UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM N-CSRS
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT
COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number_811-01608
Franklin High Income Trust
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
One Franklin Parkway, San Mateo, CA 94403-1906
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
_Craig S. Tyle, One Franklin Parkway, San Mateo, CA 94403-1906
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 650 312-2000
Date of fiscal year end: 5/31
Date of reporting period: 11/30/15
Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.
Visit franklintempleton.com for fund updates, to access your account, or to find helpful financial planning tools.
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Franklin High Income Fund
This semiannual report for Franklin High Income Fund covers the period ended November 30, 2015.
Your Fund’s Goals and Main Investments
The Fund seeks a high level of current income, with a secondary goal of capital appreciation, by investing substantially in high yield, lower rated debt securities and preferred stocks.
Performance Overview
The Fund’s Class A shares had a -10.60% cumulative total return for the six months under review. In comparison, the benchmark Credit Suisse (CS) High Yield Index, which tracks the high yield debt market, returned -6.12%.1 The Fund’s peers had a -5.40% total return, as measured by the Lipper High Yield Funds Classification Average, which consists of funds chosen by Lipper that aim at high relative current yield from fixed income securities.2 You can find the Fund’s long-term performance data in the Performance Summary beginning on page 7.
Performance data represent past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from figures shown. For most recent month-end performance, go to franklintempleton.com or call (800) 342-5236.
Economic and Market Overview
U.S. economic growth improved during the six months under review amid healthy consumer spending. The economy strengthened in the second quarter but moderated in the third quarter as businesses cut back on inventories, exports slowed, and state and local governments reduced their spending. Manufacturing activities expanded for most of the period but contracted toward-period end. Non-manufacturing activities, however, increased throughout the six-month period, contributing to new jobs and helping drive down the unemployment rate to 5.0% at period-end, the lowest level in more than seven years.3 Home prices rose as new and existing home sales slowed and mortgage rates remained low. Retail sales grew modestly, driven by automobile and auto component sales. Inflation remained subdued, but after two consecutive declines, monthly inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index, rose modestly in October and held steady in November.
During the six-month period, the Federal Reserve (Fed) kept its target interest rate at 0%–0.25% while considering when an increase might be appropriate. Although global financial markets anticipated an increase, the Fed kept interest rates unchanged and said it expected moderate economic expansion, but it would monitor developments domestically and abroad. The Fed’s October meeting minutes indicated that most members acknowledged the possibility of an interest rate increase at their next meeting.
The 10-year Treasury yield, which moves inversely to price, shifted throughout the period. It began at 2.12% in May and rose to a period high of 2.50% in June based partly on upbeat domestic and eurozone economic data as well as Greece’s
1. Source: Credit Suisse Group.
2. Source: Lipper, a Thomson Reuters Company. For the six-month period ended 11/30/15, this category consisted of 677 funds. Lipper calcu-
lations do not include sales charges or expense subsidization by a fund’s manager. Fund performance relative to the average may have dif-
fered if these or other factors had been considered.
The indexes are unmanaged and include reinvestment of any income or distributions. One cannot invest directly in an index, and an index is
not representative of the Fund’s portfolio.
3. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The dollar value, number of shares or principal amount, and names of all portfolio holdings are listed in the Fund’s Statement of Investments (SOI).
The SOI begins on page 17.
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FRANKLIN HIGH INCOME FUND
agreement with its international creditors. However, the yield declined to a period low of 1.99% in early October and ended the period slightly higher at 2.21% as investors sought less risky assets due to the Fed’s possible interest rate increase at its December policy meeting as well as weak Chinese data.
Dividend Distributions*
6/1/15–11/30/15
Dividend per Share (cents) | |||||
Advisor | |||||
Month | Class A | Class C | Class R | Class R6 | Class |
June | 1.00 | 0.92 | 0.95 | 1.06 | 1.03 |
July | 1.00 | 0.92 | 0.95 | 1.06 | 1.03 |
August | 1.00 | 0.92 | 0.95 | 1.06 | 1.03 |
September | 1.00 | 0.92 | 0.94 | 1.04 | 1.02 |
October | 1.00 | 0.92 | 0.94 | 1.04 | 1.02 |
November | 1.00 | 0.92 | 0.94 | 1.04 | 1.02 |
Total | 6.00 | 5.52 | 5.67 | 6.30 | 6.15 |
*The distribution amount is the sum of the dividend payments to shareholders for the period shown and includes only estimated tax-basis net investment income. All Fund distributions will vary depending upon current market conditions, and past distributions are not indicative of future trends.
Investment Strategy
We are disciplined, fundamental investors who mainly rely on our analysts’ in-depth industry expertise to evaluate companies. We examine sectors and individual securities in detail. When evaluating an issuer’s creditworthiness, we consider the issuer’s experience, managerial strength, sensitivity to economic conditions, credit rating, and current and prospective financial condition.
Manager’s Discussion
Over the past six months, financial market volatility rose as investors focused on a slowdown in Chinese economic growth, the prospect for the Fed to begin increasing its target short-term interest rate, and the continued decline in global commodity prices. Market pessimism peaked toward the end of the third calendar quarter as the Fed decided against an expected rate increase, citing concerns over global economic developments. In this environment, fixed income and equity markets rose and fell. Nonetheless, by period-end U.S. equity markets, as measured by the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, were relatively unchanged, as were longer term U.S. interest rates, with the 10-year Treasury yield at 2.21% at period-end, relatively similar to rates at the beginning of the reporting period.
Focusing on the high yield corporate bond market, commodity price weakness was a significant detractor from high yield market returns, as the energy and metals and mining sectors represented a large portion of the high yield index. Moreover, although new-issue supply was lower than in 2014, redemptions from dedicated high yield mutual funds further pressured pricing levels for the asset class. Overall, yield spreads to comparable Treasuries widened from 5.0 percentage points to 6.8 percentage points by period-end, above their long-term historical average.
Fundamentally, with the continued decline in commodity prices, earnings and credit quality trends for the energy and metals and mining sectors could be challenged going into 2016.4 Even assuming a moderate rebound in select commodity prices over the intermediate term, we expected default rates could rise in commodity-related sectors as companies attempt to reduce debt on their balance sheets and strengthen liquidity in the face of lower cash flow and earnings prospects. However, with the average valuation for issuers in these sectors at what we considered distressed levels (spreads to Treasuries of more than 10 percentage points), we believed much of this negative fundamental outlook had been priced into securities. Therefore, we held a more aggressive positioning, particularly within the energy sector, in the Fund.
In other areas, the fundamental outlook for the remainder of the high yield corporate bond market was more supportive. Although earnings growth and margin improvements may have already peaked and debt ratios have ticked higher over the past few years, given significant refinancing activity and earnings growth over the past several years, non-commodity high yield issuers have experienced below-average default rates. Even though spread valuations were somewhat richer, in our analysis, for these non-commodity related issuers, given the prospect for more stable credit fundamentals, we still judged valuations to be relatively attractive across many of these industries. Outside of energy, our largest industry weightings at period-end were in the health care and financials sectors.5 However, given the Fund’s positioning in energy-related issuers, the Fund held a higher risk stance at period-end.
In terms of the Fund’s performance, during the period the Fund underperformed the CS High Yield Index and the return of peer
4. Metals and mining is part of materials in the SOI.
5. The health care sector comprises health care equipment and services in the SOI. The financials sector comprises banks, diversified finan-
cials and real estate in the SOI.
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Top 10 Holdings by Issuer* | ||
11/30/15 | ||
Company | % of Total | |
Sector/Industry | Net Assets | |
HCA Inc. | 2.2 | % |
Health Care Equipment & Services | ||
First Data Corp. | 2.2 | % |
Software & Services | ||
Sprint Communications Inc. | 2.0 | % |
Telecommunication Services | ||
Reynolds Group Issuer Inc./LLC/SA | 1.4 | % |
Materials | ||
Energy Transfer Equity LP | 1.3 | % |
Energy | ||
T-Mobile USA Inc. | 1.3 | % |
Telecommunication Services | ||
CIT Group Inc. | 1.3 | % |
Banks | ||
Navient Corp. | 1.2 | % |
Diversified Financials | ||
CCO Holdings LLC/CCO Holdings Capital Corp. | 1.2 | % |
Media | ||
JBS USA LLC/Finance Inc. | 1.2 | % |
Food, Beverage & Tobacco | ||
*Securities are listed by issuer, which may appear by another name in the SOI. |
funds, as measured by the Lipper High Yield Funds Classification Average.
Looking at sectors that negatively impacted the Fund’s relative peer performance, the Fund’s overweighted allocation and more aggressive positioning within the energy sector was a primary detractor from performance during the period. With oil and natural gas prices declining, the market not only seemed to price in an elevated expectation for defaults and restructurings, but also an expectation for lower recovery rates. Although we anticipated companies will increasingly seek to reduce debt on their balance sheets through distressed exchanges and select outright restructurings, given an outlook toward an intermediate-term increase in oil and gas prices from current levels, we found what we considered attractive value in select energy securities. Similarly, the Fund’s heavier exposure to metals and mining also detracted from performance, given price declines across a number of global commodities. Within our metals and mining exposure, we generally sought out issuers that we assessed could weather a prolonged period of lower commodity prices and/or invested in bonds that provided some degree of downside collateral protection relative to unsecured bonds. Nonetheless, overall securities in this sector underperformed the broader high yield market during the period. Conversely, the Fund held a lower weighting than its peers in the information technology sector, which outperformed, and therefore detracted from our relative returns.6
Certain of the Fund’s weightings in terms of industry positioning favorably impacted relative performance compared to the peer group. For example, the Fund held overweighted exposures compared to its peers in the financials; food, beverage and tobacco; and container and packaging industries.7 As these industries are all considered relatively defensive and either have little exposure to commodities or could actually benefit from lower commodity input prices, the Fund’s heavier weighting in these industries benefited relative performance.
6. The information technology sector comprises software and services, and technology hardware and equipment in the SOI.
7. Containers and packaging is part of materials in the SOI.
See www.franklintempletondatasources.com for additional data provider information.
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Thank you for your continued participation in Franklin High Income Fund. We look forward to serving your future investment needs.
The foregoing information reflects our analysis, opinions and portfolio holdings as of November 30, 2015, the end of the reporting period. The way we implement our main investment strategies and the resulting portfolio holdings may change depending on factors such as market and economic conditions. These opinions may not be relied upon as investment advice or an offer for a particular security. The information is not a complete analysis of every aspect of any market, country, industry, security or the Fund. Statements of fact are from sources considered reliable, but the investment manager makes no representation or warranty as to their completeness or accuracy. Although historical performance is no guarantee of future results, these insights may help you understand our investment management philosophy.
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Performance Summary as of November 30, 2015
Your dividend income will vary depending on dividends or interest paid by securities in the Fund’s portfolio, adjusted for operating expenses of each class. Capital gain distributions are net profits realized from the sale of portfolio securities. The performance tables does not reflect any taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund dividends, capital gain distributions, if any, or any realized gains on the sale of Fund shares. Total return reflects reinvestment of the Fund’s dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, and any unrealized gains or losses.
Net Asset Value | ||||||
Share Class (Symbol) | 11/30/15 | 5/31/15 | Change | |||
A (FHAIX) | $ | 1.74 | $ | 2.01 | -$ | 0.27 |
C (FCHIX) | $ | 1.76 | $ | 2.03 | -$ | 0.27 |
R (FHIRX) | $ | 1.76 | $ | 2.04 | -$ | 0.28 |
R6 (FHRRX) | $ | 1.74 | $ | 2.01 | -$ | 0.27 |
Advisor (FVHIX) | $ | 1.74 | $ | 2.01 | -$ | 0.27 |
Distributions1 (6/1/15–11/30/15) | ||||||
Dividend | ||||||
Share Class | Income | |||||
A | $ | 0.0600 | ||||
C | $ | 0.0552 | ||||
R | $ | 0.0567 | ||||
R6 | $ | 0.0630 | ||||
Advisor | $ | 0.0615 |
See page 9 for Performance Summary footnotes.
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FRANKLIN HIGH INCOME FUND
PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
Performance as of 11/30/152
Cumulative total return excludes sales charges. Average annual total returns and value of $10,000 investment include maximum sales charges. Class A: 4.25% maximum initial sales charge; Class C: 1% contingent deferred sales charge in first year only;
Class R/R6/Advisor Class: no sales charges.
Cumulative | Average Annual | Value of | Average Annual | Total Annual | ||||||
Share Class | Total Return3 | Total Return4 | $ | 10,000 Investment5 | Total Return (12/31/15)6 | Operating Expenses7 | ||||
A | 0.76 | % | ||||||||
6-Month | -10.60 | % | -14.43 | % | $ | 8,557 | ||||
1-Year | -9.66 | % | -13.46 | % | $ | 8,654 | -14.62 | % | ||
5-Year | +22.69 | % | +3.26 | % | $ | 11,738 | +2.07 | % | ||
10-Year | +74.82 | % | +5.30 | % | $ | 16,757 | +4.70 | % | ||
C | 1.26 | % | ||||||||
6-Month | -10.72 | % | -11.59 | % | $ | 8,841 | ||||
1-Year | -10.02 | % | -10.87 | % | $ | 8,913 | -11.91 | % | ||
5-Year | +20.06 | % | +3.72 | % | $ | 12,006 | +2.44 | % | ||
10-Year | +66.47 | % | +5.23 | % | $ | 16,647 | +4.63 | % | ||
R | 1.11 | % | ||||||||
6-Month | -11.10 | % | -11.10 | % | $ | 8,890 | ||||
1-Year | -10.34 | % | -10.34 | % | $ | 8,966 | -10.88 | % | ||
5-Year | +20.18 | % | +3.74 | % | $ | 12,018 | +2.58 | % | ||
10-Year | +67.74 | % | +5.31 | % | $ | 16,774 | +4.82 | % | ||
R6 | 0.47 | % | ||||||||
6-Month | -10.46 | % | -10.46 | % | $ | 8,954 | ||||
1-Year | -9.40 | % | -9.40 | % | $ | 9,060 | -10.47 | % | ||
Since Inception (5/1/13) | -4.50 | % | -1.77 | % | $ | 9,550 | -3.23 | % | ||
Advisor | 0.61 | % | ||||||||
6-Month | -10.53 | % | -10.53 | % | $ | 8,947 | ||||
1-Year | -9.53 | % | -9.53 | % | $ | 9,047 | -10.06 | % | ||
5-Year | +23.52 | % | +4.31 | % | $ | 12,352 | +3.14 | % | ||
10-Year | +76.34 | % | +5.84 | % | $ | 17,634 | +5.35 | % |
30-Day Standardized Yield9 | ||||||
Distribution | ||||||
Share Class | Rate8 | (with waiver) | (without waiver) | |||
A | 6.59 | % | 6.97 | % | 6.96 | % |
C | 6.27 | % | 6.77 | % | 6.77 | % |
R | 6.41 | % | 7.00 | % | 7.00 | % |
R6 | 7.17 | % | 7.59 | % | 7.59 | % |
Advisor | 7.03 | % | 7.45 | % | 7.45 | % |
Performance data represent past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from figures shown. For most recent month-end performance, go to franklintempleton.com or call (800) 342-5236.
