Exhibit 12(a)(1)
CODE OF ETHICS FOR PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVES & SENIOR FINANCIAL OFFICERS
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROCEDURES Revised March 06, 2008
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FRANKLIN TEMPLETON FUNDS
CODE OF ETHICS FOR PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE AND
SENIOR FINANCIAL OFFICERS
I. Covered Officers and Purpose of the Code
This code of ethics (the "Code") applies to the Principal Executive
Officers, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer (the
"Covered Officers," each of whom is set forth in Exhibit A) of each investment
company advised by a Franklin Resources subsidiary and that is registered with
the United States Securities & Exchange Commission ("SEC") (collectively, "FT
Funds") for the purpose of promoting:
o Honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical resolution of actual or
apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional
relationships;
o Full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and
documents that a registrant files with, or submits to, the SEC and in
other public communications made by or on behalf of the FT Funds;
o Compliance with applicable laws and governmental rules and regulations;
o The prompt internal reporting of violations of the Code to an appropriate
person or persons identified in the Code; and
o Accountability for adherence to the Code.
Each Covered Officer will be expected to adhere to a high standard of
business ethics and must be sensitive to situations that may give rise to actual
as well as apparent conflicts of interest.
II. Other Policies and Procedures
This Code shall be the sole code of ethics adopted by the Funds for
purposes of Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and forms
applicable to registered investment companies thereunder.
Franklin Resources, Inc. has separately adopted the CODE OF ETHICS AND
BUSINESS CONDUCT ("Business Conduct"), which is applicable to all officers,
directors and employees of Franklin Resources, Inc., including Covered Officers.
It summarizes the values, principles and business practices that guide the
employee's business conduct and also provides a set of basic principles to guide
officers, directors and employees regarding the minimum ethical requirements
expected of them. It supplements the values, principles and business conduct
identified in the Code and other existing employee policies.
Additionally, the Franklin Templeton Funds have separately adopted the
CODE OF ETHICS AND POLICY STATEMENT ON INSIDER TRADING governing personal
securities trading and other related matters. The Code for Insider Trading
provides for separate requirements that apply to the Covered Officers and
others, and therefore is not part of this Code.
Insofar as other policies or procedures of Franklin Resources, Inc.,
the Funds, the Funds' adviser, principal underwriter, or other service providers
govern or purport to govern the behavior or activities of the Covered Officers
who are subject to this Code, they are superceded by this Code to the extent
that they overlap or conflict with the provisions of this Code. Please review
these other documents or consult with the Legal Department if have questions
regarding the applicability of these policies to you.
III. Covered Officers Should Handle Ethically Actual and Apparent Conflicts of
Interest
OVERVIEW. A "conflict of interest" occurs when a Covered Officer's
private interest interferes with the interests of, or his or her service to, the
FT Funds. For example, a conflict of interest would arise if a Covered Officer,
or a member of his family, receives improper personal benefits as a result of
apposition with the FT Funds.
Certain conflicts of interest arise out of the relationships between
Covered Officers and the FT Funds and already are subject to conflict of
interest provisions in the Investment Company Act of 1940 ("Investment Company
Act") and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 ("Investment Advisers Act"). For
example, Covered Officers may not individually engage in certain transactions
(such as the purchase or sale of securities or other property) with the FT Funds
because of their status as "affiliated persons" of the FT Funds. The FT Funds'
and the investment advisers' compliance programs and procedures are designed to
prevent, or identify and correct, violations of these provisions. This Code does
not, and is not intended to, repeat or replace these programs and procedures,
and such conflicts fall outside of the parameters of this Code.
Although typically not presenting an opportunity for improper personal
benefit, conflicts arise from, or as a result of, the contractual relationship
between the FT Funds, the investment advisers and the fund administrator of
which the Covered Officers are also officers or employees. As a result, this
Code recognizes that the Covered Officers will, in the normal course of their
duties (whether formally for the FT Funds, for the adviser, the administrator,
or for all three), be involved in establishing policies and implementing
decisions that will have different effects on the adviser, administrator and the
FT Funds. The participation of the Covered Officers in such activities is
inherent in the contractual relationship between the FT Funds, the adviser, and
the administrator and is consistent with the performance by the Covered Officers
of their duties as officers of the FT Funds. Thus, if performed in conformity
with the provisions of the Investment Company Act and the Investment Advisers
Act, such activities will be deemed to have been handled ethically. In addition,
it is recognized by the FT Funds' Boards of Directors ("Boards") that the
Covered Officers may also be officers or employees of one or more other
investment companies covered by this or other codes.
