ratings ................................................. 46
FRANKLIN
MUNICIPAL SECURITIES
TRUST
OCTOBER 1, 1998
When reading this prospectus, you will see certain terms beginning with capital
letters. This means the term is explained in our glossary section.
777 Mariners Island Blvd.
P.O. Box 7777
San Mateo
CA 94403-7777
1-800/DIAL BEN(R)
About the Funds
Expense Summary
This table is designed to help you understand the costs of investing in a
fund. It is based on the historical expenses of each fund for the fiscal year
ended May 31, 1998. Each fund's actual expenses may vary.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
California California
High Yield High Yield
Arkansas Fund - Fund - Hawaii Tennessee Washington
Fund Class I Class II Fund Fund Fund
---------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
A. SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTION EXPENSES+
Maximum Sales Charge
(as a percentage of Offering Price) 4.25% 4.25% 1.99% 4.25% 4.25% 4.25%
Paid at time of purchase 4.25%++ 4.25%++ 1.00%+++ 4.25%++ 4.25%++ 4.25%++
Paid at redemption++++ NONE NONE 0.99% NONE NONE NONE
B. ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
(as a percentage of average net assets)
Management Fees* 0.63% 0.53% 0.53% 0.63% 0.63% 0.63%
Rule 12b-1 Fees** 0.10% 0.10% 0.65% 0.10% 0.10% 0.10%
Other Expenses 0.10% 0.06% 0.06% 0.08% 0.08% 0.10%
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Fund Operating Expenses* 0.83% 0.69% 1.24% 0.81% 0.81% 0.83%***
=====================================================================
</TABLE>
C. EXAMPLE
Assume the annual return for each class is 5%, operating expenses are
as described above, and you sell your shares after the number of years shown.
These are the projected expenses for each $1,000 that you invest in a fund.
1 Year**** 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
----------------------------------------
Arkansas Fund $51 $68 $87 $141
California High
Yield Fund - Class I $49 $64 $79 $125
California High
Yield Fund - Class II $32 $49 $77 $158
Hawaii Fund $50 $67 $86 $138
Tennessee Fund $50 $67 $86 $138
Washington Fund $51 $68 $87 $141
For the same Class II investment in the California High Yield Fund, you would
pay projected expenses of $23 if you did not sell your shares at the end of the
first year. Your projected expenses for the remaining periods would be the same.
THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE. IT DOES NOT REPRESENT PAST OR FUTURE EXPENSES OR
RETURNS. ACTUAL EXPENSES AND RETURNS MAY BE MORE OR LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN. Each
fund pays its operating expenses. The effects of these expenses are reflected in
the Net Asset Value or dividends of each class and are not directly charged to
your account.
+If your transaction is processed through your Securities Dealer, you may be
charged a fee by your Securities Dealer for this service.
++There is no front-end sales charge if you invest $1 million or more in
Class I shares.
+++Although Class II has a lower front-end sales charge than Class I, its
Rule 12b-1 fees are higher. Over time you may pay more for Class II shares.
Please see "How Do I Buy Shares? - Choosing a Share Class."
++++A Contingent Deferred Sales Charge may apply to any Class II purchase if
you sell the shares within 18 months and to Class I purchases of $1 million
or more if you sell the shares within one year. The charge is 1% of the value
of the shares sold or the Net Asset Value at the time of purchase, whichever
is less. The number in the table shows the charge as a percentage of Offering
Price. While the percentage is different depending on whether the charge is
shown based on the Net Asset Value or the Offering Price, the dollar amount
you would pay is the same. See "How Do I Sell Shares? - Contingent Deferred
Sales Charge" for details.
*For the period shown, the manager had agreed in advance to waive or limit
its management fees and to assume as its own expense certain expenses
otherwise payable by the funds. With this reduction, management fees were
0.22% for the Hawaii and Tennessee funds and 0.19% for the California High
Yield Fund. The Arkansas and Washington funds paid no management fees. Total
operating expenses were 0.10% for the Arkansas and Washington funds, 0.35%
for the California High Yield Fund - Class I, 0.90% for the California High
Yield Fund - Class II, and 0.40% for the Hawaii and Tennessee funds.
**These fees may not exceed 0.10% for the Hawaii Fund and 0.15% for Class I
shares of the California High Yield Fund and each of the remaining funds. For
Class II shares of the California High Yield Fund, these fees may not exceed
0.65%. The combination of front-end sales charges and Rule 12b-1 fees could
cause long-term shareholders to pay more than the economic equivalent of the
maximum front-end sales charge permitted under the rules of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
***Total fund operating expenses are different than the ratio of expenses to
average net assets shown under "Financial Highlights" due to a timing
difference between the end of the 12b-1 plan year and the fund's fiscal year
end.
**** For Class I shares, assumes a Contingent Deferred Sales Charge will not
apply.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
This table summarizes each fund's financial history. The information has been
audited by Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., the funds' independent auditor. The
audit report covering each of the most recent five years appears in the
Trust's Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended May 31, 1998.
The Annual Report to Shareholders also includes more information about each
fund's performance. For a free copy, please call Fund Information.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ARKANSAS FUND
Year Ended May 31,
1998 1997 1996 1995 19941
----------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Per share operating performance
(for a share outstanding throughout the year)
Net asset value, beginning of year........ $10.51 $10.21 $10.32 $10.06 $10.00
---------------------------------------------------
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income.................... .56 .58 .55 .51 .01
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) .50 .31 (.08) .19 .05
---------------------------------------------------
Total from investment operations.......... 1.06 .89 .47 .70 .06
Less distributions from net investment income (.58) (.59) (.58) (.44) --
---------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of year.............. $10.99 $10.51 $10.21 $10.32 $10.06
===================================================
Total return*............................. 10.31% 8.90% 4.65% 7.27% .60%
Ratios/supplemental data
Net assets, end of year (000's)........... $30,377 $13,140 $8,166 $4,134 $2,213
Ratios to average net assets:
Expenses................................. .10% .10% .10% .10% .03%**
Expenses excluding waiver
and payments by affiliate .83% .87% 1.04% 1.11% 1.20%**
Net investment income ................... 5.30% 5.71% 5.69% 5.64% 2.00%**
Portfolio turnover rate................... 18.75% 6.61% 19.22% 77.63% --
CALIFORNIA HIGH YIELD FUND
Class I
Year Ended May 31,
1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 19932
-----------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Per share operating performance
(for a share outstanding throughout the year)
Net asset value, beginning of year $10.10 $9.81 $9.93 $9.73 $9.97 $10.00
----------------------------------------------------------------
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income .62 .63 .64 .66 .53 .03
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) .55 .29 (.10) .18 (.20) (.06)
----------------------------------------------------------------
Total from investment operations 1.17 .92 .54 .84 .33 (.03)
----------------------------------------------------------------
Less distributions from:
Net investment income (.62) (.63)3 (.66) (.64) (.56) --
Net realized gains -- -- -- -- (.01) --
---------------------------------------------------------------
Total distributions (.62) (.63) (.66) (.64) (.57) --
---------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of year $10.65 $10.10 $9.81 $9.93 $9.73 $9.97
===============================================================
Total return* 11.78% 9.64% 5.55% 9.08% 3.22% (3.60)%**
Ratios/supplemental data
Net assets, end of year (000's) $412,211 $213,396 $118,313 $51,102 $31,938 $2,245
Ratios to average net assets:
Expenses .35% .34% .35% .20% .07% --%
Expenses excluding waiver and
payments by affiliate .69% .75% .81% .88% .87% 1.42%**
Net investment income 5.81% 6.24% 6.49% 6.89% 6.14% 3.85%**
Portfolio turnover rate 37.75% 33.79% 28.02% 57.06% 40.74% 8.89%
Class II
Year Ended May 31,
1998 1997 19964
-----------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Per share operating performance
(for a share outstanding throughout the year)
Net asset value, beginning of year ................ $10.12 $9.82 $9.82
-----------------------------------
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income............................. .56 .57 .05
Net realized and unrealized gains ................ .56 .30 --
-----------------------------------
Total from investment operations................... 1.12 .87 .05
Less distributions from net investment income...... (.56) (.57)3 (.05)
-----------------------------------
Net asset value, end of year....................... $10.68 $10.12 $9.82
===================================
Total return*...................................... 11.30% 9.08% .54%
Ratios/supplemental data
Net assets, end of year (000's).................... $40,363 $10,624 $212
Ratios to average net assets:
Expenses.......................................... .90% .90% .91%**
Expenses excluding waiver and payments by affiliate 1.24% 1.31% 1.81%**
Net investment income ............................ 5.23% 5.68% 5.73%**
Portfolio turnover rate............................ 37.75% 33.79% 28.02%
HAWAII FUND
Year Ended May 31,
1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 19925
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Per share operating performance
(for a share outstanding throughout the year)
Net asset value, beginning of year $10.79 $10.54 $10.67 $10.36 $10.80 $10.18 $10.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income .58 .60 .60 .60 .62 .63 .09
Net realized and unrealized
gains (losses) .38 .25 (.13) .31 (.46) .63 .16
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total from investment operations .96 .85 .47 .91 .16 1.26 .25
Less distributions from
net investment income (.59) (.60) (.60) (.60) (.60) (.64) (.07)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of year $11.16 $10.79 $10.54 $10.67 $10.36 $10.80 $10.18
=============================================================================
Total return* 9.10% 8.23% 4.49% 9.26% 1.35% 12.77% 8.96%**
Ratios/supplemental data
Net assets, end of year (000's) $45,138 $40,003 $38,805 $36,827 $26,904 $18,657 $2,978
Ratios to average net assets:
Expenses .40% .39% .35% .20% .05% --% --%
Expenses excluding waiver
and payments by affiliate .81% .83% .84% .87% .92% 1.06% 1.57%**
Net investment income 5.32% 5.59% 5.63% 6.02% 5.76% 5.95% 4.55%**
Portfolio turnover rate 23.18% 13.40% 16.01% 22.88% 31.35% 48.70% --%
TENNESSEE FUND
Year Ended May 31,
1998 1997 1996 1995 19941
---------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Per share operating performance
(for a share outstanding throughout the year)
Net asset value, beginning of year ......... $10.71 $10.40 $10.53 $10.11 $10.00
---------------------------------------------------------
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income...................... .57 .58 .56 .52 .01
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses). .56 .33 (.09) .35 .10
---------------------------------------------------------
Total from investment operations............ 1.13 .91 .47 .87 .11
Less distributions from net investment income (.57) (.60) (.60) (.45) --
---------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of year................ $11.27 $10.71 $10.40 $10.53 $10.11
=========================================================
Total return*............................... 10.75% 8.95% 4.50% 8.97% 1.10%
Ratios/supplemental data
Net assets, end of year (000's)............. $44,526 $26,708 $13,956 $5,986 $2,224
Ratios to average net assets:
Expenses................................... .40% .40% .33% .10% .03%**
Expenses excluding waiver and
payments by affiliate ..................... .81% .84% .91% .92% 1.05%**
Net investment income...................... 5.12% 5.51% 5.67% 6.02% 1.89%**
Portfolio turnover rate..................... 37.67% 27.60% 27.23% 24.71% 22.64%
WASHINGTON FUND
Year Ended May 31,
1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 19932
------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Per share operating performance
(for a share outstanding throughout the year)
Net asset value, beginning of year $10.09 $9.80 $9.90 $9.55 $9.99 $10.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income from investment operations:
Net investment income .57 .58 .56 .56 .51 .03
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) .41 .29 (.08) .36 (.46) (.04)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total from investment operations .98 .87 .48 .92 .05 (.01)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less distributions from:
Net investment income (.59) (.58) (.58) (.57) (.47) --
Net realized gains -- -- -- -- (.02) --
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total distributions (.59) (.58) (.58) (.57) (.49) --
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of year $10.48 $10.09 $9.80 $9.90 $9.55 $9.99
=========================================================================
Total return* 9.87% 9.04% 4.91% 10.10% 2.88% (1.20)%**
Ratios/supplemental data
Net assets, end of year (000's) $10,376 $8,361 $7,718 $5,741 $4,272 $2,198
Ratios to average net assets:
Expenses .10% .10% .10% .10% .05% --%
Expenses excluding waiver and
payments by affiliate .84% .90% .92% 1.05% .71% 1.44%**
Net investment income 5.54% 5.81% 5.81% 6.13% 5.59% 3.44%**
Portfolio turnover rate 6.94% 7.73% 19.13% 18.46% 39.52% --%
</TABLE>
*Total return does not reflect sales commissions or the Contingent Deferred
Sales Charge, and is not annualized, except where indicated.
**Annualized.
1For the period May 10, 1994 (effective date) to May 31, 1994.
2For the period May 3, 1993 (effective date) to May 31, 1993.
3Includes distributions in excess of net investment income in the amount of
$.001.
4For the period May 1, 1996 (effective date) to May 31, 1996.
5For the period February 26, 1992 (effective date) to May 31, 1992.
HOW DO THE FUNDS INVEST THEIR ASSETS?
A QUICK LOOK AT THE FUNDS
CALIFORNIA HIGH YIELD FUND
GOAL: High current tax-free income for California residents.
STRATEGY: Invests in municipal securities rated in any rating category and
whose interest is free from federal and California personal income taxes.
ARKANSAS, HAWAII, TENNESSEE AND WASHINGTON FUNDS
GOAL: High current tax-free income for residents of the fund's state.
STRATEGY: Invest in investment grade municipal securities whose interest is
free from federal and state personal income taxes, if any, for residents of
the fund's state.
WHAT IS THE MANAGER'S APPROACH?
The funds' manager tries to select securities that it believes will provide
the best balance between risk and return within each fund's range of
allowable investments. The manager considers a number of factors, including
general market and economic conditions and the credit quality of the issuer,
when selecting securities for each fund.
To provide tax-free income to shareholders, the manager typically uses a buy
and hold strategy. This means it holds securities in a fund's portfolio for
income purposes, rather than trading securities for capital gains. The
manager may sell a security at any time, however, when it believes doing so
could help the fund meet its goals.
While income is the most important part of return over time, the total return
from a municipal security includes both income and price gains or losses.
Each fund's focus on income does not mean it invests only in the
highest-yielding securities available, or that it can avoid losses of
principal.
WHO MAY WANT TO INVEST?
The funds may be appropriate for investors in higher tax brackets who seek
high current income that is free from federal and state personal income
taxes. Each fund, however, may invest up to 100% of its assets in securities
subject to the federal alternative minimum tax. If you are subject to this
tax, the funds may not be an appropriate investment for you.
Each fund's level of risk and potential reward depends on the quality and
maturity of its investments. Each fund, except the California High Yield
Fund, invests only in investment grade municipal securities. With its broader
range of investments, the California High Yield Fund has the potential for
higher yields, but also carries a higher degree of risk. Please consider your
investment goals and tolerance for price fluctuations and risk when making
your investment decision.
The value of each fund's investments and the income they generate will vary
from day to day, and generally reflect interest rates, market conditions, and
other federal and state political and economic news. When you sell your
shares, they may be worth more or less than what you paid for them.
THE FUNDS IN MORE DETAIL
WHAT ARE THE FUNDS' GOALS?
The investment goal of the Arkansas, Hawaii, Tennessee and Washington funds
is to maximize income exempt from federal income taxes and from the personal
income taxes, if any, for resident shareholders of the fund's state to the
extent consistent with prudent investing and the preservation of
shareholders' capital.
The investment goal of the California High Yield Fund is to provide investors
with a high level of income exempt from federal and California personal
income taxes. As a secondary goal, the California High Yield Fund seeks
capital appreciation to the extent possible and consistent with its principal
investment goal.
These goals are fundamental, which means that they may not be changed without
shareholder approval.
WHAT KINDS OF SECURITIES DO THE FUNDS BUY?
Each fund tries to invest all of its assets in tax-free municipal securities,
including bonds, notes and commercial paper.
Municipal securities are issued by state and local governments, their
agencies and authorities, as well as by the District of Columbia and U.S.
territories and possessions, to borrow money for various public or private
projects. The issuer pays a fixed or variable rate of interest, and must
repay the amount borrowed (the "principal") at maturity.
Municipal securities generally pay interest free from federal income tax.
Municipal securities issued by a fund's state or that state's counties,
municipalities, authorities, agencies, or other subdivisions also generally
pay interest free from state personal income taxes, if any, for residents of
the fund's state. Municipal securities issued by U.S. territories such as
Guam, Puerto Rico, the Mariana Islands or the U.S. Virgin Islands, also
generally pay interest free from state personal income taxes in a majority of
states.
Each fund normally invests:
o at least 80% of its net assets in securities that pay interest free from
regular federal income taxes (this policy is fundamental);
o at least 80% of its net assets in securities that pay interest free from
the personal income taxes, if any, of its state, although each fund tries
to invest all of its assets in these securities (this policy is also
fundamental and does not apply to the California High Yield Fund). The
California High Yield Fund normally invests at least 65% of its total
assets in securities that pay interest free from California personal
income taxes, although it tries to invest all of its assets in these
securities; and
o at least 65% of its total assets in municipal securities of its state.
While each fund tries to invest 100% of its assets in tax-free municipal
securities, it is possible, although not anticipated, that a fund may have a
significant amount of its assets in securities that pay taxable interest. If
you are subject to the federal alternative minimum tax, please keep in mind
that each fund may also have up to 100% of its assets in municipal securities
that pay interest subject to the federal alternative minimum tax.
QUALITY. All things being equal, the lower a security's credit quality, the
higher the risk and the higher the yield the security generally must pay as
compensation to investors for the higher risk.
A security's credit quality depends on the issuer's ability to pay interest
on the security and, ultimately, to repay the principal. Independent rating
agencies, such as Fitch, Moody's and S&P, often rate municipal securities
based on their opinion of the issuer's credit quality. Most rating agencies
use a descending alphabet scale to rate long-term securities. For example,
Fitch and S&P use AAA, AA, A and BBB for their top four long-term ratings,
while Moody's uses Aaa, Aa, A and Baa. Securities in the top four ratings are
"investment grade," although securities in the fourth highest rating may have
some speculative features. These ratings are described in more detail in the
Appendix to this prospectus and in the SAI.
An insurance company, bank or other foreign or domestic entity may provide
credit support for a municipal security and enhance its credit quality. For
example, some municipal securities are insured, which means they are covered
by an insurance policy that insures the timely payment of principal and
interest. Other municipal securities may be backed by letters of credit,
guarantees, or escrow or trust accounts that contain securities backed by the
full faith and credit of the U.S. government to secure the payment of
principal and interest.
o Each fund, except the California High Yield Fund, only buys investment
grade securities or unrated securities that the manager believes are
comparable.
o The California High Yield Fund may invest in securities rated in any
rating category, including securities rated below investment grade or in
unrated securities that the fund's manager believes are comparable. The
fund may invest up to 5% of its net assets in defaulted securities if the
manager believes the issuer may resume making interest payments or other
favorable developments seem likely in the near future.
The manager may consider existing market conditions, the availability of
lower-rated securities, and whether the difference in yields between higher- and
lower-rated securities justifies the higher risk of lower-rated securities when
selecting securities for the fund's portfolio.
MATURITY. Municipal securities are issued with a specific maturity date - the
date when the issuer must repay the amount borrowed. Maturities typically
range from less than one year (short term) to 30 years (long term). In
general, securities with longer maturities are more sensitive to price
changes, although they may provide higher yields.
o The funds have no restrictions on the maturity of the securities they may
buy or on their average portfolio maturity.
VARIABLE AND FLOATING RATE SECURITIES have interest rates that change either
at specific intervals or whenever a benchmark rate changes. While this
feature helps to protect against a decline in the security's market price, it
also lowers a fund's income when interest rates fall. Of course, a fund's
income from its variable rate investments may also increase if interest rates
rise.
o Each fund may invest in investment grade variable and floating rate
securities. The California High Yield Fund also may invest in variable and
floating rate securities below investment grade.
MUNICIPAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS finance the purchase of public property. The
property is leased to the state or a local government, and the lease payments
are used to pay the interest on the obligations. Municipal lease obligations
differ from other municipal securities because the lessee's governing body
must set aside the money to make the lease payments each year. If the money
is not set aside, the issuer or the lessee can end the lease without penalty.
If the lease is cancelled, investors who own the municipal lease obligations
may not be paid.
o Each fund may invest in municipal lease obligations without limit, if the
obligations meet the fund's quality and maturity standards.
MELLO-ROOS BONDS are issued under the California Mello-Roos Community
Facilities Act to finance the building of roads, sewage treatment plants and
other projects designed to improve the infrastructure of a community. They
are not rated and are not considered obligations of the municipality.
Mello-Roos bonds are primarily secured by real estate taxes levied on
property located in the community. The timely payment of principal and
interest on the bonds depends on the developer's or other property owner's
ability to pay the real estate taxes. This ability could be negatively
affected by a declining economy or real estate market in California.
o The California High Yield Fund may invest in Mello-Roos bonds. While the
fund may invest in Mello-Roos bonds without limit, as of May 31, 1998, the
fund held 11.6% of its net assets in Mello-Roos bonds.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE FUNDS' OTHER INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND PRACTICES?
TEMPORARY INVESTMENTS. When the manager believes unusual or adverse economic,
market or other conditions exist, it may invest a fund's portfolio in a
temporary defensive manner. Under these circumstances, each fund may invest
all of its assets in securities that pay taxable interest, including (i) high
quality commercial paper and obligations of U.S. banks with assets of $1
billion or more; (ii) securities issued or guaranteed by the full faith and
credit of the U.S. government; or (iii) municipal securities issued by a
state, territory or local government other than the fund's state.
WHEN-ISSUED AND DELAYED DELIVERY TRANSACTIONS are those where payment and
delivery for the security take place at a future date. Since the market price
of the security may fluctuate during the time before payment and delivery,
the fund assumes the risk that the value of the security at delivery may be
more or less than the purchase price.
DIVERSIFICATION. Diversification involves limiting the amount of money
invested in any one issuer or, on a broader scale, in any one state or type
of project to help spread and reduce the risks of investment. A fund can be
either diversified or non-diversified. A non-diversified fund may invest a
greater portion of its assets in the securities of one issuer than a
diversified fund. Economic, business, political or other changes can affect
all securities of a similar type. A non-diversified fund may be more
sensitive to these changes.
o The funds are non-diversified funds, although they intend to meet certain
diversification requirements for tax purposes. Each fund may invest more
than 25% of its assets in municipal securities that finance similar types
of projects, such as hospitals, housing, industrial development,
transportation or pollution control.
OTHER POLICIES AND RESTRICTIONS. Each fund has a number of additional
investment policies and restrictions that govern its activities. Those that
are identified as "fundamental" may only be changed with shareholder
approval. The others may be changed by the Board alone. For a list of these
restrictions and more information about each fund's investment policies,
including those described above, please see "How Do the Funds Invest Their
Assets?" and "Investment Restrictions" in the SAI.
Generally, the policies and restrictions discussed in this prospectus and in
the SAI apply when a fund makes an investment. In most cases, a 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.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUNDS?