See page 9 for Performance Summary footnotes.
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PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
All investments involve risks, including possible loss of principal. The risks associated with higher yielding, lower rated securities include higher risk of default and loss of principal. Changes in the financial strength of a bond issuer or in a bond’s credit rating may affect its value. In addition, interest rate movements will affect the Fund’s share price and yield. Bond prices generally move in the opposite direction of interest rates. Thus, as prices of bonds in the Fund adjust toa rise in interest rates, the Fund’s share price may decline. Investment in foreign securities also involves special risks, including currency fluctuations, and political and economic uncertainty. The Fund is actively managed but there is no guarantee that the manager’s investment decisions will produce the desired results. The Fund’s prospectus also includes a description of the main investment risks.
Class C: Class R: Class R6: Advisor Class: | These shares have higher annual fees and expenses than Class A shares. Shares are available to certain eligible investors as described in the prospectus. These shares have higher annual fees and expenses than Class A shares. Shares are available to certain eligible investors as described in the prospectus. Shares are available to certain eligible investors as described in the prospectus. |
1. The distribution amount is the sum of the dividend payments to shareholders for the period shown and includes only estimated tax-basis net investment income.
2. The Fund has a fee waiver associated with any investment in a Franklin Templeton money fund, contractually guaranteed through at least its current fiscal year-end. Fund
investment results reflect the fee waiver, to the extent applicable; without this reduction, the results would have been lower.
3. Cumulative total return represents the change in value of an investment over the periods indicated.
4. Average annual total return represents the average annual change in value of an investment over the periods indicated. Return for less than one year, if any, has not been
annualized.
5. These figures represent the value of a hypothetical $10,000 investment in the Fund over the periods indicated.
6. In accordance with SEC rules, we provide standardized average annual total return information through the latest calendar quarter.
7. Figures are as stated in the Fund’s current prospectus. In periods of market volatility, assets may decline significantly, causing total annual Fund operating expenses to
become higher than the figures shown.
8. Distribution rate is based on an annualization of the respective class’s November dividend and the maximum offering price (NAV for Classes C, R, R6 and Advisor) per share
on 11/30/15.
9. The 30-day standardized yield for the 30 days ended 11/30/15 reflects an estimated yield to maturity (assuming all portfolio securities are held to maturity). It should be
regarded as an estimate of the Fund’s rate of investment income, and it may not equal the Fund’s actual income distribution rate (which reflects the Fund’s past dividends paid
to shareholders) or the income reported in the Fund’s financial statements.
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Your Fund’s Expenses
As a Fund shareholder, you can incur two types of costs:
- Transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on Fund purchases; and
- Ongoing Fund costs, including management fees, distribution and service (12b-1) fees, and other Fund expenses. All mutual funds have ongoing costs, sometimes referred to as operating expenses.
The following table shows ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and can help you understand these costs and compare them with those of other mutual funds. The table assumes a $1,000 investment held for the six months indicated.
Actual Fund Expenses
The first line (Actual) for each share class listed in the table provides actual account values and expenses. The “Ending Account Value” is derived from the Fund’s actual return, which includes the effect of Fund expenses.
You can estimate the expenses you paid during the period by following these steps. Of course, your account value and expenses will differ from those in this illustration:
1. | Divide your account value by $1,000. |
If an account had an $8,600 value, then $8,600 ÷ $1,000 = 8.6. | |
2. | Multiply the result by the number under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period.” |
If Expenses Paid During Period were $7.50, then 8.6 x $7.50 = $64.50. |
In this illustration, the estimated expenses paid this period are $64.50.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison with Other Funds
Information in the second line (Hypothetical) for each class in the table can help you compare ongoing costs of investing in the Fund with those of other mutual funds. This information may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid during the period. The hypothetical “Ending Account Value” is based on the actual expense ratio for each class and an assumed 5% annual rate of return before expenses, which does not represent the Fund’s actual return. The figure under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period” shows the hypothetical expenses your account would have incurred under this scenario. You can compare this figure with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in shareholder reports of other funds.
Please note that expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight ongoing costs and do not reflect any transaction costs, such as sales charges. Therefore, the second line for each class is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you compare total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if transaction costs were included, your total costs would have been higher. Please refer to the Fund prospectus for additional information on operating expenses.
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YOUR FUND’S EXPENSES
Beginning Account | Ending Account | Expenses Paid During | ||||
Share Class | Value 6/1/15 | Value 11/30/15 | Period* 6/1/15–11/30/15 | |||
A | ||||||
Actual | $ | 1,000 | $ | 894.00 | $ | 3.65 |
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | $ | 1,000 | $ | 1,021.15 | $ | 3.89 |
C | ||||||
Actual | $ | 1,000 | $ | 892.80 | $ | 6.01 |
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | $ | 1,000 | $ | 1,018.65 | $ | 6.41 |
R | ||||||
Actual | $ | 1,000 | $ | 889.00 | $ | 5.29 |
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | $ | 1,000 | $ | 1,019.40 | $ | 5.65 |
R6 | ||||||
Actual | $ | 1,000 | $ | 895.40 | $ | 2.23 |
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | $ | 1,000 | $ | 1,022.65 | $ | 2.38 |
Advisor | ||||||
Actual | $ | 1,000 | $ | 894.70 | $ | 2.94 |
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | $ | 1,000 | $ | 1,021.90 | $ | 3.13 |
*Expenses are calculated using the most recent six-month expense ratio, net of expense waivers, annualized for each class (A: 0.77%;
C: 1.27%; R: 1.12%; R6: 0.47%; and Advisor: 0.62%), multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 183/366 to reflect
the one-half year period.
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FRANKLIN HIGH INCOME TRUST | ||||||||||||||||||
Financial Highlights | ||||||||||||||||||
Franklin High Income Fund | ||||||||||||||||||
Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||
November 30, 2015 | Year Ended May 31, | |||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | |||||||||||||
Class A | ||||||||||||||||||
Per share operating performance | ||||||||||||||||||
(for a share outstanding throughout the | ||||||||||||||||||
period) | ||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 2.01 | $ | 2.15 | $ | 2.12 | $ | 1.97 | $ | 2.05 | $ | 1.89 | ||||||
Income from investment operationsa: | ||||||||||||||||||
Net investment incomeb | 0.06 | 0.12 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.14 | 0.15 | ||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) | (0.27 | ) | (0.14 | ) | 0.03 | 0.16 | (0.07 | ) | 0.16 | |||||||||
Total from investment operations | (0.21 | ) | (0.02 | ) | 0.16 | 0.29 | 0.07 | 0.31 | ||||||||||
Less distributions from net investment income. | (0.06 | ) | (0.12 | ) | (0.13 | ) | (0.14 | ) | (0.15 | ) | (0.15 | ) | ||||||
Netassetvalue,endofperiod | $ | 1.74 | $ | 2.01 | $ | 2.15 | $ | 2.12 | $ | 1.97 | $ | 2.05 | ||||||
Total returnc | (10.60 | )% | (0.83 | )% | 8.01 | % | 15.24 | % | 3.64 | % | 17.15 | % | ||||||
Ratios to average net assetsd | ||||||||||||||||||
Expensese | 0.77 | %f | 0.76 | %f | 0.76 | %f | 0.76 | % | 0.76 | % | 0.75 | % | ||||||
Net investment income | 6.21 | % | 5.76 | % | 6.10 | % | 6.49 | % | 7.16 | % | 7.48 | % | ||||||
Supplemental data | ||||||||||||||||||
Netassets,endofperiod(000’s) | $ | 2,959,082 | $ | 3,611,985 | $ | 4,058,942 | $ | 3,920,619 | $ | 2,979,160 | $ | 2,750,251 | ||||||
Portfolio turnover rate. | 9.87 | % | 34.67 | % | 29.33 | % | 28.89 | % | 22.52 | % | 51.57 | % |
aThe amount shown for a share outstanding throughout the period may not correlate with the Statement of Operations for the period due to the timing of sales and
repurchases of the Fund’s shares in relation to income earned and/or fluctuating fair value of the investments of the Fund.
bBased on average daily shares outstanding.
cTotal return does not reflect sales commissions or contingent deferred sales charges, if applicable, and is not annualized for periods less than one year.
dRatios are annualized for periods less than one year.
eBenefit of expense reduction rounds to less than 0.01%.
fBenefit of waiver and payments by affiliates rounds to less than 0.01%.
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FRANKLIN HIGH INCOME TRUST | ||||||||||||||||||
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | ||||||||||||||||||
Franklin High Income Fund (continued) | ||||||||||||||||||
Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||
November 30, 2015 | Year Ended May 31, | |||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | |||||||||||||
Class C | ||||||||||||||||||
Per share operating performance | ||||||||||||||||||
(for a share outstanding throughout the | ||||||||||||||||||
period) | ||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 2.03 | $ | 2.17 | $ | 2.13 | $ | 1.99 | $ | 2.07 | $ | 1.90 | ||||||
Income from investment operationsa: | ||||||||||||||||||
Net investment incomeb | 0.05 | 0.11 | 0.12 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.14 | ||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) | (0.26 | ) | (0.14 | ) | 0.04 | 0.14 | (0.07 | ) | 0.17 | |||||||||
Total from investment operations | (0.21 | ) | (0.03 | ) | 0.16 | 0.27 | 0.06 | 0.31 | ||||||||||
Less distributions from net investment income. | (0.06 | ) | (0.11 | ) | (0.12 | ) | (0.13 | ) | (0.14 | ) | (0.14 | ) | ||||||
Netassetvalue,endofperiod | $ | 1.76 | $ | 2.03 | $ | 2.17 | $ | 2.13 | $ | 1.99 | $ | 2.07 | ||||||
Total returnc | (10.72 | )% | (1.32 | )% | 7.90 | % | 13.99 | % | 3.09 | % | 17.03 | % | ||||||
Ratios to average net assetsd | ||||||||||||||||||
Expensese | 1.27 | %f | 1.26 | %f | 1.26 | %f | 1.26 | % | 1.26 | % | 1.25 | % | ||||||
Net investment income | 5.71 | % | 5.26 | % | 5.60 | % | 5.99 | % | 6.66 | % | 6.98 | % | ||||||
Supplemental data | ||||||||||||||||||
Netassets,endofperiod(000’s) | $ | 622,665 | $ | 784,613 | $ | 907,458 | $ | 814,757 | $ | 580,850 | $ | 494,073 | ||||||
Portfolio turnover rate. | 9.87 | % | 34.67 | % | 29.33 | % | 28.89 | % | 22.52 | % | 51.57 | % |
aThe amount shown for a share outstanding throughout the period may not correlate with the Statement of Operations for the period due to the timing of sales and
repurchases of the Fund’s shares in relation to income earned and/or fluctuating fair value of the investments of the Fund.
bBased on average daily shares outstanding.
cTotal return does not reflect sales commissions or contingent deferred sales charges, if applicable, and is not annualized for periods less than one year.
dRatios are annualized for periods less than one year.
eBenefit of expense reduction rounds to less than 0.01%.
fBenefit of waiver and payments by affiliates rounds to less than 0.01%.
franklintempleton.com The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. | Semiannual Report 13
FRANKLIN HIGH INCOME TRUST | ||||||||||||||||||
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | ||||||||||||||||||
Franklin High Income Fund (continued) | ||||||||||||||||||
Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||
November 30, 2015 | Year Ended May 31, | |||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | |||||||||||||
Class R | ||||||||||||||||||
Per share operating performance | ||||||||||||||||||
(for a share outstanding throughout the | ||||||||||||||||||
period) | ||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 2.04 | $ | 2.18 | $ | 2.14 | $ | 2.00 | $ | 2.08 | $ | 1.91 | ||||||
Income from investment operationsa: | ||||||||||||||||||
Net investment incomeb | 0.06 | 0.11 | 0.12 | 0.13 | 0.14 | 0.14 | ||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) | (0.28 | ) | (0.14 | ) | 0.04 | 0.14 | (0.08 | ) | 0.18 | |||||||||
Total from investment operations | (0.22 | ) | (0.03 | ) | 0.16 | 0.27 | 0.06 | 0.32 | ||||||||||
Less distributions from net investment income. | (0.06 | ) | (0.11 | ) | (0.12 | ) | (0.13 | ) | (0.14 | ) | (0.15 | ) | ||||||
Netassetvalue,endofperiod | $ | 1.76 | $ | 2.04 | $ | 2.18 | $ | 2.14 | $ | 2.00 | $ | 2.08 | ||||||
Total returnc | (11.10 | )% | (1.16 | )% | 8.02 | % | 14.05 | % | 3.25 | % | 17.12 | % | ||||||
Ratios to average net assetsd | ||||||||||||||||||
Expensese | 1.12 | %f | 1.11 | %f | 1.11 | %f | 1.11 | % | 1.11 | % | 1.10 | % | ||||||
Net investment income | 5.86 | % | 5.41 | % | 5.75 | % | 6.14 | % | 6.81 | % | 7.13 | % | ||||||
Supplemental data | ||||||||||||||||||
Netassets,endofperiod(000’s) | $ | 254,885 | $ | 323,397 | $ | 363,756 | $ | 335,335 | $ | 263,425 | $ | 209,566 | ||||||
Portfolio turnover rate. | 9.87 | % | 34.67 | % | 29.33 | % | 28.89 | % | 22.52 | % | 51.57 | % |
aThe amount shown for a share outstanding throughout the period may not correlate with the Statement of Operations for the period due to the timing of sales and
repurchases of the Fund’s shares in relation to income earned and/or fluctuating fair value of the investments of the Fund.
bBased on average daily shares outstanding.
cTotal return is not annualized for periods less than one year.
dRatios are annualized for periods less than one year.
eBenefit of expense reduction rounds to less than 0.01%.
fBenefit of waiver and payments by affiliates rounds to less than 0.01%.
