TEMPLETON GLOBAL
INVESTMENT TRUST
TEMPLETON REGION FUNDS
TEMPLETON GREATER EUROPEAN FUND
TEMPLETON LATIN AMERICA FUND
ADVISOR CLASS
STATEMENT OF
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
LOGO
700 CENTRAL AVENUE,
P.O. BOX 33030
AUGUST 1, 1997 ST. PETERSBURG, FL 33733-8030
1-800/DIAL BEN
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CONTENTS PAGE
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How Do the Funds Invest Their Assets?... 2
What Are the Funds' Potential Risks?.... 6
Investment Restrictions................. 9
Officers and Trustees................... 10
Investment Management and Other
Services.............................. 16
How Do the Funds Buy Securities for
Their Portfolios?..................... 18
How Do I Buy, Sell and Exchange
Shares?............................... 19
How Are Fund Shares Valued?............. 20
Additional Information on Distributions
and Taxes............................. 21
The Funds' Underwriter.................. 25
How Do the Funds Measure Performance?... 25
Miscellaneous Information............... 28
Financial Statements.................... 30
Useful Terms and Definitions............ 30
Appendix................................ 31
Description of Ratings.................. 31
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When reading this SAI, you will see certain terms beginning with capital
letters. This means the term is explained under "Useful Terms and Definitions."
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Templeton Greater European Fund ("Greater European Fund") and
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Templeton Latin America Fund ("Latin America Fund") are diversified series of
Templeton Global Investment Trust (the "Trust"), an open-end management
investment company with a total of five series. Greater European Fund's
investment objective is long-term capital appreciation, which it seeks to
achieve by investing primarily in equity securities of Greater European
Companies as defined in the Prospectus. Latin America Fund's investment
objective is long-term capital appreciation, which it seeks to achieve by
investing primarily in equity securities and debt securities of issuers in
various Latin American countries.
This SAI describes the Advisor Class shares of Greater European Fund and Latin
America Fund. Greater European Fund and Latin America Fund may, separately or
collectively, be referred to as the "Fund" or "Funds," or individually by their
respective names. The Funds' Prospectus, dated August 1, 1997, as may be amended
from time to time, contains the basic information you should know before
investing in each Fund. For a free copy, call 1-800/DIAL BEN or write the Funds
at the address shown.
THIS SAI IS NOT A PROSPECTUS. IT CONTAINS INFORMATION IN ADDITION TO AND IN MORE
DETAIL THAN SET FORTH IN THE FUNDS' PROSPECTUS. THIS SAI IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE
YOU WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE ACTIVITIES AND OPERATIONS OF THE
FUNDS, AND SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PROSPECTUS.
MUTUAL FUNDS, ANNUITIES, AND OTHER INVESTMENT PRODUCTS:
- ARE NOT FEDERALLY INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION,
THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, OR ANY OTHER AGENCY OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT;
- ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR GUARANTEED OR ENDORSED BY, ANY
BANK;
- ARE SUBJECT TO INVESTMENT RISKS, INCLUDING THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF
PRINCIPAL.
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HOW DO THE FUNDS INVEST THEIR ASSETS?
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The following provides more detailed information about some of the securities
the Funds may buy and their investment policies. You should read it together
with the section in the Funds' Prospectus entitled "How Do the Funds Invest
Their Assets?"
Repurchase Agreements. Repurchase agreements are contracts under which the buyer
of a security simultaneously commits to resell the security to the seller at an
agreed-upon price and date. Under a repurchase agreement, the seller is required
to maintain the value of the securities subject to the repurchase agreement at
not less than their repurchase price. The Investment Manager of each Fund will
monitor the value of such securities daily to determine that the value equals or
exceeds the repurchase price. Repurchase agreements may involve risks in the
event of default or insolvency of the seller, including possible delays or
restrictions upon a Fund's ability to dispose of the underlying securities. A
Fund will enter into repurchase agreements only with parties who meet
creditworthiness standards approved by the Board, i.e., banks or broker-dealers
which have been determined by a Fund's Investment Manager to present no serious
risk of becoming involved in bankruptcy proceedings within the time frame
contemplated by the repurchase transaction.
Debt Securities. The Funds may invest in debt securities that are rated in any
rating category by Moody's or S&P or that are unrated by any rating agency. As
an operating policy, which may be changed by the Board without shareholder
approval, neither Greater European Fund nor Latin America Fund will invest more
than 5% of its assets in debt securities rated lower than Baa by Moody's or BBB
by S&P. The market value of debt securities generally varies in response to
changes in interest rates and the financial condition of each issuer. During
periods of declining interest rates, the value of debt securities generally
increases. Conversely, during periods of rising interest rates, the value of
such securities generally declines. These changes in market value will be
reflected in a Fund's Net Asset Value.
Bonds which are rated Baa by Moody's are considered as medium grade obligations,
i.e., 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. Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in
fact have speculative characteristics as well. Bonds which are rated C by
Moody's 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.
Bonds rated BBB by S&P are regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay
interest and repay principal. Whereas they normally exhibit adequate protection
parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more
likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for
bonds in this category than in higher rated categories. Bonds rated D by S&P are
the lowest rated class of bonds, and generally are in payment default. The D
rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition if debt
service payments are jeopardized.
Although they may offer higher yields than do higher rated securities,
high-risk, low rated debt securities (commonly referred to as "junk bonds") and
unrated debt securities generally involve greater volatility of price and risk
of principal and income, including the possibility of default by, or bankruptcy
of, the issuers of the securities. In addition, the markets in which low rated
and unrated debt securities are traded are more limited than those in which
higher rated securities are traded. The existence of limited markets for
particular securities may diminish a Fund's ability to sell the securities at
fair value either to meet redemption requests or to respond to a specific
economic event such as a deterioration in the creditworthiness of the issuer.
Reduced secondary market liquidity for certain low rated or unrated debt
securities may also make it more difficult for a Fund to obtain accurate market
quotations for the purposes of valuing the Fund's portfolio. Market quotations
are generally available on many low rated or unrated securities only from a
limited number of dealers and may not necessarily represent firm bids of such
dealers or prices for actual sales.
Adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental
analysis, may decrease the values and liquidity of low rated debt securities,
especially in a thinly traded market. Analysis of the creditworthiness of
issuers of low rated debt securities may be more complex than for issuers of
higher rated securities, and the ability of a Fund to achieve its investment
objective may, to the extent of investment in low rated debt securities, be more
dependent upon such creditworthiness analysis than would be the case if the Fund
were investing in higher rated securities.
Low rated debt securities may be more susceptible to real or perceived adverse
economic and competitive industry conditions than investment grade securities.
The prices of low rated debt securities have
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been found to be less sensitive to interest rate changes than higher rated
investments, but more sensitive to adverse economic downturns or individual
corporate developments. A projection of an economic downturn or of a period of
rising interest rates, for example, could cause a decline in low rated debt
securities prices because the advent of a recession could lessen the ability of
a highly leveraged company to make principal and interest payments on its debt
securities. If the issuer of low rated debt securities defaults, a Fund may
incur additional expenses seeking recovery.
A Fund may accrue and report interest income on high yield bonds, such as zero
coupon bonds or pay-in-kind securities, even though it receives no cash interest
until the security's maturity or payment date. In order to qualify for
beneficial tax treatment afforded regulated investment companies, and to
generally be relieved of federal tax liabilities, a Fund must distribute all of
its net income and gains to shareholders (see "Additional Information on
Distributions and Taxes") generally on an annual basis. A Fund may have to
dispose of portfolio securities under disadvantageous circumstances to generate
cash or leverage itself by borrowing cash in order to satisfy the distribution
requirement.
Structured Investments. Included among the issuers of debt securities in which
each Fund may invest are entities organized and operated solely for the purpose
of restructuring the investment characteristics of various securities. These
entities are typically organized by investment banking firms which receive fees
in connection with establishing each entity and arranging for the placement of
its securities. This type of restructuring involves the deposit with or purchase
by an entity, such as a corporation or trust, of specified instruments and the
issuance by that entity of one or more classes of securities ("structured
investments") backed by, or representing interests in, the underlying
instruments. The cash flow on the underlying instruments may be apportioned
among the newly issued structured investments to create securities with
different investment characteristics such as varying maturities, payment
priorities or interest rate provisions. The extent of the payments made with
respect to structured investments is dependent on the extent of the cash flow on
the underlying instruments. Because structured investments of the type in which
each Fund anticipates investing typically involve no credit enhancement, their
credit risk will generally be equivalent to that of the underlying instruments.
Each Fund is permitted to invest in a class of structured investments that is
either subordinated or unsubordinated to the right of payment of another class.
Subordinated structured investments typically have higher yields and present
greater risks than unsubordinated structured investments. Although each Fund's
purchase of subordinated structured investments would have a similar economic
effect to that of borrowing against the underlying securities, the purchase will
not be deemed to be leverage for purposes of the limitations placed on the
extent that such Fund's assets may be used for borrowing activities.
Certain issuers of structured investments may be deemed to be "investment
companies" as defined in the 1940 Act. A Fund's investment in these structured
investments may be limited by its investment restrictions. See "Investment
Restrictions" below. Structured investments are typically sold in private
placement transactions, and there currently is no active trading market for
structured investments. To the extent such investments are illiquid, they will
be subject to a Fund's restrictions on investments in illiquid securities.
Convertible Securities. The Funds may invest in convertible securities,
including convertible debt and convertible preferred stock. Convertible
securities are fixed-income securities which may be converted at a stated price
within a specific amount of time into a specified number of shares of common
stock. These securities are usually senior to common stock in a corporation's
capital structure, but usually are subordinated to non-convertible debt
securities. In general, the value of a convertible security is the higher of its
investment value (its value as a fixed-income security) and its conversion value
(the value of the underlying shares of common stock if the security is
converted). The investment value of a convertible security generally increases
when interest rates decline and generally decreases when interest rates rise.
The conversion value of a convertible security is influenced by the value of the
underlying common stock.
Futures Contracts. Each Fund may purchase and sell financial futures contracts.
Although some financial futures contracts call for making or taking delivery of
the underlying securities, in most cases these obligations are closed out before
the settlement date. The closing of a contractual obligation is accomplished by
purchasing or selling an identical offsetting futures contract. Other financial
futures contracts by their terms call for cash settlements. Each Fund may also
buy and sell index futures contracts with respect to any stock or bond index
traded on a recognized stock exchange or board of trade. An index futures
contract is a contract to buy or sell units of an index at a specified future
date at
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a price agreed upon when the contract is made. The index futures contract
specifies that no delivery of the actual securities making up the index will
take place. Instead, settlement in cash must occur upon the termination of the
contract, with the settlement being the difference between the contract price
and the actual level of the index at the expiration of the contract.
At the time a Fund purchases a futures contract, an amount of cash, U.S.
government securities, or other highly liquid debt securities equal to the
market value of the contract will be deposited in a segregated account with the
Fund's custodian. When writing a futures contract, a Fund will maintain with its
custodian liquid assets that, when added to the amounts deposited with a futures
commission merchant or broker as margin, are equal to the market value of the
instruments underlying the contract. Alternatively, a Fund may "cover" its
position by owning the instruments underlying the contract or, in the case of an
index futures contract, owning a portfolio with a volatility substantially
similar to that of the index on which the futures contract is based, or holding
a call option permitting the Fund to purchase the same futures contract at a
price no higher than the price of the contract written by the Fund (or at a
higher price if the difference is maintained in liquid assets with the Fund's
custodian).
Options on Securities, Indices and Futures. Each Fund may write covered put and
call options and purchase put and call options on securities, securities indices
and futures contracts that are traded on U.S. and foreign exchanges and in the
over-the-counter markets.
An option on a security or a futures contract is a contract that gives the
purchaser of the option, in return for the premium paid, the right to buy a
specified security or futures contract (in the case of a call option) or to sell
a specified security or futures contract (in the case of a put option) from or
to the writer of the option at a designated price during the term of the option.
