June 24, 2024: Franklin Templeton specialist investment manager Martin Currie has been selected to manage an Equity Income mandate available on the Colonial First State FirstChoice platform.
"We are pleased to be awarded this mandate and recognised for our expertise in managing income-generating funds," Franklin Templeton Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand, Felicity Walsh, said.
The appointment follows the announcement in April that the incumbent manager - First Sentier Investors (FSI) - would close all its Australian-based global credit, Australian fixed income, equity income and emerging companies’ teams.
"This appointment is a testament to the Martin Currie team’s unique investment approach that aligns stock selection and portfolio construction with the income needs of Australian clients, " Walsh said.
The Martin Currie Equity Income Fund has a Recommended rating from Lonsec and a Highly Recommended rating from Zenith. It seeks to provide an after-tax income yield above the S&P/ASX 200 Index yield and grow that income above the rate of inflation.
"The Martin Currie Equity Income Fund aims to identify the most attractive income opportunities by combining extensive bottom-up fundamental and quantitative research with disciplined portfolio construction," Reece Birtles, Chief Investment Officer at Martin Currie Australia, said.
"We also manage it in a tax-aware manner to maximise the benefit from franking credits for investors with a low or zero marginal tax rate," he added.
Martin Currie embeds an "active ownership" approach into the investment process. In its engagement with companies the fund manager focusses on both materiality and ESG outcomes at the companies it invests in.
"We believe ESG analysis, engagement and voting should be done by those making investment decisions rather than being outsourced. Our research analysts and portfolio managers are best equipped to understand the ESG risks, opportunities, and impacts facing the companies they invest in, " Birtles said.
For more information about the Fund please click here.
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About Franklin Templeton
Franklin Resources, Inc. [NYSE:BEN] is a global investment management organization with subsidiaries operating as Franklin Templeton and serving clients in over 150 countries. Franklin Templeton’s mission is to help clients achieve better outcomes through investment management expertise, wealth management and technology solutions. Through its specialist investment managers, the Company offers specialization on a global scale, bringing extensive capabilities in fixed income, equity, alternatives, and multi-asset solutions. With more than 1,500 investment professionals, and offices in major financial markets around the world, the California-based company has over 75 years of investment experience and over A$2.4 trillion in assets under management as of 30 April 2024.
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Disclaimer
This publication is issued for information purposes only and does not constitute investment or financial product advice. It expresses no views as to the suitability of the services or other matters described in this document as to the individual circumstances, objectives, financial situation, or needs of any recipient. You should assess whether the information is appropriate for you and consider obtaining independent taxation, legal, financial or other professional advice before making an investment decision.
Any research and analysis contained in this document has been procured by Franklin Templeton for its own purposes. For more information, Australian investors should contact: Franklin Templeton, 88 Phillip St, Sydney New South Wales 2000, Phone: (02) 9250 2200.
Please read the relevant Product Disclosure Statements (PDSs) and any associated reference documents before making an investment decision. In accordance with the Design and Distribution Obligations and Product Interventions Powers requirements, we maintain Target Market Determinations (TMD) for each of our Funds. All documents can be found via www.franklintempleton.com.au or by calling 1800 673 776.
Issued by Franklin Templeton Australia Limited (ABN 76 004 835 849, AFSL 240827). Franklin Templeton Australia Limited as Responsible Entity has appointed Martin Currie Australia as the fund manager for Martin Currie Equity Income Fund (ARSN 150 751 821, APIR SSB0043AU).
The rating issued (Martin Currie Equity Income Fund – October 2023) is published by Lonsec Research Pty Ltd ABN 11 151 658 561 AFSL 421 445 (Lonsec). Ratings are general advice only and have been prepared without taking account of your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider your personal circumstances, read the product disclosure statement and seek independent financial advice before investing. The rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold any product. Past performance information is not indicative of future performance. Ratings are subject to change without notice and Lonsec assumes no obligation to update. Lonsec uses objective criteria and receives a fee from the Fund Manager. Visit lonsec.com.au for ratings information and to access the full report. ©2024 Lonsec. All rights reserved.
The Zenith Investment Partners (ABN 27 103 132 672, AFS Licence 226872) (“Zenith”) rating (SSB0043AU assigned June 2023) referred to in this piece is limited to “General Advice” (s766B Corporations Act 2001) for Wholesale clients only. This advice has been prepared without taking into account the objectives, financial situation or needs of any individual, including target markets of financial products, where applicable, and is subject to change at any time without prior notice. It is not a specific recommendation to purchase, sell or hold the relevant product(s). Investors should seek independent financial advice before making an investment decision and should consider the appropriateness of this advice in light of their own objectives, financial situation and needs. Investors should obtain a copy of, and consider the PDS or offer document before making any decision and refer to the full Zenith Product Assessment available on the Zenith website. Past performance is not an indication of future performance. Zenith usually charges the product issuer, fund manager or related party to conduct Product Assessments. Full details regarding Zenith’s methodology, ratings definitions and regulatory compliance are available on our Product Assessments and at Fund Research Regulatory Guidelines
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