14 Semiannual Report | The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. franklintempleton.com
FRANKLIN HIGH INCOME TRUST
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Franklin High Income Fund (continued) | ||||||||||||
Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||
November 30, 2015 | Year Ended May 31, | |||||||||||
(unaudited) | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | a | ||||||||
Class R6 | ||||||||||||
Per share operating performance | ||||||||||||
(for a share outstanding throughout the period) | ||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 2.01 | $ | 2.15 | $ | 2.12 | $ | 2.14 | ||||
Income from investment operationsb: | ||||||||||||
Net investment incomec | 0.06 | 0.12 | 0.13 | 0.01 | ||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) | (0.27 | ) | (0.13 | ) | 0.04 | (0.03 | ) | |||||
Total from investment operations | (0.21 | ) | (0.01 | ) | 0.17 | (0.02 | ) | |||||
Less distributions from net investment income | (0.06 | ) | (0.13 | ) | (0.14 | ) | — | |||||
Netassetvalue,endofperiod | $ | 1.74 | $ | 2.01 | $ | 2.15 | $ | 2.12 | ||||
Total returnd | (10.46 | )% | (0.57 | )% | 8.27 | % | (0.93 | )% | ||||
Ratios to average net assetse | ||||||||||||
Expensesf | 0.47 | %g | 0.47 | %g | 0.49 | %g | 0.48 | % | ||||
Net investment income | 6.51 | % | 6.05 | % | 6.37 | % | 6.78 | % | ||||
Supplemental data | ||||||||||||
Netassets,endofperiod(000’s) | $ | 81,408 | $ | 81,133 | $ | 35,633 | $ | 298 | ||||
Portfolio turnover rate | 9.87 | % | 34.67 | % | 29.33 | % | 28.89 | % |
aFor the period May 1, 2013 (effective date) to May 31, 2013.
bThe amount shown for a share outstanding throughout the period may not correlate with the Statement of Operations for the period due to the timing of sales and
repurchases of the Fund’s shares in relation to income earned and/or fluctuating fair value of the investments of the Fund.
cBased on average daily shares outstanding.
dTotal return is not annualized for periods less than one year.
eRatios are annualized for periods less than one year.
fBenefit of expense reduction rounds to less than 0.01%.
gBenefit of waiver and payments by affiliates rounds to less than 0.01%.
franklintempleton.com The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. | Semiannual Report 15
FRANKLIN HIGH INCOME TRUST | ||||||||||||||||||
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | ||||||||||||||||||
Franklin High Income Fund (continued) | ||||||||||||||||||
Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||
November 30, 2015 | Year Ended May 31, | |||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | |||||||||||||
Advisor Class | ||||||||||||||||||
Per share operating performance | ||||||||||||||||||
(for a share outstanding throughout the | ||||||||||||||||||
period) | ||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 2.01 | $ | 2.15 | $ | 2.12 | $ | 1.98 | $ | 2.06 | $ | 1.89 | ||||||
Income from investment operationsa: | ||||||||||||||||||
Net investment incomeb | 0.06 | 0.12 | 0.13 | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0.15 | ||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) | (0.27 | ) | (0.14 | ) | 0.04 | 0.14 | (0.07 | ) | 0.18 | |||||||||
Total from investment operations | (0.21 | ) | (0.02 | ) | 0.17 | 0.28 | 0.07 | 0.33 | ||||||||||
Less distributions from net investment income. | (0.06 | ) | (0.12 | ) | (0.14 | ) | (0.14 | ) | (0.15 | ) | (0.16 | ) | ||||||
Netassetvalue,endofperiod | $ | 1.74 | $ | 2.01 | $ | 2.15 | $ | 2.12 | $ | 1.98 | $ | 2.06 | ||||||
Total returnc | (10.53 | )% | (0.69 | )% | 8.15 | % | 14.81 | % | 3.79 | % | 17.89 | % | ||||||
Ratios to average net assetsd | ||||||||||||||||||
Expensese | 0.62 | %f | 0.61 | %f | 0.61 | %f | 0.61 | % | 0.61 | % | 0.60 | % | ||||||
Net investment income | 6.36 | % | 5.91 | % | 6.25 | % | 6.64 | % | 7.31 | % | 7.63 | % | ||||||
Supplemental data | ||||||||||||||||||
Netassets,endofperiod(000’s) | $ | 1,088,790 | $ | 1,443,439 | $ | 1,720,196 | $ | 1,275,166 | $ | 857,927 | $ | 362,418 | ||||||
Portfolio turnover rate. | 9.87 | % | 34.67 | % | 29.33 | % | 28.89 | % | 22.52 | % | 51.57 | % |
aThe amount shown for a share outstanding throughout the period may not correlate with the Statement of Operations for the period due to the timing of sales and
repurchases of the Fund’s shares in relation to income earned and/or fluctuating fair value of the investments of the Fund.
bBased on average daily shares outstanding.
cTotal return is not annualized for periods less than one year.
dRatios are annualized for periods less than one year.
eBenefit of expense reduction rounds to less than 0.01%.
fBenefit of waiver and payments by affiliates rounds to less than 0.01%.
16 Semiannual Report | The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. franklintempleton.com
FRANKLIN HIGH INCOME TRUST
Statement of Investments, November 30, 2015 (unaudited) | ||||
Franklin High Income Fund | ||||
Shares/ | ||||
Country | Warrants | Value | ||
Common Stocks and Other Equity Interests 0.0%† | ||||
Consumer Services 0.0%† | ||||
a,bStation Casinos Inc., wts., 6/17/18 | UnitedStates | 136,789 | $ | 213,390 |
Transportation 0.0%† | ||||
aCEVAHoldingsLLC | UnitedKingdom | 3,364 | 1,732,574 | |
Total Common Stocks and Other Equity Interests | ||||
(Cost $5,172,824) | 1,945,964 | |||
Convertible Preferred Stocks 0.1% | ||||
Transportation 0.1% | ||||
aCEVAHoldingsLLC,cvt.pfd.,A-1. | UnitedKingdom | 134 | 93,800 | |
aCEVAHoldingsLLC,cvt.pfd.,A-2. | UnitedKingdom | 7,283 | 3,750,549 | |
Total Convertible Preferred Stocks (Cost $11,036,794) | 3,844,349 | |||
Principal | ||||
Amount* | ||||
Corporate Bonds 94.8% | ||||
Automobiles & Components 2.4% | ||||
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, senior note, 5.25%, 4/15/23 | UnitedKingdom | 55,000,000 | 54,656,250 | |
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., | ||||
senior bond, 8.25%, 8/15/20 | UnitedStates | 10,000,000 | 10,429,500 | |
senior note, 6.50%, 3/01/21 | UnitedStates | 25,200,000 | 26,704,188 | |
senior note, 5.125%, 11/15/23 | UnitedStates | 15,000,000 | 15,412,500 | |
cInternational Automotive Components Group SA, senior secured note, 144A, 9.125%, | ||||
6/01/18. | UnitedStates | 15,000,000 | 13,996,875 | |
121,199,313 | ||||
Banks 4.8% | ||||
dBank of America Corp., junior sub. bond, M, 8.125% to 5/15/18, FRN thereafter, | ||||
Perpetual | UnitedStates | 55,000,000 | 57,200,000 | |
CIT Group Inc., | ||||
senior note, 5.25%, 3/15/18 | UnitedStates | 9,000,000 | 9,360,000 | |
senior note, 5.375%, 5/15/20 | UnitedStates | 20,000,000 | 21,150,000 | |
senior note, 5.00%, 8/15/22 | UnitedStates | 33,650,000 | 34,449,187 | |
dCitigroup Inc., junior sub. bond, M, 6.30% to 5/15/24, FRN thereafter, Perpetual | UnitedStates | 47,600,000 | 46,886,000 | |
dJPMorgan Chase & Co., | ||||
junior sub. bond, R, 6.00% to 8/01/23, FRN thereafter, Perpetual | UnitedStates | 30,000,000 | 30,390,000 | |
junior sub. bond, V, 5.00% to 7/30/19, FRN thereafter, Perpetual. | UnitedStates | 10,400,000 | 9,997,000 | |
Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC, | ||||
sub. note, 6.125%, 12/15/22. | UnitedKingdom | 15,000,000 | 16,537,500 | |
sub. note, 5.125%, 5/28/24 | UnitedKingdom | 13,900,000 | 14,308,313 | |
240,278,000 | ||||
Capital Goods 2.7% | ||||
cBombardier Inc., senior bond, 144A, 7.50%, 3/15/25 | Canada | 55,000,000 | 41,250,000 | |
cCBC Ammo LLC/CBC FinCo Inc., senior note, 144A, 7.25%, 11/15/21 | Brazil | 25,000,000 | 22,000,000 | |
cDigitalGlobe Inc., senior note, 144A, 5.25%, 2/01/21 | UnitedStates | 22,000,000 | 18,810,000 | |
Navistar International Corp., senior bond, 8.25%, 11/01/21 | UnitedStates | 14,000,000 | 10,045,000 | |
TransDigm Inc., | ||||
senior sub. bond, 6.50%, 7/15/24 | UnitedStates | 9,500,000 | 9,405,000 | |
csenior sub. bond, 144A, 6.50%, 5/15/25 | UnitedStates | 4,200,000 | 4,142,250 | |
senior sub. note, 6.00%, 7/15/22. | UnitedStates | 9,400,000 | 9,282,500 |
franklintempleton.com
Semiannual Report 17
FRANKLIN HIGH INCOME TRUST
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Franklin High Income Fund (continued) | ||||
Principal | ||||
Country | Amount* | Value | ||
Corporate Bonds (continued) | ||||
Capital Goods (continued) | ||||
cZachry Holdings Inc., senior note, 144A, 7.50%, 2/01/20 | UnitedStates | 18,750,000 | $ | 18,843,750 |
133,778,500 | ||||
Commercial & Professional Services 1.0% | ||||
cAcosta Inc., senior note, 144A, 7.75%, 10/01/22 | UnitedStates | 20,000,000 | 18,550,000 | |
b,eGoss Graphic Systems Inc., senior sub. note, 12.25%, 11/19/05 | UnitedStates | 9,053,899 | 905 | |
IHS Inc., senior note, 5.00%, 11/01/22 | UnitedStates | 10,700,000 | 10,927,375 | |
United Rentals North America Inc., senior bond, 5.75%, 11/15/24 | UnitedStates | 20,000,000 | 20,300,000 | |
49,778,280 | ||||
Consumer Durables & Apparel 3.2% | ||||
D.R. Horton Inc., senior note, 3.75%, 3/01/19 | UnitedStates | 20,000,000 | 20,475,000 | |
KB Home, | ||||
senior bond, 7.50%, 9/15/22 | UnitedStates | 25,000,000 | 25,375,000 | |
senior note, 4.75%, 5/15/19 | UnitedStates | 11,000,000 | 10,835,000 | |
senior note, 7.00%, 12/15/21 | UnitedStates | 10,000,000 | 10,025,000 | |
M/I Homes Inc., senior note, 8.625%, 11/15/18 | UnitedStates | 5,500,000 | 5,658,125 | |
cTaylor Morrison Communities Inc./Monarch Communities Inc., | ||||
senior note, 144A, 5.25%, 4/15/21 | UnitedStates | 8,100,000 | 8,160,750 | |
senior note, 144A, 5.875%, 4/15/23 | UnitedStates | 15,000,000 | 15,000,000 | |
senior note, 144A, 5.625%, 3/01/24 | UnitedStates | 25,000,000 | 24,281,250 | |
Toll Brothers Finance Corp., senior bond, 5.625%, 1/15/24. | UnitedStates | 20,000,000 | 21,150,000 | |
Visant Corp., senior note, 10.00%, 10/01/17 | UnitedStates | 20,000,000 | 20,545,000 | |
161,505,125 | ||||
Consumer Services 4.2% | ||||
c1011778 BC ULC/New Red Finance Inc., | ||||
secured note, second lien, 144A, 6.00%, 4/01/22 | Canada | 30,000,000 | 31,125,000 | |
senior secured note, first lien, 144A, 4.625%, 1/15/22 | Canada | 19,800,000 | 20,047,500 | |
c24 Hour Holdings III LLC, senior note, 144A, 8.00%, 6/01/22 | UnitedStates | 30,000,000 | 25,275,000 | |
eCaesars Entertainment Operating Co. Inc., | ||||
senior secured note, first lien, 11.25%, 6/01/17 | UnitedStates | 17,850,000 | 13,833,750 | |
senior secured note, first lien, 9.00%, 2/15/20 | UnitedStates | 8,450,000 | 6,696,625 | |
c,eFontainebleau Las Vegas, senior secured bond, first lien, 144A, 11.00%, 6/15/15 | UnitedStates | 20,000,000 | 2,500 | |
cInternational Game Technology PLC, | ||||
senior secured bond, 144A, 6.50%, 2/15/25 | UnitedStates | 26,500,000 | 24,462,813 | |
senior secured note, 144A, 6.25%, 2/15/22 | UnitedStates | 25,000,000 | 23,890,625 | |
MGM Resorts International, | ||||