Like all investments, an investment in the funds involves risks. The risks of
each fund are basically the same as those of other investments in municipal
securities of similar quality, although an investment in any one of the funds
may involve more risk than an investment in a fund that does not focus on
securities of a single state. Because each fund holds many securities, it is
likely to be less risky than any one, or few, directly held municipal
investments.
GENERAL RISK. There is no assurance that a fund will meet its investment
goal. A fund's share price, and the value of your investment, may change.
Generally, when the value of a fund's investments go down, so does the fund's
share price. Similarly, when the value of a fund's investments go up, so does
the fund's share price. Since the value of a fund's shares can go up or down,
it is possible to lose money by investing in a fund.
INTEREST RATE RISK is the risk that changes in interest rates can reduce the
value of a security. When interest rates rise, municipal security prices
fall. The opposite is also true: municipal security prices go up when
interest rates fall. To explain why this is so, assume you hold a municipal
security offering a 5% yield. A year later, interest rates are on the rise
and comparable securities are offered with a 6% yield. With higher-yielding
securities available, you would have trouble selling your 5% security for the
price you paid - causing you to lower your asking price. On the other hand,
if interest rates were falling and 4% municipal securities were being
offered, you would be able to sell your 5% security for more than you paid.
INCOME RISK is the risk that a fund's income will decrease due to falling
interest rates. Since a fund can only distribute what it earns, a fund's
distributions to its shareholders may decline when interest rates fall.
CREDIT RISK is the possibility that an issuer will be unable to make interest
payments or repay principal. Changes in an issuer's financial strength or in
a security's credit rating may affect its value. Even securities supported by
credit enhancements have the credit risk of the entity providing the credit
support. Credit support provided by a foreign entity may be less certain
because of the possibility of adverse foreign economic, political or legal
developments that may affect the ability of that foreign entity to meet its
obligations. Changes in the credit quality of the credit provider could
affect the value of the security and the fund's share price.
Securities rated below investment grade, sometimes called "municipal junk
bonds," generally have more credit risk than higher-rated securities. The
risk of default or price changes due to changes in the issuer's credit
quality is greater. Issuers of lower-rated securities are typically in weaker
financial health than issuers of higher-rated securities, and their ability
to make interest payments or repay principal is less certain. These issuers
are also more likely to encounter financial difficulties and to be materially
affected by these difficulties when they do encounter them. The market price
of lower-rated securities may fluctuate more than higher-rated securities and
may decline significantly in periods of general or regional economic
difficulty. Lower-rated securities may also be less liquid than higher-rated
securities.
None of the funds, except the California High Yield Fund, invests in
securities rated below investment grade. The California High Yield Fund,
however, may invest up to 100% of its assets in these securities. The
following table provides a summary of the credit quality of the California
High Yield Fund's portfolio. These figures are dollar-weighted averages of
month-end assets during the fiscal year ended May 31, 1998.
Average Weighted
S&P Rating Percentage of Assets
AAA........................... 12.7%1
AA............................ 3.8%
A............................. 16.8%
BBB........................... 37.2%2
BB............................ 19.5%3
Not Rated..................... 10.2%4
1 2.7% are unrated and have been included in the AAA rating category.
2 18.6% are unrated and have been included in the BBB rating category.
3 13.1% are unrated and have been included in the BB rating category.
4 This figure includes securities that have not been rated by S&P, but that
have been rated by another rating agency.
MARKET RISK is the risk that a security's value will be reduced by market
activity or the results of supply and demand. This is a basic risk associated
with all securities. When there are more sellers than buyers, prices tend to
fall. Likewise, when there are more buyers than sellers, prices tend to
increase.
CALL RISK is the likelihood that a security will be prepaid (or "called")
before maturity. An issuer is more likely to call its bonds when interest
rates are falling, because the issuer can issue new bonds with lower interest
payments. If a bond is called, a fund may have to replace it with a
lower-yielding security. At any time, a fund may have a large amount of its
assets invested in municipal securities subject to call risk, including
escrow-secured or defeased bonds. A call of some or all of these securities
may lower a fund's income and its distributions to shareholders.
STATE RISKS. Since each fund invests heavily in municipal securities of its
state, events in that state are likely to affect the fund's investments and
its performance. These events may include:
o economic or political policy changes;
o tax base erosion;
o state constitutional limits on tax increases;
o budget deficits and other financial difficulties; and
o changes in the ratings assigned to municipal issuers.
A negative change in any one of these or other areas could affect the ability
of a state's municipal issuers to meet their obligations. It is important to
remember that economic, budget and other conditions within a state are
unpredictable and can change at any time.
U.S. TERRITORIES RISKS. Each fund may invest a portion of its assets in
municipal securities issued by U.S. territories such as Guam, Puerto Rico,
the Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands. As with state municipal
securities, events in any of these territories where a fund invests may
affect the fund's investments and its performance.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND'S RISKS. The funds' SAI also has
information about each fund's investment policies and their risks, including
specific information on the economy and financial strength of each fund's
state and certain U.S. territories. Please see "How Do the Funds Invest Their
Assets?" and "What Are the Risks of Investing in the Funds?" in the SAI.
WHO MANAGES THE FUNDS?
THE BOARD. The Board oversees the management of each fund and elects its
officers. The officers are responsible for each fund's day-to-day operations.
The Board also monitors the California High Yield Fund to ensure no material
conflicts exist among the fund's classes of shares. While none is expected,
the Board will act appropriately to resolve any material conflict that may
arise.
INVESTMENT MANAGER. Franklin Advisers, Inc. manages each fund's assets and
makes its investment decisions. The manager also performs similar services
for other funds. It is wholly owned by 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. Together, the manager and its affiliates manage over $236 billion
in assets, including $49 billion in the municipal securities market. Please
see "Investment Management and Other Services" and "Miscellaneous
Information" in the SAI for information on securities transactions and a
summary of the funds' Code of Ethics.
MANAGEMENT TEAM. The team responsible for the day-to-day management of each
fund's portfolio is:
Thomas Kenny
Executive Vice President of Franklin Advisers, Inc.
Mr. Kenny has been an analyst or portfolio manager for each of the funds
since their inception. He is the Director of Franklin's Municipal Bond
Department. He holds a Master of Science degree in Finance from Golden Gate
University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business and Economics from the
University of California at Santa Barbara. Mr. Kenny joined the Franklin
Templeton Group in 1986. He is a member of several securities
industry-related committees and associations.
Bernard Schroer
Vice President of Franklin Advisers, Inc.
Mr. Schroer has been an analyst or portfolio manager for the California High
Yield Fund since its inception. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance
from Santa Clara University. He has been with the Franklin Templeton Group
since 1987. He is a member of several securities industry-related committees
and associations.
Sheila Amoroso
Vice President of Franklin Advisers, Inc.
Ms. Amoroso has been an analyst or portfolio manager for the Hawaii and
Washington funds since their inception. She holds a Bachelor of Science
degree from San Francisco State University. She joined the Franklin Templeton
Group in 1986. She is a member of several securities industry-related
committees and associations.
Stella Wong
Vice President of Franklin Advisers, Inc.
Ms. Wong has been an analyst or portfolio manager for the Hawaii and
Washington funds since their inception. She holds a Master's degree in
Financial Planning from Golden Gate University and a Bachelor of Science
degree in Business Administration from San Francisco State University. She
joined the Franklin Templeton Group in 1986. She is a member of several
securities industry-related committees and associations.
John Pomeroy
Portfolio Manager of Franklin Advisers, Inc.
Mr. Pomeroy has been an analyst or portfolio manager for the Arkansas and
Tennessee funds since their inception. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree
in Finance from San Francisco State University. He joined the Franklin
Templeton Group in 1986. He is a member of several securities
industry-related committees and associations.
John Wiley
Portfolio Manager of Franklin Advisers, Inc.
Mr. Wiley has been an analyst or portfolio manager for the California High
Yield and Tennessee funds since their inception. He holds a Master of
Business Administration degree in Finance from Saint Mary's College and a
Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Berkeley. He
joined the Franklin Templeton Group in 1989. He is a member of several
securities industry-related committees and associations.
Ben Barber
Portfolio Manager of Franklin Advisers, Inc.
Mr. Barber has been an analyst or portfolio manager for the Arkansas Fund
since its inception. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International
Relations and Political Science from the University of California at Santa
Barbara. Mr. Barber joined the Franklin Templeton Group in 1991. He is a
member of several securities industry-related committees and associations.
Management Fees. During the fiscal year ended May 31, 1998, management fees
paid to the manager and total operating expenses, as a percentage of average
net assets, were as follows:
Management Total Operating
Fees* Expenses*
Arkansas Fund ..................... 0.00% 0.10%
California High Yield Fund - Class I 0.19% 0.35%
California High Yield Fund - Class II 0.19% 0.90%
Hawaii Fund ....................... 0.22% 0.40%
Tennessee Fund .................... 0.22% 0.40%
Washington Fund ................... 0.00% 0.10%
*Management fees, before any advance waiver, totaled 0.53% for the California
High Yield Fund and 0.63% for the remaining funds. Total operating expenses
were 0.69% for the California High Yield Fund - Class I, 1.24% for the
California High Yield Fund - Class II, 0.81% for the Hawaii and Tennessee
funds and 0.83% for the Arkansas and Washington funds. Under an agreement by
the manager to waive or limit its fees and to assume as its own expense
certain expenses otherwise payable by the funds, the funds paid the
management fees and total operating expenses shown. The manager may end this
arrangement at any time upon notice to the Board.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS. The manager tries to obtain the best execution on all
transactions. If the manager believes more than one broker or dealer can
provide the best execution, it may consider research and related services and
the sale of fund shares, as well as shares of other funds in the Franklin
Templeton Group of Funds, when selecting a broker or dealer. Please see "How
Do the Funds Buy Securities for Their Portfolios?" in the SAI for more
information.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES. Under an agreement with the manager, FT Services
provides certain administrative services and facilities for each fund. During
the fiscal year ended May 31, 1998, administration fees paid to FT Services,
as a percentage of average daily net assets, were as follows:
Administration
Fees
Arkansas Fund ................. 0.16%
California High Yield Fund ..... 0.15%
Hawaii Fund .................... 0.16%
Tennessee Fund.................. 0.16%
Washington Fund ................ 0.16%
These fees are paid by the manager. They are not a separate expense of the
funds. Please see "Investment Management and Other Services" in the SAI for
more information.
YEAR 2000 ISSUE. Like other mutual funds, the fund could be adversely
affected if the computer systems used by the manager and other service
providers do not properly process date-related information on or after
January 1, 2000 ("Year 2000 Issue"). The Year 2000 Issue could affect
portfolio and operational areas including securities trade processing,
interest and dividend payments, securities pricing, shareholder account
services, reporting, custody functions, and others. While there can be no
assurance that the fund will not be adversely affected, the manager and its
affiliated service providers are taking steps that they believe are
reasonably designed to address the Year 2000 Issue, including seeking
reasonable assurances from the fund's other major service providers.
THE RULE 12B-1 PLANS
Each fund and class have separate distribution plans or "Rule 12b-1 Plans"
under which they may pay or reimburse Distributors or others for the expenses
of activities that are primarily intended to sell shares of the fund. These
expenses may include, among others, distribution or service fees paid to
Securities Dealers or others who have executed a servicing agreement with the
fund, Distributors or its affiliates; a prorated portion of Distributors'
overhead expenses; and the expenses of printing prospectuses and reports used
for sales purposes, and preparing and distributing sales literature and
advertisements.
Payments by the Hawaii Fund under its plan may not exceed 0.10% per year of
the fund's average daily net assets. Payments by the California High Yield
Fund under its Class I plan and payments by the remaining funds under their
plans may not exceed 0.15% per year of the fund's or class' average daily net
assets, although each fund is currently only reimbursing up to 0.10%. All
distribution expenses over these amounts will be borne by those who have
incurred them. During the first year after certain Class I purchases made
without a sales charge, Securities Dealers may not be eligible to receive the
Rule 12b-1 fees associated with the purchase.
Under its Class II plan, the California High Yield Fund may pay Distributors
up to 0.50% per year of Class II's average daily net assets to pay
Distributors or others for providing distribution and related services and
bearing certain Class II expenses. All distribution expenses over this amount
will be borne by those who have incurred them. During the first year after a
purchase of Class II shares, Securities Dealers may not be eligible to
receive this portion of the Rule 12b-1 fees associated with the purchase.
The California High Yield Fund may also pay a servicing fee of up to 0.15%
per year of Class II's average daily net assets under its Class II plan. This
fee may be used to pay Securities Dealers or others for, among other things,
helping to establish and maintain customer accounts and records, helping with
requests to buy and sell shares, receiving and answering correspondence,
monitoring dividend payments from the fund on behalf of customers, and
similar servicing and account maintenance activities.
The Rule 12b-1 fees charged to each class are based only on the fees
attributable to that particular class. For more information, please see "The
Funds' Underwriter" in the SAI.
HOW TAXATION AFFECTS THE FUNDS HOW DO THE FUNDS EARN INCOME AND
AND THEIR SHAREHOLDERS GAINS?
TAXATION OF THE FUNDS' INVESTMENTS. Each Each fund earns interest and other
fund invests your money in the municipal income (the fund's "income") on its
and other securities described in the investments. When a fund sells a
section "How Do the Funds Invest Their security for a price that is higher
Assets?" Special tax rules may apply when than it paid, it has a gain. When a
determining the income and gains that fund sells a security for a price
each fund earns on its investments. These that is lower than it paid, it has
rules may, in turn, affect the amount of a loss. If a fund has held the
distributions that a fund pays to you. security for more than one year,
These special tax rules are discussed in the gain or loss will be a
the SAI. long-term capital gain or loss. If
a fund has held the security for
TAXATION OF THE FUNDS. As a regulated one year or less, the gain or loss
investment company, each fund generally will be a short-term capital gain
pays no federal income tax on the income or loss. A fund's gains and losses
and gains that it distributes to you. are netted together, and, if the
fund has a net gain (the fund's
"gains"), that gain will generally
be distributed to you.
TAXATION OF SHAREHOLDERS WHAT IS A DISTRIBUTION?
DISTRIBUTIONS. Distributions made to you As a shareholder, you will receive
from interest income on municipal your share of a fund's income and
securities will be exempt from the gains on its investments. A fund's
regular federal income tax. Distributions interest income on municipal
made to you from other income on securities is paid to you as
temporary investments, short-term capital exempt-interest dividends. A fund's
gains, or ordinary income from the sale ordinary income and short-term
of market discount bonds will be taxable capital gains are paid to you as
to you as ordinary dividends, whether you ordinary dividends. A fund's
receive them in cash or in additional long-term capital gains are paid to
shares. Distributions made to you from you as capital gain distributions.
interest on certain private activity If a fund pays you an amount in
bonds, while still exempt from the excess of its income and gains,
regular federal income tax, are a this excess will generally be
preference item when determining your treated as a non-taxable
alternative minimum tax. distribution. These amounts, taken
together, are what we call a fund's
distributions to you.
The fund will send you a statement in January of the current year that reflects
the amount of exempt-interest dividends, ordinary dividends, capital gain
distributions, interest income that is a tax preference item under the
alternative minimum tax and non-taxable distributions you received from the fund
in the prior year. This statement will include distributions declared in
December and paid to you in January of the current year, but which are taxable
as if paid on December 31 of the prior year. The IRS requires you to report
these amounts on your income tax return for the prior year.
DIVIDENDS-RECEIVED DEDUCTION. It is WHAT IS A REDEMPTION?
anticipated that no portion of the funds'
distributions will qualify for the A redemption is a sale by you to
corporate dividends-received deduction. the fund of some or all of your
shares in the fund. The price per
REDEMPTIONS AND EXCHANGES. If you redeem share you receive when you redeem
your shares or if you exchange your fund shares may be more or less
shares in the funds for shares in another than the price at which you
Franklin Templeton Fund, you will purchased those shares. An exchange
generally have a gain or loss that the of shares in the fund for shares of
IRS requires you to report on your income another Franklin Templeton Fund is
tax return. If you exchange fund shares treated as a redemption of fund
held for 90 days or less and pay no sales shares and then a purchase of
charge, or a reduced sales charge, for shares of the other fund. When you
the new shares, all or a portion of the redeem or exchange your shares, you
sales charge you paid on the purchase of will generally have a gain or loss,
the shares you exchanged is not included depending upon whether the amount
in their cost for purposes of computing you receive for your shares is more
gain or loss on the exchange. If you hold or less than your cost or other
your shares for six months or less, any basis in the shares. Please call
loss you have will be disallowed to the Fund Information for a free
extent of any exempt-interest dividends shareholder Tax Information
paid on your shares. Any such loss not Handbook if you need more
disallowed will be treated as a long-term information on calculating the gain
capital loss to the extent of any or loss on the redemption or
long-term capital gain distributions paid exchange of your shares.
on your shares. All or a portion of any
loss on the redemption or exchange of
your shares will be disallowed by the IRS
if you buy other shares in the fund
within 30 days before or after your
redemption or exchange.
STATE TAXES. Ordinary dividends and capital gain distributions that you
receive from the funds, and gains arising from redemptions or exchanges of
your fund shares, will generally be subject to state and local income tax.
Distributions paid from the interest earned on municipal securities of a
state, or its political subdivisions, will generally be exempt from that
state's personal income taxes. Dividends paid from interest earned on
qualifying U.S. territorial obligations (including qualifying obligations of
Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam) will also generally be exempt
from that state's personal income taxes. A state does not, however, ordinarily
grant tax-free treatment to interest on investments in municipal securities of
other states. Corporate taxpayers subject to a state's corporate income or
franchise tax may be subject to special rules. The holding of fund shares may
also be subject to state and local intangibles taxes. Each fund in which you
are a shareholder will provide you with information at the end of each
calendar year on the amounts of such dividends that may qualify for exemption
from reporting on your individual income tax returns. You may wish to contact
your tax advisor to determine the state and local tax consequences of your
investment in the fund.
SOCIAL SECURITY AND RAILROAD RETIREMENT BENEFITS. Exempt-interest dividends
paid to you, although exempt from the regular federal income tax, are
includible in the tax base for determining the taxable portion of your social
security or railroad retirement benefits. The IRS requires you to disclose
these exempt-interest dividends on your federal income tax return.
NON-U.S. INVESTORS. Ordinary dividends WHAT IS A BACKUP WITHHOLDING?
generally will be subject to U.S. income
tax withholding. Your home country may Backup withholding occurs when a
also tax ordinary dividends, fund is required to withhold and
exempt-interest dividends, capital gain pay over to the IRS 31% of your
distributions and gains arising from distributions and redemption
redemptions or exchanges of your fund proceeds. You can avoid backup
shares. Fund shares held by the estate of withholding by providing the fund
a non-U.S. investor may be subject to with your TIN, and by completing
U.S. estate tax. You may wish to contact the tax certifications on your
your tax advisor to determine the U.S. shareholder application that you
and non-U.S. tax consequences of your were asked to sign when you opened
investment in a fund. your account. However, if the IRS
instructs the fund to begin backup
BACKUP WITHHOLDING. When you open an withholding, it is required to do
account, IRS regulations require that you so even if you provided the fund
provide your taxpayer identification with your TIN and these tax
number ("TIN"), certify that it is certifications, and backup
correct, and certify that you are not withholding will remain in place
subject to backup withholding under IRS until the fund is instructed by the
rules. If you fail to provide a correct IRS that it is no longer required.
TIN or the proper tax certifications, the
IRS requires the fund to withhold 31% of
all the distributions (including ordinary
dividends and capital gain
distributions), and redemption proceeds
paid to you. The fund is also required to
begin backup withholding on your account
if the IRS instructs the fund to do so.
The fund reserves the right not to open
your account, or, alternatively, to
redeem your shares at the current Net
Asset Value, less any taxes withheld, if
you fail to provide a correct TIN, fail
to provide the proper tax certifications,
or the IRS instructs the fund to begin
backup withholding on your account.
THIS TAX DISCUSSION IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY. PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS
SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS CONCERNING THE FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL OR
FOREIGN TAX CONSEQUENCES OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUNDS. FOR A MORE COMPLETE
DISCUSSION OF THESE RULES AND RELATED MATTERS, PLEASE SEE "ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION ON DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES" AND "APPENDICES - STATE TAX
TREATMENT" IN THE SAI. THE TAX TREATMENT TO YOU OF DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAIN
DISTRIBUTIONS, INTEREST INCOME THAT IS A TAX PREFERENCE ITEM AND INCOME TAXES
WITHHELD IS ALSO DISCUSSED IN A FREE FRANKLIN TEMPLETON TAX INFORMATION
HANDBOOK, WHICH YOU MAY REQUEST BY CONTACTING FUND INFORMATION.
HOW IS THE TRUST ORGANIZED?
The funds are series of Franklin Municipal Securities Trust (the "Trust"), an
open-end management investment company, commonly called a mutual fund. It was
organized as a Delaware business trust on June 15, 1992, and is registered
with the SEC. The California High Yield Fund offers two classes of shares:
Franklin California High Yield Municipal Fund - Class I and Franklin
California High Yield Municipal Fund - Class II. All shares of the California
High Yield Fund outstanding before the offering of Class II shares, and all
shares of the Arkansas, Hawaii, Tennessee and Washington funds, are
considered Class I shares. Additional series and classes of shares may be
offered in the future.
Shares of each class of the California High Yield Fund represent
proportionate interests in the assets of the fund and have the same voting
and other rights and preferences as any other class of the fund for matters
that affect the fund as a whole. For matters that only affect one class,
however, only shareholders of that class may vote. Each class will vote
separately on matters affecting only that class, or expressly required to be
voted on separately by state or federal law. Shares of each class of a series
have the same voting and other rights and preferences as the other classes
and series of the Trust for matters that affect the Trust as a whole.
The Trust has noncumulative voting rights. 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 also be called by the Board in its
discretion or by shareholders holding at least 10% of the outstanding shares
of the Trust in the aggregate for the purpose of electing or removing one or
more Board members. In certain circumstances, we are required to help you
communicate with other shareholders about the removal of a Board member.
As of July 2, 1998, Resources owned of record and beneficially more than 25%
of the outstanding Class I shares of the Washington Fund.
ABOUT YOUR ACCOUNT
HOW DO I BUY SHARES?
OPENING YOUR ACCOUNT
To open your account, please follow the steps below. This will help avoid any
delays in processing your request. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT THE FUNDS DO NOT
CURRENTLY ALLOW INVESTMENTS BY MARKET TIMERS.
1. Read this prospectus carefully.
2. Determine how much you would like to invest. The funds' minimum
investments are:
o To open a regular account $1,000
o To open a custodial account for a minor
(an UGMA/UTMA account) $ 100
o To open an account with an automatic investment plan $ 50
o To add to an account $ 50
We reserve the right to change the amount of these minimums from time to time
or to waive or lower these minimums for certain purchases. We also reserve
the right to refuse any order to buy shares.
