Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

LEGG MASON-SPONSORED FUNDSLegg Mason ETF Investment Trust

620 Eighth280 Park Avenue 49th Floor

New York, NY 1001810017

April 16, 2020[    ], 2021

Dear Shareholder:

A special meeting of shareholders of your FundLegg Mason ETF Investment Trust (the “Trust”), including its various series (each, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”), is scheduled to be held at the offices of Legg Mason, Inc. (“Legg Mason”) at 620 Eighth Avenue, 49th Floor, New York, New York 10018, on July 14, 2020,Tuesday, June 15, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. (Eastern time),. Due to vote on the proposals listed incontinuing public health impact of the enclosed Joint Proxy Statement. However, as we are concerned about yourCOVID-19 pandemic and to support the health and safety during the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we intend to monitor the recommendations of public health officials and governmental restrictions as the situation continues to evolve. If we decide to holdFund shareholders, the meeting at a different time,will be held in a different location, or partially or entirelyvirtual meeting format that is accessible solely by means of remote communication (i.e., a virtual meeting), we will make an announcementcommunication. Instructions on attending the meeting are set forth in the manner discussed in these materials.enclosed Notice of Meeting.

Legg MasonThe meeting is being held for the parent companypurposes of:

Shareholders are being asked to elect a new slate of Trustees of the investment managerTrust, which includes legacy Legg Mason-sponsored exchange-traded funds. The nominees are members of the board that oversees the Franklin Templeton family of exchange-traded funds (“Franklin Templeton ETFs”). The nominees are highly qualified and have substantial experience in overseeing the subadvisersoperations of exchange-traded funds. Franklin Templeton acquired the adviser and subadviser(s) of the Funds named inon July 31, 2020. Bringing together the Joint Proxy Statement. Legg Mason has entered into an agreement with Franklin Resources, Inc., a global investment management organization operating asFunds and the Franklin Templeton ETFs under which Franklin Templeton will, subject to approval by Legg Mason’s shareholders and satisfactionthe oversight of other conditions, acquire Legg Mason. The sale will cause the Funds’ current management and subadvisory agreements to terminate in accordance with applicable law. In order for each Fund’s operations to continue uninterrupted after the sale, we are asking the shareholders of each Fund to approve new agreements. Each Fund’sa single Board has approved the new agreements. It is important to note that your Fund’s management fee rate under its new agreement will remain the same, and the acquisition is not expected to result in any change inpromote efficient oversight of the portfolio managersFunds, and efficient use of your Fund.resources by management, which may enhance management’s productivity with respect to the Funds.

Your Fund’sThe Board recommends that you vote “FOR” each of the proposals applicable to your Fund.Proposal 1.However, before you vote, please read the full text of the Joint Proxy Statementproxy statement for an explanation of each of the proposals.proposal.

Your vote on these mattersthis matter is important. Even if you plan to attend and vote in person at the meeting, pleasePlease promptly follow the enclosed instructions to submit voting instructions by telephone or over the Internet. Alternatively, you may submit voting instructions by signing and dating each proxy card and returning it in the accompanying postage-paid return envelope. In order to ensure that shares will be voted in accordance with your instructions, please submit your proxy promptly.

If you have any questions about the proposalsproposal to be voted on, please call Computershare Fund Services and AST Fund Solutions, LLC at 866-963-5819.1-866-963-6132.

Sincerely,

Jane E. Trust

President of the Fundsand Trustee

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Legg Mason ETF Investment Trust

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IMPORTANT NEWS FOR FUND SHAREHOLDERS

While we encourage you to read the full text of the enclosed Joint Proxy Statement, for your convenience, we have provided a brief overview of the materials in this booklet.

Questions and Answers

Each new agreement will take effect when the manager or applicable subadviser becomes a subsidiary of Franklin Templeton.

The sale will not result in any changes to the contractual management fee rates charged to the Funds, nor will the sale itself cause currently effective expense waiver and reimbursement arrangements applicable to

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the Funds to change. The sale also is not expected to result in any diminution in the investment management services provided to the Funds or any changes to the portfolio managers of any Fund.

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It is important that you vote promptly. This will help avoid the need for further solicitation. In order to ensure that shares will be voted in accordance with your instructions, please submit your proxy promptly.

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LEGG MASON-SPONSORED FUNDS

620 Eighth Avenue, 49th Floor

New York, NY 10018

April 16, 202010017

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

Scheduled To Be Held July 14, 2020On June 15, 2021

A special meeting of the shareholders (the “Meeting”) of the shareholders of the Legg Mason-sponsored FundsMason ETF Investment Trust (the “Trust”), including its various series (each, a “Fund”) identified below, is scheduled to be held at the offices of Legg Mason at 620 Eighth Avenue, 49th Floor, New York, New York 10018, on July 14, 2020,Tuesday, June 15, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. (Eastern time),. Due to considerthe continuing public health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and vote onto support the health and safety of Fund shareholders, the Meeting will be held in a virtual meeting format that is accessible solely by means of remote communication, described further below.

The Meeting is being held for the following proposals,purposes, as more fully described in the accompanying Joint Proxy Statement:

2-A    ClearBridge Investments, LLC

2-B    ClearBridge RARE Infrastructure (North America) Pty Limited

2-C    QS Investors, LLC

2-D     Western Asset Management Company, LLC

2-E     Western Asset Management Company Limited

2-F    Western Asset Management Company Ltd

2-G    Western Asset Management Company Pte. Ltd.

2-H      Royce & Associates, LP

(The specific proposal(s) on which your Fund is voting are identified in the Summary of Proposals in the accompanying Joint Proxy Statement.)

Your Fund’s Board recommends that you vote “FOR” all proposals upon which you are being asked to vote.Proposal 1.

Shareholders of record at the close of business on AprilMarch 1, 20202021 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to vote at the Meeting and at any adjournments or postponements thereof.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE MEETING SCHEDULED TO BE HELD ON JULY 14, 2020: The notice of special meeting of shareholders, Joint Proxy Statement and your form of proxy card are available athttps://www.proxy-direct.com/lmf-31298.

PLEASE NOTE: If it is determined that the Meeting will be held at a different time, in a different location, or partially or entirely by means of remote communication (i.e., a virtual meeting), an announcement of any such updates will be provided by means of a press release, which will be posted on our website (http://www.leggmason.com/virtualproxyfundsmeeting). We encourage you to check the website prior to the Meeting if you plan to attend the Meeting. An announcement of any change will also be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission via its EDGAR system. You do not need to attend the Meeting if you submit your votes on the proposals by proxy promptly.

If you own shares in more than one Fund as of the close of business on April 1, 2020,Record Date, you may receive more than one proxy card. Please be certain to sign, date and return each proxy card you receive, or vote by telephone or Internet for eachreceive.

The Meeting will be held at the following Meeting website: http://www.meetingcenter.io/222688342. To participate in the Meeting, shareholders must enter the following password: ETF2021. Shareholders must also enter the control number found on the applicable proxy card you receive.received. Shareholders may vote during the Meeting by following the instructions available on the Meeting website during the Meeting. For questions relating to participation at the Meeting by remote communication, please call the Computershare Fund Services (“Computershare”) technical support number at 1-888-888-0151.

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If shares are held through an intermediary, such as a bank or broker, shareholders must register in advance to attend the Meeting. To register shareholders must submit proof of their proxy power (legal proxy) reflecting their Fund holdings along with their name and email address to Computershare. Shareholders may forward an email from their intermediary or send an image of their legal proxy to shareholdermeetings@computershare.com. Requests for registration must be received no later than 11:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) on June 11, 2021. Shareholders will receive a confirmation email from Computershare of the shareholder’s registration and a control number that will allow the shareholder to vote at the Meeting.

By order of the BoardsBoard of Trustees,

Robert I. FrenkelMarc A. De Oliveira

Secretary

April 16, 2020[    ], 2021

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Funds Holding Special Meetings of Shareholders Scheduled to Be Held on July 14, 2020Legg Mason ETF Investment Trust

Note: Each Fund is organized as a series of a Maryland statutory trust (a “Trust”). The Trusts are registered investment companies.

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LEGG MASON-SPONSORED FUNDS

620 Eighth280 Park Avenue 49th Floor

New York, NY 10018

April 16, 202010017

JOINT PROXY STATEMENT

This Joint Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation by the BoardsBoard of Trustees (each, a(the “Board” and each Board member, a “Trustee” or a “Board Member”) of each of the Funds listed in the accompanying Notice of Special Meetings of Shareholders (each, a “Fund”Legg Mason ETF Investment Trust (the “Trust”), of proxies to be voted at a special meetingsmeeting of shareholders (the “Meeting”) of each such Fundthe Trust listed in Appendix A (each, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”), scheduled to be held on July 14, 2020 at the offices of Legg Mason at 620 Eighth Avenue, 49th Floor, New York, New York 10018 (for each Fund, a “Meeting” and collectively, the “Meetings”),Tuesday, June 15, 2021, and at any and all adjournments or postponements thereof. The Meetings,Meeting, which areis identified in the enclosed “Notice of Special Meeting of Shareholders,” will be held at 11:00 a.m. (Eastern time). Due to the continuing public health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and to support the health and safety of Fund shareholders, the Meeting will be held in a virtual meeting format that is accessible solely by means of remote communication. The MeetingsMeeting will be held for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Special Meeting of Shareholders.

The BoardAt the Meeting, shareholders of each Fund has determined that the use of this Joint Proxy Statement for each Meeting is in the best interestsTrust will vote together on the election of Trustees for the Fund in light of the similar matters being considered and voted on by the shareholders of each Fund. The Meetings are being held together for convenience, but each Meeting is a separate meeting.Trust. This Joint Proxy Statement and the accompanying materials are being mailed by the Boards to shareholdersBoard on or about April 16, 2020.[    ], 2021.

Each Fund is organized as a series of the Trust, a Maryland statutory trust (a “Trust”).trust. The Trusts areTrust is a registered investment companies.company. A list of each Trust, and the series of eachthe Trust is set forth inAppendix AA..

Shareholders of record at the close of business on AprilMarch 1, 20202021 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to vote at the Meetings.Meeting.

ShareholdersEach share (or fractional share) of each Fund areoutstanding as of the Record Date is entitled to one vote for each dollara number of votes equal to the net asset value of that share (or fractional share) as of the Fund represented by the shareholder’s shares of that Fund. Shareholders of each Fund will voteRecord Date. This is referred to as a single class on the proposals on which they are entitled to vote. Shareholders are not entitled to any appraisal rights as the result of any proposal to be considered at the Meetings.“dollar-weighted” voting.

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The number of shares of each Fund outstanding as ofat the close of business on April 1, 2020the Record Date and the net assets of each Fund as of that date are shown inAppendix B.

The Fund of which you are a shareholder is named on athe proxy card included with this Joint Proxy Statement. If you own shares in more than one Fund onas of the Record Date, you may receive more than one proxy card. Please complete EACH proxy card you receive, or if you vote by telephone or over the Internet, please vote on the proposals applicableproposal with respect to EACH Fund you own. If you vote by telephone or over the Internet, you maywill be asked to enter a unique code that has been assigned to you, which is printed on your proxy card(s). This code is designed to confirm your identity, provide access into the voting sites and confirm that your instructions are properly recorded.

All properly executed proxies received prior to a Fund’sthe Trust’s Meeting will be voted at the Meeting. On the matters coming before eachthe Meeting as to which a shareholder has specified a choice on that shareholder’s proxy, the shares will be voted accordingly.

If a proxy is properly executed and returned and no choice is specified with respect to one or more proposals,Proposal 1, the shares will be voted “FOR” each such proposal.all of the nominees. Shareholders who execute proxies or provide voting instructions by telephone or the Internet may revoke them with respect to any or all proposalsthe proposal at any time before a vote is taken on athe proposal by filing with the applicable FundTrust a written notice of revocation (addressed to the Secretary of the FundTrust at the principal executive offices of the FundTrust at the address above), by delivering a duly executed proxy bearing a later date or by attending and voting at the Meeting, in all cases prior to the

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exercise of the authority granted in the proxy card. Merely attending the Meetings,Meeting, however, will not revoke any previously executed proxy. If you hold shares through a broker-dealer, bank, insurance company or other intermediary, please consult your broker-dealer, bank, insurance company or intermediary regarding your ability to revoke voting instructions after such instructions have been provided.

Satisfactory evidence of ownership of Fund shares will be required to vote at the Meetings.Meeting. If you plan to attend the Meeting at the location specified in the notice, we request that you bring photographic identification and a copy of the proxy card included with this Joint Proxy Statement.

Annual reports are sentprovided to shareholders of record of each Fund following the Fund’s fiscal year end. Each Fund’s fiscal year end is set forth inonAppendix AI of this Joint Proxy Statement.. Each Fund will furnish, without charge, a copy of its annual report and most recent semi-annual report succeeding the annual report, if any, to a shareholder upon request. Such requests should be directed to the Fund at Legg Mason Funds, P.O. Box 9699, Providence, RI 02940-9699 or by calling toll free at 1-877-721-1926. Copies of annual and semi-annual reports of each Fund are also available on the EDGAR Database on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Internet site at www.sec.gov.

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Please note that only one annual or semi-annual report or Joint Proxy Statement may be delivered to two or more shareholders of a Fund who share an address, unless the Fund has received instructions to the contrary. To request a separate copy of an annual report or the Joint Proxy Statement, or for instructions as to how to request a separate copy of these documents or as to how to request a single copy if multiple copies of these documents are received, shareholders should contact the applicable Fund at the address and phone number set forth above.

The following table summarizes each proposal to be presented at the Meetings, and shareholders of which Funds are being asked to vote on each proposal. The enclosed proxy card(s) indicate the Fund(s) in which you hold shares and the proposals on which you are being asked to vote.