An option on a securities index gives the purchaser of the option, in return for
the premium paid, the right to receive from the seller cash equal to the
difference between the closing price of the index and the exercise price of the
option.
Each Fund may write a call or put option only if the option is "covered." A call
option on a security or futures contract written by a Fund is "covered" if the
Fund owns the underlying security or futures contract covered by the call or has
an absolute and immediate right to acquire that security without additional cash
consideration (or for additional cash consideration held in a segregated account
by its custodian) upon conversion or exchange of other securities held in its
portfolio. A call option on a security or futures contract is also covered if a
Fund holds a call on the same security or futures contract and in the same
principal amount as the call written where the exercise price of the call held
(a) is equal to or less than the exercise price of the call written or (b) is
greater than the exercise price of the call written if the difference is
maintained by the Fund in cash or high grade U.S. Government securities in a
segregated account with its custodian. A put option on a security or futures
contract written by a Fund is "covered" if the Fund maintains cash or fixed-
income securities with a value equal to the exercise price in a segregated
account with its custodian, or else holds a put on the same security or futures
contract and in the same principal amount as the put written where the exercise
price of the put held is equal to or greater than the exercise price of the put
written.
A Fund will cover call options on securities indices that it writes by owning
securities whose price changes, in the opinion of the Fund's Investment Manager,
are expected to be similar to those of the index, or in such other manner as may
be in accordance with the rules of the exchange on which the option is traded
and applicable laws and regulations. Nevertheless, where a Fund covers a call
option on a securities index through ownership of securities, such securities
may not match the composition of the index. In that event, a Fund will not be
fully covered and could be subject to risk of loss in the event of adverse
changes in the value of the index. A Fund will cover put options on securities
indices that it writes by segregating assets equal to the option's exercise
price, or in such other manner as may be in accordance with the rules of the
exchange on which the option is traded and applicable laws and regulations.
A Fund will receive a premium from writing a put or call option, which increases
its gross income in the event the option expires unexercised or is closed out at
a profit. If the value of a security, index or futures contract on which a Fund
has written a call option falls or remains the same, the Fund will realize a
profit in the form of the premium received (less transaction costs) that could
offset all or a portion of any decline in the value of the portfolio securities
being hedged. If the value of the underlying security, index or futures contract
rises, however, a Fund will realize a loss in its call option position, which
will reduce the benefit of any unrealized appreciation in its investments. By
writing a put option, a Fund assumes the risk of a decline in the underlying
security, index or futures contract. To the extent that the price changes of the
portfolio securities
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being hedged correlate with changes in the value of the underlying security,
index or futures contract, writing covered put options will increase a Fund's
losses in the event of a market decline, although such losses will be offset in
part by the premium received for writing the option.
Each Fund may also purchase put options to hedge its investments against a
decline in value. By purchasing a put option, a Fund will seek to offset a
decline in the value of the portfolio securities being hedged through
appreciation of the put option. If the value of a Fund's investments does not
decline as anticipated, or if the value of the option does not increase, the
Fund's loss will be limited to the premium paid for the option plus related
transaction costs. The success of this strategy will depend, in part, on the
accuracy of the correlation between the changes in value of the underlying
security, index or futures contract and the changes in value of a Fund's
security holdings being hedged.
A Fund may purchase call options on individual securities or futures contracts
to hedge against an increase in the price of securities or futures contracts
that it anticipates purchasing in the future. Similarly, a Fund may purchase
call options on a securities index to attempt to reduce the risk of missing a
broad market advance, or an advance in an industry or market segment, at a time
when the Fund holds uninvested cash or short-term debt securities awaiting
investment. When purchasing call options, a Fund will bear the risk of losing
all or a portion of the premium paid if the value of the underlying security,
index or futures contract does not rise.
There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist when a Fund seeks to
close out an option position. Trading could be interrupted, for example, because
of supply and demand imbalances arising from a lack of either buyers or sellers,
or the options exchange could suspend trading after the price has risen or
fallen more than the maximum specified by the exchange. Although a Fund may be
able to offset to some extent any adverse effects of being unable to liquidate
an option position, it may experience losses in some cases as a result of such
inability. The value of over-the-counter options purchased by a Fund, as well as
the cover for options written by a Fund, are considered not readily marketable
and are subject to the Trust's limitation on investments in securities that are
not readily marketable. See "Investment Restrictions."
Foreign Currency Hedging Transactions. In order to hedge against foreign
currency exchange rate risks, each Fund may enter into forward foreign currency
exchange contracts and foreign currency futures contracts, as well as purchase
put or call options on foreign currencies, as described below. Each Fund may
also conduct its foreign currency exchange transactions on a spot (i.e., cash)
basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market.
A Fund may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts ("forward
contracts") to attempt to minimize the risk to the Fund from adverse changes in
the relationship between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies. A forward
contract is an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency for an agreed
price at a future date which is individually negotiated and privately traded by
currency traders and their customers. A Fund may enter into a forward contract,
for example, when it enters into a contract for the purchase or sale of a
security denominated in a foreign currency in order to "lock in" the U.S. dollar
price of the security. In addition, for example, when a Fund believes that a
foreign currency may suffer or enjoy a substantial movement against another
currency, it may enter into a forward contract to sell an amount of the former
foreign currency approximating the value of some or all of its portfolio
securities denominated in such foreign currency. This second investment practice
is generally referred to as "cross-hedging." Because in connection with a Fund's
forward foreign currency transactions, an amount of its assets equal to the
amount of the purchase will be held aside or segregated to be used to pay for
the commitment, a Fund will always have cash, cash equivalents or high quality
debt securities available in an amount sufficient to cover any commitments under
these contracts or to limit any potential risk. The segregated account will be
marked-to-market on a daily basis. While these contracts are not presently
regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC"), the CFTC may in
the future assert authority to regulate forward contracts. In such event, the
Funds' ability to utilize forward contracts in the manner set forth above may be
restricted. Forward contracts may limit potential gain from a positive change in
the relationship between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies. Unanticipated
changes in currency prices may result in poorer overall performance for a Fund
than if it had not engaged in such contracts.
A Fund may purchase and write put and call options on foreign currencies for the
purpose of protecting against declines in the dollar value of foreign portfolio
securities and against increases in the dollar cost of foreign securities to be
acquired. As is the case with other kinds of options, however, the writing of an
option on foreign currency will constitute only a partial hedge up to the amount
of the pre-
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mium received, and a Fund could be required to purchase or sell foreign
currencies at disadvantageous exchange rates, thereby incurring losses. The
purchase of an option on foreign currency may constitute an effective hedge
against fluctuation in exchange rates, although, in the event of rate movements
adverse to its position, a Fund may forfeit the entire amount of the premium
plus related transaction costs. Options on foreign currencies to be written or
purchased by a Fund will be traded on U.S. and foreign exchanges or
over-the-counter.
A Fund may enter into exchange-traded contracts for the purchase or sale for
future delivery of foreign currencies ("foreign currency futures"). This
investment technique will be used only to hedge against anticipated future
changes in exchange rates which otherwise might adversely affect the value of a
Fund's portfolio securities or adversely affect the prices of securities that a
Fund intends to purchase at a later date.
The successful use of foreign currency futures will usually depend on the
ability of the Investment Managers to forecast currency exchange rate movements
correctly. Should exchange rates move in an unexpected manner, a Fund may not
achieve the anticipated benefits of foreign currency futures or may realize
losses.
WHAT ARE THE FUND'S POTENTIAL RISKS?
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The Funds have the right to purchase securities in any foreign country,
developed or developing. You should consider carefully the substantial risks
involved in securities of companies and governments of foreign nations, which
are in addition to the usual risks inherent in domestic investments.
There may be less publicly available information about foreign companies
comparable to the reports and ratings published about companies in the U.S.
Foreign companies are not generally subject to uniform accounting and financial
reporting standards, and auditing practices and requirements may not be
comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. The Funds, therefore, may
encounter difficulty in obtaining market quotations for purposes of valuing its
portfolio and calculating its Net Asset Value. Foreign markets have
substantially less volume than the NYSE and securities of some foreign companies
are less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. companies.
Commission rates in foreign countries, which are generally fixed rather than
subject to negotiation as in the U.S., are likely to be higher. In many foreign
countries there is less government supervision and regulation of stock
exchanges, brokers and listed companies than in the U.S.
Investments in companies domiciled in developing countries may be subject to
potentially higher risks than investments in developed countries. These risks
include (i) less social, political and economic stability; (ii) the small
current size of the markets for such securities and the currently low or
nonexistent volume of trading, which result in a lack of liquidity and in
greater price volatility; (iii) certain national policies which may restrict a
Fund's investment opportunities, including restrictions on investment in issuers
or industries deemed sensitive to national interests; (iv) foreign taxation; (v)
the absence of developed structures governing private or foreign investment or
allowing for judicial redress for injury to private property; (vi) the absence,
until recently in certain Eastern European countries, of a capital market
structure or market-oriented economy; and (vii) the possibility that recent
favorable economic developments in Eastern Europe may be slowed or reversed by
unanticipated political or social events in such countries.
To the extent of the Communist Party's influence, investments in such countries
may involve risks of nationalization, expropriation and confiscatory taxation.
The communist governments of a number of Eastern European countries expropriated
large amounts of private property in the past, in many cases without adequate
compensation, and there can be no assurance that such expropriation will not
occur in the future. In the event of such expropriation, a Fund could lose a
substantial portion of any investments it has made in the affected countries.
Further, no accounting standards exist in certain Eastern European countries.
Finally, even though certain Eastern European currencies may be convertible into
U.S. dollars, the conversion rates may be artificial to the actual market values
and may be adverse to Fund shareholders.
Certain Eastern European countries, which do not have market economies, are
characterized by an absence of developed legal structures governing private and
foreign investments and private property. Certain countries require governmental
approval prior to investments by foreign persons, or limit the amount of
investment by foreign persons in a particular company, or limit the investment
of foreign persons to only a specific class of securities of a company that may
have less advantageous terms than securities of the company available for
purchase by nationals.
Governments in certain Eastern European countries may require that a
governmental or quasi-governmental authority act as custodian of a Fund's
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assets invested in such country. To the extent such governmental or
quasi-governmental authorities do not satisfy the requirements of the 1940 Act
to act as foreign custodians of a Fund's cash and securities, the Fund's
investment in such countries may be limited or may be required to be effected
through intermediaries. The risk of loss through governmental confiscation may
be increased in such countries.
As a non-fundamental policy, each Fund will limit its investment in Russian
securities to 5% of its total assets. There can be no assurance that appropriate
sub-custody arrangements will be available to a Fund if and when the Fund seeks
to invest a portion of its assets in Russian securities.
Investing in Russian securities involves a high degree of risk and special
considerations not typically associated with investing in the U.S. securities
markets, and should be considered highly speculative. Such risks include: (i)
delays in settling portfolio transactions and risk of loss arising out of
Russia's system of share registration and custody; (ii) the risk that it may be
impossible or more difficult than in other countries to obtain and/or enforce a
judgment; (iii) pervasiveness of corruption and crime in the Russian economic
system; (iv) currency exchange rate volatility and the lack of available
currency hedging instruments; (v) higher rates of inflation (including the risk
of social unrest associated with periods of hyper-inflation); (vi) controls on
foreign investment and local practices disfavoring foreign investors and
limitations on repatriation of invested capital, profits and dividends, and on
the Fund's ability to exchange local currencies for U.S. dollars; (vii) the risk
that the government of Russia or other executive or legislative bodies may
decide not to continue to support the economic reform programs implemented since
the dissolution of the Soviet Union and could follow radically different
political and/or economic policies to the detriment of investors, including
non-market oriented policies such as the support of certain industries at the
expense of other sectors or investors, or a return to the centrally planned
economy that existed prior to the dissolution of the Soviet Union; (viii) the
financial condition of Russian companies, including large amounts of
inter-company debt which may create a payments crisis on a national scale; (ix)
dependency on exports and the corresponding importance of international trade;
(x) the risk that the Russian tax system will not be reformed to prevent
inconsistent, retroactive and/or exorbitant taxation; and (xi) possible
difficulty in identifying a purchaser of securities held by the Fund due to the
underdeveloped nature of the securities markets.