senior note, 6.625%, 12/15/21 | UnitedStates | 10,000,000 | 10,475,000 | |
senior note, 6.00%, 3/15/23 | UnitedStates | 15,000,000 | 14,896,875 | |
cWynn Las Vegas LLC/Wynn Las Vegas Capital Corp., senior bond, 144A, 5.50%, | ||||
3/01/25. | UnitedStates | 21,000,000 | 18,978,750 | |
cWynn Macau Ltd., senior note, 144A, 5.25%, 10/15/21 | Macau | 22,500,000 | 20,334,375 | |
210,018,813 | ||||
Diversified Financials 3.9% | ||||
AerCap Ireland Capital Ltd./AerCap Global Aviation Trust, | ||||
senior note, 4.25%, 7/01/20 | Netherlands | 9,250,000 | 9,400,313 | |
senior note, 4.625%, 10/30/20 | Netherlands | 5,800,000 | 5,966,750 | |
senior note, 5.00%, 10/01/21 | Netherlands | 20,100,000 | 20,866,312 | |
senior note, 4.625%, 7/01/22 | Netherlands | 15,900,000 | 16,098,750 |
18 Semiannual Report
franklintempleton.com
FRANKLIN HIGH INCOME TRUST
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Franklin High Income Fund (continued) | ||||
Principal | ||||
Country | Amount* | Value | ||
Corporate Bonds (continued) | ||||
Diversified Financials (continued) | ||||
fDeutsche Bank AG, sub. bond, 4.296% to 5/24/23, FRN thereafter, 5/24/28 | Germany | 25,000,000 | $ | 23,631,250 |
E*TRADE Financial Corp., | ||||
senior note, 5.375%, 11/15/22 | UnitedStates | 10,000,000 | 10,600,000 | |
senior note, 4.625%, 9/15/23 | UnitedStates | 10,000,000 | 10,300,000 | |
Navient Corp., | ||||
senior note, 5.50%, 1/15/19 | UnitedStates | 42,200,000 | 40,701,900 | |
senior note, 4.875%, 6/17/19 | UnitedStates | 4,000,000 | 3,750,000 | |
senior note, 5.00%, 10/26/20 | UnitedStates | 12,500,000 | 11,281,250 | |
senior note, 5.875%, 3/25/21 | UnitedStates | 5,000,000 | 4,593,750 | |
cNeuberger Berman Group LLC/Finance Corp., senior note, 144A, 5.875%, 3/15/22 | United States | 10,000,000 | 10,460,500 | |
cOneMain Financial Holdings Inc., senior note, 144A, 7.25%, 12/15/21 | UnitedStates | 24,800,000 | 25,296,000 | |
192,946,775 | ||||
Energy 16.2% | ||||
c,eAlpha Natural Resources Inc., second lien, 144A, 7.50%, 8/01/20 | UnitedStates | 25,000,000 | 1,625,000 | |
Atlas Energy Holdings Operating Co. LLC/Atlas Resource Finance Corp., | ||||
senior note, 7.75%, 1/15/21 | UnitedStates | 25,500,000 | 8,797,500 | |
senior note, 9.25%, 8/15/21 | UnitedStates | 17,400,000 | 6,177,000 | |
BreitBurn Energy Partners LP/BreitBurn Finance Corp., senior bond, 7.875%, | ||||
4/15/22. | UnitedStates | 45,000,000 | 13,275,000 | |
California Resources Corp., | ||||
senior bond, 6.00%, 11/15/24. | UnitedStates | 35,000,000 | 21,021,875 | |
senior note, 5.50%, 9/15/21 | UnitedStates | 16,900,000 | 10,224,500 | |
cCalumet Specialty Products Partners LP/Calumet Finance Co., senior note, 144A, | ||||
7.75%, 4/15/23 | UnitedStates | 30,100,000 | 28,369,250 | |
CGG SA, | ||||
senior note, 6.50%, 6/01/21 | France | 29,000,000 | 15,877,500 | |
senior note, 6.875%, 1/15/22 | France | 20,800,000 | 11,427,000 | |
Chaparral Energy Inc., | ||||
senior bond, 8.25%, 9/01/21 | UnitedStates | 10,000,000 | 2,200,000 | |
senior bond, 7.625%, 11/15/22 | UnitedStates | 6,700,000 | 1,440,500 | |
senior note, 9.875%, 10/01/20 | UnitedStates | 15,000,000 | 4,125,000 | |
CHC Helicopter SA, | ||||
senior note, 9.375%, 6/01/21 | Canada | 10,000,000 | 3,800,000 | |
senior secured note, first lien, 9.25%, 10/15/20 | Canada | 40,500,000 | 19,642,500 | |
Chesapeake Energy Corp., | ||||
senior note, 6.625%, 8/15/20 | UnitedStates | 35,000,000 | 16,625,000 | |
senior note, 4.875%, 4/15/22 | UnitedStates | 10,000,000 | 4,281,250 | |
senior note, 5.75%, 3/15/23 | UnitedStates | 12,700,000 | 5,461,000 | |
Clayton Williams Energy Inc., senior note, 7.75%, 4/01/19 | UnitedStates | 19,550,000 | 18,377,000 | |
Compressco Partners LP/Finance Corp., senior note, 7.25%, 8/15/22 | UnitedStates | 12,900,000 | 10,440,938 | |
CONSOL Energy Inc., | ||||
senior note, 5.875%, 4/15/22 | UnitedStates | 20,900,000 | 13,794,000 | |
csenior note, 144A, 8.00%, 4/01/23 | UnitedStates | 37,400,000 | 26,554,000 | |
cCrestwood Midstream Partners LP/Crestwood Midstream Finance Corp., senior note, | ||||
144A, 6.25%, 4/01/23 | UnitedStates | 17,700,000 | 15,133,500 | |
cDrill Rigs Holdings Inc., secured note, 144A, 6.50%, 10/01/17 | UnitedStates | 25,000,000 | 17,437,500 | |
Energy Transfer Equity LP, | ||||
senior bond, 5.875%, 1/15/24. | UnitedStates | 15,000,000 | 13,829,625 | |
senior note, first lien, 7.50%, 10/15/20 | UnitedStates | 35,000,000 | 36,903,124 | |
senior secured bond, first lien, 5.50%, 6/01/27 | UnitedStates | 17,900,000 | 15,080,750 |
franklintempleton.com
Semiannual Report 19
FRANKLIN HIGH INCOME TRUST
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Franklin High Income Fund (continued) | |||||
Principal | |||||
Country | Amount* | Value | |||
Corporate Bonds (continued) | |||||
Energy (continued) | |||||
Energy XXI Gulf Coast Inc., | |||||
senior note, 9.25%, 12/15/17 | UnitedStates | 26,000,000 | $ | 7,670,000 | |
csenior secured note, second lien, 144A, 11.00%, 3/15/20 | UnitedStates | 10,000,000 | 4,493,750 | ||
cEnQuest PLC, senior note, 144A, 7.00%, 4/15/22 | UnitedKingdom | 25,000,000 | 15,171,875 | ||
EPL Oil & Gas Inc., senior note, 8.25%, 2/15/18 | UnitedStates | 20,000,000 | 6,500,000 | ||
cFerrellgas LP/Ferrellgas Finance Corp., senior note, 144A, 6.75%, 6/15/23 | UnitedStates | 33,900,000 | 30,503,220 | ||
cGoodrich Petroleum Corp., | |||||
second lien, 144A, 8.00%, 3/15/18 | UnitedStates | 15,000 | g | 6,900,000 | |
secured note, second lien, 144A, 8.875%, 3/15/18 | UnitedStates | 17,500 | g | 8,750,000 | |
Halcon Resources Corp., | |||||
senior note, 9.75%, 7/15/20 | UnitedStates | 20,000,000 | 6,400,000 | ||
senior note, 8.875%, 5/15/21 | UnitedStates | 5,000,000 | 1,550,000 | ||
csenior secured note, third lien, 144A, 13.00%, 2/15/22 | UnitedStates | 20,000,000 | 9,350,000 | ||
cKinder Morgan Inc., senior secured bond, first lien, 144A, 5.625%, 11/15/23 | UnitedStates | 25,000,000 | 23,206,025 | ||
cLinn Energy LLC/Finance Corp., senior secured note, second lien, 144A, 12.00%, | |||||
12/15/20 | UnitedStates | 32,950,000 | 20,593,750 | ||
Martin Midstream Partners LP/Martin Midstream Finance Corp., senior note, 7.25%, | |||||
2/15/21. | UnitedStates | 30,000,000 | 28,612,500 | ||
Memorial Production Partners LP/Memorial Production Finance Corp., | |||||
senior note, 7.625%, 5/01/21 | UnitedStates | 30,000,000 | 17,475,000 | ||
senior note, 6.875%, 8/01/22 | UnitedStates | 14,000,000 | 7,840,000 | ||
Memorial Resource Development Corp., senior note, 5.875%, 7/01/22 | UnitedStates | 20,000,000 | 18,750,000 | ||
Midstates Petroleum Co. Inc./LLC, senior note, 9.25%, 6/01/21. | UnitedStates | 25,000,000 | 4,062,500 | ||
cMurray Energy Corp., secured note, second lien, 144A, 11.25%, 4/15/21 | UnitedStates | 24,500,000 | 5,573,750 | ||
Oasis Petroleum Inc., senior note, 6.875%, 3/15/22. | UnitedStates | 15,000,000 | 12,862,500 | ||
cOcean Rig UDW Inc., senior note, 144A, 7.25%, 4/01/19 | UnitedStates | 20,000,000 | 9,500,000 | ||
PBF Holding Co. LLC, first lien, 8.25%, 2/15/20 | UnitedStates | 15,000,000 | 15,731,250 | ||
cPeabody Energy Corp., second lien, 144A, 10.00%, 3/15/22 | UnitedStates | 53,000,000 | 12,720,000 | ||
Penn Virginia Corp., senior note, 8.50%, 5/01/20. | UnitedStates | 25,000,000 | 5,625,000 | ||
QEP Resources Inc., | |||||
senior bond, 5.375%, 10/01/22 | UnitedStates | 20,000,000 | 18,100,000 | ||
senior bond, 5.25%, 5/01/23 | UnitedStates | 10,000,000 | 8,975,000 | ||
c,e,hQuicksilver Resources Inc., secured note, second lien, 144A, FRN, 7.00%, 6/21/19 | United States | 9,175,000 | 2,798,375 | ||
Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC, | |||||
first lien, 5.625%, 2/01/21 | UnitedStates | 30,000,000 | 29,175,000 | ||
first lien, 5.625%, 4/15/23 | UnitedStates | 13,300,000 | 12,335,750 | ||
csenior secured note, first lien, 144A, 5.625%, 3/01/25 | UnitedStates | 10,000,000 | 9,162,500 | ||
Sanchez Energy Corp., | |||||
senior note, 7.75%, 6/15/21 | UnitedStates | 10,000,000 | 7,650,000 | ||
senior note, 6.125%, 1/15/23 | UnitedStates | 20,000,000 | 13,850,000 | ||
cTriangle USA Petroleum Corp., senior note, 144A, 6.75%, 7/15/22 | UnitedStates | 20,000,000 | 8,500,000 | ||
cUltra Petroleum Corp., senior bond, 144A, 6.125%, 10/01/24 | UnitedStates | 40,000,000 | 15,200,000 | ||
Vanguard Natural Resources LLC/Finance Corp., senior note, 7.875%, 4/01/20 | UnitedStates | 20,000,000 | 10,500,000 | ||
W&T Offshore Inc., senior note, 8.50%, 6/15/19 | UnitedStates | 40,000,000 | 17,200,000 | ||
WPX Energy Inc., | |||||
senior note, 6.00%, 1/15/22 | UnitedStates | 35,000,000 | 29,837,500 | ||
senior note, 8.25%, 8/01/23 | UnitedStates | 5,300,000 | 4,968,750 | ||
810,014,307 |
20 Semiannual Report
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FRANKLIN HIGH INCOME TRUST
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Franklin High Income Fund (continued) | ||||
Principal | ||||
Country | Amount* | Value | ||
Corporate Bonds (continued) | ||||
Food, Beverage & Tobacco 2.8% | ||||
Cott Beverages Inc., senior note, 6.75%, 1/01/20 | UnitedStates | 20,000,000 | $ | 20,800,000 |
cDole Food Co. Inc., senior secured note, 144A, 7.25%, 5/01/19 | UnitedStates | 8,600,000 | 8,621,500 | |
cJBS USA LLC/Finance Inc., | ||||
senior bond, 144A, 5.875%, 7/15/24 | UnitedStates | 17,100,000 | 16,875,563 | |
senior note, 144A, 8.25%, 2/01/20 | UnitedStates | 25,000,000 | 26,312,500 | |
senior note, 144A, 7.25%, 6/01/21 | UnitedStates | 14,900,000 | 15,607,750 | |
Post Holdings Inc., | ||||
senior note, 7.375%, 2/15/22 | UnitedStates | 20,000,000 | 20,893,800 | |
csenior note, 144A, 6.75%, 12/01/21 | UnitedStates | 25,600,000 | 26,176,000 | |
csenior note, 144A, 6.00%, 12/15/22 | UnitedStates | 5,400,000 | 5,346,000 | |
140,633,113 | ||||
Health Care Equipment & Services 6.4% | ||||
Alere Inc., | ||||
senior note, 7.25%, 7/01/18 | UnitedStates | 20,000,000 | 20,753,200 | |
senior sub. note, 6.50%, 6/15/20. | UnitedStates | 10,000,000 | 9,950,000 | |
CHS/Community Health Systems Inc., | ||||
senior note, 8.00%, 11/15/19 | UnitedStates | 20,000,000 | 20,350,000 | |
senior note, 7.125%, 7/15/20 | UnitedStates | 13,300,000 | 13,366,500 | |
senior note, 6.875%, 2/01/22 | UnitedStates | 4,600,000 | 4,473,500 | |
senior secured note, 5.125%, 8/01/21 | UnitedStates | 4,100,000 | 4,161,500 | |
senior secured note, first lien, 5.125%, 8/15/18 | UnitedStates | 10,000,000 | 10,250,000 | |
DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc., | ||||
senior bond, 5.125%, 7/15/24. | UnitedStates | 17,800,000 | 17,788,875 | |
senior bond, 5.00%, 5/01/25 | UnitedStates | 17,400,000 | 16,747,500 | |
senior note, 5.75%, 8/15/22 | UnitedStates | 15,000,000 | 15,600,000 | |
HCA Inc., | ||||
senior bond, 5.875%, 5/01/23. | UnitedStates | 50,000,000 | 51,875,000 | |