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SummaryVOTE REQUIRED AND MANNER OF VOTING PROXIES

The Board of Proposals

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Vote Required and MannerTrustees of Voting Proxies

A quorumthe Trust oversees all of the Funds. The shareholders is required to take action at each Meeting. For each Fund that is aof all series of Legg Mason Partners Equitythe Trust or Legg Mason Partners Variable Equity Trust,will vote together as a quorum consists of 30% ofsingle class to elect Trustees and the voting power of the shares of that Fund oneach series will be counted together in determining the Record Date, based on each dollar of net asset valueresults of the Fund represented by such shares. For each Fund thatvoting. A quorum of shareholders with respect to the Trust is a series of Legg Mason ETF Investment Trust, arequired to take action at the Meeting on Proposal 1. The quorum consists of 33 1/requirement for Proposal 1 is 33-1/3% of the voting power of the sharesTrust taken as a whole as of that Fund on the Record Date, based on each dollarDate. Total voting power of the Trust taken as a whole is determined, not by the number of shares outstanding, but by net asset value of the Fund represented by such shares.

For each Fund, a quorumall of the shareholders for the particular Fund is required in order to take any action for that Fund with respect to Proposal 1 and Proposal 2, whether or not there is a quorumoutstanding shares (including fractional shares) of the shareholders for the Trust as of the Record Date. Each share (or fractional share) of the Trust outstanding as of the Record Date is entitled to a whole.number of votes equal to the net asset value of that share (or fractional share) as of the Record Date. This is referred to as “dollar-weighted” voting.

Votes cast at eachthe Meeting will be tabulated by the inspectors of election appointed for the Meeting. The inspectors of election, who are employees of Computershare, the proxy solicitor engaged by Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC (“LMPFA”), the Funds’ investment manager, on behalf of the Funds, will determine whether or not a quorum is present at the Meeting. The inspectors

If the shareholders of electionthe Trust do not ultimately approve Proposal 1, the Existing Board (as defined below) will treat abstentionscontinue to oversee the Trust as presentthey currently do pending any further action by the Existing Board.

Abstentions and “broker non-votes” (shares held by brokers or nominees, typically in “street name,” as to which proxies have been returned but (a) instructions have not been received from the beneficial owners or persons entitled to vote and (b) the broker or nominee does not have discretionary voting power on a particular matter) generally are included for purposes of determining whether a quorum.quorum is present at a shareholder meeting, but are not treated as votes cast at such meeting. However, because the Trust understands that a broker or nominee may exercise discretionary voting power with respect to Proposal 1, and there are no other proposals expected to come before the Meeting for which a broker or nominee would not have discretionary voting authority, the Trust does not anticipate that there will be any “broker non-votes” at the Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes are not considered “votes cast” and, therefore, do not constitute a vote “FOR” Proposal 1. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the results of the voting on Proposal 1.

If you hold your shares directly (not through a broker-dealer, bank, insurance company or other intermediary), and if you return a signed proxy card that does not specify how you wish to vote on a proposal,Proposal 1, your shares will be voted “FOR” Proposal 1 and Proposal 2.in favor of all of the nominees.

Broker-dealer firms holding shares of a Fund in “street name” for the benefit of their customers and clients will request the instructions of such customers and clients on how to vote their shares on eachthe proposal. A signed proxy card or other

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authorization by a beneficial owner of Fund shares that does not specify how the beneficial owner’s shares should be voted on Proposal before the Meetings. A broker-dealer that is a member1 may be deemed an instruction to vote such shares in favor of all of the New York Stock Exchange and that has not receivednominees. With respect to routine matters such as Proposal 1, if a beneficial owner fails to provide voting instructions from a customer or client prior toby the date specified in a broker-dealer firm’s proxy solicitation materials, the Trust understands that the broker-dealer firm’s request forfirm may exercise discretionary voting instructions may not vote such customer’s or client’s sharespower with respect tonon-routine proposals, including Proposal 1 and Proposal 2.on behalf of such beneficial owner.

If you hold shares of a Fund through a broker-dealer, bank, insurance company or other intermediary (called a service agent) that has entered into a service agreement with the Fund or a distributor of the Fund, the service agent may be the record holder of your shares. At the Meetings,Meeting, a service agent will vote shares for which it receives instructions from its customers in accordance with those instructions. A signed proxy card or other authorization by a shareholder that does not specify how the shareholder’s shares should be voted on a Proposalthe proposal may be deemed to authorize a service provideragent to vote such shares in favor of the applicable Proposal.nominees. Depending on its policies, applicable law or contractual or other restrictions, a service agent may be permitted to vote shares with respect to which it has not received specific voting instructions from its customers. In those cases, the service agent may, but may not be required to, vote such shares in the same proportion as those shares for which the service agent has received voting instructions. Because of this practice, a small number of shareholders could determine how a Fund votes, if other shareholders fail to vote.

Shares of certain Funds are offered only to variable annuity and variable life insurance separate accounts established by insurance companies to fund variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies (the “Variable Annuity Funds”). The rights accompanying shares of certain of the Variable Annuity Funds are legally vested in the variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance products offered by the separate accounts of participating life insurance companies. However, in accordance with current law and interpretations thereof, participating insurance companies will vote shares held in the separate accounts in a manner consistent with voting instructions timely received from the holders of variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies. A signed proxy card or other authorization by a holder that does not specify how the holder’s shares should be voted on a proposal may be deemed an instruction to vote such shares in favor of the applicable proposal. Those persons who have a voting interest at the close of business on the Record Date will be entitled to submit instructions to their participating insurance company. Each participating insurance company will vote Variable Annuity Fund shares held in separate accounts for which no timely instructions are received from the holders of variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies, as well as shares it owns, in the same proportion as those shares for which such insurance company receives voting instructions. Because of this practice, a small number of holders of variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies could

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determine how a participating insurance company votes with respect to a Variable Annuity Fund, if other holders of variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies fail to vote. For purposes of this Joint Proxy Statement, the term “shareholder” (when used to refer to the beneficial holder of ownership interests in a Fund) shall also be deemed to include holders of variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies.

If you beneficially own shares that are held in “street name” through a broker-dealer or that are held of record by a service agent, or if you hold shares through a variable annuity contract or a variable life insurance policy, and if you do not give specific voting instructions for your shares, they may not be voted at all or, as described above, they may be voted in a manner that you may not intend. In particular, failure to vote may not be an effective way to oppose these proposals.the nominees. Therefore, you are strongly encouraged to give your broker-dealer, service agent or participating insurance company specific instructions as to how you want your shares to be voted.

Certain FundsLMPFA and each Fund’s subadviser(s) are Fundssubsidiaries of Funds that invest in shares of other Legg Mason-sponsored FundsFranklin Resources, Inc. (“Underlying Funds”Franklin Resources”). For both Proposals, each Fund of Funds intends to voteFranklin Resources, together with its shares in an Underlying Fund in the same proportionsubsidiaries, operates as the votes received from other shareholders of the Underlying Fund.

Legg MasonFranklin Templeton. Franklin Templeton and its affiliates intend to vote Fund shares they own, whether as seed capital or otherwise, in favor of Proposals 1 and 2.all of the nominees. Unless otherwise provided in client guidelines, Legg MasonFranklin Templeton and its affiliates generally intend to vote Fund shares owned in a client account over which Legg MasonFranklin Templeton or an affiliate has discretionary authority in favor of Proposals 1 and 2. If Legg Mason’s ownership, orall of the ownership of a client account over which Legg Mason has discretionary authority, represents a sizeable enough portion of a Fund’s outstanding shares, Legg Mason’s vote will ensure that the Proposals for the Fund will be approved.nominees. Please seeAppendix HJ for information regarding persons, including Legg MasonFranklin Templeton and its affiliates, that beneficially owned or owned of record 5% or more of the outstanding shares of a class of each Fund.

Each ofProposal 1andProposal 2:1:

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THE PROPOSAL TO ELECT TRUSTEES

The purpose of the outstanding voting securitiesproposal is to elect Trustees of Legg Mason ETF Investment Trust.

Shareholders are being asked to elect a new slate of Trustees of the Fund are present or represented by proxy or (b) more than 50%Trust, which includes legacy Legg Mason-sponsored exchange-traded funds. The four new nominees for Trustees of the voting powerTrust (each, a “Nominee”) are Rohit Bhagat, Deborah D. McWhinney, Anantha K. Pradeep and Jennifer M. Johnson. All of the outstanding voting securitiesNominees, except for Ms. Johnson, are not “interested persons” (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”)) of the Fund.

ApprovalTrust (“Independent Trustees”). The Board recommends that shareholders elect all of each Proposalthe Nominees.

The current Board (the “Existing Board”) consists of 10 Trustees – Andrew L. Breech, Paul R. Ades, Althea L. Duersten, Stephen R. Gross, Susan M. Heilbron, Howard J. Johnson, Jerome H. Miller, Ken Miller, Thomas F. Schlafly and Jane Trust. All of the current Trustees, except for Ms. Trust, are Independent Trustees. None of the current Trustees will occur onlycontinue as Trustees of the Trust after the Nominees are elected and take office.

It is intended that the enclosed proxy card will be voted for all Nominees unless a proxy contains specific instructions to the contrary. The Nominees’ term of office is expected to commence on or about July 1, 2021 or promptly after the election of the Nominees if a sufficient number of votes at the Meeting are cast “FOR”is adjourned or postponed to a date after July 1, 2021.

Reasons for Electing New Trustees

The Existing Board believes that Proposal.

Abstentionselecting a new slate of Trustees may provide benefits to the Funds. This is the result of discussions with management and brokernon-votes are nota due diligence process, including meetings among the members of the Existing Board and the Nominees. Among other things, the Existing Board considered “votes cast”that Franklin Resources, which, together with its subsidiaries, operates as Franklin Templeton, acquired LMPFA and therefore, do not constituteeach Fund’s subadviser(s) on July 31, 2020, and that the Nominees serve on the board that oversees the Franklin Templeton family of exchange-traded funds (“Franklin Templeton ETFs”). The Existing Board concluded that bringing together the Funds and the Franklin Templeton ETFs under the oversight of a vote “FOR” Proposals. Any abstentions or brokernon-votes would effectively be treated as votes “AGAINST” Proposal 1single Board is expected to promote efficient oversight of the Funds, and Proposal 2. “Broker non-votes” are shares heldefficient use of resources by brokers or nominees, typically in “street name,” as tomanagement, which proxies have been returned but (a) instructions have not been received from the beneficial owners or persons entitled to vote and (b) the broker or nominee does not have discretionary voting power on a particular matter. Please note that broker non-votes are not expectedmay enhance management’s productivity with respect to the Funds. Furthermore, the Existing Board concluded that the Nominees

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are highly qualified and have substantial experience in overseeing the operations of exchange-traded funds as members of the board that oversees the Franklin Templeton ETFs, and that the Nominees’ qualifications and experience may benefit the Funds and shareholders.

Each Nominee has consented to serve on the Board if elected by shareholders. If, however, before the election, any Nominee is unable to serve or for good cause will not serve, proxies may be voted for a replacement nominee, if any, designated by the current Trustees.

The Nominees’ terms of office are expected to commence on or about July 1, 2021. Each Nominee will be elected to hold office as a Trustee until his or her successor is elected and qualifies or until his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement or removal.

The nominations of the Nominees listed below have been approved by the Existing Board and its nominating committee. Information about the Nominees is set forth in the sections below. The Board has determined that the number of its Trustees shall be fixed at the number of Trustees elected at the Meeting, subject to any further changes in Board size permitted by applicable law and the Trust’s charter documents.

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Nominees and Current Trustees

The Nominees for the Board (the “Proposed Board”) and the current Trustees, their years of birth, their principal occupations during the past five years (their titles may have varied during that period), the number of Funds in the fund complex he or she expects to oversee on or about July 1, 2021, following the election of the Nominees, subject to shareholder approval and scheduled retirements, and other board memberships they hold are set forth below. The address of each Nominee is One Franklin Parkway, San Mateo, CA 94403-1906. The address of each current Trustee is c/o Jane Trust, 100 International Drive, 11^th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202. Each Nominee was recommended for nomination by the Existing Board.

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Qualifications of Nominees and Current Trustees

Nominees: The Existing Board believes that each Nominee’s experience, qualifications, attributes and/or skills on an individual basis and in combination with those the other Nominees lead to the conclusion that the Nominees possesses the requisite skills and attributes. The Existing Board believes that the Nominees’ abilities to review, critically evaluate, question and discuss information provided to them, to interact effectively with each Fund’s manager, subadviser(s), other service providers, counsel and independent auditors, and to exercise effective business judgment in the performance of their duties, support this conclusion.

The Existing Board has considered the following experience, qualifications, attributes and/or skills, among others, of the Nominees in reaching its conclusion with respect to the Nominees: his or her character and integrity; such person’s length of service as a board member of certain funds in the Franklin Templeton funds complex; such person’s willingness to serve and willingness and ability to commit the time necessary to perform the duties of a Trustee; their skills, experience, judgment,

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analytical ability, intelligence, and common sense; their current or previous profit and non-profit board membership; such person’s considerable familiarity with the special regulatory requirements governing regulated investment companies, including exchange-traded funds, and the special responsibilities of investment company trustees;and as to each Nominee other than Ms. Johnson, his or her status as not being an “interested person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Funds (each an “Independent Trustee”). No particular qualification, experience or background establishes the basis for the Existing Board’s conclusion with respect to the Nominees, and individual Trustees may have attributed different weights to the various factors.

In addition, the following specific experience, qualifications, attributes and/or skills apply as to the Nominees: Mr. Bhagat has extensive experience in the asset management and financial services industries; Ms. McWhinney has extensive management, risk and cyber security experience; Dr. Pradeep has served as chief executive officer of consulting and technology companies; and Ms. Johnson is a high ranking executive officer of Franklin Templeton.

