UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT
COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number_811-21357
_Franklin Limited Duration Income Trust
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
_One Franklin Parkway, San Mateo, CA 94403-1906
Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Craig S. Tyle, One Franklin Parkway, San Mateo, CA 94403-1906
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (650) 312-2000
Date of fiscal year end: 3/31
Date of reporting period: 3/31/15
Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.
Franklin Templeton Investments
Gain From Our Perspective®
At Franklin Templeton Investments, were dedicated to one goal: delivering exceptional asset management for our clients. By bringing together multiple, world-class investment teams in a single firm, were able to offer specialized expertise across styles and asset classes, all supported by the strength and resources of one of the worlds largest asset managers. This has helped us to become a trusted partner to individual and institutional investors across the globe.
Focus on Investment Excellence
At the core of our firm, youll find multiple independent investment teamseach with a focused area of expertisefrom traditional to alternative strategies and multi-asset solutions. And because our portfolio groups operate autonomously, their strategies can be combined to deliver true style and asset class diversification.
All of our investment teams share a common commitment to excellence grounded in rigorous, fundamental research and robust, disciplined risk management. Decade after decade, our consistent, research-driven processes have helped Franklin Templeton earn an impressive record of strong, long-term results.
Global Perspective Shaped by Local Expertise
In todays complex and interconnected world, smart investing demands a global perspective. Franklin Templeton pioneered international investing over 60 years ago, and our expertise in emerging markets spans more than a quarter of a century. Today, our investment professionals are on the ground across the globe, spotting investment ideas and potential risks firsthand. These locally based teams bring in-depth understanding of local companies, economies and cultural nuances, and share their best thinking across our global research network.
Strength and Experience
Franklin Templeton is a global leader in asset management serving clients in over 150 countries.1 We run our business with the same prudence we apply to asset management, staying focused on delivering relevant investment solutions, strong long-term results and reliable, personal service. This approach, focused on putting clients first, has helped us to become one of the most trusted names in financial services.
1. As of 12/31/14. Clients are represented by the total number of shareholder accounts.
Not FDIC Insured | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee
Contents | |
Annual Report | |
Franklin Limited Duration | |
Income Trust | 1 |
Performance Summary | 6 |
Annual Shareholders Meeting | 7 |
Dividend Reinvestment Plan | 8 |
Financial Highlights and | |
Statement of Investments | 10 |
Financial Statements | 25 |
Notes to Financial Statements | 28 |
Report of Independent Registered | |
Public Accounting Firm | 36 |
Tax Information | 37 |
Board Members and Officers | 38 |
Shareholder Information | 43 |
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FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST
Portfolio Breakdown
Based on Total Investments as of 3/31/15*
*Total investments include long-term and short-term investments and exclude preferred stock issued by the Fund and other financial leverage. **Includes collateralized loan obligations.
***Rounds to less than 0.1% of net assets.
The U.S. Federal Reserve Board (Fed) ended its bond buying program in October 2014, based on its view that underlying economic strength could support ongoing progress in labor market conditions. Although the Fed had repeatedly stated that it could be patient with regard to raising interest rates, toward period-end, the Fed removed the word “patient” from its monetary policy guidance. It added, however, that it might keep interest rates lower than what it viewed as normal.
The 10-year Treasury yield, which moves inversely to price, declined from 2.73% at the start of the period to 1.94% by period-end, as investors sought less risky assets given concerns about the crisis in Ukraine, Greece’s debt negotiations and relatively weak economic growth in Europe and Japan, as well as less robust growth in China. Near period-end, soft domestic data and the Fed’s cautious tone on raising interest rates also supported bond prices.
Investment Strategy
We invest in a diversified mix of fixed income securities, primarily high yield corporate bonds, senior secured floating rate corporate loans, and mortgage- and other asset-backed securities. Our top-down analysis of macroeconomic trends combined with a bottom-up fundamental analysis of market sectors, industries and issuers drives our investment process. We seek to maintain a limited duration, or interest rate sensitivity, to moderate the impact that fluctuating interest rates might have on the Fund’s fixed income portfolio. Within the corporate bond and corporate loan sectors, we seek securities trading at reasonable valuations from issuers with characteristics such as strong market positions, stable cash flows, reasonable capital structures, supportive asset values, strong sponsorship and improving credit fundamentals. In the mortgage- and other asset-backed securities sector, we look to capture an attractive income stream and total return through our analysis of security prepayment assumptions, potential pricing inefficiencies and underlying collateral characteristics.
Dividend Distributions*
4/1/14–3/31/15
Dividend per | |
Month | Common Share (cents) |
April | 7.3 |
May | 7.3 |
June** | 6.2 |
July | 6.2 |
August | 6.2 |
September | 6.2 |
October*** | — |
November*** | 12.4 |
December† | 12.2 |
January | 6.2 |
February | 6.2 |
March | 6.2 |
Total | 82.6 |
*All Fund distributions will vary depending upon current market conditions, and past distributions are not indicative of future trends.
**The decline in the distribution reflects a change in the tax treatment of certain security transactions.
***No distributions were paid in October. The Fund paid two distributions in November 2014.
†Includes an additional 6.00 cent per share distribution to meet excise tax requirements.
Manager’s Discussion
Performance of the Fund’s primary asset classes was positive over the annual review, although results between the individual asset classes varied fairly widely. The U.S. economy experienced robust growth, rebounding from severe winter weather in early 2014 and then moderating for the remainder of the Fund’s fiscal year. With increasing evidence that the economy
2 | Annual Report
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was on a path of sustainable growth, the market turned its focus to expectations that the Fed would eventually raise short-term interest rates, although most market participants did not expect any such increase to be imminent. Meanwhile, Europe was moving in the other direction, implementing its own version of quantitative easing in response to continued sluggish growth in European economies. One result of these divergent policy paths among major developed economies was that the U.S. dollar strengthened against the euro, which in turn contributed to commodity price weakness. Crude oil in particular suffered a sharp price decline, falling from around $100 per barrel to below $50 as the strong dollar combined with oil oversupply sent prices plunging. Lower commodity prices along with less robust growth in China and moderate U.S. economic growth helped keep inflation subdued, leading to a fairly steady decline in U.S. Treasury yields over the course of the Funds fiscal year.
The various factors discussed above had different impacts on financial markets in general and on the Funds asset classes in particular. The broader stock market, as measured by the Standard & Poors® 500 Index, returned +12.73% over the 12-month period, while the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury fell.2 Mortgage-backed securities, as measured by the Barclays U.S. Mortgage-Backed Securities (MBS) Index, returned +5.53%, benefiting from the general decline in interest rates.2 Leveraged loans returned +2.83% as measured by the Credit Suisse (CS) Leveraged Loan Index (LLI), while high yield corporate bonds, which were more exposed to the fall in oil prices, returned a below-coupon +1.39% as measured by the CS High Yield Index.3 Over the course of the year, we added to our position in high yield corporate bonds as valuations declined in the fall, an allocation shift that was funded in part by reducing our leveraged loan exposure. Our exposure to mortgage-backed securities remained relatively unchanged.
High Yield Corporate Bonds
High yield corporate bonds were buffeted by several periods of investor outflows, as well as by a meaningful exposure to the energy sector, which suffered due to lower oil and natural gas prices. Energy was the largest single industry in the high yield universe and represented between 15% and 20% of most high yield indexes during the Funds fiscal year. As oil prices started to fall in late summer, bonds of energy companies followed
suit, with the sell-off accelerating through the fall and particularly following the November meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), in which the cartel failed to cut production. Ultimately domestic oil prices fell roughly 50% owing to continuing growth in U.S. supply, lack of OPEC action and moderating global demand growth. A late start to winter weather led to a sell-off in natural gas as gas storage levels returned to historical averages following a large drawdown the prior winter. Other commodity industries such as metals and mining also suffered during the course of the Funds fiscal year, due to a combination of the stronger U.S. dollar and oversupply. Driven by weakness in some of the CS High Yield Indexs largest sectors, the indexs spread over Treasuries widened from 4.1 percentage points to 5.4 percentage points as the average dollar price declined from 104.5 to 98.3 The average yield increased from 5.35% to 6.60%.3 Despite the pressures on energy and metals and mining producers, we believed the broader credit picture remained fundamentally supportive for high yield credits. Because we viewed valuations as having cheapened, we increased our exposure to high yield corporate bonds over the course of the Funds fiscal year.
Floating Rate Corporate Loans
For the period under review, the corporate loan asset class returned 2.83%, as measured by the CS LLI. During the Funds fiscal year, bouts of volatility roiled the loan market, and technical conditions were driven by sharply declining oil prices and uncertainty surrounding the strength of the global economic recovery. Continued outflows from loan retail vehicles, as well as volatile demand from high yield bond accounts, led to a decline in the average loan price over the year. However, robust demand from collateralized loan obligation (CLO) issuance, in addition to moderating retail outflows toward period-end, led to a rebound in loan prices.
New CLO volume reached record levels during the period, helping to support overall demand amid persistent outflows from loan retail vehicles. The outflows coincided with concerns about slowing global growth, as well as U.S. Treasury yields reaching their lowest levels since 2013, leading some investors to adjust expectations for higher interest rates and withdraw money from the asset class. The increase in CLO activity and waning retail demand led structured finance vehicles to make
2. Source: Morningstar.
3. Source: Credit Suisse Group.
The indexes are unmanaged and include reinvestment of income and distributions. One cannot invest directly in an index, and an index is not representative of the Funds portfolio.
See www.franklintempletondatasources.com for additional data provider information.
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up a larger proportion of primary activity in the loan market. Although U.S. regulators also announced finalized financial reform regulations, which included provisions on risk retention that were expected to possibly curtail CLO issuance over the longer term, the new rules were not scheduled to come into effect until 2016.
Although the volume of new-issue deals declined, the primary market launched a number deals related to mergers and acquisitions (M&A). The deals followed an uptick in M&A transactions globally, but the volume of new loans related to leveraged buyout transactions was muted due to relatively high equity prices, as well as possible scrutiny from U.S. regulators over highly leveraged transactions.
The default rate increased over the reporting period following the expected bankruptcy filings of a gaming and leisure issuer and an electrical utility issuer. Similar to the majority of recent large defaults in the loan market, the two issuers launched term loans during the credit boom of 2006 and 2007 and were ultimately forced into bankruptcy by their overleveraged capital structures. However, excluding these two large issuers, the default rate remained relatively subdued, which was reflective of the supportive fundamental environment for loan issuers.
Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities
High-quality securitized sectors performed well during the period. Agency MBS produced positive total returns and outperformed Treasuries, high yield corporate bonds and corporate loans.
In our view, agency MBS remained fully valued. Questions persisted, however, about the demand source for agency MBS now that the Fed has ended its buying program. We felt demand from banks, mortgage real estate investment trusts, overseas investors and domestic money managers would need to rise to compensate for the Feds reduced presence in the MBS sector. We believed prepayment levels could increase if mortgage rates continue to approach their lowest levels since the spring of 2013.
During the period, our heaviest allocation was in 3.5% coupon securities, followed by 4.0% and 3.0% coupons. We decreased our exposure to 3.0% and 4.0% coupons and increased our allocation to 3.5% coupons, concentrating on specified pools. We continued to invest in bonds from higher quality securitized sectors as we found what we considered fundamentally sound bonds at attractive yields in these markets. We remained allocated to higher quality asset-backed securities and commercial mortgage-backed securities as these sectors delivered positive total returns and outperformed Treasuries, high yield corporate bonds and corporate loans.
The foregoing information reflects our analysis, opinions and portfolio holdings as of March 31, 2015, the end of the reporting period. The way we implement our main investment strategies and the resulting portfolio holdings may change depending on factors such as market and economic conditions. These opinions may not be relied upon as investment advice or an offer for a particular security. The information is not a complete analysis of every aspect of any market, country, industry, security or the Fund. Statements of fact are from sources considered reliable, but the investment manager makes no representation or warranty as to their completeness or accuracy. Although historical performance is no guarantee of future results, these insights may help you understand our investment management philosophy.
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Thank you for your continued participation in Franklin Limited Duration Income Trust. We look forward to serving your future investment needs.
Sincerely,
CFA® is a trademark owned by CFA Institute. | |||
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FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST
Performance Summary as of March 31, 2015
Your dividend income will vary depending on dividends or interest paid by securities in the Fund’s portfolio, adjusted for operating expenses. Capital gain distributions are net profits realized from the sale of portfolio securities. Total return reflects reinvestment of the Fund’s dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, and any unrealized gains or losses. Total returns do not reflect any sales charges paid at inception or brokerage commissions paid on secondary market purchases. The performance table does not reflect any taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund dividends, capital gain distributions, if any, or any realized gains on the sale of Fund shares.
Share Prices | ||||||||||||
Symbol: FTF | 3/31/15 | 3/31/14 | Change | |||||||||
Net Asset Value (NAV) | $ | 13.87 | $ | 14.36 | -$ | 0.49 | ||||||
Market Price (NYSE MKT) | $ | 12.17 | $ | 13.05 | -$ | 0.88 | ||||||
Distributions (4/1/14–3/31/15) | ||||||||||||
Dividend | ||||||||||||
Income | ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
$ | 0.8260 | |||||||||||
Performance1 | ||||||||||||
Cumulative Total Return2 | Average Annual Total Return2 | |||||||||||
Based | Based on | Based | Based on | |||||||||
on NAV3 | market price4 | on NAV3 | market price4 | |||||||||
1-Year | + | 2.41 | % | -0.35 | % | + | 2.41 | % | -0.35 | % | ||
5-Year | + | 44.65 | % | + | 30.07 | % | + | 7.66 | % | + | 5.40 | % |
10-Year | + | 98.04 | % | + | 91.50 | % | + | 7.07 | % | + | 6.71 | % |
Performance data represent past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from figures shown.
All investments involve risks, including possible loss of principal. Interest rate movements and mortgage prepayments will affect the Fund’s share price and
yield. Bond prices generally move in the opposite direction of interest rates. As prices of bonds in the Fund adjust to a rise in interest rates, the Fund’s share
price may decline. Investments in lower rated bonds include higher risk of default and loss of principal. The Fund is actively managed but there is no guarantee
that the manager’s investment decisions will produce the desired results.
1. Figures are for common shares. As of 3/31/15, the Fund had leverage in the amount of 32.61% of the Fund’s total portfolio. The Fund employs leverage through the
issuance of Auction Preferred Shares and purchase of Mortgage Dollar Rolls. The use of financial leverage creates an opportunity for increased income but, at the same
time, creates special risks (including the likelihood of greater volatility of net asset value and market price of common shares). The cost of leverage rises and falls with
changes in short-term interest rates. Such increases/decreases in the cost of the Fund’s leverage may be offset by increased/decreased income from the Fund’s floating
rate investments.
2. Total return calculations represent the cumulative and average annual changes in value of an investment over the periods indicated.
3. Assumes reinvestment of distributions at net asset value.
4. Assumes reinvestment of distributions based on the dividend reinvestment plan.
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Annual Shareholders Meeting
September 18, 2014
At an annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Fund held on September 18, 2014, shareholders approved the election of the following persons as Trustees of the Fund.
The results of the voting are as follows:
% of | % of | |||||||||
Common | Outstanding | % of | Withheld or | Outstanding | % of | |||||
Trustees | Shares For | Shares | Voted | Abstain | Shares | Voted | ||||
Sam Ginn | 23,595,361.59 | 87.91 | % | 97.54 | % | 594,627.00 | 2.22 | % | 2.46 | % |
Larry D. Thompson | 23,659,453.58 | 88.15 | % | 97.81 | % | 530,535.00 | 1.98 | % | 2.19 | % |
% of | % of | |||||||||
Preferred | Outstanding | % of | Withheld or | Outstanding | % of | |||||
Trustee | Shares For | Shares | Voted | Abstain | Shares | Voted | ||||
Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. | 2,594.00 | 72.06 | % | 98.26 | % | 46.00 | 1.28 | % | 1.74 | % |
Note: Harris J. Ashton, Edith E. Holiday, Gregory E. Johnson, J. Michael Luttig, Frank A. Olson and John B. Wilson are Trustees of the Fund who are currently serving and whose terms of office continued after the meeting.
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Dividend Reinvestment Plan
The Funds Dividend Reinvestment Plan (Plan) offers you a prompt and simple way to reinvest dividends and capital gain distributions (Distributions) in shares of the Fund. American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (Plan Agent), P.O. Box 922, Wall Street Station, New York, NY 10269-0560, acts as your Plan Agent in administering the Plan. The Agent will open an account for you under the Plan in the same name as your outstanding shares are registered.
You are automatically enrolled in the Plan unless you elect to receive Distributions in cash. If you own shares in your own name, you should notify the Agent, in writing, if you wish to receive Distributions in cash.
If the Fund declares a Distribution, you, as a participant in the Plan, will automatically receive an equivalent amount of shares of the Fund purchased on your behalf by the Agent.
If on the payment date for a Distribution, the net asset value per share is equal to or less than the market price per share plus estimated brokerage commissions, the Agent shall receive newly issued shares, including fractions, from the Fund for your account. The number of additional shares to be credited shall be determined by dividing the dollar amount of the Distribution by the greater of the net asset value per share on the payment date, or 95% of the then current market price per share.
If the net asset value per share exceeds the market price plus estimated brokerage commissions on the payment date for a Distribution, the Agent (or a broker-dealer selected by the Agent) shall try, for a purchase period of 30 days, to apply the amount of such Distribution on your shares (less your pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred) to purchase shares on the open market. The weighted average price (including brokerage commissions) of all shares it purchases shall be your allocated price per share. If, before the Agent has completed its purchases, the market price plus estimated brokerage commissions exceeds the net asset value of the shares as of the payment date, the purchase price the Agent paid may exceed the net asset value of the shares, resulting in the acquisition of fewer shares than if such Distribution had been paid in shares issued by the Fund. Participants should note that they will not be able to instruct the Agent to purchase shares at a specific time or at a specific price. The Agent may make open-market
purchases on any securities exchange where shares are traded, in the over-the-counter market or in negotiated transactions, and may be on such terms as to price, delivery and otherwise as the Agent shall determine.
The market price of shares on a particular date shall be the last sales price on NYSE MKT, or, if there is no sale on the exchange on that date, then the mean between the closing bid and asked quotations on the exchange on such date. The net asset value per share on a particular date shall be the amount most recently calculated by or on behalf of the Fund as required by law.
The Agent shall at all times act in good faith and agree to use its best efforts within reasonable limits to ensure the accuracy of all services performed under this agreement and to comply with applicable law, but assumes no responsibility and shall not be liable for loss or damage due to errors unless such error is caused by the Agents negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct or that of its employees. Your uninvested funds held by the Agent will not bear interest. The Agent shall have no responsibility for the value of shares acquired. For the purpose of cash investments, the Agent may commingle your funds with those of other participants in the same Fund.
There is no direct charge to participants for reinvesting Distributions, since the Agents fees are paid by the Fund. However, when shares are purchased in the open market, each participant will pay a pro rata portion of any brokerage commissions incurred. If you elect by notice to the Agent to have it sell part or all of your shares and remit the proceeds, the Agent will deduct brokerage commissions from the proceeds.
The automatic reinvestment of Distributions does not relieve you of any taxes that may be payable on Distributions. In connection with the reinvestment of Distributions, shareholders generally will be treated as having received a Distribution equal to the cash Distribution that would have been paid.
The Agent will forward to you any proxy solicitation material and will vote any shares so held for you first in accordance with the instructions set forth on proxies you return to the Fund, and then with respect to any proxies you do not return to the Fund in the same portion as the Agent votes proxies the participants return to the Fund.
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DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN
As long as you participate in the Plan, the Agent will hold the shares it has acquired for you in safekeeping, in its name or in the name of its nominee. This convenience provides added protection against loss, theft or inadvertent destruction of certificates. However, you may request that a certificate representing your Plan shares be issued to you. Upon your written request, the Agent will deliver to you, without charge, a certificate or certificates for the full shares. The Agent will send you a confirmation of each acquisition made for your account as soon as practicable, but not later than 60 days after the acquisition date. Although from time to time you may have an undivided fractional interest in a share of the Fund, no certificates for a fractional share will be issued. Distributions on fractional shares will be credited to your account. If you terminate your account under the Plan, the Agent will adjust for any such undivided fractional interest in cash at the market value of shares at the time of termination.
You may withdraw from the Plan at any time, without penalty, by notifying the Agent in writing at the address above or by telephone at (800) 416-5585. Such termination will be effective with respect to a Distribution if the Agent receives your notice prior to the Distribution record date. The Agent or the Fund may terminate the Plan upon notice to you in writing mailed at least 30 days prior to any record date for the payment of any Distribution. Upon any termination, the Agent will issue, without charge, stock certificates for all full shares you own and will convert any fractional shares you hold at the time of termination to cash at current market price and send you a check for the proceeds.