3. Carefully complete and sign the enclosed shareholder application,
including the optional shareholder privileges section. By applying for
privileges now, you can avoid the delay and inconvenience of having to
send an additional application to add privileges later. FOR THE
CALIFORNIA HIGH YIELD FUND, PLEASE ALSO INDICATE WHICH CLASS OF SHARES
YOU WANT TO BUY. IF YOU DO NOT SPECIFY A CLASS, WE WILL AUTOMATICALLY
INVEST YOUR PURCHASE IN CLASS I SHARES. It is important that we receive a
signed application since we will not be able to process any redemptions
from your account until we receive your signed application.
4. Make your investment using the table below.
METHOD STEPS TO FOLLOW
BY MAIL For an initial investment:
Return the application to the fund with your check
made payable to the fund.
For additional investments:
Send a check made payable to the fund. Please
include your account number on the check.
BY WIRE 1. Call Shareholder Services or, if that number is
busy, call 1-650/312-2000 collect, to receive a
wire control number and wire instructions. You
need a new wire control number every time you
wire money into your account. If you do not have
a currently effective wire control number, we
will return the money to the bank, and we will
not credit the purchase to your account.
2. For an initial investment you must also return
your signed shareholder application to the fund.
IMPORTANT DEADLINES: If we receive your call before
1:00 p.m. Pacific time and the bank receives the
wired funds and reports the receipt of wired funds to
the fund by 3:00 p.m. Pacific time, we will credit
the purchase to your account that day. If we receive
your call after 1:00 p.m. or the bank receives the
wire after 3:00 p.m., we will credit the purchase to
your account the following business day.
THROUGH YOUR DEALER Call your investment representative
CHOOSING A SHARE CLASS - CALIFORNIA HIGH YIELD FUND ONLY
Each class has its own sales charge and expense structure, allowing you to
choose the class that best meets your situation. The class that may be best
for you depends on a number of factors, including the amount and length of
time you expect to invest. Generally, Class I shares may be more attractive
for long-term investors or investors who qualify to buy Class I shares at a
reduced sales charge. Your financial representative can help you decide.
CLASS I CLASS II
o Higher front-end sales charges o Lower front-end sales charges than
than Class II shares. There are Class I shares
several ways to reduce these
charges, as described below. There o Contingent Deferred Sales Charge
is no front-end sales charge for on purchases sold within 18 months
purchases of $1 million or more.*
o Higher annual expenses than Class
o Contingent Deferred Sales Charge I shares
on purchases of $1 million or more
sold within one year
o Lower annual expenses than Class
II shares
*If you are investing $1 million or more, it is generally more beneficial for
you to buy Class I shares because there is no front-end sales charge and the
annual expenses are lower. Therefore, ANY PURCHASE OF $1 MILLION OR MORE IS
AUTOMATICALLY INVESTED IN CLASS I SHARES. You may accumulate more than $1
million in Class II shares through purchases over time. If you plan to do
this, however, you should determine if it would be better for you to buy
Class I shares through a Letter of Intent.
PURCHASE PRICE OF FUND SHARES
For Class I shares, the sales charge you pay depends on the dollar amount you
invest, as shown in the table below. The sales charge for Class II shares is
1% and, unlike Class I, does not vary based on the size of your purchase.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TOTAL SALES CHARGE AMOUNT PAID
AS A PERCENTAGE OF TO DEALER AS A
AMOUNT OF PURCHASE OFFERING NET AMOUNT PERCENTAGE OF
AT OFFERING PRICE PRICE INVESTED OFFERING PRICE
<S> <C> <C> <C>
CLASS I
Under $100,000............................. 4.25% 4.44% 4.00%
$100,000 but less than $250,000............ 3.50% 3.63% 3.25%
$250,000 but less than $500,000............ 2.75% 2.83% 2.50%
$500,000 but less than $1,000,000.......... 2.15% 2.20% 2.00%
$1,000,000 or more*........................ None None None
CLASS II - California High Yield Fund Only
Under $1,000,000*.......................... 1.00% 1.01% 1.00%
</TABLE>
*A Contingent Deferred Sales Charge of 1% may apply to Class I purchases of
$1 million or more and any Class II purchase. Please see "How Do I Sell
Shares? - Contingent Deferred Sales Charge." Please also see "Other Payments
to Securities Dealers" below for a discussion of payments Distributors may
make out of its own resources to Securities Dealers for certain purchases.
Purchases of Class II shares are limited to purchases below $1 million.
Please see "Choosing a Share Class."
SALES CHARGE REDUCTIONS AND WAIVERS
- - IF YOU QUALIFY TO BUY SHARES UNDER ONE OF THE SALES CHARGE REDUCTION OR
WAIVER CATEGORIES DESCRIBED BELOW, PLEASE INCLUDE A WRITTEN STATEMENT WITH
EACH PURCHASE ORDER EXPLAINING WHICH PRIVILEGE APPLIES. IF YOU DON'T INCLUDE
THIS STATEMENT, WE CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE THE SALES CHARGE
REDUCTION OR WAIVER.
CUMULATIVE QUANTITY DISCOUNTS - Class I Only. To determine if you may pay a
reduced sales charge, the amount of your current Class I purchase is added to
the cost or current value, whichever is higher, of your existing shares in
the Franklin Templeton Funds, as well as those of your spouse, children under
the age of 21 and grandchildren under the age of 21. If you are the sole
owner of a company, you may also add any company accounts, including
retirement plan accounts.
LETTER OF INTENT - CLASS I ONLY. You may buy Class I shares at a reduced
sales charge by completing the Letter of Intent section of the shareholder
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 on Class I shares.
BY COMPLETING THE LETTER OF INTENT SECTION OF THE SHAREHOLDER APPLICATION,
YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING:
o You authorize Distributors to reserve 5% of your total intended purchase
in Class I shares registered in your name until you fulfill your Letter.
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 Letter.
o Although you may exchange your shares, you may not sell reserved shares
until you complete the Letter or pay the higher sales charge.
Your periodic statements will include the reserved shares in the total shares
you own. We will pay or reinvest dividend and capital gain distributions on
the reserved shares as you direct.
If you would like more information about the Letter of Intent privilege,
please see "How Do I Buy, Sell and Exchange Shares? - Letter of Intent" in
the SAI or call Shareholder Services.
GROUP PURCHASES - Class I Only. If you are a member of a qualified group, you
may buy Class I 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.
SALES CHARGE WAIVERS. If one of the following sales charge waivers applies to
you or your purchase of fund shares, you may buy shares of the fund without a
front-end sales charge or a Contingent Deferred Sales Charge. All of the
sales charge waivers listed below apply to purchases of Class I shares only,
except for items 1 and 2 which also apply to Class II purchases.
Certain distributions, payments or redemption proceeds that you receive may
be used to buy shares of the fund without a sales charge if you reinvest them
within 365 days of their payment or redemption date. They include:
1. Dividend and capital gain distributions from any Franklin Templeton
Fund. The distributions generally must be reinvested in the same class
of shares. Certain exceptions apply, however, to Class II shareholders
who chose to reinvest their distributions in Class I 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
Class I shares of the fund.
2. Redemption proceeds from the sale of shares of any Franklin Templeton
Fund if you originally paid a sales charge on the shares and you
reinvest the money in the same class of shares. This waiver does not
apply to exchanges.
If you paid a Contingent Deferred Sales Charge when you redeemed your
shares from a Franklin Templeton Fund, a Contingent Deferred Sales
Charge will apply to your purchase of fund shares and a new Contingency
Period will begin. We will, however, credit your fund account with
additional shares based on the Contingent Deferred Sales Charge you
paid and the amount of redemption proceeds that you reinvest.
If you immediately placed your redemption proceeds in a Franklin Bank
CD, you may reinvest them as described above. The proceeds must be
reinvested within 365 days from the date the CD matures, including any
rollover.
3. Dividend or capital gain distributions from a real estate investment
trust (REIT) sponsored or advised by Franklin Properties, Inc.
4. Annuity payments received under either an annuity option or from death
benefit proceeds, only if the annuity contract offers as an investment
option the Franklin Valuemark Funds or the Templeton Variable Products
Series Fund. You should contact your tax advisor for information on any
tax consequences that may apply.
5. 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.
6. 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 contingent deferred sales charge when you redeemed your
Class A shares from a Templeton Global Strategy Fund, a Contingent
Deferred Sales Charge will apply to your purchase of fund shares and a
new Contingency Period will begin. We will, however, credit your fund
account with additional shares based on the contingent deferred sales
charge you 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.
Various individuals and institutions also may buy Class I shares without a
front-end sales charge or Contingent Deferred Sales Charge, including:
1. 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 will
accept orders for these accounts by mail accompanied by a check or 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.
2. An Eligible Governmental Authority. 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.
3. Broker-dealers, registered investment advisors or certified financial
planners who have entered into an agreement with Distributors for
clients participating in comprehensive fee programs. The minimum initial
investment is $250.
4. Qualified registered investment advisors who buy through a
broker-dealer or service agent who has entered into an agreement with
Distributors
5. Registered Securities Dealers and their affiliates, for their
investment accounts only
6. Current employees of Securities Dealers and their affiliates and their
family members, as allowed by the internal policies of their employer
7. 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. The minimum initial
investment is $100.
8. Investment companies exchanging shares or selling assets pursuant to a
merger, acquisition or exchange offer
9. Accounts managed by the Franklin Templeton Group
10.Certain unit investment trusts and their holders reinvesting
distributions from the trusts
OTHER PAYMENTS TO SECURITIES DEALERS
The payments described below may be made to Securities Dealers who initiate
and are responsible for Class II purchases and certain Class I purchases made
without a sales charge. The payments are subject to the sole discretion of
Distributors, and are paid by Distributors or one of its affiliates and not
by the fund or its shareholders.
1. Class II purchases - up to 1% of the purchase price.
2. Class I purchases of $1 million or more - up to 0.75% of the amount
invested.
3. Class I purchases by trust companies and bank trust departments,
Eligible Governmental Authorities, and broker-dealers or others on behalf
of clients participating in comprehensive fee programs - up to 0.25% of
the amount invested.
A Securities Dealer may receive only one of these payments for each
qualifying purchase. Securities Dealers who receive payments in connection
with investments described in paragraphs 1 or 2 above will be eligible to
receive the Rule 12b-1 fee associated with the purchase starting in the
thirteenth calendar month after the purchase.
FOR BREAKPOINTS THAT MAY APPLY AND INFORMATION ON ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION
PAYABLE TO SECURITIES DEALERS IN CONNECTION WITH THE SALE OF FUND SHARES,
PLEASE SEE "HOW DO I BUY, SELL AND EXCHANGE SHARES? - OTHER PAYMENTS TO
SECURITIES DEALERS" IN THE SAI.
FOR INVESTORS OUTSIDE THE U.S.
The distribution of this prospectus and the offering of fund shares may be
limited in many jurisdictions. An investor who wishes to buy shares of a 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.
MAY I EXCHANGE SHARES FOR SHARES OF ANOTHER FUND?
We offer a wide variety of funds. If you would like, you can move your
investment from your fund account to an existing or new account in another
Franklin Templeton Fund (an "exchange"). Because it is technically a sale and
a purchase of shares, an exchange is a taxable transaction.
If you own Class I shares, you may exchange into any of our money funds
except Franklin Templeton Money Fund II ("Money Fund II"). Money Fund II is
the only money fund exchange option available to Class II shareholders.
Unlike our other money funds, shares of Money Fund II may not be purchased
directly and no drafts (checks) may be written on Money Fund II accounts.
Before making an exchange, please read the prospectus of the fund you are
interested in. This will help you learn about the fund, its investment goal
and policies, and its rules and requirements for exchanges. For example, some
Franklin Templeton Funds do not accept exchanges and others may have
different investment minimums. Some Franklin Templeton Funds do not offer
Class II shares.
METHOD STEPS TO FOLLOW
BY MAIL 1. Send us signed written instructions
2. Include any outstanding share certificates for the
shares you want to exchange
BY PHONE Call Shareholder Services or TeleFACTS(R)
- If you do not want the ability to exchange by phone
to apply to your account, please let us know.
THROUGH YOUR DEALER Call your investment representative
Please refer to "Transaction Procedures and Special Requirements" for other
important information on how to exchange shares.
WILL SALES CHARGES APPLY TO MY EXCHANGE?
You generally will not pay a front-end sales charge on exchanges. If you have
held your shares less than six months, however, you will pay the percentage
difference between the sales charge you previously paid and the applicable
sales charge of the new fund, if the difference is more than 0.25%. If you
have never paid a sales charge on your shares because, for example, they have
always been held in a money fund, you will pay the fund's applicable sales
charge no matter how long you have held your shares. These charges may not
apply if you qualify to buy shares without a sales charge.
CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE. We will not impose a Contingent Deferred
Sales Charge when you exchange shares. Any shares subject to a Contingent
Deferred Sales Charge at the time of exchange, however, will remain so in the
new fund.
For accounts with shares subject to a Contingent Deferred Sales Charge, we
will first exchange any shares in your account that are not subject to the
charge. If there are not enough of these to meet your exchange request, we
will exchange shares subject to the charge in the order they were purchased.
If you exchange Class I shares into one of our money funds, the time your
shares are held in that fund will not count towards the completion of any
Contingency Period. If you exchange your Class II shares for shares of Money
Fund II, however, the time your shares are held in that fund will count
towards the completion of any Contingency Period.
For more information about the Contingent Deferred Sales Charge, please see
"How Do
I Sell Shares?"
EXCHANGE RESTRICTIONS
Please be aware that the following restrictions apply to exchanges:
o You must meet the applicable minimum investment amount of the fund you
are exchanging into, or exchange 100% of your fund shares.
o You may only exchange shares within the same class, except as noted below.
o The accounts must be identically registered. You may, however, exchange
shares from a fund account requiring two or more signatures into an
identically registered money fund account requiring only one signature for
all transactions. Please notify us in writing if you do not want this
option to be available on your account. Additional procedures may apply.
Please see "Transaction Procedures and Special Requirements."
o The fund you are exchanging into must be eligible for sale in your state.
o We may modify or discontinue our exchange policy if we give you 60 days'
written notice.
o Currently, the funds do not allow investments by Market Timers.
Because excessive trading can hurt fund performance, operations and
shareholders, we may refuse any exchange purchase if (i) we believe the fund
would be harmed or unable to invest effectively, or (ii) the fund receives or
anticipates simultaneous orders that may significantly affect the fund.
LIMITED EXCHANGES BETWEEN DIFFERENT CLASSES OF SHARES
Certain funds in the Franklin Templeton Funds offer classes of shares not
offered by the funds, such as "Advisor Class" or "Class Z" shares. Because
the funds do not currently offer an Advisor Class, you may exchange Advisor
Class shares of any Franklin Templeton Fund for Class I shares of a fund at
Net Asset Value. If you do so and you later decide you would like to exchange
into a fund that offers an Advisor Class, you may exchange your Class I
shares for Advisor Class shares of that fund. Certain shareholders of Class Z
shares of Franklin Mutual Series Fund Inc. may also exchange their Class Z
shares for Class I shares of a fund at Net Asset Value.
HOW DO I SELL SHARES?
You may sell (redeem) your shares at any time.
METHOD STEPS TO FOLLOW
BY MAIL 1. Send us signed written instructions. If you would like
your redemption proceeds wired to a bank account, your
instructions should include:
o The name, address and telephone number of the bank
where you want the proceeds sent
o Your bank account number
o The Federal Reserve ABA routing number
o If you are using a savings and loan or credit union,
the name of the corresponding bank and the account
number
2. Include any outstanding share certificates for the
shares you are selling
3. Provide a signature guarantee if required
4. Corporate, partnership and trust accounts may need to
send additional documents. Accounts under court
jurisdiction may have other requirements.
BY PHONE Call Shareholder Services. If you would like your
redemption proceeds wired to a bank account, other than an
escrow account, you must first sign up for the wire
feature. To sign up, send us written instructions, with a
signature guarantee. To avoid any delay in processing, the
instructions should include the items listed in "By Mail"
above.
Telephone requests will be accepted:
o If the request is $50,000 or less. Institutional accounts
may exceed $50,000 by completing a separate agreement.
Call Institutional Services to receive a copy.
o If there are no share certificates issued for the shares
you want to sell or you have already returned them to
the fund
o Unless the address on your account was changed by phone
within the last 15 days
- If you do not want the ability to redeem by phone to
apply to your account, please let us know.
THROUGH
YOUR DEALER Call your investment representative
We will send your redemption check within seven days after we receive your
request in proper form. If you would like the check sent to an address other
than the address of record or made payable to someone other than the
registered owners on the account, send us written instructions signed by all
account owners, with a signature guarantee. We are not able to receive or pay
out cash in the form of currency.
The wiring of redemption proceeds is a special service that we make available
whenever possible for redemption requests of $1,000 or more. If we receive
your request in proper form before 1:00 p.m. Pacific time, your wire payment
will be sent the next business day. For requests received in proper form
after 1:00 p.m. Pacific time, the payment will be sent the second business
day. By offering this service to you, the funds are not bound to meet any
redemption request in less than the seven day period prescribed by law.
Neither the funds nor their agents shall be liable to you or any other person
if, for any reason, a redemption request by wire is not processed as
described in this section.
If you sell shares you 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.
Under unusual circumstances, we may suspend redemptions or postpone payment
for more than seven days as permitted by federal securities law.
Please refer to "Transaction Procedures and Special Requirements" for other
important information on how to sell shares.
CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE
For Class I purchases, if you did not pay a front-end sales charge because
you invested $1 million or more or agreed to invest $1 million or more under
a Letter of Intent, a Contingent Deferred Sales Charge may apply if you sell
all or a part of your investment within the Contingency Period. Once you have
invested $1 million or more, any additional Class I investments you make
without a sales charge may also be subject to a Contingent Deferred Sales
Charge if they are sold within the Contingency Period. For any Class II
purchase, a Contingent Deferred Sales Charge may apply if you sell the shares
within the Contingency Period. The charge is 1% of the value of the shares
sold or the Net Asset Value at the time of purchase, whichever is less.
We will first redeem any shares in your account that are not subject to the
charge. If there are not enough of these to meet your request, we will redeem
shares subject to the charge in the order they were purchased.
Unless otherwise specified, when you request to sell a stated dollar amount,
we will redeem additional shares to cover any Contingent Deferred Sales
Charge. For requests to sell a stated NUMBER OF SHARES, we will deduct the
amount of the Contingent Deferred Sales Charge, if any, from the sale
proceeds.
WAIVERS. We waive the Contingent Deferred Sales Charge for:
o Account fees
o Redemptions by a 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 set up before February
1, 1995
o Redemptions through a systematic withdrawal plan set up on or after
February 1, 1995, at a rate of up to 1% a month of an account's Net Asset
Value. For example, if you maintain an annual balance of $1 million in
Class I shares, you can redeem up to $120,000 annually through a
systematic withdrawal plan free of charge. Likewise, if you maintain an
annual balance of $10,000 in Class II shares, $1,200 may be redeemed
annually free of charge.
WHAT DISTRIBUTIONS MIGHT I RECEIVE FROM THE FUNDS?
Each fund receives income generally in the form of interest and other income
derived from its investments. This income, less the expenses incurred in the
fund's operations, is its net investment income from which income dividends
may be distributed. Thus, the amount of dividends paid per share may vary
with each distribution.
The funds declare dividends from their net investment income daily and pay
them monthly on or about the 20th day of the month. The daily allocation of
net investment income begins on the day after we receive your money or
settlement of a wire order trade and continues to accrue through the day we
receive your request to sell your shares or the settlement of a wire order
trade.
Capital gains, if any, may be distributed annually, usually in December.
Dividends and capital gains are calculated and distributed the same way for
each class of the California High Yield Fund. The amount of any income
dividends per share will differ, however, generally due to the difference in
the Rule 12b-1 fees of each class.
Dividend payments are not guaranteed, are subject to the Board's discretion
and may vary with each payment. THE FUNDS DO NOT PAY "INTEREST" OR GUARANTEE
ANY FIXED RATE OF RETURN ON AN INVESTMENT IN THEIR SHARES.
If you buy shares shortly before a fund deducts a capital gain distribution
from its Net Asset Value, please keep in mind that you will receive a portion
of the price you paid back in the form of a taxable distribution.
DISTRIBUTION OPTIONS
You may receive your distributions from a fund in any of these ways:
1. BUY ADDITIONAL SHARES OF THE FUND - You may buy additional shares of the
fund (without a sales charge or imposition of a Contingent Deferred Sales
Charge) by reinvesting capital gain distributions, or both dividend and
capital gain distributions. This is a convenient way to accumulate additional
shares and maintain or increase your earnings base.
2. BUY SHARES OF OTHER FRANKLIN TEMPLETON FUNDS - You may direct your
distributions to buy shares of another Franklin Templeton Fund (without a
sales charge or imposition of a Contingent Deferred Sales Charge). Many
shareholders find this a convenient way to diversify their investments.
3. RECEIVE DISTRIBUTIONS IN CASH - You may receive dividends, or both
dividend and capital gain distributions in cash. If you have the money sent
to another person or to a checking or savings account, you may need a
signature guarantee. If you send the money to a checking or savings account,
please see "Electronic Fund Transfers" under "Services to Help You Manage
Your Account."
Distributions may be reinvested only in the same class of shares, except as
follows: (i) Class II shareholders who chose to reinvest their distributions
in Class I shares of the fund or another Franklin Templeton Fund before
November 17, 1997, may continue to do so; and (ii) Class II shareholders may
reinvest their distributions in shares of any Franklin Templeton money fund.
TO SELECT ONE OF THESE OPTIONS, PLEASE COMPLETE SECTIONS 6 AND 7 OF THE
SHAREHOLDER APPLICATION INCLUDED WITH THIS PROSPECTUS OR TELL YOUR INVESTMENT
REPRESENTATIVE WHICH OPTION YOU PREFER. IF YOU DO NOT SELECT AN OPTION, WE
WILL AUTOMATICALLY REINVEST DIVIDEND AND CAPITAL GAIN DISTRIBUTIONS IN THE
SAME CLASS OF THE FUND. You may change your distribution option at any time
by notifying us by mail or phone. Please allow at least seven days before the
reinvestment date for us to process the new option.
TRANSACTION PROCEDURES AND SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
SHARE PRICE
When you buy shares, you pay the Offering Price. This is the Net Asset Value
per share of the class you wish to purchase, plus any applicable sales
charges. When you sell shares, you receive the Net Asset Value per share
minus any applicable Contingent Deferred Sales Charges.
The Net Asset Value we use when you buy or sell shares is the one next
calculated after we receive your transaction request in proper form. If you
buy or sell shares through your Securities Dealer, however, we will use the
Net Asset Value next calculated after your Securities Dealer receives your
request, which is promptly transmitted to the fund.
HOW AND WHEN SHARES ARE PRICED
The funds are open for business each day the NYSE is open. We determine the
Net Asset Value per share of each class as of the close of the NYSE, normally
1:00 p.m. Pacific time. You can find the prior day's closing Net Asset Value
and Offering Price in many newspapers.
