PROSPECTUS |
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FRANKLIN VALUE INVESTORS TRUST |
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Class A |
Class C |
Class R |
Class R6 |
Advisor Class | ||
Franklin Mutual U.S. Mid Cap Value Fund |
FRBSX |
FCBSX |
FBSRX |
FBSIX |
FBSAX | |
Franklin Small Cap Value Fund |
FRVLX |
FRVFX |
FVFRX |
FRCSX |
FVADX |
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
FVIT P 03/24 |
Contents
Fund Summaries
Fund Details
More Information on Investment Policies, Practices and Risks |
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Your Account
For More Information
Back Cover
FRANKLIN
MUTUAL U.S. MID CAP VALUE FUND
FUND
SUMMARIES
High total return, of which capital appreciation and income are components.
These
tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell
shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees (including on Class R6 and Advisor
Class shares), such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial
intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below.
(fees paid directly from your investment)
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Class A |
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Class C |
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Class R |
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Class R6 |
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Advisor
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Maximum
Sales Charge (Load) |
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Maximum
Deferred Sales Charge |
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1 |
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1. |
There is a 1% contingent deferred sales charge that applies to investments of $1 Million or more (see "Investment of $1 Million or More" under "Choosing a Share Class") and purchases by certain retirement plans without an initial sales charge on shares sold within 18 months of purchase. |
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MUTUAL U.S. MID CAP VALUE FUND
FUND
SUMMARIES
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
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Class C |
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Class R |
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Class R6 |
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Advisor
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Management fees |
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Distribution and service (12b-1) fees |
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Other expenses |
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Acquired fund fees and expenses |
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Total annual Fund operating expenses1 |
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Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement2 |
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- |
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- |
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- |
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- |
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement |
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1
2
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of the period. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. The Example reflects adjustments made to the Fund's operating expenses due to the fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements by management for the 1 Year numbers only. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
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1 Year |
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3 Years |
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5 Years |
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10 Years |
Class A |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ | |
Class C |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ | |
Class R |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ | |
Class R6 |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ | |
Advisor Class |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ | |
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Class C |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ | |
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The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate
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FRANKLIN
MUTUAL U.S. MID CAP VALUE FUND
FUND
SUMMARIES
higher
transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a
taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual Fund operating
expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the most
recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests primarily in equity securities (including securities convertible into, or that the investment manager expects to be exchanged for, common or preferred stock) of U.S. companies that the investment manager believes are available at market prices less than their value based on certain recognized or objective criteria (fundamental value). Following this value-oriented strategy, the Fund invests primarily in undervalued securities (securities trading at a discount to fundamental value). The equity securities in which the Fund invests are primarily common stock. The Fund may also invest in real estate investment trusts (REITs).
The Fund currently does not expect to invest more than 10% of its net assets in non-U.S. securities, which may include emerging markets, and participations in foreign government debt.
The Fund may, from time to time, seek to hedge (protect) against currency risks, using certain derivative instruments including, currency and cross currency forwards and currency futures contracts.
The Fund, from time to time, may have significant positions in particular sectors, such as financial services companies (including banks, insurance companies and diversified financial services), healthcare, industrials and technology.
Portfolio Selection
The investment manager employs a research driven, fundamental value strategy for the Fund. Investments are generally selected based on the investment manager's own analysis of the security's fundamental value, including for equity securities, an analysis of cash flow potential, long-term earnings, multiples of earnings and book value. The investment manager examines each investment separately and there are no set criteria as to specific value parameters, earnings or
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MUTUAL U.S. MID CAP VALUE FUND
FUND
SUMMARIES
industry type. Environmental, social and governance (ESG) related assessments of companies may also be considered. The investment manager does not assess every investment for ESG factors and, when it does, not every ESG factor may be identified or evaluated.
Market: The market values of securities or other investments owned by the Fund will go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The market value of a security or other investment may be reduced by market activity or other results of supply and demand unrelated to the issuer. This is a basic risk associated with all investments. When there are more sellers than buyers, prices tend to fall. Likewise, when there are more buyers than sellers, prices tend to rise.
Stock prices tend to go up and down more dramatically than those of debt securities. A slower-growth or recessionary economic environment could have an adverse effect on the prices of the various stocks held by the Fund.
Value Style Investing: A value stock may not increase in price as anticipated by the investment manager if other investors fail to recognize the company's value and bid up the price, the markets favor faster-growing companies, or the factors that the investment manager believes will increase the price of the security do not occur or do not have the anticipated effect.
Cyclical stocks, which typically follow the cycles of an economy through expansion, peak, recession, and recovery, tend to increase in value more quickly during periods of anticipated economic upturns than non-cyclical stocks, but they also tend to lose value more quickly in periods of anticipated economic downturns. These companies may have relatively weak balance sheets and, during economic downturns, they may have insufficient cash flow to pay their debt obligations and difficulty finding additional financing needed for their operations.
Small and Mid Capitalization Companies: Securities issued by small and mid capitalization companies may be more volatile in price than those of larger companies and may involve substantial risks. Such risks may include greater sensitivity to economic conditions, less certain growth prospects, lack of depth of management and funds for growth and development, and limited or less developed product lines and markets. In addition, small and mid capitalization companies may be particularly affected by interest rate increases, as they may find it more difficult to borrow money to continue or expand operations, or may have difficulty in repaying any loans.
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MUTUAL U.S. MID CAP VALUE FUND
FUND
SUMMARIES
Focus: To the extent that the Fund focuses on particular countries, regions, industries, sectors or types of investments from time to time, the Fund may be subject to greater risks of adverse developments in such areas of focus than a fund that invests in a wider variety of countries, regions, industries, sectors or investments.
Financial services companies: Financial services companies are subject to extensive government regulation that may affect their profitability in many ways, including by limiting the amount and types of loans and other commitments they can make, and the interest rates and fees they can charge. A financial services company's profitability, and therefore its stock prices, is especially sensitive to interest rate changes as well as the ability of borrowers to repay their loans. Changing regulations, continuing consolidations, and development of new products and structures all are likely to have a significant impact on financial services companies.
Healthcare companies: The activities of healthcare companies may be funded or subsidized by federal and state governments. If government funding and subsidies are reduced or discontinued, the profitability of these companies could be adversely affected. Healthcare companies may also be affected by government policies on healthcare reimbursements, regulatory approval for new drugs and medical products, and similar matters. They are also subject to legislative risk, i.e., the risks associated with the reform of the healthcare system through legislation.
Industrials companies: The stock prices of companies in the industrials sector are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrials sector products in general. Companies in the industrials sector may be adversely affected by changes in government regulation, world events and economic conditions. In addition, these companies are at risk for environmental damage and product liability claims. Companies in this sector could be adversely affected by commodity price volatility, changes in exchange rates, imposition of export or import controls, increased competition, depletion of resources, technological developments and labor relations.
Technology companies: Companies in the technology sector have historically been volatile due to the rapid pace of product change and development within the sector. For example, their products and services may not prove commercially successful or may become obsolete quickly. In addition, delays in or cancellation of the release of anticipated products or services may also affect the price of a technology company’s stock. Technology companies are subject to significant competitive pressures, such as new market entrants, aggressive pricing and tight profit margins. The activities of these companies may also be adversely affected by changes in government regulations, worldwide technological developments or investor perception of a company and/or its products or services. The stock prices
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MUTUAL U.S. MID CAP VALUE FUND
FUND
SUMMARIES
of companies operating within this sector may be subject to abrupt or erratic movements.
REITs: A REIT’s performance depends on the types, values and locations of the properties and companies it owns and how well those properties and companies are managed. A decline in rental income may occur because of extended vacancies, increased competition from other properties, tenants’ failure to pay rent or poor management. Because a REIT may be invested in a limited number of projects or in a particular market segment, it may be more susceptible to adverse developments affecting a single project or market segment than more broadly diversified investments. Loss of status as a qualified REIT under the U.S. federal tax laws could adversely affect the value of a particular REIT or the market for REITs as a whole. These risks may also apply to securities of REIT-like entities domiciled outside the U.S.
Foreign Securities (non-U.S.): Investing in foreign securities typically involves more risks than investing in U.S. securities, including risks related to currency exchange rates and policies, country or government specific issues, less favorable trading practices or regulation and greater price volatility. Certain of these risks also may apply to securities of U.S. companies with significant foreign operations. The risks of investing in foreign securities are typically greater in less developed or emerging market countries.
Derivative Instruments: The performance of derivative instruments depends largely on the performance of an underlying currency, security, interest rate or index, and such derivatives often have risks similar to the underlying instrument, in addition to other risks. Derivatives involve costs and can create economic leverage in the Fund’s portfolio which may result in significant volatility and cause the Fund to participate in losses (as well as gains) in an amount that significantly exceeds the Fund’s initial investment. Other risks include illiquidity, mispricing or improper valuation of the derivative, and imperfect correlation between the value of the derivative and the underlying instrument so that the Fund may not realize the intended benefits. Their successful use will usually depend on the investment manager’s ability to accurately forecast movements in the market relating to the underlying instrument. Should a market or markets, or prices of particular classes of investments move in an unexpected manner, especially in unusual or extreme market conditions, the Fund may not realize the anticipated benefits of the transaction, and it may realize losses, which could be significant. If the investment manager is not successful in using such derivative instruments, the Fund’s performance may be worse than if the investment manager did not use such derivatives at all. When a derivative is used for hedging, the change in value of the derivative may also not correlate specifically with the currency, security, interest rate, index or other risk being hedged. Derivatives also may present the risk that the other party to the transaction will fail to perform. There is also the risk,
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MUTUAL U.S. MID CAP VALUE FUND
FUND
SUMMARIES
especially under extreme market conditions, that a derivative, which usually would operate as a hedge, provides no hedging benefits at all.
Convertible Securities: Convertible securities are subject to the risks of stocks when the underlying stock price is high relative to the conversion price (because more of the security's value resides in the conversion feature) and debt securities when the underlying stock price is low relative to the conversion price (because the conversion feature is less valuable). A convertible security is not as sensitive to interest rate changes as a similar non-convertible debt security, and generally has less potential for gain or loss than the underlying stock.
Management: The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed investment portfolio. The Fund's investment manager applies investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Fund, but there can be no guarantee that these decisions will produce the desired results.
ESG Considerations: ESG considerations are one of a number of factors that the investment manager examines when considering investments for the Fund’s portfolio. In light of this, the issuers in which the Fund invests may not be considered ESG-focused companies. In addition, ESG considerations assessed as part of the Fund’s investment process may vary across types of eligible investments and issuers. The investment manager does not assess every investment for ESG factors and, when it does, not every ESG factor may be identified or evaluated. The investment manager’s assessment of an issuer may differ from that of investors, third-party service providers, such as ratings providers, and other funds. As a result, securities selected by the investment manager may not reflect the beliefs and values of any particular investor. The investment manager also may be dependent on the availability of timely, complete and accurate ESG data being reported by issuers and/or third-party research providers to evaluate ESG factors. ESG factors are often not uniformly measured or defined, which could impact the investment manager’s ability to assess an issuer. While the investment manager views ESG considerations as having the potential to contribute to the Fund’s long-term performance, there is no guarantee that such results will be achieved.
Cybersecurity: Cybersecurity incidents, both intentional and unintentional, may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to Fund assets, Fund or customer data (including private shareholder information), or proprietary information, cause the Fund, the investment manager, and/or their service providers (including, but not limited to, Fund accountants, custodians, sub-custodians, transfer agents and financial intermediaries) to suffer data breaches, data corruption or loss of operational functionality or prevent Fund investors from purchasing, redeeming or exchanging shares or receiving distributions. The investment manager has limited ability to prevent or mitigate cybersecurity incidents affecting third party service providers, and such third party service providers may have limited indemnification
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MUTUAL U.S. MID CAP VALUE FUND
FUND
SUMMARIES
obligations to the Fund or the investment manager. Cybersecurity incidents may result in financial losses to the Fund and its shareholders, and substantial costs may be incurred in an effort to prevent or mitigate future cybersecurity incidents. Issuers of securities in which the Fund invests are also subject to cybersecurity risks, and the value of these securities could decline if the issuers experience cybersecurity incidents.
Because technology is frequently changing, new ways to carry out cyber attacks are always developing. Therefore, there is a chance that some risks have not been identified or prepared for, or that an attack may not be detected, which puts limitations on the Fund's ability to plan for or respond to a cyber attack. Like other funds and business enterprises, the Fund, the investment manager, and their service providers are subject to the risk of cyber incidents occurring from time to time.