Existing Board: The Existing Board believes that the experience, qualifications, attributes and/or skills of each of its current Trustees on an individual basis and in combination with those of its other current Trustees lead to the conclusion that the Board possesses the requisite skills and attributes. The Existing Board believes that its current Trustees’ abilities to review, critically evaluate, question and discuss information provided to them, to interact effectively with each Fund’s manager, subadviser(s), other service providers, counsel and independent auditors, and to exercise effective business judgment in the performance of their duties, support this conclusion.

In addition, the following specific experience, qualifications, attributes and/or skills apply as to the current Trustees: Mr. Ades has substantial experience practicing law and advising clients with respect to various business transactions; Mr. Breech has substantial experience as the chief executive of a private corporation; Ms. Duersten has substantial experience as a global investment and trading manager in capital markets across multiple asset classes, including as the chief investment officer for the North American region of a major investment bank and service on its executive committee; Mr. Gross has a substantial accounting background and experience as an officer, trustee and board member of various organizations and has been determined to qualify as an audit committee financial expert of the Trust; Ms. Heilbron has substantial legal background and experience, business and consulting experience, and experience as a board member of public companies; Mr. Johnson has substantial experience as the chief executive of an operating company and in the financial services industry, including as an actuary and pension consultant; Mr. Jerome Miller has substantial experience as an executive in the asset management group of a major broker/dealer; Mr. Ken Miller has substantial experience as a senior executive of an operating company; Mr. Schlafly has substantial experience practicing law and also serves as the non-executive Chairman of a private corporation and as director of a

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bank; and Ms. Trust has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Trust and other funds sponsored by Franklin Templeton (and before that, Legg Mason) since 2015 and has investment management and risk oversight experience as an executive and portfolio manager and in leadership roles with Franklin Templeton and affiliated entities.

References to the qualifications, attributes and skills of Nominees and current Trustees are pursuant to requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, do not constitute holding out of the Existing Board or any Nominee as having any special expertise or experience, and shall not impose any greater responsibility or liability on any such person or on the Existing Board or a Nominee by reason thereof.

General Information Regarding the Nominees and the Existing Board

Compensation: Information relating to compensation paid to the Nominees and current Trustees who serve on the Existing Board for the Most Recent Year¹ is set forth in Appendix C.

Equity Securities Owned by the Nominees and Current Trustees: Information relating to the amount of equity securities of the Funds and other funds in the fund complex owned by the Nominees and current Trustees as of February 12, 2021 is set forth in Appendix D.

Attendance of Trustees at Annual Meeting: No Trust has a policy with regard to attendance of Trustees at annual shareholder meetings. No annual meeting for the Trust was held during the Most Recent Year.

Board Meetings: During the Most Recent Year, the Existing Board met six times. Each current Trustee attended more than 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of the Existing Board and of each committee of the Existing Board on which he or she served.

Board Leadership Structure, Oversight and Standing Committees of the Existing Board and Proposed Board: Information relating to the various standing committees of the Existing Board and committee structure of the Proposed Board is set forth in Appendix E.

The Chair of the Existing Board and the committee chairs work with the Chief Executive Officer of the Trust to set the agendas for Board and committee meetings. The Chair of the Existing Board serves as a key point person for interaction between management and the other Independent Trustees. Under the Proposed Board structure, the Chair of the Proposed Board will be an Interested Trustee, although the Proposed Board also would be served by a Lead Independent Trustee. The Lead Independent Trustee, together with independent counsel, would review proposed agendas for Board meetings and generally acts as a liaison with management with respect to questions

¹ The term “Most Recent Year,” when used in the Proxy Statement and the relevant Appendices, refers to the calendar year ended December 31, 2020, which coincides with the last fiscal year of certain of the Funds, as shown in Appendix I.

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and issues raised by the Independent Trustees. The Lead Independent Trustee also would preside at separate meetings of Independent Trustees held in advance of each scheduled Board meeting where various matters, including those being considered at such Board meeting, are discussed.

Through the Board’s committees the Independent Trustees consider and address important matters involving the Funds, including those presenting conflicts or potential conflicts of interest for management. The Independent Trustees also regularly meet outside the presence of management and are advised by independent legal counsel. The Existing Board and the Proposed Board have determined that the respective Board’s committees help ensure that the Funds have effective and independent governance and oversight. The Existing Board and the Proposed Board also have determined that the respective Board’s leadership structure, in which the Chair of the Existing Board (or the Lead Independent Trustee in the case of the Franklin Templeton ETFs) is not affiliated with Franklin Templeton, is appropriate. The Existing Board and the Proposed Board also believe that the respective Board’s leadership structure facilitates the orderly and efficient flow of information between the Independent Trustees and management, including each Fund’s subadviser(s).

Each Fund’s service providers, primarily each Fund’s manager, subadviser(s) and, as appropriate, their affiliates, have responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Fund, which includes responsibility for risk management. As an integral part of its responsibility for oversight of each Fund, the Board oversees risk management of the Fund’s investment program and business affairs. Oversight of the risk management process is part of the Board’s general oversight of each Fund and its service providers. The Board has emphasized to each Fund’s manager and subadviser(s) the importance of maintaining vigorous risk management.

The Funds are subject to a number of risks, including investment risk, counterparty risk, market trading risk, valuation risk, reputational risk, cybersecurity risk, risk of operational failure or lack of business continuity, and legal, compliance and regulatory risk. Risk management seeks to identify and address risks, i.e., events or circumstances that could have material adverse effects on the business, operations, shareholder services, investment performance or reputation of the Funds. Each Fund’s manager and subadviser(s), the affiliates of the manager and subadviser(s) or various service providers to the Fund employ a variety of processes, procedures and controls to identify various of those possible events or circumstances, to lessen the probability of their occurrence and/or to mitigate the effects of such events or circumstances if they do occur. Different processes, procedures and controls are employed with respect to different types of risks. Various personnel, including the Funds’ and the manager’s Chief Compliance Officer and the manager’s chief risk officer, as well as personnel of the manager (for certain Funds), subadviser(s) and other service providers, such as the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm, make periodic reports to the Board or its committees with respect to various aspects of risk management, as well as events and circumstances that have arisen and responses thereto. The Trustees recognize that not all risks that may affect the Funds can be identified, that it may not

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be practical or cost-effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, that it may be necessary for the Funds to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) to achieve their goals, and that the processes, procedures and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness. Moreover, reports received by the Trustees as to risk management matters are typically summaries of the relevant information. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, the Board’s risk management oversight is subject to inherent limitations.

Officers of the Trust

The officers of the Trust, their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years (their titles may have varied during that period) are set forth in Appendix H.

Shareholder Approval

The votes of each Fund will be counted together with respect to the election of the Nominees to the Board and the shareholders of each Fund will vote together as a single class with the shareholders of all other Funds that are series of the Trust. The election of Nominees to the Board must be approved by a plurality of the votes cast at the Meeting at which a quorum exists.

If not enough proxies or votes have been received from shareholders of the Trust to achieve quorum and approve Proposal 1 by the time of the Meeting, the Meeting may be postponed or adjourned to permit further solicitation of proxies, or for the Existing Board to consider alternate steps. If the shareholders of the Trust do not ultimately approve Proposal 1, the Existing Board will continue to oversee the Trust as they currently do pending any further action by the Existing Board.

Your Board recommends that you vote “FOR” the election of each of the Nominees.

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The current Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, of the Trust have selected PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Funds. No representatives of PwC will be present at the Meeting.

Appendix I sets forth for each Fund, for each of the applicable Fund’s two most recent fiscal years, the fees billed by the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm for all audit and non-audit services provided directly to the Fund and each Fund’s fiscal year end month and day. The fee information in Appendix I is presented under the following captions:

(a) Audit Fees—fees related to the audit and review of the financial statements included in annual reports and registration statements, and other services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.

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(b) Audit-Related Fees—fees related to assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of financial statements, but not reported under “Audit Fees,” including accounting consultations, agreed-upon procedure reports, attestation reports, comfort letters and internal control reviews not required by regulators.

(c) Tax Fees—fees associated with tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning, including services relating to the filing or amendment of federal, state or local income tax returns, regulated investment company qualification reviews and tax distribution and analysis reviews.

(d) All Other Fees—fees for products and services provided to the Fund other than those reported under “Audit Fees,” “Audit-Related Fees” and “Tax Fees.”

The charter of the Existing Board’s Audit Committee requires that the Audit Committee shall approve (a) all audit and permissible non-audit services to be voted on because brokersprovided to each Fund and (b) all permissible non-audit services to be provided by the Fund’s independent auditors to the investment adviser and any service providers controlling, controlled by or under common control with the investment adviser that provide ongoing services to the Fund (“Covered Service Providers”) if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund. The Audit Committee may implement policies and procedures by which such services are approved other than by the full Committee.

The Existing Board’s Audit Committee will not approve non-audit services that the Committee believes may impair the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm. Permissible non-audit services include any professional services (including tax services) that are not prohibited services as described below provided to the Fund by the independent registered public accounting firm, other than those provided to a Fund in connection with an audit or a review of the financial statements of the Fund. Permissible non-audit services may not include (a) bookkeeping or other services related to the accounting records or financial statements of the Fund; (b) financial information systems design and implementation; (c) appraisal or valuation services, fairness opinions or contribution-in-kind reports; (d) actuarial services; (e) internal audit outsourcing services; (f) management functions or human resources; (g) broker or dealer, investment adviser or investment banking services; (h) legal services and expert services unrelated to the audit; and (i) any other service the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board determines, by regulation, is impermissible.

Pre-approval by the Existing Board’s Audit Committee of any permissible non-audit services is not required so long as: (a) the aggregate amount of all such permissible non-audit services provided to a Fund, LMPFA and any Covered Service Provider constitutes not more than 5% of the total amount of revenues paid to the independent registered public accounting firm during the fiscal year in which the permissible non-audit services are provided to (i) the Fund, (ii) the Fund’s manager and (iii) any Covered Service Provider during the fiscal year in which services are

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provided that would not have to be approved by the Committee; (b) the permissible non-audit services were not recognized by the Fund at the time of the engagement to be non-audit services; and (c) such services are promptly brought to the attention of the Audit Committee and approved by the Audit Committee (or its delegate(s)) prior to completion of the audit.

For each Fund’s two most recent fiscal years, there were no services rendered by PwC to the Funds for which the pre-approval requirement was waived.

Non-audit fees billed for services rendered to each Fund and each Fund’s manager or any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the manager that provides ongoing services to the Funds during the last two fiscal years is presented in Appendix I under the caption “Aggregate Non-Audit Fees for Services Provided to Each Fund and its Affiliated Service Providers Pre-Approved by the Audit Committee.”

The Existing Board’s Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered by PwC to a Fund’s manager and Covered Service Providers that were not pre-approved (not requiring pre-approval) is compatible with maintaining such auditor’s independence. All services provided by PwC to each Fund, its manager or Covered Service Providers that were required to receive instructions frombe pre-approved were pre-approved as required.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

5% Share Ownership

As of February 12, 2021, the persons listed in Appendix J owned of record the amounts indicated of the shares of the class of Funds indicated in Appendix J.

Submission of Shareholder Proposals

The Funds do not hold annual meetings of shareholders. A shareholder proposal intended to be presented at a future special meeting of shareholders of a Fund must be received at the offices of the Fund, 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10018, at a reasonable time before the Fund begins to print and mail its proxy materials. Timely submission of a proposal does not guarantee that such proposal will be included in a proxy statement.

Shareholder Communications

Shareholders who want to communicate with the Board or any individual Trustee should write their Fund to the attention of Marc A. De Oliveira, Secretary, 100 First Stamford Place, 6^th Floor, Stamford, CT 06902. The letter should indicate that you are a Fund shareholder. If the communication is intended for a specific Trustee and so indicates, it will be sent only to that Trustee. If a communication does not indicate a specific Trustee, it will be sent to the chair of the governance and nominating committee and the outside counsel to the Independent Trustees for further distribution as deemed appropriate by such persons.

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Additionally, shareholders with complaints or concerns regarding accounting matters may address letters to the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”). Shareholders who are uncomfortable submitting complaints to the CCO may address letters directly to the Chair of the Audit Committee of the Board. Such letters may be submitted on an anonymous basis.

Expense of Proxy Solicitation

The cost of preparing, printing and mailing the enclosed proxy, accompanying notice and this Proxy Statement and costs in connection with the solicitation of proxies will generally be allocated among the Funds on the basis of their respective net assets. In accordance with each Fund’s unitary fee arrangements, Franklin Templeton will bear some or all of the Fund’s allocated portion of these costs.

Solicitation may be made by letter or telephone by officers or employees of LMPFA or its affiliates, or by dealers and their representatives. Brokerage houses, banks and other fiduciaries may be requested to forward proxy solicitation material to their principals to obtain authorization for the execution of proxies. The Funds and Franklin Templeton will reimburse brokerage firms, custodians, banks and fiduciaries for their expenses in forwarding this Proxy Statement and proxy materials to the beneficial owners or persons entitledof each Fund’s shares. In addition, the Funds and Franklin Templeton have retained Computershare, a proxy solicitation firm, to voteassist in orderthe solicitation of proxies. Computershare may solicit proxies personally and by telephone. The mailing service, proxy solicitation costs, and postage and printing costs associated with this Proxy Statement are estimated at approximately $205,000, plus reimbursements of out-of-pocket expenses. The Funds’ share of these costs, after giving effect to submit proxies.the Funds’ unitary fee arrangements, is expected to be $0.

Please note that even if shareholdersFiscal Year

The fiscal year end of youreach Fund approve Proposal 1 and/or Proposal 2, it is possible that new managementas set forth in Appendix I.

Information Concerning the Managers, Subadvisers, Distributor and subadvisory agreements for your Fund will not take effect. This is becauseAdministrator

LMPFA has offices at 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10018. LMPFA serves as the completioninvestment manager to all of the acquisitionFunds as listed in Appendix B. LMPFA serves as the administrator to all of Legg Mason by Franklin Templeton will not occur unless certain conditions are met. One of these conditions is that advisory clients of Legg Mason investment affiliates, which would include advisory clients that are not Funds, representing a specified percentage of Legg Mason revenue consentthe Funds.