The Fund or the Agent may amend the Plan. You will receive written notice at least 30 days before the effective date of any amendment.
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Financial Highlights | |||||||||||||||
Year Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | |||||||||||
Per common share operating performance | |||||||||||||||
(for a common share outstanding throughout the year) | |||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of year | $ | 14.36 | $ | 14.30 | $ | 13.82 | $ | 14.01 | $ | 13.48 | |||||
Income from investment operations: | |||||||||||||||
Net investment incomea | 0.73 | 0.80 | 0.90 | 0.92 | 0.98 | ||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) | (0.33 | ) | 0.20 | 0.62 | (0.04 | ) | 0.65 | ||||||||
Dividends to preferred shareholders from net investment income | (0.06 | ) | (0.06 | ) | (0.05 | ) | (0.05 | ) | (0.05 | ) | |||||
Total from investment operations | 0.34 | 0.94 | 1.47 | 0.83 | 1.58 | ||||||||||
Less distributions to common shareholders from net investment | |||||||||||||||
income | (0.83 | ) | (0.88 | ) | (0.99 | ) | (1.02 | ) | (1.05 | ) | |||||
Net asset value, end of year | $ | 13.87 | $ | 14.36 | $ | 14.30 | $ | 13.82 | $ | 14.01 | |||||
Market value, end of yearb | $ | 12.17 | $ | 13.05 | $ | 14.82 | $ | 14.01 | $ | 13.14 | |||||
Total return (based on market value per share) | (0.35 | )% | (5.85 | )% | 13.41 | % | 15.03 | % | 6.25 | % | |||||
Ratios to average net assets applicable to common sharesc | |||||||||||||||
Expenses | 1.14 | %d,e | 1.12 | %d,e | 1.13 | % | 1.15 | % | 1.14 | % | |||||
Net investment income | 5.14 | % | 5.65 | % | 6.44 | % | 6.73 | % | 7.15 | % | |||||
Supplemental data | |||||||||||||||
Net assets applicable to common shares, end of year (000’s) | $ | 372,080 | $ | 385,388 | $ | 383,632 | $ | 370,095 | $ | 375,016 | |||||
Portfolio turnover rate | 289.67 | % | 318.57 | % | 295.39 | % | 302.18 | % | 262.57 | % | |||||
Portfolio turnover rate excluding mortgage dollar rollsf | 92.15 | % | 137.85 | % | 106.42 | % | 106.49 | % | 115.51 | % | |||||
Asset coverage per preferred share | $ | 76,665 | $ | 78,686 | $ | 79,157 | $ | 77,796 | $ | 76,096 | |||||
Liquidation preference per preferred share | $ | 25,000 | $ | 25,000 | $ | 25,000 | $ | 25,000 | $ | 25,000 |
aBased on average daily common shares outstanding.
bBased on the last sale on the NYSE Amex.
cBased on income and expenses applicable to both common and preferred shares.
dBenefit of expense reduction rounds to less than 0.01%.
eBenefit of waiver and payments by affiliates rounds to less than 0.01%.
fSee Note 1(f) regarding mortgage dollar rolls.
10 | Annual Report | The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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Statement of Investments, March 31, 2015 | |||||
Country | Shares | Value | |||
Common Stocks 0.0%† | |||||
Materials 0.0%† | |||||
aVerso Corp. | United States | 5,659 | $ | 10,186 | |
Transportation 0.0%† | |||||
aCEVA Holdings LLC | United Kingdom | 112 | 81,302 | ||
Total Common Stocks (Cost $186,255) | 91,488 | ||||
Convertible Preferred Stocks 0.1% | |||||
Transportation 0.1% | |||||
aCEVA Holdings LLC, cvt. pfd., A-1 | United Kingdom | 6 | 6,000 | ||
aCEVA Holdings LLC, cvt. pfd., A-2 | United Kingdom | 243 | 175,994 | ||
Total Convertible Preferred Stocks (Cost $369,948) | 181,994 | ||||
Principal | |||||
Amount* | |||||
Corporate Bonds 50.2% | |||||
Automobiles & Components 0.4% | |||||
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., senior note, 6.50%, 3/01/21 | United States | 1,500,000 | 1,599,375 | ||
Banks 3.1% | |||||
bBank of America Corp., junior sub. bond, M, 8.125% to 5/15/18, | |||||
FRN thereafter, Perpetual | United States | 3,000,000 | 3,251,250 | ||
CIT Group Inc., | |||||
4.25%, 8/15/17 | United States | 1,500,000 | 1,526,250 | ||
senior note, 5.00%, 5/15/17 | United States | 500,000 | 515,470 | ||
csenior note, 144A, 6.625%, 4/01/18 | United States | 500,000 | 537,500 | ||
bCitigroup Inc., junior sub. bond, M, 6.30% to 5/15/24, FRN thereafter, | |||||
Perpetual | United States | 1,300,000 | 1,330,875 | ||
bJPMorgan Chase & Co., junior sub. bond, | |||||
R, 6.00% to 8/01/23, FRN thereafter, Perpetual | United States | 1,500,000 | 1,526,250 | ||
V, 5.00% to 7/30/19, FRN thereafter, Perpetual | United States | 500,000 | 493,725 | ||
Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC, sub. note, 6.125%, 12/15/22 | United Kingdom | 1,000,000 | 1,125,000 | ||
The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC, sub. note, 6.934%, 4/09/18 | United Kingdom | 1,100,000 | EUR | 1,359,578 | |
11,665,898 | |||||
Capital Goods 0.4% | |||||
cBombardier Inc., senior bond, 144A, 7.50%, 3/15/25 | Canada | 1,000,000 | 989,375 | ||
TransDigm Inc., senior sub. note, 6.00%, 7/15/22 | United States | 500,000 | 501,875 | ||
1,491,250 | |||||
Commercial & Professional Services 0.3% | |||||
cAnna Merger Sub Inc., senior note, 144A, 7.75%, 10/01/22 | United States | 700,000 | 725,375 | ||
cIHS Inc., senior note, 144A, 5.00%, 11/01/22 | United States | 300,000 | 302,820 | ||
1,028,195 | |||||
Consumer Durables & Apparel 1.3% | |||||
KB Home, senior note, | |||||
4.75%, 5/15/19 | United States | 1,100,000 | 1,078,000 | ||
7.00%, 12/15/21 | United States | 1,100,000 | 1,122,000 | ||
cTaylor Morrison Communities Inc./Monarch Communities Inc., senior note, | |||||
144A, | |||||
7.75%, 4/15/20 | United States | 722,000 | 768,930 | ||
5.25%, 4/15/21 | United States | 800,000 | 796,000 | ||
Visant Corp., senior note, 10.00%, 10/01/17 | United States | 1,400,000 | 1,260,000 | ||
5,024,930 |
franklintempleton.com
Annual Report
| 11
FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS
Principal | ||||
Country | Amount* | Value | ||
Corporate Bonds (continued) | ||||
Consumer Services 2.5% | ||||
c1011778 BC ULC/New Red Finance Inc., secured note, second lien, 144A, | ||||
6.00%, 4/01/22 | Canada | 1,200,000 | $ | 1,249,500 |
c24 Hour Holdings III LLC, senior note, 144A, 8.00%, 6/01/22 | United States | 1,000,000 | 860,000 | |
dCaesars Entertainment Operating Co. Inc., senior secured note, first lien, | ||||
11.25%, 6/01/17 | United States | 1,600,000 | 1,168,000 | |
cCleopatra Finance Ltd., senior secured note, 144A, 5.625%, 2/15/20 | Italy | 2,000,000 | 1,973,750 | |
cLandrys Inc., senior note, 144A, 9.375%, 5/01/20 | United States | 1,000,000 | 1,075,000 | |
MGM Resorts International, senior note, 8.625%, 2/01/19 | United States | 2,000,000 | 2,290,000 | |
cScientific Games International Inc., senior secured note, first lien, 144A, | ||||
7.00%, 1/01/22 | United States | 800,000 | 822,000 | |
9,438,250 | ||||
Diversified Financials 2.2% | ||||
cAerCap Ireland Capital Ltd./AerCap Global Aviation Trust, senior note, | ||||
144A, 5.00%, 10/01/21 | Netherlands | 600,000 | 636,750 | |
Ally Financial Inc., senior note, 6.25%, 12/01/17 | United States | 2,000,000 | 2,135,000 | |
E*TRADE Financial Corp., senior note, | ||||
5.375%, 11/15/22 | United States | 400,000 | 423,000 | |
4.625%, 9/15/23 | United States | 500,000 | 510,000 | |
Navient Corp., senior note, | ||||
8.45%, 6/15/18 | United States | 1,400,000 | 1,557,500 | |
5.50%, 1/15/19 | United States | 1,100,000 | 1,124,750 | |
5.00%, 10/26/20 | United States | 300,000 | 295,125 | |
5.875%, 3/25/21 | United States | 200,000 | 199,250 | |
cOneMain Financial Holdings Inc., senior note, 144A, 7.25%, 12/15/21 | United States | 1,100,000 | 1,144,000 | |
8,025,375 | ||||
Energy 10.2% | ||||
BreitBurn Energy Partners LP/BreitBurn Finance Corp., senior bond, | ||||
7.875%, 4/15/22 | United States | 1,500,000 | 1,087,500 | |
cCalifornia Resources Corp., senior note, 144A, 5.50%, 9/15/21 | United States | 1,500,000 | 1,344,375 | |
cCalumet Specialty Products Partners LP/Finance Co., senior note, 144A, | ||||
7.75%, 4/15/23 | United States | 1,000,000 | 1,016,250 | |
CGG SA, senior note, 6.875%, 1/15/22 | France | 1,200,000 | 964,500 | |
CHC Helicopter SA, senior secured note, first lien, 9.25%, 10/15/20 | Canada | 2,001,600 | 1,723,878 | |
Chesapeake Energy Corp., senior note, | ||||
6.625%, 8/15/20 | United States | 2,500,000 | 2,593,750 | |
6.125%, 2/15/21 | United States | 1,000,000 | 1,017,500 | |
Clayton Williams Energy Inc., senior note, 7.75%, 4/01/19 | United States | 1,500,000 | 1,402,500 | |
cCompressco Partners LP/Finance Corp., senior note, 144A, 7.25%, | ||||
8/15/22 | United States | 400,000 | 352,000 | |
CONSOL Energy Inc., senior note, | ||||
5.875%, 4/15/22 | United States | 1,100,000 | 1,001,000 | |
c144A, 8.00%, 4/01/23 | United States | 900,000 | 886,500 | |
cCrestwood Midstream Partners LP/Crestwood Midstream Finance Corp., | ||||
senior note, 144A, 6.25%, 4/01/23 | United States | 600,000 | 607,500 | |
cDrill Rigs Holdings Inc., secured note, 144A, 6.50%, 10/01/17 | United States | 1,500,000 | 1,207,500 | |
Energy Transfer Equity LP, senior note, first lien, 7.50%, 10/15/20 | United States | 2,500,000 | 2,812,500 | |
Energy XXI Gulf Coast Inc., | ||||
senior note, 7.50%, 12/15/21 | United States | 600,000 | 219,000 | |
csenior note, 144A, 6.875%, 3/15/24 | United States | 300,000 | 105,000 | |
csenior secured note, second lien, 144A, 11.00%, 3/15/20 | United States | 500,000 | 476,875 | |
cEnQuest PLC, senior note, 144A, 7.00%, 4/15/22 | United Kingdom | 1,000,000 | 715,000 | |
12 | Annual Report | franklintempleton.com |
FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS
Principal | ||||
Country | Amount* | Value | ||
Corporate Bonds (continued) | ||||
Energy (continued) | ||||
EPL Oil & Gas Inc., senior note, 8.25%, 2/15/18 | United States | 1,000,000 | $ | 745,000 |
Halcon Resources Corp., senior note, | ||||
9.75%, 7/15/20 | United States | 100,000 | 71,000 | |
8.875%, 5/15/21 | United States | 1,500,000 | 1,053,750 | |
9.25%, 2/15/22 | United States | 500,000 | 347,500 | |
Kodiak Oil & Gas Corp., senior note, 8.125%, 12/01/19 | United States | 900,000 | 947,250 | |
Linn Energy LLC/Finance Corp., senior note, | ||||
8.625%, 4/15/20 | United States | 1,500,000 | 1,290,000 | |
7.75%, 2/01/21 | United States | 1,000,000 | 800,000 | |
Martin Midstream Partners LP/Martin Midstream Finance Corp., senior note, | ||||
7.25%, 2/15/21 | United States | 1,400,000 | 1,351,000 | |
cMemorial Resource Development Corp., senior note, 144A, 5.875%, | ||||
7/01/22 | United States | 800,000 | 748,000 | |
Midstates Petroleum Co. Inc./LLC, senior note, 9.25%, 6/01/21 | United States | 800,000 | 392,000 | |
cOcean Rig UDW Inc., senior note, 144A, 7.25%, 4/01/19 | United States | 600,000 | 348,750 | |
Offshore Group Investment Ltd., | ||||
senior bond, first lien, 7.125%, 4/01/23 | United States | 600,000 | 339,750 | |
senior secured note, first lien, 7.50%, 11/01/19 | United States | 1,000,000 | 572,500 | |
Peabody Energy Corp., senior note, 6.00%, 11/15/18 | United States | 2,500,000 | 1,962,500 | |
Penn Virginia Corp., senior note, 8.50%, 5/01/20 | United States | 300,000 | 280,500 | |
Penn Virginia Resource Partners LP/Penn Virginia Resource Finance Corp., | ||||
senior note, | ||||
8.375%, 6/01/20 | United States | 502,000 | 549,690 | |
6.50%, 5/15/21 | United States | 300,000 | 317,250 | |
Regency Energy Partners LP/Regency Energy Finance Corp., senior note, | ||||
5.875%, 3/01/22 | United States | 200,000 | 218,000 | |
5.00%, 10/01/22 | United States | 500,000 | 522,500 | |
Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC, first lien, 5.625%, 2/01/21 | United States | 2,000,000 | 2,020,000 | |
Samson Investment Co., senior note, 9.75%, 2/15/20 | United States | 1,200,000 | 336,000 | |
Sanchez Energy Corp., senior note, | ||||
7.75%, 6/15/21 | United States | 1,000,000 | 970,000 | |
6.125%, 1/15/23 | United States | 500,000 | 451,875 | |
cTriangle USA Petroleum Corp., senior note, 144A, 6.75%, 7/15/22 | United States | 1,000,000 | 812,500 | |
cUltra Petroleum Corp., senior bond, 144A, 6.125%, 10/01/24 | United States | 1,200,000 | 1,035,000 | |
38,015,443 | ||||
Food, Beverage & Tobacco 1.8% | ||||
Constellation Brands Inc., senior note, 3.875%, 11/15/19 | United States | 900,000 | 929,250 | |
cCott Beverages Inc., senior note, 144A, 6.75%, 1/01/20 | United States | 700,000 | 726,250 | |
cDole Food Co. Inc., senior secured note, 144A, 7.25%, 5/01/19 | United States | 1,000,000 | 1,017,500 | |
cJBS USA LLC/Finance Inc., senior note, 144A, 8.25%, 2/01/20 | United States | 2,000,000 | 2,135,000 | |
Post Holdings Inc., senior note, | ||||
7.375%, 2/15/22 | United States | 1,000,000 | 1,037,500 | |
c144A, 6.75%, 12/01/21 | United States | 600,000 | 607,500 | |
c144A, 6.00%, 12/15/22 | United States | 100,000 | 96,875 | |
6,549,875 | ||||
Health Care Equipment & Services 3.3% | ||||
Alere Inc., | ||||
senior note, 7.25%, 7/01/18 | United States | 1,300,000 | 1,386,125 | |
senior sub. note, 6.50%, 6/15/20 | United States | 500,000 | 520,000 | |
Aviv Healthcare Properties LP/Aviv Healthcare Capital Corp., senior note, | ||||
6.00%, 10/15/21 | United States | 400,000 | 429,500 | |
Centene Corp., 4.75%, 5/15/22 | United States | 800,000 | 831,000 | |
franklintempleton.com | Annual Report | 13 |
FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS
Principal | ||||
Country | Amount* | Value | ||
Corporate Bonds (continued) | ||||
Health Care Equipment & Services (continued) | ||||
CHS/Community Health Systems Inc., | ||||
senior note, 8.00%, 11/15/19 | United States | 1,100,000 | $ | 1,171,500 |
senior secured note, first lien, 5.125%, 8/15/18 | United States | 900,000 | 930,375 | |
DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc., senior bond, 5.125%, 7/15/24 | United States | 1,000,000 | 1,023,750 | |
HCA Inc., | ||||
senior note, 7.50%, 2/15/22 | United States | 1,000,000 | 1,168,750 | |
senior note, 5.875%, 5/01/23 | United States | 1,500,000 | 1,623,750 | |
senior secured bond, first lien, 5.875%, 3/15/22 | United States | 1,000,000 | 1,107,500 | |
senior secured note, first lien, 4.25%, 10/15/19 | United States | 200,000 | 205,750 | |
Tenet Healthcare Corp., | ||||
first lien, 6.00%, 10/01/20 | United States | 500,000 | 530,625 | |
csenior note, 144A, 5.00%, 3/01/19 | United States | 500,000 | 497,500 | |
csenior note, 144A, 5.50%, 3/01/19 | United States | 900,000 | 911,250 | |
12,337,375 | ||||
Materials 5.9% | ||||
ArcelorMittal, senior note, 5.25%, 2/25/17 | Luxembourg | 3,000,000 | 3,131,250 | |
cArdagh Packaging Finance PLC, senior note, 144A, 9.125%, | ||||
10/15/20 | Luxembourg | 700,000 | 754,250 | |
cArdagh Packaging Finance PLC/Ardagh MP Holdings USA Inc., | ||||
senior note, 144A, 6.25%, 1/31/19 | Luxembourg | 300,000 | 302,250 | |
senior note, 144A, 7.00%, 11/15/20 | Luxembourg | 88,235 | 89,063 | |
esenior secured note, 144A, FRN, 3.271%, 12/15/19 | Luxembourg | 700,000 | 686,000 | |
cBarminco Finance Pty. Ltd., senior note, 144A, 9.00%, 6/01/18 | Australia | 1,000,000 | 969,375 | |
cCemex SAB de CV, secured note, 144A, 5.875%, 3/25/19 | Mexico | 500,000 | 516,875 | |
cEldorado Gold Corp., senior note, 144A, 6.125%, 12/15/20 | Canada | 1,500,000 | 1,466,250 | |
cFirst Quantum Minerals Ltd., senior note, 144A, | ||||
6.75%, 2/15/20 | Canada | 1,261,000 | 1,172,730 | |
7.00%, 2/15/21 | Canada | 1,261,000 | 1,175,882 | |
cFMG Resources (August 2006) Pty. Ltd., senior note, 144A, | ||||
6.875%, 2/01/18 | Australia | 666,667 | 657,500 | |
8.25%, 11/01/19 | Australia | 2,000,000 | 1,697,500 | |
cIneos Group Holdings SA, senior note, 144A, 5.875%, 2/15/19 | Switzerland | 800,000 | 793,000 | |
cINVISTA Finance LLC, senior secured note, 144A, 4.25%, 10/15/19 | United States | 1,400,000 | 1,398,250 | |
Novelis Inc., senior note, 8.375%, 12/15/17 | Canada | 500,000 | 523,125 | |
cOwens-Brockway Glass Container Inc., senior note, 144A, 5.00%, | ||||
1/15/22 | United States | 800,000 | 817,920 | |
cPlatform Specialty Products Corp., senior note, 144A, 6.50%, | ||||
2/01/22 | United States | 400,000 | 420,000 | |
cPolymer Group Inc., senior note, 144A, 6.875%, 6/01/19 | United States | 1,000,000 | 958,750 | |
cRain CII Carbon LLC/CII Carbon Corp., second lien, 144A, 8.25%, | ||||
1/15/21 | United States | 600,000 | 562,500 | |
Reynolds Group Issuer Inc./LLC/SA, | ||||
senior note, 8.50%, 5/15/18 | United States | 1,000,000 | 1,032,500 | |
senior note, 9.00%, 4/15/19 | United States | 100,000 | 105,250 | |
senior note, 8.25%, 2/15/21 | United States | 1,000,000 | 1,075,000 | |
senior secured note, first lien, 7.125%, 4/15/19 | United States | 500,000 | 519,375 | |
cSteel Dynamics Inc., senior note, 144A, 5.125%, 10/01/21 | United States | 1,000,000 | 1,011,250 | |