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MUTUAL U.S. MID CAP VALUE FUND
FUND
SUMMARIES
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(figures reflect sales charges)
For periods ended December 31, 2023
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1 Year |
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5 Years |
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10 Years |
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Franklin Mutual U.S. Mid Cap Value Fund - Class A |
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Franklin Mutual U.S. Mid Cap Value Fund - Class C |
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Franklin Mutual U.S. Mid Cap Value Fund - Class R |
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Franklin Mutual U.S. Mid Cap Value Fund - Class R6 |
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Franklin Mutual U.S. Mid Cap Value Fund - Advisor Class |
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The figures in the average annual total returns table above reflect the Class A shares maximum front-end sales charge of 5.50%. Prior to September 10, 2018, Class A shares were subject to a maximum front-end sales charge of 5.75%. If the prior maximum front-end sales charge of 5.75% was reflected, performance for Class A shares in the average annual total returns table would be lower.
The after-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from
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MUTUAL U.S. MID CAP VALUE FUND
FUND
SUMMARIES
those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are shown only for Class A and after-tax returns for other classes will vary.
Investment Manager
Franklin Mutual Advisers, LLC (Franklin Mutual or investment manager)
Portfolio Managers
Grace
Hoefig
Senior
Vice President of Franklin Mutual and portfolio manager of the Fund since 2012.
Srini Vijay, CFA
Portfolio Manager of Franklin Mutual and portfolio manager of the Fund since 2019.
Stephen Shunk, CFA
Portfolio Manager of Franklin Mutual and portfolio manager of the Fund since 2022.
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
You may purchase or redeem shares of the Fund on any business day online through our website at franklintempleton.com, by mail (Franklin Templeton Investor Services, P.O. Box 997152, Sacramento, CA 95899-7152), or by telephone at (800) 632-2301. For Class A, C and R, the minimum initial purchase for most accounts is $1,000 (or $25 under an automatic investment plan). Class R6 and Advisor Class are only available to certain qualified investors and the minimum initial investment will vary depending on the type of qualified investor, as described under "Your Account — Choosing a Share Class — Qualified Investors — Class R6" and "— Advisor Class" in the Fund's prospectus. There is no minimum investment for subsequent purchases.
Taxes
The Fund’s distributions are generally taxable to you as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-advantaged arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account, in which case your distributions would generally be taxed when withdrawn from the tax-advantaged account.
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MUTUAL U.S. MID CAP VALUE FUND
FUND
SUMMARIES
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your financial advisor or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
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SMALL CAP VALUE FUND
FUND
SUMMARIES
The Fund is closed to new investors. Existing investors who had an open and funded account on May 27, 2021 can continue to invest through exchanges and additional purchases. The following categories of investors can continue to open new accounts in the Fund: (1) trustees and officers of the Trust; (2) members of the Fund’s portfolio management team; (3) employee sponsored retirement plans or benefit plans and their participants where the Fund was available to participants prior to the Fund’s closure; (4) employee sponsored retirement plans or benefit plans that approved the Fund as an investment option prior to May 27, 2021, but have not opened an account as of that date, provided that the initial account was opened with the Fund on or prior to the Fund’s closure; (5) clients of discretionary investment allocation programs where such programs had investments in the Fund prior to the Fund’s closure; and (6) other Franklin Templeton funds and funds for which Franklin Templeton investment managers provide advisory or sub-advisory services upon prior approval by the Fund’s investment manager. The Fund reserves the right to make additional exceptions that, in its judgment, do not adversely affect the portfolio managers’ ability to manage the portfolio. The Fund may restrict, reject or cancel any purchase order, including an exchange request, and reserves the right to modify this policy at any time.
Long-term total return.
These
tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell
shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees (including on Class R6 and Advisor
Class shares), such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial
intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below.
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FRANKLIN
SMALL CAP VALUE FUND
FUND
SUMMARIES
(fees paid directly from your investment)
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Class A |
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Class C |
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Class R |
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Class R6 |
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Advisor
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Maximum
Sales Charge (Load) |
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Maximum
Deferred Sales Charge |
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1 |
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1. |
There is a 1% contingent deferred sales charge that applies to investments of $1 Million or more (see "Investment of $1 Million or More" under "Choosing a Share Class") and purchases by certain retirement plans without an initial sales charge on shares sold within 18 months of purchase. |
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
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Class A |
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Class C |
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Class R |
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Class R6 |
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Advisor
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Management fees |
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Distribution and service (12b-1) fees |
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Other expenses |
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Acquired fund fees and expenses |
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Total annual Fund operating expenses1 |
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Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement2 |
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Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement |
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1
2
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of the period. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. The Example reflects adjustments made to the Fund's operating expenses due to the fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements by management for the 1 Year numbers only. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
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SMALL CAP VALUE FUND
FUND
SUMMARIES
|
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1 Year |
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3 Years |
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5 Years |
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10 Years |
Class A |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ | |
Class C |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ | |
Class R |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ | |
Class R6 |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ | |
Advisor Class |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ | |
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Class C |
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$ |
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$ |
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The
Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells
securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may
indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund
shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in
annual Fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance.
During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was
The Fund generally invests in equity securities of companies that the Fund’s investment manager believes are undervalued at the time of purchase and have the potential for capital appreciation. The Fund invests predominantly in common stocks. A stock price is undervalued when it trades at less than the price at which the investment manager believes it would trade if the market reflected all factors relating to the company’s worth. Following this strategy, the Fund invests in companies that the investment manager believes have, for example: stock prices that are low relative to current, or historical or future earnings, book value, cash flow or sales; recent sharp price declines but the potential for good long-term earnings prospects; and valuable intangibles not reflected in the stock price. The Fund also may invest in real estate investment trusts (REITs).
The types of companies the Fund may invest in include, among other things, those that may be considered out of favor due to actual or perceived cyclical or secular
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FRANKLIN
SMALL CAP VALUE FUND
FUND
SUMMARIES
challenges, or are experiencing temporary setbacks, diminished expectations, mismanagement or undermanagement, or are financially stressed. Environmental, social and governance (ESG) related assessments of companies may also be considered. The investment manager does not assess every investment for ESG factors and, when it does, not every ESG factor may be identified or evaluated.
The Fund, from time to time, may have significant positions in particular sectors, such as financial services companies, industrials, consumer discretionary and technology.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in foreign securities.
Market: The market values of securities or other investments owned by the Fund will go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The market value of a security or other investment may be reduced by market activity or other results of supply and demand unrelated to the issuer. This is a basic risk associated with all investments. When there are more sellers than buyers, prices tend to fall. Likewise, when there are more buyers than sellers, prices tend to rise.
Stock prices tend to go up and down more dramatically than those of debt securities. A slower-growth or recessionary economic environment could have an adverse effect on the prices of the various stocks held by the Fund.
Small Capitalization Companies: Securities issued by small capitalization companies may be more volatile in price than those of larger companies and may involve substantial risks. Such risks may include greater sensitivity to economic conditions, less certain growth prospects, lack of depth of management and funds for growth and development, and limited or less developed product lines and markets. In addition, small capitalization companies may be particularly affected by interest rate increases, as they may find it more difficult to borrow money to continue or expand operations, or may have difficulty in repaying any loans.
Value Style Investing: A value stock may not increase in price as anticipated by the investment manager if other investors fail to recognize the company's value and bid up the price, the markets favor faster-growing companies, or the factors that the investment manager believes will increase the price of the security do not occur or do not have the anticipated effect.
Cyclical stocks, which typically follow the cycles of an economy through expansion, peak, recession, and recovery, tend to increase in value more quickly during
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SMALL CAP VALUE FUND
FUND
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periods of anticipated economic upturns than non-cyclical stocks, but they also tend to lose value more quickly in periods of anticipated economic downturns. These companies may have relatively weak balance sheets and, during economic downturns, they may have insufficient cash flow to pay their debt obligations and difficulty finding additional financing needed for their operations.
Foreign Securities (non-U.S.): Investing in foreign securities typically involves more risks than investing in U.S. securities, and includes risks associated with: (i) internal and external political and economic developments – e.g., the political, economic and social policies and structures of some foreign countries may be less stable and more volatile than those in the U.S. or some foreign countries may be subject to trading restrictions or economic sanctions; diplomatic and political developments could affect the economies, industries, and securities and currency markets of the countries in which the Fund is invested, which can include rapid and adverse political changes; social instability; regional conflicts; sanctions imposed by the United States, other nations or other governmental entities, including supranational entities; terrorism; and war; (ii) trading practices – e.g., government supervision and regulation of foreign securities and currency markets, trading systems and brokers may be less than in the U.S.; (iii) availability of information – e.g., foreign issuers may not be subject to the same disclosure, accounting and financial reporting standards and practices as U.S. issuers; (iv) limited markets – e.g., the securities of certain foreign issuers may be less liquid (harder to sell) and more volatile; and (v) currency exchange rate fluctuations and policies – e.g., fluctuations may negatively affect investments denominated in foreign currencies and any income received or expenses paid by the Fund in that foreign currency.
REITs: A REIT’s performance depends on the types, values and locations of the properties and companies it owns and how well those properties and companies are managed. A decline in rental income may occur because of extended vacancies, increased competition from other properties, tenants’ failure to pay rent or poor management. Because a REIT may be invested in a limited number of projects or in a particular market segment, it may be more susceptible to adverse developments affecting a single project or market segment than more broadly diversified investments. Loss of status as a qualified REIT under the U.S. federal tax laws could adversely affect the value of a particular REIT or the market for REITs as a whole. These risks may also apply to securities of REIT-like entities domiciled outside the U.S.
Focus: To the extent that the Fund focuses on particular countries, regions, industries, sectors or types of investments from time to time, the Fund may be subject to greater risks of adverse developments in such areas of focus than a fund that invests in a wider variety of countries, regions, industries, sectors or investments.
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Financial services companies: Financial services companies are subject to extensive government regulation that may affect their profitability in many ways, including by limiting the amount and types of loans and other commitments they can make, and the interest rates and fees they can charge. A financial services company's profitability, and therefore its stock prices, is especially sensitive to interest rate changes as well as the ability of borrowers to repay their loans. Changing regulations, continuing consolidations, and development of new products and structures all are likely to have a significant impact on financial services companies.
Industrials companies: The stock prices of companies in the industrials sector are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrials sector products in general. Companies in the industrials sector may be adversely affected by changes in government regulation, world events and economic conditions. In addition, these companies are at risk for environmental damage and product liability claims. Companies in this sector could be adversely affected by commodity price volatility, changes in exchange rates, imposition of export or import controls, increased competition, depletion of resources, technological developments and labor relations.
Consumer discretionary companies: Companies in the consumer discretionary sector could be affected by, among other things, overall economic conditions, interest rates, consumer confidence, and disposable income.
Technology companies: Companies in the technology sector have historically been volatile due to the rapid pace of product change and development within the sector. For example, their products and services may not prove commercially successful or may become obsolete quickly. In addition, delays in or cancellation of the release of anticipated products or services may also affect the price of a technology company’s stock. Technology companies are subject to significant competitive pressures, such as new market entrants, aggressive pricing and tight profit margins. The activities of these companies may also be adversely affected by changes in government regulations, worldwide technological developments or investor perception of a company and/or its products or services. The stock prices of companies operating within this sector may be subject to abrupt or erratic movements.
ESG Considerations: ESG considerations are one of a number of factors that the investment manager examines when considering investments for the Fund’s portfolio. In light of this, the issuers in which the Fund invests may not be considered ESG-focused companies. In addition, ESG considerations assessed as part of the Fund’s investment process may vary across types of eligible investments and issuers. The investment manager does not assess every investment for ESG factors and, when it does, not every ESG factor may be identified or evaluated. The investment manager’s assessment of an issuer may
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differ from that of investors, third-party service providers, such as ratings providers, and other funds. As a result, securities selected by the investment manager may not reflect the beliefs and values of any particular investor. The investment manager also may be dependent on the availability of timely, complete and accurate ESG data being reported by issuers and/or third-party research providers to evaluate ESG factors. ESG factors are often not uniformly measured or defined, which could impact the investment manager’s ability to assess an issuer. While the investment manager views ESG considerations as having the potential to contribute to the Fund’s long-term performance, there is no guarantee that such results will be achieved.
Management: The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed investment portfolio. The Fund's investment manager applies investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Fund, but there can be no guarantee that these decisions will produce the desired results.