senior bond, 5.375%, 2/01/25. | UnitedStates | 7,000,000 | 6,934,375 | |
senior secured bond, first lien, 5.875%, 3/15/22 | UnitedStates | 20,000,000 | 21,475,000 | |
senior secured bond, first lien, 5.25%, 4/15/25 | UnitedStates | 11,000,000 | 11,165,000 | |
senior secured note, first lien, 5.00%, 3/15/24 | UnitedStates | 20,000,000 | 20,200,000 | |
cHologic Inc., senior note, 144A, 5.25%, 7/15/22 | UnitedStates | 17,400,000 | 18,161,250 | |
Tenet Healthcare Corp., | ||||
first lien, 6.00%, 10/01/20 | UnitedStates | 6,700,000 | 7,152,250 | |
senior note, 5.00%, 3/01/19 | UnitedStates | 10,700,000 | 10,352,250 | |
senior note, 5.50%, 3/01/19 | UnitedStates | 6,300,000 | 6,142,500 | |
senior note, 8.125%, 4/01/22 | UnitedStates | 20,000,000 | 20,075,000 | |
senior note, 6.75%, 6/15/23 | UnitedStates | 13,700,000 | 12,860,875 | |
319,834,575 | ||||
Materials 11.9% | ||||
ArcelorMittal, | ||||
senior note, 6.50%, 3/01/21 | Luxembourg | 46,800,000 | 41,067,000 | |
senior note, 6.125%, 6/01/25 | Luxembourg | 10,800,000 | 8,532,000 | |
cArdagh Packaging Finance PLC/Ardagh MP Holdings USA Inc., | ||||
senior note, 144A, 6.25%, 1/31/19 | Luxembourg | 4,100,000 | 4,110,250 | |
senior note, 144A, 7.00%, 11/15/20 | Luxembourg | 2,647,059 | 2,650,368 | |
senior note, 144A, 6.00%, 6/30/21 | Luxembourg | 7,000,000 | 6,930,000 | |
hsenior secured note, 144A, FRN, 3.337%, 12/15/19 | Luxembourg | 22,800,000 | 22,458,000 |
franklintempleton.com
Semiannual Report 21
FRANKLIN HIGH INCOME TRUST
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Franklin High Income Fund (continued) | ||||
Principal | ||||
Country | Amount* | Value | ||
Corporate Bonds (continued) | ||||
Materials (continued) | ||||
cBarminco Finance Pty. Ltd., senior note, 144A, 9.00%, 6/01/18. | Australia | 29,000,000 | $ | 23,504,500 |
cBlue Cube Spinco Inc., senior bond, 144A, 10.00%, 10/15/25. | UnitedStates | 24,400,000 | 27,084,000 | |
cCemex Finance LLC, senior secured note, first lien, 144A, 6.00%, 4/01/24 | Mexico | 15,800,000 | 14,723,625 | |
cCemex SAB de CV, | ||||
first lien, 144A, 5.70%, 1/11/25 | Mexico | 30,000,000 | 26,681,250 | |
senior secured bond, first lien, 144A, 6.125%, 5/05/25 | Mexico | 10,000,000 | 9,193,750 | |
cThe Chemours Co., | ||||
senior bond, 144A, 7.00%, 5/15/25 | UnitedStates | 8,500,000 | 6,375,000 | |
senior note, 144A, 6.625%, 5/15/23 | UnitedStates | 37,000,000 | 27,935,000 | |
cEldorado Gold Corp., senior note, 144A, 6.125%, 12/15/20 | Canada | 45,000,000 | 41,681,250 | |
cFirst Quantum Minerals Ltd., | ||||
senior note, 144A, 6.75%, 2/15/20 | Canada | 20,000,000 | 13,100,000 | |
senior note, 144A, 7.00%, 2/15/21 | Canada | 39,882,000 | 25,549,406 | |
cFMG Resources (August 2006) Pty. Ltd., senior secured note, 144A, 9.75%, 3/01/22 . | Australia | 55,000,000 | 53,040,625 | |
Novelis Inc., senior note, 8.75%, 12/15/20 | Canada | 20,000,000 | 19,550,000 | |
cOwens-Brockway Glass Container Inc., | ||||
senior note, 144A, 5.00%, 1/15/22 | UnitedStates | 14,800,000 | 14,726,000 | |
senior note, 144A, 5.875%, 8/15/23 | UnitedStates | 16,000,000 | 16,670,000 | |
cPlatform Specialty Products Corp., senior note, 144A, 6.50%, 2/01/22 | UnitedStates | 27,000,000 | 23,625,000 | |
cPSPC Escrow II Corp., senior note, 144A, 10.375%, 5/01/21 | UnitedStates | 7,400,000 | 7,566,500 | |
cRain CII Carbon LLC/CII Carbon Corp., second lien, 144A, 8.25%, 1/15/21 | UnitedStates | 19,700,000 | 15,267,500 | |
Reynolds Group Issuer Inc./LLC/SA, | ||||
first lien, 5.75%, 10/15/20 | UnitedStates | 23,600,000 | 24,278,500 | |
senior note, 8.50%, 5/15/18 | UnitedStates | 10,000,000 | 10,075,000 | |
senior note, 9.00%, 4/15/19 | UnitedStates | 2,300,000 | 2,340,250 | |
senior note, 9.875%, 8/15/19 | UnitedStates | 7,500,000 | 7,790,625 | |
senior note, 8.25%, 2/15/21 | UnitedStates | 20,000,000 | 20,075,000 | |
senior secured note, 7.875%, 8/15/19 | UnitedStates | 5,000,000 | 5,200,000 | |
cSealed Air Corp., senior bond, 144A, 5.50%, 9/15/25 | UnitedStates | 19,300,000 | 20,168,500 | |
Steel Dynamics Inc., | ||||
senior bond, 5.50%, 10/01/24. | UnitedStates | 15,000,000 | 14,362,500 | |
senior note, 5.125%, 10/01/21 | UnitedStates | 15,000,000 | 14,662,500 | |
cU.S. Coatings Acquisition Inc./Flash Dutch 2 BV, senior note, 144A, 7.375%, 5/01/21 . | United States | 12,750,000 | 13,578,750 | |
cUnivar USA Inc., senior note, 144A, 6.75%, 7/15/23 | UnitedStates | 12,500,000 | 12,109,375 | |
Verso Paper Holdings LLC/Inc., senior secured note, first lien, 11.75%, 1/15/19 | UnitedStates | 5,406,000 | 824,415 | |
597,486,439 | ||||
Media 9.4% | ||||
CCO Holdings LLC/CCO Holdings Capital Corp., | ||||
senior bond, 5.25%, 9/30/22 | UnitedStates | 30,000,000 | 30,225,000 | |
senior bond, 5.125%, 2/15/23. | UnitedStates | 15,000,000 | 14,954,850 | |
csenior bond, 144A, 5.375%, 5/01/25 | UnitedStates | 15,000,000 | 14,925,000 | |
cCCOH Safari LLC, senior bond, 144A, 5.75%, 2/15/26. | UnitedStates | 13,200,000 | 13,299,000 | |
Clear Channel Worldwide Holdings Inc., | ||||
senior note, 6.50%, 11/15/22 | UnitedStates | 6,500,000 | 6,418,750 | |
senior note, 6.50%, 11/15/22 | UnitedStates | 3,500,000 | 3,408,125 | |
senior sub. note, 7.625%, 3/15/20 | UnitedStates | 15,000,000 | 14,606,250 | |
senior sub. note, 7.625%, 3/15/20 | UnitedStates | 1,650,000 | 1,581,937 | |
CSC Holdings LLC, | ||||
senior note, 6.75%, 11/15/21 | UnitedStates | 10,000,000 | 9,475,000 | |
senior note, 5.25%, 6/01/24 | UnitedStates | 30,000,000 | 25,500,000 |
22 Semiannual Report
franklintempleton.com
FRANKLIN HIGH INCOME TRUST
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Franklin High Income Fund (continued) | ||||
Principal | ||||
Country | Amount* | Value | ||
Corporate Bonds (continued) | ||||
Media (continued) | ||||
DISH DBS Corp., | ||||
senior bond, 5.00%, 3/15/23 | UnitedStates | 5,000,000 | $ | 4,337,500 |
senior note, 5.875%, 7/15/22 | UnitedStates | 30,000,000 | 27,937,500 | |
senior note, 5.875%, 11/15/24 | UnitedStates | 20,000,000 | 17,931,200 | |
Gannett Co. Inc., | ||||
senior bond, 6.375%, 10/15/23 | UnitedStates | 10,000,000 | 10,600,000 | |
senior note, 5.125%, 10/15/19 | UnitedStates | 10,000,000 | 10,425,000 | |
senior note, 5.125%, 7/15/20 | UnitedStates | 15,000,000 | 15,600,000 | |
iHeartCommunications Inc., | ||||
senior secured bond, first lien, 9.00%, 3/01/21 | UnitedStates | 40,000,000 | 27,640,000 | |
senior secured note, first lien, 9.00%, 9/15/22 | UnitedStates | 15,000,000 | 10,293,750 | |
cLive Nation Entertainment Inc., | ||||
senior note, 144A, 7.00%, 9/01/20 | UnitedStates | 7,100,000 | 7,499,375 | |
senior note, 144A, 5.375%, 6/15/22 | UnitedStates | 8,600,000 | 8,729,000 | |
cRadio One Inc., senior sub. note, 144A, 9.25%, 2/15/20. | UnitedStates | 20,000,000 | 16,500,000 | |
cSirius XM Radio Inc., | ||||
senior bond, 144A, 6.00%, 7/15/24 | UnitedStates | 34,200,000 | 35,439,750 | |
senior bond, 144A, 5.375%, 4/15/25 | UnitedStates | 13,400,000 | 13,299,500 | |
cUnitymedia KabelBW GmbH, senior bond, 144A, 6.125%, 1/15/25 | Germany | 25,000,000 | 25,328,125 | |
cUnivision Communications Inc., | ||||
senior secured bond, first lien, 144A, 6.75%, 9/15/22 | UnitedStates | 15,000,000 | 15,600,000 | |
senior secured note, first lien, 144A, 5.125%, 5/15/23 | UnitedStates | 5,000,000 | 4,862,500 | |
senior secured note, first lien, 144A, 5.125%, 2/15/25 | UnitedStates | 17,700,000 | 17,146,875 | |
cVirgin Media Secured Finance PLC, | ||||
senior secured bond, 144A, 5.25%, 1/15/26 | UnitedKingdom | 20,000,000 | 19,625,000 | |
senior secured bond, first lien, 144A, 5.50%, 1/15/25 | UnitedKingdom | 25,000,000 | 25,187,500 | |
senior secured note, first lien, 144A, 5.375%, 4/15/21 | UnitedKingdom | 9,810,000 | 10,153,350 | |
cVTR Finance BV, senior secured note, 144A, 6.875%, 1/15/24 | Chile | 15,000,000 | 14,550,000 | |
473,079,837 | ||||
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences 4.0% | ||||
cAMAG Pharmaceuticals Inc., senior note, 144A, 7.875%, 9/01/23 | UnitedStates | 30,000,000 | 25,125,000 | |
cConcordia Healthcare Corp., senior note, 144A, 7.00%, 4/15/23 | Canada | 25,000,000 | 21,625,000 | |
cEndo Finance LLC/Endo Ltd./Endo Finco Inc., | ||||
senior bond, 144A, 6.00%, 2/01/25 | UnitedStates | 20,900,000 | 19,959,500 | |
senior note, 144A, 6.00%, 7/15/23 | UnitedStates | 13,700,000 | 13,374,625 | |
Grifols Worldwide Operations Ltd., senior note, 5.25%, 4/01/22 | UnitedStates | 16,300,000 | 16,626,000 | |
cHorizon Pharma Financing Inc., senior note, 144A, 6.625%, 5/01/23 | UnitedStates | 15,200,000 | 13,148,000 | |
cJaguar Holding Co. II/Pharmaceutical Product Development LLC, senior note, 144A, | ||||
6.375%, 8/01/23 | UnitedStates | 17,300,000 | 16,651,250 | |
cValeant Pharmaceuticals International, senior note, 144A, 6.375%, 10/15/20 | UnitedStates | 42,600,000 | 39,245,250 | |
cValeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc., | ||||
senior bond, 144A, 6.125%, 4/15/25 | UnitedStates | 12,500,000 | 10,906,250 | |
senior note, 144A, 7.50%, 7/15/21 | UnitedStates | 10,000,000 | 9,450,000 | |
senior note, 144A, 5.625%, 12/01/21. | UnitedStates | 15,000,000 | 13,162,500 | |
199,273,375 | ||||
Real Estate 0.9% | ||||
Equinix Inc., | ||||
senior bond, 5.375%, 4/01/23. | UnitedStates | 37,000,000 | 37,878,750 | |
i senior bond, 5.875%, 1/15/26. | UnitedStates | 7,400,000 | 7,529,500 | |
45,408,250 |
franklintempleton.com
Semiannual Report 23
FRANKLIN HIGH INCOME TRUST
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Franklin High Income Fund (continued) | ||||
Principal | ||||
Country | Amount* | Value | ||
Corporate Bonds (continued) | ||||
Retailing 1.3% | ||||
cArgos Merger Sub Inc., senior note, 144A, 7.125%, 3/15/23 | UnitedStates | 12,700,000 | $ | 12,827,000 |
cDollar Tree Inc., senior note, 144A, 5.75%, 3/01/23 | UnitedStates | 12,500,000 | 13,062,500 | |
cNetflix Inc., | ||||
senior bond, 144A, 5.875%, 2/15/25 | UnitedStates | 15,600,000 | 16,204,500 | |
senior note, 144A, 5.50%, 2/15/22 | UnitedStates | 24,600,000 | 25,584,000 | |
67,678,000 | ||||
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 0.5% | ||||
cQorvo Inc., | ||||
senior bond, 144A, 7.00%, 12/01/25 | UnitedStates | 8,000,000 | 8,240,000 | |
senior note, 144A, 6.75%, 12/01/23 | UnitedStates | 16,800,000 | 17,220,000 | |
25,460,000 | ||||
Software & Services 3.6% | ||||
cBMC Software Finance Inc., senior note, 144A, 8.125%, 7/15/21 | UnitedStates | 45,000,000 | 34,987,500 | |
cFirst Data Corp., | ||||
second lien, 144A, 5.75%, 1/15/24 | UnitedStates | 36,450,000 | 36,541,125 | |
secured note, first lien, 144A, 5.00%, 1/15/24. | UnitedStates | 18,400,000 | 18,446,000 | |
senior note, 144A, 7.00%, 12/01/23 | UnitedStates | 14,000,000 | 14,227,500 | |
senior secured bond, second lien, 144A, 8.25%, 1/15/21 | UnitedStates | 37,000,000 | 38,711,250 | |