Verso Paper Holdings LLC/Inc., senior secured note, first lien, 11.75%, | ||||
1/15/19 | United States | 270,000 | 253,800 | |
22,089,645 |
14 | Annual Report
franklintempleton.com
FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS
Principal | ||||
Country | Amount* | Value | ||
Corporate Bonds (continued) | ||||
Media 4.9% | ||||
Cablevision Systems Corp., senior note, 8.625%, 9/15/17 | United States | 1,000,000 | $ | 1,127,500 |
CCO Holdings LLC/CCO Holdings Capital Corp., senior bond, 5.25%, | ||||
9/30/22 | United States | 1,500,000 | 1,539,375 | |
CCOH Safari LLC, senior bond, 5.75%, 12/01/24 | United States | 700,000 | 722,750 | |
Clear Channel Worldwide Holdings Inc., | ||||
senior note, 6.50%, 11/15/22 | United States | 700,000 | 740,250 | |
senior sub. note, 7.625%, 3/15/20 | United States | 800,000 | 846,000 | |
CSC Holdings LLC, senior note, 6.75%, 11/15/21 | United States | 1,500,000 | 1,670,625 | |
DISH DBS Corp., senior note, 7.125%, 2/01/16 | United States | 2,000,000 | 2,082,500 | |
Gannett Co. Inc., senior note, 5.125%, 10/15/19 | United States | 1,200,000 | 1,263,000 | |
iHeartCommunications Inc., senior secured bond, first lien, 9.00%, | ||||
3/01/21 | United States | 1,900,000 | 1,826,375 | |
cRadio One Inc., senior sub. note, 144A, 9.25%, 2/15/20 | United States | 600,000 | 576,000 | |
cSirius XM Radio Inc., senior bond, 144A, | ||||
6.00%, 7/15/24 | United States | 1,000,000 | 1,052,500 | |
5.375%, 4/15/25 | United States | 500,000 | 503,750 | |
cUnivision Communications Inc., | ||||
senior secured bond, first lien, 144A, 6.75%, 9/15/22 | United States | 472,000 | 507,990 | |
senior secured note, first lien, 144A, 5.125%, 5/15/23 | United States | 1,000,000 | 1,020,000 | |
cVirgin Media Secured Finance PLC, senior secured bond, first lien, 144A, | ||||
5.50%, 1/15/25 | United Kingdom | 1,100,000 | 1,144,688 | |
cWMG Acquisition Corp., senior note, 144A, 5.625%, 4/15/22 | United States | 1,500,000 | 1,509,375 | |
18,132,678 | ||||
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences 2.3% | ||||
cEndo Finance LLC/Endo Ltd./Endo Finco Inc., senior bond, 144A, 6.00%, | ||||
2/01/25 | United States | 700,000 | 721,000 | |
cGrifols Worldwide Operations Ltd., senior note, 144A, 5.25%, | ||||
4/01/22 | United States | 600,000 | 611,250 | |
c,fJaguar Holding Co. I, senior note, 144A, PIK, 9.375%, 10/15/17 | United States | 1,300,000 | 1,332,500 | |
cJaguar Holding Co. II/Merger Sub Inc., senior note, 144A, 9.50%, | ||||
12/01/19 | United States | 500,000 | 539,375 | |
Par Pharmaceutical Cos. Inc., senior note, 7.375%, 10/15/20 | United States | 1,900,000 | 2,014,000 | |
cValeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc., senior note, 144A, | ||||
6.75%, 8/15/18 | United States | 700,000 | 739,375 | |
5.625%, 12/01/21 | United States | 500,000 | 508,750 | |
cVPI Escrow Corp., senior note, 144A, 6.375%, 10/15/20 | United States | 1,500,000 | 1,563,750 | |
cVRX Escrow Corp., senior note, 144A, 5.375%, 3/15/20 | United States | 500,000 | 506,250 | |
8,536,250 | ||||
Retailing 0.6% | ||||
cArgos Merger Sub Inc., senior note, 144A, 7.125%, 3/15/23 | United States | 400,000 | 415,500 | |
cFamily Tree Escrow LLC, senior note, 144A, 5.25%, 3/01/20 | United States | 400,000 | 421,000 | |
cNetflix Inc., senior note, 144A, 5.50%, 2/15/22 | United States | 1,300,000 | 1,335,750 | |
2,172,250 | ||||
Software & Services 2.2% | ||||
cBMC Software Finance Inc., senior note, 144A, 8.125%, 7/15/21 | United States | 2,000,000 | 1,840,000 | |
Equinix Inc., senior note, 4.875%, 4/01/20 | United States | 1,500,000 | 1,556,250 | |
cFirst Data Corp., senior secured bond, second lien, 144A, 8.25%, | ||||
1/15/21 | United States | 3,000,000 | 3,247,500 | |
c,gInfor (U.S.) Inc., senior secured note, 144A, 6.50%, 5/15/22 | United States | 900,000 | 924,750 | |
Sterling International Inc., senior note, 11.00%, 10/01/19 | United States | 700,000 | 745,500 | |
8,314,000 | ||||
franklintempleton.com | Annual Report | 15 |
FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS
Principal | ||||
Country | Amount* | Value | ||
Corporate Bonds (continued) | ||||
Technology Hardware & Equipment 0.8% | ||||
cAlcatel-Lucent USA Inc., senior note, 144A, | ||||
4.625%, 7/01/17 | France | 700,000 | $ | 721,000 |
6.75%, 11/15/20 | France | 1,300,000 | 1,391,000 | |
cBlackboard Inc., senior note, 144A, 7.75%, 11/15/19 | United States | 1,000,000 | 965,000 | |
3,077,000 | ||||
Telecommunication Services 4.5% | ||||
CenturyLink Inc., senior bond, | ||||
6.75%, 12/01/23 | United States | 300,000 | 331,500 | |
c144A, 5.625%, 4/01/25 | United States | 1,400,000 | 1,412,250 | |
cDigicel Group Ltd., senior note, 144A, 8.25%, 9/30/20 | Bermuda | 1,200,000 | 1,204,500 | |
cDigicel Ltd., senior note, 144A, 6.00%, 4/15/21 | Bermuda | 700,000 | 667,625 | |
Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA, senior note, 7.25%, | ||||
4/01/19 | Luxembourg | 1,500,000 | 1,560,375 | |
10/15/20 | Luxembourg | 1,000,000 | 1,032,500 | |
cMillicom International Cellular SA, senior note, 144A, 6.625%, 10/15/21 | Luxembourg | 1,500,000 | 1,586,250 | |
Sprint Communications Inc., senior note, | ||||
8.375%, 8/15/17 | United States | 500,000 | 544,375 | |
c144A, 9.00%, 11/15/18 | United States | 1,500,000 | 1,725,000 | |
c144A, 7.00%, 3/01/20 | United States | 600,000 | 664,500 | |
Sprint Corp., | ||||
senior bond, 7.125%, 6/15/24 | United States | 300,000 | 295,500 | |
senior note, 7.25%, 9/15/21 | United States | 500,000 | 504,375 | |
T-Mobile USA Inc., senior note, | ||||
6.542%, 4/28/20 | United States | 900,000 | 950,625 | |
6.125%, 1/15/22 | United States | 300,000 | 310,500 | |
cWind Acquisition Finance SA, | ||||
senior note, 144A, 7.375%, 4/23/21 | Italy | 2,000,000 | 2,083,750 | |
senior secured note, first lien, 144A, 4.75%, 7/15/20 | Italy | 500,000 | 503,125 | |
cYmobile Corp., senior note, 144A, 8.25%, 4/01/18 | Japan | 1,200,000 | 1,249,500 | |
16,626,250 | ||||
Transportation 1.2% | ||||
cFlorida East Coast Holdings Corp., secured note, first lien, 144A, 6.75%, | ||||
5/01/19 | United States | 1,000,000 | 1,010,000 | |
Hertz Corp., senior note, | ||||
6.75%, 4/15/19 | United States | 1,000,000 | 1,037,500 | |
5.875%, 10/15/20 | United States | 1,000,000 | 1,032,500 | |
cStena AB, senior bond, 144A, 7.00%, 2/01/24 | Sweden | 600,000 | 585,000 | |
cStena International SA, secured bond, 144A, 5.75%, 3/01/24 | Sweden | 700,000 | 672,581 | |
4,337,581 | ||||
Utilities 2.3% | ||||
Calpine Corp., | ||||
senior note, 5.375%, 1/15/23 | United States | 1,500,000 | 1,507,500 | |
csenior secured bond, first lien, 144A, 7.875%, 1/15/23 | United States | 346,000 | 384,129 | |
csenior secured note, first lien, 144A, 6.00%, 1/15/22 | United States | 100,000 | 107,500 | |
cDynegy Finance I Inc./Dynegy Finance II Inc., senior note, 144A, | ||||
6.75%, 11/01/19 | United States | 2,000,000 | 2,072,500 | |
cInterGen NV, secured bond, 144A, 7.00%, 6/30/23 | Netherlands | 1,500,000 | 1,458,750 | |
NGL Energy Partners LP/NGL Energy Finance Corp., senior note, 5.125%, | ||||
7/15/19 | United States | 1,000,000 | 985,000 |
16 | Annual Report
franklintempleton.com
FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS
Principal | ||||
Country | Amount* | Value | ||
Corporate Bonds (continued) | ||||
Utilities (continued) | ||||
cNRG Yield Operating LLC, senior bond, 144A, 5.375%, 8/15/24 | United States | 700,000 | $ | 731,500 |
c,dTexas Competitive Electric Holdings Co. LLC/Texas Competitive Electric | ||||
Holdings Finance Inc., senior secured note, first lien, 144A, 11.50%, | ||||
10/01/20 | United States | 2,000,000 | 1,260,000 | |
8,506,879 | ||||
Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $189,770,736) | 186,968,499 | |||
e,hSenior Floating Rate Interests 50.0% | ||||
Automobiles & Components 1.3% | ||||
Gates Global LLC, Initial Dollar Term Loans, 4.25%, 7/03/21 | United States | 1,990,000 | 1,984,870 | |
TI Group Automotive Systems LLC, Term Loan, 4.25%, 7/02/21 | United States | 1,985,000 | 1,986,654 | |
UCI International Inc., New Tranche B Term Loan, 5.50%, 7/26/17 | United States | 1,042,210 | 1,027,879 | |
4,999,403 | ||||
Capital Goods 4.8% | ||||
Alfred Fueling Systems Inc. (Wayne Fueling), Initial Term Loan, 4.75%, | ||||
6/20/21 | United States | 992,500 | 996,222 | |
gAllison Transmission Inc., Term B-3 Loans, 4.75%, 8/23/19 | United States | 782,850 | 784,155 | |
B/E Aerospace Inc., Term Loan, 4.00%, 12/16/21 | United States | 2,611,671 | 2,636,145 | |
Doosan Infracore International and Doosan Holdings Europe, Tranche B | ||||
Term Loan, 4.50%, 5/28/21 | United States | 1,776,219 | 1,798,422 | |
Fly Funding II S.A.R.L., Loans, 4.50%, 8/09/19 | Luxembourg | 2,601,859 | 2,614,868 | |
Onsite Rental Group Operations Pty. Ltd., Initial Term Loans, 5.50%, | ||||
7/30/21 | United States | 1,990,000 | 1,965,125 | |
RBS Global Inc. (Rexnord), Term B Loan, 4.00%, 8/21/20 | United States | 2,058,650 | 2,061,958 | |
TransDigm Inc., | ||||
Tranche C, Term Loan, 3.75%, 2/28/20 | United States | 3,942,109 | 3,941,801 | |
Tranche D Term Loan, 3.75%, 6/04/21 | United States | 992,500 | 992,294 | |
17,790,990 | ||||
Commercial & Professional Services 0.8% | ||||
Interactive Data Corp., Term Loan, 4.75%, 5/02/21 | United States | 2,977,500 | 2,995,645 | |
Consumer Services 4.7% | ||||
24 Hour Fitness Worldwide Inc., Term Loan, 4.75%, 5/30/21 | United States | 1,985,000 | 1,981,899 | |
Caesars Entertainment Resort Properties LLC, Term B Loans, 7.00%, | ||||
10/11/20 | United States | 2,969,925 | 2,817,098 | |
ClubCorp Club Operations Inc., Term B Loans, 4.50%, 7/24/20 | United States | 2,770,000 | 2,788,180 | |
Fitness International LLC, Dollar Term Loan, 5.50%, 7/01/20 | United States | 1,985,000 | 1,855,975 | |
Four Seasons Holdings Inc., Second Lien Term Loan, 6.25%, | ||||
12/27/20 | Canada | 670,000 | 675,863 | |
Scientific Games International Inc., Term B-1 Loan, 6.00%, 10/18/20 | United States | 2,964,975 | 2,976,094 | |
gSeaworld Parks and Entertainment Inc., Term Loan, 4.50%, 5/14/20 | United States | 1,994,806 | 1,948,883 | |
TGI Friday’s Inc., Tranche B Term Loan, 5.25%, 7/15/20 | United States | 522,772 | 523,589 | |
Tropicana Entertainment Inc., Term Loans, 4.00%, 11/27/20 | United States | 1,940,450 | 1,938,024 | |
17,505,605 | ||||
Diversified Financials 1.6% | ||||
Guggenheim Partners Investment Management Holdings LLC, Initial U.S. | ||||
Term Loans, 4.25%, 7/22/20 | United States | 1,984,887 | 1,994,811 | |
Trans Union LLC, Initial Term Loan, 4.00%, 4/09/21 | United States | 4,015,568 | 4,020,587 | |
6,015,398 |
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Annual Report
| 17
FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS
Principal | ||||
Country | Amount* | Value | ||
e,hSenior Floating Rate Interests (continued) | ||||
Energy 1.6% | ||||
Obsidian Natural Gas Trust, Term Loan, 7.00%, 11/02/15 | United States | 231,102 | $ | 230,235 |
OSG Bulk Ships Inc., Term Loan, 5.25%, 8/05/19 | United States | 2,064,400 | 2,059,239 | |
Peabody Energy Corp., Term Loan, 4.25%, 9/24/20 | United States | 3,079,331 | 2,774,148 | |
Samson Investment Co., Second Lien Tranche I Term Loan, 5.00%, | ||||
9/25/18 | United States | 2,000,000 | 1,055,000 | |
6,118,622 | ||||
Food, Beverage & Tobacco 1.0% | ||||
AdvancePierre Foods Inc., Term Loan (Second Lien), 9.50%, 10/10/17 | United States | 840,000 | 846,300 | |
Post Holdings Inc., Series A Incremental Term Loan, 3.75%, 6/02/21 | United States | 2,828,625 | 2,839,821 | |
3,686,121 | ||||
Health Care Equipment & Services 5.1% | ||||
Alere Inc., B Term Loan, 4.25%, 6/30/17 | United States | 1,665,171 | 1,671,416 | |
Amsurg Corp., Initial Term Loan, 3.75%, 7/16/21 | United States | 2,977,500 | 2,988,666 | |
Community Health Systems Inc., 2021 Term D Loan, 4.25%, 1/27/21 | United States | 3,890,408 | 3,913,914 | |
Connolly LLC, First Lien Tranche B Term Loan, 5.00%, 5/14/21 | United States | 1,985,000 | 1,998,647 | |
DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc., Tranche B Term Loan, 3.50%, 6/24/21 | United States | 1,897,305 | 1,904,251 | |
Iasis Healthcare LLC, Term B-2 Loan, 4.50%, 5/03/18 | United States | 1,729,317 | 1,735,153 | |
National Mentor Holdings Inc., Initial Tranche B Term Loan, 4.25%, | ||||
1/31/21 | United States | 356,400 | 357,180 | |
Surgery Centers Holdings Inc., Term Loan, 5.25%, 11/03/20 | United States | 269,325 | 269,998 | |
Truven Health Analytics Inc., Tranche B Term Loan, 4.50%, 6/06/19 | United States | 593,939 | 594,117 | |
U.S. Renal Care Inc., B Term Loan, 4.25%, 7/03/19 | United States | 3,442,373 | 3,452,056 | |
18,885,398 | ||||
Household & Personal Products 0.6% | ||||
Sun Products Corp., Tranche B Term Loan, 5.50%, 3/23/20 | United States | 2,442,545 | 2,362,400 | |
Materials 6.1% | ||||
Axalta Coating Systems U.S. Holdings Inc., 2014 Specified Refinancing | ||||
Term, 3.75%, 2/01/20 | United States | 1,821,702 | 1,813,422 | |
AZ Chem U.S. Inc., Term B-3 Loan, 4.50%, 6/12/21 | United States | 899,418 | 902,369 | |
Exopack Holdings SA, Tranche B Term Loan, 5.25%, 5/08/19 | Luxembourg | 1,962,289 | 1,975,780 | |
FMG America Finance Inc. (Fortescue Metals Group), Loans, 3.75%, | ||||
6/30/19 | Australia | 3,447,328 | 3,125,989 | |
gIneos US Finance LLC, 2022 Dollar Term Loan, 5.50%, 3/31/22 | United States | 717,027 | 718,371 | |
OCI Beaumont LLC, Facility C2 Loan, 5.50%, 8/20/19 | United States | 1,820,338 | 1,835,128 | |
Oxbow Carbon LLC, First Lien Tranche B Term Loan, 4.25%, 7/19/19 | United States | 3,185,155 | 3,059,077 | |
Prescrix Inc., Term B Loans, 8.00%, 5/02/22 | United States | 120,637 | 121,240 | |
Reynolds Group Holdings Inc., Dollar Term Loan, 4.50%, 12/01/18 | United States | 2,432,304 | 2,444,682 | |
Solenis International LP and Solenis Holdings, First Lien Term Loan, | ||||
4.25%, 7/31/21 | United States | 815,900 | 815,135 | |
Tronox Pigments (Netherlands) BV, Loans, 4.00%, 3/19/20 | Netherlands | 3,929,696 | 3,935,347 | |
Univar Inc., Term B Loan, 5.00%, 6/30/17 | United States | 1,949,189 | 1,949,645 | |
22,696,185 | ||||
Media 4.9% | ||||
Charter Communications Operating LLC, Term G Loans, 4.25%, 9/12/21 | United States | 2,000,000 | 2,018,594 | |
Cumulus Media Holdings Inc., L/C Facility, 4.25%, 12/23/20 | United States | 3,318,480 | 3,267,044 | |
Gray Television Inc., Term Loan B, 3.75%, 6/13/21 | United States | 2,646,830 | 2,648,153 | |
gRegal Cinemas Corp., Term Loan, 5.25%, 3/17/22 | United States | 3,064,379 | 3,074,915 |
18 | Annual Report
franklintempleton.com
FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS
Principal | |||||
Country | Amount* | Value | |||
e,hSenior Floating Rate Interests (continued) | |||||
Media (continued) | |||||
Univision Communications Inc., | |||||
First-Lien Term Loan, Add-on, 4.00%, 3/01/20 | United States | 989,611 | $ | 988,890 | |
Replacement First-Lien Term Loan, 4.00%, 3/01/20 | United States | 617,342 | 617,052 | ||
Virgin Media Bristol LLC, B Facility, 3.50%, 6/07/20 | United States | 2,649,909 | 2,650,092 | ||
William Morris Endeavor Entertainment LLC, Term Loan B, 5.25%, | |||||
5/06/21 | United States | 2,977,500 | 2,958,146 | ||
18,222,886 | |||||
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences 2.9% | |||||
Akorn Inc., Loans, 4.50%, 4/16/21 | United States | 766,150 | 769,981 | ||
Catalent Pharma Solutions Inc., Dollar Term Loan, 4.25%, 5/20/21 | United States | 2,832,601 | 2,848,313 | ||
Pharmaceutical Product Development LLC, Term Loan, 4.00%, | |||||
12/05/18 | United States | 2,041,900 | 2,044,818 | ||
Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc., | |||||
Series C-2 Tranche B Term Loan, 3.50%, 12/11/19 | Canada | 863,588 | 864,187 | ||
Series D-2 Tranche B Term Loan, 3.50%, 2/13/19 | Canada | 1,624,763 | 1,625,891 | ||
gSeries F-1 New Term Loan, 3.25%, 4/01/22 | Canada | 1,500,354 | 1,509,028 | ||
gSeries F-2 New Term Loan, Delayed Draw, 3.25%, 4/01/22 | Canada | 1,149,207 | 1,155,851 | ||
10,818,069 | |||||
Retailing 3.7% | |||||
Academy Ltd., Initial Term Loans, 4.50%, 8/03/18 | United States | 996,718 | 1,000,100 | ||
BJ’s Wholesale Club Inc., Term Loan C, 4.50%, 9/26/19 | United States | 2,168,850 | 2,173,086 | ||
Dollar Tree Inc., Initial Term B Loans, 4.25%, 3/09/22 | United States | 2,584,613 | 2,614,902 | ||
Evergreen AcqCo. 1 LP (Savers), Term Loan, 5.00%, 7/09/19 | United States | 2,932,500 | 2,882,404 | ||
Harbor Freight Tools USA Inc., Loans, 4.75%, 7/26/19 | United States | 1,911,648 | 1,925,268 | ||
The Men’s Wearhouse Inc., Initial Term Loan, 4.50%, 6/18/21 | United States | 2,985,000 | 2,998,994 | ||