There is little historical data on Russian securities markets because they are
relatively new and a substantial proportion of securities transactions in Russia
are privately negotiated outside of stock exchanges. Because of the recent
formation of the securities markets as well as the underdeveloped state of the
banking and telecommunications systems, settlement, clearing and registration of
securities transactions are subject to significant risks. Ownership of shares
(except where shares are held through depositories that meet the requirements of
the 1940 Act) is defined according to entries in the company's share register
and normally evidenced by extracts from the register or by formal share
certificates. However, there is no central registration system for shareholders
and these services are carried out by the companies themselves or by registrars
located throughout Russia. These registrars are not necessarily subject to
effective state supervision and it is possible for the Fund to lose its
registration through fraud, negligence or even mere oversight. While the Fund
will endeavor to ensure that its interest continues to be appropriately recorded
either itself or through a custodian or other agent inspecting the share
register and by obtaining extracts of share registers through regular
confirmations, these extracts have no legal enforceability and it is possible
that subsequent illegal amendment or other fraudulent act may deprive the Fund
of its ownership rights or improperly dilute its interests. In addition, while
applicable Russian regulations impose liability on registrars for losses
resulting from their errors, it may be difficult for the Fund to enforce any
rights it may have against the registrar or issuer of the securities in the
event of loss of share registration. Furthermore, although a Russian public
enterprise with more than 1,000 shareholders is required by law to contract out
the maintenance of its shareholder register to an independent entity that meets
certain criteria, in practice this regulation has not always been strictly
enforced. Because of this lack of independence, management of a company may be
able to exert considerable influence over who can purchase and sell the
company's shares by illegally instructing the registrar to refuse to record
transactions in the share register. This practice may prevent the Fund from
investing in the securities of certain Russian issues deemed suitable by its
Investment Manager. Further, this also could cause a delay in the sale of
Russian securities by the Fund if a potential purchaser is deemed unsuitable,
which may expose the Fund to potential loss on the investment.
Investing in Latin American issuers involves a high degree of risk and special
considerations not typically associated with investing in the U.S. and other
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more developed securities markets, and should be considered highly speculative.
Such risks include: (i) restrictions or controls on foreign investment and
limitations on repatriation of invested capital and the Fund's ability to
exchange local currencies for U.S. dollars; (ii) higher and sometimes volatile
rates of inflation (including the risk of social unrest associated with periods
of hyper-inflation); (iii) the risk that certain Latin American countries, which
are among the largest debtors to commercial banks and foreign governments and
which have experienced difficulty in servicing sovereign debt obligations in the
past, may negotiate to restructure sovereign debt obligations; (iv) the risk
that it may be impossible or more difficult than in other countries to obtain
and/or enforce a judgment; (v) currency exchange rate fluctuations and the lack
of available currency hedging instruments; (vi) more substantial government
involvement in and control over the local economies; and (vii) dependency on
exports and the corresponding importance of international trade.
Latin American countries may be subject to a greater degree of economic,
political, and social instability than is the case in the U.S., Japan, or
Western European countries. Such instability may result from, among other
things, the following: (i) authoritarian governments or military involvement in
political and economic decision-making, including changes in governmental
control through extra-constitutional means; (ii) popular unrest associated with
demands for improved political, economic, and social conditions; (iii) internal
insurgencies and terrorist activities; (iv) hostile relations with neighboring
countries; (v) ethnic, religious and racial disaffection; and (vi) drug
trafficking.
Each Fund endeavors to buy and sell foreign currencies on as favorable a basis
as practicable. Some price spread on currency exchange (to cover service
charges) may be incurred, particularly when a Fund changes investments from one
country to another or when proceeds of the sale of shares in U.S. dollars are
used for the purchase of securities in foreign countries. Also, some countries
may adopt policies which would prevent a Fund from transferring cash out of the
country or withhold portions of interest and dividends at the source. There is
the possibility of cessation of trading on national exchanges, expropriation,
nationalization or confiscatory taxation, withholding and other foreign taxes on
income or other amounts, foreign exchange controls (which may include suspension
of the ability to transfer currency from a given country), default in foreign
government securities, political or social instability, or diplomatic
developments which could affect investments in securities of issuers in foreign
nations.
The Funds may be affected either unfavorably or favorably by fluctuations in the
relative rates of exchange between the currencies of different nations, by
exchange control regulations and by indigenous economic and political
developments. Some countries in which the Funds may invest may also have fixed
or managed currencies that are not free-floating against the U.S. dollar.
Further, certain currencies may not be internationally traded. Certain of these
currencies have experienced a steady devaluation relative to the U.S. dollar.
Any devaluations in the currencies in which the Funds' portfolio securities are
denominated may have a detrimental impact on the Funds. Through the flexible
policy of the Funds, the Investment Managers endeavor to avoid unfavorable
consequences and to take advantage of favorable developments in particular
nations where from time to time they place the Funds' investments.
The exercise of this flexible policy may include decisions to purchase
securities with substantial risk characteristics and other decisions such as
changing the emphasis on investments from one nation to another and from one
type of security to another. Some of these decisions may later prove profitable
and others may not. No assurance can be given that profits, if any, will exceed
losses.
The Board considers at least annually the likelihood of the imposition by any
foreign government of exchange control restrictions which would affect the
liquidity of the Funds' assets maintained with custodians in foreign countries,
as well as the degree of risk from political acts of foreign governments to
which such assets may be exposed. The Board also considers the degree of risk
involved through the holding of portfolio securities in domestic and foreign
securities depositories (see "Investment Management and Other Services").
However, in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on
the part of an Investment Manager, any losses resulting from the holding of
portfolio securities in foreign countries and/or with securities depositories
will be at the risk of the shareholders. No assurance can be given that the
Board's appraisal of the risks will always be correct or that such exchange
control restrictions or political acts of foreign governments will not occur.
A Fund's ability to reduce or eliminate its futures and related options
positions will depend upon the liquidity of the secondary markets for such
futures and options. The Funds intend to purchase or sell futures and related
options only on exchanges or boards of trade where there appears to be an active
secondary market, but there is no assurance that a liquid secondary market will
exist for any particular
8
<PAGE>
contract or at any particular time. Use of futures and options for hedging may
involve risks because of imperfect correlations between movements in the prices
of the futures or options and movements in the prices of the securities being
hedged. Successful use of futures and related options by a Fund for hedging
purposes also depends upon the Investment Manager's ability to predict correctly
movements in the direction of the market, as to which no assurance can be given.
There are several risks associated with transactions in options on securities
indices. For example, there are significant differences between the securities
and options markets that could result in an imperfect correlation between these
markets, causing a given transaction not to achieve its objectives. A decision
as to whether, when and how to use options involves the exercise of skill and
judgment, and even a well-conceived transaction may be unsuccessful to some
degree because of market behavior or unexpected events. There can be no
assurance that a liquid market will exist when a Fund seeks to close out an
option position. If a Fund were unable to close out an option that it had
purchased on a securities index, it would have to exercise the option in order
to realize any profit or the option may expire worthless. If trading were
suspended in an option purchased by a Fund, it would not be able to close out
the option. If restrictions on exercise were imposed, a Fund might be unable to
exercise an option it has purchased. Except to the extent that a call option on
an index written by a Fund is covered by an option on the same index purchased
by the Fund, movements in the index may result in a loss to the Fund; however,
such losses may be mitigated by changes in the value of the Fund's securities
during the period the option was outstanding.
Additional risks may be involved with the Funds' special investment techniques,
including loans of portfolio securities and borrowing for investment purposes.
These risks are described under the heading "How Do the Funds Invest Their
Assets? -- Types of Securities In Which the Funds May Invest" in the Funds'
Prospectus.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
- ---------------------------------------------------------
The Funds have 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 a 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 the Fund are represented at the meeting in person
or by proxy, whichever is less.
Each Fund MAY NOT:
1. Invest in real estate or mortgages on real estate (although the Funds may
invest in marketable securities secured by real estate or interests
therein); invest in other open-end investment companies (except in
connection with a merger, consolidation, acquisition or reorganization);
invest in interests (other than publicly issued debentures or equity stock
interests) in oil, gas or other mineral exploration or development
programs; or purchase or sell commodity contracts (except futures contracts
as described in the Funds' Prospectus).
2. Purchase any security (other than obligations of the U.S. government, its
agencies or instrumentalities) if, as a result, as to 75% of a Fund's total
assets (a) more than 5% of the Fund's total assets would then be invested
in securities of any single issuer, or (b) the Fund would then own more
than 10% of the voting securities of any single issuer.
3. Act as an underwriter; issue senior securities except as set forth in
investment restriction 6 below; or purchase on margin or sell short, except
that each Fund may make margin payments in connection with futures, options
and currency transactions.
4. Loan money, except that a Fund may (a) purchase a portion of an issue of
publicly distributed bonds, debentures, notes and other evidences of
indebtedness, (b) enter into repurchase agreements and (c) lend its
portfolio securities.
5. Borrow money, except that a Fund may borrow money from banks in an amount
not exceeding 33 1/3% of the value of its total assets (including the
amount borrowed).
6. Mortgage, pledge or hypothecate its assets (except as may be necessary in
connection with permitted borrowings); provided, however, this does not
prohibit escrow, collateral or margin arrangements in connection with its
use of options, futures contracts and options on future contracts.
7. Invest more than 25% of its total assets in a single industry.
9
<PAGE>
8. Participate on a joint or a joint and several basis in any trading account
in securities. (See "How Do the Funds Buy Securities for Their Portfolios?"
as to transactions in the same securities for a Fund, other clients and/or
mutual funds within the Franklin Templeton Group of Funds.)
If a Fund receives from an issuer of securities held by the Fund subscription
rights to purchase securities of that issuer, and if the Fund exercises such
subscription rights at a time when the Fund's portfolio holdings of securities
of that issuer would otherwise exceed the limits set forth in Investment
Restrictions 2 or 7 above, it will not constitute a violation if, prior to
receipt of securities upon exercise of such rights, and after announcement of
such rights, the Fund has sold at least as many securities of the same class and
value as it would receive on exercise of such rights.
Additional Restrictions. Each Fund has adopted the following additional
restrictions which are not fundamental and which may be changed without
shareholder approval, to the extent permitted by applicable law, regulation or
regulatory policy. Under these restrictions, a Fund MAY NOT:
1. Purchase or retain securities of any company in which trustees or officers
of the Trust or of a Fund's Investment Manager, individually owning more
than 1/2 of 1% of the securities of such company, in the aggregate own more
than 5% of the securities of such company.
2. Invest more than 5% of the value of its total assets in securities of
issuers which have been in continuous operation less than three years.
3. Invest more than 5% of its net assets in warrants whether or not listed on
the NYSE or American Stock Exchange, and more than 2% of its net assets in
warrants that are not listed on those exchanges. Warrants acquired in units
or attached to securities are not included in this restriction.
4. Purchase or sell real estate limited partnership interests.
5. Purchase or sell interests in oil, gas and mineral leases (other than
securities of companies that invest in or sponsor such programs).
6. Invest for the purpose of exercising control over management of any
company.
7. Purchase more than 10% of a company's outstanding voting securities.
8. Invest more than 15% of the Fund's total assets in securities that are not
readily marketable (including repurchase agreements maturing in more than
seven days and over-the-counter options purchased by the Fund), including
no more than 10% of its total assets in restricted securities. Rule 144A
securities are not subject to the 10% limitation on restricted securities,
although a Fund will limit its investment in all restricted securities,
including Rule 144A securities, to 15% of its total assets.
If a percentage restriction is met at the time of investment, a later increase
or decrease in the percentage due to a change in value of portfolio securities
or the amount of assets will not be considered a violation of any of the
foregoing restrictions.