ClearBridge Investments, LLC (“ClearBridge”) has offices at 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10018. ClearBridge serves as the subadviser to the continuation of their advisory relationships after completion ofFunds identified as being subadvised by ClearBridge in Appendix B.

Brandywine Global Investment Management, LLC (“Brandywine Global”) has offices at 1735 Market Street, 18th Floor, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103. Brandywine Global serves as subadviser to the sale. If this does not take place, new management and subadvisory agreements will not take effect. On the other hand, the sale may take place even if shareholders ofFunds identified as being subadvised by Brandywine in Appendix B.

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your Fund doClearBridge RARE Infrastructure (North America) Pty Limited (formerly known as RARE Infrastructure (North America) Pty Ltd.) (“RARE”) has offices at Level 13, 35 Clarence Street, Sydney, NSW 2000 Australia. RARE serves as subadviser to the Funds identified as being subadvised by RARE in Appendix B.

QS Investors, LLC (“QS Investors”) has offices at 880 Third Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, New York 10022. QS Investors serves as subadviser to the Funds identified as being subadvised by QS Investors in Appendix B.

Royce & Associates, LP has offices at 745 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10151. Royce & Associates LP primarily conducts its business under the name Royce Investment Partners (“Royce”). Royce serves as subadviser to the Funds identified as being subadvised by Royce in Appendix B.

Western Asset Management Company, LLC (“Western Asset”), has offices at 385 East Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, California 91101 and 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10018. Western Asset Management Company Limited (“Western Asset London”), has offices at 10 Exchange Square, Primrose Street, London EC2A 2EN. Western Asset Management Company Ltd (“Western Asset Japan”) has offices at 36F Shin-Marunouchi Building, 5-1 Marunouchi 1-ChomeChiyoda-Ku, Tokyo 100-6536, Japan. Western Asset Management Company Pte. Ltd. (“Western Asset Singapore”) has offices at 1 George Street #23-01, Singapore 049145. Western Asset, Western Asset London, Western Asset Japan and Western Asset Singapore serve as subadviser to the Funds identified as being subadvised by Western Asset, Western Asset London, Western Asset Japan and Western Asset Singapore in Appendix B.

Legg Mason Investor Services, LLC (“LMIS”), 100 International Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 20202, is the distributor to all of the Funds.

General

Management does not approve Proposal 1 and/or Proposal 2. If this should happen,intend to present and does not have reason to believe that any other items of business will be presented at the Board of your Fund will implement interim management or subadvisory agreementsMeeting. However, if other matters are properly presented to the Meeting for a periodvote, the proxies will be voted by the persons acting under the proxies upon such matters in accordance with their judgment of no more than 150 days in order to determine appropriate action, which could include continuing to solicit approvalthe best interests of new management or subadvisory agreements. The Board has approved interim management and subadvisory agreements to provide for maximum flexibility for your Fund’s future.

Adjournments and Postponementsthe Funds.

The Meeting with respect to one or more Funds may, by action of the chair of the Meeting and without any action by shareholders, be adjourned from time to time with respect to one or more matters to be considered at the Meeting, whether or not a quorum is present with respect to such matter. At the discretion of the chair, if a quorum is present with respect to a proposal to be considered at the Meeting, a vote may be taken on the proposal prior to such adjournment. Such vote will be considered final regardless of whether the Meeting is adjourned with respect to any other proposal. The Meeting for any Fund may be postponed prior to the Meeting. If we decide to hold the Meeting at a different time or in a different location, or partially or entirely by means of remote communication (i.e., a virtual meeting), we will announce any such updates by means of a press release, which will be posted on our website (http://www.leggmason.com/virtualproxyfundsmeeting). An announcement will also be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission via its EDGAR system. In the event of any inconsistency between this proxy statement and the Fund’sTrust’s governing documents or applicable law, the Fund’sTrust’s governing documents and applicable law will control.

PROPOSAL 1 — TO APPROVE A NEW MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT WITH YOUR FUND’S MANAGER

At the Meeting, you will be asked to approve a new management agreement between your Fund and Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC (“LMPFA”), each Fund’s investment adviser (a “New Management Agreement”). Shareholders of each Fund vote on Proposal 1.

Introduction

LMPFA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Legg Mason. LMPFA is referred to herein as the “Manager.”

You are being asked to approve a New Management Agreement for your Fund because your Fund’s current management agreement will terminate upon the sale of Legg Mason to Franklin Templeton. The sale, which will result in a “change of control” of Legg Mason, is described in more detail below.

The Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), requires that an advisory agreement of an investment company provide for automatic termination in the event of its “assignment” (as defined in the 1940 Act). A sale of a controlling block of an investment adviser’s “voting securities” (as defined in the 1940 Act) generally is deemed to result in an assignment of the investment adviser’s advisory agreements. The consummation of the transaction described below will constitute a sale of a controlling block of voting securities of the Manager that will result in the automatic termination of the current management agreement between each Fund and the Manager (a “Current Management Agreement”).

If shareholders of your Fund approve the New Management Agreement prior to the consummation of the transaction, it will be effective upon the consummation of the transaction. In the event that the transaction is not consummated, the Manager will continue to serve as investment adviser of your Fund pursuant to the terms of the Current Management Agreement.

There will be no increase in management fee rates as a result of the New Management Agreement for your Fund. The Transaction is not expected to result in any diminution in the nature, extent, or quality of the services provided by the Manager to your Fund.

The date of the Current Management Agreement for your Fund, the date on which the Current Management Agreement was last approved by your Fund’s shareholders and the contractual investment management fees

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payable to the Manager as investment adviser to your Fund are set forth inAppendix C of this Joint Proxy Statement. Aggregate management fees paid to the Manager by your Fund during the last fiscal year are set forth inAppendix E of this Joint Proxy Statement. The date the Board last approved the continuation of the Current Management Agreement is set forth inAppendix Cof this Joint Proxy Statement.

Description of the Transaction

Legg Mason is the parent company of your Fund’s Manager and subadvisers. In February, 2020, Legg Mason entered into a definitive agreement (the “Transaction Agreement”) with Franklin Templeton, under which Franklin Templeton will acquire Legg Mason. Under the terms of the Transaction Agreement, Franklin Templeton will pay, in cash at closing, $50.00 per share of Legg Mason common stock and will assume approximately $2 billion of Legg Mason’s outstanding debt (the “Transaction”). The total value of the Transaction is approximately $6.5 billion. Upon completion of the Transaction, your Fund’s Manager and the subadvisers will become wholly owned subsidiaries¹ of Franklin Templeton.

Consummation of the Transaction is subject to certain terms and conditions, including, among others: (i) approval of the Transaction by Legg Mason shareholders; (ii) receipt of applicable regulatory approvals; and (iii) consent by advisory clients of Legg Mason investment affiliates representing a specified percentage of the revenue attributable to the assets under management for those clients to continue their advisory relationships with the Legg Mason investment affiliates following the consummation of the Transaction. This includes approval by shareholders of Funds having sufficient assets of new management and subadvisory agreements to replace those that will terminate automatically upon consummation of the Transaction, as described below. Subject to satisfaction or waiver of the terms and conditions, the Transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2020.

Legg Mason investment affiliates serve as subadvisers to the Funds. As part of the Transaction, Franklin Templeton will maintain the investment autonomy of the Legg Mason investment affiliates that manage the investments of your Funds, including ClearBridge, ClearBridge RARE, QS Investors, Royce Investment Partners and Western Asset.

Upon consummation of the Transaction, Franklin Templeton will be one of the world’s largest independent, specialized global investment managers with a combined $1.5 trillion in assets under management (based on its and Legg Mason’s assets under management as of January 31, 2020). Assets under management are subject to fluctuation based on market conditions and other factors. The investment platform of the combined organization will be balanced between retail and institutional client assets under management. The combined organization will have greater scale, broader distribution capabilities and new opportunities to grow. Approval of the new management and subadvisory agreements will provide continuity of the investment program you selected through your investment in the Funds and allow the Funds’ operations to continue uninterrupted after the sale.

Information Concerning the Parties to the Transaction

Legg Mason. Legg Mason, whose principal executive offices are at 100 International Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 21202, is a financial services holding company that provides asset management and financial services through its investment affiliates. Legg Mason’s investment affiliates, which include Brandywine Global, Clarion Partners, ClearBridge, ClearBridge RARE, Martin Currie, QS Investors, Royce Investment Partners and Western Asset, operate with investment independence and have specialized expertise across equity, fixed income, alternative and liquidity investments and markets around the globe. Legg Mason’s assets under management were approximately $806 billion as of January 31, 2020.

Franklin Templeton. Franklin Resources, Inc. (“FRI”), whose principal executive offices are at One Franklin Parkway, San Mateo, California 94403, is a global investment management organization operating, together with its subsidiaries, as Franklin Templeton. Through specialized teams, Franklin Templeton has expertise across all asset classes, including equity, fixed income, alternatives and custom multi-asset solutions. Franklin Templeton has more than 600 investment professionals, who are supported by Franklin Templeton’s integrated, worldwide team of risk management professionals and global trading desk network, and has employees in over 30 countries.

¹ Except for Royce & Associates, LP, which is currently a majority-owned subsidiary of Legg Mason and will become a majority-owned subsidiary of Franklin Templeton upon completion of the Transaction.

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The common stock of FRI is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “BEN” and is included in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.

Impact on the Investment Advisory Services Provided to Your Fund

The Transaction is not expected to result in any diminution in the nature, extent or quality of the services provided by the Manager to your Fund and its shareholders. The Transaction also is not expected to result in any diminution in the nature, extent or quality of the services provided by the subadviser or subadvisers to your Fund and its shareholders.

In particular, the Transaction is not expected to result in any material changes in the manner in which the Manager or the subadvisers provide investment management services to your Fund. The Transaction also is not expected to result in changes in the personnel providing portfolio management services to your Fund. Following the consummation of the Transaction, the Manager and the subadvisers will be able to draw upon the resources of the combined Franklin Templeton, which will be one of the world’s largest independent asset managers with a broad distribution footprint.

Comparison of New Management Agreement with Current Management Agreement

The terms of the New Management Agreement for your Fund are identical to the terms of your Fund’s Current Management Agreement, except for the dates of execution, effectiveness and termination. The contractual management fee rates to be paid by your Fund are identical under the applicable Current Management Agreement and the New Management Agreement.

Set forth below is a general description of the New Management Agreement and a comparison of its terms to those of the Current Management Agreement. Shareholders should refer toAppendixI-1 for a more detailed comparison of the terms of the New Management Agreement and their Fund’s Current Management Agreement, andAppendixI-2 for a copy of the form of New Management Agreement.

Fees.As noted above, the contractual management fee rates to be paid by your Fund and the method of calculation are identical under the applicable Current Management Agreement and the New Management Agreement. The management fee schedule payable by your Fund under both the Current Management Agreement and the New Management Agreement is set forth inAppendix C.

Investment Management Services. Each of the Current Management Agreement and the New Management Agreement provides that, subject to the supervision of the Fund’s Board, the Manager regularly provides the Fund with investment research, advice, management and supervision, and furnishes a continuous investment program for the Fund consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives, policies and restrictions. The Manager determines from time to time what securities and other investments will be purchased, retained or sold by the Fund and implements those decisions, all subject to the provisions of the Fund’s governing documents, the 1940 Act, the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, other applicable federal and state law and any specific policies adopted by the Fund’s Board and disclosed to the Manager.

As noted above, under each of the Current Management Agreement and the New Management Agreement, the Fund’s Manager is authorized to place orders pursuant to its investment determinations for the Fund either directly with the issuer or with any broker or dealer, foreign currency dealer, futures commission merchant or others selected by it. Subject to any policies and procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board that may modify or restrict the Manager’s authority regarding the execution of the Fund’s portfolio transactions, brokers or dealers may be selected by the Manager who also provide brokerage and research services (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) to the Funds and/or the other accounts over which the Manager or its affiliates exercise investment discretion, a practice commonly referred to as “soft dollars.” The Manager is authorized to pay a broker or dealer who provides such brokerage and research services a commission for executing a portfolio transaction for a Fund which is in excess of the amount of commission or spread another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if the Manager determines in good faith that such amount of commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research

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services provided by such broker or dealer. This determination may be viewed either in terms of that particular transaction or the overall responsibilities that the Manager and its affiliates have with respect to accounts over which they exercise investment discretion.

Each of the Current Management Agreement and the New Management Agreement provides that the Manager will perform other functions of investment management and supervision, in each case subject to the discretion of the Board. For certain Funds, each of the Current Management Agreement and the New Management Agreement also specifies that the Manager will exercise voting rights, rights to consent to corporate action and any other rights pertaining to the Fund’s portfolio securities, subject to such direction as the Fund’s Board may provide.

Fund Administration Services. Each of the Current Management Agreement and the New Management Agreement provides that the Manager will also perform administrative, management or other services as may from time to time be reasonably requested by the Fund as necessary for the operation of the Fund, subject to the direction and control of the Fund’s Board. Such administrative services include (i) supervising the overall administration of the Fund, including maintaining the Fund’s books and records, (ii) providing certain compliance, fund accounting, regulatory reporting, and tax reporting services, (iii) preparing or participating in the preparation of Board materials, registration statements, proxy statements and reports and other communications to shareholders, (iv) maintaining the Fund’s existence, and (v) maintaining the registration and qualification of the Fund’s shares under federal and state laws.

Under each of the Current Management Agreement and the New Management Agreement, the Manager is also required to supply the Fund’s Board and officers with all information and reports reasonably required by them and reasonably available to the Manager. In addition, each of the Current Management Agreement and the New Management Agreement requires the Manager to furnish the Fund, at its own expense, with office facilities and all personnel reasonably necessary for the operation of the Fund.