Cybersecurity: Cybersecurity incidents, both intentional and unintentional, may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to Fund assets, Fund or customer data (including private shareholder information), or proprietary information, cause the Fund, the investment manager, and/or their service providers (including, but not limited to, Fund accountants, custodians, sub-custodians, transfer agents and financial intermediaries) to suffer data breaches, data corruption or loss of operational functionality or prevent Fund investors from purchasing redeeming or exchanging shares or receiving distributions. The investment manager has limited ability to prevent or mitigate cybersecurity incidents affecting third party service providers, and such third party service providers may have limited indemnification obligations to the Fund or the investment manager. Cybersecurity incidents may result in financial losses to the Fund and its shareholders, and substantial costs may be incurred in an effort to prevent or mitigate future cybersecurity incidents. Issuers of securities in which the Fund invests are also subject to cybersecurity risks, and the value of these securities could decline if the issuers experience cybersecurity incidents.
Because technology is frequently changing, new ways to carry out cyber attacks are always developing. Therefore, there is a chance that some risks have not been identified or prepared for, or that an attack may not be detected, which puts limitations on the Fund's ability to plan for or respond to a cyber attack. Like other funds and business enterprises, the Fund, the investment manager, and their service providers are subject to the risk of cyber incidents occurring from time to time.
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(figures reflect sales charges)
For periods ended December 31, 2023
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Franklin Small Cap Value Fund - Class C |
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Franklin Small Cap Value Fund - Class R |
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Franklin Small Cap Value Fund - Class R6 |
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Franklin Small Cap Value Fund - Advisor Class |
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The figures in the average annual total returns table above reflect the Class A shares maximum front-end sales charge of 5.50%. Prior to September 10, 2018, Class A shares were subject to a maximum front-end sales charge of 5.75%. If the prior maximum front-end sales charge of 5.75% was reflected, performance for Class A shares in the average annual total returns table would be lower.
The after-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are shown only for Class A and after-tax returns for other classes will vary.
Investment Manager
Franklin Mutual Advisers, LLC (Franklin Mutual or investment manager)
Portfolio Managers
Steven Raineri
Portfolio Manager of Franklin Mutual and portfolio manager of the Fund since 2012.
Nicholas Karzon, CFA
Portfolio Manager of Franklin Mutual and portfolio manager of the Fund since 2019.
Christopher Meeker, CFA
Portfolio Manager of Franklin Mutual and portfolio manager of the Fund since 2015.
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
You may purchase or redeem shares of the Fund on any business day online through our website at franklintempleton.com, by mail (Franklin Templeton Investor Services, P.O. Box 997152, Sacramento, CA 95899-7152), or by telephone at (800) 632-2301. For Class A, C and R, the minimum initial purchase for most accounts is $1,000 (or $25 under an automatic investment plan). Class R6 and Advisor Class are only available to certain qualified investors and the minimum initial investment will vary depending on the type of qualified investor, as described under "Your Account — Choosing a Share Class — Qualified Investors — Class R6" and "— Advisor Class" in the Fund's prospectus. There is no minimum investment for subsequent purchases.
Taxes
The Fund’s distributions are generally taxable to you as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a
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tax-advantaged arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account, in which case your distributions would generally be taxed when withdrawn from the tax-advantaged account.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your financial advisor or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
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Franklin Mutual U.S. Mid Cap Value Fund
Investment Goal
The Fund's investment goal is high total return, of which capital appreciation and income are components.
Principal Investment Policies and Practices
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in U.S. mid cap securities. Shareholders will be given at least 60 days’ advance notice of any change to the 80% policy. Mid capitalization companies are companies with market capitalizations equal to those within the universe of the Russell Midcap® Value Index at the time of purchase. As of December 31, 2023, the Russell Midcap® Value Index included companies with approximate market capitalizations between $270 million and $73.32 billion. The size of companies in the index changes with market conditions and the composition of the index.
U.S. companies are those that are economically tied to the United States including when: (1) the issuer's principal securities trading market is in the United States; (2) the issuer derives 50% or more of its annual revenues or annual profits from either goods produced, sales made or services performed in the United States; (3) the issuer has 50% of more of its assets located in the United States; or (4) the issuer is organized under the laws of, and has a principal office in, the United States.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests primarily in equity securities (including securities convertible into, or that the investment manager expects to be exchanged for, common or preferred stock) of U.S. companies that the investment manager believes are available at market prices less than their value based on certain recognized or objective criteria (fundamental value). The equity securities in which the Fund invests are primarily common stock.
An equity security represents a proportionate share of the ownership of a company; its value is based on the success or failure of the company’s business, any income paid to stockholders, the value of its assets and general market conditions. Common stocks and preferred stocks, securities convertible into common stocks, and REITs (real estate investment trusts) are examples of equity securities. The Fund invests predominantly in common stocks. The Fund may invest in convertible securities without regard to the ratings assigned by the rating services. The Fund may invest in any kind of REIT, including Equity REITs, Mortgage REITs and hybrid REITs.
While the Fund does not concentrate in any one industry, from time to time, based on economic or market conditions, it may make significant investments in certain sectors, such as financial services companies (including banks, insurance
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companies and diversified financial services), healthcare, industrials and technology. While the Fund generally purchases securities for investment purposes, the investment manager may seek to engage with a company’s management when the investment manager believes the Fund may benefit.
The Fund currently does not expect to invest more than 10% of its net assets in non-U.S. securities, which may include emerging markets.
The Fund may, from time to time, seek to hedge (protect) against currency risks, using certain derivative instruments including, currency and cross currency forwards and currency futures contracts. A currency forward contract is an obligation to purchase or sell a specific foreign currency in exchange for another currency, which may be U.S. dollars, at an agreed exchange rate (price) at a future date. Currency forwards are typically individually negotiated and privately traded by currency traders and their customers in the interbank market. A cross currency forward is a forward contract to sell a specific foreign currency in exchange for another foreign currency and may be used when the Fund believes that the price of one of those foreign currencies will experience a substantial movement against the other foreign currency. A cross currency forward will tend to reduce or eliminate exposure to the currency that is sold, and increase exposure to the currency that is purchased, similar to when the Fund sells a security denominated in one currency and purchases a security denominated in another currency. When used for hedging purposes, a cross currency forward will protect the Fund against losses resulting from a decline in the hedged currency, but will cause the Fund to assume the risk of fluctuations in the value of the currency it purchases.
A futures contract is a standard binding agreement that trades on an exchange to buy or sell a specified quantity of an underlying instrument or asset at a specified price at a specified later date. A “sale” of a futures contract means the acquisition of a contractual obligation to deliver the underlying instrument called for by the contract at a specified price on a specified date. A “purchase” of a futures contract means the acquisition of a contractual obligation to acquire a specified quantity of the underlying instrument called for by the contract at a specified price on a specified date. The purchase or sale of a futures contract will allow the Fund to increase or decrease its exposure to the underlying instrument or asset. Although most futures contracts used by the Fund allow for a cash payment of the net gain or loss on the contract at maturity in lieu of delivery of the underlying instruments, some require the actual delivery or acquisition of the underlying instrument or asset. The Fund may buy and sell futures contracts that trade on U.S. and foreign exchanges.
Portfolio Selection
The investment manager employs a research driven, fundamental value strategy for the Fund. Investments are generally selected based on the investment
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manager’s own analysis of the security’s fundamental value, including for equity securities, an analysis of cash flow potential, long-term earnings, multiples of earnings and book value. The investment manager examines each investment separately and there are no set criteria as to specific value parameters, earnings or industry type.
The investment manager may consider sustainability issues, including environmental, social, governance (ESG) factors, alongside traditional financial measures to provide a more comprehensive view of the value, risk and return potential of an investment. ESG factors may include, but are not limited to, emissions, energy and waste management, labor practices and relations, exposure to potential regulatory changes, and corporate governance. The investment manager’s fundamental research analysts, using their industry expertise, evaluate which factors the investment manager believes to be material to the investment and incorporate both the risks and opportunities of these factors into their fundamental valuation. The weight given to consideration of any factor will vary depending on the analyst’s assessment of both the potential materiality and probability of that factor, and will only be one component of any investment decision. In addition, ESG factors considered may change over time. The investment manager does not assess every investment for ESG factors and, when it does, not every ESG factor may be identified or evaluated. For example, the investment manager’s assessment of investments in special situations investments, notably merger arbitrage and distressed debt, generally does not include analysis of ESG factors.
Principal Risks
Market: The market values of securities or other investments owned by the Fund will go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The Fund’s investments may decline in value due to factors affecting individual issuers (such as the results of supply and demand), or sectors within the securities markets. The value of a security or other investment also may go up or down due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular issuer, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in interest rates or exchange rates, or adverse investor sentiment generally. Furthermore, events involving limited liquidity, defaults, non-performance or other adverse developments that affect one industry, such as the financial services industry, or concerns or rumors about any events of these kinds, have in the past and may in the future lead to market-wide liquidity problems, may spread to other industries, and could negatively affect the value and liquidity of the Fund’s investments. In addition, unexpected events and their aftermaths, such as the spread of diseases; natural, environmental or man-made disasters; financial, political or social disruptions; terrorism and war; and other tragedies or catastrophes, can cause investor fear and panic, which can adversely affect the economies of many companies, sectors,
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nations, regions and the market in general, in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen. During a general downturn in the securities markets, multiple asset classes may decline in value. When markets perform well, there can be no assurance that securities or other investments held by the Fund will participate in or otherwise benefit from the advance.
The global outbreak of the novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19 and its subsequent variants, has resulted in market closures and dislocations, extreme volatility, liquidity constraints and increased trading costs. The long-term impact on economies, markets, industries and individual issuers is not known. Some sectors of the economy and individual issuers have experienced or may experience particularly large losses. Periods of extreme volatility in the financial markets; reduced liquidity of many instruments; and disruptions to supply chains, consumer demand and employee availability, may continue for some time. The U.S. government and the Federal Reserve, as well as certain foreign governments and central banks, have taken extraordinary action to support local and global economies and the financial markets in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This and other government interventions into the economy and financial markets may not work as intended, and have resulted in a large expansion of government deficits and debt, the long term consequences of which are not known. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic, and measures taken to mitigate its effects, could result in disruptions to the services provided to the Fund by its service providers.
Stock prices tend to go up and down more dramatically than those of debt securities. A slower-growth or recessionary economic environment could have an adverse effect on the prices of the various stocks held by the Fund.
Value Style Investing: A value stock may not increase in price as anticipated by the investment manager if other investors fail to recognize the company's value and bid up the price, the markets favor faster-growing companies, or the factors that the investment manager believes will increase the price of the security do not occur or do not have the anticipated effect.
The Fund's policy of investing in securities that may be out of favor, including turnarounds, cyclical companies, companies reporting poor earnings, and companies whose share prices have declined sharply or that are less widely followed by other investors, differs from the approach followed by many other mutual funds. Cyclical stocks, which typically follow the cycles of an economy through expansion, peak, recession, and recovery, tend to increase in value more quickly during periods of anticipated economic upturns than non-cyclical stocks, but they also tend to lose value more quickly in periods of anticipated economic downturns. Companies emerging from bankruptcy may have difficulty retaining customers and suppliers. These companies may have relatively weak balance sheets and, during economic downturns, they may have insufficient cash flow to
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pay their debt obligations and difficulty finding additional financing needed for their operations.
Small and Mid Capitalization Companies: While small and mid capitalization companies may offer substantial opportunities for capital growth, they also may involve more risks than larger companies. Historically, securities issued by small and mid capitalization companies have been more volatile in price than securities that are issued by larger companies, especially over the short term. Among the reasons for the greater price volatility are the less certain growth prospects of small and mid capitalization companies, the lower degree of liquidity in the markets for such securities, and the greater sensitivity of small and mid capitalization companies to changing economic conditions.
In addition, small and mid capitalization companies may lack depth of management, be unable to generate funds necessary for growth or development, have limited product lines or be developing or marketing new products or services for which markets are not yet established and may never become established. Small and mid capitalization companies may be particularly affected by interest rate increases, as they may find it more difficult to borrow money to continue or expand operations, or may have difficulty in repaying loans, particularly those with floating interest rates.
Focus: To the extent that the Fund focuses on particular countries, regions, industries, sectors or types of investments from time to time, the Fund may be subject to greater risks of adverse developments in such areas of focus than a fund that invests in a wider variety of countries, regions, industries, sectors or investments.