A Fund may also be subject to investment limitations imposed by foreign
jurisdictions in which the Fund sells its shares.
OFFICERS AND TRUSTEES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Board has the responsibility for the overall management of the Trust,
including general supervision and review of its investment activities. The
Board, in turn, elects the officers of the Trust who are responsible for
administering the Trust's day-to-day operations. The 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 the Funds under the 1940 Act are indicated by an asterisk (*).
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Positions and
Offices Principal
Name, Age and Address with the Trust Occupation During the Past Five Years
<S> <C> <C>
HARRIS J. ASHTON Trustee Chairman of the board, president and chief
Metro Center executive officer of General Host Corporation
1 Station Place (nursery and craft centers); director of RBC
Stamford, Connecticut Holdings Inc. (a bank holding company) and
Age 65 Bar-S Foods (a meat packing company); and
director or trustee of 53 of the investment
companies in the Franklin Templeton Group of Funds.
</TABLE>
10
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Positions and
Offices Principal
Name, Age and Address with the Trust Occupation During the Past Five Years
<S> <C> <C>
* NICHOLAS F. BRADY Trustee Chairman of Templeton Emerging Markets Invest
The Bullitt House ment Trust PLC; chairman of Templeton Latin
102 East Dover Street America Investment Trust PLC; chairman of Darby
Easton, Maryland Overseas Investments, Ltd. (an investment firm)
Age 67 (1994-present); chairman and director of
Templeton Central and Eastern European
Investment Company; director of the Amerada
Hess Corporation, Christiana Companies, and the
H.J. Heinz Company; formerly, Secretary of the
United States Department of the Treasury
(1988-1993) and chairman of the board of
Dillon, Read & Co. Inc. (investment banking)
prior to 1988; and director or trustee of 23 of
the investment companies in the Franklin
Templeton Group of Funds.
* MARTIN L. FLANAGAN Trustee and Senior vice president, chief financial officer
777 Mariners Island Blvd. Vice President and treasurer of Franklin Resources, Inc.;
San Mateo, California director and executive vice president of
Age 37 Templeton Worldwide, Inc.; director, executive
vice president and chief operating officer of
Templeton Investment Counsel, Inc.; senior vice
president and treasurer of Franklin Advisers,
Inc.; treasurer of Franklin Advisory Services,
Inc.; treasurer and chief financial officer of
Franklin Investment Advisory Services, Inc.;
president of Franklin Templeton Services, Inc.;
senior vice president of Franklin/Templeton
Investor Services, Inc.; and officer and/or
director or trustee, as the case may be, of 58
of the investment companies in the Franklin
Templeton Group of Funds.
S. JOSEPH FORTUNATO Trustee Member of the law firm of Pitney, Hardin, Kipp
200 Campus Drive & Szuch; director of General Host Corporation
Florham Park, New Jersey (nursery and craft centers); and director or
Age 65 trustee of 55 of the investment companies in
the Franklin Templeton Group of Funds.
JOHN Wm. GALBRAITH Trustee President of Galbraith Properties, Inc.
360 Central Avenue (personal investment company); director of Gulf
Suite 1300 West Banks, Inc. (bank holding company)
St. Petersburg, Florida (1995-present); formerly, director of
Age 75 Mercantile Bank (1991-1995), vice chairman of
Templeton, Galbraith & Hansberger Ltd.
(1986-1992), and chairman of Templeton Funds
Management, Inc. (1974-1991); and director or
trustee of 22 of the investment companies in
the Franklin Templeton Group of Funds.
ANDREW H. HINES, JR. Trustee Consultant for the Triangle Consulting Group;
150 Second Avenue N. executive-in-residence of Eckerd College (1991-
St. Petersburg, Florida present); formerly, chairman of the board and
Age 74 chief executive officer of Florida Progress
Corporation (1982-1990) and director of various
of its subsidiaries; and director or trustee of
24 of the investment companies in the Franklin
Templeton Group of Funds.
</TABLE>
11
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Positions and
Offices Principal
Name, Age and Address with the Trust Occupation During the Past Five Years
<S> <C> <C>
EDITH E. HOLIDAY Trustee Director (1993-present) of Amerada Hess
3239 38th Street, N.W. Corporation and Hercules Incorporated; director
Washington, DC 20016 of Beverly Enterprises, Inc. (1995-present) and
Age 45 H.J. Heinz Company (1994-present); chairman
(1995-present) and trustee (1993-present) of
National Child Research Center; formerly,
assistant to the President of the United States
and Secretary of the Cabinet (1990-1993),
general counsel to the United States Treasury
Department (1989-1990), and counselor to the
Secretary and Assistant Secretary for Public
Affairs and Public Liaison -- United States
Treasury Department (1988-1989); and director
or trustee of 16 of the investment companies in
the Franklin Templeton Group of Funds.
*CHARLES B. JOHNSON Chairman of President, chief executive officer and director
777 Mariners Island Blvd. the Board and of Franklin Resources, Inc.; chairman of the
San Mateo, California Vice President board and director of Franklin Advisers, Inc.,
Age 64 Franklin Investment Advisory Services, Inc.,
Franklin Advisory Services, Inc. and Franklin
Templeton Distributors, Inc.; director of
Franklin/Templeton Investor Services, Inc.,
Franklin Templeton Services, Inc. and General
Host Corporation (nursery and craft centers);
and officer and/or director or trustee, as the
case may be, of most of the other subsidiaries
of Franklin Resources, Inc. and 54 of the
investment companies in the Franklin Templeton
Group of Funds.
BETTY P. KRAHMER Trustee Director or trustee of various civic
2201 Kentmere Parkway associations; formerly, economic analyst, U.S.
Wilmington, Delaware government; and director or trustee of 23 of
Age 68 the investment companies in the Franklin
Templeton Group of Funds.
GORDON S. MACKLIN Trustee Chairman of White River Corporation (financial
8212 Burning Tree Road services); director of Fund American
Bethesda, Maryland Enterprises Holdings, Inc., MCI Communications
Age 69 Corporation, CCC Information Services Group,
Inc. (information services), MedImmune, Inc.
(biotechnology), Shoppers Express
(home shopping) and Spacehab, Inc. (aerospace
technology); formerly, chairman of Hambrecht
and Quist Group, director of H&Q Healthcare
Investors and president of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.; and
director or trustee of 50 of the investment
companies in the Franklin Templeton Group of
Funds.
</TABLE>
12
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Positions and
Offices Principal
Name, Age and Address with the Trust Occupation During the Past Five Years
<S> <C> <C>
FRED R. MILLSAPS Trustee Manager of personal investments (1978-present);
2665 N.E. 37th Drive director of various business and nonprofit
Fort Lauderdale, Florida organizations; formerly, chairman and chief
Age 68 executive officer of Landmark Banking
Corporation (1969-1978), financial vice
president of Florida Power and Light
(1965-1969), and vice president of the Federal
Reserve Bank of Atlanta (1958-1965); and
director or trustee of 24 of the investment
companies in the Franklin Templeton Group of
Funds.
MARK G. HOLOWESKO President President and director of Templeton Global
Lyford Cay Advisors Limited; chief investment officer of
Nassau, Bahamas global equity research for Templeton Worldwide,
Age 37 Inc.; formerly, investment administrator with
RoyWest Trust Corporation (Bahamas) Limited
(1984-1985); and officer of 23 of the
investment companies in the Franklin Templeton
Group of Funds.
RUPERT H. JOHNSON, JR. Vice President Executive vice president and director of
777 Mariners Island Blvd. Franklin Resources, Inc. and Franklin Templeton
San Mateo, California Distributors, Inc.; president and director of
Age 56 Franklin Advisers, Inc.; senior vice president
and director of Franklin Advisory Services,
Inc.; director of Franklin/Templeton Investor
Services, Inc.; and officer and/or director or
trustee, as the case may be, of most other
subsidiaries of Franklin Resources, Inc. and 58
of the investment companies in the Franklin
Templeton Group of Funds.
HARMON E. BURNS Vice President Executive vice president, secretary and
777 Mariners Island Blvd. director of Franklin Resources, Inc.; executive
San Mateo, California vice president and director of Franklin
Age 52 Templeton Distributors, Inc. and Franklin
Templeton Services, Inc.; executive vice
president of Franklin Advisers, Inc.; director
of 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 58 of the
investment companies in the Franklin Templeton
Group of Funds.
CHARLES E. JOHNSON Vice President Senior vice president and director of Franklin
500 East Broward Blvd. Resources, Inc.; senior vice president of
Fort Lauderdale, Florida Franklin Templeton Distributors, Inc.;
Age 41 president and director of Templeton Worldwide,
Inc.; president, chief executive officer, chief
investment officer and director of Franklin
Institutional Services Corporation; chairman
and director of Templeton Investment Counsel,
Inc.; vice president of 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 37 of the investment companies
in the Franklin Templeton Group of Funds.
</TABLE>
13
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Positions and
Offices Principal
Name, Age and Address with the Trust Occupation During the Past Five Years
<S> <C> <C>
DEBORAH R. GATZEK Vice President Senior vice president and general counsel of
777 Mariners Island Blvd. Franklin Resources, Inc.; senior vice president
San Mateo, California of Franklin Templeton Services, Inc. and
Age 48 Franklin Templeton Distributors, Inc.; vice
president of Franklin Advisers, Inc. and
Franklin Advisory Services, Inc.; vice
president, chief legal officer and chief
operating officer of Franklin Investment
Advisory Services, Inc.; and officer of 58 of
the investment companies in the Franklin
Templeton Group of Funds.
SAMUEL J. FORESTER, JR. Vice President Vice president of 10 of the investment
500 East Broward Blvd. companies in the Franklin Templeton Group of
Fort Lauderdale, Florida Funds; formerly, president of the Templeton
Age 49 Global Bond Managers, a division of Templeton
Investment Counsel, Inc.; founder and partner
of Forester, Hairston Investment Management
(1989-1990), managing director (Mid-East
Region) of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner &
Smith Inc. (1987-1988) and advisor for Saudi
Arabian Monetary Agency (1982-1987).
JOHN R. KAY Vice President Vice president and treasurer of Templeton
500 East Broward Blvd. Worldwide, Inc.; assistant vice president of
Fort Lauderdale, Florida Franklin Templeton Distributors, Inc.;
Age 57 formerly, vice president and controller of the
Keystone Group, Inc.; and officer of 27 of the
investment companies in the Franklin Templeton
Group of Funds.
GARY R. CLEMONS Vice President Senior vice president of Templeton Investment
500 East Broward Blvd. Counsel, Inc.; and formerly, research analyst
Fort Lauderdale, Florida for Templeton Quantitative Advisors, Inc.
Age 40
DOUGLAS R. LEMPEREUR Vice President Senior vice president of the Templeton Global
500 East Broward Blvd. Bond Managers, a division of Templeton
Fort Lauderdale, Florida Investment Counsel, Inc.; formerly, securities
Age 48 analyst for Colonial Management Associates
(1985-1988), Standish, Ayer & Wood (1977-1985),
and The First National Bank of Chicago
(1974-1977); and officer of 3 of the investment
companies in the Franklin Templeton Group of
Funds.
NEIL S. DEVLIN Vice President Executive vice president and chief investment
500 East Broward Blvd. officer of the Templeton Global Bond Managers,
Fort Lauderdale, Florida a division of Templeton Investment Counsel,
Age 40 Inc.; formerly, portfolio manager and bond
analyst for Constitution Capital Management
(1985-1987), and a bond trader and research
analyst for the Bank of New England
(1982-1985); and officer of 4 of the investment
companies in the Franklin Templeton Group of
Funds.
</TABLE>
14
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Positions and
Offices Principal
Name, Age and Address with the Trust Occupation During the Past Five Years
<S> <C> <C>
JAMES R. BAIO Treasurer Certified public accountant; treasurer of
500 East Broward Blvd. Franklin Mutual Advisers, Inc.; senior vice
Fort Lauderdale, Florida president of Templeton Worldwide, Inc.,
Age 43 Templeton Global Investors, Inc. and Templeton
Funds Trust Company; formerly, senior tax
manager with Ernst & Young (certified public
accountants) (1977-1989); and treasurer of 24
of the investment companies in the Franklin
Templeton Group of Funds.