Payment of Expenses. Each of the Current Management Agreement and the New Management (except for the agreements for the series of Legg Mason ETF Investment Trust) Agreement states that, except as specifically indicated therein, the Manager is not responsible for any of the Fund’s ordinary or extraordinary expenses. The Manager is required to bear all expenses, and furnish all necessary services, facilities and personnel, in connection with its responsibilities to provide the Fund with investment advisory and administrative services thereunder. Each of the Current Management Agreement and the New Management Agreement for the series of Legg Mason ETF Investment Trust provides that the Manager shall furnish all investment management, supervisory, administrative and other services reasonably necessary for the operation of the Fund, including certain distribution services, under a unitary fee structure.

Investment Subadvisers. Each of the Current Management Agreement and the New Management Agreement authorizes the Manager or the Fund to enter into contracts with investment subadvisers or subadministrators. These agreements permit subadvisers or subadministrators to be affiliates of the Manager. If the Manager contracts with a subadviser or subadministrator, as permitted under each of the Current Management Agreement and the New Management Agreement, the Manager would pay the subadvisory or subadministration fees, unless the Fund’s Board agrees otherwise.

Potential Conflicts of Interest. Each Fund and its Manager have adopted policies and procedures to address certain potential conflicts of interest that may arise in a typical investment advisory relationship. Certain of the Current Management Agreements and the New Management Agreements also contain provisions that address potential conflicts of interest. Among other things, these agreements provide that, if the purchase or sale of securities consistent with the investment policies of a Fund or one or more other accounts of the Manager is considered at or about the same time, transactions in securities purchased or sold for more than one account must be allocated among the accounts in a manner deemed equitable by the Manager. In addition, if transactions of a Fund and another client are combined, as permitted by applicable laws and regulations, such transactions must be consistent with the Manager’s policies and procedures as presented to the Fund’s Board from time to time. Each of the Current Management Agreement and the New Management Agreement specifically provides that the Manager may engage in any other business or render services of any kind.

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Limitation on Liability. Under each of the Current Management Agreement and the New Management Agreement, the Manager is not liable for any loss arising out of any investment or for any act or omission in the execution of securities transactions for a Fund. A Manager is not protected, however, for willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under the Agreement. The Current Management Agreements and New Management Agreements for certain Funds also clarify that the Manager assumes no responsibility other than to render the services called for by the Agreement in good faith, and that the Manager is not liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law, and that the Manager is not responsible for any action of the applicable Board in following or declining to follow the Manager’s advice or recommendations.

Term and Continuance. If approved by shareholders prior to the consummation of the Transaction, the Fund’s New Management Agreement will go into effect upon the consummation of the Transaction for atwo-year period. Thereafter, if not terminated, the New Management Agreement will continue in effect from year to year if such continuance is specifically approved at least annually (a) by the Board, or (b) by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, provided that in either event the continuance also is approved by a majority of the Board Members who are not interested persons of a party to the New Management Agreement, as required by the 1940 Act. The Current Management Agreements have similar provisions for their term and continuance, although the initial dates of the agreements differ and the initialtwo-year period has elapsed in most cases.

Termination.Each of the Current Management Agreement and the New Management Agreement may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by the Fund or the Manager, upon written notice as provided in the Agreement. Each Management Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its “assignment” (as defined in the 1940 Act). The Current Management Agreements and New Management Agreements for certain Funds also limit the ongoing use of the name of the Manager following termination.

Additional Provisions. The Current Management Agreement for certain more recently established Funds identified inAppendixI-1 and AppendixI-2 includes additional provisions regarding third party beneficiaries and forum selection, which will also be included in the New Management Agreement for these Funds. The provisions described below apply only to the New Management Agreements for these Funds, and do not vary from the existing provisions for these Funds. These provisions are not included in the Current Management Agreement or New Management Agreement for any other Funds.

The New Management Agreement, like the Current Management Agreement, for these more recently established Funds provides that the Agreement does not create any third-party beneficiary or otherwise confer any rights, privileges, claims or remedies upon any shareholder or other person other than the parties and their respective successors. In addition, the New Management Agreement for these Funds, like the Current Management Agreement, provides that any legal suit, action or proceeding related to, arising out of or concerning the agreement shall be brought only in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, or if such action may not be brought in that court, then such action shall be brought in the Supreme Court of the State of New York and submitted to the Commercial Division of that court (each, a “Designated Court”). The New Management Agreement for these Funds, like the Current Management Agreement, provides that each party to the Agreement (a) consents to jurisdiction in the Designated Courts; (b) waives any objection to venue in either Designated Court; and (c) waives any objection that either Designated Court is an inconvenient forum. The New Management Agreement for these Funds, like the Current Management Agreement, also provides that the Manager is not liable for any losses caused by natural disasters, failure or disruption of utilities, communications, computer or information technology and various circumstances beyond the Manager’s control.

Possible Interim Management Agreement

If the shareholders of your Fund do not approve the New Management Agreement and the Transaction is completed, an interim investment management agreement between your Fund’s Manager and your Fund (the “Interim Management Agreement”) will take effect upon the closing of the Transaction. The Board has approved the Interim Management Agreement to allow the Fund’s Manager to continue providing services to the Fund

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while shareholder approval of the New Management Agreement continues to be sought. The terms of the Interim Management Agreement are identical to those of the Current Management Agreement, except for the term and escrow provisions described below. The Interim Management Agreement will continue in effect for a term ending on the earlier of 150 days from the closing of the Transaction (the“150-day period”) or when shareholders of your Fund approve the New Management Agreement. The Fund’s Board or a “1940 Act Majority Vote” of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund may terminate the Interim Management Agreement on 10 calendar days’ written notice to the Manager without the payment of any penalty. Pursuant to Rule15a-4 under the 1940 Act, compensation earned by the Manager under the Interim Management Agreement will be held in an interest-bearing escrow account. If shareholders of your Fund approve the New Management Agreement prior to the end of the150-day period, the amount held in the escrow account under the Interim Management Agreement will be paid to the Manager. If shareholders of your Fund do not approve the New Management Agreement prior to the end of the150-day period, the Board of your Fund will consider what further action to take consistent with their fiduciary duties to the Fund, and the Manager will be paid the lesser of its costs incurred in performing its services under the Interim Management Agreement or the total amount of the escrow account, plus interest earned. Thereafter, the Board of your Fund would either negotiate a new investment advisory agreement with an advisory organization selected by the Board, subject to shareholder approval, or make other appropriate arrangements.

Board Evaluation

On March 9, 2020, during a telephonic meeting of each Fund’s Board, members of the Board discussed with Legg Mason management and certain Franklin Templeton representatives the Transaction and Franklin Templeton’s plans and intentions regarding the Funds and Legg Mason’s asset management business, including the preservation and continued investment autonomy of the investment advisory businesses conducted by Legg Mason’s separate investment advisory subsidiaries and the combination of Legg Mason’s and Franklin Templeton’s distribution resources. The Board members were advised that the Transaction, if completed, would constitute a change of control under the 1940 Act that would result in the termination of the Current Management Agreements and Current Subadvisory Agreements.

At concurrent meetings held on April 7, 2020, the Board of each Fund, including a majority of the Board Members who are not “interested persons” of the Funds or the Manager as defined in the 1940 Act (the “Independent Board Members”), approved the New Management Agreement between each Fund and its Manager and each New Subadvisory Agreement between each Fund’s Manager and its Subadviser or Subadvisers relating to the Fund.² (The New Management Agreement for a Fund and the New Subadvisory Agreement or Agreements for the Fund are referred to, collectively, as the “New Agreements,” the Current Management Agreement for a Fund and the Current Subadvisory Agreement or Agreements for the Fund are referred to, collectively, as the “Current Agreements,” and the Manager and the Subadviser or Subadvisers for a Fund are referred to, collectively, as the “Advisers.”)

At these concurrent meetings, which included meetings of the full Board and separate meetings of the Independent Board Members, the Boards considered, among other things, whether it would be in the best interests of each Fund and its respective shareholders to approve the New Agreements, and the anticipated impacts of the Transaction on the Funds and their shareholders. To assist the Boards in their consideration of the New Agreements, Franklin Templeton provided materials and information about Franklin Templeton, including its financial condition and asset management capabilities and organization, Legg Mason provided materials and information about Legg Mason, including performance and expense comparison data and profitability information by Fund and with respect to the Legg Mason fund complex as a whole, and Franklin Templeton and Legg Mason provided materials and information about the proposed Transaction between Legg Mason and Franklin Templeton.

² This meeting was held telephonically in reliance on an exemptive order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 13, 2020. Reliance on the exemptive order was determined to be necessary and appropriate due to circumstances related to the potential effects ofCOVID-19. All Board Members participating in the telephonic meeting were able to hear each other simultaneously during the meeting. Reliance on the exemptive order requires Board Members, including a majority of the Independent Board Members, to ratify actions taken pursuant to the exemptive order by vote cast at the nextin-person meeting.

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Before or during the April 7, 2020 concurrent meetings, the Boards sought certain information as they deemed necessary and appropriate. In connection with their consideration of the New Agreements, the Independent Board Members worked with their independent legal counsel to prepare requests for additional information that were submitted to Franklin Templeton and Legg Mason. The Boards’ requests for information sought information relevant to the Boards’ consideration of the New Agreements, distribution arrangements, and other anticipated impacts of the Transaction on the Funds and their shareholders. Franklin Templeton and Legg Mason provided documents and information in response to these requests for information. Following their review of this information, the Independent Board Members requested additional information to Franklin Templeton and Legg Mason. Franklin Templeton and Legg Mason provided further information in response to these requests, which the Boards reviewed. Senior management representatives from Franklin Templeton and Legg Mason participated in a portion of each of these meetings and addressed various questions raised by the Boards.

At each Board’s April 7, 2020 meeting, representatives of Legg Mason and Franklin Templeton made presentations to, and responded to questions from, the Board. After the presentations and after reviewing the written materials provided, the Independent Board Members met in executive session with their counsel and senior representatives of Franklin Templeton, during which such representatives responded to further questions from the Independent Board Members regarding, among other things, the Transaction and Franklin Templeton’s business plan. Thereafter, the Independent Board Members met in executive session with their counsel to consider the New Agreements.

Each Board’s evaluation of the New Agreements reflected the information provided specifically in connection with their review of the New Agreements, as well as, where relevant, information that was previously furnished to the Boards in connection with the most recent renewal of the Current Agreements atin-person meetings held on November 5 and 6, 2019 (the “November Meeting”) and at other Board meetings throughout the prior year.

Among other things, the Board Members considered:

(i) the reputation, experience, financial strength and resources of Franklin Templeton and its investment advisory subsidiaries;

(ii) that Franklin Templeton informed the Boards that it intends to maintain the investment autonomy of the Legg Mason investment advisory subsidiaries;

(iii) that Franklin Templeton and Legg Mason informed the Boards that, following the Transaction, there is not expected to be any diminution in the nature, quality and extent of services provided to the Funds and their shareholders by the Advisers, including compliance and othernon-advisory services, and have represented that there are not expected to be any changes in the portfolio management personnel managing the Funds as a result of the Transaction;

(iv) that Franklin Templeton and Legg Mason informed the Boards regarding initial transition plans and that they are instituting long-term retention arrangements for key personnel;

(v) that Franklin Templeton informed the Boards that there are not expected to be any changes to the brokerage practices and standards applied by the Subadvisers in seeking best execution;

(vi) that there are not expected to be any changes to each Fund’s custodian or other service providers as a result of the Transaction;

(vii) that Franklin Templeton informed the Boards that it has no present intention to alter currently effective expense waivers and reimbursement arrangements after their expiration, and, while it reserves the right to do so in the future, it would consult with the applicable Fund’s Board before making any changes;

(viii) that Franklin Templeton does not expect to propose any changes to the investment objective(s) of any Fund or any changes to the principal investment strategies of any Fund as a result of the Transaction;

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(ix) the potential benefits to Fund shareholders from being part of a combined fund family with Franklin Templeton-sponsored funds and access to a broader array of investment opportunities;

(x) that Franklin Templeton’s distribution capabilities, particularly with respect to retail investors, and significant network of intermediary relationships may provide additional opportunities for the Funds to grow assets and lower expenses by spreading expenses over a larger asset base;

(xi) that Franklin Templeton and Legg Mason will each derive direct and ancillary benefits from the Transaction and that, as a result, they have a financial interest in the matters that were being considered;

(xii) the fact that each Fund’s contractual management and, where applicable, subadministrative fee rates will remain the same and will not increase by virtue of the New Agreements;

(xiii) the terms and conditions of the New Agreements, including that each New Agreement is identical to its corresponding Current Agreement except for their respective dates of execution, effectiveness and termination;

(xiv) the support expressed by the current senior management team at Legg Mason for the Transaction and Legg Mason’s recommendation that the Boards approve the New Agreements;

(xv) that the Current Agreements, except in the case of newer Funds, are the product of multiple years of review and negotiation and information received and considered by the applicable Boards in the exercise of their business judgment during those years. At the November Meeting, the Boards conducted a full review of the investment advisory and distribution arrangements for each Fund, other than newer Funds, and approved the Current Agreements in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act. Without any one factor being dispositive, in approving the Current Agreements, the Boards determined, in the exercise of the Board Members’ business judgment, that: (i) overall, the Board was satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided (and expected to be provided) under the respective Agreement by the Manager and Subadvisers and their affiliates; (ii) the overall performance of the Funds was satisfactory and that management, in response to Funds underperforming their benchmark and peers, was committed to providing the resources necessary to assist the Funds’ portfolio managers; (iii) the Funds’ management fees and cost structure are reasonable in light of the comparative performance and expense information and in relation to the services provided; (iv) in light of the costs of providing investment management and other services to the Funds and the Manager’s and Subadvisers’ ongoing commitment to the Funds and the fee waivers in effect for certain Funds, the profits that Legg Mason and its affiliates received were considered to be not excessive; (v) many Funds had asset level break points in the management fee structure and that shareholders of these Funds would benefit to the extent the Fund’s assets increased, that for those Funds without breakpoints, to the extent such Fund’s assets increase over time, the Fund and its shareholders should realize other economies of scale or efficiencies as certain expenses, such as fixed fund fees, become a smaller percentage of overall assets, and that the benefits of any economies of scale also would be appropriately shared with shareholders through increased investment in fund management and administration resources; and (vi) the ancillary benefits that the Manager and Subadvisers and their affiliates received were considered reasonable. The date of each Board’s most recent full annual review of the Current Agreements is noted inAppendixC(Current Management Agreements) andAppendix D(Current Subadvisory Agreements);

(xvi) that the Current Agreements were considered and approved as recently as the November Meeting, except in the case of a newer Fund currently in the initial term of its agreement;

(xvii) that the Funds will not bear the costs of obtaining shareholder approval of the New Agreements, including proxy solicitation costs, legal fees and the costs of printing and mailing the proxy statement, regardless of whether the Transaction is consummated; and

(xviii) that under the Transaction Agreement Franklin Templeton has acknowledged that Legg Mason had entered into the Agreement in reliance upon the benefits and protections provided by Section 15(f) of the 1940 Act, and that, in furtherance of the foregoing, Franklin Templeton agreed to use reasonable best efforts to conduct its business so that (a) for a period of not less than three years after the closing of the Transaction no

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more than 25% of the members of the Board shall be “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any investment adviser for a Fund, and (b) for a period of not less than two years after the closing, neither Franklin Templeton nor any of its affiliates shall impose an “unfair burden” (within the meaning of the 1940 Act, including any interpretations orno-action letters of the Securities and Exchange Commission) on any Fund as a result of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreement or any express or implied terms, conditions or understandings applicable thereto.