To calculate Net Asset Value per share of each fund, the assets of each fund
are valued and totaled, liabilities are subtracted, and the balance, called
net assets, is divided by the number of shares of the fund outstanding. Each
fund's assets are valued as described under "How Are Fund Shares Valued?" in
the SAI. For the California High Yield Fund, the Net Asset Value of all
outstanding shares of each class is calculated on a pro rata basis. It is
based on each class' proportionate participation in the fund, determined by
the value of the shares of each class. Each class, however, bears the Rule
12b-1 fees payable under its Rule 12b-1 plan.
WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS
Written instructions must be signed by all registered owners. To avoid any
delay in processing your transaction, they should include:
o Your name,
o The fund's name,
o The class of shares,
o A description of the request,
o For exchanges, the name of the fund you are exchanging into,
o Your account number,
o The dollar amount or number of shares, and
o A telephone number where we may reach you during the day, or in the
evening if preferred.
JOINT ACCOUNTS. For accounts with more than one registered owner, we accept
written instructions signed by only one owner for certain types of
transactions or account changes. These include transactions or account
changes that you could also make by phone, such as certain redemptions of
$50,000 or less, exchanges between identically registered accounts, and
changes to the address of record. For most other types of transactions or
changes, written instructions must be signed by all registered owners.
Please keep in mind that if you have previously told us that you do not want
telephone exchange or redemption privileges on your account, then we can only
accept written instructions to exchange or redeem shares if they are signed
by all registered owners on the account.
SIGNATURE GUARANTEES
For our mutual protection, we require a signature guarantee in the following
situations:
1) You wish to sell over $50,000 worth of shares,
2) You want the proceeds to be paid to someone other than the registered
owners,
3) The proceeds are not being sent to the address of record, preauthorized
bank account, or preauthorized brokerage firm account,
4) We receive instructions from an agent, not the registered owners,
5) We believe a signature guarantee would protect us against potential
claims based on the instructions received.
A signature guarantee verifies the authenticity of your signature. You should
be able to obtain a signature guarantee from a bank, broker, credit union,
savings association, clearing agency, or securities exchange or association.
A NOTARIZED SIGNATURE IS NOT SUFFICIENT.
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.
TELEPHONE TRANSACTIONS
You may initiate many transactions and changes to your account by phone.
Please refer to the sections of this prospectus that discuss the transaction
you would like to make or call Shareholder Services.
When you call, we will request personal or other identifying information to
confirm that instructions are genuine. We may also record calls. If our lines
are busy or you are otherwise unable to reach us by phone, you may wish to
ask your investment representative for assistance or send us written
instructions, as described elsewhere in this prospectus.
For your protection, we may delay a transaction or not implement one if we
are not reasonably satisfied that the instructions are genuine. If this
occurs, we will not be liable for any loss. We also will not be liable for
any loss if we follow instructions by phone that we reasonably believe are
genuine or if you are unable to execute a transaction by phone.
ACCOUNT REGISTRATIONS AND REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
When you open an account, we need you to tell us how you want your shares
registered. How you register your account will affect your ownership rights
and ability to make certain transactions. If you have questions about how to
register your account, you should consult your investment representative or
legal advisor. Please keep the following information in mind when registering
your account.
JOINT OWNERSHIP. If you open an account with two or more owners, we register
the account as "joint tenants with rights of survivorship" unless you tell us
otherwise. An account registered as "joint tenants with rights of
survivorship" is shown as "Jt Ten" on your account statement. For any account
with two or more owners, we cannot accept instructions to change owners on
the account unless all owners agree in writing, even if the law in your state
says otherwise. If you would like another person or owner to sign for you,
please send us a current power of attorney.
GIFTS AND TRANSFERS TO MINORS. You may set up a custodial account for a minor
under your state's Uniform Gifts/Transfers to Minors Act. Other than this
form of registration, a minor may not be named as an account owner.
TRUSTS. You should register your account as a trust only if you have a valid
written trust document. This avoids future disputes or possible court action
over who owns the account.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS. For corporate, partnership and trust accounts, please
send us the following documents when you open your account. This will help
avoid delays in processing your transactions while we verify who may sign on
the account.
TYPE OF ACCOUNT DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
CORPORATION Corporate Resolution
PARTNERSHIP 1. The pages from the partnership agreement that
identify the general partners, or
2. A certification for a partnership agreement
TRUST 1. The pages from the trust document that identify
the trustees, or
2. A certification for trust
STREET OR NOMINEE ACCOUNTS. If you have fund shares held in a "street" or
"nominee" name account with your Securities Dealer, you may transfer the
shares to the street or nominee name account of another Securities Dealer.
Both dealers must have an agreement with Distributors or we cannot process
the transfer. Contact your Securities Dealer to initiate the transfer. We
will process the transfer after we receive authorization in proper form from
your delivering Securities Dealer. Accounts may be transferred electronically
through the NSCC. For accounts registered in street or nominee name, we may
take instructions directly from the Securities Dealer or your nominee.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION IF YOU HAVE AN INVESTMENT REPRESENTATIVE
If there is a Securities Dealer or other representative of record on your
account, we are authorized: (1) to provide confirmations, account statements
and other information about your account directly to your dealer and/or
representative; and (2) to accept telephone and electronic instructions
directly from your dealer or representative, including instructions to
exchange or redeem your shares. Electronic instructions may be processed
through established electronic trading systems and programs used by the fund.
Telephone instructions directly from your representative will be accepted
unless you have told us that you do not want telephone privileges to apply to
your account.
KEEPING YOUR ACCOUNT OPEN
Due to the relatively high cost of maintaining a small account, we may close
your account if the value of your shares is less than $250, or less than $50
for employee accounts and custodial accounts for minors. We will only do this
if the value of your account fell below this amount because you voluntarily
sold your shares and your account has been inactive (except for the
reinvestment of distributions) for at least six months. Before we close your
account, we will notify you and give you 30 days to increase the value of
your account to $1,000, or $100 for employee accounts and custodial accounts
for minors. These minimums do not apply to accounts managed by the Franklin
Templeton Group.
SERVICES TO HELP YOU MANAGE YOUR ACCOUNT
AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT PLAN
Our automatic investment plan offers a convenient way to invest in a fund.
Under the plan, you can have money transferred automatically from your
checking or savings account to a fund each month to buy additional shares. If
you are interested in this program, please refer to the automatic investment
plan application included with this prospectus or contact your investment
representative. The market value of a fund's shares may fluctuate and a
systematic investment plan such as this will not assure a profit or protect
against a loss. You may discontinue the program at any time by calling
Shareholder Services.
AUTOMATIC PAYROLL DEDUCTION - CLASS I ONLY
You may have money transferred from your paycheck to a fund to buy additional
Class I shares. Your investments will continue automatically until you
instruct the fund and your employer to discontinue the plan. To process your
investment, we must receive both the check and payroll deduction information
in required form. Due to different procedures used by employers to handle
payroll deductions, there may be a delay between the time of the payroll
deduction and the time we receive the money.
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.
If you would like to establish a systematic withdrawal plan, please complete
the systematic withdrawal plan section of the shareholder application
included with this prospectus and indicate how you would like to receive your
payments. You may choose to direct your payments to buy the same class of
shares of another Franklin Templeton Fund or have the money sent directly to
you, to another person, or to a checking or savings account. If you choose to
have the money sent to a checking or savings account, please see "Electronic
Fund Transfers" below. Once your plan is established, any distributions paid
by the fund will be automatically reinvested in your account.
You will generally receive your payment by the end of the month in which a
payment is scheduled. 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 may
also be subject to a Contingent Deferred Sales Charge. Please see "Contingent
Deferred Sales Charge" under "How Do I Sell Shares?"
You may discontinue a systematic withdrawal plan, change the amount and
schedule of withdrawal payments, or suspend one payment by notifying us by
mail or by phone at least seven business days before the end of the month
preceding a scheduled payment. Please see "How Do I Buy, Sell and Exchange
Shares? - Systematic Withdrawal Plan" in the SAI for more information.
ELECTRONIC FUND TRANSFERS
You may choose to have dividend and capital gain distributions or payments
under a systematic withdrawal plan sent directly to a checking or savings
account. If the account is with a bank that is a member of the Automated
Clearing House, the payments may be made automatically by electronic funds
transfer. If you choose this option, please allow at least fifteen days for
initial processing. We will send any payments made during that time to the
address of record on your account.
TELEFACTS(R)
From a touch-tone phone, you may call our TeleFACTS(R) system (day or night) at
1-800/247-1753 to:
o obtain information about your account;
o obtain price and performance information about any Franklin Templeton
Fund;
o exchange shares (within the same class) between identically registered
Franklin Templeton Class I and Class II accounts; and
o request duplicate statements and deposit slips for Franklin Templeton
accounts.
You will need the code number for each class to use TeleFACTS(R). The code
numbers are as follows:
Code
Number
Arkansas Fund .... 421
California High Yield
Fund - Class I ... 175
California High Yield
Fund - Class II .. 275
Hawaii Fund ...... 173
Tennessee Fund ... 420
Washington Fund .. 176
STATEMENTS AND REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS
We will send you the following statements and reports on a regular basis:
o Confirmation and account statements reflecting transactions in your
account, including additional purchases and dividend reinvestments. PLEASE
VERIFY THE ACCURACY OF YOUR STATEMENTS WHEN YOU RECEIVE THEM.
o Financial reports of the funds will be sent every six months. To reduce
fund expenses, we attempt to identify related shareholders within a
household and send only one copy of a report. Call Fund Information if you
would like an additional free copy of the funds' financial reports.
INSTITUTIONAL ACCOUNTS
Additional methods of buying, selling or exchanging shares of the funds may
be available to institutional accounts. Institutional investors may also be
required to complete an institutional account application. For more
information, call Institutional Services.
AVAILABILITY OF THESE SERVICES
The services above are available to most shareholders. If, however, your
shares are held by a financial institution, in a street name account, or
networked through the NSCC, the funds may not be able to offer these services
directly to you. Please contact your investment representative.
WHAT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT MY ACCOUNT?
If you have any questions about your account, you may write to Investor
Services at 777 Mariners Island Blvd., P.O. Box 7777, San Mateo, California
94403-7777. The funds, Distributors and the manager are also located at this
address. You may also contact us
by phone at one of the numbers listed below.
Hours of Operation
(Pacific time)
Department Name Telephone No. (Monday through Friday)
Shareholder Services 1-800/632-2301 5:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Dealer Services 1-800/524-4040 5:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
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 Plan Services 1-800/527-2020 5:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Institutional Services 1-800/321-8563 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
TDD (hearing impaired) 1-800/851-0637 5:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Your phone call may be monitored or recorded to ensure we provide you with
high quality service. You will hear a regular beeping tone if your call is
being recorded.
GLOSSARY
USEFUL TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
Board - The Board of Trustees of the Trust
CD - Certificate of deposit
Class I and Class II - The California High Yield Fund offers two classes of
shares, designated "Class I" and "Class II." The two classes have
proportionate interests in the fund's portfolio. They differ, however,
primarily in their sales charge structures and Rule 12b-1 plans. Shares of
the Arkansas, Hawaii, Tennessee and Washington funds are considered Class I
shares for redemption, exchange and other purposes.
Code - Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
Contingency Period - For Class I shares, the 12 month period during which a
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge may apply. For Class II shares, the
contingency period is 18 months. The holding period begins on the day you buy
your shares. 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.
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (CDSC) - A sales charge of 1% that may apply
if you sell your shares within the Contingency Period.
Distributors - Franklin/Templeton Distributors, Inc., the funds' principal
underwriter. The SAI lists the officers and Board members who are affiliated
with Distributors. See "Officers and Trustees."
Eligible Governmental Authority - 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 shares of
the fund without paying sales charges.
Fitch - Fitch Investors Service, Inc.
Franklin Templeton Funds - The U.S. registered mutual funds in the Franklin
Group of Funds(R) and the Templeton Group of Funds except Franklin Valuemark
Funds, Templeton Capital Accumulator Fund, Inc., and Templeton Variable
Products Series Fund
Franklin Templeton Group - Franklin Resources, Inc., a publicly owned holding
company, and its various subsidiaries
Franklin Templeton Group of Funds - All U.S. registered investment companies
in the Franklin Group of Funds(R) and the Templeton Group of Funds
FT Services - Franklin Templeton Services, Inc., the funds' administrator
Investor Services - Franklin/Templeton Investor Services, Inc., the funds'
shareholder servicing and transfer agent
IRS - Internal Revenue Service
Letter - Letter of Intent
Market Timers - Market Timers generally include market timing or asset
allocation services, accounts administered so as to buy, sell or exchange
shares based on predetermined market indicators, or any person or group whose
transactions seem to follow a timing pattern or whose transactions include
frequent or large exchanges.
Moody's - Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
Net Asset Value (NAV) - 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.
NSCC - National Securities Clearing Corporation
NYSE - New York Stock Exchange
Offering Price - The public offering price is based on the Net Asset Value
per share of the class and includes the front-end sales charge. The maximum
front-end sales charge is 4.25% for Class I and 1% for Class II. We calculate
the offering price to two decimal places using standard rounding criteria.
Resources - Franklin Resources, Inc.
SAI - Statement of Additional Information
S&P - Standard & Poor's Corporation
SEC - U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Securities Dealer - A 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.
TeleFACTS(R) - Franklin Templeton's automated customer servicing system
We/Our/Us - Unless the context indicates a different meaning, these terms
refer to the funds and/or Investor Services, Distributors, or other wholly
owned subsidiaries of Resources.
Appendix
Description of Ratings
Municipal Bond Ratings
S&P
AAA: Municipal bonds rated AAA are the highest-grade obligations. They
possess the ultimate degree of protection as to principal and interest. In
the market, they move with interest rates and, hence, provide the maximum
safety on all counts.
AA: Municipal bonds rated AA also qualify as high-grade obligations, and in
the majority of instances differ from AAA issues only in a small degree.
Here, too, prices move with the long-term money market.
A: Municipal bonds rated A are regarded as upper medium-grade. They have
considerable investment strength but are not entirely free from adverse
effects of changes in economic and trade conditions. Interest and principal
are regarded as safe. They predominantly reflect money rates in their market
behavior but also, to some extent, economic conditions.
BBB: Municipal bonds rated BBB are regarded as having an adequate capacity to
pay principal and interest. Whereas they normally exhibit adequate protection
parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more
likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay principal and interest for bonds
in this category than for bonds in the
A category.
BB, B, CCC, CC: Municipal bonds rated BB, B, CCC and CC are regarded, on
balance, as predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer's capacity
to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the
obligations. BB indicates the lowest degree of speculation and CC the highest
degree of speculation. While these bonds will likely have some quality and
protective characteristics, they are outweighed by large uncertainties
or major risk exposures to adverse conditions.
C: This rating is reserved for income bonds on which no interest is being
paid.
D: Debt rated "D" is in default and payment of interest and/or repayment of
principal is in arrears.
Plus (+) or minus (-): The ratings from "AA" to "CCC" may be modified by the
addition of a plus or minus sign to show relative standing within the major
rating categories.
Municipal Note Ratings
S&P
Until June 29, 1984, S&P used the same rating symbols for notes and bonds.
After June 29, 1984, for new municipal note issues due in three years or
less, the ratings below will usually be assigned. Notes maturing beyond three
years will most likely receive a bond rating of the type recited above.
SP-1: Issues carrying this designation have a very strong or strong capacity
to pay principal and interest. Issues determined to possess overwhelming
safety characteristics will be given a "plus" (+) designation.
SP-2: Issues carrying this designation have a satisfactory capacity to pay
principal and interest.
Commercial Paper Ratings
S&P
S&P's ratings are a current assessment of the likelihood of timely payment of
debt having an original maturity of no more than 365 days. Ratings are graded
into four categories, ranging from "A" for the highest quality obligations to
"D" for the lowest. Issues within the "A" category are delineated with the
numbers 1, 2 and 3 to indicate the relative degree of safety, as follows:
A-1: This designation indicates the degree of safety regarding timely payment
is very strong. A "plus" (+) designation indicates an even stronger
likelihood of timely payment.
A-2: Capacity for timely payment on issues with this designation is strong.
The relative degree of safety, however, is not as overwhelming as for issues
designated A-1.
A-3: Issues carrying this designation have a satisfactory capacity for timely
payment. They are, however, somewhat more vulnerable to the adverse effects
of changes in circumstances than obligations carrying the higher designations.
FGF09/98 MUN P 10/98
FRANKLIN MUNICIPAL
SECURITIES TRUST
FRANKLIN ARKANSAS MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
FRANKLIN CALIFORNIA HIGH YIELD MUNICIPAL FUND
FRANKLIN HAWAII MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
FRANKLIN TENNESSEE MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
FRANKLIN WASHINGTON MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
STATEMENT OF
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
OCTOBER 1, 1998
777 MARINERS ISLAND BLVD., P.O. BOX 7777
SAN MATEO, CA 94403-7777 1-800/DIAL BEN(R)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How Do the Funds Invest Their Assets? ........................ 2
What Are the Risks of Investing
in the Funds? ............................................... 5
Investment Restrictions ...................................... 9
Officers and Trustees ........................................ 10
Investment Management
and Other Services .......................................... 15
How Do the Funds Buy
Securities for Their Portfolios? ............................ 16
How Do I Buy, Sell and Exchange Shares? ...................... 17
How Are Fund Shares Valued? .................................. 19
Additional Information on
Distributions and Taxes ..................................... 20
The Funds' Underwriter ....................................... 23
How Do the Funds
Measure Performance? ........................................ 25
Miscellaneous Information .................................... 28
Financial Statements ......................................... 30
Useful Terms and Definitions ................................. 30
Appendices
Description of Ratings ...................................... 31
State Tax Treatment ......................................... 33
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When reading this SAI, you will see certain terms beginning with capital
letters. This means the term is explained under "Useful Terms and
Definitions."
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The funds are series of Franklin Municipal Securities Trust (the "Trust"), an
open-end management investment company. The Prospectus, dated October 1, 1998,
which we may amend from time to time, contains the basic information you should
know before investing in the funds. For a free copy, call 1-800/DIAL BEN.
THIS SAI IS NOT A PROSPECTUS.IT CONTAINS INFORMATION IN ADDITION TO AND IN MORE
DETAIL THAN SET FORTH IN THE PROSPECTUS. THIS SAI IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE YOU
WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE ACTIVITIES AND OPERATIONS OF EACH
FUND, AND SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PROSPECTUS.
MUTUAL FUNDS, ANNUITIES, AND OTHER INVESTMENT PRODUCTS:
o ARE NOT FEDERALLY 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.
HOW DO THE FUNDS INVEST THEIR ASSETS?
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE THE FUNDS' GOALS?
The investment goal of the Arkansas, Hawaii, Tennessee and Washington funds is
to maximize income exempt from federal income taxes and from the personal income
taxes, if any, for resident shareholders of the fund's state to the extent
consistent with prudent investing and the preservation of shareholders' capital.
The investment goal of the California High Yield Fund is to provide investors
with a high level of income exempt from federal and California personal income
taxes. As a secondary goal, the California High Yield Fund seeks capital
appreciation to the extent possible and consistent with its principal investment
goal.
These goals are fundamental, which means that they may not be changed without
shareholder approval.
The following gives more detailed information about each fund's investment
policies and the types of securities that it may buy. Please read this
information together with the section "How Do the Funds Invest Their Assets?" in
the Prospectus.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE
KINDS OF SECURITIES THE FUNDS BUY
Each fund tries to achieve its investment goal by attempting to invest all of
its assets in tax-free municipal securities. The issuer's bond counsel generally
gives the issuer an opinion on the tax-exempt status of a municipal security
when the security is issued.
Below is a description of various types of municipal and other securities that
each fund may buy. Other types of municipal securities may become available that
are similar to those described below and in which each fund may also invest, if
consistent with its investment goal and policies.
TAX ANTICIPATION NOTES are issued to finance short-term working capital needs of
municipalities in anticipation of various seasonal tax revenues, which will be
used to pay the notes. They are usually general obligations of the issuer,
secured by the taxing power for the payment of principal and interest.
REVENUE ANTICIPATION NOTES are similar to tax anticipation notes except they are
issued in expectation of the receipt of other kinds of revenue, such as federal
revenues available under the Federal Revenue Sharing Program.
BOND ANTICIPATION NOTES are normally issued to provide interim financing until
long-term financing can be arranged. Proceeds from long-term bond issues then
provide the money for the repayment of the notes.
CONSTRUCTION LOAN NOTES are issued to provide construction financing for
specific projects. After successful completion and acceptance, many projects
receive permanent financing through the Federal Housing Administration under the
Federal National Mortgage Association or the Government National Mortgage
Association.
TAX-EXEMPT COMMERCIAL PAPER typically represents a short-term obligation (270
days or less) issued by a municipality to meet working capital needs.
MUNICIPAL BONDS meet longer-term capital needs and generally have maturities
from one to 30 years when issued. They have two principal classifications:
general obligation bonds and revenue bonds.
GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS. Issuers of general obligation bonds include states,
counties, cities, towns and regional districts. The proceeds of these
obligations are used to fund a wide range of public projects, including
construction or improvement of schools, highways and roads. The basic security
behind general obligation bonds is the issuer's pledge of its full faith, credit
and taxing power for the payment of principal and interest. The taxes that can
be levied for the payment of debt service may be limited or unlimited as to the
rate or amount of special assessments.
REVENUE BONDS. The full faith, credit and taxing power of the issuer do not
secure revenue bonds. Instead, the principal security for a revenue bond is
generally the net revenue derived from a particular facility, group of
facilities, or, in some cases, the proceeds of a special excise tax or other
specific revenue source. Revenue bonds are issued to finance a wide variety of
capital projects, including: electric, gas, water and sewer systems; highways,
bridges and tunnels; port and airport facilities; colleges and universities; and
hospitals. The principal security behind these bonds may vary. For example,
housing finance authorities have a wide range of security, including partially
or fully insured mortgages, rent subsidized and/or collateralized mortgages,
and/or the net revenues from housing or other public projects. Many bonds
provide additional security in the form of a debt service reserve fund that may
be used to make principal and interest payments. Some authorities have further
security in the form of state assurances (although without obligation) to make
up deficiencies in the debt service reserve fund.
TAX-EXEMPT INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT REVENUE BONDS are issued by or on behalf of
public authorities to finance various privately operated facilities for
business, manufacturing, housing, sports and pollution control, as well as
public facilities such as airports, mass transit systems, ports and parking. The
payment of principal and interest is solely dependent on the ability of the
facility's user to meet its financial obligations and the pledge, if any, of the
facility or other property as security for payment.
VARIABLE OR FLOATING RATE SECURITIES. Each fund may invest in variable or
floating rate securities, including variable rate demand notes, which have
interest rates that change either at specific intervals (variable rate), from
daily up to monthly, or whenever a benchmark rate changes (floating rate). The
interest rate adjustments are designed to help stabilize the security's price.