ELIZABETH M. KNOBLOCK Vice President- General counsel, secretary and a senior vice
500 East Broward Blvd. Compliance president of Templeton Investment Counsel,
Fort Lauderdale, Florida Inc.; senior vice president of Templeton Global
Age 42 Investors, Inc.; formerly, vice president and
associate general counsel of Kidder Peabody &
Co. Inc. (1989-1990), assistant general counsel
of Gruntal & Co., Inc. (1988), vice president
and associate general counsel of Shearson
Lehman Hutton Inc. (1988), vice president and
assistant general counsel of E.F. Hutton & Co.
Inc. (1986-1988), and special counsel of the
Division of Investment Management of the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (1984-1986);
and officer of 23 of the investment companies
in the Franklin Templeton Group of Funds.
BARBARA J. GREEN Secretary Senior vice president of Templeton Worldwide,
500 East Broward Blvd. Inc. and an officer of other subsidiaries of
Fort Lauderdale, Florida Templeton Worldwide, Inc.; senior vice
Age 49 president of Templeton Global Investors, Inc.;
formerly, deputy director of the Division of
Investment Management, executive assistant and
senior advisor to the chairman, counsellor to
the chairman, special counsel and attorney
fellow, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(1986-1995), attorney, Rogers & Wells, and
judicial clerk, U.S. District Court (District
of Massachusetts); and secretary of 23 of the
investment companies in the Franklin Templeton
Group of Funds.
</TABLE>
* Nicholas F. Brady, Martin L. Flanagan and Charles B. Johnson are "interested
persons" of the Trust under the 1940 Act, which limits the percentage of
interested persons that can comprise a fund's board. Charles B. Johnson is an
interested person due to his ownership interest in Resources. Martin L. Flanagan
is an interested person due to his employment affiliation with Resources. Mr.
Brady's status as an interested person results from his business affiliations
with Resources and Templeton Global Advisors Limited. Mr. Brady and Resources
are both limited partners of Darby Overseas Partners, L.P. ("Darby Overseas").
Mr. Brady established Darby Overseas in February 1994, and is Chairman and
shareholder of the corporate general partner of Darby Overseas. In addition,
Darby Overseas and Templeton Global Advisors Limited are limited partners of
Darby Emerging Markets Fund, L.P. The remaining Board members of the Trust are
not interested persons (the "independent members of the Board").
The table above shows the officers and Board members who are affiliated with
Distributors and the Investment Managers. Nonaffiliated members of the Board and
Mr. Brady are currently paid an annual retainer and/or fees for attendance at
Board and committee meetings. Currently, the Trust pays the nonaffiliated Board
members and Mr. Brady an annual retainer of $1,000, a fee of $100 per Board
meeting, and its portion of a flat fee of $2,000 for each audit committee
meeting and/or nominating and compensation committee meeting attended. 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 following table provides
the total fees paid to nonaffiliated Board members and Mr. Brady by the Trust
and by other funds in the Franklin Templeton Group of Funds.
15
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TOTAL FEES NUMBER OF BOARDS IN
TOTAL FEES RECEIVED FROM THE THE FRANKLIN TEMPLETON
RECEIVED FROM FRANKLIN TEMPLETON GROUP OF FUNDS ON
NAME THE TRUST(1) GROUPOF FUNDS(2) WHICH EACH SERVES(3)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Harris J. Ashton.... $ 1,500 $343,592 53
Nicholas F. Brady... 1,500 119,275 23
S. Joseph Fortunato. 1,500 360,412 55
John Wm. Galbraith.. 1,503 102,475 22
Andrew H. Hines, Jr. 1,603 130,525 24
Edith E. Holiday(4). 700 15,450 16
Betty P. Krahmer.... 1,500 119,275 23
Gordon S. Macklin... 1,500 335,542 50
Fred R. Millsaps.... 1,603 130,525 24
</TABLE>
(1) For the fiscal year ended March 31, 1997.
(2) For the calendar year ended December 31, 1996.
(3) We base the number of boards on the number of registered investment
companies in the Franklin Templeton Group of Funds. This number does not include
the total number of series or funds within each investment company for which the
Board members are responsible. The Franklin Templeton Group of Funds currently
includes 59 registered investment companies, with approximately 170 U.S. based
funds or series.
(4) Ms. Holiday was appointed a trustee on December 3, 1996.
Nonaffiliated members of the Board and Mr. Brady 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 Trust 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, 1997, the officers and Board members, as a group, owned of record
and beneficially the following shares of the Fund: approximately 252 shares of
Greater European Fund -- Class I and 239 shares of Latin America Fund -- Class I
or less than 1% of the total outstanding shares of each Fund's Class I shares.
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
Investment Managers and Services Provided. The Investment Manager of Greater
European Fund is Templeton Global Advisors. The Investment Manager of Latin
America Fund is Templeton Investment Counsel. The Funds' Investment Managers
each provide 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.
Templeton Global Advisors renders its services to Greater European Fund from
outside the U.S. Each Investment Manager's activities are subject to the review
and supervision of the Board to whom the Investment Manager renders periodic
reports of the Fund's investment activities. Each Investment Manager and its
officers, directors and employees are covered by fidelity insurance for the
protection of the respective Fund.
The Investment Managers and their affiliates act as investment manager to
numerous other investment companies and accounts. Each Investment 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 Investment
Manager on behalf of each Fund. Similarly, with respect to a Fund, the
Investment Manager is not obligated to recommend, buy or sell, or to refrain
from recommending, buying or selling any security that the Investment 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. An Investment Manager is not
obligated to refrain from investing in securities held by a Fund or other funds
that it manages. Of course, any transactions for the accounts of an Investment
Manager and other access persons will be made in compliance with each Fund's
Code of Ethics. Please see "Miscellaneous Information -- Summary of Code of
Ethics."
Management Fees. Under its management agreement, Greater European Fund pays
Global Advisors a monthly fee equal on an annual basis to 0.75% of its average
daily net assets. Under its management agreement, Latin America Fund pays
Investment Counsel a monthly fee equal on an annual basis to 1.25% of its
average daily net assets. The fees are computed at the close of busi-
16
<PAGE>
ness on the last business day of each month. Each class pays its proportionate
share of the management fee.
Under an agreement by each Investment Manager to limit or waive its fees, for
the fiscal years and periods indicated below, each Fund paid the following
investment management fees:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MANAGEMENT FEES
(INCLUDING WAIVER)
YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 1997 1996(1)
<S> <C> <C>
Greater European Fund..... $ 0 $ 0
Latin America Fund........ 51,427 0
</TABLE>
(1) For the period May 8, 1995 (commencement of operations) to March 31, 1996.
Absent the agreement by each Investment Manager to limit or waive its fees, for
the fiscal years and periods indicated below, each Fund would have paid the
following investment management fees:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MANAGEMENT FEES
(EXCLUDING WAIVER)
YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 1997 1996(1)
<S> <C> <C>
Greater European
Fund................ $ 59,263 $24,741
Latin America Fund.... 133,551 44,350
</TABLE>
(1) For the period May 8, 1995 (commencement of operations) to March 31, 1996.
After July 31, 1998, these agreements may end at any time upon notice to the
Board.
Management Agreements. The management agreements are in effect until August 1,
1998. They may continue in effect for successive annual periods if their
continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a vote of the Board or
by a vote of the holders of a majority of a Fund's outstanding voting
securities, and in either event by a majority vote of the Board members who are
not parties to either 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. Each investment management agreement may be terminated without penalty
at any time by the Board or by a vote of the holders of a majority of a Fund's
outstanding voting securities, or by the respective Investment Manager on 60
days' written notice, and will automatically terminate in the event of its
assignment, as defined in the 1940 Act.
Administrative Services. Since October 1, 1996, FT Services has provided certain
administrative services and facilities for the Funds. Prior to that date,
Templeton Global Investors, Inc. provided the same services to the Funds. 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 Trust pays FT Services a monthly
administration fee equal to an annual rate of 0.15% of the Trust'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 fee is allocated between all funds (including the Funds) of the Trust
according to their respective average daily net assets.
Under an agreement by the administrators to limit or waive their fees, for the
fiscal years and periods indicated below, each Fund paid the following
administration fees:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ADMINISTRATION FEES
(INCLUDING WAIVER)
YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 1997 1996(1)
<S> <C> <C>
Greater European Fund....... $ 9,376 $0
Latin America Fund.......... 16,026 0
</TABLE>
(1) For the period May 8, 1995 (commencement of operations) to March 31, 1996.
Absent the agreement by the administrators to limit or waive their fees, for the
fiscal years and periods indicated below, each Fund would have paid the
following administration fees:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ADMINISTRATION FEES
(EXCLUDING WAIVER)
YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 1997 1996(1)
<S> <C> <C>
Greater European Fund..... $11,851 $4,949
Latin America Fund........ 16,026 5,322
</TABLE>
(1) For the period May 8, 1995 (commencement of operations) to March 31, 1996.
Shareholder Servicing Agent. Investor Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of
Resources, is each Fund's shareholder servicing agent and acts as each Fund's
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 respective 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 each Fund to Investor Services in connection with
maintaining shareholder accounts.
Custodian. The Chase Manhattan Bank, at its principal office at MetroTech
Center, Brooklyn, New York, 11245, and at the offices of its branches and
agencies throughout the world, acts as custodian of each Fund's assets. The
custodian does not partici-
17
<PAGE>
pate in decisions relating to the purchase and sale of portfolio securities.
Auditors. McGladrey & Pullen, LLP, 555 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York, 10017,
are the Funds' independent auditors. During the fiscal year ended March 31,
1997, their auditing services consisted of rendering an opinion on the financial
statements of each Fund included in each Fund's Annual Report to Shareholders
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1997, and review of the Trust's filings with
the SEC.
Advisor Class shares of the Fund were not offered to the public before January
1, 1997.
HOW DO THE FUNDS BUY SECURITIES FOR THEIR PORTFOLIOS?
Each Investment Manager selects brokers and dealers to execute a Fund's
portfolio transactions in accordance with criteria set forth in the management
agreement and any directions that the Board may give.
When placing a portfolio transaction, each Investment Manager seeks to obtain
prompt execution of orders at the most favorable net price. For portfolio
transactions on a securities exchange, the amount of commission paid by a Fund
is negotiated between the Investment Manager and the broker executing the
transaction. The determination and evaluation of the reasonableness of the
brokerage commissions paid are based to a large degree on the professional
opinions of the persons responsible for placement and review of the
transactions. These opinions are based on the experience of these individuals in
the securities industry and information available to them about the level of
commissions being paid by other institutional investors of comparable size. Each
Investment Manager will ordinarily place orders to buy and sell over-the-counter
securities on a principal rather than agency basis with a principal market maker
unless, in the opinion of the Investment Manager, a better price and execution
can otherwise be obtained. Purchases of portfolio securities from underwriters
will include a commission or concession paid by the issuer to the underwriter,
and purchases from dealers will include a spread between the bid and ask price.
Each Fund's Investment Manager may pay certain brokers commissions that are
higher than those another broker may charge, if the Investment Manager
determines in good faith that the amount paid is reasonable in relation to the
value of the brokerage and research services it receives. This may be viewed in
terms of either the particular transaction or an Investment Manager's overall
responsibilities to client accounts over which it exercises investment
discretion. The services that brokers may provide to an Investment Manager
include, among others, supplying information about particular companies,
markets, countries, or local, regional, national or transnational economies,
statistical data, quotations and other securities pricing information, and other
information that provides lawful and appropriate assistance to an Investment
Manager in carrying out its investment advisory responsibilities. These services
may not always directly benefit a Fund. They must, however, be of value to an
Investment Manager in carrying out its overall responsibilities to its clients.
