New Fund Launch Marks First Actively Managed International Equity ETF on LibertyShares Platform
SAN MATEO, Calif., Jan. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Franklin Templeton Investments today introduced a new actively managed international equity ETF to its Franklin LibertyShares platform. Franklin Liberty International Opportunities ETF (FLIO) provides investors with broad and diversified access to international equity markets outside the U.S., spanning developed, developing and frontier markets, and across sectors and market capitalizations. FLIO will be listed on NYSE Arca on January 27, 2017.
“The launch of Franklin Liberty International Opportunities ETF marks our first actively managed international ETF and continuing expansion of our LibertyShares offerings,” said Patrick O’Connor, Global Head of ETFs for Franklin Templeton Investments. “With over 75 percent of the world’s GDP coming from countries outside the U.S.1, investing internationally can provide portfolio diversification, which can reduce overall risk. As we believe successful international investing can benefit from combining a global investment perspective with local presence and insights, we are leveraging fundamental research from our local asset management and emerging markets teams around the world in managing this new ETF.”
Franklin Liberty International Opportunities ETF is co-managed by Stephen Dover, CFA2, CIO for Franklin Templeton Local Asset Management and Templeton Emerging Markets Group, and Purav Jhaveri, CFA2, managing director of investment strategy for the Local Asset Management group. They draw upon the research and perspectives of over 80 investment professionals comprising the firm’s 14 local asset management teams globally, who provide on-the-ground insights on local market conditions, dynamics and valuations and timely perspective on market events, risks and opportunities. The fund’s managers also leverage the expertise of Templeton Emerging Markets Group’s more than 50 investment professionals for further insight into emerging countries, an area of the market that they believe is critical to international equity portfolios, given its importance to future growth potential.
In constructing a diversified portfolio of companies, the fund’s managers focus on key attributes that foster their high conviction, including:
- Focus on quality:
- Ability to create sustainable shareholder value
- Ability to sustain high return on capital in the long term
- Superior earnings growth:
- Strong brands, intellectual property, local franchises
- Better emerging market penetration with continued developed market revenue
- Low financial leverage:
- Low leverage to allow companies to capitalize on investment opportunities
- Strong management track record:
- Ability to identify opportunities
- Demonstrated success in executing growth projects
Franklin LibertyShares’ actively managed ETFs strive to outperform their benchmarks. Portfolio managers have the flexibility to respond, with discretion, to market events and operate outside the confines of traditional benchmark indices.
“Investors who have embraced the ETF wrapper for its benefits—which may include liquidity, tax efficiency and transparency—want the opportunity to seek better risk-adjusted returns over the long term,” said David Mann, Head of Capital Markets, Global ETFs. “Franklin LibertyShares provides investors with simple and efficient options to help them address their desired outcomes. Our actively managed ETFs, which now include Franklin Liberty International Opportunities ETF, can help investors meet their investment needs by serving as a core or complementary portfolio holding.”
The Franklin LibertyShares platform of strategic beta and actively managed ETFs leverages the investment expertise, active management insights and deep resources of Franklin Templeton Investments, a recognized global leader in asset management with 70 years of experience. Franklin LibertyShares has more than $545 million in assets under management as of January 24, 2017.
For more information, please visit https://www.libertyshares.com.
Important Information about Franklin Liberty International Opportunities ETF (FLIO):
All investments involve risks, including possible loss of principal. The market values of stocks owned by the fund will go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. Special risks are associated with foreign investing, including currency fluctuations, economic instability and political developments; investments in emerging markets involve heightened risks related to the same factors. To the extent the fund focuses on particular countries, regions, industries, sectors or types of investment from time to time, it may be subject to greater risks or adverse developments in such areas of focus than a fund that invests in a wider variety of countries, regions, industries or sectors or investments. Smaller- and midsize-company stocks have historically experienced more price volatility than larger-company stocks, especially over the short term. Investments in derivatives involve costs and create economic leverage, which may result in significant volatility and cause the fund to participate in losses (as well as gains) that significantly exceed the fund’s initial investment. The fund is actively managed but there is no guarantee that the manager’s investment decisions will produce the desired results. The fund’s risk considerations are discussed in the prospectus.
ETFs trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may trade at prices above or below the ETF’s net asset value. Brokerage commissions and ETF expenses will reduce returns.
Investors should carefully consider a fund’s investment goals, risks, charges and expenses before investing. To obtain a summary prospectus and/or prospectus, which contains this and other information, talk to your financial advisor, call us at (800) DIAL BEN/342-5236 or visit libertyshares.com. Please carefully read a prospectus before you invest or send money.
ETF shares may be bought or sold throughout the day at their market price, not their Net Asset Value (NAV), on the exchange on which they are listed. Shares of ETFs are tradable on secondary markets and may trade either at a premium or a discount to their NAV on the secondary market. Prior to trading in the secondary market, shares of the Fund are “created” at NAV by market makers, large investors and institutions only in block-size Creation Units. Each “creator” or “Authorized Participant” enters into an authorized participant agreement with Franklin Templeton Distributors, Inc., an affiliate of Franklin Advisers, Inc. Only an Authorized Participant may create or redeem Creation Units directly with the Fund. Information is historical and may not reflect current or future portfolio characteristics. All portfolio holdings are subject to change. Indexes are unmanaged, and one cannot invest directly in an index. They do not reflect any fees, expenses or sales charges.
About Franklin Templeton Investments
The funds’ principal underwriter is Franklin Templeton Distributors, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN), a global investment management organization operating as Franklin Templeton Investments. Franklin Templeton Investments provides global and domestic investment management to retail, institutional and sovereign wealth clients in over 170 countries. Through specialized teams, the company has expertise across all asset classes – including equity, fixed income, alternative and custom solutions. The company’s more than 650 investment professionals are supported by its integrated, worldwide team of risk management professionals and global trading desk network. With offices in over 30 countries, the California-based company has 70 years of investment experience and approximately $720 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2016. For more information, please visit franklintempleton.com.
- International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database October 2016.
- CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are trademarks owned by CFA Institute.
Copyright © 2017. Franklin Templeton Investments. All rights reserved.
From: Franklin Templeton Investments
Corporate Communications: Pholida Barclay, (212) 632-3204, pholida.barclay@franklintempleton.com
Prosek Partners: Hillary Yaffe, (212) 279-3115 x 231, hyaffe@prosek.com
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