13,594,754 | |||||
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 1.4% | |||||
Avago Technologies Cayman Ltd., Term Loans, 3.75%, 5/06/21 | United States | 2,590,550 | 2,599,133 | ||
Freescale Semiconductor Inc., Tranche B-4 Term Loan, 4.25%, | |||||
2/28/20 | United States | 980,094 | 983,419 | ||
M/A-COM Technology Solutions Holdings Inc., 2014 Replacement Term | |||||
Loan, 4.50%, 5/07/21 | United States | 1,657,475 | 1,675,086 | ||
5,257,638 | |||||
Software & Services 2.5% | |||||
BMC Software Finance Inc., 2014 Replacement Term Loan, 5.00%, | |||||
9/10/20 | United States | 2,879,777 | 2,824,163 | ||
MoneyGram International Inc., Term Loan, 4.25%, 3/28/20 | United States | 4,122,992 | 3,901,381 | ||
Sungard Availability Services Capital Inc., Tranche B Term Loan, 6.00%, | |||||
3/31/19 | United States | 1,386,000 | 1,217,370 | ||
Worldpay U.S. Inc., Term Loan, 5.25%, 11/30/19 | United States | 1,192,365 | 1,200,065 | ||
9,142,979 | |||||
Technology Hardware & Equipment 1.9% | |||||
CIENA Corp., First Lien Tranche B Term Loan, 3.75%, 7/15/19 | United States | 2,973,644 | 2,977,361 | ||
Dell International LLC, Term B Loan, 4.50%, 4/29/20 | United States | 2,967,462 | 2,989,306 | ||
Oberthur Technologies of America Corp., Tranche B-2 Term Loan, 4.50%, | |||||
10/18/19 | United States | 987,500 | 985,031 | ||
6,951,698 |
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Annual Report
| 19
FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS
Principal | ||||
Country | Amount* | Value | ||
e,hSenior Floating Rate Interests (continued) | ||||
Telecommunication Services 2.2% | ||||
Genesys Telecom Holdings U.S. Inc., Dollar Term Loan, 4.00%, 2/08/20 | United States | 1,082,200 | $ | 1,077,917 |
Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA, Term Loan, 3.75%, 6/30/19 | Luxembourg | 3,410,931 | 3,401,977 | |
Telesat Canada/Telesat LLC, U.S. Term B-2 Loan, 3.50%, 3/28/19 | Canada | 1,472,401 | 1,471,469 | |
Zayo Group LLC, Term Loan, 4.00%, 7/02/19 | United States | 2,239,060 | 2,245,182 | |
8,196,545 | ||||
Transportation 2.1% | ||||
American Airlines Inc., Class B Term Loan, 3.75%, 6/27/19 | United States | 1,994,924 | 1,997,775 | |
Hertz Corp., | ||||
Credit Linked Deposit, 3.75%, 3/11/18 | United States | 1,000,000 | 991,875 | |
Tranche B-1 Term Loan, 4.00%, 3/11/18 | United States | 997,449 | 998,384 | |
Navios Maritime Partners LP, Initial Term Loan, 5.25%, 6/27/18 | Marshall Islands | 1,886,092 | 1,902,595 | |
U.S. Airways Inc., Tranche B1 Term Loan, 3.50%, 5/22/19 | United States | 2,000,000 | 1,997,858 | |
7,888,487 | ||||
Utilities 0.8% | ||||
Calpine Corp., | ||||
Term Loan, 4.00%, 4/01/18 | United States | 2,611,200 | 2,621,898 | |
Term Loans, 4.00%, 10/09/19 | United States | 331,500 | 332,835 | |
2,954,733 | ||||
Total Senior Floating Rate Interests | ||||
(Cost $187,337,501) | 186,083,556 | |||
Foreign Government and Agency Securities 1.1% | ||||
Government of Malaysia, | ||||
3.835%, 8/12/15 | Malaysia | 755,000 | MYR | 204,366 |
4.72%, 9/30/15 | Malaysia | 1,263,000 | MYR | 343,643 |
3.197%, 10/15/15 | Malaysia | 1,980,000 | MYR | 534,761 |
gsenior note, 3.172%, 7/15/16 | Malaysia | 1,100,000 | MYR | 296,736 |
Government of Poland, | ||||
5.50%, 4/25/15 | Poland | 645,000 | PLN | 170,653 |
5.00%, 4/25/16 | Poland | 125,000 | PLN | 34,170 |
4.75%, 10/25/16 | Poland | 2,100,000 | PLN | 581,098 |
Strip, 1/25/16 | Poland | 310,000 | PLN | 80,777 |
Korea Monetary Stabilization Bond, senior bond, 2.47%, 4/02/15 | South Korea | 43,700,000 | KRW | 39,410 |
Korea Treasury Bond, senior note, | ||||
3.25%, 6/10/15 | South Korea | 42,100,000 | KRW | 38,075 |
2.75%, 12/10/15 | South Korea | 899,200,000 | KRW | 816,867 |
3.00%, 12/10/16 | South Korea | 1,000,000,000 | KRW | 921,016 |
Total Foreign Government and Agency Securities | ||||
(Cost $4,391,388) | 4,061,572 | |||
Asset-Backed Securities and Commercial | ||||
Mortgage-Backed Securities 10.4% | ||||
Banks 5.8% | ||||
Banc of America Commercial Mortgage Trust, 2006-4, AJ, 5.695%, | ||||
7/10/46 | United States | 1,610,000 | 1,658,284 | |
eBear Stearns Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust, 2004-4, A6, FRN, 3.517%, | ||||
6/25/34 | United States | 1,005,016 | 1,022,272 | |
Bear Stearns Commercial Mortgage Securities Inc., | ||||
e2006-PW11, AJ, FRN, 5.605%, 3/11/39 | United States | 1,750,000 | 1,795,054 | |
e2006-PW12, AJ, FRN, 5.751%, 9/11/38 | United States | 1,500,000 | 1,541,656 | |
2006-PW13, AJ, 5.611%, 9/11/41 | United States | 1,820,000 | 1,875,661 | |
20 | Annual Report | franklintempleton.com |
FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS
Principal | ||||
Country | Amount* | Value | ||
Asset-Backed Securities and Commercial | ||||
Mortgage-Backed Securities (continued) | ||||
Banks (continued) | ||||
Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust, | ||||
2006-C5, AJ, 5.482%, 10/15/49 | United States | 894,000 | $ | 890,437 |
e2007-C6, AM, FRN, 5.706%, 6/10/17 | United States | 1,520,000 | 1,620,911 | |
eCitigroup/Deutsche Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust, 2006-CD3, AJ, FRN, | ||||
5.688%, 10/15/48 | United States | 1,300,000 | 1,267,337 | |
Greenwich Capital Commercial Funding Corp., | ||||
e2006-GG7, AJ, FRN, 5.82%, 7/10/38 | United States | 1,590,000 | 1,629,209 | |
2007-GG9, AM, 5.475%, 3/10/39 | United States | 1,430,000 | 1,509,834 | |
JP Morgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, | ||||
2006-CB17, AM, 5.464%, 12/12/43 | United States | 380,000 | 393,292 | |
e2006-LDP7, AJ, FRN, 5.873%, 4/15/45 | United States | 2,000,000 | 2,013,560 | |
eMerrill Lynch Mortgage Investors Trust, | ||||
2003-OPT1, B2, FRN, 4.299%, 7/25/34 | United States | 33,301 | 13,700 | |
2005-A6, 2A3, FRN, 0.554%, 8/25/35 | United States | 540,000 | 502,762 | |
eMerrill Lynch Mortgage Trust, 2005-CKI1, AJ, FRN, 5.282%, 11/12/37 | United States | 1,825,000 | 1,861,181 | |
eMorgan Stanley ABS Capital I Inc. Trust, 2003-NC10, B1, FRN, 5.124%, | ||||
10/25/33 | United States | 350,442 | 260,384 | |
eMorgan Stanley Capital I Trust, | ||||
2006-HQ8, AJ, FRN, 5.497%, 3/12/44 | United States | 110,000 | 112,564 | |
2007-IQ16, AMA, FRN, 6.094%, 12/12/49 | United States | 645,000 | 702,499 | |
Wells Fargo Mortgage Backed Securities Trust, | ||||
e2004-W, A9, FRN, 2.616%, 11/25/34 | United States | 448,011 | 456,076 | |
2007-3, 3A1, 5.50%, 4/25/37 | United States | 208,568 | 215,810 | |
21,342,483 | ||||
Diversified Financials 4.6% | ||||
c,eARES CLO Funds, 2007-12A, B, 144A, FRN, 1.262%, 11/25/20 | United States | 530,000 | 526,661 | |
e,iArgent Securities Inc., 2003-W5, M4, FRN, 5.799%, 10/25/33 | United States | 493,113 | 492,065 | |
c,eAtrium CDO Corp., 10A, C, 144A, FRN, 2.854%, 7/16/25 | United States | 920,000 | 903,974 | |
c,eAtrium XI, 11A, C, 144A, FRN, 3.435%, 10/23/25 | Cayman Islands | 910,000 | 914,286 | |
c,eBCAP LLC Trust, 2009-RR1, 2A2, 144A, FRN, 2.615%, 5/26/35 | United States | 1,600,000 | 1,603,752 | |
c,eCatamaran CLO Ltd., 2013-1A, C, 144A, FRN, 2.856%, 1/27/25 | Cayman Islands | 750,000 | 724,582 | |
c,eCent CDO Ltd., 2007-15A, A2B, 144A, FRN, 0.607%, 3/11/21 | United States | 457,000 | 433,707 | |
c,eCent CLO LP, 2013-17A, D, 144A, FRN, 3.255%, 1/30/25 | Cayman Islands | 392,157 | 390,953 | |
eChase Funding Mortgage Loan Asset-Backed Certificates, 2004-2, 2A2, | ||||
FRN, 0.674%, 2/25/35 | United States | 493,412 | 432,816 | |
c,eCIFC Funding Ltd., 2007-3A, A1J, 144A, FRN, 0.656%, 7/26/21 | United States | 640,000 | 625,293 | |
c,eColumbusNova CLO Ltd., 2007-2A, A2, 144A, FRN, 1.253%, | ||||
10/15/21 | United States | 310,000 | 303,530 | |
c,eCT CDO IV Ltd., 2006-4A, A1, 144A, FRN, 0.486%, 10/20/43 | United States | 873,670 | 870,268 | |
c,eEaton Vance CDO Ltd., 2014-1A, | ||||
A, 144A, FRN, 1.703%, 7/15/26 | Cayman Islands | 1,000,000 | 997,800 | |
B, 144A, FRN, 2.303%, 7/15/26 | United States | 400,000 | 398,576 | |
C, 144A, FRN, 3.253%, 7/15/26 | United States | 170,000 | 169,113 | |
c,eGleneagles CLO Ltd., 2005-1A, A2, 144A, FRN, 0.655%, 11/01/17 | United States | 1,000,000 | 995,440 | |
eImpac Secured Assets Trust, 2007-2, FRN, 0.424%, 4/25/37 | United States | 496,459 | 459,910 | |
c,eING Investment Management CLO Ltd., | ||||
2013-1A, B, 144A, FRN, 3.153%, 4/15/24 | Cayman Islands | 180,000 | 179,888 | |
2013-1A, C, 144A, FRN, 3.753%, 4/15/24 | Cayman Islands | 450,000 | 438,007 | |
2013-2A, B, 144A, FRN, 2.936%, 4/25/25 | United States | 1,000,000 | 987,000 | |
eMortgageIT Trust, 2004-1, A2, FRN, 1.074%, 11/25/34 | United States | 612,853 | 593,749 |
franklintempleton.com
Annual Report
| 21
FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS
Principal | ||||
Country | Amount* | Value | ||
Asset-Backed Securities and Commercial | ||||
Mortgage-Backed Securities (continued) | ||||
Diversified Financials (continued) | ||||
eOpteum Mortgage Acceptance Corp. Trust, 2005-4, 1APT, FRN, 0.484%, | ||||
11/25/35 | United States | 892,599 | $ | 843,455 |
e,iOption One Mortgage Loan Trust, 2003-6, M5, FRN, 5.124%, 11/25/33 | United States | 193,598 | 117,839 | |
eStructured Asset Investment Loan Trust, 2003-BC2, M3, FRN, 5.049%, | ||||
4/25/33 | United States | 13,987 | 7,252 | |
eStructured Asset Securities Corp., 2005-2XS, 2A2, FRN, 1.672%, | ||||
2/25/35 | United States | 549,685 | 531,800 | |
e,jTalisman 6 Finance, Reg S, FRN, 0.251%, 10/22/16 | Germany | 499,920 | EUR | 531,541 |
eThornburg Mortgage Securities Trust, 2005-1, A3, FRN, 2.234%, | ||||
4/25/45 | United States | 1,282,427 | 1,291,855 | |
c,eWestchester CLO Ltd., 2007-1A, A1A, 144A, FRN, 0.48%, 8/01/22 | United States | 478,145 | 472,976 | |
17,238,088 | ||||
Total Asset-Backed Securities and Commercial | ||||
Mortgage-Backed Securities (Cost $37,597,813) | 38,580,571 | |||
Mortgage-Backed Securities 32.0% | ||||
eFederal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. (FHLMC) Adjustable | ||||
Rate 0.1% | ||||
FHLMC, 2.452%, 5/01/34 | United States | 279,065 | 296,665 | |
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. (FHLMC) Fixed | ||||
Rate 4.2% | ||||
FHLMC Gold 15 Year, 5.00%, 12/01/23 | United States | 1,112,673 | 1,210,555 | |
FHLMC Gold 15 Year, 5.50%, 7/01/19 | United States | 28,519 | 30,468 | |
FHLMC Gold 30 Year, 3.50%, 5/01/42 - 10/01/43 | United States | 1,536,587 | 1,619,542 | |
gFHLMC Gold 30 Year, 3.50%, 4/01/45 | United States | 8,000,000 | 8,384,844 | |
FHLMC Gold 30 Year, 4.50%, 9/01/39 - 4/01/40 | United States | 471,083 | 513,873 | |
FHLMC Gold 30 Year, 5.00%, 11/01/38 | United States | 652,105 | 722,356 | |
FHLMC Gold 30 Year, 6.00%, 7/01/28 - 11/01/36 | United States | 1,205,737 | 1,377,062 | |
FHLMC Gold 30 Year, 6.50%, 8/01/27 - 3/01/38 | United States | 637,283 | 749,990 | |
FHLMC Gold 30 Year, 7.00%, 9/01/27 | United States | 168,391 | 186,265 | |
FHLMC Gold 30 Year, 8.00%, 1/01/31 | United States | 30,417 | 35,850 | |
FHLMC Gold 30 Year, 8.50%, 7/01/31 | United States | 532,188 | 657,661 | |
15,488,466 | ||||
eFederal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) Adjustable | ||||
Rate 0.3% | ||||
FNMA, 1.79% - 1.975%, 6/01/32 - 7/01/34 | United States | 927,828 | 984,715 | |
Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) Fixed | ||||
Rate 22.3% | ||||
FNMA 15 Year, 2.50%, 8/01/29 - 3/01/30 | United States | 3,646,783 | 3,750,479 | |
gFNMA 15 Year, 2.50%, 4/15/30 | United States | 8,000,000 | 8,216,875 | |
FNMA 15 Year, 3.00%, 8/01/27 | United States | 21,862 | 22,963 | |
gFNMA 15 Year, 3.00%, 4/01/30 | United States | 11,775,000 | 12,344,431 | |
gFNMA 15 Year, 3.50%, 1/01/26 - 4/01/30 | United States | 504,390 | 535,261 | |
FNMA 15 Year, 5.50%, 7/01/20 | United States | 468,567 | 501,296 | |
FNMA 15 Year, 6.00%, 6/01/17 | United States | 16 | 16 | |
FNMA 15 Year, 6.50%, 7/01/20 | United States | 3,800 | 3,947 | |
FNMA 30 Year, 2.50%, 1/01/30 | United States | 1,021,612 | 1,050,635 | |
FNMA 30 Year, 3.00%, 9/01/32 - 4/01/43 | United States | 2,691,869 | 2,765,363 | |
gFNMA 30 Year, 3.50%, 4/01/45 | United States | 26,900,000 | 28,255,508 | |
FNMA 30 Year, 4.00%, 12/01/40 - 2/01/41 | United States | 3,172,422 | 3,401,623 | |
22 | Annual Report | franklintempleton.com |
FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS
Principal | |||||
Country | Amount* | Value | |||
Mortgage-Backed Securities (continued) | |||||
Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) Fixed | |||||
Rate (continued) | |||||
gFNMA 30 Year, 4.00%, 4/01/45 | United States | 15,715,000 | $ | 16,804,001 | |
FNMA 30 Year, 5.00%, 5/01/38 - 7/01/39 | United States | 1,454,317 | 1,617,763 | ||
FNMA 30 Year, 5.50%, 6/01/37 | United States | 990,881 | 1,115,165 | ||
FNMA 30 Year, 6.00%, 4/01/33 - 6/01/38 | United States | 1,838,821 | 2,102,164 | ||
FNMA 30 Year, 6.50%, 8/01/32 | United States | 229,785 | 270,164 | ||
FNMA 30 Year, 7.00%, 9/01/18 | United States | 42,040 | 44,523 | ||
FNMA 30 Year, 8.00%, 10/01/29 | United States | 95,750 | 107,136 | ||
FNMA 30 Year, 8.50%, 8/01/26 | United States | 188,185 | 205,401 | ||
83,114,714 | |||||
Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA) Fixed | |||||
Rate 5.1% | |||||
GNMA I SF 30 Year, 6.50%, 6/15/31 - 12/15/33 | United States | 516,301 | 595,251 | ||
GNMA II SF 30 Year, 3.50%, 6/20/42 - 1/20/45 | United States | 2,368,243 | 2,498,264 | ||
gGNMA II SF 30 Year, 3.50%, 4/01/45 | United States | 14,900,000 | 15,679,340 | ||
GNMA II SF 30 Year, 7.00%, 1/20/24 - 1/20/29 | United States | 67,094 | 78,264 | ||
GNMA II SF 30 Year, 8.00%, 1/20/28 - 10/20/31 | United States | 162,108 | 201,464 | ||
19,052,583 | |||||
Total Mortgage-Backed Securities | |||||
(Cost $117,022,180) | 118,937,143 | ||||
Municipal Bonds 1.2% | |||||
Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District Wastewater System Revenue, | |||||
Series B, 4.00%, 5/01/19 | United States | 1,000,000 | 1,112,790 | ||
New York Thruway Authority General Junior Indebtedness Obligations | |||||
Revenue, Series A, 5.00%, 5/01/19 | United States | 1,000,000 | 1,140,630 | ||
Tobacco Settlement Financing Corp. Revenue, Asset-Backed, State | |||||
Contingency Contract Secured, Refunding, Series B, 5.00%, | |||||
6/01/20 | United States | 1,000,000 | 1,007,280 | ||
Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority Revenues, Refunding, | |||||
Sub Series D-1, 2.885%, 11/15/19 | United States | 1,000,000 | 1,037,420 | ||
Total Municipal Bonds (Cost $4,211,357) | 4,298,120 | ||||
Shares | |||||
Litigation Trusts (Cost $—) 0.0% | |||||
Materials 0.0% | |||||
a,kNewPage Corp., Litigation Trust | United States | 1,500,000 | — | ||
Total Investments before Short Term Investments | |||||
(Cost $540,887,178) | 539,202,943 | ||||
Short Term Investments (Cost $12,015,598) 3.2% | |||||
Money Market Funds 3.2% | |||||
a,lInstitutional Fiduciary Trust Money Market Portfolio | United States | 12,015,598 | 12,015,598 | ||
Total Investments (Cost $552,902,776) 148.1% | 551,218,541 | ||||
Preferred Shares (24.2)% | (90,000,000 | ) | |||
Other Assets, less Liabilities (24.0)% | (89,138,512 | ) | |||
Net Assets 100.0% | $ | 372,080,029 |
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Annual Report
| 23
FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS
†Rounds to less than 0.1% of net assets.
*The principal amount is stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated.
aNon-income producing.
bPerpetual security with no stated maturity date.
cSecurity was purchased pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 and may be sold in transactions exempt from registration only to qualified institutional
buyers or in a public offering registered under the Securities Act of 1933. These securities have been deemed liquid under guidelines approved by the Trust’s Board of
Trustees. At March 31, 2015, the aggregate value of these securities was $98,389,789, representing 26.44% of net assets.
dSee Note 8 regarding defaulted securities.
eThe coupon rate shown represents the rate at period end.
fIncome may be received in additional securities and/or cash.
gA portion or all of the security purchased on a when-issued, delayed delivery, or to-be-announced (TBA) basis. See Note 1(c).
hSee Note 1(g) regarding senior floating rate interests.
iThe bond pays interest and/or principal based upon the issuer’s ability to pay, which may be less than the stated interest rate or principal paydown.
jSecurity was purchased pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, which exempts from registration securities offered and sold outside of the United States.