It is not possible to place a dollar value on the special executions or on the
research services an Investment Manager receives from dealers effecting
transactions in portfolio securities. The allocation of transactions in order to
obtain additional research services permits each Investment 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, each Investment Manager and its
affiliates may use this research and data in their investment advisory
capacities with other clients. If the Trust's officers are satisfied that the
best execution is obtained, the sale of a Fund's 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 a Fund's portfolio
transactions.
Because Distributors is a member of the NASD, it may sometimes receive certain
fees when a Fund tenders portfolio securities pursuant to a tender-offer
solicitation. As a means of recapturing brokerage for the benefit of a Fund, any
portfolio securities tendered by a Fund will be tendered through Distributors if
it is legally permissible to do so. In turn, the next management fee payable to
that Fund's Investment Manager will be reduced by the amount of any fees
received by Distributors in cash, less any costs and expenses incurred in
connection with the tender.
If purchases or sales of securities of a Fund and one or more other investment
companies or clients supervised by an Investment 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 Investment 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 a Fund is concerned. In other cases it is possible that the ability to
participate in
18
<PAGE>
volume transactions and to negotiate lower brokerage commissions will be
beneficial to a Fund.
During the fiscal years and periods indicated below, each Fund paid the
following brokerage commissions:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
BROKERAGE COMMISSIONS
YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 1997 1996(1)
<S> <C> <C>
Greater European Fund.... $21,967 $17,067
Latin America Fund....... 50,579 20,945
</TABLE>
(1) For the period May 8, 1995 (commencement of operations) to March 31, 1996.
As of March 31, 1997, each Fund did not own securities of its regular
broker-dealers.
HOW DO I BUY, SELL AND EXCHANGE SHARES?
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON BUYING SHARES
Each Fund continuously offers its shares through Securities Dealers who have an
agreement with Distributors. Securities laws of states where a Fund offers its
shares may differ from federal law. Banks and financial institutions that sell
shares of a Fund may be required by state law to register as Securities Dealers.
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.
Other Payments to Securities Dealers. 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.
Reinvestment Date. Shares acquired through the reinvestment of dividends will be
purchased at the Net Asset Value determined on the business day following the
dividend record date (sometimes known as the "ex-dividend date"). The processing
date for the reinvestment of dividends may vary and does not affect the amount
or value of the shares acquired.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON EXCHANGING SHARES
If you request the exchange of the total value of your account, declared but
unpaid income dividends and capital gain distributions will be exchanged into
the new fund and will be invested at Net Asset Value. 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 Funds' Prospectus.
If a substantial number of shareholders should, within a short period, sell
their shares of a 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,
interest-bearing money market instruments, unless it is believed that attractive
investment opportunities consistent with the Fund's investment objective exist
immediately. This money will then be withdrawn from the short-term, money market
instruments and invested in portfolio securities in as orderly a manner as is
possible when attractive investment opportunities arise.
The proceeds from the sale of shares of an investment company are generally not
available until the fifth business day following the sale. The funds you are
seeking to exchange into may delay issuing shares pursuant to an exchange until
that fifth business 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 Funds' 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 prior business
day.
Redeeming shares through a systematic withdrawal plan may reduce or exhaust the
shares in your
19
<PAGE>
account if payments exceed distributions received from a 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.
A 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 a 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 a 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 a 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 a Fund, in case of
an emergency, or if the payment of such a redemption in cash would be
detrimental to the existing shareholders of a Fund. In these circumstances, the
securities distributed would be valued at the price used to compute a Fund's net
assets and you may incur brokerage fees in converting the securities to cash.
Each Fund does not intend to redeem illiquid securities in kind. If this
happens, however, you may not be able to recover your investment in a timely
manner.
GENERAL INFORMATION
If dividend checks are returned to a Fund marked "unable to forward" by the
postal service, we will consider this a request by you to change your dividend
option to reinvest all distributions. The proceeds will be reinvested in
additional shares at Net Asset Value until we receive new instructions.
If mail is returned as undeliverable or we are unable to locate you or verify
your current mailing address, we may deduct the costs of our 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 a Fund 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?
We calculate the Net Asset Value per share of each class of each Fund's shares
as of the scheduled close of the NYSE, generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, each
day that the NYSE is open for trading. As of the date of this SAI, the Trust is
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 and dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Portfolio securities
listed on a securities exchange or on the NASDAQ National Market System for
which market quotations are readily available are valued at the last quoted sale
price of the day or, if there is no such reported sale, within the range of the
most recent quoted bid and ask prices. 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 an Investment Manager.
Portfolio securities underlying actively traded call options are valued at their
market price as determined above. The current market value of any
20
<PAGE>
option held by a Fund is its last sale price on the relevant exchange before the
time when assets are valued. Lacking any sales that day or if the last sale
price is outside the bid and ask prices, options are valued within the range of
the current closing bid and ask prices if the valuation is believed to fairly
reflect the contract's market value.
Trading in securities on European and Far Eastern securities exchanges and
over-the-counter markets is normally completed well before the close of business
of the NYSE on each day that the NYSE is open. Trading in European or Far
Eastern securities generally, or in a particular country or countries, may not
take place on every NYSE business day. Furthermore, trading takes place in
various foreign markets on days that are not business days for the NYSE and on
which the Net Asset Value is not calculated. Thus, the calculation of the Net
Asset Value does not take place contemporaneously with the determination of the
prices of many of the portfolio securities used in the calculation and, if
events materially affecting the values of these foreign securities occur, the
securities will be valued at fair value as determined by management and approved
in good faith by the Board.
Generally, trading in corporate bonds, U.S. government securities and money
market instruments is substantially completed each day at various times before
the scheduled close of the NYSE. The value of these securities used in computing
the Net Asset Value 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 scheduled 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, a
Fund may utilize a pricing service, bank or Securities Dealer to perform any of
the above described functions.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
DISTRIBUTIONS
You may receive two types of distributions from a Fund:
1. Income dividends. A Fund receives income generally in the form of
dividends, interest and other income derived from its investments. This
income, less the expenses incurred in a 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.
2. Capital gain distributions. A Fund may derive capital gains or losses in
connection with sales or other dispositions of its portfolio securities.
Distributions by a Fund derived from net short-term and net long-term
capital gains (after taking into account any capital loss carryforward or
post-October loss deferral) may generally be made twice each year, once in
December and once following the end of a Fund's fiscal year. Each Fund may
adjust the timing of these distributions for operational or other reasons.
TAXES
As stated in the Funds' Prospectus, the Funds have elected to be treated as
regulated investment companies under Subchapter M of the Code. The Board
reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of a Fund as a regulated
investment company if it determines this course of action to be beneficial to
shareholders. In that case, a Fund will be subject to federal and possibly state
corporate taxes on its taxable income and gains, and distributions to
shareholders will be taxable to the extent of a Fund's available earnings and
profits.
Each Fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company under the Code.
To so qualify, each Fund must, among other things: (a) derive at least 90% of
its gross income from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities
loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities and gains
from the sale or other disposition of foreign currencies, or other income
(including gains from options, futures contracts and forward contracts) derived
with respect to the Fund's business of investing in stocks, securities or
currencies; (b) derive less than 30% of its gross income from the sale or other
disposition of the following assets held for less than three months: (i) stock
and securi-
21
<PAGE>
ties, (ii) options, futures and forward contracts (other than options, futures
and forward contracts on foreign currencies), and (iii) foreign currencies (and
options, futures and forward contracts on foreign currencies) which are not
directly related to the Fund's principal business of investing in stocks and
securities (or options and futures with respect to stock or securities); (c)
diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter, (i) at least 50% of
the value of the Fund's total assets is represented by cash and cash items, U.S.
government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and
other securities, with such other securities limited in respect of any one
issuer to an amount not greater in value than 5% of the Fund's total assets and
to not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and
(ii) not more than 25% of the value of the Fund's total assets is invested in
the securities (other than U.S. government securities or securities of other
regulated investment companies) of any one issuer or of any two or more issuers
that the Fund controls and that are determined to be engaged in the same
business or similar or related businesses; and (d) distribute at least 90% of
its investment company taxable income (which includes, among other items,
dividends, interest and net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term
capital losses) each taxable year.
The Treasury Department is authorized to issue regulations providing that
foreign currency gains that are not directly related to a Fund's principal
business of investing in stock or securities (or options and futures with
respect to stock or securities) will be excluded from the income which qualifies
for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement described above. To date,
however, no such regulations have been issued.
The status of the Funds as regulated investment companies does not involve
government supervision of management or of their investment practices or
policies. As a regulated investment company, a Fund generally will be relieved
of liability for U.S. federal income tax on that portion of its net investment
income and net realized capital gains which it distributes to its shareholders.
Amounts not distributed on a timely basis in accordance with a calendar year
distribution requirement also are subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax. To
prevent application of the excise tax, each Fund intends to make distributions
in accordance with the calendar year distribution requirement.
Dividends of net investment income and net short-term capital gains are taxable
to you as ordinary income. Distributions of net investment income may be
eligible for the corporate dividends-received deduction to the extent
attributable to a Fund's qualifying dividend income. However, the alternative
minimum tax applicable to corporations may reduce the benefit of the
dividends-received deduction. Distributions of net capital gains (the excess of
net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses) designated by a
Fund as capital gain dividends are taxable to you as long-term capital gains,
regardless of the length of time you have held the Fund's shares, and are not
eligible for the dividends-received deduction. Generally, dividends and
distributions are taxable to you, whether received in cash or reinvested in
shares of a Fund. Any distributions that are not from a Fund's net investment
income or net capital realized gain may be characterized as a return of capital
to you or, in some cases, as capital gain. You will be notified annually as to
the federal tax status of dividends and distributions you receive and any tax
withheld thereon.
Distributions by a Fund reduce the Net Asset Value of the Fund shares. Should a
distribution reduce the Net Asset Value below your cost basis, the distribution
nevertheless would be taxable to you as ordinary income or capital gain as
described above, even though, from an investment standpoint, it may constitute a
partial return of capital. In particular, you should be careful to consider the
tax implication of buying shares just prior to a distribution by a Fund. The
price of shares purchased at that time includes the amount of the forthcoming
distribution, but the distribution will generally be taxable to you.
Certain of the debt securities acquired by the Funds may be treated as debt
securities that were originally issued at a discount. Original issue discount
can generally be defined as the difference between the price at which a security
was issued and its stated redemption price at maturity. Although no cash income
is actually received by the Funds, original issue discount that accrues on a
debt security in a given year generally is treated for Federal income tax
purposes as interest and, therefore, such income would be subject to the
distribution requirements of the Code.
Some of the debt securities may be purchased by the Funds at a discount which
exceeds the original issue discount on such debt securities, if any. This
additional discount represents market discount for federal income tax purposes.
The gain realized on the disposition of any taxable debt security having market
discount generally will be treated as ordinary income to the extent it does not
exceed the accrued market discount on such debt security. Generally, market
discount accrues on a daily basis for each day the debt security is held by a
Fund at a constant rate over the time remaining to the debt security's maturity
or, at the election of a Fund, at a
22
<PAGE>
constant yield to maturity which takes into account the semiannual compounding
of interest.
A Fund may invest in debt securities issued in bearer form. Special rules
applicable to bearer debt may in some cases result in (i) treatment of gain
realized with respect to such a debt security as ordinary income and (ii)
disallowance of deductions for losses realized on dispositions of such debt
securities. If these special rules apply, the amount that must be distributed to
Fund shareholders may be increased as compared to a fund that did not invest in
debt securities issued in bearer form.
A Fund may invest in stocks of foreign companies that are classified under the
Code as passive foreign investment companies ("PFICs"). In general, a foreign
company is classified as a PFIC if at least one-half of its assets constitute
investment-type assets or 75% or more of its gross income is investment-type
income. Under the PFIC rules, an "excess distribution" received with respect to
PFIC stock is treated as having been realized ratably over the period during
which a Fund held the PFIC stock. A Fund itself will be subject to tax on the
portion, if any, of the excess distribution that is allocated to that Fund's
holding period in prior taxable years (and an interest factor will be added to
the tax, as if the tax had actually been payable in such prior taxable years)
even though the Fund distributes the corresponding income to shareholders.