Financial services companies: Financial services companies are subject to extensive government regulation that may affect their profitability in many ways, including by limiting the amount and types of loans and other commitments they can make, and the interest rates and fees they can charge. A financial services company's profitability, and therefore its stock prices, is especially sensitive to interest rate changes as well as the ability of borrowers to repay their loans. Changing regulations, continuing consolidations, and development of new products and structures all are likely to have a significant impact on financial services companies.
Healthcare companies: The activities of healthcare companies may be funded or subsidized by federal and state governments. If government funding and subsidies are reduced or discontinued, the profitability of these companies could be adversely affected. Healthcare companies may also be affected by government policies on healthcare reimbursements, regulatory approval for new drugs and medical products, and similar matters. They are also subject to legislative risk, i.e., the risks associated with the reform of the healthcare system through legislation.
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Industrials companies: The stock prices of companies in the industrials sector are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrials sector products in general. Companies in the industrials sector may be adversely affected by changes in government regulation, world events and economic conditions. In addition, these companies are at risk for environmental damage and product liability claims. Companies in this sector could be adversely affected by commodity price volatility, changes in exchange rates, imposition of export or import controls, increased competition, depletion of resources, technological developments and labor relations.
Technology companies: Companies in the technology sector have historically been volatile due to the rapid pace of product change and development within the sector. For example, their products and services may not prove commercially successful or may become obsolete quickly. In addition, delays in or cancellation of the release of anticipated products or services may also affect the price of a technology company’s stock. Technology companies are subject to significant competitive pressures, such as new market entrants, aggressive pricing and tight profit margins. The activities of these companies may also be adversely affected by changes in government regulations, worldwide technological developments or investor perception of a company and/or its products or services. The stock prices of companies operating within this sector may be subject to abrupt or erratic movements.
REITs: Equity REITs may be affected by any changes in the value of the properties and companies owned and other factors, and their prices tend to go up and down. A REIT's performance depends on the types, values and locations of the properties and companies it owns and on how well those companies are managed. A decline in rental income may occur because of extended vacancies, increased competition from other properties, tenants' failure to pay rent or poor management. A REIT's performance also depends on the company's ability to finance property purchases and renovations and manage its cash flows. Because a REIT may be invested in a limited number of projects or in a particular market segment, it may be more susceptible to adverse developments affecting a single project or market segment than more broadly diversified investments. Loss of status as a qualified REIT under the U.S. federal tax laws could adversely affect the value of a particular REIT or the market for REITS as a whole. These risks may also apply to securities of REIT-like entities domiciled outside the U.S.
Foreign Securities (non-U.S.): Investing in foreign securities typically involves more risks than investing in U.S. securities. Certain of these risks also may apply to securities of U.S. companies with significant foreign operations. These risks can increase the potential for investment loss in the Fund and may include, among others, currency risks (such as fluctuations in currency exchange rates and currency devaluations); country risks (such as political, diplomatic, or regional
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conflicts, terrorism or war, social and economic instability, and internal or external policies or economic sanctions limiting or restricting foreign investment, the movement of assets or other economic activity); and risks associated with the state of a country's financial markets and legal institutions. Other foreign securities risks may include unfavorable trading, settlement or custodial practices, unfavorable tax policies, less government supervision, less publicly available information, less stringent investor protection standards, limited legal redress for violations of law, limited trading markets and greater illiquidity and greater price volatility.
Currency management strategies: Currency management strategies may substantially change the Fund's exposure to currency exchange rates and could result in losses to the Fund if currencies do not perform as the expects. In addition, currency management strategies, to the extent that they reduce the Fund's exposure to currency risks, also reduce the Fund's ability to benefit from favorable changes in currency exchange rates. There is no assurance that the use of currency management strategies will benefit the Fund or that they will be, or can be, used at appropriate times. Furthermore, there may not be perfect correlation between the amount of exposure to a particular currency and the amount of securities in the Fund's portfolio denominated in that currency. Investing in foreign currencies for purposes of gaining from projected changes in exchange rates, as opposed to hedging currency risks applicable to the Fund's holdings, further increases the Fund's exposure to foreign investment losses.
Derivative Instruments: The performance of derivative instruments depends largely on the performance of an underlying instrument, such as a currency, security, interest rate or index, and such instruments often have risks similar to the underlying instrument, in addition to other risks. Derivative instruments involve costs and can create economic leverage in the Fund's portfolio, which may result in significant volatility and cause the Fund to participate in losses (as well as gains) in an amount that significantly exceeds the Fund's initial investment. Other risks include illiquidity, mispricing or improper valuation of the derivative instrument, and imperfect correlation between the value of the derivative and the underlying instrument so that the Fund may not realize the intended benefits. Their successful use will usually depend on the investment manager’s ability to accurately forecast movements in the market relating to the underlying instrument. Should a market or markets, or prices of particular classes of investments move in an unexpected manner, especially in unusual or extreme market conditions, the Fund may not achieve the anticipated benefits of the transaction, and it may realize losses, which could be significant. If the investment manager is not successful in using such derivative instruments, the Fund’s performance may be worse than if the investment manager did not use such derivative instruments at all. When a derivative is used for hedging, the change in value of the derivative instrument also may not correlate specifically with the currency, security, interest rate, index or
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other risk being hedged. There is also the risk, especially under extreme market conditions, that an instrument, which usually would operate as a hedge, provides no hedging benefits at all.
Use of these instruments could also result in a loss if the counterparty to the transaction (particularly with respect to OTC instruments) does not perform as promised, including because of such counterparty’s bankruptcy or insolvency. This risk may be heightened during volatile market conditions. Other risks include the inability to close out a position because the trading market becomes illiquid (particularly in the OTC markets) or the availability of counterparties becomes limited for a period of time. In addition, the presence of speculators in a particular market could lead to price distortions. To the extent that the Fund is unable to close out a position because of market illiquidity, the Fund may not be able to prevent further losses of value in its derivatives holdings and the Fund’s liquidity may be impaired to the extent that it has a substantial portion of its otherwise liquid assets marked as segregated to cover its obligations under such derivative instruments. The Fund may also be required to take or make delivery of an underlying instrument that the investment manager would otherwise have attempted to avoid. Some derivatives can be particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates or other market prices. Investors should bear in mind that, while the Fund may use derivative strategies from time to time, it is not obligated to actively engage in these transactions, generally or in any particular kind of derivative, if the investment manager elects not to do so due to availability, cost or other factors.
The use of derivative strategies may also have a tax impact on the Fund. The timing and character of income, gains or losses from these strategies could impair the ability of the investment manager to use derivatives when it wishes to do so.
Convertible Securities: A convertible security is generally a debt obligation, preferred stock or other security that pays interest or dividends and may be converted by the holder within a specified period of time into common stock. The value of convertible securities may rise and fall with the market value of the underlying stock or, like a debt security, vary with changes in interest rates and the credit quality of the issuer. A convertible security tends to perform more like a stock when the underlying stock price is high relative to the conversion price (because more of the security's value resides in the option to convert) and more like a debt security when the underlying stock price is low relative to the conversion price (because the option to convert is less valuable). Because its value can be influenced by many different factors, a convertible security is not as sensitive to interest rate changes as a similar non-convertible debt security, and generally has less potential for gain or loss than the underlying stock.
Management: The Fund is actively managed and could experience losses (realized and unrealized) if the investment manager’s judgment about markets, interest rates or the attractiveness, relative values, liquidity, or potential
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appreciation of particular investments made for the Fund's portfolio prove to be incorrect. The Fund could also experience losses if there are imperfections, errors or limitations in the models, tools, and data used by the investment manager or if the investment manager’s techniques or investment decisions do not produce the desired results. Additionally, legislative, regulatory, or tax developments may affect the investment techniques available to the investment manager in connection with managing the Fund and may also adversely affect the ability of the Fund to achieve its investment goal.
ESG Considerations: ESG considerations are one of a number of factors that the investment manager examines when considering investments for the Fund’s portfolio. In light of this, the issuers in which the Fund invests may not be considered ESG-focused companies. In addition, ESG considerations assessed as part of the Fund’s investment process may vary across types of eligible investments and issuers. The investment manager does not assess every investment for ESG factors and, when it does, not every ESG factor may be identified or evaluated. The investment manager’s assessment of an issuer may differ from that of investors, third-party service providers, such as ratings providers, and other funds. As a result, securities selected by the investment manager may not reflect the beliefs and values of any particular investor. The investment manager also may be dependent on the availability of timely, complete and accurate ESG data being reported by issuers and/or third-party research providers to evaluate ESG factors. ESG factors are often not uniformly measured or defined, which could impact the investment manager’s ability to assess an issuer. While the investment manager views ESG considerations as having the potential to contribute to the Fund’s long-term performance, there is no guarantee that such results will be achieved.
Cybersecurity: Cybersecurity incidents, both intentional and unintentional, may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to Fund assets, Fund or customer data (including private shareholder information), or proprietary information, cause the Fund, the investment manager, and/or their service providers (including, but not limited to, Fund accountants, custodians, sub-custodians, transfer agents and financial intermediaries) to suffer data breaches, data corruption or loss of operational functionality or prevent Fund investors from purchasing redeeming or exchanging shares or receiving distributions. The investment manager has limited ability to prevent or mitigate cybersecurity incidents affecting third party service providers, and such third party service providers may have limited indemnification obligations to the Fund or the investment manager. Cybersecurity incidents may result in financial losses to the Fund and its shareholders, and substantial costs may be incurred in an effort to prevent or mitigate future cybersecurity incidents. Issuers of securities in which the Fund invests are also subject to cybersecurity
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risks, and the value of these securities could decline if the issuers experience cybersecurity incidents.
Because technology is frequently changing, new ways to carry out cyber attacks are always developing. Therefore, there is a chance that some risks have not been identified or prepared for, or that an attack may not be detected, which puts limitations on the Fund's ability to plan for or respond to a cyber attack. Like other funds and business enterprises, the Fund, the investment manager, and their service providers are subject to the risk of cyber incidents occurring from time to time.
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The Fund is closed to new investors. Existing investors who had an open and funded account on May 27, 2021 can continue to invest through exchanges and additional purchases. The following categories of investors can continue to open new accounts in the Fund: (1) trustees and officers of the Trust; (2) members of the Fund’s portfolio management team; (3) employee sponsored retirement plans or benefit plans and their participants where the Fund was available to participants prior to the Fund’s closure; (4) employee sponsored retirement plans or benefit plans that approved the Fund as an investment option prior to May 27, 2021, but have not opened an account as of that date, provided that the initial account was opened with the Fund on or prior to the Fund’s closure; (5) clients of discretionary investment allocation programs where such programs had investments in the Fund prior to the Fund’s closure; and (6) other Franklin Templeton funds and funds for which Franklin Templeton investment managers provide advisory or sub-advisory services upon prior approval by the Fund’s investment manager. The Fund reserves the right to make additional exceptions that, in its judgment, do not adversely affect the portfolio managers’ ability to manage the portfolio. The Fund may restrict, reject or cancel any purchase order, including an exchange request, and reserves the right to modify this policy at any time.
Investment Goal
The Fund's investment goal is long-term total return.
Principal Investment Policies and Practices
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in investments of small-capitalization (small-cap) companies. Shareholders will be given at least 60 days’ advance notice of any change to this 80% policy. Small-cap companies are companies with market capitalizations (the total market value of a company’s outstanding stock) not exceeding either: 1) the highest market capitalization in the Russell 2000 Index; or 2) the 12-month average of the highest market capitalization in the Russell 2000 Index, whichever is greater, at the time of purchase. As of the most recent reconstitution, the highest market capitalization in the Russell 2000 Index was $6 billion.
The Fund generally invests in equity securities of companies that the Fund's investment manager believes are undervalued at the time of purchase and have the potential for capital appreciation. An equity security represents a proportionate share of the ownership of a company; its value is based on the success or failure of the company’s business, any income paid to stockholders, the value of its assets and general market conditions. Common stocks and preferred stocks, securities convertible into common stocks, and REITs (real estate investment trusts) are
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examples of equity securities. The Fund invests predominantly in common stocks. The Fund may invest in convertible securities without regard to the ratings assigned by the rating services. The Fund may invest in any kind of REIT, including Equity REITs, Mortgage REITs and hybrid REITs.
In choosing investments that are undervalued, the Fund's investment manager focuses on companies that have one or more of the following characteristics:
· Stock prices that are low relative to current or historical or future earnings, book value, cash flow or sales -- all relative to the market, a company's industry or a company's earnings history
· Recent sharp price declines but the potential for good long-term earnings prospects, in the investment manager's opinion
· Valuable intangibles not reflected in the stock price, such as franchises, distribution networks or market share for particular products or services, underused or understated assets or cash, or patents and trademarks
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in foreign securities.