Variable or floating rate securities may include a demand feature, which may be
unconditional. The demand feature allows the holder to demand prepayment of the
principal amount before maturity, generally on no more than 30 days' notice. The
holder receives the principal amount plus any accrued interest either from the
issuer or by drawing on a bank letter of credit, a guarantee or insurance issued
with respect to the security.
MUNICIPAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS. Each fund may invest in municipal lease
obligations, including certificates of participation. The Board reviews a fund's
municipal lease obligations to assure that they are liquid investments based on
various factors reviewed by the fund's manager and monitored by the Board. These
factors include (a) the credit quality of the obligations and the extent to
which they are rated or, if unrated, comply with existing criteria and
procedures followed to ensure that they are comparable in quality to the ratings
required for the fund to invest, including an assessment of the likelihood of
the lease being canceled, taking into account how essential the leased property
is and the term of the lease compared to the useful life of the leased property;
(b) the size of the municipal securities market, both in general and with
respect to municipal lease obligations; and (c) the extent to which the type of
municipal lease obligations held by the fund trade on the same basis and with
the same degree of dealer participation as other municipal securities of
comparable credit rating or quality.
Since annual appropriations are required to make lease payments, municipal lease
obligations generally are not subject to constitutional limitations on the
issuance of debt and may allow an issuer to increase government liabilities
beyond constitutional debt limits. When faced with increasingly tight budgets,
local governments have more discretion to curtail lease payments under a
municipal lease obligation than they do to curtail payments on other municipal
securities. If not enough money is appropriated to make the lease payments, the
leased property may be repossessed as security for holders of the municipal
lease obligations. If this happens, there is no assurance that the property's
private sector or re-leasing value will be enough to make all outstanding
payments on the municipal lease obligations or that the payments will continue
to be tax-free.
While cancellation risk is inherent to municipal lease obligations, each fund,
except the California High Yield Fund, believes that this risk may be reduced,
although not eliminated, by its policies on the quality of securities in which
it may invest. Keeping in mind that each fund can invest in municipal lease
obligations without percentage limits, the funds' holdings in municipal lease
obligations were:
AS OF MAY 31, 1998
(as a percentage of net assets)
Arkansas Fund 0.00%
California High Yield Fund 12.09%
Hawaii Fund 0.00%
Tennessee Fund 3.05%
Washington Fund 0.01%
CALLABLE BONDS. Each fund may invest in callable bonds, which allow the issuer
to repay some or all of the bonds ahead of schedule. If a bond is called, the
fund will receive the principal amount, the accrued interest, and a small
additional payment as a call premium. The manager may sell a callable bond
before its call date, if it believes the bond is at its maximum premium
potential.
An issuer is more likely to call its bonds when interest rates are falling,
because the issuer can issue new bonds with lower interest payments. If a bond
is called, the fund may have to replace it with a lower-yielding security. If
the fund originally paid a premium for the bond because it had appreciated in
value from its original issue price, the fund also may not be able to recover
the full amount it paid for the bond. One way for a fund to protect itself from
call risk is to buy bonds with call protection. Call protection is an assurance
that the bond will not be called for a specific time period, typically five to
10 years from when the bond is issued.
When pricing callable bonds, each bond is marked-to-market daily based on the
bond's call date. Thus, the call of some or all of a fund's callable bonds may
impact the fund's Net Asset Value. Based on a number of factors, including
certain portfolio management strategies used by the manager, the fund believes
it has reduced the risk of an adverse impact on its Net Asset Value from calls
of callable bonds. In light of each fund's pricing policies and certain
amortization procedures required by the IRS, the funds do not expect to suffer
any material adverse impact related to the value at which they have carried the
bonds in connection with calls of bonds purchased at a premium. As with any
investment strategy, however, there is no guarantee that a call may not have a
more substantial impact than anticipated.
ESCROW-SECURED OR DEFEASED BONDS are created when an issuer refunds, before
maturity, an outstanding bond issue that is not immediately callable (or
pre-refunds), and sets aside funds for redemption of the bonds at a future date.
The issuer uses the proceeds from a new bond issue to buy high grade, interest
bearing debt securities, generally direct obligations of the U.S. government.
These securities are then deposited in an irrevocable escrow account held by a
trustee bank to secure all future payments of principal and interest on the
pre-refunded bond. Escrow-secured bonds often receive a triple A or equivalent
rating from Fitch, Moody's or S&P.
STRIPPED MUNICIPAL SECURITIES. Municipal securities may be sold in "stripped"
form. Stripped municipal securities represent separate ownership of principal
and interest payments on municipal securities.
ZERO-COUPON SECURITIES. Each fund may invest in zero-coupon and delayed interest
securities. Zero-coupon securities make no periodic interest payments, but are
sold at a deep discount from their face value. The buyer recognizes a rate of
return determined by the gradual appreciation of the security, which is redeemed
at face value on a specified maturity date. The discount varies depending on the
time remaining until maturity, as well as market interest rates, liquidity of
the security, and the issuer's perceived credit quality. The discount, in the
absence of financial difficulties of the issuer, typically decreases as the
final maturity date approaches. If the issuer defaults, the fund may not receive
any return on its investment.
Because zero-coupon securities bear no interest and compound semiannually at the
rate fixed at the time of issuance, their value is generally more volatile than
the value of other fixed-income securities. Since zero-coupon bondholders do not
receive interest payments, zero-coupon securities fall more dramatically than
bonds paying interest on a current basis when interest rates rise. When interest
rates fall, zero-coupon securities rise more rapidly in value, because the bonds
reflect a fixed rate of return.
An investment in zero-coupon and delayed interest securities may cause a fund to
recognize income and make distributions to shareholders before it receives any
cash payments on its investment. To generate cash to satisfy distribution
requirements, a fund may have to sell portfolio securities that it otherwise
would have continued to hold or to use cash flows from other sources such as the
sale of fund shares.
CONVERTIBLE AND STEP COUPON BONDS. Each fund may invest a portion of its assets
in convertible and step coupon bonds. Convertible bonds are zero-coupon
securities until a predetermined date, at which time they convert to a specified
coupon security. The coupon on step coupon bonds changes periodically during the
life of the security based on predetermined dates chosen when the security is
issued.
U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS. Each fund may invest in U.S. government
obligations including:
(i) obligations issued by the U.S. Treasury, such as Treasury bills, notes
and bonds; and (ii) obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. government
agencies or instrumentalities, such as the Government National Mortgage
Association, the Export-Import Bank and the Farmers Home Administration. Some
of these obligations may be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S.
government. Others, such as obligations of the Federal National Mortgage
Association or a Federal Home Loan Bank, may not be backed by the full faith
and credit of the U.S. government. For these obligations, a fund must look
principally to the agency issuing or guaranteeing the obligation for ultimate
repayment, and may not be able to assert a claim against the U.S. government
itself if the agency or instrumentality does not meet its commitments.
COMMERCIAL PAPER is a promissory note issued by a corporation to finance its
short-term credit needs. Each fund may invest in taxable commercial paper only
for temporary defensive purposes.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SOME OF THE FUNDS' OTHER INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND
PRACTICES
WHEN-ISSUED TRANSACTIONS. Municipal securities are frequently offered on a
"when-issued" basis. When so offered, the price, which is generally expressed in
yield terms, is fixed at the time the commitment to buy is made, but delivery
and payment take place at a later date. During the time between purchase and
settlement, no payment is made by a fund to the issuer and no interest accrues
to the fund. If the other party to the transaction fails to deliver or pay for
the security, the fund could miss a favorable price or yield opportunity, or
could experience a loss.
When a fund makes the commitment to buy a municipal security on a when-issued
basis, it records the transaction and reflects the value of the security in the
determination of its Net Asset Value. The funds believe that their Net Asset
Value or income will not be negatively affected by their purchase of municipal
securities on a when-issued basis. The funds will not engage in when-issued
transactions for investment leverage purposes.
Although a fund will generally buy municipal securities on a when-issued basis
with the intention of acquiring the securities, it may sell the securities
before the settlement date if it is considered advisable. When a fund is the
buyer, it will maintain cash or liquid securities, with an aggregate value equal
to the amount of its purchase commitments, in a segregated account with its
custodian bank until payment is made. If assets of a fund are held in cash
pending the settlement of a purchase of securities, the fund will not earn
income on those assets.
ILLIQUID INVESTMENTS. Each fund may invest up to 10% of its net assets in
illiquid securities. Illiquid securities are generally securities that cannot be
sold within seven days in the normal course of business at approximately the
amount at which the fund has valued them.
DIVERSIFICATION. All of the funds are non-diversified funds. Each fund,
however, intends to meet certain diversification requirements for tax
purposes. These requirements are discussed under "Additional Information on
Distributions and Taxes."
Each fund may invest more than 25% of its assets in municipal securities that
finance similar types of projects, such as hospitals, housing, industrial
development, transportation or pollution control. A change that affects one
project, such as proposed legislation on the financing of the project, a
shortage of the materials needed for the project, or a declining need for the
project, would likely affect all similar projects.
SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS. The frequency of portfolio transactions, usually
referred to as the portfolio turnover rate, varies for each fund from year to
year, depending on market conditions. While short-term trading increases
portfolio turnover and may increase costs, the execution costs for municipal
securities are substantially less than for equivalent dollar values of equity
securities.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUNDS?
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The following gives more information about the risks of investing in the funds.
Please read this information together with the section "What Are the Risks of
Investing in the Funds?" in the Prospectus. More information about each fund's
investment policies and their risks is also included under "How Do the Funds
Invest Their Assets?" in both the Prospectus and this SAI.
STATE RISKS. Since each fund mainly invests in the municipal securities of its
state, its performance is closely tied to the ability of issuers of municipal
securities in its state to continue to make principal and interest payments on
their securities. The issuers' ability to do this is in turn dependent on
economic, political and other conditions within the state. Below is a discussion
of certain conditions that may affect municipal issuers in the funds' various
states. It is not a complete analysis of every material fact that may affect the
ability of issuers of municipal securities to meet their debt obligations or the
economic or political conditions within any state. The information below is
based on recent data available to the funds from Fitch, Moody's and S&P, three
historically reliable sources, but the funds have not independently verified it.
The ability of issuers of municipal securities to continue to make principal and
interest payments is dependent in large part on their ability to raise revenues,
primarily through taxes, and to control spending. Many factors can affect a
state's revenues including the rate of population growth, unemployment rates,
personal income growth, federal aid, and the ability to attract and keep
successful businesses. A number of factors can also affect a state's spending
including current debt levels, and the existence of accumulated budget deficits.
The following provides some information on these and other factors.
ARKANSAS. Overall, Arkansas has experienced steady growth in recent years.
Industries that rely on natural resources have dominated the state's economy.
The largest employers have been the food products, lumber and paper good
industries. Although less important than in the past, the state's agricultural
sector has also remained an important part of the state's economy. Despite the
state's overall expansion, Arkansas has remained one of the poorest states. In
1996, the state ranked 46th in per capita personal income.
In recent years, job growth has begun to slow to a rate below that of the
national economy. In 1997, the state experienced job losses in its non-durable
manufacturing sector, although these losses were offset in part by gains in
durable manufacturing. Most of Arkansas' recent job growth has come from the
services and construction sectors. In 1997, the state's unemployment rate
remained below that of the nation. In the near future, the state's job growth
may remain below the national average, in part due to the absence of available
labor.
Various laws enacted by the state have resulted in historically conservative
financial operations. For example, by law (1) state expenditures cannot exceed
revenues in any fiscal year, (2) voters must approve all general obligation
debt, and (3) restrictions are placed on the amount of debt that may be issued
during any fiscal biennium. Under the state's current budget system,
expenditures cannot be authorized until ample revenues have been collected. As a
result, the state has experienced increasing reserve levels, finishing fiscal
year 1997 with an accumulated general fund surplus of $1.4 billion.
The state's main sources of revenue have been income and consumer taxes, both of
which have grown steadily over the last few years. Through the first nine months
of the current fiscal year, revenues were above last year's totals. In November
1998, voters will decide whether or not to repeal the state's sales tax on food.
If this tax is repealed, it could result in an annual decrease of $100 million
in state tax revenue. On the expenditure side, the state anticipates limited
increases in spending over the next two years.
The state's debt levels have remained among the lowest of the states. A proposed
issuance of $3.5 billion of general obligation bonds for road improvements was
rejected by voters last year. While this kept the state's debt levels low, a
continued lack of spending for infrastructure improvements could hamper future
growth and business development within the state.
CALIFORNIA. Like many other states, California was significantly affected by the
national recession of the early 1990s, especially in the southern portion of the
state. Most of its job losses during its recession resulted from military
cutbacks and the downturn in the construction industry. Downsizing in the
state's aerospace industry, excess office capacity, and slow growth in
California's export market also contributed to the state's recession.
Since mid-1993, California's economic recovery has been fueled by growth in the
export, entertainment, tourism and computer services sectors. The state's
diverse employment base has reached prerecession levels with manufacturing
accounting for 14.4% of employment, trade 23%, services 31.1%, and government
16.4% (all based on 1997 state estimates). Despite strong employment growth,
California's unemployment rate has remained above the national average and
wages, although still above national levels, have declined with the loss of high
paying aerospace jobs. Recent economic problems in Asia may affect the state's
economy and reduce growth rates, although the impact of Asia's economic problems
on the state is uncertain.
During the period from 1990 to 1994, California experienced large budget
deficits due to its economic recession, as well as unrealistic budget
assumptions. School expenditures totaling $1.8 billion were recorded as "loan
assets" on the state's books to be repaid by 2002. When adjusted to account for
these loans, California's deficit balance was 10.7% of expenditures in 1992. By
the end of fiscal 1997, the deficit had declined to 7.6% of expenditures.
Although California's debt levels have grown in recent years, they have remained
relatively moderate. During fiscal 1997, debt service accounted for 5% of
general fund expenditures.
While the state's financial performance has improved in recent years, its fiscal
operations have remained vulnerable. Increased funding for schools, prisons, and
social services, and reduced federal aid levels have offset some of the growth
in revenues that has resulted from the improving economy. The state's budget
approval process, which requires a two-thirds legislative vote, has also
hampered the state's financial flexibility. The state's accumulated deficits, as
well as its lack of reserves and flexibility, make the state vulnerable to a
future economic downturn. Overall, however, S&P considered California's outlook
to be positive in the near term.
HAWAII. Since the early 1990s, poor economic performance and weak personal
income growth have strained the state's revenues and have resulted in a
deteriorating financial position. Hawaii's economy has been heavily dependent on
its tourism industry, which has accounted for almost 25% of the state's gross
product and has employed six out of ten workers. The tourism industry has been
severely and negatively impacted, however, by the recent weak economies of Japan
and Southeast Asia, as well as by the appreciation of the U.S. dollar against
the yen. In recent years, this has lessened the purchasing power of Japanese
tourists and thus their trips to the state. In contrast to the overall strong
performance of the U.S. economy in the 1990s, Hawaii has experienced eight
consecutive years of flat economic activity, including four years of rising
unemployment rates.
Together with the state's high debt levels, Hawaii's relatively weak economic
performance has not helped the state's financial position. Overall revenues and
tax collections have declined below estimates, due in large part to the decline
in the tourism industry and the resulting decline in the state's general excise
tax receipts. The state has posted operating deficits in each year since 1992.
Although the state has so far been able to maintain general fund balances at
relatively sound levels during this time, as of April 1998 it was estimated that
the accumulated general fund balances would be eliminated by fiscal 2000.
Over the last several years, the state has been working to try to resolve its
financial problems and has taken difficult measures to attempt to address its
deficits. Nonetheless, high debt levels and poor economic performance could
continue to result in budgetary pressures and deficits. While Moody's did
consider Hawaii's outlook to be stable as of April 1998, it lowered its rating
for the state's general obligations from Aa3 to A1 on the belief that Hawaii's
economic weakness will persist in the near future.
TENNESSEE. Tennessee's economic recovery from the recession of the early 1990s
has been relatively strong. The state's economy has diversified, with growth in
the services, trade and durable manufacturing sectors offsetting losses in the
textile and apparel manufacturing industries. In 1997, services represented 26%
of the state's economic base, trade 24% and manufacturing 20%. Despite slower
growth in 1997, growth in durable manufacturing, especially auto durable
manufacturing and the corresponding attraction of related supply companies, have
helped to contribute to the state's personal income growth with their relatively
higher wages. From 1992-1997, the state's per capital personal income grew by
4.3% annually, exceeding the national average.
The state's financial management has been historically strong. The state reacted
quickly in 1997 to remedy small budgetary shortfalls in fiscal years 1995 and
1996, and ended fiscal 1997 with an operating surplus of $147 million and an
increase in reserves of $345 million.
The state's finances have been dependent on sales and use taxes, which totaled
60% of tax revenues in fiscal 1997. These taxes have been levied on a wide
variety of goods and services, however, and have had a strong growth trend in
recent years. On the other side, the state's main expenditures have been in the
areas of education and health and social services. The state's commitment to
education may help to make the state's workforce more attractive to prospective
employers.
WASHINGTON. Washington's economic base has become more diversified and less
vulnerable to cyclical downturns in the aerospace industry. While the state has
experienced strong economic expansion in recent years, over the near term growth
rates may slow due to the state's large percentage of exports to Asia and recent
economic problems in that region. As of March 1998, Washington was estimating
that employment growth would decline from 4.3% in 1997 to 3.0% in 1998, and 1.7%
in 1999.
The state's financial performance has been consistently positive during the
1990s. Although debt levels have become relatively high due to strong population
growth and related financing for infrastructure improvements, the state's debt
service has remained steady and manageable.
In November 1993, voters approved Initiative 601. This initiative limits state
spending increases to the average of the rate of inflation and population growth
over the previous three years. It was first implemented with the 1995-1997
biennium. As of March 1998, the state has been able to meet the requirements of
Initiative 601. In the upcoming years, funding for higher education and
corrections may create spending pressures.
U.S. TERRITORIES RISKS. Since each fund may invest a portion of its assets in
municipal securities issued by U.S. territories, the ability of U.S. territory
issuers to continue to make principal and interest payments may also affect a
fund's performance. As with state municipal issuers, the ability to make these
payments is dependent on economic, political and other conditions. Below is a
discussion of certain conditions within some of the territories where the funds
may be invested. It is not a complete analysis of every material fact that may
affect the ability of issuers of U.S. territory municipal securities to meet
their debt obligations or the economic or political conditions within the
territories. It is based on recent data available to the funds from Fitch,
Moody's and S&P, and other historically reliable sources, but it has not been
independently verified by the funds.
GUAM. Guam's economy has been heavily dependent on its tourism industry, which
accounted for almost 40% of total employment in 1997. It has been especially
dependent on Japanese tourism, which has made Guam vulnerable to fluctuations in
the relationship between the U.S. dollar and the Japanese yen.
In the early to mid-1990s, Guam's financial position deteriorated due to a
series of natural disasters that led to increased spending on top of already
significant budget gaps. As a result, the government introduced a comprehensive
financial plan in June 1995 to help balance the budget and reduce the general
fund deficit by fiscal 1999. As of fiscal 1997, the deficit had improved and the
budget was balanced. It is not yet known, however, whether the goals of the
financial plan will be met.
While Guam's debt burden has been manageable, Guam's ability to maintain current
debt levels may be challenged in the near future. U.S. military downsizing has
reduced the federal presence on the island and may also reduce federal support
for infrastructure projects. At the same time, Guam has faced increasing
pressure to improve its infrastructure to help generate economic development.
Overall, as of October 1997, S&P's outlook for Guam was negative due to Guam's
continued weak financial position and the need for continued political support
towards the goals of the financial plan.
MARIANA ISLANDS. The Mariana Islands became a commonwealth in 1975. At that
time, the U.S. government agreed to exempt the islands from federal minimum wage
and immigration laws in an effort to help stimulate industry and the economy.
The islands' minimum wage has been more than $2 per hour below the U.S. level
and tens of thousands of workers have immigrated from various Asian countries to
provide cheap labor for the islands' industries. Recently, the islands' tourism
and apparel industries combined to help increase gross business receipts from
$224 million in 1985 to $2 billion in 1996. Currently, however, Congress is
considering a bill to raise wages and curtail immigration to the Mariana
Islands. If it passes, it could have an adverse affect on the islands' economy.
PUERTO RICO. Overall, both Moody's and S&P recently considered Puerto Rico's
outlook stable. The economy has continued to grow and diversify. Much of this
growth has come from the construction, trade and service sectors, which have
accounted for more than 50% of the employment base. Manufacturing has
contributed more than 40% of the island's gross domestic product and has
generally provided some of Puerto Rico's higher paying jobs. This sector,
however, has experienced declines in each of the past two years. Despite an
increasingly skilled workforce, unemployment has remained high at 12-14%.
Over the past three years, Puerto Rico's financial performance has improved.
Strong revenue growth and more aggressive tax collection procedures have helped.
Fiscal 1997 ended with an operating deficit of $34 million, although this was
better than had been originally anticipated.
Puerto Rico's debt levels have been high. Going forward, these levels may
increase as Puerto Rico attempts to finance significant capital and
infrastructure improvements. Puerto Rico will also need to address its large
unfunded pension liability of more than $5 billion.
Despite Puerto Rico's stable outlook, Puerto Rico may face challenges in the
coming years with the 1996 passage of a bill eliminating section 936 of the
Code. This Code section has given certain U.S. corporations operating in Puerto
Rico significant tax advantages. These incentives have helped considerably with
Puerto Rico's economic growth, especially with the development of its
manufacturing sector. U.S. firms that have benefited from these incentives have
provided a significant portion of Puerto Rico's revenues, employment and
deposits in local financial institutions. The section 936 incentives will be
phased out over a 10-year period ending in 2006. It is hoped that this long
phase-out period will give Puerto Rico sufficient time to lessen the potentially
negative effects of the elimination of section 936. Outstanding issues relating
to the potential for a transition to statehood may also have broad implications
for Puerto Rico and its financial and credit position.
CREDIT RISK - CALIFORNIA HIGH YIELD FUND ONLY. Since the California High Yield
Fund may invest in municipal securities rated below investment grade, an
investment in the fund is subject to a higher degree of risk than an investment
in a fund that invests primarily in higher-quality securities.
The market value of high yield, lower-quality municipal securities, commonly
known as junk bonds, tends to reflect individual developments affecting the
issuer to a greater degree than the market value of higher-quality securities,
which react primarily to fluctuations in the general level of interest rates.
Lower-quality securities also tend to be more sensitive to economic conditions
than higher-quality securities. Factors adversely affecting the market value of
high yield securities may lower the fund's Net Asset Value.
Projects financed by high yield municipal securities are often highly leveraged
and may not have more traditional methods of financing available to them.
Therefore, the risk associated with buying these securities is generally greater
than the risk associated with higher-quality securities. For example, during an
economic downturn or a sustained period of rising interest rates, projects
financed by lower-quality securities may experience financial stress and may not
have sufficient cash flow to make interest payments. The issuer's ability to
make timely interest and principal payments may also be adversely affected by
specific developments affecting the issuer, including the issuer's inability to
meet specific projected revenue forecasts or the unavailability of additional
financing.