Such a security cannot be sold in the United States without either an effective registration statement filed pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, or pursuant to an exemp-
tion from registration. This security has been deemed liquid under guidelines approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees. At March 31, 2015, the value of this security was
$531,541, representing 0.14% of net assets.
kSecurity has been deemed illiquid because it may not be able to be sold within seven days.
lSee Note 4(c) regarding investments in Institutional Fiduciary Trust Money Market Portfolio.
At March 31 2015, the Fund had the following forward exchange contracts outstanding. See Note 1(d).
Forward Exchange Contracts | |||||||||||
Contract | Settlement | Unrealized | Unrealized | ||||||||
Currency | Counterpartya Type | Quantity | Amount | Date | Appreciation | Depreciation | |||||
Euro | DBAB | Buy | 210,898 | $ | 221,126 | 5/07/15 | $ | 5,777 | $ | — | |
Euro | DBAB | Sell | 210,898 | 282,825 | 5/07/15 | 55,921 | — | ||||
Euro | JPHQ | Sell | 105,568 | 141,459 | 5/07/15 | 27,879 | — | ||||
Euro | DBAB | Buy | 414,358 | 441,389 | 6/18/15 | 4,679 | — | ||||
Euro | DBAB | Sell | 427,447 | 535,079 | 6/18/15 | 74,920 | — | ||||
Euro | JPHQ | Sell | 78,316 | 98,488 | 6/18/15 | 14,178 | — | ||||
Japanese Yen | DBAB | Sell | 718,475,000 | 6,137,952 | 6/18/15 | 144,717 | (3,314 | ) | |||
Japanese Yen | JPHQ | Sell | 180,180,000 | 1,653,412 | 6/18/15 | 149,591 | — | ||||
Euro | DBAB | Sell | 2,621 | 3,131 | 7/23/15 | 307 | — | ||||
Japanese Yen | DBAB | Sell | 180,410,000 | 1,519,268 | 7/23/15 | 12,637 | — | ||||
Euro | DBAB | Sell | 1,839,668 | 2,103,036 | 8/27/15 | 120,236 | — | ||||
Japanese Yen | DBAB | Sell | 171,860,000 | 1,467,384 | 8/27/15 | 31,301 | — | ||||
Japanese Yen | HSBC | Sell | 28,600,000 | 244,367 | 8/27/15 | 5,382 | — | ||||
Japanese Yen | JPHQ | Sell | 60,500,000 | 516,934 | 8/27/15 | 11,388 | — | ||||
Euro | DBAB | Sell | 706,386 | 803,020 | 9/17/15 | 41,399 | — | ||||
Japanese Yen | DBAB | Sell | 585,933,750 | 4,930,356 | 9/17/15 | 35,481 | (3,010 | ) | |||
Japanese Yen | HSBC | Sell | 32,110,000 | 270,890 | 9/17/15 | 2,479 | — | ||||
Japanese Yen | JPHQ | Sell | 94,170,000 | 794,207 | 9/17/15 | 7,031 | — | ||||
Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 745,303 | (6,324 | ) | ||||||||
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | $ | 738,979 | |||||||||
aMay be comprised of multiple contracts with the same counterparty, currency and settlement date. |
See Abbreviations on page 35. | |
24 | Annual Report | The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. | franklintempleton.com |
FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST
Financial Statements
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
March 31, 2015
Assets: | |||
Investments in securities: | |||
Cost - Unaffiliated issuers | $ | 540,887,178 | |
Cost - Sweep Money Fund (Note 4c) | 12,015,598 | ||
Total cost of investments | $ | 552,902,776 | |
Value - Unaffiliated issuers | $ | 539,202,943 | |
Value - Sweep Money Fund (Note 4c) | 12,015,598 | ||
Total value of investments | 551,218,541 | ||
Cash | 900,703 | ||
Restricted cash (Note 1e) | 710,000 | ||
Foreign currency, at value (cost $860,533) | 862,414 | ||
Receivables: | |||
Investment securities sold | 6,070,295 | ||
Interest | 4,707,842 | ||
Unrealized appreciation on forward exchange contracts | 745,303 | ||
Total assets | 565,215,098 | ||
Liabilities: | |||
Payables: | |||
Investment securities purchased | 100,236,470 | ||
Management fees | 327,968 | ||
Distributions to common shareholders | 1,663,810 | ||
Distributions to preferred shareholders | 11,422 | ||
Due to brokers | 760,000 | ||
Unrealized depreciation on forward exchange contracts | 6,324 | ||
Accrued expenses and other liabilities | 129,075 | ||
Total liabilities | 103,135,069 | ||
Preferred shares at redemption value [$25,000 liquidation preference per share (3,600 shares outstanding)] (Note 3) | 90,000,000 | ||
Net assets applicable to common shares | $ | 372,080,029 | |
Net assets applicable to common shares consist of: | |||
Paid-in capital | $ | 381,377,452 | |
Undistributed net investment income | 148,402 | ||
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (962,916 | ) | |
Accumulated net realized gain (loss) | (8,482,909 | ) | |
Net assets applicable to common shares | $ | 372,080,029 | |
Common shares outstanding | 26,835,650 | ||
Net asset value per common share | $ | 13.87 |
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. | Annual Report | 25
FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Statement of Operations
for the year ended March 31, 2015
Investment income: | |||
Interest | $ | 23,853,705 | |
Expenses: | |||
Management fees (Note 4a) | 3,919,456 | ||
Transfer agent fees | 75,201 | ||
Custodian fees (Note 5) | 8,188 | ||
Reports to shareholders | 37,535 | ||
Registration and filing fees | 24,991 | ||
Professional fees | 86,842 | ||
Trustees’ fees and expenses | 22,402 | ||
Auction agent fees and expenses | 45,012 | ||
Other | 106,405 | ||
Total expenses | 4,326,032 | ||
Expense reductions (Note 5) | (475 | ) | |
Expenses waived/paid by affiliates (Note 4c) | (12,206 | ) | |
Net expenses | 4,313,351 | ||
Net investment income | 19,540,354 | ||
Realized and unrealized gains (losses): | |||
Net realized gain (loss) from: | |||
Investments | 4,646,269 | ||
Foreign currency transactions | 2,678,513 | ||
Swap contracts | 183,056 | ||
Net realized gain (loss) | 7,507,838 | ||
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | |||
Investments | (17,493,288 | ) | |
Translation of other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies | 794,448 | ||
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (16,698,840 | ) | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | (9,191,002 | ) | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 10,349,352 | ||
Distributions to preferred shareholders from net investment income | (1,491,134 | ) | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets applicable to common shares resulting from operations | $ | 8,858,218 |
26 | Annual Report | The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Statements of Changes in Net Assets | ||||||
Year Ended March 31, | ||||||
2015 | 2014 | |||||
Increase (decrease) in net assets: | ||||||
Operations: | ||||||
Net investment income | $ | 19,540,354 | $ | 21,575,571 | ||
Net realized gain (loss) from investments, foreign currency transactions and swap contracts | 7,507,838 | 5,510,114 | ||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and translation of other assets | ||||||
and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies | (16,698,840 | ) | (374,750 | ) | ||
Distribution to preferred shareholders from net investment income | (1,491,134 | ) | (1,498,482 | ) | ||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets applicable to common shares resulting from operations | 8,858,218 | 25,212,453 | ||||
Distributions to common shareholders from net investment income | (22,166,247 | ) | (23,508,029 | ) | ||
Capital share transactions from reinvestment of distributions (Note 2) | | 52,099 | ||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | (13,308,029 | ) | 1,756,523 | |||
Net assets applicable to common shares: | ||||||
Beginning of year | 385,388,058 | 383,631,535 | ||||
End of year | $ | 372,080,029 | $ | 385,388,058 | ||
Undistributed net investment income included in net assets: | ||||||
End of year | $ | 148,402 | $ | 152,058 |
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. | Annual Report | 27
FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST
Notes to Financial Statements
1. Organization and Significant Accounting Policies
Franklin Limited Duration Income Trust (Fund) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (1940 Act) as a closed-end management investment company and applies the specialized accounting and reporting guidance in U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP).
Effective June 30, 2014, the Franklin Templeton Limited Duration Income Trust was renamed the Franklin Limited Duration Income Trust.
The following summarizes the Funds significant accounting policies.
a. Financial Instrument Valuation
The Funds investments in financial instruments are carried at fair value daily. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The Fund calculates the net asset value (NAV) per share at the close of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), generally at 4 p.m. Eastern time (NYSE close) on each day the NYSE is open for trading. Under compliance policies and procedures approved by the Funds Board of Trustees (the Board), the Funds administrator has responsibility for oversight of valuation, including leading the cross-functional Valuation and Liquidity Oversight Committee (VLOC). The VLOC provides administration and oversight of the Funds valuation policies and procedures, which are approved annually by the Board. Among other things, these procedures allow the Fund to utilize independent pricing services, quotations from securities and financial instrument dealers, and other market sources to determine fair value.
Equity securities listed on an exchange or on the NASDAQ National Market System are valued at the last quoted sale price or the official closing price of the day, respectively. Over-the-counter (OTC) securities are valued within the range of the most recent quoted bid and ask prices. Securities that trade in multiple markets or on multiple exchanges are valued according to the broadest and most representative market. Certain equity securities are valued based upon fundamental characteristics or relationships to similar securities. Investments in open-end mutual funds are valued at the closing NAV.
Debt securities generally trade in the OTC market rather than on a securities exchange. The Funds pricing services use multiple valuation techniques to determine fair value. In instances where sufficient market activity exists, the pricing services may utilize a market-based approach through which quotes from market makers are used to determine fair value. In instances where sufficient market activity may not exist or is limited, the pricing services also utilize proprietary valuation models which may consider market characteristics such as benchmark yield curves, credit spreads, estimated default rates, anticipated market interest rate volatility, coupon rates, anticipated timing of principal repayments, underlying collateral, and other unique security features in order to estimate the relevant cash flows, which are then discounted to calculate the fair value. Securities denominated in a foreign currency are converted into their U.S. dollar equivalent at the foreign exchange rate in effect at the NYSE close on the date that the values of the foreign debt securities are determined.
Certain derivative financial instruments (derivatives) trade in the OTC market. The Funds pricing services use various techniques including industry standard option pricing models and proprietary discounted cash flow models to determine the fair value of those instruments. The Funds net benefit or obligation under the derivative contract, as measured by the fair value of the contract, is included in net assets.
The Fund has procedures to determine the fair value of financial instruments for which market prices are not reliable or readily available. Under these procedures, the VLOC convenes on a regular basis to review such financial instruments and considers a number of factors, including significant unobservable valuation inputs, when arriving at fair value. The VLOC primarily employs a market-based approach which may use related or comparable assets or liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values, and other relevant information for the investment to determine the fair value of the investment. An income-based valuation approach may also be used in which the anticipated future cash flows of the investment are discounted to calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature or duration of any restrictions on the disposition of the investments. Due to the inherent uncertainty of valuations of such investments, the fair values may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had an active market existed. The VLOC employs various methods for calibrating these valuation approaches including a regular review of key inputs and assumptions, transactional back-testing or disposition analysis, and reviews of any related market activity.
28 | Annual Report
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FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
b. Foreign Currency Translation
Portfolio securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars based on the exchange rate of such currencies against U.S. dollars on the date of valuation. The Fund may enter into foreign currency exchange contracts to facilitate transactions denominated in a foreign currency. Purchases and sales of securities, income and expense items denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate in effect on the transaction date. Portfolio securities and assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies contain risks that those currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. Occasionally, events may impact the availability or reliability of foreign exchange rates used to convert the U.S. dollar equivalent value. If such an event occurs, the foreign exchange rate will be valued at fair value using procedures established and approved by the Board.
The Fund does not separately report the effect of changes in foreign exchange rates from changes in market prices on securities held. Such changes are included in net realized and unrealized gain or loss from investments in the Statement of Operations.
Realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from sales of foreign currencies, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions and the difference between the recorded amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in foreign exchange rates on foreign denominated assets and liabilities other than investments in securities held at the end of the reporting period.
c. Securities Purchased on a When-Issued, Delayed Delivery and TBA Basis
The Fund purchases securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery, and to-be-announced (TBA) basis, with payment and delivery scheduled for a future date. These transactions are subject to market fluctuations and are subject to the risk that the value at delivery may be more or less than the trade date purchase price. Although the Fund will generally purchase these securities with the intention of holding the securities, it may sell the securities before the settlement date. Sufficient assets have been segregated for these securities and collateral has been pledged and/or received for open TBA trades.
d. Derivative Financial Instruments
The Fund invested in derivatives in order to manage risk or gain exposure to various other investments or markets. Derivatives are financial contracts based on an underlying or notional amount, require no initial investment or an initial net investment that is smaller than would normally be required to have a similar response to changes in market factors, and require or permit net settlement. Derivatives contain various risks including the potential inability of the counterparty to fulfill their obligations under the terms of the contract, the potential for an illiquid secondary market, and/or the potential for market movements which expose the Fund to gains or losses in excess of the amounts shown in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Realized gain and loss and unrealized appreciation and depreciation on these contracts for the period are included in the Statement of Operations.
Derivative counterparty credit risk is managed through a formal evaluation of the creditworthiness of all potential counterparties. The Fund attempts to reduce its exposure to counterparty credit risk on OTC derivatives, whenever possible, by entering into International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) master agreements with certain counterparties. These agreements contain various provisions, including but not limited to collateral requirements, events of default, or early termination. Termination events applicable to the counterparty include certain deteriorations in the credit quality of the counterparty. Termination events applicable to the Fund include failure of the Fund to maintain certain net asset levels and/or limit the decline in net assets over various periods of time. In the event of default or early termination, the ISDA master agreement gives the non-defaulting party the right to net and close-out all transactions traded, whether or not arising under the ISDA agreement, to one net amount payable by one counterparty to the other. However, absent an event of default or early termination, OTC derivative assets and liabilities are presented gross and not offset in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Early termination by the counterparty may result in an immediate payment by the Fund of any net liability owed to that counter-party under the ISDA agreement.
Collateral requirements differ by type of derivative. Collateral terms are contract specific for OTC derivatives. For OTC derivatives traded under an ISDA master agreement, posting of collateral is required by either the fund or the applicable counterparty if the total net exposure of all OTC derivatives
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Annual Report
| 29
FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. Organization and Significant Accounting
Policies (continued)
d. Derivative Financial Instruments (continued)
with the applicable counterparty exceeds the minimum transfer amount, which typically ranges from $100,000 to $250,000, and can vary depending on the counterparty and the type of the agreement. Generally, collateral is determined at the close of fund business each day and any additional collateral required due to changes in derivative values may be delivered by the fund or the counterparty within a few business days. Collateral pledged and/or received by the fund, if any, is held in segregated accounts with the funds custodian/counterparty broker and can be in the form of cash and/or securities. Unrestricted cash may be invested according to the Funds investment objectives.
At March 31, 2015, the Fund received $303,364 in U.S. Treasury Notes as collateral for derivatives.
The Fund entered into forward exchange contracts primarily to manage and/or gain exposure to certain foreign currencies. A forward exchange contract is an agreement between the Fund and a counterparty to buy or sell a foreign currency at a specific exchange rate on a future date.
The Fund entered into credit default swap contracts primarily to manage and/or gain exposure to credit risk. A credit default swap is an agreement between the Fund and a counterparty whereby the buyer of the contract receives credit protection and the seller of the contract guarantees the credit worthiness of a referenced debt obligation. These agreements may be privately negotiated in the over-the-counter market (OTC credit default swaps) or may be executed in a multilateral trade facility platform, such as a registered exchange (centrally cleared credit default swaps). The underlying referenced debt obligation may be a single issuer of corporate or sovereign debt, a credit index, or a tranche of a credit index. In the event of a default of the underlying referenced debt obligation, the buyer is entitled to receive the notional amount of the credit default swap contract from the seller in exchange for the referenced debt obligation, a net settlement amount equal to the notional amount of the credit default swap less the recovery value of the referenced debt obligation, or other agreed upon
amount. For centrally cleared credit default swaps, required initial margins are pledged by the Fund, and the daily change in fair value is accounted for as a variation margin payable or receivable in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Over the term of the contract, the buyer pays the seller a periodic stream of payments, provided that no event of default has occurred. Such periodic payments are accrued daily as an unrealized appreciation or depreciation until the payments are made, at which time they are realized. Payments received or paid to initiate a credit default swap contract are reflected in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and represent compensating factors between stated terms of the credit default swap agreement and prevailing market conditions (credit spreads and other relevant factors). These upfront payments are amortized over the term of the contract as a realized gain or loss in the Statement of Operations.
See Note 9 regarding other derivative information.
e. Restricted Cash
At March 31, 2015, the Fund held restricted cash in connection with investments in certain derivative securities. Restricted cash is held in a segregated account with the counterparty broker and is reflected in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
f. Mortgage Dollar Rolls
The Fund enters into mortgage dollar rolls, typically on a TBA basis. Mortgage dollar rolls are agreements between the Fund and a financial institution to simultaneously sell and repurchase mortgage-backed securities at a future date. Gains or losses are realized on the initial sale, and the difference between the repurchase price and the sale price is recorded as an unrealized gain or loss to the Fund upon entering into the mortgage dollar roll. In addition, the Fund may invest the cash proceeds that are received from the initial sale. During the period between the sale and repurchase, the Fund is not entitled to principal and interest paid on the mortgage backed securities. The risks of mortgage dollar roll transactions include the potential inability of the counterparty to fulfill its obligations.
The Fund is investing in mortgage dollar rolls as an alternate form of leverage. As a result, the mortgage dollar rolls are considered indebtedness or a senior security for purposes of the asset coverage requirements under the 1940 Act.
30 | Annual Report
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FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
g. Senior Floating Rate Interests
The Fund invests in senior secured corporate loans that pay interest at rates which are periodically reset by reference to a base lending rate plus a spread. These base lending rates are generally the prime rate offered by a designated U.S. bank or the London InterBank Offered Rate (LIBOR). Senior secured corporate loans often require prepayment of principal from excess cash flows or at the discretion of the borrower. As a result, actual maturity may be substantially less than the stated maturity. Senior secured corporate loans in which the Fund invests are generally readily marketable, but may be subject to certain restrictions on resale.
h. Income and Deferred Taxes
It is the Funds policy to qualify as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code. The Fund intends to distribute to shareholders substantially all of its taxable income and net realized gains to relieve it from federal income and excise taxes. As a result, no provision for U.S. federal income taxes is required.
The Fund may be subject to foreign taxation related to income received, capital gains on the sale of securities and certain foreign currency transactions in the foreign jurisdictions in which it invests. Foreign taxes, if any, are recorded based on the tax regulations and rates that exist in the foreign markets in which the Fund invests. When a capital gain tax is determined to apply the Fund records an estimated deferred tax liability in an amount that would be payable if the securities were disposed of on the valuation date.
The Fund recognizes the tax benefits of uncertain tax positions only when the position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by the tax authorities based on the technical merits of the tax position. As of March 31, 2015, and for all open tax years, the Fund has determined that no liability for unrecognized tax benefits is required in the Funds financial statements related to uncertain tax positions taken on a tax return (or expected to be taken on future tax returns). Open tax years are those that remain subject to examination and are based on each tax jurisdictions statute of limitation.
i. Security Transactions, Investment Income, Expenses and Distributions
Security transactions are accounted for on trade date. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined on a specific identification basis. Interest income and estimated expenses are accrued daily. Amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities are included in interest income. Paydown gains and losses are recorded as an adjustment to interest income. Facility fees are recognized as income over the expected term of the loan. Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date and are determined according to income tax regulations (tax basis). Distributable earnings determined on a tax basis may differ from earnings recorded in accordance with U.S. GAAP. These differences may be permanent or temporary. Permanent differences are reclassified among capital accounts to reflect their tax character. These reclassifications have no impact on net assets or the results of operations. Temporary differences are not reclassified, as they may reverse in subsequent periods.
j. Accounting Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
k. Guarantees and Indemnifications
Under the Trusts organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified by the Trust against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Fund, enters into contracts with service providers that contain general indemnification clauses. The Trusts maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet occurred. Currently, the Trust expects the risk of loss to be remote.
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Annual Report
| 31
FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
2. Shares of Beneficial Interest
At March 31, 2015, there were an unlimited number of shares authorized (without par value).
During the year ended March 31, 2015, there were no shares issued; all reinvested distributions were satisfied with previously issued shares purchased in the open market. During the year ended March 31, 2014, there were 3,618 shares issued for $52,099 from reinvested distributions.