The Fund, from time to time, may have significant positions in particular sectors, such as financial services companies, industrials, consumer discretionary and technology.
Portfolio Selection
A stock price is undervalued when it is less than the price at which the investment manager believes it would trade if the market reflected all factors relating to the company's worth. The investment manager may consider a company to be undervalued in the marketplace because of overreaction by investors to unfavorable news about a company, an industry or the stock market in general, or as a result of a market decline, poor economic conditions, tax-loss selling, or actual or anticipated unfavorable developments affecting a company. The types of companies the Fund may invest in include, among other things, those that may be considered out of favor due to actual or perceived cyclical or secular challenges, or are experiencing temporary setbacks, mismanagement or undermanagement, are financially stressed, or facing diminished expectations.
In choosing investments, the investment manager conducts an in-depth analysis of a company’s long-term or normalized earnings and free cash flow potential, quality of management, ownership of valuable franchises, trademarks or trade names, control of distribution networks, underutilized assets and market share for particular products, balance sheet, and other factors that may identify the issuer as a potential investment. The investment manager considers selling a security when it no longer meets its value criteria.
Fund exposures, including sector weights, are the result of our “bottom-up" stock selection process and are not determined by benchmark composition.
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The investment manager may consider sustainability issues, including environmental, social, governance (ESG) factors, alongside traditional financial measures to provide a more comprehensive view of the value, risk and return potential of an investment. ESG factors may include, but are not limited to, emissions, energy and waste management, labor practices and relations, exposure to potential regulatory changes, and corporate governance. The investment manager’s fundamental research analysts, using their industry expertise, evaluate which factors the investment manager believes to be material to the investment and incorporate both the risks and opportunities of these factors into their fundamental valuation. The weight given to consideration of any factor will vary depending on the analyst’s assessment of both the potential materiality and probability of that factor, and will only be one component of any investment decision. In addition, ESG factors considered may change over time. The investment manager does not assess every investment for ESG factors and, when it does, not every ESG factor may be identified or evaluated.
Principal Risks
Market: The market values of securities or other investments owned by the Fund will go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The Fund’s investments may decline in value due to factors affecting individual issuers (such as the results of supply and demand), or sectors within the securities markets. The value of a security or other investment also may go up or down due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular issuer, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in interest rates or exchange rates, or adverse investor sentiment generally. Furthermore, events involving limited liquidity, defaults, non-performance or other adverse developments that affect one industry, such as the financial services industry, or concerns or rumors about any events of these kinds, have in the past and may in the future lead to market-wide liquidity problems, may spread to other industries, and could negatively affect the value and liquidity of the Fund’s investments. In addition, unexpected events and their aftermaths, such as the spread of diseases; natural, environmental or man-made disasters; financial, political or social disruptions; terrorism and war; and other tragedies or catastrophes, can cause investor fear and panic, which can adversely affect the economies of many companies, sectors, nations, regions and the market in general, in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen. During a general downturn in the securities markets, multiple asset classes may decline in value. When markets perform well, there can be no assurance that securities or other investments held by the Fund will participate in or otherwise benefit from the advance.
The global outbreak of the novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19 and its subsequent variants, has resulted in market closures and dislocations, extreme volatility, liquidity constraints and increased trading costs. The long-term impact on
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economies, markets, industries and individual issuers is not known. Some sectors of the economy and individual issuers have experienced or may experience particularly large losses. Periods of extreme volatility in the financial markets; reduced liquidity of many instruments; and disruptions to supply chains, consumer demand and employee availability, may continue for some time. The U.S. government and the Federal Reserve, as well as certain foreign governments and central banks, have taken extraordinary action to support local and global economies and the financial markets in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This and other government interventions into the economy and financial markets may not work as intended, and have resulted in a large expansion of government deficits and debt, the long term consequences of which are not known. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic, and measures taken to mitigate its effects, could result in disruptions to the services provided to the Fund by its service providers.
Stock prices tend to go up and down more dramatically than those of debt securities. A slower-growth or recessionary economic environment could have an adverse effect on the prices of the various stocks held by the Fund.
Small Capitalization Companies: While small capitalization companies may offer substantial opportunities for capital growth, they also may involve more risks than larger companies. Historically, securities issued by small capitalization companies have been more volatile in price than securities that are issued by larger companies, especially over the short term. Among the reasons for the greater price volatility are the less certain growth prospects of small capitalization companies, the lower degree of liquidity in the markets for such securities, and the greater sensitivity of small capitalization companies to changing economic conditions.
In addition, small capitalization companies may lack depth of management, be unable to generate funds necessary for growth or development, have limited product lines or be developing or marketing new products or services for which markets are not yet established and may never become established. Small capitalization companies may be particularly affected by interest rate increases, as they may find it more difficult to borrow money to continue or expand operations, or may have difficulty in repaying loans, particularly those with floating interest rates.
Value Style Investing: A value stock may not increase in price as anticipated by the investment manager if other investors fail to recognize the company's value and bid up the price, the markets favor faster-growing companies, or the factors that the investment manager believes will increase the price of the security do not occur or do not have the anticipated effect.
The Fund's policy of investing in securities that may be out of favor, including turnarounds, cyclical companies, companies reporting poor earnings, and companies whose share prices have declined sharply or that are less widely followed by other investors, differs from the approach followed by many other
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mutual funds. Cyclical stocks, which typically follow the cycles of an economy through expansion, peak, recession and recovery, tend to increase in value more quickly during periods of anticipated economic upturns than non-cyclical stocks, but they also tend to lose value more quickly in periods of anticipated economic downturns. Companies emerging from bankruptcy may have difficulty retaining customers and suppliers. These companies may have relatively weak balance sheets and, during economic downturns, they may have insufficient cash flow to pay their debt obligations and difficulty finding additional financing needed for their operations.
Foreign Securities (non-U.S.): Investing in foreign securities typically involves more risks than investing in U.S. securities, including risks related to currency exchange rates and policies, country or government specific issues, less favorable trading practices or regulation and greater price volatility. Certain of these risks also may apply to securities of U.S. companies with significant foreign operations.
Currency exchange rates: Foreign securities may be issued and traded in foreign currencies. As a result, their market values in U.S. dollars may be affected by changes in exchange rates between such foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar, as well as between currencies of countries other than the U.S. For example, if the value of the U.S. dollar goes up compared to a foreign currency, an investment traded in that foreign currency will go down in value because it will be worth fewer U.S. dollars. The Fund accrues additional expenses when engaging in currency exchange transactions, and valuation of the Fund's foreign securities may be subject to greater risk because both the currency (relative to the U.S. dollar) and the security must be considered.
Political and economic developments: The political, economic and social policies or structures of some foreign countries may be less stable and more volatile than those in the United States. Investments in these countries may be subject to greater risks of internal and external conflicts, expropriation, nationalization of assets, foreign exchange controls (such as suspension of the ability to transfer currency from a given country), restrictions on removal of assets, political or social instability, military action or unrest, diplomatic developments, currency devaluations, foreign ownership limitations, and substantial, punitive or confiscatory tax increases. It is possible that a government may take over the assets or operations of a company or impose restrictions on the exchange or export of currency or other assets. Some countries also may have different legal systems that may make it difficult or expensive for the Fund to vote proxies, exercise shareholder rights, and pursue legal remedies with respect to its foreign investments. Diplomatic and political developments could affect the economies, industries, and securities and currency markets of the countries in which the Fund is invested. These developments include rapid and adverse political changes; social instability; regional conflicts; sanctions imposed by the United States, other
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nations or other governmental entities, including supranational entities; terrorism; and war. In addition, such developments could contribute to the devaluation of a country’s currency, a downgrade in the credit ratings of issuers in such country, or a decline in the value and liquidity of securities of issuers in that country. An imposition of sanctions upon, or other government actions impacting, certain issuers in a country could result in (i) an immediate freeze of that issuer’s securities, impairing the ability of the Fund to buy, sell, receive or deliver those securities or (ii) other limitations on the Fund’s ability to invest or hold such securities. These factors would affect the value of the Fund’s investments and are extremely difficult, if not impossible, to predict and take into account with respect to the Fund's investments.
Trading practices: Brokerage commissions, withholding taxes, custodial fees, and other fees generally are higher in foreign markets. The policies and procedures followed by foreign stock exchanges, currency markets, trading systems and brokers may differ from those applicable in the United States, with possibly negative consequences to the Fund. The procedures and rules governing foreign trading, settlement and custody (holding of the Fund's assets) also may result in losses or delays in payment, delivery or recovery of money or other property. Foreign government supervision and regulation of foreign securities and currency markets and trading systems may be less than or different from government supervision in the United States, and may increase the Fund's regulatory and compliance burden and/or decrease the Fund's investor rights and protections.
Availability of information: Foreign issuers may not be subject to the same disclosure, accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices as U.S. issuers. Thus, there may be less information publicly available about foreign issuers than about most U.S. issuers. In addition, information provided by foreign issuers may be less timely or less reliable than information provided by U.S. issuers.
Limited markets: Certain foreign securities may be less liquid (harder to sell) and their prices may be more volatile than many U.S. securities. Illiquidity tends to be greater, and valuation of the Fund's foreign securities may be more difficult, due to the infrequent trading and/or delayed reporting of quotes and sales.
REITs: Equity REITs may be affected by any changes in the value of the properties and companies owned and other factors, and their prices tend to go up and down. A REIT's performance depends on the types, values and locations of the properties and companies it owns and on how well those companies are managed. A decline in rental income may occur because of extended vacancies, increased competition from other properties, tenants' failure to pay rent or poor management. A REIT's performance also depends on the company's ability to finance property purchases and renovations and manage its cash flows. Because a REIT may be invested in a limited number of projects or in a particular market segment, it may be
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more susceptible to adverse developments affecting a single project or market segment than more broadly diversified investments. Loss of status as a qualified REIT under the U.S. federal tax laws could adversely affect the value of a particular REIT or the market for REITS as a whole. These risks may also apply to securities of REIT-like entities domiciled outside the U.S.
Focus: To the extent that the Fund focuses on particular countries, regions, industries, sectors or types of investments from time to time, the Fund may be subject to greater risks of adverse developments in such areas of focus than a fund that invests in a wider variety of countries, regions, industries, sectors or investments.
Financial services companies: Financial services companies are subject to extensive government regulation that may affect their profitability in many ways, including by limiting the amount and types of loans and other commitments they can make, and the interest rates and fees they can charge. A financial services company's profitability, and therefore its stock prices, is especially sensitive to interest rate changes as well as the ability of borrowers to repay their loans. Changing regulations, continuing consolidations, and development of new products and structures all are likely to have a significant impact on financial services companies.
Industrials companies: The stock prices of companies in the industrials sector are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrials sector products in general. Companies in the industrials sector may be adversely affected by changes in government regulation, world events and economic conditions. In addition, these companies are at risk for environmental damage and product liability claims. Companies in this sector could be adversely affected by commodity price volatility, changes in exchange rates, imposition of export or import controls, increased competition, depletion of resources, technological developments and labor relations.
Consumer discretionary companies: Companies in the consumer discretionary sector could be affected by, among other things, overall economic conditions, interest rates, consumer confidence, and disposable income.
Technology companies: Companies in the technology sector have historically been volatile due to the rapid pace of product change and development within the sector. For example, their products and services may not prove commercially successful or may become obsolete quickly. In addition, delays in or cancellation of the release of anticipated products or services may also affect the price of a technology company’s stock. Technology companies are subject to significant competitive pressures, such as new market entrants, aggressive pricing and tight profit margins. The activities of these companies may also be adversely affected by changes in government regulations, worldwide technological developments or
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investor perception of a company and/or its products or services. The stock prices of companies operating within this sector may be subject to abrupt or erratic movements.
Management: The Fund is actively managed and could experience losses (realized and unrealized) if the investment manager’s judgment about markets, interest rates or the attractiveness, relative values, liquidity, or potential appreciation of particular investments made for the Fund's portfolio prove to be incorrect. The Fund could also experience losses if there are imperfections, errors or limitations in the models, tools, and data used by the investment manager or if the investment manager’s techniques or investment decisions do not produce the desired results. Additionally, legislative, regulatory, or tax developments may affect the investment techniques available to the investment manager in connection with managing the Fund and may also adversely affect the ability of the Fund to achieve its investment goal.