Certain of these considerations are discussed in more detail below.

In their deliberations, the Board Members considered information received in connection with the most recent approval or continuation of each Current Agreement in addition to information provided by Franklin Templeton and Legg Mason in connection with their evaluation of the terms and conditions of the New Agreements. In connection with the most recent approval or continuation of each Current Agreement, and in connection with their review of each New Agreement, the Board Members did not identify any particular factor that wasall-important or controlling, and each Board Member may have attributed different weights to the various factors. The Board Members evaluated such information they deemed reasonably necessary to evaluate the terms of the Agreements on aFund-by-Fund basis with respect to their consideration of the Current Agreements and the New Agreements, and made their determinations separately in respect of each Fund.

The information provided and presentations made to each Board encompassed each Fund and all other Funds for which the Board has responsibility. This information was initially reviewed by a special committee of the Independent Board Members and then by the full Board. The discussion below for each Fund covers both the advisory and the administrative functions rendered by the Manager for the Fund, both of which functions are encompassed by the New Management Agreement for the Fund, as well as the advisory functions rendered by the Subadviser(s) pursuant to the New Subadvisory Agreement(s) for the Fund. The Independent Board Members of each Fund considered the New Management Agreement and the New Subadvisory Agreement(s) separately in the course of their review. In doing so, they considered the respective roles and compensation of the Manager and the Subadviser(s) in providing services to the Fund.

The Independent Board Members were advised by separate independent legal counsel throughout the process. Prior to voting, the Independent Board Members of each Fund received a memorandum from their independent legal counsel discussing the legal standards for their consideration of the New Agreements for the Fund. The Independent Board Members of each Fund discussed the Transaction and the proposed approval of the New Agreements for the Fund on multiple occasions with their independent legal counsel in private sessions at which no representatives of Franklin Templeton, Legg Mason, or the Manager or Subadviser(s) for the Fund were present.

Nature, extent and quality of the services under the New Agreements

The Board of each Fund received and considered information regarding the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund by the Manager and the Subadviser(s) under the Current Agreements. In evaluating the nature, quality and extent of the services to be provided by the Advisers under the New Agreements, the Board Members considered, among other things, the expected impact, if any, of the Transaction on the operations, facilities, organization and personnel of each Adviser, and that Franklin Templeton and Legg Mason have advised the Boards that, following the Transaction, there is not expected to be any diminution in the nature, quality and extent of services provided to the Funds and their shareholders by the Advisers, including compliance and othernon-advisory services, and that there are not expected to be any changes in portfolio management personnel as a result of the Transaction. The Board has received information at regular meetings throughout the past year related to the services rendered by the Manager in its management of the Fund’s affairs and the Manager’s role in coordinating the activities of the Fund’s other service providers. The Board’s evaluation of the services provided by the Manager and the Subadviser(s) took into account the Board Members’ knowledge gained as Board Members of the Funds, including knowledge gained regarding the scope and quality of the investment management and other capabilities of the Manager and the Subadviser(s), and the quality of the Manager’s administrative and other services. The Board observed that the scope of services provided by the

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Manager and the Subadviser(s), and the undertakings required of the Manager and Subadviser(s) in connection with those services, including maintaining and monitoring their own and the Fund’s compliance programs, liquidity management programs and cybersecurity programs, had expanded over time as a result of regulatory, market and other developments. The Board has received and reviewed on a regular basis information from the Manager and the Subadviser(s) regarding the Fund’s compliance policies and procedures established pursuant to Rule38a-1 under the 1940 Act, and took that information into account in its evaluation of the New Agreements. The Board also considered the risks associated with the Fund borne by the Manager and its affiliates (such as entrepreneurial, operational, reputational, litigation and regulatory risk), as well as the risk management processes of the Manager and Subadviser(s).

The Board of each Fund considered information provided by Franklin Templeton regarding its business and operating structure, scale of operation, leadership and reputation, distribution capabilities, and financial condition.

The Board also reviewed the qualifications, backgrounds and responsibilities of the senior personnel of the Manager and the Subadviser(s) and the team of investment professionals primarily responsible for theday-to-day portfolio management of the Fund. The Board also considered the combined financial resources of Legg Mason and Franklin Templeton and the importance of having a Fund manager with, or with access to, significant organizational and financial resources. The Board considered the benefits to the Fund of being part of a larger combined organization with greater financial resources following the Transaction, particularly during periods of market disruptions and volatility.

The Board also considered the policies and practices of the Manager and the Subadvisers regarding the selection of brokers and dealers and the execution of portfolio transactions for the Fund, and Franklin Templeton’s representations that the brokerage practices and standards applied by the Manager and Subadvisers in seeking best execution will continue.

The Board received performance information for each Fund, as well as for a group of funds (the “Performance Universe”) selected by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”), an independent provider of investment company data, based on classifications provided by Thomson Reuters Lipper (“Lipper”). The Board was provided with a description of the methodology used to determine the similarity of the Fund with the funds included in the Performance Universe. It was noted that, while the Board has found the Broadridge data generally useful the Board Members recognized the limitations of such data, including that the data may vary depending on the end date selected and that the results of the performance comparisons may vary depending on the selection of the peer group and its composition over time. It was also noted that the Board has received and discussed with management information throughout the year at periodic intervals comparing the Fund’s performance against its benchmark and against the Fund’s peers, including at the November Meeting. In addition, the Board considered the Fund’s performance in light of overall financial market conditions. Where the Fund’s performance was below the median during one or more specified periods, the Board noted the explanations from the Advisers concerning the Fund’s relative performance versus the peer group for the various periods. For new Funds, the Board considered that the Fund had recently commenced operations and thus had a relatively limited performance history.

Based on their review of the materials provided and the assurances they had received from Franklin Templeton and Legg Mason, the Board Members determined that the Transaction was not expected to affect adversely the nature, extent and quality of services provided by each Adviser and that the Transaction was not expected to have an adverse effect on the ability of the Advisers to provide those services, and the Board of each Fund concluded that, overall, the nature, extent and quality of services expected to be provided, including performance, under the New Agreements for the Fund were sufficient and supported a decision to approve each New Agreement.

Management fees and expense ratios

The Board considered that it had reviewed each Fund’s management fee and total expense ratio at the November Meeting. The Board considered that the New Management Agreement does not change any Fund’s

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management fee rate or the computation method for calculating such fees, and that there is no present intention to alter expense waiver and reimbursement arrangements that are currently in effect.

The Board of each Fund reviewed and considered the contractual management fee and the actual management fee rates paid by the Fund to the Manager in light of the nature, extent and quality of the management and subadvisory services provided and expected to be provided by the Manager and the Subadviser(s). The Board also noted that the compensation paid to the Subadviser(s) is the responsibility and expense of the Manager, or in some cases, another Subadviser, and not the Fund. In addition, the Board received and considered information provided by Broadridge comparing the contractual management fee rate and the actual management fee rate paid for the Fund, as well as the total actual expenses for the Fund, with those of funds in both the relevant expense group and a broader group of funds, each selected by Broadridge based on classifications provided by Lipper. It was noted that, while the Board has found the Broadridge data generally useful, they recognized its limitations, including that the data may vary depending on the selection of the peer group. The Board also considered the management fee, the fees of each Subadviser and the portion of the management fee retained by the Manager after payment of the subadvisory fees, in each case in light of the services rendered for those amounts. The Board also received an analysis of Legg Mason complex-wide management fees for Funds with a similar strategy provided by the Manager, which, among other things, set out a framework of fees based on asset classes.

For QS Conservative Growth Fund, QS Defensive Growth Fund, QS Growth Fund, QS Moderate Growth Fund, QS Variable Conservative Growth, QS Variable Growth and QS Variable Moderate Growth, the Board considered that the Fund bears indirectly its pro rata share of the expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests, including management fees payable by such underlying funds to the Manager or its affiliates. The Board noted that there is no management fee payable by the Fund to the Manager orsub-investment advisory fees payable by the Fund to the Subadvisers. With respect to QS Dynamic Multi-Strategy Portfolio, which invests in other mutual funds pursuant to an SEC exemptive order, the Board considered, as it did for the November Meeting, whether the fee under the Fund’s Management Agreement is based on services provided that are in addition to, rather than duplicative of, the services provided under the advisory contracts of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests. In addition, with respect to CB Large Cap Value Fund, the Board noted the “fulcrum” performance fee payable by the Fund which is based in part on the performance of the Fund relative to the S&P 500 Index, and the effect on the advisory fee paid by the Fund.

The Board of each Fund reviewed information regarding fees charged by the Manager and/or the Subadviser(s) to other U.S. clients investing primarily in an asset class similar to that of the Fund, including, where applicable, separate accounts. The Manager reviewed with the Board the differences in services provided to these different types of accounts, including that the Fund is provided with certain administrative services, office facilities, and Fund officers (including the Fund’s chief executive, chief financial and chief compliance officers), and that the Manager coordinates and oversees the provision of services to the Fund by other Fund service providers. The Board considered the fee comparisons in light of the differences in management of these different types of accounts and the differences in associated risks borne by the Advisers.

In evaluating the costs of the services to be provided by the Advisers under the New Agreements, the Board Members considered, among other things, whether management fees or other expenses would change as a result of the Transaction. Based on their review of the materials provided and the assurances they had received from Franklin Templeton and Legg Mason, the Board Members determined that the Transaction would not increase the total fees payable by each Fund for management services.

Taking all of the above into consideration, as well as the factors identified below, the Board of each Fund determined that the management fee and the subadvisory fees for the Fund were reasonable in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services to be provided to the Fund under the New Agreements.

Profitability and economies of scale

The Board received and considered an analysis of the profitability of the Manager and its affiliates in providing services to the Fund. The Board also received profitability information with respect to the Legg Mason

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fund complex as a whole. In addition, the Board received information with respect to the Manager’s allocation methodologies used in preparing this profitability data. It was noted that the allocation methodologies had been previously reviewed by an outside consultant. The profitability of the Manager and its affiliates was considered by the Board not excessive in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Fund.

The Board of each Fund received and considered information concerning whether the Advisers realize economies of scale as the Fund’s assets grow. In conjunction with their most recent or prior deliberations concerning the Current Agreements, the Board Members have noted that advisory or management fee reductions and fee breakpoints had been implemented for certain Funds, as well as contractual expense limitations. For those Funds without breakpoints, the Board noted that to the extent such Fund’s assets increase over time, the Fund and its shareholders should realize other economies of scale or efficiencies as certain expenses, such as fixed fund fees, become a smaller percentage of overall assets. The Board noted that it appeared that the benefits of any economies of scale also would be appropriately shared with shareholders through increased investment in fund management and administration resources (e.g., enhanced cyber security oversight, enhanced risk management oversight, etc.).

The Board Members noted that Franklin Templeton and Legg Mason expected to realize cost savings from the Transaction based on synergies of operations, as well as to benefit from possible growth of the Funds resulting from enhanced distribution capabilities. However, they noted that other factors could also affect profitability and potential economies of scale, and that it was not possible to predict with any degree of certainty how the Transaction would affect the Advisers’ profitability from their relationship with the Funds, nor to quantify at this time any possible future economies of scale. The Board Members noted they will have the opportunity to periodicallyre-examine such profitability and any economies of scale going forward.

Other benefits to the Advisers

The Board of each Fund considered other benefits received by the Manager, the Subadviser(s) and their affiliates as a result of their relationship with the Fund, including the opportunity to offer additional products and services to Fund shareholders. In light of the costs of providing investment management and other services to the Fund and the ongoing commitment of the Manager and the Subadviser(s) to the Fund, the Board considered that the ancillary benefits that the Manager, the Subadviser(s) and their affiliates receive were reasonable. In evaluating thefall-out benefits to be received by the Advisers under the New Agreements, the Board Members considered whether the Transaction would have an impact on thefall-out benefits received by virtue of the Current Agreements.