cInfor (U.S.) Inc., senior note, 144A, 6.50%, 5/15/22 | UnitedStates | 40,000,000 | 35,600,000 | |
178,513,375 | ||||
Technology Hardware & Equipment 1.5% | ||||
cBlackboard Inc., senior note, 144A, 7.75%, 11/15/19 | UnitedStates | 25,000,000 | 22,375,000 | |
c,jCommScope Holdings Co. Inc., senior note, 144A, PIK, 6.625%, 6/01/20 | UnitedStates | 8,000,000 | 8,130,000 | |
cCommScope Inc., | ||||
senior bond, 144A, 5.50%, 6/15/24 | UnitedStates | 7,000,000 | 6,746,250 | |
senior note, 144A, 5.00%, 6/15/21 | UnitedStates | 15,000,000 | 14,568,750 | |
cCommScope Technologies Finance LLC, senior bond, 144A, 6.00%, 6/15/25 | UnitedStates | 10,200,000 | 9,792,000 | |
cPlantronics Inc., senior note, 144A, 5.50%, 5/31/23 | UnitedStates | 15,000,000 | 15,300,000 | |
76,912,000 | ||||
Telecommunication Services 9.4% | ||||
CenturyLink Inc., | ||||
senior bond, 6.75%, 12/01/23. | UnitedStates | 6,300,000 | 6,004,845 | |
senior bond, 5.625%, 4/01/25. | UnitedStates | 17,800,000 | 15,374,750 | |
senior note, 5.80%, 3/15/22 | UnitedStates | 30,000,000 | 27,937,500 | |
cDigicel Group Ltd., senior note, 144A, 8.25%, 9/30/20 | Bermuda | 18,000,000 | 15,716,250 | |
cDigicel Ltd., | ||||
senior note, 144A, 6.00%, 4/15/21 | Bermuda | 24,400,000 | 22,082,000 | |
senior note, 144A, 6.75%, 3/01/23 | Bermuda | 8,100,000 | 7,193,084 | |
Frontier Communications Corp., | ||||
senior bond, 7.625%, 4/15/24. | UnitedStates | 4,800,000 | 4,080,000 | |
senior bond, 7.875%, 1/15/27. | UnitedStates | 22,775,000 | 19,131,000 | |
senior note, 7.125%, 1/15/23 | UnitedStates | 3,775,000 | 3,199,313 | |
Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA, | ||||
senior bond, 6.625%, 12/15/22 | Luxembourg | 20,000,000 | 12,200,000 | |
senior bond, 5.50%, 8/01/23 | Luxembourg | 15,000,000 | 11,212,500 | |
senior note, 7.25%, 10/15/20 | Luxembourg | 10,000,000 | 8,400,000 | |
senior note, 7.50%, 4/01/21 | Luxembourg | 25,000,000 | 20,875,000 |
24 Semiannual Report
franklintempleton.com
FRANKLIN HIGH INCOME TRUST
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Franklin High Income Fund (continued) | ||||
Principal | ||||
Country | Amount* | Value | ||
Corporate Bonds (continued) | ||||
Telecommunication Services (continued) | ||||
cMillicom International Cellular SA, senior note, 144A, 6.625%, 10/15/21 | Luxembourg | 31,900,000 | $ | 30,883,187 |
cNeptune Finco Corp., senior bond, 144A, 10.875%, 10/15/25 | UnitedStates | 8,600,000 | 9,083,750 | |
b,eRSL Communications PLC, | ||||
senior discount bond, 10.125%, 3/01/08 | UnitedKingdom | 44,500,000 | — | |
senior note, 12.00%, 11/01/08 | UnitedKingdom | 6,250,000 | — | |
Sprint Communications Inc., | ||||
senior note, 8.375%, 8/15/17 | UnitedStates | 25,000,000 | 25,000,000 | |
senior note, 6.00%, 11/15/22 | UnitedStates | 12,500,000 | 9,375,000 | |
csenior note, 144A, 9.00%, 11/15/18 | UnitedStates | 53,000,000 | 57,372,500 | |
csenior note, 144A, 7.00%, 3/01/20 | UnitedStates | 9,800,000 | 10,026,625 | |
Sprint Corp., | ||||
senior bond, 7.875%, 9/15/23. | UnitedStates | 4,700,000 | 3,795,250 | |
senior bond, 7.125%, 6/15/24. | UnitedStates | 10,900,000 | 8,454,312 | |
senior note, 7.625%, 2/15/25 | UnitedStates | 27,000,000 | 21,279,375 | |
T-Mobile USA Inc., | ||||
senior bond, 6.50%, 1/15/24 | UnitedStates | 7,400,000 | 7,474,000 | |
senior bond, 6.375%, 3/01/25. | UnitedStates | 22,400,000 | 22,400,000 | |
senior note, 6.542%, 4/28/20 | UnitedStates | 11,700,000 | 12,109,500 | |
senior note, 6.633%, 4/28/21 | UnitedStates | 9,000,000 | 9,382,500 | |
senior note, 6.125%, 1/15/22 | UnitedStates | 4,200,000 | 4,296,642 | |
senior note, 6.731%, 4/28/22 | UnitedStates | 9,000,000 | 9,337,500 | |
cWind Acquisition Finance SA, | ||||
senior note, 144A, 7.375%, 4/23/21 | Italy | 42,000,000 | 40,425,000 | |
senior secured note, first lien, 144A, 4.75%, 7/15/20 | Italy | 15,000,000 | 14,990,625 | |
469,092,008 | ||||
Transportation 2.1% | ||||
cFlorida East Coast Holdings Corp., | ||||
secured note, first lien, 144A, 6.75%, 5/01/19. | UnitedStates | 15,000,000 | 14,737,500 | |
senior note, 144A, 9.75%, 5/01/20 | UnitedStates | 9,300,000 | 8,137,500 | |
Hertz Corp., | ||||
senior note, 6.75%, 4/15/19 | UnitedStates | 26,800,000 | 27,470,000 | |
senior note, 5.875%, 10/15/20 | UnitedStates | 10,000,000 | 10,350,000 | |
senior note, 6.25%, 10/15/22 | UnitedStates | 10,000,000 | 10,450,000 | |
cStena AB, senior bond, 144A, 7.00%, 2/01/24 | Sweden | 16,200,000 | 14,215,500 | |
cStena International SA, secured bond, 144A, 5.75%, 3/01/24 | Sweden | 20,000,000 | 17,685,000 | |
103,045,500 | ||||
Utilities 2.6% | ||||
Calpine Corp., | ||||
senior bond, 5.75%, 1/15/25 | UnitedStates | 15,400,000 | 14,476,000 | |
senior note, 5.375%, 1/15/23 | UnitedStates | 18,300,000 | 17,156,250 | |
csenior secured bond, first lien, 144A, 5.875%, 1/15/24 | UnitedStates | 10,000,000 | 10,375,000 | |
cInterGen NV, secured bond, 144A, 7.00%, 6/30/23 | Netherlands | 45,000,000 | 37,575,000 | |
NGL Energy Partners LP/NGL Energy Finance Corp., senior note, 5.125%, 7/15/19 | United States | 3,600,000 | 3,222,000 | |
NRG Yield Operating LLC, senior bond, 5.375%, 8/15/24 | UnitedStates | 20,000,000 | 18,230,000 | |
cPPL Energy Supply LLC, senior bond, 144A, 6.50%, 6/01/25 | UnitedStates | 13,500,000 | 11,559,375 | |
c,eTexas Competitive Eletric Holdings Co. LLC/Texas Competitive Eletric Holdings | ||||
Finance Inc., senior secured note, first lien, 144A, 11.50%, 10/01/20 | UnitedStates | 50,000,000 | 17,750,000 | |
130,343,625 | ||||
Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $5,565,171,708) | 4,746,279,210 |
franklintempleton.com
Semiannual Report 25
FRANKLIN HIGH INCOME TRUST
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Franklin High Income Fund (continued) | ||||
Principal | ||||
Country | Amount* | Value | ||
Senior Floating Rate Interests (Cost $30,147,536) 0.6% | ||||
Household & Personal Products 0.6% | ||||
h,kSun Products Corp., Tranche B Term Loan, 5.50%, 3/23/20 | UnitedStates | 30,350,265 | $ | 29,009,785 |
Shares | ||||
Litigation Trusts (Cost $—) 0.0% | ||||
a,bNewPage Corp., Litigation Trust | UnitedStates | 30,000,000 | — | |
Total Investments before Short Term Investments | ||||
(Cost $5,611,528,862) | 4,781,079,308 | |||
Short Term Investments (Cost $159,631,297) 3.2% | ||||
Money Market Funds 3.2% | ||||
a,lInstitutional Fiduciary Trust Money Market Portfolio | UnitedStates | 159,631,297 | 159,631,297 | |
Total Investments (Cost $5,771,160,159) 98.7%. | 4,940,710,605 | |||
Other Assets, less Liabilities 1.3% | 66,119,764 | |||
Net Assets 100.0% | $ | 5,006,830,369 |
See Abbreviations on page 38.
†Rounds to less than 0.1% of net assets.
*The principal amount is stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated.
aNon-income producing.
bSecurity has been deemed illiquid because it may not be able to be sold within seven days. At November 30, 2015, the aggregate value of these securities was $214,295,
representing less than 0.01% of net assets.
cSecurity was purchased pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 and may be sold in transactions exempt from registration only to qualified institutional buyers
or in a public offering registered under the Securities Act of 1933. These securities have been deemed liquid under guidelines approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees. At
November 30, 2015, the aggregate value of these securities was $2,315,443,266, representing 46.25% of net assets.
dPerpetual security with no stated maturity date.
eSee Note 7 regarding defaulted securities.
fA portion or all of the security purchased on a delayed delivery basis. See Note 1c.
gPrincipal amount is stated in 1,000 Units.
hThe coupon rate shown represents the rate at period end.
iSecurity purchased on a when-issued basis. See Note 1c.
jIncome may be received in additional securities and/or cash.
kSee Note 1d regarding senior floating rate interests.
lSee Note 3f regarding investments in affiliated management investment companies.
26 Semiannual Report | The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. franklintempleton.com
FRANKLIN HIGH INCOME TRUST
Financial Statements
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
November 30, 2015 (unaudited)
Franklin High Income Fund | |||
Assets: | |||
Investments in securities: | |||
Cost - Unaffiliated issuers | $ | 5,611,528,862 | |
Cost - Non-controlled affiliates (Note 3f) | 159,631,297 | ||
Total cost of investments | $ | 5,771,160,159 | |
Value - Unaffiliated issuers | $ | 4,781,079,308 | |
Value - Non-controlled affiliates (Note 3f) | 159,631,297 | ||
Total value of investments | 4,940,710,605 | ||
Cash. | 201,218 | ||
Receivables: | |||
Investment securities sold | 13,673,880 | ||
Capitalsharessold | 4,618,351 | ||
Interest | 89,389,293 | ||
Otherassets | 859 | ||
Total assets | 5,048,594,206 | ||
Liabilities: | |||
Payables: | |||
Investment securities purchased | 20,556,996 | ||
Capital shares redeemed | 16,808,398 | ||
Management fees | 1,886,610 | ||
Distribution fees | 815,514 | ||
Transferagentfees | 1,374,694 | ||
Trustees’ fees and expenses | 1,786 | ||
Accrued expenses and other liabilities. | 319,839 | ||
Total liabilities | 41,763,837 | ||
Net assets, at value | $ | 5,006,830,369 | |
Net assets consist of: | |||
Paid-incapital | $ | 6,191,264,336 | |
Distributions in excess of net investment income | (20,406,126 | ) | |
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (830,449,554 | ) | |
Accumulated net realized gain (loss) | (333,578,287 | ) | |
Net assets, at value | $ | 5,006,830,369 |
franklintempleton.com The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. | Semiannual Report 27
FRANKLIN HIGH INCOME TRUST
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Statement of Assets and Liabilities (continued)
November 30, 2015 (unaudited)
Franklin High Income Fund | ||
Class A: | ||
Netassets,atvalue | $ | 2,959,081,979 |
Shares outstanding. | 1,702,853,812 | |
Net asset value per sharea | $ | 1.74 |
Maximum offering price per share (net asset value per share ÷ 95.75%) | $ | 1.82 |
Class C: | ||
Netassets,atvalue | $ | 622,665,401 |
Shares outstanding. | 354,745,268 | |
Net asset value and maximum offering price per sharea | $ | 1.76 |
Class R: | ||
Netassets,atvalue | $ | 254,885,192 |
Shares outstanding. | 144,465,918 | |
Net asset value and maximum offering price per share | $ | 1.76 |
Class R6: | ||
Netassets,atvalue | $ | 81,407,612 |
Shares outstanding. | 46,875,104 | |
Net asset value and maximum offering price per share | $ | 1.74 |
Advisor Class : | ||
Netassets,atvalue | $ | 1,088,790,185 |
Shares outstanding. | 625,724,489 | |
Net asset value and maximum offering price per share | $ | 1.74 |
aRedemption price is equal to net asset value less contingent deferred sales charges, if applicable.