Excess distributions include any gain from the sale of PFIC stock as well as
certain distributions from a PFIC. All excess distributions are taxable as
ordinary income.
A Fund may be able to elect alternative tax treatment with respect to PFIC
stock. Under an election that currently may be available, a Fund generally would
be required to include in its gross income its share of the earnings of a PFIC
on a current basis, regardless of whether any distributions are received from
the PFIC. If this election is made, the special rules, discussed above, relating
to the taxation of excess distributions, would not apply. In addition, another
election may be available that would involve marking-to-market the Funds' PFIC
shares at the end of each taxable year (and on certain other dates prescribed in
the Code), with the result that unrealized gains are treated as though they were
realized. If this election were made, tax at the Fund level under the PFIC rules
would generally be eliminated, but the Funds could, in limited circumstances,
incur nondeductible interest charges. Each Fund's intention to qualify annually
as a regulated investment company may limit its elections with respect to PFIC
shares.
Because the application of the PFIC rules may affect, among other things, the
character of gains, the amount of gain or loss and the timing of the recognition
of income with respect to PFIC stock, as well as subject a Fund itself to tax on
certain income from PFIC stock, the amount that must be distributed to
shareholders, and which will be taxed to you as ordinary income or long-term
capital gain, may be increased or decreased substantially as compared to a fund
that did not invest in PFIC stock.
Income received by a Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject
to withholding and other income or similar taxes imposed by such countries. If
more than 50% of the value of a Fund's total assets at the close of its taxable
year consists of securities of foreign corporations, that Fund will be eligible
and intends to elect to "pass through" to the Fund's shareholders the amount of
foreign taxes paid by that Fund. Pursuant to this election, you will be required
to include in gross income (in addition to taxable dividends actually received)
your pro rata share of the foreign taxes paid by a Fund, and will be entitled
either to deduct (as an itemized deduction) your pro rata share of foreign
income and similar taxes in computing your taxable income or to use it as a
foreign tax credit against your U.S. federal income tax liability, subject to
limitations. No deduction for foreign taxes may be claimed if you do not itemize
deductions, but in such case you may be eligible to claim the foreign tax credit
(see below). You will be notified within 60 days after the close of the relevant
Fund's taxable year whether the foreign taxes paid by the Fund will "pass
through" for that year.
Generally, a credit for foreign taxes is subject to the limitation that it may
not exceed your U.S. tax attributable to your foreign source taxable income. For
this purpose, if the pass-through election is made, the source of a Fund's
income flows through to its Shareholders. With respect to a Fund, gains from the
sale of securities will be treated as derived from U.S. sources and certain
currency fluctuation gains, including fluctuation gains from foreign currency-
denominated debt securities, receivables and payables, will be treated as
ordinary income derived from U.S. sources. The limitation on the foreign tax
credit is applied separately to foreign source passive income (as defined for
purposes of the foreign tax credit), including the foreign source passive income
passed through by a Fund. You may be unable to claim a credit for the full
amount of your proportionate share of the foreign taxes paid by a Fund. Foreign
taxes may not be deducted in computing alternative minimum taxable income and
the foreign tax credit can be used to offset only 90% of the alternative minimum
tax (as computed under the Code for purposes of this limitation) imposed on
23
<PAGE>
corporations and individuals. If a Fund is not eligible to make the election to
"pass through" to its shareholders its foreign taxes, the foreign income taxes
it pays generally will reduce investment company taxable income and the
distributions by a Fund will be treated as U.S. source income.
Certain options, futures, and foreign currency forward contracts in which the
Funds may invest are "section 1256 contracts." Gains or losses on section 1256
contracts generally are considered 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital
gains or losses ("60/40"); however, foreign currency gains or losses (as
discussed below) arising from certain section 1256 contracts may be treated as
ordinary income or loss. Also, section 1256 contracts held by a Fund at the end
of each taxable year (and on certain other dates as prescribed under the Code)
are "marked-to-market" with the result that unrealized gains or losses are
treated as though they were realized.
Generally, the hedging transactions undertaken by a Fund may result in
"straddles" for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The straddle rules may affect
the character of gains (or losses) realized by a Fund. In addition, losses
realized by a Fund on positions that are part of the straddle may be deferred
under the straddle rules, rather than being taken into account in calculating
the taxable income for the taxable year in which the losses are realized.
Because only a few regulations implementing the straddle rules have been
promulgated, the tax consequences to a Fund of hedging transactions are not
entirely clear. The hedging transactions may increase the amount of short-term
capital gain realized by a Fund which is taxed as ordinary income when
distributed to shareholders.
A Fund may make one or more of the elections available under the Code which are
applicable to straddles. If a Fund makes any of the elections, the amount,
character, and timing of the recognition of gains or losses from the affected
straddle positions will be determined under rules that vary according to the
election(s) made. The rules applicable under certain of the elections may
operate to accelerate the recognition of gains or losses from the affected
straddle positions.
Because application of the straddle rules may affect the character of gains or
losses, defer losses and/or accelerate the recognition of gains or losses from
the affected straddle positions, the amount which must be distributed to
shareholders and which will be taxed to you as ordinary income or long-term
capital gain may be increased or decreased as compared to a fund that did not
engage in such hedging transactions.
Requirements relating to each Fund's tax status as a regulated investment
company may limit the extent to which a Fund will be able to engage in
transactions in options, futures, and foreign currency forward contracts.
If a Fund invests in another investment company, it is possible that the Fund
would not receive information or distributions from the underlying investment
company in a time frame that permits the Fund to meet its tax-related
requirements in an optimal manner. However, it is anticipated that the Fund
would seek to minimize these risks. The diversification and distribution
requirements applicable to each Fund may limit the extent to which each Fund
will be able to invest in other investment companies.
Under the Code, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in foreign currency
exchange rates which occur between the time a Fund accrues income or other
receivables or accrues expenses or other liabilities denominated in a foreign
currency and the time a Fund actually collects such receivables or pays such
liabilities generally are treated as ordinary income or ordinary loss.
Similarly, on disposition of debt securities denominated in a foreign currency
and on disposition of certain financial contracts and options, gains or losses
attributable to fluctuations in the value of foreign currency between the date
of acquisition of the security or contract and the date of disposition also are
treated as ordinary gain or loss. These gains and losses, referred to under the
Code as "section 988" gains and losses, may increase or decrease the amount of a
Fund's net investment income to be distributed to its shareholders as ordinary
income. For example, fluctuations in exchange rates may increase the amount of
income that a Fund must distribute in order to qualify for treatment as a
regulated investment company and to prevent application of an excise tax on
undistributed income. Alternatively, fluctuations in exchange rates may decrease
or eliminate income available for distribution. If section 988 losses exceed
other net investment income during a taxable year, a Fund would not be able to
make ordinary dividend distributions, or distributions made before the losses
were realized would be recharacterized as return of capital to shareholders for
Federal income tax purposes, rather than as an ordinary dividend, reducing your
basis in your Fund shares, or as a capital gain.
Upon the sale or exchange of your shares, you will realize a taxable gain or
loss depending upon your basis in the shares. Such gain or loss will be treated
as capital gain or loss if the shares are capital assets in your hands, and
generally will be long-term if your holding period for the shares is more than
one year and generally otherwise will be short-
24
<PAGE>
term. Any loss realized on a sale or exchange will be disallowed to the extent
that the shares disposed of are replaced (including replacement through the
reinvesting of dividends and capital gain distributions in a Fund) within a
period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the
disposition of the shares. In such a case, the basis of the shares acquired will
be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss. Any loss realized by you on the sale
of a Fund's shares held by you for six months or less will be treated for
federal income tax purposes as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any
distributions of long-term capital gains you received with respect to such
shares.
In some cases, you will not be permitted to take sales charges into account for
purposes of determining the amount of gain or loss realized on the disposition
of your shares. This prohibition generally applies where (i) you incur a sales
charge in acquiring the stock of a regulated investment company, (ii) the stock
is disposed of before the 91st day after the date on which it was acquired, and
(iii) you subsequently acquire shares of the same or another regulated
investment company and the otherwise applicable sales charge is reduced or
eliminated under a "reinvestment right" received upon the initial purchase of
shares of stock. In that case, the gain or loss recognized will be determined by
excluding from the tax basis of the shares exchanged all or a portion of the
sales charge incurred in acquiring those shares. This exclusion applies to the
extent that the otherwise applicable sales charge with respect to the newly
acquired shares is reduced as a result of having incurred a sales charge
initially. Sales charges affected by this rule are treated as if they were
incurred with respect to the stock acquired under the reinvestment right. This
provision may be applied to successive acquisitions of stock.
Each Fund generally will be required to withhold federal income tax at a rate of
31% ("backup withholding") from dividends paid, capital gain distributions, and
redemption proceeds to you if (i) you fail to furnish a Fund with your correct
taxpayer identification number or social security number and to make such
certifications as a Fund may require, (ii) the IRS notifies you or a Fund that
you have failed to report properly certain interest and dividend income to the
IRS and to respond to notices to that effect, or (iii) when required to do so,
you fail to certify that you are not subject to backup withholding. Any amounts
withheld may be credited against your federal income tax liability.
Dividends, including capital gain dividends, declared in October, November, or
December with a record date in such month and paid during the following January
will be treated as having been paid by a Fund and received by shareholders on
December 31 of the calendar year in which declared, rather than the calendar
year in which the dividends are actually received.
Distributions also may be subject to state, local and foreign taxes. U.S. tax
rules applicable to foreign investors may differ significantly from those
outlined above. This discussion does not purport to deal with all of the tax
consequences applicable to shareholders. You are advised to consult your own tax
advisers for details with respect to the particular tax consequences of an
investment in a Fund.
THE FUND'S UNDERWRITER
Pursuant to an underwriting agreement, Distributors acts as principal
underwriter in a continuous public offering for each class of each Fund's
shares. Each 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 a 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.
Distributors does not receive compensation from a Fund for acting as underwriter
of the Fund's Advisor Class shares.
HOW DO THE FUNDS MEASURE PERFORMANCE?
Performance quotations are subject to SEC rules. These rules require the use of
standardized performance quotations or, alternatively, that every
non-standardized performance quotation furnished
25
<PAGE>
by a Fund be accompanied by certain standardized performance information
computed as required by the SEC. Average annual total return quotations used by
a Fund is 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.
For periods before January 1, 1997, standardized performance quotations for
Advisor Class are calculated by substituting Class I performance for the
relevant time period, excluding the effect of Class I's maximum initial sales
charge, and including the effect of the Rule 12b-1 fees applicable to Class I.
For periods after January 1, 1997, standardized performance quotations for
Advisor Class are calculated as described below.
An explanation of these and other methods used by a Fund to compute or express
performance for Advisor Class 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 one year and from inception
periods that would equate an initial hypothetical $1,000 investment to its
ending redeemable value. The calculation assumes income dividends and capital
gain distributions are reinvested at Net Asset Value. The quotation assumes the
account was completely redeemed at the end of a one year and from inception
periods 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.
For the periods indicated below, the average annual total return for Advisor
Class of each Fund was as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN
YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 1997 1996(1)
<S> <C> <C>
Greater European
Fund................. 20.41% 13.21%
Latin America Fund..... 14.88% 13.13%
</TABLE>
(1) For the period May 8, 1995 (commencement of Fund operations) to March 31,
1996.
These figures were calculated according to the SEC formula:
P (1+T)(n) = ERV
where:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
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 the one-year and
since inception periods at the end of
the one-year and since inception
periods
</TABLE>
Cumulative Total Return. Like average annual total return, cumulative total
return assumes income dividends and capital gain distributions are reinvested at
Net Asset Value. Cumulative total return, however, will be based on the actual
return for Advisor Class for a specified period rather than on the average
return over one year and from inception periods.