ESG Considerations: ESG considerations are one of a number of factors that the investment manager examines when considering investments for the Fund’s portfolio. In light of this, the issuers in which the Fund invests may not be considered ESG-focused companies. In addition, ESG considerations assessed as part of the Fund’s investment process may vary across types of eligible investments and issuers. The investment manager does not assess every investment for ESG factors and, when it does, not every ESG factor may be identified or evaluated. The investment manager’s assessment of an issuer may differ from that of investors, third-party service providers, such as ratings providers, and other funds. As a result, securities selected by the investment manager may not reflect the beliefs and values of any particular investor. The investment manager also may be dependent on the availability of timely, complete and accurate ESG data being reported by issuers and/or third-party research providers to evaluate ESG factors. ESG factors are often not uniformly measured or defined, which could impact the investment manager’s ability to assess an issuer. While the investment manager views ESG considerations as having the potential to contribute to the Fund’s long-term performance, there is no guarantee that such results will be achieved.
Cybersecurity: Cybersecurity incidents, both intentional and unintentional, may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to Fund assets, Fund or customer data (including private shareholder information), or proprietary information, cause the Fund, the investment manager, and/or their service providers (including, but not limited to, Fund accountants, custodians, sub-custodians, transfer agents and financial intermediaries) to suffer data breaches, data corruption or loss of operational functionality or prevent Fund investors from purchasing, redeeming or exchanging shares or receiving distributions. The investment manager has limited ability to prevent or mitigate cybersecurity incidents affecting third party service
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providers, and such third party service providers may have limited indemnification obligations to the Fund or the investment manager. Cybersecurity incidents may result in financial losses to the Fund and its shareholders, and substantial costs may be incurred in an effort to prevent or mitigate future cybersecurity incidents. Issuers of securities in which the Fund invests are also subject to cybersecurity risks, and the value of these securities could decline if the issuers experience cybersecurity incidents.
Because technology is frequently changing, new ways to carry out cyber attacks are always developing. Therefore, there is a chance that some risks have not been identified or prepared for, or that an attack may not be detected, which puts limitations on the Fund's ability to plan for or respond to a cyber attack. Like other funds and business enterprises, the Fund, the investment manager, and their service providers are subject to the risk of cyber incidents occurring from time to time.
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More Information on Investment Policies, Practices and Risks
Equity Securities: Each Fund (hereafter "the Fund") invests substantially to primarily in equity securities, including securities convertible, or expected to be exchanged, into equity securities. An equity security represents a proportionate share of the ownership of a company; its value is based on the success or failure of the company's business, any income paid to stockholders, the value of its assets, and general market conditions. Common stocks and preferred stocks, and securities convertible into common stocks, are examples of equity securities. The Fund may invest in convertible securities without regard to the ratings assigned by ratings services.
Exclusion of Investment Manager from Commodity Pool Operator Definition
With respect to the Fund, the investment manager has claimed an exclusion from the definition of “commodity pool operator” (CPO) under the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and, therefore, is not subject to CFTC registration or regulation as a CPO. In addition, with respect to the Fund, the investment manager is relying upon a related exclusion from the definition of “commodity trading advisor” (CTA) under the CEA and the rules of the CFTC.
The terms of the CPO exclusion require the Fund, among other things, to adhere to certain limits on its investments in commodity futures, commodity options and swaps, which in turn include non-deliverable currency forward contracts, as further described in the Fund's Statement of Additional Information (SAI). Because the investment manager and the Fund intend to comply with the terms of the CPO exclusion, the Fund may, in the future, need to adjust its investment strategies, consistent with its investment goal, to limit its investments in these types of instruments. The Fund is not intended as a vehicle for trading in the commodity futures, commodity options, or swaps markets. The CFTC has neither reviewed nor approved the investment manager’s reliance on these exclusions, or the Fund, its investment strategies or this prospectus.
Temporary Investments
When the investment manager believes market or economic conditions are unfavorable for investors, the investment manager may invest up to 100% of the Fund’s assets in a temporary defensive manner by holding all or a substantial portion of its assets in cash, cash equivalents or other high quality short-term investments. Temporary defensive investments generally may include short-term U.S. government securities, high grade commercial paper, bank obligations, repurchase agreements, money market fund shares (including shares of an
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affiliated money market fund), and other money market instruments. The investment manager also may invest in these types of securities or hold cash while looking for suitable investment opportunities or to maintain liquidity. In these circumstances, the Fund may be unable to achieve its investment goal.
The Fund is designed for long-term investors and not as a trading vehicle. The Fund is not intended as a complete investment program and you should consider how the Fund fits your individual investment goals before you buy it.
More detailed information about the Fund and its policies and risks can be found in the Fund's Statement of Additional Information (SAI).
A description of the Fund's policies and procedures regarding the release of portfolio holdings information is also available in the Fund's SAI. Portfolio holdings information can be viewed online at franklintempleton.com.
Franklin Mutual Advisers, LLC (Franklin Mutual or investment manager), 101 John F. Kennedy Parkway, Short Hills, New Jersey 07078, is the Fund’s investment manager. Franklin Mutual is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Franklin Resources, Inc. (Resources). Together, Franklin Mutual and its affiliates manage, as of January 31, 2024, approximately $1.60 trillion in assets, and have been in the investment management business since 1947.
Each Fund is managed by a team of dedicated professionals focused on investments in equity securities. The portfolio managers are jointly responsible for the day-to-day management of particular Funds and operate as a team to develop ideas and implement investment strategy for all of the Funds. The portfolio managers of the Fund are as follows:
Mutual U.S. Mid Cap Value Fund
Grace Hoefig Senior Vice President of Franklin Mutual
Ms. Hoefig has been a co-lead portfolio manager of the Fund since 2012 and assumed the duties of co-lead portfolio manager in 2022. She joined Franklin Templeton in 2008.
Stephen Shunk, CFA Portfolio Manager of Franklin Mutual
Mr. Shunk has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since 2022. He joined Franklin Templeton in 2005.
Srini Vijay, CFA Portfolio Manager of Franklin Mutual
Mr. Vijay has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since 2019 and assumed the duties of co-lead portfolio manager in 2022. He joined Franklin Templeton in 2019.
As co-lead portfolio managers of the Fund, Ms. Hoefig and Mr. Vijay are jointly and primarily responsible for the investments of the Fund. They have equal authority
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over all aspects of the Fund’s investment portfolio, including but not limited to, purchases and sales of individual securities, portfolio risk assessment, and the management of daily cash balances in accordance with anticipated investment management requirements. The degree to which a portfolio manager may perform these functions, and the nature of these functions, may change from time to time. Mr. Shunk is a portfolio manager of the Fund, providing research and advice on the purchases and sales of individual securities, and portfolio risk assessment.
Small Cap Value Fund
Nicholas Karzon, CFA Portfolio Manager of Franklin Mutual
Mr. Karzon has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since 2019. He joined Franklin Templeton in 2014.
Christopher Meeker, CFA Portfolio Manager of Franklin Mutual
Mr. Meeker has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since 2015. He joined Franklin Templeton in 2012.
Steven Raineri Portfolio Manager of Franklin Mutual
Mr. Raineri has been the lead portfolio manager of the Fund since 2012. He joined Franklin Templeton in 2005.
Mr. Raineri has primary responsibility for the investments of the Fund. He has final authority over all aspects of the Fund’s investment portfolio, including but not limited to, purchases and sales of individual securities, portfolio risk assessment, and the management of daily cash balances in accordance with anticipated investment management requirements. The degree to which he may perform these functions, and the nature of these functions, may change from time to time. Messrs. Karzon and Meeker are portfolio managers of the Fund, providing research and advice on the purchases and sales of individual securities, and portfolio risk assessment.
CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are trademarks owned by CFA Institute.
The Fund’s SAI provides additional information about portfolio manager compensation, other accounts that they manage and their ownership of Fund shares.
The Fund pays Franklin Mutual a fee for managing the Fund’s assets.
Franklin Mutual has agreed to reduce its fees to reflect reduced services resulting from the Fund’s investments in Franklin Templeton affiliated funds. In addition, transfer agency fees on Class R6 shares of the Fund have been capped so that transfer agency fees for that class do not exceed 0.03%. These arrangements are expected to continue until February 28, 2025. During the terms, the fee waiver and expense reimbursement agreements may not be terminated or amended without
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approval of the board of trustees except to add series or classes, to reflect the extension of termination dates or to lower the waiver and expense limitation.
For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, the Fund paid Franklin Mutual an effective management fee equal to the following percentages of the Fund’s average net assets for investment management services:
Fund |
Effective management fee |
Mutual U.S. Mid Cap Value Fund |
0.46% |
Small Cap Value Fund |
0.54% |
A discussion regarding the basis for the board of trustees’ approval of each Fund’s investment management agreement is available in each Fund’s annual report for the period ended October 31, 2023.
Manager of Managers Structure
The investment manager and the Trust have received an exemptive order from the SEC that allows the Fund to operate in a “manager of managers” structure whereby the investment manager can appoint and replace both wholly-owned and unaffiliated sub-advisors, and enter into, amend and terminate sub-advisory agreements with such sub-advisors, each subject to board approval but without obtaining prior shareholder approval (Manager of Managers Structure). The Fund will, however, inform shareholders of the hiring of any new sub-advisor within 90 days after the hiring. The SEC exemptive order provides the Fund with greater flexibility and efficiency and alleviates the need for the Fund to incur the expense and delays associated with obtaining shareholder approval of such sub-advisory agreements.
The use of the Manager of Managers Structure with respect to the Fund is subject to certain conditions that are set forth in the SEC exemptive order. Under the Manager of Managers Structure, the investment manager has the ultimate responsibility, subject to oversight by the Fund's board of trustees, to oversee sub-advisors and recommend their hiring, termination and replacement. The investment manager will also, subject to the review and approval of the Fund's board of trustees: set the Fund's overall investment strategy; evaluate, select and recommend sub-advisors to manage all or a portion of the Fund's assets; and implement procedures reasonably designed to ensure that each sub-advisor complies with the Fund's investment goal, policies and restrictions. Subject to review by the Fund's board of trustees, the investment manager will allocate and, when appropriate, reallocate the Fund's assets among sub-advisors and monitor and evaluate the sub-advisors’ performance.
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The information is provided with respect to each Fund (hereafter the “Fund").
Income and Capital Gain Distributions
As a regulated investment company, the Fund generally pays no federal income tax on the income and gains it distributes to you. The Fund intends to pay income dividends at least annually from its net investment income. Capital gains, if any, may be paid at least annually. The Fund may distribute income dividends and capital gains more frequently, if necessary, in order to reduce or eliminate federal excise or income taxes on the Fund. The amount of any distribution will vary, and there is no guarantee the Fund will pay either income dividends or capital gain distributions. Your income dividends and capital gain distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional shares at net asset value (NAV) unless you elect to receive them in cash.
Annual statements. After the close of each calendar year, you will receive tax information from the Fund with respect to the federal income tax treatment of the Fund’s distributions and any taxable sales or exchanges of Fund shares occurring during the prior calendar year. If the Fund finds it necessary to reclassify its distributions or adjust the cost basis of any shares sold or exchanged after you receive your tax information, the Fund will send you revised tax information. Distributions declared in October, November or December to shareholders of record in such month and paid in January are taxable as if they were paid in December. Additional tax information about the Fund’s distributions is available at franklintempleton.com.
Avoid "buying a dividend." At the time you purchase your Fund shares, the Fund’s net asset value may reflect undistributed income, undistributed capital gains, or net unrealized appreciation in the value of the portfolio securities held by the Fund. For taxable investors, a subsequent distribution to you of such amounts, although constituting a return of your investment, would be taxable. Buying shares in the Fund just before it declares an income dividend or capital gain distribution is sometimes known as “buying a dividend.”
Tax Considerations
If you are a taxable investor, Fund distributions are generally taxable to you as ordinary income, capital gains or some combination of both. This is the case whether you reinvest your distributions in additional Fund shares or receive them in cash.
Dividend income. Income dividends are generally subject to tax at ordinary rates. Income dividends reported by the Fund to shareholders as qualified dividend income may be subject to tax by individuals at reduced long-term capital gains tax rates provided certain holding period requirements are met. A return-of-capital
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distribution is generally not taxable but will reduce the cost basis of your shares, and will result in a higher capital gain or a lower capital loss when you later sell your shares.