The risk of loss due to default may also be considerably greater with
lower-quality securities. If the issuer of a security in the fund's portfolio
defaults, the fund may have unrealized losses on the security, which may lower
the fund's Net Asset Value. Defaulted securities tend to lose much of their
value before they default. Thus, the fund's Net Asset Value may be adversely
affected before an issuer defaults. In addition, the fund may incur additional
expenses if it must try to recover principal or interest payments on a defaulted
security.
Lower-quality securities may not be as liquid as higher-quality securities.
Reduced liquidity in the secondary market may have an adverse impact on the
market price of a security and on the fund's ability to sell a security in
response to a specific economic event, such as a deterioration in the
creditworthiness of the issuer, or if necessary to meet the fund's liquidity
needs. Reduced liquidity may also make it more difficult to obtain market
quotations based on actual trades for purposes of valuing the fund's portfolio.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
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Each fund has adopted the following restrictions as fundamental policies. These
restrictions may not be changed without the approval of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the fund. Under the 1940 Act, this means the
approval of (i) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of a fund or (ii) 67% or
more of the shares of a fund present at a shareholder meeting if more than 50%
of the outstanding shares of a fund are represented at the meeting in person or
by proxy, whichever is less. Each fund may not:
1. Borrow money or mortgage or pledge any of its assets, except that borrowing
(and a pledge of assets therefore) for temporary or emergency purposes may be
made from banks in any amount up to 5% of the total asset value.
2. Buy any securities on "margin" or sell any securities "short," except that
it may use such short-term credits as are necessary for the clearance of
transactions.
3. Make loans, except by engaging in repurchase transactions and except through
the purchase of readily marketable debt securities which are either publicly
distributed or customarily purchased by institutional investors. Although such
loans are not presently intended, this prohibition will not preclude the fund
from loaning portfolio securities to broker-dealers or other institutional
investors if at least 102% cash collateral is pledged and maintained by the
borrower, provided such portfolio security loans may not be made if, as a
result, the aggregate of such loans exceeds 10% of the value of the fund's total
assets at the time of the most recent loan.
4. Act as underwriter of securities issued by other persons, except insofar as
the fund may be technically deemed an underwriter under the federal securities
laws in connection with the disposition of portfolio securities, except that, in
the case of the Arkansas and Tennessee funds, all or substantially all of the
assets of either fund may be invested in another registered investment company
having the same investment goal and policies as the fund.
5. Purchase securities from or sell to the Trust's officers and trustees, or
any firm of which any officer or trustee is a member, as principal, or retain
securities of any issuer if, to the knowledge of the Trust, one or more of the
Trust's officers, trustees, or investment manager own beneficially more than 1/2
of 1% of the securities of such issuer and all such officers and trustees
together own beneficially more than 5% of such securities, except that, in the
case of the Arkansas and Tennessee funds, to the extent this restriction is
applicable, all or substantially all of the assets of the fund may be invested
in another registered investment company having the same investment goal and
policies as the fund, or except as permitted under investment restriction Number
9 regarding the purchase of shares of money market funds managed by the fund's
investment manager or its affiliates.
6. Acquire, lease or hold real estate, except such as may be necessary or
advisable for the maintenance of its offices and provided that this limitation
shall not prohibit the purchase of municipal and other debt securities secured
by real estate or interests therein.
7. Invest in commodities and commodity contracts, puts, calls, straddles,
spreads, or any combination thereof, or interests in oil, gas, or other mineral
exploration or development programs, except that it may purchase, hold and
dispose of obligations with puts attached in accordance with its investment
policies.
8. Invest in companies for the purpose of exercising control or management,
except that, in the case of the Arkansas and Tennessee funds, to the extent this
restriction is applicable, all or substantially all of the assets of either fund
may be invested in another registered investment company having the same
investment goal and policies as the fund.
9. Purchase securities of other investment companies, except in connection with
a merger, consolidation, acquisition, or reorganization, provided that, in the
case of the Arkansas and Tennessee funds, all or substantially all of the assets
of either fund may be invested in another registered investment company having
the same investment goal and policies as the fund. To the extent permitted by
exemptions which may be granted under the 1940 Act, each fund may invest in
shares of one or more money market funds managed by the fund's investment
manager or its affiliates.
10. Invest more than 25% of its assets in securities of any industry, except
that, in the case of the Arkansas and Tennessee funds, to the extent this
restriction is applicable, all or substantially all of the assets of either fund
may be invested in another registered investment company having the same
investment goal and policies as the fund. For purposes of this limitation,
municipal securities and U.S. government obligations are not considered to be
part of any industry.
Municipal securities issued to finance non-governmental business activities are
generally not deemed to be exempt from taxation under federal law. As such,
these securities, if purchased by a fund, will be subject to the prohibition in
investment restriction number 10 against concentrating in an industry.
In addition, as a non-fundamental policy, the funds may not invest in real
estate limited partnerships.
If a bankruptcy or other extraordinary event occurs concerning a particular
security owned by a fund, the fund may receive stock, real estate, or other
investments that the fund would not, or could not, buy. In this case, the fund
intends to dispose of the investment as soon as practicable while maximizing the
return to shareholders.
If a percentage restriction 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 or the amount of assets will not be considered a violation
of any of the foregoing restrictions.
OFFICERS AND TRUSTEES
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The Board has the responsibility for the overall management of each fund,
including general supervision and review of its investment activities. The
Board, in turn, elects the officers of each fund who are responsible for
administering the fund's day-to-day operations. The affiliations of the officers
and Board members and their principal occupations for the past five years are
shown below. Members of the Board who are considered "interested persons" of
each fund under the 1940 Act are indicated by an asterisk (*).
POSITIONS AND OFFICES
NAME, AGE AND ADDRESS WITH THE TRUST PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION
DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS
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Frank H. Abbott, III (77) Trustee
1045 Sansome Street
San Francisco, CA 94111
President and Director, Abbott Corporation (an investment company); director or
trustee, as the case may be, of 27 of the investment companies in the Franklin
Templeton Group of Funds; and FORMERLY, Director, MotherLode Gold Mines
Consolidated (gold mining) and Vacu-Dry Co. (food processing).
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Harris J. Ashton (66) Trustee
191 Clapboard Ridge Road
Greenwich, CT 06830
Director, RBC Holdings, Inc. (a bank holding company) and Bar-S Foods (a meat
packing company); director or trustee, as the case may be, of 49 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).
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* Harmon E. Burns (53) Vice President
777 Mariners Island Blvd. and Trustee
San Mateo, CA 94404
Executive Vice President and Director, Franklin Resources, Inc., Franklin
Templeton Distributors, Inc. and Franklin Templeton Services, Inc.; Executive
Vice President, Franklin Advisers, Inc.; Director, 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 53 of the
investment companies in the Franklin Templeton Group of Funds.
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S. Joseph Fortunato (66) Trustee
Park Avenue at Morris County
P.O. Box 1945
Morristown, NJ 07962-1945
Member of the law firm of Pitney, Hardin, Kipp & Szuch; director or trustee, as
the case may be, of 51 of the investment companies in the Franklin Templeton
Group of Funds; and FORMERLY, Director, General Host Corporation (nursery and
craft centers).
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Edith E. Holiday (46) Trustee
3239 38th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20016
Director, Amerada Hess Corporation (crude oil and natural gas refining)
(1993-present), Hercules Incorporated (chemicals, fibers and resins)
(1993-present), Beverly Enterprises, Inc. (health care) (1995-present) and H.J.
Heinz Company (packaged foods and allied products) (1994-present); director or
trustee, as the case may be, of 25 of the investment companies in the Franklin
Templeton Group of Funds; and FORMERLY, Chairman (1995-1997) and Trustee
(1993-1997), National Child Research Center, Assistant to the President of the
United States and Secretary of the Cabinet (1990-1993), General Counsel to the
United States Treasury Department (1989-1990), and Counselor to the Secretary
and Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs and Public Liaison-United States
Treasury Department (1988-1989).
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* Charles B. Johnson (65) Chairman
777 Mariners Island Blvd. of the Board
San Mateo, CA 94404 and Trustee
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Franklin Resources, Inc.;
Chairman of the Board and Director, Franklin Advisers, Inc., Franklin Advisory
Services, Inc., Franklin Investment Advisory Services, Inc. and 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 50 of the investment companies in the Franklin Templeton Group of
Funds; and FORMERLY, Director, General Host Corporation (nursery and craft
centers).
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* Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. (58) President
777 Mariners Island Blvd. and Trustee
San Mateo, CA 94404
Executive Vice President and Director, Franklin Resources, Inc. and Franklin
Templeton Distributors, Inc.; President and Director, Franklin Advisers, Inc.;
Senior Vice President and Director, Franklin Advisory Services, Inc. and
Franklin Investment Advisory Services, Inc.; Director, 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 53 of
the investment companies in the Franklin Templeton Group of Funds.
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Frank W.T. LaHaye (69) Trustee
20833 Stevens Creek Blvd.
Suite 102
Cupertino, CA 95014
General Partner, Miller & LaHaye, which is the General Partner of Peregrine
Ventures II (venture capital firm); Chairman of the Board and Director,
Quarterdeck Corporation (software firm); Director, Digital Transmission Systems,
Inc. (wireless communications); director or trustee, as the case may be, of 27
of the investment companies in the Franklin Templeton Group of Funds; and
FORMERLY, Director, Fischer Imaging Corporation (medical imaging systems) and
General Partner, Peregrine Associates, which was the General Partner of
Peregrine Ventures (venture capital firm).
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Gordon S. Macklin (70) Trustee
8212 Burning Tree Road
Bethesda, MD 20817
Director, Fund American Enterprises Holdings, Inc., MCI Communications
Corporation, MedImmune, Inc. (biotechnology), Spacehab, Inc. (aerospace
services) and Real 3D (software); director or trustee, as the case may be, of 49
of the investment companies in the Franklin Templeton Group of Funds; and
FORMERLY, Chairman, White River Corporation (financial services) and Hambrecht
and Quist Group (investment banking), and President, National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc.
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Hayato Tanaka (81) Trustee
277 Haihai Street
Hilo, HI 96720
Retired, former owner of The Jewel Box Orchids; and trustee of two of the
investment companies in the Franklin Templeton Group of Funds.
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Martin L. Flanagan (38) Vice President
777 Mariners Island Blvd. and Chief
San Mateo, CA 94404 Financial Officer
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Franklin Resources, Inc.;
Executive Vice President 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, Inc. and Franklin
Investment Advisory Services, Inc.; President and Director, Franklin Templeton
Services, Inc.; Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer,
Franklin/Templeton Investor 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 53 of the investment companies in the
Franklin Templeton Group of Funds.
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Deborah R. Gatzek (49) Vice President
777 Mariners Island Blvd. and Secretary
San Mateo, CA 94404
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, Inc.; Vice President, Chief Legal Officer
and Chief Operating Officer, Franklin Investment Advisory Services, Inc.; and
officer of 53 of the investment companies in the Franklin Templeton Group of
Funds.
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Charles E. Johnson (42) Vice President
500 East Broward Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33394-3091
Senior Vice President and Director, Franklin Resources, Inc.; Senior Vice
President, Franklin Templeton Distributors, Inc.; President and Director,
Templeton Worldwide, Inc.; President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Investment
Officer and Director, Franklin Institutional Services Corporation; Chairman and
Director, Templeton Investment Counsel, Inc.; Vice President, Franklin Advisers,
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
34 of the investment companies in the Franklin Templeton Group of Funds.
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Thomas J. Kenny (35) Vice President
777 Mariners Island Blvd.
San Mateo, CA 94404
Executive Vice President, Franklin Advisers, Inc.; and officer of eight of the
investment companies in the Franklin Templeton Group of Funds.
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Diomedes Loo-Tam (59) Treasurer and
777 Mariners Island Blvd. Principal
San Mateo, CA 94404 Accounting
Officer
Senior Vice President, Franklin Templeton Services, Inc.; and officer of 32 of
the investment companies in the Franklin Templeton Group of Funds.
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Edward V. McVey (61) Vice President
777 Mariners Island Blvd.
San Mateo, CA 94404
Senior Vice President and National Sales Manager, Franklin Templeton
Distributors, Inc.; and officer of 28 of the investment companies in the
Franklin Templeton Group of Funds.
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The table above shows the officers and Board members who are affiliated with
Distributors and the manager. As of June 1, 1998, nonaffiliated members of the
Board are paid $900 per quarter plus $600 per meeting attended. Before June 1,
1998, the nonaffiliated Board members were not paid fees by the Trust. As shown
above, the nonaffiliated Board members also serve as directors or trustees of
other investment companies in the Franklin Templeton Group of Funds. They may
receive fees from these funds for their services. The fees payable to
nonaffiliated 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 nonaffiliated Board members by other funds in
the Franklin Templeton Group of Funds.
NUMBER OF
BOARDS IN THE
TOTAL FEES FRANKLIN TEMPLETON
RECEIVED FROM THE GROUP OF FUNDS
FRANKLIN TEMPLETON ON WHICH
NAME GROUP OF FUNDS*** EACH SERVES****
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Frank H. Abbott, III $165,937 27
Harris J. Ashton.... 344,642 49
S. Joseph Fortunato 361,562 51
David W. Garbellano* 91,317 N/A
Edith E. Holiday**.. 72,875 25
Frank W. T. LaHaye 141,433 27
Gordon S. Macklin .. 337,292 49
Hayato Tanaka ...... 400 2
*Deceased, September 27, 1997.
**Appointed, March 19, 1998.
***For the calendar year ended December 31, 1997.
****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 54 registered investment companies, with approximately 170 U.S. based
funds or series.
Nonaffiliated members of the Board 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 Resources may be deemed to receive indirect remuneration by
virtue of their participation, if any, in the fees paid to its subsidiaries.
As of July 2, 1998, the officers and Board members, as a group, owned of record
and beneficially the following shares of the fund: approximately 75 shares of
the Arkansas Fund, 50,757 shares of the California High Yield Fund - Class I, 74
shares of the Hawaii Fund, 73 shares of the Tennessee Fund, and 79 shares of the
Washington Fund, or less than 1% of the total outstanding shares of each fund.
Many of the Board members also own shares in other funds in the Franklin
Templeton Group of Funds. Charles B. Johnson and Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. are
brothers and the father and uncle, respectively, of Charles E. Johnson.
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND OTHER SERVICES
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INVESTMENT MANAGER AND SERVICES PROVIDED. Each fund's investment manager is
Franklin Advisers, Inc. The manager provides investment research and portfolio
management services, including the selection of securities for each fund to buy,
hold or sell and the selection of brokers through whom each fund's portfolio
transactions are executed. The manager's extensive research activities include,
as appropriate, traveling to meet with issuers and to review project sites. The
manager's activities are subject to the review and supervision of the Board to
whom the manager renders periodic reports of each fund's investment activities.
The manager and its officers, directors and employees are covered by fidelity
insurance for the protection of each fund.
The manager and its affiliates act as investment manager to 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 each fund. Similarly,
with respect to each 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 the 1940 Act, 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 funds or other
funds that it manages. Of course, any transactions for the accounts of the
manager and other access persons will be made in compliance with the funds' Code
of Ethics. Please see "Miscellaneous Information - Summary of Code of Ethics."
MANAGEMENT FEES. Under its management agreement, each fund pays the manager a
management fee equal to an annual rate of 0.625 of 1% of the value of net assets
up to and including $100 million; 0.50 of 1% of the value of net assets over
$100 million up to and including $250 million; and 0.45 of 1% of the value of
net assets in excess of $250 million. The fee is calculated daily. Each class of
the California High Yield Fund pays its proportionate share of the management
fee.
For the periods shown, the manager had agreed in advance to waive or limit its
fees. The table below shows the management fees before any advance waiver and
the management fees paid by each fund for the fiscal years ended May 31, 1998,
1997 and 1996.
MANAGEMENT
FEES BEFORE MANAGEMENT
ADVANCE WAIVER FEES PAID
1998
Arkansas Fund $ 134,808 $ 0
California
High Yield Fund 1,729,049 607,269
Hawaii Fund 269,392 93,963
Tennessee Fund 227,268 76,507
Washington Fund 58,648 0
1997
Arkansas Fund $ 64,438 $ 0
California
High Yield Fund 985,277 277,913
Hawaii Fund 245,890 72,298
Tennessee Fund 120,438 36,264
Washington Fund 49,976 0
1996
Arkansas Fund $ 37,533 $ 0
California
High Yield Fund 473,616 125,182
Hawaii Fund 240,276 52,175
Tennessee Fund 58,834 3,936
Washington Fund 38,934 0
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT. The management agreement is in effect until March 31,
1999. It may continue in effect for successive annual periods if its continuance
is specifically approved at least annually by a vote of the Board or by a vote
of the holders of a majority of the fund's outstanding voting securities, and in
either event by a majority vote of the Board members who are not parties to the
management agreement or interested persons of any such party (other than as
members of the Board), cast in person at a meeting called for that purpose. The
management agreement may be terminated without penalty at any time by the Board
or by a vote of the holders of a majority of the fund's outstanding voting
securities on 30 days' written notice to the manager, or by the manager on 60
days' written notice to the fund, and will automatically terminate in the event
of its assignment, as defined in the 1940 Act.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES. Under an agreement with the manager, FT Services
provides certain administrative services and facilities for each fund. These
include preparing and maintaining books, records, and tax and financial reports,
and monitoring compliance with regulatory requirements. FT Services is a wholly
owned subsidiary of Resources.
Under its administration agreement, the manager pays FT Services a monthly
administration fee equal to an annual rate of 0.15% of the fund's average daily
net assets up to $200 million, 0.135% of average daily net assets over $200
million up to $700 million, 0.10% of average daily net assets over $700 million
up to $1.2 billion, and 0.075% of average daily net assets over $1.2 billion.
The table below shows the administration fees paid to FT Services for the fiscal
years ended May 31, 1998 and 1997. The fees are paid by the manager.
They are not a separate expense of the funds.
ADMINISTRATION FEES PAID
1998 1997*
Arkansas Fund $ 33,963 $ 12,770
California High Yield Fund 501,276 217,086
Hawaii Fund 69,664 44,402
Tennessee Fund 57,768 24,605
Washington Fund 15,113 9,153
*For the period October 1, 1996 through May 31, 1997.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICING AGENT. Investor Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of
Resources, is the funds' shareholder servicing agent and acts as the funds'
transfer agent and dividend-paying agent. Investor Services is compensated on
the basis of a fixed fee per account. Each fund may also 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 may 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, New York 10286, acts as custodian of the securities and other assets of
each fund. The custodian does not participate in decisions relating to the
purchase and sale of portfolio securities.
AUDITOR. Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., 333 Market Street, San Francisco, California
94105, is the funds' independent auditor. During the fiscal year ended May 31,
1998, the auditor's services consisted of rendering an opinion on the financial
statements of the Trust included in the Trust's Annual Report to Shareholders
for the fiscal year ended May 31, 1998.
HOW DO THE FUNDS BUY
SECURITIES FOR THEIR PORTFOLIOS?
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Since most purchases by the funds are principal transactions at net prices, the
funds incur little or no brokerage costs. The funds deal directly with the
selling or buying principal or market maker without incurring charges for the
services of a broker on their behalf, unless it is determined that a better
price or execution may be obtained by using the services of a broker. 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 prices. As a general rule, the
funds do not buy bonds in underwritings where they are given no choice, or only
limited choice, in the designation of dealers to receive the commission. The
funds seek to obtain prompt execution of orders at the most favorable net price.
Transactions may be directed to dealers in return for research and statistical
information, as well as for special services provided by the dealers in the
execution of orders.
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 in order to obtain
additional research services permits 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 funds'
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, may also be considered a factor in the selection of broker-dealers to
execute the funds' portfolio transactions.
If purchases or sales of securities of the funds 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
funds are concerned. In other cases it is possible that the ability to
participate in volume transactions may improve execution and reduce transaction
costs to the funds.
During the fiscal years ended May 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, the funds paid no
brokerage commissions.
As of May 31, 1998, the funds did not own securities of their regular
broker-dealers.
HOW DO I BUY, SELL AND EXCHANGE SHARES?
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON BUYING SHARES
The funds continuously offer their shares through Securities Dealers who have an
agreement with Distributors. 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.
Banks and financial institutions that sell shares of the funds may be required
by state law to register as Securities Dealers. Financial institutions or their
affiliated brokers may receive an agency transaction fee in the percentages
indicated in the table under "How Do I Buy Shares? Purchase Price of Fund
Shares" in the Prospectus.
When you buy shares, if you submit a check or a draft that is returned unpaid to
a fund we may impose a $10 charge against your account for each returned item.
Under agreements with certain banks in Taiwan, Republic of China, the funds'
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.
Class I shares of the funds 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, Class I
shares may be offered with the following schedule of sales charges:
SALES
SIZE OF PURCHASE - U.S. DOLLARS CHARGE
- ------------------------------------------------
Under $30,000 3%
$30,000 but less than $100,000 2%
$100,000 but less than $400,000 1%
$400,000 or more 0%
OTHER PAYMENTS TO SECURITIES DEALERS. Distributors may pay the following
commissions, out of its own resources, to Securities Dealers who initiate and
are responsible for purchases of Class I shares of $1 million or more: 0.75% on
sales of $1 million to $2 million, plus 0.60% 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 and/or its affiliates provide financial support to various
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. 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 NASD's rules.
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.
LETTER OF INTENT. You may qualify for a reduced sales charge when you buy Class
I shares, as described in the Prospectus. At any time within 90 days after the
first investment that you want to qualify for a reduced sales charge, you may
file with the fund a signed shareholder application with the Letter of Intent
section completed. After the Letter is filed, each additional investment will be
entitled to the sales charge applicable to the level of investment indicated on
the Letter. 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. Your holdings in the Franklin Templeton
Funds acquired more than 90 days before the Letter is filed will be counted
towards completion of the Letter, but they will not be entitled to a retroactive
downward adjustment in the sales charge. Any redemptions you make during the 13
month period will be subtracted from the amount of the purchases for purposes of
determining whether the terms of the Letter have been completed. If the Letter
is not completed within the 13 month period, there will be an upward adjustment
of the sales charge, depending on the amount actually purchased (less
redemptions) during the period. If you execute a Letter before a change in the
sales charge structure of the fund, you may complete the Letter at the lower of
the new sales charge structure or the sales charge structure in effect at the
time the Letter was filed.