For the periods indicated below, the cumulative total return for Advisor Class
of each Fund was as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 1997 1996(1)
<S> <C> <C>
Greater European
Fund................. 20.41% 26.55%
Latin America Fund..... 14.88% 26.38%
</TABLE>
(1) For the period May 8, 1995 (commencement of Fund operations) to March 31,
1996.
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
Sales literature referring to the use of a Fund as a potential investment for
Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), Business Retirement Plans, and other
tax-advantaged retirement plans may quote a total return based upon compounding
of dividends on which it is presumed no federal income tax applies.
26
<PAGE>
A Fund may include in its advertising or sales material information relating to
investment objectives 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 a Fund may satisfy your
investment objective, advertisements and other materials about a Fund may
discuss certain measures of 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:
(i) unmanaged indices so that you may compare the Fund's results with those of a
group of unmanaged securities widely regarded by investors as representative of
the securities market in general; (ii) other groups of mutual funds tracked by
Lipper Analytical Services, Inc., a widely used independent research firm that
ranks mutual funds by overall performance, investment objectives and assets, or
tracked by other services, companies, publications, or persons who rank mutual
funds on overall performance or other criteria; and (iii) the Consumer Price
Index (measure for inflation) to assess the real rate of return from an
investment in the Fund. Unmanaged indices may assume the reinvestment of
dividends but generally do not reflect deductions for administrative and
management costs and expenses.
From time to time, each Fund and its Investment Manager may also refer to the
following information:
(a) Each Investment Manager and its affiliates' market share of
international equities managed in mutual funds prepared or published by
Strategic Insight or a similar statistical organization.
(b) The performance of U.S. equity and debt markets relative to foreign
markets prepared or published by Morgan Stanley Capital International(R) or
a similar financial organization.
(c) The capitalization of U.S. and foreign stock markets as prepared or
published by the International Finance Corporation, Morgan Stanley Capital
International(R) or a similar financial organization.
(d) The geographic and industry distribution of each Fund's portfolio and
its top ten holdings.
(e) The gross national product and populations, including age
characteristics, literacy rates, foreign investment improvements due to a
liberalization of securities laws and a reduction of foreign exchange
controls, and improving communication technology, of various countries as
published by various statistical organizations.
(f) To assist investors in understanding the different returns and risk
characteristics of various investments, each Fund may show historical
returns of various investments and published indices (e.g., Ibbotson
Associates, Inc. Charts and Morgan Stanley EAFE -- Index).
(g) The major industries located in various jurisdictions as published by
the Morgan Stanley Index.
(h) Rankings by DALBAR Surveys, Inc. with respect to mutual fund
shareholder services.
(i) Allegorical stories illustrating the importance of persistent long-term
investing.
(j) Each Fund's portfolio turnover rate and its ranking relative to
industry standards as published by Lipper Analytical Services, Inc. or
Morningstar, Inc.
(k) A description of the Templeton organization's investment management
philosophy and approach, including its worldwide search for undervalued or
"bargain" securities and its diversification by industry, nation and type
of stocks or other securities.
(l) The number of shareholders in each Fund or the aggregate number of
shareholders of the open-end investment companies in the Franklin Templeton
Group of Funds or the dollar amount of fund and private account assets
under management.
(m) Comparison of the characteristics of various emerging markets,
including population, financial and economic conditions.
(n) Quotations from the Templeton organization's founder, Sir John
Templeton,* advocating the virtues of diversification and long-term
investing, including the following:
- "Never follow the crowd. Superior performance is possible only if
you invest differently from the crowd."
- "Diversify by company, by industry and by country."
- "Always maintain a long-term perspective."
- "Invest for maximum total real return."
- "Invest -- don't trade or speculate."
- "Remain flexible and open-minded about types of investment."
- "Buy low."
27
<PAGE>
- "When buying stocks, search for bargains among quality stocks."
- "Buy value, not market trends or the economic outlook."
- "Diversify. In stocks and bonds, as in much else, there is safety in
numbers."
- "Do your homework or hire wise experts to help you."
- "Aggressively monitor your investments."
- "Don't panic."
- "Learn from your mistakes."
- "Outperforming the market is a difficult task."
- "An investor who has all the answers doesn't even understand all the
questions."
- "There's no free lunch."
- "And now the last principle: Do not be fearful or negative too
often."
* Sir John Templeton sold the Templeton organization to Resources in October,
1992 and resigned from the Board on April 16, 1995. He is no longer involved
with the investment management process.
From time to time, advertisements or information for a Fund may include a
discussion of certain attributes or benefits to be derived from an investment in
a Fund. The advertisements or information may include symbols, headlines, or
other material that highlights or summarizes the information discussed in more
detail in the communication.
Advertisements or information may also compare the performance of Advisor Class
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, if any, 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 a Fund's portfolio, the indices and averages are generally
unmanaged, and the items included in the calculations of the averages may not be
identical to the formula used by a Fund to calculate its figures. In addition,
there can be no assurance that a Fund will continue its performance as compared
to these other averages.
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
A Fund may help you achieve various investment goals such as accumulating money
for retirement, saving for a down payment on a home, college costs and other
long-term goals. The Franklin College Costs Planner may help you in determining
how much money must be invested on a monthly basis 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.
The Trust 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 49 years and
now services more than 2.7 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 Worldwide, Inc., a pioneer
in international investing. Mutual Series Fund Inc., 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 $207 billion in
assets under management for more than 5.4 million U.S. based mutual fund
shareholder and other accounts. The Franklin Templeton Group of Funds offers 120
U.S. based open-end investment companies to the public. A Fund may identify
itself by its NASDAQ symbol or CUSIP number.
The Dalbar Surveys, Inc. broker-dealer survey has ranked Franklin number one in
service quality for five of the past nine years.
28
<PAGE>
As of July 2, 1997, the principal shareholders of the Fund, beneficial or of
record, were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND ADDRESS SHARE AMOUNT PERCENTAGE
<S> <C> <C>
GREATER EUROPEAN FUND -
CLASS I
Templeton Global 52,720 6%
Investors, Inc.
500 East Broward
Boulevard
Suite 2100
Fort Lauderdale, FL
33394-3091
PaineWebber - For the 52,401 6%
Benefit of American
Guaranty & Trust Co.
Trustee for Sara
Brianne Kiner Trust
P.O. Box 15627
Wilmington, DE 19850-5627
GREATER EUROPEAN FUND -
CLASS II
Templeton Global 52,261 21%
Investors, Inc.
1850 Gateway Drive
6th Floor
San Mateo, CA 94404
Donaldson Lufkin Jenrette 18,091 7%
Securities Corporation,
Inc.
P.O. Box 2052
Jersey City, NJ
07303-9998
GREATER EUROPEAN FUND -
ADVISOR CLASS
Franklin Resources, Inc. 1,778 53%
1850 Gateway Drive
6th Floor
San Mateo, CA 94404
Dorothy R. Silva, 956 28%
Jeffrey R. Silva &
Christopher W. Silva
1977 Grosse Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Mary E. Little 170 5%
8094 Shadowood Court
Granite Bay, CA 95746
<CAPTION>
NAME AND ADDRESS SHARE AMOUNT PERCENTAGE
- --------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
LATIN AMERICA FUND -
CLASS II
Templeton Global 50,659 13%
Investors, Inc.
1850 Gateway Drive
6th Floor
San Mateo, CA 94404
LATIN AMERICA FUND -
ADVISOR CLASS
Daniel P. Sinton 2,063 18%
62 Vicksburg Street
San Francisco, CA 94114
Howard M. McEldowney 1,926 17%
951 Mariners Island Blvd.
Suite 665
San Mateo, CA 94404-1561
Franklin Resources, Inc. 1,815 16%
1850 Gateway Drive
6th Floor
San Mateo, CA 94404
Franklin Templeton Trust 1,644 14%
Company - Custodian for
the IRA of Roque
Ramirez
5029 17th Street North
St. Petersburg, FL 33714
Franklin Templeton Trust 1,158 10%
Company - Custodian for
the IRA of Joseph E.
Sedlick
13347 88th Place No.
Seminole, FL 33776-2410
</TABLE>
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, the Fund has the right (but has no obligation) to: (a)
freeze the account and require the written agreement of all persons deemed by
the Fund to have a potential property interest in the account, before executing
instructions regarding the account; (b) interplead disputed funds or accounts
with a court of competent jurisdiction; or (c) surrender ownership of all or a
portion of the account to the IRS in response to a Notice of Levy.
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
29
<PAGE>
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 must be sent to a compliance officer and,
within 10 days after the end of each calendar quarter, a report of all
securities transactions must be provided to the compliance officer; and (iii)
access persons involved in preparing and making investment decisions must, in
addition to (i) and (ii) 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
The audited financial statements contained in the Annual Report to Shareholders
of each Fund, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1997, including the auditors'
report, are incorporated herein by reference.
USEFUL TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
1940 Act - Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
Board - The Board of Trustees of the Trust
CD - Certificate of deposit
Class I, Class II and Advisor Class - The Fund offers three classes of shares,
designated "Class I," "Class II," and "Advisor Class." The three classes have
proportionate interests in the Fund's portfolio. They differ, however, primarily
in their sales charge and expense structures.
Code - Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
Distributors - Franklin/Templeton Distributors, Inc., the Fund's principal
underwriter
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 Fund's administrator
Investment Managers - The Investment Manager of Greater European Fund is Global
Advisors and the Investment Manager of Latin America Fund is Investment Counsel
(collectively "Investment Managers")
Investor Services - Franklin/Templeton Investor Services, Inc., the Fund's
shareholder servicing and transfer agent
IRS - Internal Revenue Service
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
Prospectus - The prospectus for Advisor Class shares of Greater European Fund
and Latin America Fund dated August 1, 1997, as may be amended from time to time
Resources - Franklin Resources, Inc.
SAI - Statement of Additional Information
S&P - Standard & Poor's Ratings Service, a division of The McGraw-Hill
Companies, Inc.
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.
U.S. - United States
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.
30
<PAGE>
APPENDIX
DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS
CORPORATE BOND RATINGS
Moody's
Aaa - 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 - Bonds rated Aa are judged to be of 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 which make the long-term risks appear
somewhat larger.
A - 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 which suggest a
susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.
Baa - 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. Such
bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in fact have speculative
characteristics as well.
Ba - 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 is 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 - 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 - Bonds rated Caa are of poor standing. Such issues may be in default or
there may be present elements of danger with respect to principal or interest.
Ca - Bonds rated Ca represent obligations which are speculative in a high
degree. Such issues are often in default or have other marked shortcomings.
C - Bonds rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds and can be regarded as
having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing.
Note: Moody's applies numerical modifiers 1, 2 and 3 in each generic rating
classification from Aa through B in its corporate bond ratings. The modifier 1
indicates that the security ranks in the higher end of its generic rating
category; modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and modifier 3 indicates
that the issue ranks in the lower end of its generic rating category.
S&P
AAA - This is the highest rating assigned by S&P to a debt obligation and
indicates an extremely strong capacity to pay principal and interest.
AA - Bonds rated AA also qualify as high-quality debt obligations. Capacity to
pay principal and interest is very strong and, in the majority of instances,
differ from AAA issues only in small degree.
A - Bonds rated A have a strong capacity to pay principal and interest, although
they are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in
circumstances and economic conditions.
BBB - Bonds rated BBB are regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay
principal and interest. Whereas they normally exhibit 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 - 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 such bonds will likely have some quality and protective
characteristics, these are outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk
exposures to adverse conditions.
C - Bonds rated C are typically subordinated debt to senior debt that is
assigned an actual or implied CCC- rating. The C rating may also reflect the
filing of a bankruptcy petition under circumstances where debt service payments
are continuing. The C1 rat-
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ing 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.
COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS
Moody's
Moody's commercial paper ratings 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.
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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.
However, the relative degree of safety 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.
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+.
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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.
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