Capital gains. Fund distributions of short-term capital gains are also subject to tax at ordinary rates. Fund distributions of long-term capital gains are taxable at the reduced long-term capital gains rates no matter how long you have owned your Fund shares. For single individuals with taxable income not in excess of $47,025 in 2024 ($94,050 for married individuals filing jointly), the long-term capital gains tax rate is 0%. For single individuals and joint filers with taxable income in excess of these amounts but not more than $518,900 or $583,750, respectively, the long-term capital gains tax rate is 15%. The rate is 20% for single individuals with taxable income in excess of $518,900 and married individuals filing jointly with taxable income in excess of $583,750. An additional 3.8% Medicare tax may also be imposed as discussed below.
Sales of Fund shares. When you sell your shares in the Fund, or exchange them for shares of a different Franklin Templeton or Legg Mason fund, you will generally recognize a taxable capital gain or loss. If you have owned your Fund shares for more than one year, any net long-term capital gains will qualify for the reduced rates of taxation on long-term capital gains. An exchange of your shares in one class of the Fund for shares of another class of the same Fund is not taxable and no gain or loss will be reported on the transaction.
Cost basis reporting. If you acquire shares in the Fund on or after January 1, 2012, generally referred to as “covered shares," and sell or exchange them after that date, the Fund is generally required to report cost basis information to you and the IRS annually. The Fund will compute the cost basis of your covered shares using the average cost method, the Fund’s “default method,” unless you contact the Fund to select a different method, or choose to specifically identify your shares at the time of each sale or exchange. If your account is held by your financial advisor or other broker-dealer, that firm may select a different default method. In these cases, please contact the firm to obtain information with respect to the available methods and elections for your account. Shareholders should carefully review the cost basis information provided by the Fund and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on their federal and state income tax returns. Additional information about cost basis reporting is available at franklintempleton.com/costbasis.
Medicare tax. An additional 3.8% Medicare tax is imposed on certain net investment income (including ordinary dividends and capital gain distributions received from the Fund and net gains from redemptions or other taxable dispositions of Fund shares) of U.S. individuals, estates and trusts to the extent that such person’s “modified adjusted gross income” (in the case of an individual) or “adjusted gross income” (in the case of an estate or trust) exceeds a threshold
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amount. Any liability for this additional Medicare tax is reported on, and paid with, your federal income tax return.
Backup withholding. A shareholder may be subject to backup withholding on any distributions of income capital gains or proceeds from the sale or exchange of Fund shares if the shareholder has provided either an incorrect tax identification number or no number at all, is subject to backup withholding by the IRS for failure to properly report payments of interest or dividends, has failed to certify that the shareholder is not subject to backup withholding, or has not certified that the shareholder is a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien). The backup withholding rate is currently 24%. State backup withholding may also apply.
State and local taxes. Distributions of ordinary income and capital gains, and gains from the sale of your Fund shares, are generally subject to state and local taxes.
Non-U.S. investors. Non-U.S. investors may be subject to U.S. withholding tax at 30% or a lower treaty rate on Fund dividends of ordinary income. Non-U.S. investors may be subject to U.S. estate tax on the value of their shares. They are subject to special U.S. tax certification requirements to avoid backup withholding, claim any exemptions from withholding and claim any treaty benefits. Exemptions from U.S. withholding tax are generally provided for capital gains realized on the sale of Fund shares, capital gain dividends paid by the Fund from net long-term capital gains, short-term capital gain dividends paid by the Fund from net short-term capital gains and interest-related dividends paid by the Fund from its qualified net interest income from U.S. sources. However, notwithstanding such exemptions from U.S. withholding tax at source, any such dividends and distributions of income and capital gains will be subject to backup withholding at a rate of 24% if you fail to properly certify that you are not a U.S. person.
Other reporting and withholding requirements. Payments to a shareholder that is either a foreign financial institution or a non-financial foreign entity within the meaning of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) may be subject to a 30% withholding tax on income dividends paid by the Fund. The FATCA withholding tax generally can be avoided by such foreign entity if it provides the Fund, and in some cases, the IRS, information concerning the ownership of certain foreign financial accounts or other appropriate certifications or documentation concerning its status under FATCA. The Fund may be required to report certain shareholder account information to the IRS, non-U.S. taxing authorities or other parties to comply with FATCA.
Other tax information. This discussion of "Distributions and Taxes" is for general information only and is not tax advice. You should consult your own tax advisor regarding your particular circumstances, and about any federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences before making an investment in the Fund. Additional
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information about the tax consequences of investing in the Fund may be found in the SAI.
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The Financial Highlights present the Fund's financial performance for the past five years or since its inception. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns represent the rate that an investor would have earned or lost on an investment in the Fund assuming reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. This information has been derived from the financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund's financial statements, are included in the annual report, which is available upon request.
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Franklin Mutual U.S. Mid Cap Value Fund - Class A
Year Ended October 31, | |||||||||||
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
|||||||
Per
share operating performance |
|||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$32.32 |
$40.20 |
$27.59 |
$34.61 |
$37.93 |
||||||
Income from investment operationsa: |
|||||||||||
Net investment incomeb |
0.43 |
0.37 |
0.43 |
1.14 |
c |
0.52 |
|||||
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) |
(1.23 |
) |
(3.28 |
) |
13.37 |
(5.47 |
) |
1.13 |
|||
Total from investment operations |
(0.80 |
) |
(2.91 |
) |
13.80 |
(4.33 |
) |
1.65 |
|||
Less distributions from: |
|||||||||||
Net investment income |
(0.33 |
) |
(0.45 |
) |
(1.19 |
) |
(0.54 |
) |
(0.46 |
) | |
Net realized gains |
(1.08 |
) |
(4.52 |
) |
— |
(2.15 |
) |
(4.51 |
) | ||
Total distributions |
(1.41 |
) |
(4.97 |
) |
(1.19 |
) |
(2.69 |
) |
(4.97 |
) | |
Net asset value, end of year |
$30.11 |
$32.32 |
$40.20 |
$27.59 |
$34.61 |
||||||
Total returnd |
(2.70)% |
(8.06)% |
51.14% |
(13.94)% |
6.22% |
||||||
Ratios to average net assets |
|||||||||||
Expenses before waiver and payments by affiliates |
0.90% |
0.91% |
0.91% |
0.95% |
0.93% |
||||||
Expenses net of waiver and payments by affiliatese |
0.88% |
0.90% |
0.91% |
f |
0.93% |
0.89% |
|||||
Net investment income |
1.33% |
1.07% |
1.18% |
3.94% |
c |
1.55% |
|||||
Supplemental data |
|||||||||||
Net assets, end of year (000’s) |
$607,754 |
$688,933 |
$790,329 |
$538,538 |
$735,919 |
||||||
Portfolio turnover rate |
64.21% |
66.63% |
60.45% |
57.78% |
44.31% |
a. The amount shown for a share outstanding throughout the period may not correlate with the Statement of Operations for the period due to the timing of sales and repurchases of the Fund’s shares in relation to income earned and/or fluctuating fair value of the investments of the Fund.
b. Based on average daily shares outstanding.
c. Net investment income per share includes approximately $0.69 per share related to income received in the form of special dividends in connection with certain Fund holdings. Excluding this amount, the ratio of net investment income to average net assets would have been 1.55%.
d. Total return does not reflect sales commissions or contingent deferred sales charges, if applicable.
e. Benefit of expense reduction rounds to less than 0.01%.
f. Benefit of waiver and payments by affiliates rounds to less than 0.01%.
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Franklin Mutual U.S. Mid Cap Value Fund - Class C
Year Ended October 31, | |||||||||||
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
|||||||
Per
share operating performance |
|||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$30.50 |
$38.15 |
$26.21 |
$32.97 |
$36.13 |
||||||
Income from investment operationsa: |
|||||||||||
Net investment incomeb |
0.18 |
0.11 |
0.15 |
0.93 |
c |
0.26 |
|||||
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) |
(1.16 |
) |
(3.11 |
) |
12.72 |
(5.28 |
) |
1.09 |
|||
Total from investment operations |
(0.98 |
) |
(3.00 |
) |
12.87 |
(4.35 |
) |
1.35 |
|||
Less distributions from: |
|||||||||||
Net investment income |
(0.05 |
) |
(0.13 |
) |
(0.93 |
) |
(0.26 |
) |
— |
||
Net realized gains |
(1.08 |
) |
(4.52 |
) |
— |
(2.15 |
) |
(4.51 |
) | ||
Total distributions |
(1.13 |
) |
(4.65 |
) |
(0.93 |
) |
(2.41 |
) |
(4.51 |
) | |
Net asset value, end of year |
$28.39 |
$30.50 |
$38.15 |
$26.21 |
$32.97 |
||||||
Total returnd |
(3.42)% |
(8.77)% |
50.06% |
(14.57)% |
5.41% |
||||||
Ratios to average net assets |
|||||||||||
Expenses before waiver and payments by affiliates |
1.65% |
1.66% |
1.66% |
1.70% |
1.68% |
||||||
Expenses net of waiver and payments by affiliatese |
1.63% |
1.65% |
1.66% |
f |
1.68% |
1.64% |
|||||
Net investment income |
0.58% |
0.32% |
0.42% |
3.36% |
c |
0.80% |
|||||
Supplemental data |
|||||||||||
Net assets, end of year (000’s) |
$10,359 |
$15,412 |
$20,132 |
$15,881 |
$27,443 |
||||||
Portfolio turnover rate |
64.21% |
66.63% |
60.45% |
57.78% |
44.31% |
a. The amount shown for a share outstanding throughout the period may not correlate with the Statement of Operations for the period due to the timing of sales and repurchases of the Fund’s shares in relation to income earned and/or fluctuating fair value of the investments of the Fund.
b. Based on average daily shares outstanding.
c. Net investment income per share includes approximately $0.66 per share related to income received in the form of special dividends in connection with certain Fund holdings. Excluding this amount, the ratio of net investment income to average net assets would have been 0.97%.
d. Total return does not reflect sales commissions or contingent deferred sales charges, if applicable.
e. Benefit of expense reduction rounds to less than 0.01%.
f. Benefit of waiver and payments by affiliates rounds to less than 0.01%.
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Franklin Mutual U.S. Mid Cap Value Fund - Class R
Year Ended October 31, | |||||||||||
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
|||||||
Per
share operating performance |
|||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$32.46 |
$40.34 |
$27.67 |
$34.70 |
$37.99 |
||||||
Income from investment operationsa: |
|||||||||||
Net investment incomeb |
0.35 |
0.28 |
0.34 |
1.11 |
c |
0.44 |
|||||
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) |
(1.23 |
) |
(3.29 |
) |
13.44 |
(5.55 |
) |
1.14 |
|||
Total from investment operations |
(0.88 |
) |
(3.01 |
) |
13.78 |
(4.44 |
) |
1.58 |
|||
Less distributions from: |
|||||||||||
Net investment income |
(0.25 |
) |
(0.35 |
) |
(1.11 |
) |
(0.44 |
) |
(0.36 |
) | |
Net realized gains |
(1.08 |
) |
(4.52 |
) |
— |
(2.15 |
) |
(4.51 |
) | ||
Total distributions |
(1.33 |
) |
(4.87 |
) |
(1.11 |
) |
(2.59 |
) |
(4.87 |
) | |
Net asset value, end of year |
$30.25 |
$32.46 |
$40.34 |
$27.67 |
$34.70 |
||||||
Total return |
(2.94)% |
(8.32)% |
50.87% |
(14.16)% |
5.94% |
||||||
Ratios to average net assets |
|||||||||||
Expenses before waiver and payments by affiliates |
1.15% |
1.16% |
1.16% |
1.20% |
1.18% |
||||||
Expenses net of waiver and payments by affiliatesd |
1.13% |
1.15% |
1.16% |
e |
1.18% |
1.14% |
|||||
Net investment income |
1.08% |
0.82% |
0.93% |
3.80% |
c |
1.30% |
|||||
Supplemental data |
|||||||||||
Net assets, end of year (000’s) |
$4,922 |
$5,419 |
$6,362 |
$4,465 |
$6,764 |
||||||
Portfolio turnover rate |
64.21% |
66.63% |
60.45% |
57.78% |
44.31% |
a. The amount shown for a share outstanding throughout the period may not correlate with the Statement of Operations for the period due to the timing of sales and repurchases of the Fund’s shares in relation to income earned and/or fluctuating fair value of the investments of the Fund.
b. Based on average daily shares outstanding.
c. Net investment income per share includes approximately $0.70 per share related to income received in the form of special dividends in connection with certain Fund holdings. Excluding this amount, the ratio of net investment income to average net assets would have been 1.41%.
d. Benefit of expense reduction rounds to less than 0.01%.
e. Benefit of waiver and payments by affiliates rounds to less than 0.01%.