As mentioned in the Prospectus, five percent (5%) of the amount of the total
intended purchase will be reserved in Class I shares of the fund registered in
your name until you fulfill the Letter. If the amount of your total purchases,
less redemptions, equals the amount specified under the Letter, 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, exceeds the
amount specified under the Letter and is an amount that would qualify for a
further quantity discount, a retroactive price adjustment will be made by
Distributors and the Securities Dealer through whom purchases were made pursuant
to the Letter (to reflect such further quantity discount) on purchases made
within 90 days before and on those made after filing the Letter. The resulting
difference in Offering Price will be applied to 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 under the Letter, you will remit
to Distributors an amount equal to the difference in the dollar amount of sales
charge actually paid and the amount of sales charge that would have applied to
the aggregate purchases if the total of the purchases had been made at a single
time. Upon remittance, 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,
the redemption of an appropriate number of reserved shares to realize the
difference will be made. In the event of a total redemption of the account
before fulfillment of the Letter, the additional sales charge due will be
deducted from the proceeds of the redemption, and the balance will be forwarded
to you.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON EXCHANGING SHARES
If you request the exchange of the total value of your account, accrued but
unpaid income dividends and capital gain distributions will be reinvested in the
fund at the Net Asset Value on the date of the exchange, and then the entire
share balance will be exchanged into the new fund. Backup withholding and
information reporting may apply. Information regarding the possible tax
consequences of an exchange is included in the tax section in this SAI and in
the Prospectus.
If a substantial number of shareholders should, within a short period, sell
their shares of the fund 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
each fund's general policy to initially invest this money in short-term,
tax-exempt municipal securities, unless it is believed that attractive
investment opportunities consistent with each fund's investment goal exist
immediately. This money will then be withdrawn from the short-term, tax-exempt
municipal securities 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 are generally 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. Please see "May I Exchange Shares for Shares of Another
Fund?" in the Prospectus.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON SELLING SHARES
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN. There are no service charges for establishing or
maintaining a systematic withdrawal plan. Payments under the plan will be made
from the redemption of an equivalent amount of shares in your account, generally
on the 25th day of the month in which a payment is scheduled. If the 25th falls
on a weekend or holiday, we will process the redemption on the next business
day.
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.
The fund may discontinue a systematic withdrawal plan by notifying you in
writing and will automatically discontinue a systematic withdrawal plan if all
shares in your account are withdrawn or if the fund receives notification of the
shareholder's death or incapacity.
THROUGH YOUR SECURITIES DEALER. 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. Any loss to you resulting from your dealer's failure to do so
must be settled between you and your Securities Dealer.
REDEMPTIONS IN KIND. Each 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 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 funds do 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.
GENERAL INFORMATION
If dividend checks are returned to the funds 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 funds nor their
affiliates will be liable for any loss caused by your failure to cash such
checks. The funds are 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.
All checks, drafts, wires and other payment mediums used to buy or sell shares
of a 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.
SPECIAL SERVICES. Investor Services may pay certain financial institutions that
maintain omnibus accounts with the funds on behalf of numerous beneficial owners
for recordkeeping operations performed with respect to such owners. For each
beneficial owner in the omnibus account, a fund may reimburse Investor Services
an amount not to exceed the per account fee that the fund normally pays Investor
Services. These financial institutions may also charge a fee for their services
directly to their clients.
Certain shareholder servicing agents may be authorized to accept your
transaction request.
HOW ARE FUND SHARES VALUED?
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We calculate the Net Asset Value per share as of the close of the NYSE, normally
1:00 p.m. Pacific time, each day that the NYSE is open for trading. As of the
date of this SAI, the funds are informed that the NYSE observes the following
holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good
Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and
Christmas Day.
For the purpose of determining the aggregate net assets of each fund, cash and
receivables are valued at their realizable amounts. Interest is recorded as
accrued. Over-the-counter portfolio securities are valued within the range of
the most recent quoted bid and ask prices. Portfolio securities that are traded
both in the over-the-counter market and on a stock exchange are valued according
to the broadest and most representative market as determined by the manager.
Municipal securities generally trade in the over-the-counter market rather than
on a securities exchange. In the absence of a sale or reported bid and ask
prices, information with respect to bond and note transactions, quotations from
bond dealers, market transactions in comparable securities, and various
relationships between securities are used to determine the value of municipal
securities.
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 Net Asset Value of each
class 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 Net
Asset Value. 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
funds may use a pricing service, bank or Securities Dealer to perform any of the
above described functions.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ON DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
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DISTRIBUTIONS
DISTRIBUTIONS OF NET INVESTMENT INCOME. By meeting certain requirements of the
Code, each fund has qualified and continues to qualify to pay "exempt-interest
dividends" to shareholders. These dividends are derived from interest income
exempt from regular federal income tax, and are not subject to regular federal
income tax when they are distributed. In addition, to the extent that
exempt-interest dividends are derived from interest on obligations of a state or
its political subdivisions, or from interest on qualifying U.S. territorial
obligations (including qualifying obligations of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin
Islands or Guam), they will also be exempt from that state's personal income
taxes. A state generally does not grant tax-free treatment to interest on state
and municipal securities of other states.
At the end of each calendar year, each fund in which you are a shareholder will
provide you with the percentage of any dividends paid that may qualify for
tax-free treatment on your personal income tax return. You should consult with
your personal tax advisor to determine the application of your state and local
laws to these distributions. Corporate shareholders should consult with their
corporate tax advisors about whether any of their distributions may be exempt
from corporate income or franchise taxes. For more information, please see
"Appendices - State Tax Treatment."
A fund may earn taxable income on any temporary investments, on the discount
from stripped obligations or their coupons, on income from securities loans or
other taxable transactions, on the excess of short-term capital gains over
long-term capital losses earned by the fund ("net short-term capital gain"), or
on ordinary income derived from the sale of market discount bonds. Any
distributions by a fund from such income will be taxable to you as ordinary
income, whether you take them in cash or additional shares.
From time to time, a fund may buy a tax-exempt bond in the secondary market for
a price that is less than the principal amount of the bond. This discount is
called market discount if it exceeds a de minimis amount of discount under the
Code. For market discount bonds purchased after April 30, 1993, a portion of the
gain on sale or disposition (not to exceed the accrued portion of market
discount at the time of the sale) is treated as ordinary income rather than
capital gain. Any distribution by a fund of market discount income will be
taxable as ordinary income to you. A fund may elect in any fiscal year not to
distribute to you its taxable ordinary income and to pay a federal income or
excise tax on this income at the fund level. In any case, the amount of market
discount, if any, is expected to be small.
DISTRIBUTIONS OF CAPITAL GAINS. A fund may derive capital gains and losses in
connection with sales or other dispositions of its portfolio securities.
Distributions derived from the excess of net short-term capital gain over net
long-term capital loss will be taxable to you as ordinary income. Distributions
paid from long-term capital gains realized by a fund will be taxable to you as
long-term capital gain, regardless of how long you have held your shares in the
fund. Any net short-term or long-term capital gains realized by a fund (net of
any capital loss carryovers) generally will be distributed once each year, and
may be distributed more frequently, if necessary, in order to reduce or
eliminate federal excise or income taxes on the fund.
Gains from securities sold by a fund that are held for more than one year will
be taxable at a maximum rate of 20% for individual investors in the 28% or
higher federal income tax brackets, and at a maximum rate of 10% for individual
investors in the 15% federal income tax bracket. Gains from securities sold by a
fund before January 1, 1998, are taxable at different rates depending on the
length of time the fund held such assets.
For "qualified 5-year gains," the maximum capital gains tax rate is 18% for
individuals in the 28% or higher federal income tax brackets and 8% for
individuals in the 15% federal income tax bracket. For individuals in the 15%
bracket, qualified 5-year gains are net gains on securities held for more than
five years that are sold after December 31, 2000. For individuals who are
subject to tax at higher rates, qualified 5-year gains are net gains on
securities that are purchased after December 31, 2000 and are held for more than
five years. Taxpayers subject to tax at the higher rates may also make an
election for shares held on January 1, 2001 to recognize gain on their shares in
order to qualify such shares as qualified 5-year property.
Additional information on reporting capital gain distributions on your personal
income tax returns is available in Franklin Templeton's Tax Information
Handbook. Please call Fund Information to request a copy. Questions about your
personal tax reporting should be addressed to your personal tax advisor.
CERTAIN DISTRIBUTIONS PAID IN JANUARY. Distributions of taxable income, if any,
which are declared in October, November or December to shareholders of record in
such month, and paid to you in January of the following year, will be treated
for tax purposes as if they had been received by you on December 31 of the year
in which they were declared. A fund will report this income to you on your Form
1099-DIV for the year in which these distributions were declared. You will
receive a Form 1099-DIV only for calendar years in which a fund has made a
distribution to you of taxable ordinary income or capital gain.
INFORMATION ON THE TAX CHARACTER OF DISTRIBUTIONS. Each fund in which you are a
shareholder will inform you of the amount and character of your distributions at
the time they are paid, and will shortly after the close of each calendar year
advise you of the tax status for federal income tax purposes of such
distributions, including the portion of the distributions that on average
comprise taxable income or interest income that is a tax preference item under
the alternative minimum tax. If you have not held fund shares for a full year,
you may have designated as taxable, tax-exempt or as a tax preference 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.
TAXES
ELECTION TO BE TAXED AS A REGULATED INVESTMENT COMPANY. Each fund has elected to
be treated as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code, has
qualified as such for its most recent fiscal year, and intends to so qualify
during the current fiscal year. The Board reserves the right not to maintain the
qualification of a 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 available earnings and profits.
In order to qualify as a regulated investment company for tax purposes, each
fund must meet certain specific requirements, including:
o The fund must maintain a diversified portfolio of securities, wherein no
security (other than U.S. government securities and securities of other
regulated investment companies) can exceed 25% of the fund's total assets,
and, with respect to 50% of the fund's total assets, no investment (other
than cash and cash items, U.S. government securities and securities of other
regulated investment companies) can exceed 5% of the fund's total assets or
10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer;
o The fund must derive at least 90% of its gross income from dividends,
interest, payments with respect to securities loans, and gains from the sale
or disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income
derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities,
or currencies; and
o The fund must distribute to its shareholders at least 90% of its investment
company taxable income (i.e., net investment income plus net short-term
capital gains) and net tax-exempt income for each of its fiscal years.
EXCISE TAX DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS. The Code requires the fund to distribute
at least 98% of its taxable ordinary income earned during the calendar year and
98% of its capital gain net income earned during the twelve month period ending
October 31 (in addition to undistributed amounts from the prior year) to you by
December 31 of each year in order to avoid federal excise taxes. Each fund
intends to declare and pay sufficient dividends in December (or in January that
are treated by you as received in December) but does not guarantee and can give
no assurances that its distributions will be sufficient to eliminate all such
taxes.
REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES. Redemptions and exchanges of fund shares are taxable
transactions for federal and state income tax purposes. The tax law requires
that you recognize a gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between
your tax basis and the amount you received in exchange for your shares, subject
to the rules described below. 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 for federal income tax purposes if you have held your shares for more
than one year at the time of redemption or exchange. Any loss incurred on the
redemption or exchange of shares held for six months or less will be disallowed
to the extent of any exempt-interest dividends distributed to you with respect
to your shares in a fund and any remaining loss will be treated as a long-term
capital loss to the extent of any long-term capital gains distributed to you by
a 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. All or a portion of the sales charge that you paid for your
shares in a fund will be excluded from your tax basis in any of the shares sold
within 90 days of their purchase (for the purpose of determining gain or loss
upon the sale of such shares) if you reinvest the sales proceeds in the fund or
in another of the Franklin Templeton Funds, and the sales charge that would
otherwise apply to your reinvestment is reduced or eliminated. The portion of
the sales charge excluded from your tax basis in the shares sold 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.
DIVIDENDS-RECEIVED DEDUCTION FOR CORPORATIONS. Because each fund's income is
derived primarily from interest rather than dividends, no portion of its
distributions will generally be eligible for the corporate dividends-received
deduction. None of the dividends paid by the funds for the most recent fiscal
year qualified for such deduction, and it is anticipated that none of the
current year's dividends will so qualify.
TREATMENT OF PRIVATE ACTIVITY BOND INTEREST. The interest on bonds issued to
finance essential state and local government operations is generally tax-exempt,
and distributions paid from this interest income will generally qualify as an
exempt-interest dividend. Interest on certain non-essential or "private activity
bonds" (including those for housing and student loans) issued after August 7,
1986, while still exempt from regular federal income tax, is a preference item
for taxpayers when determining their alternative minimum tax under the Code and
under the income tax provisions of several states. Private activity bond
interest could subject you to or increase your liability under federal and state
alternative minimum taxes, depending on your individual or corporate tax
position.
Consistent with each fund's investment goals, each fund may acquire such private
activity bonds if, in the manager's opinion, such bonds represent the most
attractive investment opportunity then available to the fund. Persons who are
defined in the Code as "substantial users" (or persons related to such users) of
facilities financed by private activity bonds should consult with their tax
advisors before buying shares in the fund.
INVESTMENTS IN ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT (OID) AND MARKET DISCOUNT BONDS. To the
extent a fund invests in zero coupon bonds, bonds issued or acquired at a
discount, delayed interest bonds, or bonds that provide for payment of
interest-in-kind (PIK), the fund may have to recognize income and make
distributions to you before its receipt of cash payments. Zero coupon and
delayed interest bonds are normally issued at a discount and are therefore
generally subject to tax reporting as OID obligations. A fund is required to
accrue as income a portion of the discount at which these securities were
issued, and to distribute such income each year (as ordinary dividends) in order
to maintain its qualification as a regulated investment company and to avoid
income reporting and excise taxes at the fund level. PIK bonds are subject to
similar tax rules concerning the amount, character and timing of income required
to be accrued by a fund. Bonds acquired in the secondary market for a price less
than their stated redemption price, or revised issue price in the case of a bond
having OID, are said to have been acquired with market discount. For these
bonds, a fund may elect to accrue market discount on a current basis, in which
case the fund will be required to distribute any such accrued discount. If a
fund does not elect to accrue market discount into income currently, gain
recognized on sale will be recharacterized as ordinary income instead of capital
gain to the extent of any accumulated market discount on the obligation.
DEFAULTED OBLIGATIONS. A fund may be required to accrue income on defaulted
obligations and to distribute such income to you even though it is not currently
receiving interest or principal payments on such obligations. In order to
generate cash to satisfy these distribution requirements, a fund may be required
to dispose of portfolio securities that it otherwise would have continued to
hold or to use cash flows from other sources such as the sale of fund shares.
THE FUNDS' UNDERWRITER
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Pursuant to an underwriting agreement, Distributors acts as principal
underwriter in a continuous public offering of each fund's shares. The
underwriting agreement will continue in effect for successive annual periods if
its continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a vote of the
Board or by a vote of the holders of a majority of the fund's outstanding voting
securities, and in either event by a majority vote of the Board members who are
not parties to the underwriting agreement or interested persons of any such
party (other than as members of the Board), cast in person at a meeting called
for that purpose. The underwriting agreement terminates automatically in the
event of its assignment and may be terminated by either party on 90 days'
written notice.
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. Each 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.
The table below shows the aggregate underwriting commissions received by
Distributors in connection with the offering of each fund's shares, the net
underwriting discounts and commissions retained by Distributors after allowances
to dealers, and the amounts received by Distributors in connection with
redemptions or repurchases of shares for the fiscal years ended May 31, 1998,
1997 and 1996.
AMOUNT RECEIVED
IN CONNECTION WITH
TOTAL COMMISSIONS AMOUNT RETAINED REDEMPTIONS OR
RECEIVED BY DISTRIBUTORS REPURCHASES
1998
Arkansas Fund $ 390,920 $ 26,206 $ --
California High Yield Fund 3,855,645 247,055 4,213
Hawaii Fund 269,185 18,406 --
Tennessee Fund 470,161 32,428 --
Washington Fund 53,229 3,528 --
1997
Arkansas Fund $ 152,497 $ 9,435 $ --
California High Yield Fund 2,605,176 168,170 6,433
Hawaii Fund 156,317 10,181 --
Tennessee Fund 360,982 23,861 --
Washington Fund 36,038 2,390 --
1996
Arkansas Fund $ 132,475 $ 8,788 $ --
California High Yield Fund 2,162,896 143,678 --
Hawaii Fund 191,062 11,951 --
Tennessee Fund 257,628 17,387 --
Washington Fund 63,035 4,267 --
Distributors may be entitled to reimbursement under the Rule 12b-1 plan for each
fund or class, as discussed below. Except as noted, Distributors received no
other compensation from the funds for acting as underwriter.
THE RULE 12B-1 PLANS
Each fund and class have separate distribution plans or "Rule 12b-1 plans" that
were adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act.
ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA HIGH YIELD - CLASS I, TENNESSEE AND WASHINGTON PLANS. Under
their plans, the Arkansas, California High Yield - Class I, Tennessee and
Washington funds may each pay up to a maximum of 0.15% per year of their average
daily net assets, payable quarterly, for expenses incurred in the promotion and
distribution of their shares, although each fund is currently only reimbursing
up to 0.10%.
HAWAII PLAN. Under its plan, the Hawaii Fund may pay up to a maximum of 0.10%
per year of its average daily net assets, payable quarterly, for expenses
incurred in the promotion and distribution of its shares.
CALIFORNIA HIGH YIELD - CLASS II PLAN. Under its Class II plan, the California
High Yield Fund pays Distributors up to 0.50% per year of Class II's average
daily net assets, payable quarterly, for distribution and related expenses.
These fees may be used to compensate Distributors or others for providing
distribution and related services and bearing certain Class II expenses. All
distribution expenses over this amount will be borne by those who have incurred
them without reimbursement by the fund.
Under the Class II plan, the fund also pays an additional 0.15% per year of
Class II's average daily net assets, payable quarterly, as a servicing fee.
ALL PLANS. In addition to the payments that Distributors or others are entitled
to under each plan, each 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 shares of a fund within the
context of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, then such payments shall be deemed to
have been made pursuant to the plan. The terms and provisions of each plan
relating to required reports, term, and approval are consistent with Rule 12b-1.
The plans for the Arkansas, Hawaii, Tennessee and Washington funds and Class I
of the California High Yield Fund do not permit unreimbursed expenses incurred
in a particular year to be carried over to or reimbursed in later years.
In no event shall the aggregate asset-based sales charges, which include
payments made under each plan, plus any other payments deemed to be made
pursuant to a plan, exceed the amount permitted to be paid under the rules of
the NASD.
To the extent fees are for distribution or marketing functions, as distinguished
from administrative servicing or agency transactions, certain banks will not be
entitled to participate in the plans as a result of applicable federal law
prohibiting certain banks from engaging in the distribution of mutual fund
shares. These banking institutions, however, are permitted to receive fees under
the plans for administrative servicing or for agency transactions. If you are a
customer of a bank that is prohibited from providing these services, you would
be permitted to remain a shareholder of the fund, and alternate means for
continuing the servicing would be sought. In this event, changes in the services
provided might occur and you might no longer be able to avail yourself of any
automatic investment or other services then being provided by the bank. It is
not expected that you would suffer any adverse financial consequences as a
result of any of these changes.
Each plan has been approved in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1. The
plans are renewable annually by a vote of the Board, including a majority vote
of the Board members who are not interested persons of the fund and who have no
direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the plans, cast in
person at a meeting called for that purpose. It is also required that the
selection and nomination of such Board members be done by the non-interested
members of the Board. The plans and any related agreement may be terminated at
any time, without penalty, by vote of a majority of the non-interested Board
members on not more than 60 days' written notice, by Distributors on not more
than 60 days' written notice, by any act that constitutes an assignment of the
management agreement with the manager or by vote of a majority of the
outstanding shares of the class. The plans for the Hawaii and Washington funds
and Class I of the California High Yield Fund may also be terminated by any act
that constitutes an assignment of the underwriting agreement with Distributors.
Distributors or any dealer or other firm may also terminate their respective
distribution or service agreement at any time upon written notice.
The plans and any related agreements may not be amended to increase materially
the amount to be spent for distribution expenses without approval by a majority
of the outstanding shares of the class, and all material amendments to the plans
or any related agreements shall be approved by a vote of the non-interested
members of the Board, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on any such amendment.
Distributors is required to report in writing to the Board at least quarterly on
the amounts and purpose of any payment made under the plans and any related
agreements, as well as to furnish the Board with such other information as may
reasonably be requested in order to enable the Board to make an informed
determination of whether the plans should be continued.
For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1998, Distributors' eligible expenditures for
advertising, printing, and payments to underwriters and broker-dealers pursuant
to the plans and the amounts the fund paid Distributors under the plans were as
follows:
DISTRIBUTORS' AMOUNT
ELIGIBLE PAID BY
EXPENSES FUND
Arkansas Fund $ 49,174 $ 20,827
California High Yield
Fund - Class I 514,417 292,752
California High Yield
Fund - Class II 360,221 135,517
Hawaii Fund 81,504 43,497
Tennessee Fund 53,401 36,070
Washington Fund 38,885 9,888
HOW DO THE FUNDS MEASURE PERFORMANCE?
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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 a fund be accompanied by
certain standardized performance information computed as required by the SEC.
Average annual total return and current yield quotations used by the funds are
based on the standardized methods of computing performance mandated by the SEC.
If a Rule 12b-1 plan is adopted, performance figures reflect fees from the date
of the plan's implementation. An explanation of these and other methods used by
the funds to compute or express performance follows. 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.
TOTAL RETURN
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 front-end 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 front-end sales charge currently in effect.
The average annual total return for the indicated periods ended May 31, 1998,
was as follows:
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN
INCEPTION ONE- FIVE- FROM
DATE YEAR YEAR INCEPTION
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Arkansas Fund 05/10/94 5.59% --% 6.64%
California High Yield Fund - Class I 05/03/93 7.01 6.86 6.69
California High Yield Fund - Class II 05/01/96 9.22 -- 9.47
Hawaii Fund 02/26/92 4.46 5.52 6.81
Tennessee Fund 05/10/94 6.00 -- 7.26
Washington Fund 05/03/93 5.18 5.83 5.72
These figures were calculated according to the SEC formula:
P(1+T)n = 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 front-end sales charge is deducted from the initial
$1,000 purchase, and income dividends and capital gain distributions are
reinvested at Net Asset Value. 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 indicated periods
ended May 31, 1998, was as follows:
CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
INCEPTION ONE- FIVE- FROM
DATE YEAR YEAR INCEPTION
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arkansas Fund 05/10/94 5.59% --% 29.78%
California High Yield Fund - Class I 05/03/93 7.01 39.33 38.93
California High Yield Fund - Class II 05/01/96 9.22 -- 20.72
Hawaii Fund 02/26/92 4.46 30.81 51.07
Tennessee Fund 05/10/94 6.00 -- 32.89
Washington Fund 05/03/93 5.18 32.75 32.63
YIELD
CURRENT YIELD. Current yield shows the income per share earned by a fund. It is
calculated by dividing the net investment income per share earned during a
30-day base period by the applicable maximum Offering Price per share on the
last day of the period and annualizing the result. Expenses accrued for the
period include any fees charged to all shareholders of the class during the base
period. The yield for the 30-day period ended May 31, 1998, was as follows:
YIELD
CLASS I CLASS II
Arkansas Fund 4.89% --%
California High Yield Fund 5.24 4.87
Hawaii Fund 4.58 --
Tennessee Fund 4.63 --
Washington Fund 4.88 --
These figures were obtained using the following SEC formula:
6
Yield = 2 [(a-b + 1) - 1]
---
cd
where:
a = interest earned during the period
b = expenses accrued for the period (net of reimbursements)
c = the average daily number of shares outstanding during the period that
were entitled to receive dividends
d = the maximum Offering Price per share on the last day of the period
TAXABLE-EQUIVALENT YIELD. The fund may also quote a taxable-equivalent yield
that shows the before-tax yield that would have to be earned from a taxable
investment to equal the yield for the fund or class. Taxable-equivalent yield is
computed by dividing the portion of the yield that is tax-exempt by one minus
the highest applicable combined federal and state income tax rate and adding the
product to the portion of the yield that is not tax-exempt, if any. The
taxable-equivalent yield for the 30-day period ended May 31, 1998, was as
follows:
TAXABLE-
EQUIVALENT YIELD
CLASS I CLASS II
Arkansas Fund 8.71% --%
California
High Yield Fund 9.57 8.89
Hawaii Fund 8.43 --
Tennessee Fund 8.15 --
Washington Fund 8.08 --
As of May 31, 1998, the combined federal and state income tax rates upon which
the taxable-equivalent yield quotations are based were as follows:
COMBINED
RATE*
Arkansas 43.8%
California 45.2
Hawaii 45.6
Tennessee 43.2
Washington 39.6
*Based on the maximum combined state and 39.6% federal tax rate.