28 Semiannual Report | The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. franklintempleton.com
FRANKLIN HIGH INCOME TRUST
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Statement of Operations
for the six months ended November 30, 2015 (unaudited)
Franklin High Income Fund | |||
Investment income: | |||
Interest | $ | 194,287,593 | |
Expenses: | |||
Management fees (Note 3a) | 12,431,639 | ||
Distribution fees: (Note 3c) | |||
ClassA | 2,441,628 | ||
ClassC | 2,255,480 | ||
ClassR | 712,570 | ||
Transfer agent fees: (Note 3e) | |||
ClassA | 2,396,582 | ||
ClassC | 510,747 | ||
ClassR | 209,791 | ||
ClassR6 | 1,986 | ||
AdvisorClass | 920,595 | ||
Custodian fees (Note 4) | 25,672 | ||
Reports to shareholders | 247,223 | ||
Registration and filing fees. | 190,378 | ||
Professional fees | 44,810 | ||
Trustees’ fees and expenses | 65,944 | ||
Other | 47,899 | ||
Total expenses | 22,502,944 | ||
Expense reductions (Note 4) | (111 | ) | |
Expenses waived/paid by affiliates (Note 3f) | (121,515 | ) | |
Net expenses | 22,381,318 | ||
Net investment income. | 171,906,275 | ||
Realized and unrealized gains (losses): | |||
Net realized gain (loss) from investments | (150,912,393 | ) | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments | (661,332,872 | ) | |
Netrealizedandunrealizedgain(loss) | (812,245,265 | ) | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $ | (640,338,990 | ) |
franklintempleton.com The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. | Semiannual Report 29
FRANKLIN HIGH INCOME TRUST | ||||||
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | ||||||
Statements of Changes in Net Assets | ||||||
Franklin High Income Fund | ||||||
Six Months Ended | ||||||
November 30, 2015 | Year Ended | |||||
(unaudited) | May 31, 2015 | |||||
Increase (decrease) in net assets: | ||||||
Operations: | ||||||
Net investment income. | $ | 171,906,275 | $ | 376,437,321 | ||
Netrealizedgain(loss) | (150,912,393 | ) | 41,775,944 | |||
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | (661,332,872 | ) | (497,797,376 | ) | ||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | (640,338,990 | ) | (79,584,111 | ) | ||
Distributions to shareholders from: | ||||||
Net investment income: | ||||||
ClassA | (105,670,154 | ) | (224,537,970 | ) | ||
ClassC | (20,557,527 | ) | (45,243,261 | ) | ||
ClassR | (8,619,072 | ) | (19,014,398 | ) | ||
ClassR6 | (3,088,417 | ) | (3,433,463 | ) | ||
Advisor Class | (41,689,724 | ) | (92,864,512 | ) | ||
Total distributions to shareholders. | (179,624,894 | ) | (385,093,604 | ) | ||
Capital share transactions: (Note 2) | ||||||
ClassA | (175,489,797 | ) | (178,003,170 | ) | ||
ClassC | (60,229,742 | ) | (62,660,713 | ) | ||
ClassR | (26,775,818 | ) | (15,828,789 | ) | ||
ClassR6 | 13,611,856 | 49,340,016 | ||||
Advisor Class | (168,889,071 | ) | (169,588,535 | ) | ||
Total capital share transactions | (417,772,572 | ) | (376,741,191 | ) | ||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | (1,237,736,456 | ) | (841,418,906 | ) | ||
Net assets: | ||||||
Beginning of period | 6,244,566,825 | 7,085,985,731 | ||||
Endof period | $ | 5,006,830,369 | $ | 6,244,566,825 | ||
Distributions in excess of net investment income included in net assets: | ||||||
Endof period | $ | (20,406,126 | ) | $ | (12,687,507 | ) |
30 Semiannual Report | The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. franklintempleton.com
FRANKLIN HIGH INCOME TRUST
Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited)
Franklin High Income Fund
1. Organization and Significant Accounting Policies
Franklin High Income Trust (Trust) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (1940 Act) as an open-end management investment company, consisting of one fund, Franklin High Income Fund (Fund) and applies the specialized accounting and reporting guidance in U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP). The Fund offers five classes of shares: Class A, Class C, Class R, Class R6 and Advisor Class. Each class of shares differs by its initial sales load, contingent deferred sales charges, voting rights on matters affecting a single class, its exchange privilege and fees primarily due to differing arrangements for distribution and transfer agent fees.
The following summarizes the Fund’s significant accounting policies.
a. Financial Instrument Valuation
The Fund’s investments in financial instruments are carried at fair value daily. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The Fund calculates the net asset value (NAV) per share as of 4 p.m. Eastern time each day the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open for trading. Under compliance policies and procedures approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the Board), the Fund’s administrator has responsibility for oversight of valuation, including leading the cross-functional Valuation and Liquidity Oversight Committee (VLOC). The VLOC provides administration and oversight of the Fund’s valuation policies and procedures, which are approved annually by the Board. Among other things, these procedures allow the Fund to utilize independent pricing services, quotations from securities and financial instrument dealers, and other market sources to determine fair value.
Equity securities listed on an exchange or on the NASDAQ National Market System are valued at the last quoted sale price or the official closing price of the day, respectively. Foreign equity securities are valued as of the close of trading on the foreign stock exchange on which the security is primarily traded or as of 4 p.m. Eastern time, whichever is earlier. The value is then converted into its U.S. dollar equivalent at the foreign exchange rate in effect at 4 p.m. Eastern time on the day that the value of the security is determined. Over-the-counter (OTC) securities are valued within the range of the most recent quoted bid and ask prices. Securities that trade in multiple markets or on multiple exchanges are valued according to the broadest and most representative market. Certain equity securities are valued based upon fundamental characteristics or relationships to similar securities.
Debt securities generally trade in the OTC market rather than on a securities exchange. The Fund’s pricing services use multiple valuation techniques to determine fair value. In instances where sufficient market activity exists, the pricing services may utilize a market-based approach through which quotes from market makers are used to determine fair value. In instances where sufficient market activity may not exist or is limited, the pricing services also utilize proprietary valuation models which may consider market characteristics such as benchmark yield curves, credit spreads, estimated default rates, anticipated market interest rate volatility, coupon rates, anticipated timing of principal repayments, underlying collateral, and other unique security features in order to estimate the relevant cash flows, which are then discounted to calculate the fair value.
Investments in open-end mutual funds are valued at the closing NAV.
The Fund has procedures to determine the fair value of financial instruments for which market prices are not reliable or readily available. Under these procedures, the VLOC convenes on a regular basis to review such financial instruments and considers a number of factors, including significant unobservable valuation inputs, when arriving at fair value. The VLOC primarily employs a market-based approach which may use related or comparable assets or liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values, and other relevant information for the investment to determine the fair value of the investment. An income-based valuation approach may also be used in which the anticipated future cash flows of the investment are discounted to calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature or duration of any restrictions on the disposition of the investments. Due to the inherent uncertainty of valuations of such investments, the fair values may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had an active market existed. The VLOC employs various methods for calibrating these valuation approaches including a regular review of key inputs and assumptions, transactional back-testing or disposition analysis, and reviews of any related market activity.
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Semiannual Report 31
FRANKLIN HIGH INCOME TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Franklin High Income Fund (continued)
1. Organization and Significant Accounting
Policies (continued)
a. Financial Instrument Valuation (continued)
Trading in securities on foreign securities stock exchanges and OTC markets may be completed before 4 p.m. Eastern time. In addition, trading in certain foreign markets may not take place on every NYSE business day. Occasionally, events occur between the time at which trading in a foreign security is completed and the close of the NYSE that might call into question the reliability of the value of a portfolio security held by the Fund. As a result, differences may arise between the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities as determined at the foreign market close and the latest indications of value at the close of the NYSE. In order to minimize the potential for these differences, the VLOC monitors price movements following the close of trading in foreign stock markets through a series of country specific market proxies (such as baskets of American Depositary Receipts, futures contracts and exchange traded funds). These price movements are measured against established trigger thresholds for each specific market proxy to assist in determining if an event has occurred that may call into question the reliability of the values of the foreign securities held by the Fund. If such an event occurs, the securities may be valued using fair value procedures, which may include the use of independent pricing services.
When the last day of the reporting period is a non-business day, certain foreign markets may be open on those days that the NYSE is closed, which could result in differences between the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities on the last business day and the last calendar day of the reporting period. Any significant security valuation changes due to an open foreign market are adjusted and reflected by the Fund for financial reporting purposes.
b. Foreign Currency Translation
Portfolio securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars based on the exchange rate of such currencies against U.S. dollars on the date of valuation. The Fund may enter into foreign currency exchange contracts to facilitate transactions denominated in a foreign currency. Purchases and sales of securities, income and expense items denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate in effect on the transaction date. Portfolio securities and assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies contain risks that those currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. Occasionally, events may impact the availability or reliability of foreign exchange rates used to convert the U.S. dollar equivalent value. If such an event occurs, the foreign exchange rate will be valued at fair value using procedures established and approved by the Board.
The Fund does not separately report the effect of changes in foreign exchange rates from changes in market prices on securities held. Such changes are included in net realized and unrealized gain or loss from investments in the Statement of Operations.
Realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from sales of foreign currencies, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions and the difference between the recorded amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in foreign exchange rates on foreign denominated assets and liabilities other than investments in securities held at the end of the reporting period.
c. Securities Purchased on a When-Issued or Delayed Delivery Basis
The Fund purchases securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, with payment and delivery scheduled for a future date. These transactions are subject to market fluctuations and are subject to the risk that the value at delivery may be more or less than the trade date purchase price. Although the Fund will generally purchase these securities with the intention of holding the securities, it may sell the securities before the settlement date. Sufficient assets have been segregated for these securities.
d. Senior Floating Rate Interests
The Fund invests in senior secured corporate loans that pay interest at rates which are periodically reset by reference to a base lending rate plus a spread. These base lending rates are generally the prime rate offered by a designated U.S. bank or the London InterBank Offered Rate (LIBOR). Senior secured corporate loans often require prepayment of principal from excess cash flows or at the discretion of the borrower. As a result, actual maturity may be substantially less than the stated maturity. Senior secured corporate loans in which the Fund invests are generally readily marketable, but may be subject to certain restrictions on resale.
32 Semiannual Report
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FRANKLIN HIGH INCOME TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Franklin High Income Fund (continued)
e. Income and Deferred Taxes
It is the Fund’s policy to qualify as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code. The Fund intends to distribute to shareholders substantially all of its taxable income and net realized gains to relieve it from federal income and excise taxes. As a result, no provision for U.S. federal income taxes is required.
The Fund may be subject to foreign taxation related to income received, capital gains on the sale of securities and certain foreign currency transactions in the foreign jurisdictions in which it invests. Foreign taxes, if any, are recorded based on the tax regulations and rates that exist in the foreign markets in which the Fund invests. When a capital gain tax is determined to apply, the Fund records an estimated deferred tax liability in an amount that would be payable if the securities were disposed of on the valuation date.
The Fund recognizes the tax benefits of uncertain tax positions only when the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained upon examination by the tax authorities based on the technical merits of the tax position. As of November 30, 2015, and for all open tax years, the Fund has determined that no liability for unrecognized tax benefits is required in the Fund’s financial statements related to uncertain tax positions taken on a tax return (or expected to be taken on future tax returns). Open tax years are those that remain subject to examination and are based on each tax jurisdiction’s statute of limitation.
f. Security Transactions, Investment Income, Expenses and Distributions
Security transactions are accounted for on trade date. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined on a specific identification basis. Interest income and estimated expenses are accrued daily. Amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities are included in interest income. Facility fees are recognized as income over the expected term of the loan. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date except for certain dividends from foreign securities where the dividend rate is not available. In such cases, the dividend is recorded as soon as the information is received by the Fund. Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date and are determined according to income tax regulations (tax basis). Distributable earnings determined on a tax basis may differ from earnings recorded in accordance with U.S. GAAP. These differences may be permanent or temporary. Permanent differences are reclassified among capital accounts to reflect their tax character. These reclassifications have no impact on net assets or the results of operations. Temporary differences are not reclassified, as they may reverse in subsequent periods.
Realized and unrealized gains and losses and net investment income, not including class specific expenses, are allocated daily to each class of shares based upon the relative proportion of net assets of each class. Differences in per share distributions, by class, are generally due to differences in class specific expenses.
g. Accounting Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
h. Guarantees and Indemnifications
Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified by the Trust against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, enters into contracts with service providers that contain general indemnification clauses. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred. Currently, the Trust expects the risk of loss to be remote.