The Board of each Fund considered that Franklin Templeton may derive reputational and other benefits from its ability to use the Legg Mason investment affiliates’ names in connection with operating and marketing the Funds. The Board of each Fund considered that the Transaction, if completed, would significantly increase Franklin Templeton’s assets under management and expand Franklin Templeton’s investment capabilities.

Conclusion

After consideration of the factors described above as well as other factors, and in the exercise of their business judgment, the Board Members of each Fund, including the Independent Board Members, concluded that the New Agreements for your Fund, including the fees payable thereunder, were fair and reasonable and that entering into the New Agreements for the Fund was in the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders, and they voted to approve the New Agreements and to recommend that shareholders approve the New Agreements.

Section 15(f) of the 1940 Act

Section 15(f) provides anon-exclusive “safe harbor” for an investment company’s adviser or any affiliated persons of the adviser to receive any amount or benefit in connection with a change of control of the investment adviser as long as two conditions are met. First, during the three-year period immediately following the sale of such interest, at least 75% of the investment company’s board of directors/trustees must not be “interested persons” of the investment adviser (or predecessor investment adviser, if applicable) within the meaning of the

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1940 Act. Second, there may not be imposed an “unfair burden” on the investment company as a result of the sale of such interest, or any express or implied terms, conditions or understandings applicable thereto. The term “unfair burden,” as defined in the 1940 Act, includes any arrangement during thetwo-year period after the transaction whereby the investment adviser (or predecessor or successor adviser), or any interested person of any such adviser, receives or is entitled to receive any compensation, directly or indirectly, from the investment company or its security holders (other than fees for bona fide investment advisory or other services), or from any person in connection with the purchase or sale of securities or other property to, from or on behalf of the investment company (other than ordinary fees for bona fide principal underwriting services).

The Boards have not been advised by Legg Mason or Franklin Templeton of any circumstances arising from the Transaction that might result in the imposition of an “unfair burden” being imposed on the Fund. Moreover, Franklin Templeton has advised the Boards that Franklin Templeton will not take, nor cause its affiliates to take, any action that would have the effect of causing the conditions of Section 15(f) not to be met with respect to the Transaction.

Information about the Manager, the Subadvisers and Affiliated Service Providers

Manager and Subadvisers

LMPFA is a registered investment adviser and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Legg Mason. LMPFA, with offices at 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10018, provides investment management and/or administrative and certain oversight services to the Funds. As of December 31, 2019, LMPFA’s total assets under management were approximately $202.1 billion. LMPFA serves as the administrator or subadministrator for those Funds for which it is not the Manager and will continue to provide such services following the consummation of the Transaction.

ClearBridge has offices at 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10018 and is an investment adviser that manages U.S. and international equity investment strategies for institutional and individual investors. ClearBridge has been committed to delivering long-term results through active management for more than 50 years, and bases its investment decisions on fundamental research and the insights of seasoned portfolio management teams. As of December 31, 2019, ClearBridge’s total assets under management (including assets under management for ClearBridge, LLC, an affiliate of ClearBridge) were approximately $154.6 billion, including $25.0 billion for which ClearBridge providesnon-discretionary investment models to managed account sponsors.

Western Asset Management Company, LLC (“Western Asset”), established in 1971, has offices at 385 East Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, California 91101 and 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10018. Western Asset Management Company Limited (“Western Asset London”) was founded in 1984 and has offices at 10 Exchange Square, Primrose Street, London EC2A 2EN. Western Asset Management Company Ltd (“Western Asset Japan”) was founded in 1991 and has offices at 36F Shin-Marunouchi Building,5-1 Marunouchi1-ChomeChiyoda-Ku, Tokyo100-6536, Japan. Western Asset Management Company Pte. Ltd. (“Western Asset Singapore”) was established in 2000 and has offices at 1 George Street#23-01, Singapore 049145. Western Asset, Western Asset London, Western Asset Japan and Western Asset Singapore act as investment advisers to institutional accounts, such as corporate pension plans, mutual funds and endowment funds. As of December 31, 2019, the total assets under management of Western Asset and its supervised affiliates, including Western Asset London, Western Asset Japan and Western Asset Singapore, were approximately $456.3 billion.

Information about the Manager, the Subadvisers and Affiliated Service Providers

Manager and Subadvisers

LMPFA is a registered investment adviser and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Legg Mason. LMPFA, with offices at 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10018, provides investment management and/or administrative and certain oversight services to the Funds. As of December 31, 2019, LMPFA’s total assets under management were approximately $202.1 billion. LMPFA serves as the administrator or subadministrator for those Funds for which it is not the Manager and will continue to provide such services following the consummation of the Transaction.

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ClearBridge has offices at 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10018 and is an investment adviser that manages U.S. and international equity investment strategies for institutional and individual investors. ClearBridge has been committed to delivering long-term results through active management for more than 50 years, and bases its investment decisions on fundamental research and the insights of seasoned portfolio management teams. As of December 31, 2019, ClearBridge’s total assets under management (including assets under management for ClearBridge, LLC, an affiliate of ClearBridge) were approximately $154.6 billion, including $25.0 billion for which ClearBridge providesnon-discretionary investment models to managed account sponsors.

Western Asset Management Company, LLC (“Western Asset”), established in 1971, has offices at 385 East Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, California 91101 and 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10018. Western Asset Management Company Limited (“Western Asset London”) was founded in 1984 and has offices at 10 Exchange Square, Primrose Street, London EC2A 2EN. Western Asset Management Company Ltd (“Western Asset Japan”) was founded in 1991 and has offices at 36F Shin-Marunouchi Building,5-1 Marunouchi1-ChomeChiyoda-Ku, Tokyo100-6536, Japan. Western Asset Management Company Pte. Ltd. (“Western Asset Singapore”) was established in 2000 and has offices at 1 George Street#23-01, Singapore 049145. Western Asset, Western Asset London, Western Asset Japan and Western Asset Singapore act as investment advisers to institutional accounts, such as corporate pension plans, mutual funds and endowment funds. As of December 31, 2019, the total assets under management of Western Asset and its supervised affiliates, including Western Asset London, Western Asset Japan and Western Asset Singapore, were approximately $456.3 billion.

ClearBridge RARE Infrastructure (North America) Pty Limited (formerly known as RARE Infrastructure (North America) Pty Ltd.) (“RARE”) has offices at Level 13, 35 Clarence Street, Sydney, NSW 2000 Australia. RARE and its affiliates manage assets for clients around the globe including government, corporate and industry pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, as well as retail funds in Australia and Canada. RARE is a wholly-owned subsidiary of RARE Infrastructure Limited (“RIL”), an Australian based investment manager. As of December 31, 2019, the total assets under management of RARE, RIL, and their supervised affiliates were approximately $4.9 billion.

QS Investors, LLC (“QS Investors”) has offices at 880 Third Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, New York 10022. QS Investors provides asset management services primarily for institutional accounts, such as corporate pension and profit sharing plans; endowments and foundations; investment companies (including mutual funds); and state, municipal and foreign governmental entities. As of December 31, 2019, QS Investors had assets under management of approximately $18.7 billion.

Royce & Associates, LP (“Royce”) has offices at 745 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10151. Royce is a registered investment adviser. Royce is responsible for the management of their assets. Royce has been investing in smaller-company securities with a value approach for more than 40 years. As of December 31, 2019, Royce had assets under management of approximately $13.7 billion.

Affiliated Service Providers

Legg Mason Investor Services, LLC (“LMIS”), 100 International Drive, Baltimore, MD 21202, a wholly-owned broker/dealer subsidiary of Legg Mason, serves as the principal underwriter for each Fund. LMIS will continue to act as the Funds’ principal underwriter following the consummation of the Transaction. LMIS also serves as a service agent of the Funds and is expected to continue to provide such services following the consummation of the Transaction.

Additional Information about the Manager, the Subadvisers and Affiliated Service Providers

The tables set forth in Appendix E show amounts paid to affiliates of the Manager and the Subadvisers during the Funds’ most recently completed fiscal year. There were no other material payments by the Funds to Legg Mason, the Manager, the Subadvisers or any of their affiliates during that period. No Fund paid commissions to an affiliated broker for the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year.

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The names and principal occupations of the directors and principal executive officers (or persons performing similar functions) of the Manager and the Subadvisers are as set forth in AppendixF-1. The principal address of each individual as it relates to his or her duties at the applicable Manager/Subadviser is the same as that of the Manager/Subadviser.

Each officer of the Funds, as well as Jane E. Trust, an interested Board Member of the Funds, is an employee of the Manager and/or Subadviser as set forth inAppendixF-2.No Independent Board Member of a Fund owns any securities of, or has any other material direct or indirect interest in, Legg Mason, Franklin Templeton or any of their respective affiliates, except as follows: Mr. Jerome Miller disclosed to the full Board that he owns shares of Franklin Templeton. Mr. Miller did not participate in the entirety of the private discussions of the Independent Board Members regarding the Transaction and the Agreements.

The Manager and the Subadvisers may provide investment advisory services to certain other funds that may have investment objectives and policies similar to those of the Funds. The table set forth in Appendix Glists other funds advised by the Manager or the Subadvisers, the net assets of those funds, and the management fees the Manager or the Subadvisers received from those funds during the fiscal years ended on the dates noted.

Required Vote

To become effective with respect to your Fund, the New Management Agreement with your Fund’s Manager must be approved by a “1940 Act Majority Vote” of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, as such term is defined above in “Vote Required and Manner of Voting Proxies.”

Your Fund’s Board recommends that you vote “FOR” this proposal.

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PROPOSAL 2—TO APPROVE A NEW SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT WITH EACH SUBADVISER OF YOUR FUND

At the Meeting, you will be asked to approve a new subadvisory agreement (each a “New Subadvisory Agreement”) with respect to each of your Fund’s subadvisers (each, a “Subadviser,” and collectively, the “Subadvisers”). You are entitled to vote on a New Subadvisory Agreement with each Subadviser of your Fund. The name of your Fund appears below under the heading for each Subadviser of your Fund. Please also see the chart above in “Summary of Proposals.”

PROPOSAL2-A: Approve a new subadvisory agreement with ClearBridge Investments, LLC

Funds affected:

PROPOSAL2-B: Approve a new subadvisory agreement with ClearBridge RARE Infrastructure (North America) Pty Limited (formerly known as RARE Infrastructure (North America) Pty Ltd.)

Fund affected:

Legg Mason ETF Investment Trust

Legg Mason Global Infrastructure ETF

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PROPOSAL2-C: Approve a new subadvisory agreement with QS Investors, LLC

Funds affected:

PROPOSAL2-D: Approve a new subadvisory agreement with Western Asset Management Company, LLC

Funds affected:

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PROPOSAL2-E: Approve a new subadvisory agreement with Western Asset Management Company Limited

Funds affected:

PROPOSAL2-F: Approve a new subadvisory agreement with Western Asset Management Company Ltd

Funds affected:

PROPOSAL2-G: Approve a new subadvisory agreement with Western Asset Management Company Pte. Ltd.

Funds affected:

PROPOSAL2-H: Approve a new subadvisory agreement with Royce & Associates, LP

Fund affected:

Legg Mason ETF Investment Trust

Legg MasonSmall-Cap Quality Value ETF

Introduction

Each Subadviser, except Royce &Associates, LP, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Legg Mason. Royce is a majority-owned subsidiary of Legg Mason. Information about the Subadvisers is provided in Proposal 1 above under “Information about the Manager, the Subadvisers and Affiliated Service Providers.”

Your Fund’s Subadviser, the date of each Current Subadvisory Agreement with respect to your Fund, and the date on which it was last approved by shareholders and approved for continuance by the applicable Board are provided inAppendix D.

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Shareholders are being asked to approve a New Subadvisory Agreement with respect to each of your Fund’s Subadvisers because the consummation of the Transaction described above will constitute a change in control of your Fund’s Manager and Subadvisers and, therefore, will result in the automatic termination of each Current Subadvisory Agreement under the 1940 Act. If shareholders approve a New Subadvisory Agreement for a Fund prior to the consummation of the Transaction and that Fund’s New Management Agreement is approved by shareholders, that New Subadvisory Agreement will be effective upon the consummation of the Transaction. In the event that the Transaction is not consummated, the Subadviser will continue to serve your Fund pursuant to the terms of the Current Subadvisory Agreement.

There will be no increase in the fees payable to a Subadviser as a result of a New Subadvisory Agreement, and each Subadviser will continue to provide the advisory services to a Fund under a New Subadvisory Agreement as were provided under the applicable Current Subadvisory Agreement. It is expected that advisory services will continue to be provided by the same Subadviser personnel under a New Subadvisory Agreement as under the applicable Current Subadvisory Agreement. The Fund’s Manager pays a portion of the fee it receives from the Fund to a Subadviser as compensation for the Subadviser’s advisory services to the Fund. In certain cases, a Fund’s Subadviser pays a portion of the fee it receives to other Subadvisers as compensation for such Subadvisers’ advisory services to the Fund.

The terms of each New Subadvisory Agreement are identical to the terms of the applicable Current Subadvisory Agreement, except for the dates of execution, effectiveness and termination. The stated subadvisory fees to be paid with respect to your Fund are identical under the applicable Current Subadvisory Agreement and the New Subadvisory Agreement.

Set forth below is a general description of the New Subadvisory Agreement and a comparison of its terms to those of the Current Subadvisory Agreement. Shareholders should refer toAppendixJ-1 for a more detailed comparison of the terms of the New Subadvisory Agreement and their Fund’s Current Subadvisory Agreement(s), andAppendixJ-2 for a copy of the form of New Subadvisory Agreement.

Comparison of Current Subadvisory Agreement and New Subadvisory Agreement

Fees. There is no change in the fees payable to the Subadvisers for investment subadvisory services as a result of the New Subadvisory Agreements. The Fund does not compensate a Subadviser for its services. That compensation is paid by the Manager or, in some cases, another Subadviser. The current contractual fees payable to the Subadvisers are set forth in Appendix D.