3. Auction Rate Preferred Shares
The Fund has outstanding 1,200 Preferred Shares Series M, 1,200 Preferred Shares Series W and 1,200 Preferred Shares Series F, each with a $25,000 liquidation preference totaling $90,000,000. Preferred Shares are senior to common shares and the Fund will not declare or pay any dividend on the common shares unless the Fund has declared or paid full cumulative dividends on the Preferred Shares through the most recent dividend date. Dividends to preferred shareholders are cumulative and are declared weekly, at rates established through an auction process. The weekly auctions for Series M, W and F have all failed during the year ended March 31, 2015; consequently, the dividend rate paid on the Preferred Shares has moved to the maximum rate as defined in the prospectus. During the year ended March 31, 2015, the dividends on Preferred Shares ranged from 1.617% to 1.644%.
The Fund is required to maintain, on a weekly basis, a specified discounted value of its portfolio in compliance with guidelines established by Fitch Ratings and Moody’s Investor Services Inc., and is required to maintain asset coverage for the Preferred Shares of at least 200%.
The Preferred Shares are redeemable by the Fund at any time and are subject to mandatory redemption if the asset coverage or discounted value requirements are not met. During the year ended March 31, 2015, all requirements were met.
4. Transactions with Affiliates
Franklin Resources, Inc. is the holding company for various subsidiaries that together are referred to as Franklin Templeton Investments. Certain officers and trustees of the Fund are also officers, and/or directors of the following subsidiaries:
Subsidiary | Affiliation |
Franklin Advisers, Inc. (Advisers) | Investment manager |
Franklin Templeton Services, LLC (FT Services) | Administrative manager |
a. Management Fees
The Fund pays an investment management fee to Advisers of 0.70% per year of the average daily managed assets. Managed assets are defined as the Fund’s gross asset value minus the sum of accrued liabilities, other than the liquidation value of the Preferred Shares and other financial leverage.
b. Administrative Fees
Under an agreement with Advisers, FT Services provides administrative services to the Fund. The fee is paid by Advisers based on the Fund’s average daily managed assets, and is not an additional expense of the Fund.
c. Investments in Institutional Fiduciary Trust Money Market Portfolio
The Fund invests in Institutional Fiduciary Trust Money Market Portfolio (Sweep Money Fund), an affiliated open-end management investment company. Management fees paid by the Fund are waived on assets invested in the Sweep Money Fund, as noted in the Statement of Operations, in an amount not to exceed the management and administrative fees paid directly or indirectly by the Sweep Money Fund. Prior to April 1, 2013, the waiver was accounted for as a reduction to management fees.
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FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
5. Expense Offset Arrangement
The Fund has entered into an arrangement with its custodian whereby credits realized as a result of uninvested cash balances are used to reduce a portion of the Funds custodian expenses. During the year ended March 31, 2015, the custodian fees were reduced as noted in the Statement of Operations.
6. Income Taxes
For tax purposes, capital losses may be carried over to offset future capital gains. Capital loss carryforwards with no expiration, if any, must be fully utilized before those losses with expiration dates.
At March 31, 2015, the Fund had capital loss carryforwards of $8,480,888 expiring in 2018. During the year ended March 31, 2015, the Fund utilized $3,391,802 of capital loss carryforwards. The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, was as follows:
2015 | 2014 | |||
Distributions paid from ordinary income | $ | 23,657,381 | $ | 25,006,511 |
At March 31, 2015, the cost of investments, net unrealized appreciation (depreciation), and undistributed ordinary income for income tax purposes were as follows:
Cost of investments | $ | 553,391,707 | |
Unrealized appreciation | $ | 10,679,374 | |
Unrealized depreciation | (12,852,540 | ) | |
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | $ | (2,173,166 | ) |
Distributable earnings Undistributed ordinary income | $ | 3,016,068 |
Differences between income and/or capital gains as determined on a book basis and a tax basis are primarily due to differing treatment of foreign currency transactions, mortgage dollar rolls, paydown losses and bond discounts and premiums.
7. Investment Transactions
Purchases and sales of investments (excluding short term securities) for the year ended March 31, 2015, aggregated $1,589,394,070 and $1,586,103,456, respectively.
8. Credit Risk and Defaulted Securities
At March 31, 2015, the Fund had 72.14% of its portfolio invested in high yield, senior secured floating rate notes, or other securities rated below investment grade. These securities may be more sensitive to economic conditions causing greater price volatility and are potentially subject to a greater risk of loss due to default than higher rated securities.
The Fund held defaulted securities and/or other securities for which the income has been deemed uncollectible. At March 31, 2015, the aggregate value of these securities was $2,428,000, representing 0.65% of the Funds net assets. The Fund discontinues accruing income on securities for which income has been deemed uncollectible and provides an estimate for losses on interest receivable. The securities have been identified in the accompanying Statement of Investments.
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FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
9. Other Derivative Information
At March 31, 2015, the Fund’s investments in derivative contracts are reflected in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as follows:
Asset Derivatives | Liability Derivatives | |||||
Derivative Contracts | ||||||
Not Accounted for as | Statement of Assets and | Statement of Assets and | ||||
Hedging Instruments | Liabilities Location | Fair Value | Liabilities Location | Fair Value | ||
Foreign exchange contracts | Unrealized appreciation on | Unrealized depreciation on | ||||
forward exchange contracts | $ | 745,303 | forward exchange contracts | $ | 6,324 |
For the year ended March 31, 2015, the effect of derivative contracts in the Fund’s Statement of Operations was as follows:
Change in | ||||||
Unrealized | ||||||
Derivative Contracts | Realized | Appreciation | ||||
Not Accounted for as | Gain (Loss) | (Depreciation) | ||||
Hedging Instruments | Statement of Operations Locations | for the Year | for the Year | |||
Foreign exchange contracts | Net realized gain (loss) from foreign currency transactions / Net | |||||
change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on translation | ||||||
of other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies | $ | 2,762,918 | $ | 819,427 | ||
Credit contracts | Net realized gain (loss) from swap contracts / Net change in | |||||
unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments | 183,056 | (116,894 | ) |
For the year ended March 31, 2015, the average month end fair value of derivatives represented 0.42% of average month end net assets. The average month end number of open derivative contracts for the year was 41.
See Note 1(d) regarding derivative financial instruments.
10. Fair Value Measurements
The Fund follows a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between market data obtained from independent sources (observable inputs) and the Fund’s own market assumptions (unobservable inputs). These inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s financial instruments and are summarized in the following fair value hierarchy:
The input levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with financial instruments at that level.
For movements between the levels within the fair value hierarchy, the Fund has adopted a policy of recognizing the transfers as of the date of the underlying event which caused the movement.
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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
A summary of inputs used as of March 31, 2015, in valuing the Funds assets and liabilities carried at fair value, is as follows:
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||
Assets: | ||||||||
Investments in Securities: | ||||||||
Equity Investments:a | ||||||||
Transportation | $ | | $ | 263,296 | $ | | $ | 263,296 |
All Other Equity Investmentsb | 10,186 | | | 10,186 | ||||
Corporate Bonds | | 186,968,499 | | 186,968,499 | ||||
Senior Floating Rate Interests | | 186,083,556 | | 186,083,556 | ||||
Foreign Government and Agency Securities | | 4,061,572 | | 4,061,572 | ||||
Asset-Backed Securities and Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities | | 38,580,571 | | 38,580,571 | ||||
Mortgage-Backed Securities | | 118,937,143 | | 118,937,143 | ||||
Municipal Bonds | | 4,298,120 | | 4,298,120 | ||||
Litigation Trust | | | c | c | ||||
Short Term Investments | 12,015,598 | | | 12,015,598 | ||||
Total Investments in Securities | $ | 12,025,784 | $ | 539,192,757 | $ | c | $ | 551,218,541 |
Other Financial Instruments | ||||||||
Forward Exchange Contracts | $ | | $ | 745,303 | $ | | $ | 745,303 |
Liabilities: | ||||||||
Other Financial Instruments | ||||||||
Forward Exchange Contracts | $ | | $ | 6,324 | $ | | $ | 6,324 |
aIncludes common and convertible preferred stocks. | ||||||||
bFor detailed categories, see the accompanying Statement of Investments. | ||||||||
cIncludes securities determined to have no value at March 31, 2015. |
A reconciliation of assets in which Level 3 inputs are used in determining fair value is presented when there are significant Level 3 financial instruments at the end of the year.
11. Subsequent Events
The Fund has evaluated subsequent events through the issuance of the financial statements and determined that no events have occurred that require disclosure.
Abbreviations | |||||
Counterparty | Currency | Selected Portfolio | |||
DBAB Deutsche Bank AG | EUR | Euro | CDO Collateralized Debt Obligation | ||
HSBC | HSBC Bank USA, N.A. | KRW | South Korean Won | CLO | Collateralized Loan Obligation |
JPHQ | JP Morgan Chase & Co. | MYR | Malaysian Ringgit | FRN | Floating Rate Note |
PLN | Polish Zloty | L/C | Letter of Credit | ||
PIK | Payment-In-Kind | ||||
SF | Single Family |
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FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees and Shareholders of Franklin Limited Duration Income Trust
In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the statement of investments, and the related statements of operations and of changes in net assets and the financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Franklin Limited Duration Income Trust (the Fund) at March 31, 2015, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements and financial highlights (hereafter referred to as financial statements) are the responsibility of the Funds management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits, which included confirmation of securities at March 31, 2015 by correspondence with the custodian, transfer agent and brokers, provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
San Francisco, California
May 15, 2015
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Tax Information (unaudited)
Under Section 871(k)(1)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code (Code), the Fund hereby reports the maximum amount allowable but no less than $16,659,482 as interest related dividends for purposes of the tax imposed under Section 871(a)(1)(A) of the Code for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015.
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FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST
Board Members and Officers | ||||
The name, year of birth and address of the officers and board members, as well as their affiliations, positions held with the Trust, | ||||
principal occupations during at least the past five years and number of portfolios overseen in the Franklin Templeton Investments | ||||
fund complex are shown below. Generally, each board member serves a three-year term until that person’s successor is elected | ||||
and qualified. | ||||
Independent Board Members | ||||
Number of Portfolios in | ||||
Name, Year of Birth | Length of | Fund Complex Overseen | Other Directorships Held | |
and Address | Position | Time Served | by Board Member* | During at Least the Past 5 Years |
Harris J. Ashton (1932) | Trustee | Since 2003 | 138 | Bar-S Foods (meat packing company) |
One Franklin Parkway | (1981-2010). | |||
San Mateo, CA 94403-1906 | ||||
Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: | ||||
Director of various companies; and formerly, Director, RBC Holdings, Inc. (bank holding company) (until 2002); and President, Chief Executive | ||||
Officer and Chairman of the Board, General Host Corporation (nursery and craft centers) (until 1998). | ||||
Mary C. Choksi (1950) | Trustee | Since October | 112 | Avis Budget Group Inc. (car rental) |
One Franklin Parkway | 2014 | (2007-present), Omnicom Group Inc. | ||
San Mateo, CA 94403-1906 | (advertising and marketing commu- | |||
nications services) (2011-present) and | ||||
H.J. Heinz Company (processed foods | ||||
and allied products) (1998-2006). | ||||
Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: | ||||
Founding Partner and Senior Managing Director, Strategic Investment Group (investment management group) (1987-present); director of | ||||
various companies; and formerly, Founding Partner and Managing Director, Emerging Markets Management LLC (investment management | ||||
firm) (1987-2011); and Loan Officer/Senior Loan Officer/Senior Pension Investment Officer, World Bank Group (international financial | ||||
institution) (1977-1987). | ||||
Sam Ginn (1937) | Trustee | Since 2007 | 112 | ICO Global Communications |
One Franklin Parkway | (Holdings) Limited (satellite company) | |||
San Mateo, CA 94403-1906 | (2006-2010), Chevron Corporation | |||
(global energy company) (1989-2009), | ||||
Hewlett-Packard Company (technology | ||||
company) (1996-2002), Safeway, Inc. | ||||
(grocery retailer) (1991-1998) and | ||||
TransAmerica Corporation (insurance | ||||
company) (1989-1999). | ||||
Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: | ||||
Private investor; and formerly, Chairman, First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) (interoperable wireless broadband network) (2012-2014); | ||||
Chairman of the Board, Vodafone AirTouch, PLC (wireless company) (1999-2000); Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, AirTouch | ||||
Communications (cellular communications) (1993-1998) and Pacific Telesis Group (telephone holding company) (1988-1994). | ||||
Edith E. Holiday (1952) | Trustee | Since 2005 | 138 | Hess Corporation (exploration and |
One Franklin Parkway | refining of oil and gas) (1993-present), | |||
San Mateo, CA 94403-1906 | RTI International Metals, Inc. (manu- | |||
facture and distribution of titanium) | ||||
(1999-present), Canadian National | ||||
Railway (railroad) (2001-present), | ||||
White Mountains Insurance Group, | ||||
Ltd. (holding company) (2004-present) | ||||
and H.J. Heinz Company (processed | ||||
foods and allied products) (1994-2013). | ||||
Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: | ||||
Director or Trustee of various companies and trusts; and formerly, Assistant to the President of the United States and Secretary of the | ||||
Cabinet (1990-1993); General Counsel to the United States Treasury Department (1989-1990); and Counselor to the Secretary and Assistant | ||||
Secretary for Public Affairs and Public Liaison – United States Treasury Department (1988-1989). |
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Independent Board Members (continued) | ||||
Number of Portfolios in | ||||
Name, Year of Birth | Length of | Fund Complex Overseen | Other Directorships Held | |
and Address | Position | Time Served | by Board Member* | During at Least the Past 5 Years |
J. Michael Luttig (1954) | Trustee | Since 2009 | 138 | Boeing Capital Corporation (aircraft |
One Franklin Parkway | financing) (2006-2013). | |||
San Mateo, CA 94403-1906 | ||||
Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: | ||||
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and member of the Executive Council, The Boeing Company (aerospace company); and formerly, | ||||
Federal Appeals Court Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (1991-2006). | ||||
Frank A. Olson (1932) | Trustee | Since 2005 | 138 | Hess Corporation (exploration and |
One Franklin Parkway | refining of oil and gas) (1998-2013). | |||
San Mateo, CA 94403-1906 | ||||
Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: | ||||
Director of various companies; and formerly, Chairman of the Board, The Hertz Corporation (car rental) (1980-2000) and Chief Executive | ||||
Officer (1977-1999); and Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, UAL Corporation (airlines) (June-December 1987). | ||||
Larry D. Thompson (1945) | Trustee | Since 2007 | 138 | Cbeyond, Inc. (business commu- |
One Franklin Parkway | nications provider) (2010-2012), | |||
San Mateo, CA 94403-1906 | The Southern Company (energy | |||
company) (December 2014; | ||||
previously 2010-2012) and Graham | ||||
Holdings Company (education and | ||||
media organization) (2011-present). | ||||
Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: | ||||
Director of various companies; John A. Sibley Professor of Corporate and Business Law, University of Georgia School of Law (January 2015; | ||||
previously 2011-2012); and formerly, Executive Vice President – Government Affairs, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, PepsiCo, | ||||
Inc. (consumer products) (2012-2014); Senior Vice President – Government Affairs, General Counsel and Secretary, PepsiCo, Inc. | ||||
(2004-2011); Senior Fellow of The Brookings Institution (2003-2004); Visiting Professor, University of Georgia School of Law (2004); and | ||||
Deputy Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice (2001-2003). | ||||
John B. Wilson (1959) | Lead | Trustee since | 112 | None |
One Franklin Parkway | Independent | 2006 and Lead | ||
San Mateo, CA 94403-1906 | Trustee | Independent | ||
Trustee since 2008 | ||||
Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: | ||||
President, Staples Europe (office supplies) (2012-present); President and Founder, Hyannis Port Capital, Inc. (real estate and private equity | ||||
investing); serves on private and non-profit boards; and formerly, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President, Gap, Inc. (retail) | ||||
(1996-2000); Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President – Finance and Strategy, Staples, Inc. (1992-1996); Senior Vice President – | ||||
Corporate Planning, Northwest Airlines, Inc. (airlines) (1990-1992); and Vice President and Partner, Bain & Company (consulting firm) | ||||
(1986-1990). |
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FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST | ||||
Interested Board Members and Officers | ||||
Number of Portfolios in | ||||
Name, Year of Birth | Length of | Fund Complex Overseen | Other Directorships Held | |
and Address | Position | Time Served | by Board Member* | During at Least the Past 5 Years |
**Gregory E. Johnson (1961) | Trustee and | Trustee since 2013 155 | None | |
One Franklin Parkway | Vice President | and Vice President | ||
San Mateo, CA 94403-1906 | since 2003 | |||
Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: | ||||
Chairman of the Board, Member – Office of the Chairman, Director, President and Chief Executive Officer, Franklin Resources, Inc.; officer | ||||
and/or director or trustee, as the case may be, of some of the other subsidiaries of Franklin Resources, Inc. and of 46 of the investment | ||||
companies in Franklin Templeton Investments; and Vice Chairman, Investment Company Institute. | ||||
**Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. (1940) Chairman of | Chairman of the | 138 | None | |
One Franklin Parkway | the Board, | Board since 2013, | ||
San Mateo, CA 94403-1906 | Trustee and | Trustee and Senior | ||
Senior Vice | Vice President | |||
President | since 2003 | |||
Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: | ||||
Vice Chairman, Member – Office of the Chairman and Director, Franklin Resources, Inc.; Director, Franklin Advisers, Inc.; Senior Vice | ||||
President, Franklin Advisory Services, LLC; and officer and/or director or trustee, as the case may be, of some of the other subsidiaries | ||||
of Franklin Resources, Inc. and of 43 of the investment companies in Franklin Templeton Investments. | ||||
Alison E. Baur (1964) | Vice President | Since 2012 | Not Applicable | Not Applicable |
One Franklin Parkway | ||||
San Mateo, CA 94403-1906 | ||||
Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: | ||||
Deputy General Counsel, Franklin Templeton Investments; and officer of some of the other subsidiaries of Franklin Resources, Inc. and of | ||||
46 of the investment companies in Franklin Templeton Investments. | ||||
Laura F. Fergerson (1962) | Chief Executive Since 2009 | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | |
One Franklin Parkway | Officer – | |||
San Mateo, CA 94403-1906 | Finance and | |||
Administration | ||||
Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: | ||||
Senior Vice President, Franklin Templeton Services, LLC; and officer of 46 of the investment companies in Franklin Templeton Investments. | ||||
Gaston Gardey (1967) | Treasurer, | Since 2009 | Not Applicable | Not Applicable |
One Franklin Parkway | Chief Financial | |||
San Mateo, CA 94403-1906 | Officer and | |||
Chief | ||||
Accounting | ||||
Officer | ||||
Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: | ||||
Treasurer, U.S. Products and Client Services, Franklin Templeton Investments; and officer of 27 of the investment companies in Franklin | ||||
Templeton Investments. | ||||
Aliya S. Gordon (1973) | Vice President | Since 2009 | Not Applicable | Not Applicable |
One Franklin Parkway | ||||
San Mateo, CA 94403-1906 | ||||
Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: | ||||
Senior Associate General Counsel, Franklin Templeton Investments; officer of 46 of the investment companies in Franklin Templeton | ||||
Investments; and formerly, Litigation Associate, Steefel, Levitt & Weiss, LLP (2000-2004). |
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Interested Board Members and Officers (continued) | ||||
Number of Portfolios in | ||||
Name, Year of Birth | Length of | Fund Complex Overseen | Other Directorships Held | |
and Address | Position | Time Served | by Board Member* | During at Least the Past 5 Years |
Steven J. Gray (1955) | Vice President | Since 2009 | Not Applicable | Not Applicable |
One Franklin Parkway | ||||
San Mateo, CA 94403-1906 | ||||
Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: | ||||
Senior Associate General Counsel, Franklin Templeton Investments; Vice President, Franklin Templeton Distributors, Inc. and Franklin | ||||
Alternative Strategies Advisers, LLC; and officer of 46 of the investment companies in Franklin Templeton Investments. | ||||
Selena L. Holmes (1965) | Vice President | Since 2012 | Not Applicable | Not Applicable |
100 Fountain Parkway | – AML | |||
St. Petersburg, FL 33716-1205 | Compliance | |||
Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: | ||||
Director, Global Compliance Monitoring; Chief Compliance Officer, Franklin Alternative Strategies Advisers, LLC; Vice President, Franklin | ||||
Templeton Companies, LLC; and officer of 46 of the investment companies in Franklin Templeton Investments. | ||||
Christopher J. Molumphy (1962) President and | Since 2003 | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | |
One Franklin Parkway | Chief Executive | |||
San Mateo, CA 94403-1906 | Officer – | |||
Investment | ||||
Management | ||||
Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: | ||||
Director and Executive Vice President, Franklin Advisers, Inc.; Executive Vice President, Franklin Templeton Institutional, LLC; and officer of | ||||
some of the other subsidiaries of Franklin Resources, Inc. and of 22 of the investment companies in Franklin Templeton Investments. | ||||
Kimberly H. Novotny (1972) | Vice President | Since 2013 | Not Applicable | Not Applicable |
300 S.E. 2nd Street | ||||
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301-1923 | ||||
Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: | ||||
Associate General Counsel, Franklin Templeton Investments; Vice President and Secretary, Fiduciary Trust International of the South; Vice | ||||
President, Templeton Investment Counsel, LLC; Assistant Secretary, Franklin Resources, Inc.; and officer of 46 of the investment companies | ||||
in Franklin Templeton Investments. | ||||
Robert C. Rosselot (1960) | Chief | Since 2013 | Not Applicable | Not Applicable |
300 S.E. 2nd Street | Compliance | |||
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301-1923 | Officer | |||
Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: | ||||
Director, Global Compliance, Franklin Templeton Investments; Vice President, Franklin Templeton Companies, LLC; officer of 46 of the | ||||
investment companies in Franklin Templeton Investments; and formerly, Senior Associate General Counsel, Franklin Templeton Investments | ||||
(2007-2013); and Secretary and Vice President, Templeton Group of Funds (2004-2013). | ||||
Karen L. Skidmore (1952) | Vice President | Since 2006 | Not Applicable | Not Applicable |
One Franklin Parkway | and Secretary | |||
San Mateo, CA 94403-1906 | ||||
Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: | ||||
Senior Associate General Counsel, Franklin Templeton Investments; and officer of 46 of the investment companies in Franklin Templeton | ||||
Investments. |
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Interested Board Members and Officers (continued) | ||||
Number of Portfolios in | ||||
Name, Year of Birth | Length of | Fund Complex Overseen | Other Directorships Held | |
and Address | Position | Time Served | by Board Member* | During at Least the Past 5 Years |
Craig S. Tyle (1960) | Vice President | Since 2005 | Not Applicable | Not Applicable |
One Franklin Parkway | ||||
San Mateo, CA 94403-1906 | ||||
Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: | ||||
General Counsel and Executive Vice President, Franklin Resources, Inc.; and officer of some of the other subsidiaries of Franklin Resources, | ||||
Inc. and of 46 of the investment companies in Franklin Templeton Investments. | ||||
Lori A. Weber (1964) | Vice President | Since 2011 | Not Applicable | Not Applicable |
300 S.E. 2nd Street | ||||
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301-1923 | ||||
Principal Occupation During at Least the Past 5 Years: | ||||
Senior Associate General Counsel, Franklin Templeton Investments; Assistant Secretary, Franklin Resources, Inc.; Vice President and | ||||
Secretary, Templeton Investment Counsel, LLC; Vice President, Fiduciary Trust International of the South; and officer of 46 of the investment | ||||
companies in Franklin Templeton Investments. | ||||
*We base the number of portfolios on each separate series of the U.S. registered investment companies within the Franklin Templeton Investments fund complex. | ||||
These portfolios have a common investment manager or affiliated investment managers. | ||||
**Gregory E. Johnson is considered to be an interested person of the Fund under the federal securities laws due to his position as an officer and director of Franklin | ||||
Resources, Inc. (Resources), which is the parent company of the Funds investment manager and distributor. Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. is considered to be an interested | ||||
person of the Fund under the federal securities laws due to his position as officer and director and major shareholder of Resources. | ||||
Note 1: Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. is the uncle of Gregory E. Johnson. | ||||
Note 2: Officer information is current as of the date of this report. It is possible that after this date, information about officers may change. | ||||
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and Rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission require the Fund to disclose whether the Funds Audit Committee | ||||
includes at least one member who is an audit committee financial expert within the meaning of such Act and Rules. The Funds Board has determined that there | ||||
is at least one such financial expert on the Audit Committee and has designated John B. Wilson as its audit committee financial expert. The Board believes that | ||||
Mr. Wilson qualifies as such an expert in view of his extensive business background and experience, including service as chief financial officer of Staples, Inc. | ||||
from 1992 to 1996. Mr. Wilson has been a Member and Chairman of the Funds Audit Committee since 2006. As a result of such background and experience, the | ||||
Board believes that Mr. Wilson has acquired an understanding of generally accepted accounting principles and financial statements, the general application of | ||||
such principles in connection with the accounting estimates, accruals and reserves, and analyzing and evaluating financial statements that present a breadth | ||||
and level of complexity of accounting issues generally comparable to those of the Fund, as well as an understanding of internal controls and procedures for | ||||
financial reporting and an understanding of audit committee functions. Mr. Wilson is an independent Board member as that term is defined under the relevant | ||||
Securities and Exchange Commission Rules and Releases or the listing standards applicable to the Fund. |
42 | Annual Report
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FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST
Shareholder Information
Board Review of Investment Management Agreement
At a meeting held February 24, 2015, the Board of Trustees (Board), including a majority of non-interested or independent Trustees, approved renewal of the investment management agreement for Franklin Templeton Limited Duration Income Trust (Fund). In reaching this decision, the Board took into account information furnished throughout the year at regular Board meetings, as well as information prepared specifically in connection with the annual renewal review process. Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports on the Fund, information on its share price discount to net asset value, and other related financial information, as well as periodic reports on expenses, legal and compliance matters, pricing, brokerage commissions and execution and other services provided by the Investment Manager (Manager) and its affiliates, as well as marketing support payments made to financial intermediaries. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included a report prepared by Lipper, Inc. (Lipper), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Fund profitability analysis prepared by management. The Lipper reports compared the Fund’s investment performance and expenses with those of other funds deemed comparable to the Fund as selected by Lipper. The Fund profitability analysis discussed the profitability to Franklin Templeton Investments (FTI) from its overall U.S. fund operations, as well as on an individual fund-by-fund basis. Additional material accompanying such profitability analysis included information on a fund-by-fund basis listing portfolio managers and other accounts they manage, as well as information on management fees charged by the Manager and its affiliates to U.S. funds and other accounts, including management’s explanation of differences where relevant. Such material also included a memorandum prepared by management describing project initiatives and capital investments relating to the services provided to the Fund by the FTI organization, as well as a memorandum relating to economies of scale. The Board also received a report on all marketing support payments made by FTI to financial intermediaries during the past year.