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Semiannual Report 33
FRANKLIN HIGH INCOME TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Franklin High Income Fund (continued)
2. Shares of Beneficial Interest
At November 30, 2015, there were an unlimited number of shares authorized (without par value). Transactions in the Fund’s shares were as follows:
Six Months Ended | Year Ended | |||||||||
November 30, 2015 | May 31, 2015 | |||||||||
Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | |||||||
Class A Shares: | ||||||||||
Shares sold | 117,602,804 | $ | 218,044,414 | 328,869,092 | $ | 675,245,400 | ||||
Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions | 48,687,229 | 90,643,202 | 93,512,721 | 191,426,674 | ||||||
Shares redeemed. | (262,262,677 | ) | (484,177,413 | ) | (512,025,476 | ) | (1,044,675,244 | ) | ||
Netincrease(decrease) | (95,972,644 | ) | $ | (175,489,797 | ) | (89,643,663 | ) | $ | (178,003,170 | ) |
Class C Shares: | ||||||||||
Shares sold | 24,622,665 | $ | 46,098,506 | 71,316,415 | $ | 148,244,852 | ||||
Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions | 9,607,353 | 18,068,179 | 18,917,506 | 39,108,283 | ||||||
Shares redeemed. | (66,464,276 | ) | (124,396,427 | ) | (121,655,846 | ) | (250,013,848 | ) | ||
Netincrease(decrease) | (32,234,258 | ) | $ | (60,229,742 | ) | (31,421,925 | ) | $ | (62,660,713 | ) |
Class R Shares: | ||||||||||
Shares sold | 10,194,566 | $ | 19,250,690 | 37,086,244 | $ | 77,384,806 | ||||
Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions | 4,462,260 | 8,440,762 | 8,962,976 | 18,616,906 | ||||||
Shares redeemed. | (28,902,861 | ) | (54,467,270 | ) | (54,251,549 | ) | (111,830,501 | ) | ||
Netincrease(decrease) | (14,246,035 | ) | $ | (26,775,818 | ) | (8,202,329 | ) | $ | (15,828,789 | ) |
Class R6 Shares: | ||||||||||
Shares sold | 15,646,686 | $ | 30,078,788 | 27,546,972 | $ | 56,869,218 | ||||
Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions | 1,405,811 | 2,605,554 | 1,327,027 | 2,701,297 | ||||||
Shares redeemed. | (10,592,149 | ) | (19,072,486 | ) | (5,034,393 | ) | (10,230,499 | ) | ||
Netincrease(decrease) | 6,460,348 | $ | 13,611,856 | 23,839,606 | $ | 49,340,016 | ||||
Advisor Class Shares: | ||||||||||
Shares sold | 93,457,062 | $ | 173,460,199 | 349,201,630 | $ | 718,351,244 | ||||
Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions | 20,815,816 | 38,795,553 | 40,553,519 | 83,085,144 | ||||||
Shares redeemed. | (206,477,068 | ) | (381,144,823 | ) | (471,135,682 | ) | (971,024,923 | ) | ||
Netincrease(decrease) | (92,204,190 | ) | $ | (168,889,071 | ) | (81,380,533 | ) | $ | (169,588,535 | ) |
3. Transactions with Affiliates
Franklin Resources, Inc. is the holding company for various subsidiaries that together are referred to as Franklin Templeton Investments. Certain officers and trustees of the Fund are also officers, and/or directors of the following subsidiaries:
Subsidiary | Affiliation |
Franklin Advisers, Inc. (Advisers) | Investment manager |
Franklin Templeton Services, LLC (FT Services) | Administrative manager |
Franklin Templeton Distributors, Inc. (Distributors) | Principal underwriter |
Franklin Templeton Investor Services, LLC (Investor Services) | Transfer agent |
34 Semiannual Report
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FRANKLIN HIGH INCOME TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Franklin High Income Fund (continued)
a. Management Fees
The Fund pays an investment management fee to Advisers based on the month-end net assets of the Fund as follows:
Annualized Fee Rate | Net Assets | |
0.625 | % | Up to and including $100 million |
0.500 | % | Over $100 million, up to and including $250 million |
0.450 | % | Over $250 million, up to and including $7.5 billion |
0.440 | % | Over $7.5 billion, up to and including $10 billion |
0.430 | % | Over $10 billion, up to and including $12.5 billion |
0.420 | % | Over $12.5 billion, up to and including $15 billion |
0.400 | % | Over $15 billion, up to and including $17.5 billion |
0.380 | % | Over $17.5 billion, up to and including $20 billion |
0.360 | % | Over $20 billion, up to and including $35 billion |
0.355 | % | Over $35 billion, up to and including $50 billion |
0.350 | % | In excess of $50 billion |
b. Administrative Fees |
Under an agreement with Advisers, FT Services provides administrative services to the Fund. The fee is paid by Advisers based on the Fund’s average daily net assets, and is not an additional expense of the Fund.
c. Distribution Fees
The Board has adopted distribution plans for each share class, with the exception of Class R6 and Advisor Class shares, pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Fund’s Class A reimbursement distribution plan, the Fund reimburses Distributors for costs incurred in connection with the servicing, sale and distribution of the Fund’s shares up to the maximum annual plan rate. Under the Class A reimbursement distribution plan, costs exceeding the maximum for the current plan year cannot be reimbursed in subsequent periods. In addition, under the Fund’s Class C and R compensation distribution plans, the Fund pays Distributors for costs incurred in connection with the servicing, sale and distribution of the Fund’s shares up to the maximum annual plan rate for each class. The plan year, for purposes of monitoring compliance with the maximum annual plan rates, is February 1 through January 31.
The maximum annual plan rates, based on the average daily net assets, for each class, are as follows:
ClassA | 0.15 | % |
ClassC | 0.65 | % |
ClassR | 0.50 | % |
d. Sales Charges/Underwriting Agreements |
Front-end sales charges and contingent deferred sales charges (CDSC) do not represent expenses of the Fund. These charges are deducted from the proceeds of sales of Fund shares prior to investment or from redemption proceeds prior to remittance, as applicable. Distributors has advised the Fund of the following commission transactions related to the sales and redemptions of the Fund’s shares for the period:
Sales charges retained net of comissions paid to unaffiliated | ||
brokers/dealers | $ | 405,855 |
CDSC retained | $ | 56,988 |
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Semiannual Report 35
FRANKLIN HIGH INCOME TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Franklin High Income Fund (continued)
3. | Transactions with Affiliates (continued) |
e. | Transfer Agent Fees |
Each class of shares, except for Class R6, pays transfer agent fees to Investor Services for its performance of shareholder servicing obligations and reimburses Investor Services for out of pocket expenses incurred, including shareholding servicing fees paid to third parties. These fees are allocated daily based upon their relative proportion of such classes’ aggregate net assets. Class R6 pays Investor Services transfer agent fees specific to that class.
For the period ended November 30, 2015, the Fund paid transfer agent fees of $4,039,701, of which $1,691,729 was retained by Investor Services.
f. Investments in Affiliated Management Investment Companies
The Fund invests in an affiliated management investment company for purposes other than exercising a controlling influence over the management or policies. Management fees paid by the Fund are waived on assets invested in the affiliated management investment company, as noted in the Statement of Operations, in an amount not to exceed the management and administrative fees paid directly or indirectly by each affiliate. Prior to June 1, 2013, the waiver was accounted for as a reduction to management fees.
% of | |||||||||||
Affiliated | |||||||||||
Number of | Number of | Fund Shares | |||||||||
Shares Held | Shares | Value | Outstanding | ||||||||
at Beginning | Gross | Gross | Held at End | at End | Investment | Realized | Held at End | ||||
of Period | Additions | Reductions | of Period | of Period | Income | Gain (Loss) | of Period | ||||
Non-Controlled Affiliates | |||||||||||
Institutional Fiduciary Trust Money | |||||||||||
Market Portfolio | 217,022,124 | 653,577,648 | (710,968,475 | ) | 159,631,297 | $ | 159,631,297 | $– | $– | 0.71 | % |
g. Waiver and Expense Reimbursements |
Investor Services has contractually agreed in advance to waive or limit its fees so that the Class R6 transfer agent fees do not exceed 0.01% until September 30, 2016. There were no Class R6 transfer agent fees waived during the period ended November 30, 2015.
4. Expense Offset Arrangement
The Fund has entered into an arrangement with its custodian whereby credits realized as a result of uninvested cash balances are used to reduce a portion of the Fund’s custodian expenses. During the period ended November 30, 2015, the custodian fees were reduced as noted in the Statement of Operations.
5. Income Taxes
For tax purposes, capital losses may be carried over to offset future capital gains. Capital loss carryforwards with no expiration, if any, must be fully utilized before those losses with expiration dates.
At May 31, 2015, capital loss carryforwards were as follows: | ||
Capital loss carryforwards subject to expiration: | ||
2017 | $ | 15,010,359 |
2018 | 146,834,317 | |
Totalcapitallosscarryforwards | $ | 161,844,676 |
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FRANKLIN HIGH INCOME TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Franklin High Income Fund (continued)
For tax purposes, the Fund may elect to defer any portion of a post-October capital loss to the first day of the following fiscal year. At May 31, 2015, the Fund deferred post-October capital losses of $20,817,468.
At November 30, 2015, the cost of investments and net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) for income tax purposes were as follows:
Cost of investments | $ | 5,782,636,445 | |
Unrealizedappreciation | $ | 57,676,401 | |
Unrealized depreciation | (899,602,241 | ) | |
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | $ | (841,925,840 | ) |
Differences between income and/or capital gains as determined on a book basis and a tax basis are primarily due to differing treatments of defaulted securities and bond discounts and premiums.
6. Investment Transactions
Purchases and sales of investments (excluding short term securities) for the period ended November 30, 2015, aggregated $521,632,429 and $889,161,169, respectively.
7. Credit Risk and Defaulted Securities
At November 30, 2015, the Fund had 95.23% of its portfolio invested in high yield, senior secured floating rate notes, or other securities rated below investment grade. These securities may be more sensitive to economic conditions causing greater price volatility and are potentially subject to a greater risk of loss due to default than higher rated securities.
The Fund held defaulted securities and/or other securities for which the income has been deemed uncollectible. At November 30, 2015, the aggregate value of these securities was $42,707,155, representing 0.85% of the Fund’s net assets. The Fund discontinues accruing income on securities for which income has been deemed uncollectible and provides an estimate for losses on interest receivable. The securities have been identified in the accompanying Statement of Investments.
8. Credit Facility
The Fund, together with other U.S. registered and foreign investment funds (collectively, Borrowers), managed by Franklin Templeton Investments, are borrowers in a joint syndicated senior unsecured credit facility totaling $2 billion (Global Credit Facility) which matures on February 12, 2016. This Global Credit Facility provides a source of funds to the Borrowers for temporary and emergency purposes, including the ability to meet future unanticipated or unusually large redemption requests.
Under the terms of the Global Credit Facility, the Fund shall, in addition to interest charged on any borrowings made by the Fund and other costs incurred by the Fund, pay its share of fees and expenses incurred in connection with the implementation and maintenance of the Global Credit Facility, based upon its relative share of the aggregate net assets of all of the Borrowers, including an annual commitment fee of 0.07% based upon the unused portion of the Global Credit Facility. These fees are reflected in other expenses in the Statement of Operations. During the period ended November 30, 2015, the Fund did not use the Global Credit Facility.
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Semiannual Report 37
FRANKLIN HIGH INCOME TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Franklin High Income Fund (continued)
9. Fair Value Measurements
The Fund follows a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between market data obtained from independent sources (observable inputs) and the Fund’s own market assumptions (unobservable inputs). These inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s financial instruments and are summarized in the following fair value hierarchy:
- Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical financial instruments
- Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar financial instruments, interest rates, pre- payment speed, credit risk, etc.)
- Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of financial instruments)
The input levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with financial instruments at that level.
For movements between the levels within the fair value hierarchy, the Fund has adopted a policy of recognizing the transfers as of the date of the underlying event which caused the movement.
A summary of inputs used as of November 30, 2015, in valuing the Fund’s assets carried at fair value, is as follows:
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||||
Assets: | |||||||||
Investments in Securities: | |||||||||
Equity Investments:a | |||||||||
Consumer Services | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 213,390 | $ | 213,390 | |
Transportation. | — | 5,576,923 | — | 5,576,923 | |||||
Corporate Bonds | — | 4,739,378,305 | 6,900,905 | b | 4,746,279,210 | ||||
Senior Floating Rate Interests | — | 29,009,785 | — | 29,009,785 | |||||
Litigation Trusts | — | — | —b | — | |||||
Short Term Investments | 159,631,297 | — | — | 159,631,297 | |||||
Total Investments in Securities | $ | 159,631,297 | $ | 4,773,965,013 | $ | 7,114,295 | $ | 4,940,710,605 |
aIncludes common and convertible preferred stocks as well as other equity investments.
bIncludes securities determined to have no value at November 30, 2015.
A reconciliation of assets in which Level 3 inputs are used in determining fair value is presented when there are significant Level 3
financial instruments at the end of the period.
10. Subsequent Events
The Fund has evaluated subsequent events through the issuance of the financial statements and determined that no events have occurred that require disclosure.
Abbreviations
Selected Portfolio
FRN | Floating Rate Note |
PIK | Payment-In-Kind |
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FRANKLIN HIGH INCOME TRUST
FRANKLIN HIGH INCOME FUND
Shareholder Information
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures
The Trust’s investment manager has established Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (Policies) that the Trust uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities. Shareholders may view the Trust’s complete Policies online at franklintempleton.com. Alternatively, shareholders may request copies of the Policies free of charge by calling the Proxy Group collect at (954) 527-7678 or by sending a written request to: Franklin Templeton Companies, LLC, 300 S.E. 2nd Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301, Attention: Proxy Group. Copies of the Trust’s proxy voting records are also made available online at franklintempleton.com and posted on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at sec.gov and reflect the most recent 12-month period ended June 30.
Quarterly Statement of Investments
The Trust files a complete statement of investments with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for the first and third quarters for each fiscal year on Form N-Q. Shareholders may view the filed Form N-Q by visiting the Commission’s website at sec.gov. The filed form may also be viewed and copied at the Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information regarding the operations of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling (800) SEC-0330.
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Item 2. Code of Ethics.
(a) The Registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to its principal executive officers and principal financial and accounting officer.
(c) N/A
(d) N/A
(f) Pursuant to Item 12(a)(1), the Registrant is attaching as an exhibit a copy of its code of ethics that applies to its principal executive officers and principal financial and accounting officer.
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
(a)(1) The Registrant has an audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee.
(2) The audit committee financial expert is John B. Wilson and he is "independent" as defined under the relevant Securities and Exchange Commission Rules and Releases.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services. N/A
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants. N/A
Item 6. Schedule of Investments. N/A
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies. N/A
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies. N/A
Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers. N/A
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
There have been no changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Registrant's Board of Trustees that would require disclosure herein.
Item 11. Controls and Procedures.
(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Registrant maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Registrant’s filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the periods specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such information is accumulated and communicated to the Registrant’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Registrant’s management, including the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer, recognizes that any set of controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives.
Within 90 days prior to the filing date of this Shareholder Report on Form N-CSR, the Registrant had carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Registrant’s management, including the Registrant’s principal executive officer and the Registrant’s principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based on such evaluation, the Registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
(b) Changes in Internal Controls. There have been no changes in the Registrant’s internal controls or in other factors that could materially affect the internal controls over financial reporting subsequent to the date of their evaluation in connection with the preparation of this Shareholder Report on Form N-CSR.
Item 12. Exhibits.
(a)(1) Code of Ethics
(a)(2) Certifications pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of Laura F. Fergerson, Chief Executive Officer - Finance and Administration, and Gaston Gardey, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer
(b) Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of Laura F. Fergerson, Chief Executive Officer - Finance and Administration, and Gaston Gardey, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
FRANKLIN HIGH INCOME TRUST
By /s/ Laura F. Fergerson
Laura F. Fergerson
Chief Executive Officer –
Finance and Administration
Date January 26, 2016
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
By /s/ Laura F. Fergerson
Laura F. Fergerson
Chief Executive Officer –
Finance and Administration
Date January 26, 2016
By /s/ Gaston Gardey
Gaston Gardey
Chief Financial Officer and
Chief Accounting Officer
Date January 26, 2016