Investment Subadvisory Services. Each of the Current Subadvisory Agreement and the New Subadvisory Agreement provides that, subject to the supervision of the Fund’s Board Members and its Manager, the Subadviser will regularly provide the Fund, with respect to that portion of the Fund’s assets allocated to the Subadviser by the Manager, with investment research, advice, management and supervision, will furnish a continuous investment program for the allocated assets consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives, policies and restrictions, will determine from time to time what securities and other investments will be purchased, retained or sold by the Fund, and will implement those decisions, all subject to the provisions of the Fund’s governing documents, the 1940 Act, the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, and other applicable federal and state law, as well as any specific policies adopted by the Fund’s Board and disclosed to the Subadviser.

Under each of the Current Subadvisory Agreement and the New Subadvisory Agreement, the Subadviser is authorized to place orders pursuant to its investment determinations with respect to the allocated assets either directly with the issuer or with any broker or dealer, foreign currency dealer, futures commission merchant or others selected by it. Subject to any policies and procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board that may modify or restrict the Subadviser’s authority regarding the execution of the Fund’s portfolio transactions provided in the Agreement and described below, the Subadviser may select brokers or dealers who also provide brokerage and research services (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) to the Funds and/or the other accounts over which the Subadviser or its affiliates exercise investment discretion, a practice commonly referred to as “soft dollars.” The Subadviser is authorized to pay a broker or dealer who provides such brokerage and research services a commission for executing a portfolio transaction for the Fund

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which is in excess of the amount of commission or spread another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if the Subadviser determines in good faith that such amount of commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer. This determination may be viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the overall responsibilities that the Subadviser and its affiliates have with respect to accounts over which they exercise investment discretion.

Each of the Current Subadvisory Agreement and the New Subadvisory Agreement further provides that the Subadviser will exercise voting rights, rights to consent to corporate action and any other rights pertaining to its allocated portion of the Fund’s assets in accordance with the Subadviser’s policies and procedures, subject to such direction as the Board may provide and will perform such other functions of investment management and supervision as may be directed by the Board.

Under each of the Current Subadvisory Agreement and the New Subadvisory Agreement, the Subadviser agrees that it will keep records relating to the services it provides the Fund in accordance with applicable laws.

Payment of Expenses. Each of the Current Subadvisory Agreement and the New Subadvisory Agreement requires the Subadviser to furnish the Fund, at its own expense, all necessary services, facilities and personnel in connection with its responsibilities under the Agreement. Except for these expenses, the Subadviser is not responsible for the Fund’s expenses. The Subadviser is required to bear all expenses in connection with the performance of its services under the Agreement.

Potential Conflicts of Interest. Each Fund and its Manager and Subadvisers have adopted policies and procedures to address certain potential conflicts of interest that may arise in a typical investment advisory relationship. Certain of the Current Subadvisory Agreements and the New Subadvisory Agreements also contain provisions that address potential conflicts of interest. Among other things, these agreements provide that, if the purchase or sale of securities consistent with the investment policies of the Fund or one or more other accounts of the Subadviser is considered at or about the same time, transactions in securities purchased or sold for more than one account must be allocated among the accounts in a manner deemed equitable by the Subadviser. In addition, if transactions of the Fund and another client are combined, as permitted by applicable laws and regulations, such transactions must be consistent with the Subadviser’s policies and procedures as presented to the Board from time to time. Each of the Current Subadvisory Agreement and the New Subadvisory Agreement specifically provides that the Subadviser may engage in any other business or render services of any kind.

Each of the Current Subadvisory Agreement and the New Subadvisory Agreement also permits the Subadviser to delegate to an affiliate or employees of an affiliate certain of its duties under the Agreement, as long as the Subadviser supervises the affiliate or the employees. Any such arrangement must be entered into in accordance with the 1940 Act and does not relieve the Subadviser of any of its obligations under the Agreement.

Limitation on Liability. Under each of the Current Subadvisory Agreement and the New Subadvisory Agreement, the Subadviser is not liable for any loss arising out of any investment or for any act or omission in the execution of securities transactions for the Fund. A Subadviser is not protected however, for willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under the Agreement. This same limitation of liability applies to affiliates of the Subadviser who may provide services to the Fund as contemplated by the Subadvisory Agreement. The Current Subadvisory Agreements and the New Subadvisory Agreements for certain Funds also clarify that the Subadviser assumes no responsibility other than to render the services called for by the Agreement in good faith, and that the Subadviser is not liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law.

Term and Continuance. If approved by shareholders prior to the consummation of the Transaction and the Fund’s New Management Agreement is approved by shareholders, the New Subadvisory Agreement will go into effect upon the consummation of the Transaction for an initialtwo-year period. Thereafter, if not terminated, the New Subadvisory Agreement will continue in effect from year to year if such continuance is specifically approved at least annually (a) by the Board or (b) by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, provided that in either event the continuance is also approved by a majority of the Board Members who are not interested persons of any party to the New Subadvisory Agreement, as required by the 1940 Act. The

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Current Subadvisory Agreements have similar provisions for their term and continuance, although the initial dates of the agreements differ and the initialtwo-year period has elapsed in most cases.

Termination. Each of the Current Subadvisory Agreement and the New Subadvisory Agreement may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by the Fund or the Subadviser, upon written notice as provided in the Agreement. Each Subadvisory Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its “assignment” (as defined in the 1940 Act). The Current Subadvisory Agreements and New Subadvisory Agreements for certain Funds also limit the ongoing use of the of the Subadviser following termination.

Additional Provisions. The Current Subadvisory Agreement for certain more recently established Funds identified inAppendixJ-1 and AppendixJ-2includes additional provisions regarding third party beneficiaries and forum selection, which will also be included in the New Subadvisory Agreement for these Funds. The provisions described below apply only to the New Subadvisory Agreements for these Funds, and do not vary from the existing provisions for these Funds. These provisions are not included in the Current or New Subadvisory Agreements for any other Funds.

The New Subadvisory Agreement, like the Current Subadvisory Agreement, for these more recently established Funds provides that the Agreement does not create any third-party beneficiary or otherwise confer any rights, privileges, claims or remedies upon any shareholder or other person other than the parties and their respective successors. In addition, the New Subadvisory Agreement for these Funds, like the Current Subadvisory Agreement, provides that any legal suit, action or proceeding related to, arising out of or concerning the agreement shall be brought only in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, or if such action may not be brought in that court, then such action shall be brought in the Supreme Court of the State of New York and submitted to the Commercial Division of that court (each, a “Designated Court”). The New Subadvisory Agreement for these Funds, like the Current Subadvisory Agreement, provides that each party to the Agreement (a) consents to jurisdiction in the Designated Courts; (b) waives any objection to venue in either Designated Court; and (c) waives any objection that either Designated Court is an inconvenient forum. The New Subadvisory Agreement for these Funds, like the Current Subadvisory Agreement, also provides that the Subadviser is not liable for any losses caused by natural disasters, failure or disruption of utilities, communications, computer or information technology and various circumstances beyond the Subadviser’s control.

Possible Interim Subadvisory Agreement(s)

If the shareholders of your Fund do not approve a New Subadvisory Agreement and the Transaction is completed, an interim subadvisory agreement (an “Interim Subadvisory Agreement”) will take effect upon the closing of the Transaction. The Board has approved the Interim Subadvisory Agreement to allow each Subadviser of each Fund to continue providing services to the applicable Fund while shareholder approval of the New Subadvisory Agreement continues to be sought. The terms of the Interim Subadvisory Agreement are identical to those of the Current Subadvisory Agreement, except for the term and escrow provisions described below. The Interim Subadvisory Agreement will continue in effect for a term ending on the earlier of 150 days from the closing of the Transaction (the“150-day period”) or when shareholders of your Fund approve the New Subadvisory Agreement. The Fund’s Board or a “1940 Act Majority Vote” of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund may terminate an Interim Subadvisory Agreement on 10 calendar days’ written notice to the Subadviser without the payment of any penalty. Pursuant to Rule15a-4 under the 1940 Act, compensation earned by a Subadviser under an Interim Subadvisory Agreement will be held in an interest-bearing escrow account. If shareholders of your Fund approve the New Subadvisory Agreement prior to the end of the150-day period, the amount held in the escrow account under the Interim Subadvisory Agreement will be paid to the Subadviser. If shareholders of your Fund do not approve the New Subadvisory Agreement prior to the end of the150-day period, the Board of your Fund will consider what further action to take consistent with their fiduciary duties to the Fund, and the Subadviser will be paid the lesser of its costs incurred in performing its services under the Interim Subadvisory Agreement or the total amount of the escrow account, plus interest earned. Thereafter, the Manager and Board of your Fund would either negotiate a new subadvisory agreement with an advisory organization selected by the Manager and the Board, subject to shareholder approval, or make other appropriate arrangements.

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Board Evaluation

At the meetings held on April 7, 2020 at which the Board approved your Fund’s New Management Agreement, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, also approved a New Subadvisory Agreement with respect to each of your Fund’s Subadvisers.

Your Fund’s Board’s considerations regarding a New Subadvisory Agreement with respect to each of your Fund’s Subadvisers are discussed in Proposal 1 above.

Required Vote

To become effective with respect to your Fund, each New Subadvisory Agreement with a Subadviser of your Fund must be approved by a “1940 Act Majority Vote” of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, as such term is defined above in “Vote Required and Manner of Voting Proxies.”

Your Fund’s Board recommends that you vote “FOR” this proposal.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

5% Share Ownership

As of March 18, 2020, the persons listed in Appendix H owned of record the amounts indicated of the shares of the class of Funds indicated in Appendix H.

Security Ownership of Management

As of March 18, 2020, the Board Members and officers of each Fund owned, in the aggregate, less than 1% of each Fund’s outstanding shares.

Submission of Shareholder Proposals

The Funds do not hold annual meetings of shareholders. A shareholder proposal intended to be presented at a future special meeting of shareholders of a Fund must be received at the offices of the Fund, Legg Mason Investor Services, 100 International Drive, 4th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202, at a reasonable time before the Fund begins to print and mail its proxy materials. Timely submission of a proposal does not guarantee that such proposal will be included in a proxy statement.

Shareholder Communications

Shareholders who want to communicate with the Board or any individual Board Member should write their Fund to the attention of the Secretary of the Funds (addressed to c/o Legg Mason Investor Services, 100 International Drive, 4th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202). The letter should indicate that you are a Fund shareholder. If the communication is intended for a specific Board Member and so indicates it will be sent only to that Board Member. If a communication does not indicate a specific Board Member it will be sent to the chair of the nominating and governance committee and the outside counsel to the Independent Board Members for further distribution as deemed appropriate by such persons.

Additionally, shareholders with complaints or concerns regarding accounting matters may address letters to the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) at the offices of the Fund or atcompliance-fundscco@leggmason.com. Shareholders who are uncomfortable submitting complaints to the CCO may address letters directly to the Chair of the Audit Committee of the Board that oversees the Fund. Such letters may be submitted on an anonymous basis.

Expense of Proxy Solicitation

The cost of preparing, printing and mailing the enclosed proxy, accompanying notice and the Joint Proxy Statement and all other costs in connection with the solicitation of proxies will not be borne by the Funds and

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will be borne by Legg Mason. These costs will be borne by Legg Mason whether or not the proposals are successful and whether or not the Transaction is consummated. Solicitation may be made by letter or telephone by officers or employees of LMPFA, or by dealers and their representatives. Brokerage houses, banks and other fiduciaries may be requested to forward proxy solicitation material to their principals to obtain authorization for the execution of proxies. Legg Mason will reimburse brokerage firms, custodians, banks and fiduciaries for their expenses in forwarding the Joint Proxy Statement and proxy materials to the beneficial owners of each Fund’s shares. In addition, Legg Mason, on behalf of each Fund, has retained Computershare Fund Services and AST Fund Solutions, each a proxy solicitation firm, to assist in the solicitation of proxies. It is anticipated that Computershare Fund Services and AST Fund Solutions may solicit proxies personally and by telephone. It is anticipated that the mailing service, proxy solicitation costs, and postage and printing costs associated with this Joint Proxy Statement, are estimated at approximately $17 million, plus reimbursements of out-of-pocket expenses.

Fiscal Year

The fiscal year end of each Fund is as set forth in Appendix A.

General

Management does not intend to present and does not have reason to believe that any other items of business will be presented at the Meetings. However, if other matters are properly presented at the Meetings for a vote, the proxies will be voted by the persons acting under the proxies upon such matters in accordance with their judgment of the best interests of the Fund.

A list of shareholders entitled to be present and to vote at each Meeting will be available at the offices of the Funds, 620 Eighth Avenue, 49th Floor, New York, New York 10018, for inspection by any shareholder during regular business hours beginning ten days prior to the date of the Meetings. If it is determined that the Meetings will be held by means of remote communication, the announcement regarding this change will include instructions on how to access the list of shareholders electronically.

Please vote promptly by completing, signing and dating each enclosed proxy card and returning it in the accompanying postage-paid return envelope OR by following the enclosed instructions to votesimilarly providing voting instructions by telephone or over the Internet.

Robert I. Frenkel

Marc A. De Oliveira

Secretary

April 16, 2020[    ], 2021

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Appendix A

Trusts and Series; Fiscal Year EndsSeries of Legg Mason ETF Investment Trust

A-1

Appendix B

Fund Information

The following table lists, with respect to each Fund, the names of the Fund’s manager and subadviser(s), the total number of shares outstanding and the net assets of the Fund on April 1, 2020, the record date for voting atRecord Date. Each share (or fractional share) of the Meeting. Additionally,Trust outstanding as of the table lists the quorum requirements for each Fund. For each Fund, a shareholderRecord Date is entitled to vote based ona number of votes equal to the dollarnet asset value of shares held bythat share (or fractional share) as of the shareholder on the record date,Record Date, so called “dollar-weighted” voting.