In considering such materials, the independent Trustees received assistance and advice from and met separately with independent counsel. In approving continuance of the investment management agreement for the Fund, the Board, including a majority of independent Trustees, determined that the existing management fee structure was fair and reasonable and that continuance of the investment management agreement was in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders. While attention was given to all information furnished, the following discusses some primary factors relevant to the Board’s decision.
NATURE, EXTENT AND QUALITY OF SERVICE. The Board was satisfied with the nature and quality of the overall services provided by the Manager and its affiliates to the Fund and its shareholders. In addition to investment performance and expenses discussed later, the Board’s opinion was based, in part, upon periodic reports furnished it showing that the investment policies and restrictions for the Fund were consistently complied with as well as other reports periodically furnished the Board covering matters such as the compliance of portfolio managers and other management personnel with the code of ethics adopted throughout the Franklin Templeton fund complex, the adherence to fair value pricing procedures established by the Board, and the accuracy of net asset value calculations. Favorable consideration was given to management’s efforts and expenditures in establishing effective business continuity plans and developing strategies to address persistent cybersecurity threats. Additionally, the Board noted the Manager’s continued attention to pricing and valuation issues, particularly with respect to complex securities. Among other factors taken into account by the Board were the Manager’s best execution trading policies, including a favorable report by an independent portfolio trading analytical firm, which also covered FOREX transactions. Consideration was also given to the experience of the Fund’s portfolio management team, the number of accounts managed and general method of compensation. In this latter respect, the Board noted that a primary factor in management’s determination of the level of a portfolio manager’s bonus compensation was the relative investment performance of the funds he or she managed and that a portion of such bonus was required to be invested in a predesignated list of funds within such person’s fund management area so as to be aligned with the interests of shareholders. Particular attention was given to management’s conservative approach and diligent risk management procedures, including continual monitoring of counterparty credit risk and attention given to derivatives and other complex instruments including expanded collateralization requirements. The Board also took into account, among other things, the strong financial position of the Manager’s parent company and its commitment to the fund business as evidenced by its continued subsidization of money market funds.
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FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
Board Review of Investment Management
Agreement (continued)
INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE. The Board placed significant emphasis on the investment performance of the Fund in view of its importance to shareholders. While consideration was given to performance reports and discussions with portfolio managers at Board meetings during the year, particular attention in assessing performance was given to the Lipper report furnished for the agreement renewal. The Lipper report prepared for the Fund showing its investment performance in comparison with a performance universe consisting of the Fund and all leveraged closed-end general bond funds as selected by Lipper during 2014 and for the previous 10 years ended December 31, 2014. Such report considered both income return and total return on a net asset value basis without regard to market discounts or premiums to accurately reflect investment performance. The Lipper report showed the Funds income return for 2014 to be in the lowest quintile of its performance universe and, for the previous annualized three, five- and 10-year periods, in each case to be in the second-lowest quintile of its performance universe. The Lipper report showed the Funds 2014 total return to be in the second-lowest performing quintile in such performance universe, and on an annualized basis to be in the second-lowest performing quintile of such universe for the previous three-year period, and the middle performing quintile of such universe for the previous five- and 10-year periods. In discussing such performance, management pointed out that it reflected the fact that the Lipper universe was composed of a mix of closed-end high yield corporate, investment-grade corporate and multi-sector fixed income funds that generally differed from the Funds primary asset classes and included only one fund with the limited duration investment mandate followed by the Fund. Management also noted that the Fund had consistently outperformed a customized benchmark it believed more accurately reflected the Funds asset classes. The Board took such explanation into account in finding the Funds overall performance as set forth in the Lipper report to be acceptable. In doing so, the Board noted that the Funds income and total returns for 2014, as shown in the Lipper report, were 6.21% and 2.70%, respectively, and that the Funds annualized income return in the previous three-, five- and 10-year periods in each case exceeded 6%, with its annualized total return being in excess of 6.9% for each of the previous three-, five- and 10-year periods.
COMPARATIVE EXPENSES. Consideration was given to a comparative analysis of the management fees and total expense ratio of the Fund compared with a Lipper expense group consisting of the Fund and 10 other closed-end general bond funds as selected by Lipper. Lipper expense data is based upon information taken from each funds most recent annual report, which reflects historical asset levels that may be quite different from those currently existing, particularly in a period of market volatility. While recognizing such inherent limitation and the fact that expense ratios generally increase as assets decline and decrease as assets grow, the Board believed the independent analysis conducted by Lipper to be an appropriate measure of comparative expenses. In reviewing comparative costs, Lipper provides information on the Funds contractual investment management fee rate in comparison with the contractual investment management fee that would have been charged by other funds within its Lipper expense group assuming they were similar in size to the Fund, as well as the actual total expense ratio of the Fund in comparison with those of its Lipper expense group. The Lipper contractual investment management fee analysis includes administrative charges as being part of contractual investment management fees. The results of such expense comparisons showed the Funds contractual investment management fee rate to be six basis points higher than the median of such expense group, but the Funds actual total expense ratio to be 22.9 basis points lower than the median of such group. The Board found the expenses of the Fund in comparison to its Lipper expense group to be acceptable.
MANAGEMENT PROFITABILITY. The Board also considered the level of profits realized by the Manager and its affiliates in connection with the operation of the Fund. In this respect, the Board reviewed the Fund profitability analysis that addresses the overall profitability of Franklin Templetons U.S. fund business, as well as its profits in providing management and other services to each of the individual funds during the 12-month period ended September 30, 2014, being the most recent fiscal year-end for Franklin Resources, Inc., the Managers parent. In reviewing the analysis, the Board recognized that allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results. In this respect, the Board noted that while management continually makes refinements to its methodologies in response to organizational and product related changes, the overall approach as defined by the primary
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SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
drivers and activity measurements has remained consistent with that used in the Funds profitability report presentations from prior years. Additionally, the Funds independent registered public accounting firm had been engaged by the Manager to periodically review the reasonableness of the allocation methodologies to be used solely by the Funds Board in reference to the profitability analysis. In reviewing and discussing such analysis, management discussed with the Board its belief that costs incurred in establishing the infrastructure necessary for the type of fund operations conducted by the Manager and its affiliates may not be fully reflected in the expenses allocated to the Fund in determining its profitability, as well as the fact that the level of profits, to a certain extent, reflected operational cost savings and efficiencies initiated by management. In addition, the Board considered a third-party study comparing the profitability of the Managers parent on an overall basis to other publicly held managers broken down to show profitability from management operations exclusive of distribution expenses, as well as profitability including distribution expenses. The Board also considered the extent to which the Manager and its affiliates might derive ancillary benefits from fund operations, including potential benefits resulting from allocation of fund brokerage and the use of commission dollars to pay for research. Based upon its consideration of all these factors, the Board determined that the level of profits realized by the Manager and its affiliates from providing services to the Fund was not excessive in view of the nature, quality and extent of services provided.
ECONOMIES OF SCALE. The Board also considered whether the Manager realizes economies of scale as the Fund grows larger and the extent to which any such benefit is shared with the Fund and its shareholders. The Board believed that a Managers ability to realize economies of scale and the sharing of such benefit is a more relevant consideration in the case of an open-end fund whose size increases as a result of the continuous sale of its shares. A closed-end investment company such as the Fund does not continuously offer shares, and growth following its initial public offering will primarily result from market appreciation, which benefits its shareholders. While believing economies of scale to be less of a factor in the context of a closed-end fund, the Board believes at some point an increase in size may lead to economies of scale that should be shared with the Fund and its shareholders and intends to monitor future growth of the Fund accordingly.
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures
The Funds investment manager has established Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (Policies) that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities. Shareholders may view the Funds complete Policies online at franklintempleton.com. Alternatively, shareholders may request copies of the Policies free of charge by calling the Proxy Group collect at (954) 527-7678 or by sending a written request to: Franklin Templeton Companies, LLC, 300 S.E. 2nd Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301, Attention: Proxy Group. Copies of the Funds proxy voting records are also made available online at franklintempleton.com and posted on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commissions website at sec.gov and reflect the most recent 12-month period ended June 30.
Quarterly Statement of Investments
The Fund files a complete statement of investments with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for the first and third quarters for each fiscal year on Form N-Q. Shareholders may view the filed Form N-Q by visiting the Commissions website at sec.gov. The filed form may also be viewed and copied at the Commissions Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information regarding the operations of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling (800) SEC-0330.
Certifications
The Funds Chief Executive Officer Finance and Administration is required by NYSE MKTs Listing Standards to file annually with the Exchange a certification that she is not aware of any violation by the Fund of the Exchanges Corporate Governance Standards applicable to the Fund. The Fund has filed such certification.
In addition, the Funds Chief Executive Officer Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer are required by the rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to provide certain certifications with respect to the Funds Form N-CSR and Form N-CSRS (which include the Funds annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders) that are filed semiannually with the Commission. The Fund has filed such certifications with its Form N-CSRS for the six months ended September 30, 2014. Additionally, the Fund expects to file, on or about May 27, 2015, such certifications with its Form N-CSR for the year ended March 31, 2015.
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Item 2. Code of Ethics.
(a) The Registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to its principal executive officers and principal financial and accounting officer.
(c) N/A
(d) N/A
(f) Pursuant to Item 12(a)(1), the Registrant is attaching as an exhibit a copy of its code of ethics that applies to its principal executive officers and principal financial and accounting officer.
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
(a)(1) The Registrant has an audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee.
(2) The audit committee financial expert is John B. Wilson and he is "independent" as defined under the relevant Securities and Exchange Commission Rules and Releases.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
(a) Audit Fees
The aggregate fees paid to the principal accountant for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of the registrant’s annual financial statements or for services that are normally provided by the principal accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements were $48,014 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 and $47,556 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014.
(b) Audit-Related Fees
The aggregate fees paid to the principal accountant for assurance and related services rendered by the principal accountant to the registrant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the registrant's financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (a) of Item 4 were $13,760 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 and $13,760 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014. The services for which fees were paid include attestation services.
There were no fees paid to the principal accountant for assurance and related services rendered by the principal accountant to the registrant's investment adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of their financial statements.
(c) Tax Fees
There were no fees paid to the principal accountant for professional services rendered by the principal accountant to the registrant for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning.
The aggregate fees paid to the principal accountant for professional services rendered by the principal accountant to the registrant’s investment adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning were $0 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 and $6,930 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014. The services for which these fees were paid included technical tax consultation for capital gain tax and withholding tax reporting for foreign governments and requirements on local country’s self-certification forms.
(d) All Other Fees
The aggregate fees paid to the principal accountant for products and services rendered by the principal accountant to the registrant not reported in paragraphs (a)-(c) of Item 4 were $0 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 and $115 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014. The services for which these fees were paid included review of materials provided to the fund Board in connection with the investment management contract renewal process.
The aggregate fees paid to the principal accountant for products and services rendered by the principal accountant to the registrant’s investment adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant other than services reported in paragraphs (a)-(c) of Item 4 were $0 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 and $159,621 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014. The services for which these fees were paid included review of materials provided to the fund Board in connection with the investment management contract renewal process.
(e) (1) The registrant’s audit committee is directly responsible for approving the services to be provided by the auditors, including:
(i) pre-approval of all audit and audit related services;
(ii) pre-approval of all non-audit related services to be provided to the Fund by the auditors;
(iii) pre-approval of all non-audit related services to be provided to the registrant by the auditors to the registrant’s investment adviser or to any entity that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the registrant’s investment adviser and that provides ongoing services to the registrant where the non-audit services relate directly to the operations or financial reporting of the registrant; and
(iv) establishment by the audit committee, if deemed necessary or appropriate, as an alternative to committee pre-approval of services to be provided by the auditors, as required by paragraphs (ii) and (iii) above, of policies and procedures to permit such services to be pre-approved by other means, such as through establishment of guidelines or by action of a designated member or members of the committee; provided the policies and procedures are detailed as to the particular service and the committee is informed of each service and such policies and procedures do not include delegation of audit committee responsibilities, as contemplated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, to management; subject, in the case of (ii) through (iv), to any waivers, exceptions or exemptions that may be available under applicable law or rules.
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(e) (2) None of the services provided to the registrant described in paragraphs (b)-(d) of Item 4 were approved by the audit committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of regulation S-X.
(f) No disclosures are required by this Item 4(f).
(g) The aggregate non-audit fees paid to the principal accountant for services rendered by the principal accountant to the registrant and the registrant’s investment adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant were $13,760 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 and $180,426 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014.
(h) The registrant’s audit committee of the board has considered whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant that were not pre-approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X is compatible with maintaining the principal accountant’s independence.
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.
Members of the Audit Committee are: Mary C. Choksi, J. Michael Luttig, Larry D. Thompson and John B. Wilson.
Item 6. Schedule of Investments. N/A
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End
Management Investment Companies.
The board of trustees of the Fund has delegated the authority to vote proxies related to the portfolio securities held by the Fund to the Fund's investment manager, Franklin Advisers, Inc., in accordance with the Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (Policies) adopted by the investment manager.
The investment manager has delegated its administrative duties with respect to the voting of proxies for equity securities to the Proxy Group within Franklin Templeton Companies, LLC (Proxy Group), an affiliate and wholly owned subsidiary of Franklin Resources, Inc. All proxies received by the Proxy Group will be voted based upon the investment manager’s instructions and/or policies. The investment manager votes proxies solely in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.
To assist it in analyzing proxies, the investment manager subscribes to Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (ISS), an unaffiliated third-party corporate governance research service that provides in-depth analyses of shareholder meeting agendas, vote recommendations, vote execution services, ballot reconciliation services, recordkeeping and vote disclosure services. In addition, the investment manager subscribes to Glass, Lewis & Co., LLC (Glass Lewis), an unaffiliated third-party analytical research firm, to receive analyses and vote recommendations on the shareholder meetings of publicly held U.S. companies, as well as a limited subscription to its international research. Also, the investment manager has a supplemental subscription to Egan Jones Proxy Services (Egan Jones), an unaffiliated third party proxy advisory firm, to receive analyses and vote recommendations. Although analyses provided by ISS, Glass Lewis, Egan Jones, or another independent third party proxy service provider (each a “Proxy Service”) are thoroughly reviewed and considered in making a final voting decision, the investment manager does not consider recommendations from a Proxy Service or any third party to be determinative of the investment manager's ultimate decision. Rather, the investment manager exercises its independent judgment in making voting decisions. As a matter of policy, the officers, directors/trustees and employees of the investment manager and the Proxy Group will not be influenced by outside sources whose interests conflict with the interests of the Fund and its shareholders. Efforts are made to resolve all conflicts in the best interests of the investment manager’s clients. Material conflicts of interest are identified by the Proxy Group based upon analyses of client, distributor, broker-dealer and vendor lists, information periodically gathered from directors and officers, and information derived from other sources, including public filings. In situations where a material conflict of interest is identified, the Proxy Group may vote consistent with the voting recommendation of a Proxy Service; or send the proxy directly to the Fund's board or a committee of the board with the investment manager's recommendation regarding the vote for approval.