From time to time, as any changes to the rates become effective,
taxable-equivalent yield quotations advertised by the funds will be updated to
reflect these changes. The funds expect updates may be necessary as tax rates
are changed by federal and state governments. The advantage of tax-free
investments, like the funds, will be enhanced by any tax rate increases.
Therefore, the details of specific tax increases may be used in sales material
for the funds.
CURRENT DISTRIBUTION RATE
Current yield and taxable-equivalent yield, which are calculated according to a
formula prescribed by the SEC, are not indicative of the amounts which were or
will be paid to shareholders. Amounts paid to shareholders are reflected in the
quoted current distribution rate or taxable-equivalent distribution rate. The
current distribution rate is usually computed by annualizing the dividends paid
per share during a certain period and dividing that amount by the current
maximum Offering Price. The current distribution rate differs from the current
yield computation because it may include distributions to shareholders from
sources other than interest, if any, and is calculated over a different period
of time. The current distribution rate for the 30-day period ended May 31, 1998,
was as follows:
CURRENT
DISTRIBUTION RATE
CLASS I CLASS II
Arkansas Fund 5.02% --%
California High Yield Fund 5.40 4.93
Hawaii Fund 5.04 --
Tennessee Fund 4.79 --
Washington Fund 5.37 --
A taxable-equivalent distribution rate shows the taxable distribution rate
equivalent to the class' current distribution rate. The advertised
taxable-equivalent distribution rate will reflect the most current federal and
state tax rates available to the fund. The taxable-equivalent distribution rate
for the 30-day period ended May 31, 1998, was as follows:
TAXABLE-EQUIVALENT
DISTRIBUTION RATE
CLASS I CLASS II
Arkansas Fund 8.94% --%
California High Yield Fund 9.86 9.00
Hawaii Fund 9.27 --
Tennessee Fund 8.44 --
Washington Fund 8.89 --
VOLATILITY
Occasionally statistics may be used to show a fund's volatility or risk.
Measures of volatility or risk are generally used to compare a 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 funds may also quote the performance of shares without a sales charge. Sales
literature and advertising may quote a current distribution rate, yield,
cumulative total return, average annual total return and other measures of
performance as described elsewhere in this SAI with the substitution of Net
Asset Value for the public Offering Price.
The funds may include in their advertising or sales material information
relating to investment goals and performance results of funds belonging to the
Franklin Templeton Group of Funds. Resources 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 funds may satisfy your
investment goal, advertisements and other materials about the funds may discuss
certain measures of fund performance as reported by various financial
publications. Materials may also 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:
a) Salomon Brothers Broad Bond Index or its component indices - measures yield,
price and total return for Treasury, agency, corporate and mortgage bonds.
b) Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index or its component indices - measures
yield, price and total return for Treasury, agency, corporate, mortgage and
Yankee bonds.
c) Lehman Brothers Municipal Bond Index or its component indices - measures
yield, price and total return for the municipal bond market.
d) Bond Buyer 20 Index - an index of municipal bond yields based upon yields of
20 general obligation bonds maturing in 20 years.
e) Bond Buyer 40 Index - an index composed of the yield to maturity of 40 bonds.
The index attempts to track the new-issue market as closely as possible, so it
changes bonds twice a month, adding all new bonds that meet certain requirements
and deleting an equivalent number according to their secondary market trading
activity. As a result, the average par call date, average maturity date, and
average coupon rate can and have changed over time. The average maturity
generally has been about 29-30 years.
f) Financial publications: THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, AND BUSINESS WEEK, FINANCIAL
WORLD, FORBES, FORTUNE, and MONEY magazines - provide performance statistics
over specified time periods.
g) Salomon Brothers Composite High Yield Index or its component indices measures
yield, price and total return for the Long-Term High-Yield Index,
Intermediate-Term High-Yield Index, and Long-Term Utility High-Yield Index.
h) Historical data supplied by the research departments of CS First Boston
Corporation, the J. P. Morgan companies, Salomon Brothers, Merrill Lynch,
Lehman Brothers and Bloomberg L.P.
i) 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.
j) Lipper - Mutual Fund Performance Analysis and Lipper - Fixed Income 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.
k) Merrill Lynch California Municipal Bond Index - based upon yields from
revenue and general obligation bonds weighted in accordance with their
respective importance to the California municipal market. The index is published
weekly in the LOS ANGELES TIMES and the SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE.
l) Savings and Loan Historical Interest Rates as published in the U.S. Savings &
Loan League Fact Book.
m) 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.
From time to time, advertisements or information for the funds may include a
discussion of certain attributes or benefits to be derived from an investment in
the funds. 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 sales material issued by the funds may also discuss or be
based upon information in a recent issue of the Special Report on Tax Freedom
Day published by the Tax Foundation, a Washington, D.C. based nonprofit research
and public education organization. The report illustrates, among other things,
the annual amount of time the average taxpayer works to satisfy his or her tax
obligations to the federal, state and local taxing authorities.
Advertisements or information may also compare a fund's performance to the
return on CDs or other investments. You should be aware, however, that an
investment in a fund involves the risk of fluctuation of principal value, a risk
generally not present in an investment in a CD issued by a bank. For example, as
the general level of interest rates rise, the value of a fund's fixed-income
investments, as well as the value of its shares that are based upon the value of
such portfolio investments, can be expected to decrease. Conversely, when
interest rates decrease, the value of a fund's shares can be expected to
increase. CDs are frequently insured by an agency of the U.S. government. An
investment in a 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 funds' portfolios, 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 funds to calculate their figures. In
addition, there can be no assurance that the funds will continue their
performance as compared to these other averages.
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
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The funds 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 in order 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 a fund
cannot guarantee that these goals will be met.
Each 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, one of the
oldest mutual fund organizations, has managed mutual funds for over 50 years and
now services more than 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 $236 billion in assets under
management for more than 6 million U.S. based mutual fund shareholder and other
accounts. The Franklin Templeton Group of Funds offers 119 U.S. based open-end
investment companies to the public. Each fund may identify itself by its NASDAQ
symbol or CUSIP number.
Franklin is a leader in the tax-free mutual fund industry and manages more than
$49 billion in municipal bond assets for over three quarters of a million
investors. According to Research and Ratings Review, Franklin had one of the
largest staffs of municipal securities analysts in the industry, as of June 30,
1998.
Under current tax laws, municipal securities remain one of the few investments
offering the potential for tax-free income. In 1998, taxes could cost almost $47
on every $100 earned from a fully taxable investment (based on the maximum
combined 39.6% federal tax rate and the highest state tax rate of 12% for 1998).
Franklin tax-free funds, however, offer tax relief through a professionally
managed portfolio of tax-free securities selected based on their yield, quality
and maturity. An investment in a Franklin tax-free fund can provide you with the
potential to earn income free of federal taxes and, depending on the fund, state
and local taxes as well, while supporting state and local public projects.
Franklin tax-free funds may also provide tax-free compounding, when dividends
are reinvested. An investment in Franklin's tax-free funds can grow more rapidly
than similar taxable investments.
Municipal securities are generally considered to be creditworthy, second in
quality only to securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government and its
agencies. The market price of such securities, however, may fluctuate. This
fluctuation will have a direct impact on the Net Asset Value of an investment in
a fund.
Currently, there are more mutual funds than there are stocks listed on the NYSE.
While many of them have similar investment goals, no two are exactly alike. As
noted in the Prospectus, shares of the funds are generally sold through
Securities Dealers. Investment representatives of such Securities Dealers are
experienced professionals who can offer advice on the type of investment
suitable to your unique goals and needs, as well as the types of risks
associated with such investment.
As of July 2, 1998, the principal shareholders of the funds, beneficial or of
record, were as follows:
SHARE PER-
NAME AND ADDRESS AMOUNT CENTAGE
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ARKANSAS FUND
Franklin Resources, Inc. 272,412.361 9.5%
Attn: Corporate Accounting
1147 Chess Dr.
Foster City, CA 94044
HAWAII FUND
Lucy C.H. Chang & 468,603.561 11.5%
Liu Chang JT WROS
1525 Wilder Ave. #1108
Honolulu, HI 96822-4687
Dain Rauscher, Inc. FBO 215,060.951 5.3%
Robert S. Russell
P.O. Box 1065
Kamuela, HI 96743
TENNESSEE FUND
Franklin Templeton 271,033.086 6.4%
Distributors, Inc.
Attn: Corporate Treasury
1850 Gateway Dr., 6th Fl.
San Mateo, CA 94404
WASHINGTON FUND
Franklin Resources, Inc. 292,017.947 28.7%
Attn: Corporate Accounting
1147 Chess Dr.
Foster City, CA 94044
Genevieve Evans 55,271.773 5.4%
3226 N. 19th
Tacoma, WA 98406-6005
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.
In the event of disputes involving multiple claims of ownership or authority to
control your account, each 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.
SUMMARY OF CODE OF ETHICS. Employees of the Franklin Templeton Group who are
access persons under the 1940 Act are permitted to engage in personal securities
transactions subject to the following general restrictions and procedures: (i)
the trade must receive advance clearance from a compliance officer and must be
completed by the close of the business day following the day clearance is
granted; (ii) copies of all brokerage confirmations and statements must be sent
to a compliance officer; (iii) all brokerage accounts must be disclosed on an
annual basis; and (iv) access persons involved in preparing and making
investment decisions must, in addition to (i), (ii) and (iii) above, file annual
reports of their securities holdings each January and inform the compliance
officer (or other designated personnel) if they own a security that is being
considered for a fund or other client transaction or if they are recommending a
security in which they have an ownership interest for purchase or sale by a fund
or other client.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
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The audited financial statements contained in the Annual Report to Shareholders
of the Trust, for the fiscal year ended May 31, 1998, including the auditor's
report, are incorporated herein by reference.
USEFUL TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
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1940 ACT - Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
BOARD - The Board of Trustees of the Trust
CD - Certificate of deposit
CLASS I AND CLASS II - The California High Yield Fund offers two classes of
shares, designated "Class I" and "Class II." The two classes have proportionate
interests in the fund's portfolio. They differ, however, primarily in their
sales charge structures and Rule 12b-1 plans. Shares of the Arkansas, Hawaii,
Tennessee and Washington funds are considered Class I shares for redemption,
exchange and other purposes.
CODE - Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
DISTRIBUTORS - Franklin/Templeton Distributors, Inc., the funds' principal
underwriter
FITCH - Fitch Investors Service, Inc.
FRANKLIN TEMPLETON FUNDS - The U.S. registered mutual funds in the Franklin
Group of Funds(R) and the Templeton Group of Funds except Franklin Valuemark
Funds, Templeton Capital Accumulator Fund, Inc., and Templeton Variable
Products Series Fund
FRANKLIN TEMPLETON GROUP - Franklin Resources, Inc., a publicly owned holding
company, and its various subsidiaries
FRANKLIN TEMPLETON GROUP OF FUNDS - All U.S. registered investment companies
in the Franklin Group of Funds(R) and the Templeton Group of Funds
FT SERVICES - Franklin Templeton Services, Inc., the funds' administrator
INVESTOR SERVICES - Franklin/Templeton Investor Services, Inc., the funds'
shareholder servicing and transfer agent
IRS - Internal Revenue Service
LETTER - Letter of Intent
MOODY'S - Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
NASD - National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
NET ASSET VALUE (NAV) - 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.
NYSE - New York Stock Exchange
OFFERING PRICE - The public offering price is based on the Net Asset Value per
share of the class and includes the front-end sales charge. The maximum
front-end sales charge is 4.25% for Class I and 1% for Class II. We calculate
the offering price to two decimal places using standard rounding criteria.
PROSPECTUS - The prospectus for the funds dated October 1, 1998, which we may
amend from time to time
RESOURCES - Franklin Resources, Inc.
SAI - Statement of Additional Information
S&P - Standard & Poor's Corporation
SEC - U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
SECURITIES DEALER - A 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.
WE/OUR/US - Unless a different meaning is indicated by the context, these terms
refer to the fund and/or Investor Services, Distributors, or other wholly owned
subsidiaries of Resources.
APPENDICES
DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS
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MUNICIPAL BOND RATINGS
MOODY'S
AAA: Municipal bonds rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They carry
the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as
"gilt-edged." Interest payments are protected by a large or exceptionally stable
margin, and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are
likely to change, such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to impair
the fundamentally strong position of such issues.
AA: Municipal bonds rated Aa are judged to be high quality by all standards.
Together with the Aaa group, they comprise what are generally known as
high-grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of
protection may not be as large, fluctuation of protective elements may be of
greater amplitude, or there may be other elements present that make the
long-term risks appear somewhat larger.
A: Municipal bonds rated A possess many favorable investment attributes and are
considered upper medium-grade obligations. Factors giving security to principal
and interest are considered adequate, but elements may be present that suggest a
susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.
BAA: Municipal bonds rated Baa are considered medium-grade obligations. They are
neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest payments and principal
security appear adequate for the present but certain protective elements may be
lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great length of time.
These bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and, in fact, have
speculative characteristics as well.
BA: Municipal bonds rated Ba are judged to have predominantly speculative
elements and their future cannot be considered well assured. Often the
protection of interest and principal payments may be very moderate and, thereby,
not well safeguarded during both good and bad times over the future. Uncertainty
of position characterizes bonds in this class.
B: Municipal bonds rated B generally lack characteristics of the desirable
investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of
other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be small.
CAA: Municipal bonds rated Caa are of poor standing. These issues may be in
default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to principal
or interest.
CA: Municipal bonds rated Ca represent obligations that are speculative to a
high degree. These issues are often in default or have other marked
shortcomings.
C: Municipal bonds rated C are the lowest-rated class of bonds and issues so
rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any
real investment standing.
CON. (-): Municipal bonds for which the security depends upon the completion of
some act or the fulfillment of some condition are rated conditionally. These are
bonds secured by (a) earnings of projects under construction, (b) earnings of
projects unseasoned in operation experience, (c) rentals that begin when
facilities are completed, or (d) payments to which some other limiting condition
attaches. Parenthetical rating denotes probable credit stature upon the
completion of construction or the elimination of the basis of the condition.
FITCH
AAA: Municipal bonds rated AAA are considered to be investment grade and of the
highest credit quality. The obligor has an exceptionally strong ability to pay
interest and repay principal that is unlikely to be affected by reasonably
foreseeable events.
AA: Municipal bonds rated AA are considered to be investment grade and of very
high credit quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal
is very strong although not quite as strong as bonds rated AAA and not
significantly vulnerable to foreseeable future developments.
A: Municipal bonds rated A are considered to be investment grade and of high
credit quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay principal is
considered to be strong, but may be more vulnerable to adverse changes in
economic conditions and circumstances than bonds with higher ratings.
BBB: Municipal bonds rated BBB are considered to be investment grade and of
satisfactory credit quality. The obligor's ability to pay interest and repay
principal is considered adequate. Adverse changes in economic conditions and
circumstances, however, are more likely to have an adverse impact on these
bonds, and therefore impair timely payment. The likelihood that the ratings of
these bonds will fall below investment grade is higher than for bonds with
higher ratings.
BB: Municipal bonds rated BB are considered speculative. The obligor's ability
to pay interest and repay principal may be affected over time by adverse
economic changes. Business and financial alternatives can be identified,
however, that could assist the obligor in satisfying its debt service
requirements.
B: Municipal bonds rated B are considered highly speculative. While bonds in
this class are currently meeting debt service requirements, the probability of
continued timely payment of principal and interest reflects the obligor's
limited margin of safety and the need for reasonable business and economic
activity throughout the life of the issue.
CCC: Municipal bonds rated CCC have certain identifiable characteristics which,
if not remedied, may lead to default. The ability to meet obligations requires
an advantageous business and economic environment.
CC: Municipal bonds rated CC are minimally protected. Default in payment of
interest and/or principal seems probable over time.
C: Municipal bonds rated C are in imminent default in the payment of interest
or principal.
DDD, DD AND D: Municipal bonds rated DDD, DD and D are in default on interest
and/or principal payments. Such bonds are extremely speculative and should be
valued on the basis of their ultimate recovery value in liquidation or
reorganization of the obligor. DDD represents the highest potential for recovery
while D represents the lowest potential for recovery.
Plus (+) or minus (-) signs are used with a rating symbol to indicate the
relative position of a credit within the rating category. Plus or minus signs
are not used with the AAA, DDD, DD or D categories.
MUNICIPAL NOTE RATINGS
MOODY'S
Moody's ratings for state, municipal and other short-term obligations will be
designated Moody's Investment Grade ("MIG"). This distinction is in recognition
of the differences between short-term credit risk and long-term risk. Factors
affecting the liquidity of the borrower are uppermost in importance in
short-term borrowing; factors of the first importance in long-term borrowing
risk are of lesser importance in the short run. Symbols used will be as follows:
MIG 1: Notes are of the best quality enjoying strong protection from established
cash flows of funds for their servicing or from established and broad-based
access to the market for refinancing, or both.
MIG 2: Notes are of high quality, with margins of protection ample, although not
so large as in the preceding group.
MIG 3: Notes are of favorable quality, with all security elements accounted for,
but lacking the undeniable strength of the preceding grades. Market access for
refinancing, in particular, is likely to be less well established.
MIG 4: Notes are of adequate quality, carrying specific risk but having
protection and not distinctly or predominantly speculative.
COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS
MOODY'S
Moody's commercial paper ratings, which are also applicable to municipal paper
investments permitted to be made by the fund, are opinions of the ability of
issuers to repay punctually their promissory obligations not having an original
maturity in excess of nine months. Moody's employs the following designations,
all judged to be investment grade, to indicate the relative repayment capacity
of rated issuers:
P-1 (PRIME-1): Superior capacity for repayment.
P-2 (PRIME-2): Strong capacity for repayment.
FITCH
Fitch's short-term ratings apply to debt obligations that are payable on demand
or have original maturities of generally up to three years, including commercial
paper, CDs, medium-term notes, and municipal and investment notes. The
short-term rating places greater emphasis than a long-term rating on the
existence of liquidity necessary to meet the issuer's obligations in a timely
manner.
F-1+: Exceptionally strong credit quality. Regarded as having the strongest
degree of assurance for timely payment.
F-1: Very strong credit quality. Reflect an assurance of timely payment only
slightly less in degree than issues rated F-1+.
F-2: Good credit quality. A satisfactory degree of assurance for timely payment,
but the margin of safety is not as great as for issues assigned F-1+ and F-1
ratings.
F-3: Fair credit quality. Have characteristics suggesting that the degree of
assurance for timely payment is adequate; however, near-term adverse changes
could cause these securities to be rated below investment grade.
F-5: Weak credit quality. Have characteristics suggesting a minimal degree of
assurance for timely payment and are vulnerable to near-term adverse changes in
financial and economic conditions.
D: Default. Actual or imminent payment default.
LOC: The symbol LOC indicates that the rating is based on a letter of credit
issued by a commercial bank.
STATE TAX TREATMENT
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The following information on the income tax treatment of dividends from a fund
is based upon correspondence and sources believed to be reliable. Except where
otherwise noted, the information pertains to individual state income taxation
only. You may be subject to local taxes on dividends or the value of your
shares. Corporations, trusts, estates and other entities may be subject to other
taxes and should consult with their tax advisors or their state department of
revenue. For some investors, a portion of the dividend income may be subject to
the federal and/or state alternative minimum tax.
ARKANSAS
According to a ruling received by the Arkansas Fund from the Arkansas Department
of Revenue and Finance dated January 25, 1994, distributions from the Arkansas
Fund that are attributable to (i) interest from obligations of the state of
Arkansas or its political subdivisions, or (ii) interest derived from
obligations of the U.S. government or its territories or possessions will not be
taxable to shareholders for purposes of the Arkansas personal income tax. Any
other distributions from the Arkansas Fund will be subject to the Arkansas
personal income tax. In addition, the ruling indicates that distributions from
long-term capital gains that are designated as capital gain dividends will be
treated as long-term capital gains in the hands of shareholders of the fund that
are subject to the Arkansas personal income tax.
CALIFORNIA
By meeting certain requirements of the Code and California personal income tax
law, the fund has qualified and continues to qualify to pay exempt-interest
dividends to its shareholders. Exempt-interest dividends are derived from
interest income exempt from regular federal income tax, and are not subject to
regular federal income tax for you. In addition, to the extent that
exempt-interest dividends are derived from interest on obligations of California
or its political subdivisions, from interest on direct obligations of the
federal government, or from interest on U.S. territorial obligations, including
Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands or Guam, they will also be exempt from
California personal income tax.
Dividends paid by the fund from interest on obligations exempt from tax in
California will generally be fully taxable to corporate shareholders who are
subject to California's corporate franchise tax.
HAWAII
To the extent that exempt-interest dividends paid by the Hawaii Fund are derived
from interest on (i) obligations of Hawaii or its political subdivisions, (ii)
direct obligations of the U.S. government, or (iii) qualifying obligations of
Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam or the District of Columbia, they
will be exempt from personal income tax in Hawaii.
TENNESSEE
As long as the Tennessee Fund qualifies as a regulated investment company under
the Code, distributions from the Tennessee Fund will not be subject to the
Tennessee stock and bond income tax, also known as the Hall Income Tax, to the
extent that such distributions are attributable to interest on (i) bonds or
securities of the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, or (ii)
bonds of the state of Tennessee or any of its counties, municipalities, or
political subdivisions. Other distributions from the Tennessee Fund, including
dividends attributable to obligations of issuers in states other than Tennessee
and capital gain distributions, will be fully taxable for purposes of the
Tennessee stock and bond income tax.
WASHINGTON
As of the date of this SAI, Washington does not impose a state income tax.