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Franklin Mutual U.S. Mid Cap Value Fund - Class R6
Year Ended October 31, | |||||||||||
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
|||||||
Per
share operating performance |
|||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$33.91 |
$41.93 |
$28.73 |
$35.93 |
$39.20 |
||||||
Income from investment operationsa: |
|||||||||||
Net investment incomeb |
0.57 |
0.51 |
0.59 |
1.27 |
c |
0.67 |
|||||
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) |
(1.29 |
) |
(3.43 |
) |
13.91 |
(5.65 |
) |
1.18 |
|||
Total from investment operations |
(0.72 |
) |
(2.92 |
) |
14.50 |
(4.38 |
) |
1.85 |
|||
Less distributions from: |
|||||||||||
Net investment income |
(0.45 |
) |
(0.58 |
) |
(1.30 |
) |
(0.67 |
) |
(0.61 |
) | |
Net realized gains |
(1.08 |
) |
(4.52 |
) |
— |
(2.15 |
) |
(4.51 |
) | ||
Total distributions |
(1.53 |
) |
(5.10 |
) |
(1.30 |
) |
(2.82 |
) |
(5.12 |
) | |
Net asset value, end of year |
$31.66 |
$33.91 |
$41.93 |
$28.73 |
$35.93 |
||||||
Total return |
(2.34)% |
(7.76)% |
51.74% |
(13.61)% |
6.61% |
||||||
Ratios to average net assets |
|||||||||||
Expenses before waiver and payments by affiliates |
0.58% |
0.59% |
0.59% |
0.61% |
0.59% |
||||||
Expenses net of waiver and payments by affiliatesd |
0.54% |
0.55% |
0.55% |
0.55% |
0.52% |
||||||
Net investment income |
1.67% |
1.42% |
1.54% |
4.24% |
c |
1.92% |
|||||
Supplemental data |
|||||||||||
Net assets, end of year (000’s) |
$31,790 |
$36,512 |
$39,290 |
$27,952 |
$36,398 |
||||||
Portfolio turnover rate |
64.21% |
66.63% |
60.45% |
57.78% |
44.31% |
a. The amount shown for a share outstanding throughout the period may not correlate with the Statement of Operations for the period due to the timing of sales and repurchases of the Fund’s shares in relation to income earned and/or fluctuating fair value of the investments of the Fund.
b. Based on average daily shares outstanding.
c. Net investment income per share includes approximately $0.72 per share related to income received in the form of special dividends in connection with certain Fund holdings. Excluding this amount, the ratio of net investment income to average net assets would have been 1.85%.
d. Benefit of expense reduction rounds to less than 0.01%.
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Franklin Mutual U.S. Mid Cap Value Fund - Advisor Class
Year Ended October 31, | |||||||||||
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
|||||||
Per
share operating performance |
|||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$34.02 |
$42.04 |
$28.80 |
$36.01 |
$39.26 |
||||||
Income from investment operationsa: |
|||||||||||
Net investment incomeb |
0.54 |
0.48 |
0.55 |
1.28 |
c |
0.63 |
|||||
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) |
(1.31 |
) |
(3.44 |
) |
13.95 |
(5.72 |
) |
1.19 |
|||
Total from investment operations |
(0.77 |
) |
(2.96 |
) |
14.50 |
(4.44 |
) |
1.82 |
|||
Less distributions from: |
|||||||||||
Net investment income |
(0.41 |
) |
(0.54 |
) |
(1.26 |
) |
(0.62 |
) |
(0.56 |
) | |
Net realized gains |
(1.08 |
) |
(4.52 |
) |
— |
(2.15 |
) |
(4.51 |
) | ||
Total distributions |
(1.49 |
) |
(5.06 |
) |
(1.26 |
) |
(2.77 |
) |
(5.07 |
) | |
Net asset value, end of year |
$31.76 |
$34.02 |
$42.04 |
$28.80 |
$36.01 |
||||||
Total return |
(2.45)% |
(7.86)% |
51.57% |
(13.71)% |
6.48% |
||||||
Ratios to average net assets |
|||||||||||
Expenses before waiver and payments by affiliates |
0.65% |
0.66% |
0.66% |
0.70% |
0.68% |
||||||
Expenses net of waiver and payments by affiliatesd |
0.63% |
0.65% |
0.66% |
e |
0.68% |
0.64% |
|||||
Net investment income |
1.58% |
1.32% |
1.43% |
4.22% |
c |
1.80% |
|||||
Supplemental data |
|||||||||||
Net assets, end of year (000’s) |
$43,244 |
$46,625 |
$56,787 |
$34,029 |
$47,427 |
||||||
Portfolio turnover rate |
64.21% |
66.63% |
60.45% |
57.78% |
44.31% |
a. The amount shown for a share outstanding throughout the period may not correlate with the Statement of Operations for the period due to the timing of sales and repurchases of the Fund’s shares in relation to income earned and/or fluctuating fair value of the investments of the Fund.
b. Based on average daily shares outstanding.
c. Net investment income per share includes approximately $0.72 per share related to income received in the form of special dividends in connection with certain Fund holdings. Excluding this amount, the ratio of net investment income to average net assets would have been 1.83%.
d. Benefit of expense reduction rounds to less than 0.01%.
e. Benefit of waiver and payments by affiliates rounds to less than 0.01%.
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Franklin Small Cap Value Fund - Class A
Year Ended October 31, | |||||||||||
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
|||||||
Per
share operating performance |
|||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$51.18 |
$61.24 |
$41.84 |
$49.48 |
$52.59 |
||||||
Income from investment operationsa: |
|||||||||||
Net investment incomeb |
0.39 |
0.25 |
0.47 |
c |
0.45 |
0.51 |
d | ||||
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) |
(2.42 |
) |
(4.60 |
) |
20.03 |
(5.01 |
) |
4.00 |
|||
Total from investment operations |
(2.03 |
) |
(4.35 |
) |
20.50 |
(4.56 |
) |
4.51 |
|||
Less distributions from: |
|||||||||||
Net investment income |
(0.20 |
) |
(0.34 |
) |
(0.35 |
) |
(0.58 |
) |
(0.44 |
) | |
Net realized gains |
(1.40 |
) |
(5.37 |
) |
(0.75 |
) |
(2.50 |
) |
(7.18 |
) | |
Total distributions |
(1.60 |
) |
(5.71 |
) |
(1.10 |
) |
(3.08 |
) |
(7.62 |
) | |
Net asset value, end of year |
$47.55 |
$51.18 |
$61.24 |
$41.84 |
$49.48 |
||||||
Total returne |
(4.09)% |
(7.83)% |
49.59% |
(10.04)% |
11.35% |
||||||
Ratios to average net assets |
|||||||||||
Expenses before waiver and payments by affiliates |
0.99% |
0.98% |
1.00% |
1.08% |
1.06% |
||||||
Expenses net of waiver and payments by affiliates |
0.98% |
f |
0.98% |
g |
1.00% |
g |
1.07% |
f |
1.05% |
f | |
Net investment income |
0.75% |
0.46% |
0.81% |
c |
1.08% |
1.10% |
d | ||||
Supplemental data |
|||||||||||
Net assets, end of year (000’s) |
$1,076,436 |
$1,268,890 |
$1,577,561 |
$1,123,039 |
$1,334,235 |
||||||
Portfolio turnover rate |
68.74% |
47.06% |
52.76% |
67.46% |
57.84% |
a. The amount shown for a share outstanding throughout the period may not correlate with the Statement of Operations for the period due to the timing of sales and repurchases of the Fund’s shares in relation to income earned and/or fluctuating fair value of the investments of the Fund.
b. Based on average daily shares outstanding.
c. Net investment income per share includes approximately $0.15 per share related to income received in the form of special dividends in connection with certain Fund holdings. Excluding this amount, the ratio of net investment income to average net assets would have been 0.56%.
d. Net investment income per share includes approximately $0.14 per share related to income received in the form of special dividends in connection with certain Fund holdings. Excluding this amount, the ratio of net investment income to average net assets would have been 0.80%.
e. Total return does not reflect sales commissions or contingent deferred sales charges, if applicable.
f. Benefit of expense reduction rounds to less than 0.01%.
g. Benefit of waiver and payments by affiliates rounds to less than 0.01%.
58 |
Prospectus |
franklintempleton.com |
FRANKLIN
VALUE INVESTORS TRUST
FUND
DETAILS
Franklin Small Cap Value Fund - Class C
Year Ended October 31, | |||||||||||
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
|||||||
Per
share operating performance |
|||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$42.88 |
$52.25 |
$35.87 |
$42.84 |
$46.45 |
||||||
Income from investment operationsa: |
|||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)b |
— |
c |
(0.13 |
) |
0.02 |
d |
0.12 |
0.15 |
e | ||
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) |
(2.00 |
) |
(3.87 |
) |
17.20 |
(4.33 |
) |
3.42 |
|||
Total from investment operations |
(2.00 |
) |
(4.00 |
) |
17.22 |
(4.21 |
) |
3.57 |
|||
Less distributions from: |
|||||||||||
Net investment income |
— |
— |
(0.09 |
) |
(0.26 |
) |
— |
||||
Net realized gains |
(1.40 |
) |
(5.37 |
) |
(0.75 |
) |
(2.50 |
) |
(7.18 |
) | |
Total distributions |
(1.40 |
) |
(5.37 |
) |
(0.84 |
) |
(2.76 |
) |
(7.18 |
) | |
Net asset value, end of year |
$39.48 |
$42.88 |
$52.25 |
$35.87 |
$42.84 |
||||||
Total returnf |
(4.82)% |
(8.51)% |
48.51% |
(10.73)% |
10.52% |
||||||
Ratios to average net assets |
|||||||||||
Expenses before waiver and payments by affiliates |
1.74% |
1.73% |
1.75% |
1.83% |
1.81% |
||||||
Expenses net of waiver and payments by affiliates |
1.73% |
g |
1.73% |
h |
1.75% |
h |
1.82% |
g |
1.80% |
g | |
Net investment income (loss) |
—% |
i |
(0.29)% |
0.05% |
d |
0.34% |
0.35% |
e | |||
Supplemental data |
|||||||||||
Net assets, end of year (000’s) |
$50,027 |
$68,960 |
$99,994 |
$77,586 |
$111,639 |
||||||
Portfolio turnover rate |
68.74% |
47.06% |
52.76% |
67.46% |
57.84% |
a. The amount shown for a share outstanding throughout the period may not correlate with the Statement of Operations for the period due to the timing of sales and repurchases of the Fund’s shares in relation to income earned and/or fluctuating fair value of the investments of the Fund.
b. Based on average daily shares outstanding.
c. Amount rounds to less than $0.01 per share.
d. Net investment income per share includes approximately $0.15 per share related to income received in the form of special dividends in connection with certain Fund holdings. Excluding this amount, the ratio of net investment income to average net assets would have been (0.20)%.
e. Net investment income per share includes approximately $0.14 per share related to income received in the form of special dividends in connection with certain Fund holdings. Excluding this amount, the ratio of net investment income to average net assets would have been 0.05%.
f. Total return does not reflect sales commissions or contingent deferred sales charges, if applicable.
g. Benefit of expense reduction rounds to less than 0.01%.
h. Benefit of waiver and payments by affiliates rounds to less than 0.01%.
i. Rounds to less than 0.01%.
franklintempleton.com |
Prospectus |
59 |
FRANKLIN
VALUE INVESTORS TRUST
FUND
DETAILS
Franklin Small Cap Value Fund - Class R
Year Ended October 31, | |||||||||||
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
|||||||
Per
share operating performance |
|||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$50.46 |
$60.43 |
$41.31 |
$48.88 |
$51.98 |
||||||
Income from investment operationsa: |
|||||||||||
Net investment incomeb |
0.26 |
0.11 |
0.32 |
c |
0.35 |
0.40 |
d | ||||
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) |
(2.38 |
) |
(4.53 |
) |
19.79 |
(4.97 |
) |
3.94 |
|||
Total from investment operations |
(2.12 |
) |
(4.42 |
) |
20.11 |
(4.62 |
) |
4.34 |
|||
Less distributions from: |
|||||||||||
Net investment income |
(0.08 |
) |
(0.18 |
) |
(0.24 |
) |
(0.45 |