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Where a material conflict of interest has been identified, but the items on which the investment manager’s vote recommendations differ from a Proxy Service relate specifically to (1) shareholder proposals regarding social or environmental issues, (2) “Other Business” without describing the matters that might be considered, or (3) items the investment manager wishes to vote in opposition to the recommendations of an issuer’s management, the Proxy Group may defer to the vote recommendations of the investment manager rather than sending the proxy directly to the Fund's board or a board committee for approval.
To avoid certain potential conflicts of interest, the investment manager will employ echo voting, if possible, in the following instances: (1) when the Fund invests in an underlying fund in reliance on any one of Sections 12(d) (1) (E), (F), or (G) of the 1940 Act, the rules thereunder, or pursuant to a SEC exemptive order thereunder; (2) when the Fund invests uninvested cash in affiliated money market funds pursuant to the rules under the 1940 Act or any exemptive orders thereunder (“cash sweep arrangement”); or (3) when required pursuant to the Fund’s governing documents or applicable law. Echo voting means that the investment manager will vote the shares in the same proportion as the vote of all of the other holders of the underlying fund’s shares.
The recommendation of management on any issue is a factor that the investment manager considers in determining how proxies should be voted. However, the investment manager does not consider recommendations from management to be determinative of the investment manager’s ultimate decision. As a matter of practice, the votes with respect to most issues are cast in accordance with the position of the company's management. Each issue, however, is considered on its own merits, and the investment manager will not support the position of the company's management in any situation where it deems that the ratification of management’s position would adversely affect the investment merits of owning that company’s shares.
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Investment manager’s proxy voting policies and principles The investment manager has adopted general proxy voting guidelines, which are summarized below. These guidelines are not an exhaustive list of all the issues that may arise and the investment manager cannot anticipate all future situations. In all cases, each proxy and proposal will be considered based on the relevant facts and circumstances on a case-by-case basis.
Board of directors. The investment manager supports an independent, diverse board of directors, and prefers that key committees such as audit, nominating, and compensation committees be comprised of independent directors. The investment manager will generally vote against management efforts to classify a board and will generally support proposals to declassify the board of directors. The investment manager will consider withholding votes from directors who have attended less than 75% of meetings without a valid reason. While generally in favor of separating Chairman and CEO positions, the investment manager will review this issue as well as proposals to restore or provide for cumulative voting on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration factors such as the company’s corporate governance guidelines or provisions and performance. The investment manager generally will support non-binding shareholder proposals to require a majority vote standard for the election of directors; however, if these proposals are binding, the investment manager will give careful review on a case-by-case basis of the potential ramifications of such implementation.
In the event of a contested election, the investment manager will review a number of factors in making a decision including management’s track record, the company’s financial performance, qualifications of candidates on both slates, and the strategic plan of the dissidents.
Ratification of auditors of portfolio companies. The investment manager will closely scrutinize the independence, role and performance of auditors. On a case-by-case basis, the investment manager will examine proposals relating to non-audit relationships and non-audit fees. The investment manager will also consider, on a case-by-case basis, proposals to rotate auditors, and will vote against the ratification of auditors when there is clear and compelling evidence of a lack of independence, accounting irregularities or negligence. The investment manager may also consider whether the ratification of auditors has been approved by an appropriate audit committee that meets applicable composition and independence requirements.
Management and director compensation. A company’s equity-based compensation plan should be in alignment with the shareholders’ long-term interests. The investment manager believes that executive compensation should be directly linked to the performance of the company. The investment manager evaluates plans on a case-by-case basis by considering several factors to determine whether the plan is fair and reasonable, including the ISS quantitative model utilized to assess such plans and/or the Glass Lewis evaluation of the plans. The investment manager will generally oppose plans that have the potential to be excessively dilutive, and will almost always oppose plans that are structured to allow the repricing of underwater options, or plans that have an automatic share replenishment “evergreen” feature. The investment manager will generally support employee stock option plans in which the purchase price is at least 85% of fair market value, and when potential dilution is 10% or less.
Severance compensation arrangements will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, although the investment manager will generally oppose “golden parachutes” that are considered to be excessive. The investment manager will normally support proposals that require a percentage of directors’ compensation to be in the form of common stock, as it aligns their interests with those of shareholders.
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The investment manager will review non-binding say-on-pay proposals on a case-by-case basis, and will generally vote in favor of such proposals unless compensation is misaligned with performance and/or shareholders’ interests, the company has not provided reasonably clear disclosure regarding its compensation practices, or there are concerns with the company’s remuneration practices.
Anti-takeover mechanisms and related issues. The investment manager generally opposes anti-takeover measures since they tend to reduce shareholder rights. However, as with all proxy issues, the investment manager conducts an independent review of each anti-takeover proposal. On occasion, the investment manager may vote with management when the research analyst has concluded that the proposal is not onerous and would not harm the Fund or its shareholders’ interests. The investment manager generally supports proposals that require shareholder rights’ plans (“poison pills”) to be subject to a shareholder vote and will closely evaluate such plans on a case-by-case basis to determine whether or not they warrant support. In addition, the investment manager will generally vote against any proposal to issue stock that has unequal or subordinate voting rights. The investment manager generally opposes any supermajority voting requirements as well as the payment of “greenmail.” The investment manager generally supports “fair price” provisions and confidential voting. The investment manager will review a company’s proposal to reincorporate to a different state or country on a case-by-case basis taking into consideration financial benefits such as tax treatment as well as comparing corporate governance provisions and general business laws that may result from the change in domicile.
Changes to capital structure. The investment manager realizes that a company's financing decisions have a significant impact on its shareholders, particularly when they involve the issuance of additional shares of common or preferred stock or the assumption of additional debt. The investment manager will review, on a case-by-case basis, proposals by companies to increase authorized shares and the purpose for the increase. The investment manager will generally not vote in favor of dual-class capital structures to increase the number of authorized shares where that class of stock would have superior voting rights. The investment manager will generally vote in favor of the issuance of preferred stock in cases where the company specifies the voting, dividend, conversion and other rights of such stock and the terms of the preferred stock issuance are deemed reasonable. The investment manager will review proposals seeking preemptive rights on a case-by-case basis.
Mergers and corporate restructuring. Mergers and acquisitions will be subject to careful review by the research analyst to determine whether they would be beneficial to shareholders. The investment manager will analyze various economic and strategic factors in making the final decision on a merger or acquisition. Corporate restructuring proposals are also subject to a thorough examination on a case-by-case basis.
Environmental and Social Issues: The investment manager considers environmental and social issues alongside traditional financial measures to provide a more comprehensive view of the value, risk and return potential of an investment. Companies may face significant financial, legal and reputational risks resulting from poor environmental and social practices, or negligent oversight of environmental or social issues. Franklin Templeton’s “Responsible Investment Principles and Policies” describes the investment manager’s approach to consideration of environmental, social and governance issues within the investment manager’s processes and ownership practices.
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In the investment manager’s experience, those companies that are
managed well are often effective in dealing with the relevant environmental and
social issues that pertain to their business. As such, the investment manager
will generally give management discretion with regard to environmental and
social issues. However, in cases where management and the board have not
demonstrated adequate efforts to mitigate material environmental or social
risks, have engaged in inappropriate or illegal conduct, or have failed to
adequately address current or emergent risks that threaten shareholder value,
the investment manager may choose to support well-crafted shareholder proposals
that serve to promote or protect shareholder value. This may include seeking
appropriate disclosure regarding material environmental and social issues. The
investment manager will review shareholder proposals on a case-by-case basis
and may support those that serve to enhance value or mitigate risk, are drafted
appropriately, and do not disrupt the course of business or require a
disproportionate or inappropriate use of company resources.
The investment manager will consider supporting a shareholder proposal seeking
disclosure and greater board oversight of lobbying and corporate political
contributions if the investment manager believes that there is evidence of
inadequate oversight by the company’s board, if the company’s current
disclosure is significantly deficient, or if the disclosure is notably lacking
in comparison to the company’s peers.
Governance Matters: The investment manager generally supports the right of shareholders to call special meetings and act by written consent. However, the investment manager will review such shareholder proposals on a case-by-case basis in an effort to ensure that such proposals do not disrupt the course of business or require a disproportionate or inappropriate use of company resources. The investment manager will consider on a case-by-case basis any well-drafted and reasonable proposals for proxy access considering such factors as the size of the company, ownership thresholds and holding periods, responsiveness of management, intentions of the shareholder proponent, company performance, and shareholder base.
Global corporate governance. Many of the tenets discussed above are applied to
the investment manager's proxy voting decisions for international investments.
However, the investment manager must be flexible in these worldwide markets. Principles of
good corporate governance may vary by country, given the constraints of a
country’s laws and acceptable practices in the markets. As a result, it is on
occasion difficult to apply a consistent set of governance practices to all
issuers. As experienced money managers, the investment manager's analysts are
skilled in understanding the complexities of the regions in which they
specialize and are trained to analyze proxy issues germane to their regions.
The investment manager will generally attempt to process every proxy it receives for all domestic and foreign securities. However, there may be situations in which the investment manager may be unable to vote a proxy, or may choose not to vote a proxy, such as where: (i) a proxy ballot was not received from the custodian bank; (ii) a meeting notice was received too late; (iii) there are fees imposed upon the exercise of a vote and it is determined that such fees outweigh the benefit of voting; (iv) there are legal encumbrances to voting, including blocking restrictions in certain markets that preclude the ability to dispose of a security if the investment manager votes a proxy or where the investment manager is prohibited from voting by applicable law or other regulatory or market requirements, including but not limited to, effective Powers of Attorney; (v) the investment manager held shares on the record date but has sold them prior to the meeting date; (vi) a proxy voting service is not offered by the custodian in the market; (vii) the investment manager believes it is not in the best interest of the Fund or its shareholders to vote the proxy for any other reason not enumerated herein; or (viii) a security is subject to a securities lending or similar program that has transferred legal title to the security to another person.
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In some foreign jurisdictions, even if the investment manager uses reasonable efforts to vote a proxy on behalf of the Fund, such vote or proxy may be rejected because of (a) operational or procedural issues experienced by one or more third parties involved in voting proxies in such jurisdictions; (b) changes in the process or agenda for the meeting by the issuer for which the investment manager does not have sufficient notice; or (c) the exercise by the issuer of its discretion to reject the vote of the investment manager. In addition, despite the best efforts of the Proxy Group and its agents, there may be situations where the investment manager’s votes are not received, or properly tabulated, by an issuer or the issuer’s agent.
The investment manager or its affiliates may, on behalf of one or more of the proprietary registered investment companies advised by the investment manager or its affiliates, determine to use its best efforts to recall any security on loan where the investment manager or its affiliates (a) learn of a vote on a material event that may affect a security on loan and (b) determine that it is in the best interests of such proprietary registered investment companies to recall the security for voting purposes.
Shareholders may view the complete Policies online at franklintempleton.com. Alternatively, shareholders may request copies of the Policies free of charge by calling the Proxy Group collect at (954)527-7678 or by sending a written request to: Franklin Templeton Companies, LLC, 300 S.E. 2nd Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301-1923, Attention: Proxy Group. Copies of the Fund’s proxy voting records are available online at franklintempleton.com and posted on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. The proxy voting records are updated each year by August 31 to reflect the most recent 12-month period ended June 30.
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
(a)(1) As of May 27, 2015 the portfolio managers of the Fund are as follows:
Roger A. Bayston, CFA, Christopher J. Molumphy, CFA, Eric G. Takaha, CFA, Glenn I. Voyles, CFA, Madeline Lam, Justin MA, CFA serve as the portfolio management team responsible for managing the Fund's portfolio investment. Each of them has experience managing Franklin mutual funds and private accounts.
Mr. Bayston has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since inception. He joined Franklin Templeton Investments in 1991.
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Mr. Molumphy has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since inception. He joined Franklin Templeton Investments in 1988.
Mr. Takaha has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since inception. He joined Franklin Templeton Investments in 1989.
Mr. Voyles has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since 2006. He joined Franklin Templeton Investments in 1993.
Ms. Lam has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since 2013. She joined Franklin Templeton Investments in 1998.
Mr. Ma has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since 2013. He joined Franklin Templeton Investments in 2006.
CFA and Chartered Financial Analyst® are trademarks owned by CFA Institute.
(a)(2) This section reflects information about the portfolio managers as of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015.
The following table shows the number of other accounts managed by each portfolio manager and the total assets in the accounts managed within each category:
Name |
Number of Other Registered Investment Companies Managed
|
Assets of Other Registered Investment Companies Managed (x $1 million) |
Number of Other Pooled Investment Vehicles Managed1 |
Assets of Other Pooled Investment Vehicles Managed (x $1 million)1 |
Number of Other Accounts Managed1 |
Assets of Other Accounts Managed (x $1 million)1 |
Roger A. Bayston |
9 |
18,484.5 |
4 |
3,190.2 |
12 |
2,208.4 |
Madeline Lam |
2 |
5,788.9 |
2 |
5,344.4 |
N/A |
0 |
Justin Ma |
2 |
5,788.9 |
2 |
5,344.4 |
N/A |
0 |
Christopher J. Molumphy |
8 |
24,554.6 |
5 |
3,512.8 |
3 |
271.8 |
Eric G. Takaha |
6 |
16,303.2 |
11 |
6,453.8 |
172 |
3,081.9 |
Glenn I. Voyles |
1 |
278.8 |
1 |
519,260.73 |
9 |
1,059.4 |
1. The various pooled investment vehicles and accounts listed are managed by a team of investment professionals. Accordingly, the individual manager listed would not be solely responsible for managing such listed amounts.
2. Mr. Bayston manages other accounts with $2,208.4 in assets with a performance fee. Mr. Takaha manages other accounts with $33.4 in assets with a performance fee.
3. Assets of Other Pooled Investment Vehicles Managed are in thousandth.
Portfolio managers that provide investment services to the Fund may also provide services to a variety of other investment products, including other funds, institutional accounts and private accounts. The advisory fees for some of such other products and accounts may be different than that charged to the Fund and may include performance based compensation (as noted in the chart above, if any). This may result in fees that are higher (or lower) than the advisory fees paid by the Fund. As a matter of policy, each fund or account is managed solely for the benefit of the beneficial owners thereof. As discussed below, the separation of the trading execution function from the portfolio management function and the application of objectively based trade allocation procedures help to mitigate potential conflicts of interest that may arise as a result of the portfolio managers managing accounts with different advisory fees.
Conflicts. The management of multiple funds, including the Fund, and accounts may also give rise to potential conflicts of interest if the funds and other accounts have different objectives, benchmarks, time horizons, and fees as the portfolio manager must allocate his or her time and investment ideas across multiple funds and accounts. The investment manager seeks to manage such competing interests for the time and attention of portfolio managers by having portfolio managers focus on a particular investment discipline. Most other accounts managed by a portfolio manager are managed using the same investment strategies that are used in connection with the management of the Fund. Accordingly, portfolio holdings, position sizes, and industry and sector exposures tend to be similar across similar portfolios, which may minimize the potential for conflicts of interest. As noted above, the separate management of the trade execution and valuation functions from the portfolio management process also helps to reduce potential conflicts of interest. However, securities selected for funds or accounts other than the Fund may outperform the securities selected for the Fund. Moreover, if a portfolio manager identifies a limited investment opportunity that may be suitable for more than one fund or other account, the Fund may not be able to take full advantage of that opportunity due to an allocation of that opportunity across all eligible funds and other accounts. The investment manager seeks to manage such potential conflicts by using procedures intended to provide a fair allocation of buy and sell opportunities among funds and other accounts.
The structure of a portfolio manager’s compensation may give rise to potential conflicts of interest. A portfolio manager’s base pay and bonus tend to increase with additional and more complex responsibilities that include increased assets under management. As such, there may be an indirect relationship between a portfolio manager’s marketing or sales efforts and his or her bonus.
Finally, the management of personal accounts by a portfolio manager may give rise to potential conflicts of interest. While the funds and the investment manager have adopted a code of ethics which they believe contains provisions reasonably necessary to prevent a wide range of prohibited activities by portfolio managers and others with respect to their personal trading activities, there can be no assurance that the code of ethics addresses all individual conduct that could result in conflicts of interest.
The investment manager and the Fund have adopted certain compliance procedures that are designed to address these, and other, types of conflicts. However, there is no guarantee that such procedures will detect each and every situation where a conflict arises.
Compensation. The investment manager seeks to maintain a compensation program that is competitively positioned to attract, retain and motivate top-quality investment professionals. Portfolio managers receive a base salary, a cash incentive bonus opportunity, an equity compensation opportunity, and a benefits package. Portfolio manager compensation is reviewed annually and the level of compensation is based on individual performance, the salary range for a portfolio manager’s level of responsibility and Franklin Templeton guidelines. Portfolio managers are provided no financial incentive to favor one fund or account over another. Each portfolio manager’s compensation consists of the following three elements:
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Base salary Each portfolio manager is paid a base salary.
Annual bonus Annual bonuses are structured to align the interests of the portfolio manager with those of the Fund’s shareholders. Each portfolio manager is eligible to receive an annual bonus. Bonuses generally are split between cash (50% to 65%) and restricted shares of Resources stock (17.5% to 25%) and mutual fund shares (17.5% to 25%). The deferred equity-based compensation is intended to build a vested interest of the portfolio manager in the financial performance of both Resources and mutual funds advised by the investment manager. The bonus plan is intended to provide a competitive level of annual bonus compensation that is tied to the portfolio manager achieving consistently strong investment performance, which aligns the financial incentives of the portfolio manager and Fund shareholders. The Chief Investment Officer of the manager and/or other officers of the investment manager, with responsibility for the Fund, have discretion in the granting of annual bonuses to portfolio managers in accordance with Franklin Templeton guidelines. The following factors are generally used in determining bonuses under the plan:
· Investment performance. Primary consideration is given to the historic investment performance of all accounts managed by the portfolio manager over the 1, 3 and 5 preceding years measured against risk benchmarks developed by the fixed income management team. The pre-tax performance of each fund managed is measured relative to a relevant peer group and/or applicable benchmark as appropriate.
· Non-investment performance. The more qualitative contributions of the portfolio manager to the investment manager’s business and the investment management team, including business knowledge, productivity, customer service, creativity, and contribution to team goals, are evaluated in determining the amount of any bonus award.
· Responsibilities. The characteristics and complexity of funds managed by the portfolio manager are factored in the investment manager’s appraisal.
Additional long-term equity-based compensation Portfolio managers may also be awarded restricted shares or units of Resources stock or restricted shares or units of one or more mutual funds. Awards of such deferred equity-based compensation typically vest over time, so as to create incentives to retain key talent.
Portfolio managers also participate in benefit plans and programs available generally to all employees of the manager.
Ownership of Fund shares. The investment manager has a policy of encouraging portfolio managers to invest in the funds they manage. Exceptions arise when, for example, a fund is closed to new investors or when tax considerations or jurisdictional constraints cause such an investment to be inappropriate for the portfolio manager. The following is the dollar range of Fund shares beneficially owned by each portfolio manager (such amounts may change from time to time):
|
Portfolio Manager |
Dollar Range of Fund Shares Beneficially Owned |
Roger A. Bayston |
None |
Madeline Lam |
None |
Justin Ma |
None |
Christopher J. Molumphy |
None |
Eric G. Takaha |
None |
Glenn I. Voyles |
None |
Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers. N/A
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
There have been no changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Registrant's Board of Trustees that would require disclosure herein.
Item 11. Controls and Procedures.
(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Registrant maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Registrant’s filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the periods specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such information is accumulated and communicated to the Registrant’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Registrant’s management, including the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer, recognizes that any set of controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives.
Within 90 days prior to the filing date of this Shareholder Report on Form N-CSR, the Registrant had carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Registrant’s management, including the Registrant’s principal executive officer and the Registrant’s principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based on such evaluation, the Registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
(b) Changes in Internal Controls. There have been no changes in the Registrant’s internal controls or in other factors that could materially affect the internal controls over financial reporting subsequent to the date of their evaluation in connection with the preparation of this Shareholder Report on Form N-CSR.
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Item 12. Exhibits.
(a) (1) Code of Ethics
(a)(2) Certifications pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of Laura F. Fergerson, Chief Executive Officer - Finance and Administration, and Gaston Gardey, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer
(b) Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of Laura F. Fergerson, Chief Executive Officer - Finance and Administration, and Gaston Gardey, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST
By /s/ Laura F. Fergerson
Laura F. Fergerson
Chief Executive Officer – Finance and Administration
Date May 27, 2015
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
By /s/ Laura F. Fergerson
Laura F. Fergerson
Chief Executive Officer – Finance and Administration
Date May 27, 2015
By /s/ Gaston Gardey
Gaston Gardey
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer
Date May 27, 2015
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