Other conflicts of interest are covered by the Code, even if such
conflicts of interest are not subject to provisions in the Investment Company
Act and the Investment Advisers Act. The following list provides examples of
conflicts of interest under the Code, but Covered Officers should keep in mind
that these examples are not exhaustive. The overarching principle is that the
personal interest of a Covered Officer should not be placed improperly before
the interest of the FT Funds.
Each Covered Officer must:
o Not use his or her personal influence or personal relationships
improperly to influence investment decisions orfinancial reporting by
the FT Funds whereby the Covered Officer would benefit personally to the
detriment of the FT Funds;
o Not cause the FT Funds to take action, or fail to take action, for the
individual personal benefit of the Covered Officer rather than the
benefit the FT Funds;
o Not retaliate against any other Covered Officer or any employee of the FT
Funds or their affiliated persons for reports of potential violations
that are made in good faith;
o Report at least annually the following affiliations or other
relationships:/ 1
o all directorships for public companies and all companies that are
required to file reports with the SEC;
o any direct or indirect business relationship with any independent
directors of the FT Funds;
o any direct or indirect business relationship with any independent
public accounting firm (which are not related to the routine
issues related to the firm's service as the Covered Persons
accountant); and
o any direct or indirect interest in any transaction with any FT Fund
that will benefit the officer (not including benefits derived from
the advisory, sub-advisory, distribution or service agreements with
affiliates of Franklin Resources).
These reports will be reviewed by the Legal Department for compliance with
the Code.
There are some conflict of interest situations that should always be
approved in writing by Franklin Resources General Counsel or Deputy General
Counsel, if material. Examples of these include/2:
o Service as a director on the board of any public or private Company;
o The receipt of any gifts in excess of $100 from any person, from any
corporation or association
o The receipt of any entertainment from any Company with which the FT Funds
has current or prospective business dealings unless such entertainment
is business related, reasonable in cost, appropriate as to time and
place, and not so frequent as to raise any question of impropriety.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Covered Officers must obtain prior
approval from the Franklin Resources General Counsel for any
entertainment with a value in excess of $1000.
o Any ownership interest in, or any consulting or employment relationship
with, any of the FT Fund's service providers, other than an investment
adviser, principal underwriter, administrator or any affiliated person
thereof;
o A direct or indirect financial interest in commissions, transaction
charges or spreads paid by the FT Funds for effecting portfolio
transactions or for selling or redeeming shares other than an interest
arising from the Covered Officer's employment, such as compensation or
equity ownership.
Franklin Resources General Counsel or Deputy General Counsel will provide a
report to the FT Funds Audit Committee of any approvals granted at the next
regularly scheduled meeting.
IV. Disclosure and Compliance
o Each Covered Officer should familiarize himself with the disclosure
requirements generally applicable to the FT Funds;
o Each Covered Officer should not knowingly misrepresent, or cause others
to misrepresent, facts about the FT Funds to others, whether within or
outside the FT Funds, including to the FT Funds' directors and auditors,
and to governmental regulators and self-regulatory organizations;
o Each Covered Officer should, to the extent appropriate within his or her
area of responsibility, consult with other officers and employees of the
FT Funds, the FT Fund's adviser and the administrator with the goal of
promoting full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in
the reports and documents the FT Funds file with, or submit to, the SEC
and in other public communications made by the FT Funds; and
o It is the responsibility of each Covered Officer to promote compliance
with the standards and restrictions imposed by applicable laws, rules and
regulations.
V. Reporting and Accountability
Each Covered Officer must:
o Upon becoming a covered officer affirm in writing to the Board that he or
she has received, read, and understands the Code (see Exhibit B);
o Annually thereafter affirm to the Board that he has complied with the
requirements of the Code; and
o Notify Franklin Resources' General Counsel or Deputy General Counsel
promptly if he or she knows of any violation of this Code. Failure to do
so is itself is a violation of this Code.
Franklin Resources' General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel are
responsible for applying this Code to specific situations in which questions are
presented under it and have the authority to interpret this Code in any
particular situation./3 However, the Independent Directors of the respective FT
Funds will consider any approvals or waivers/4 sought by any Chief Executive
Officers of the Funds.
The FT Funds will follow these procedures in investigating and enforcing
this Code:
o Franklin Resources General Counsel or Deputy General Counsel will take
all appropriate action to investigate any potential violations reported
to the Legal Department;
o If, after such investigation, the General Counsel or Deputy General
Counsel believes that no violation has occurred, The General Counsel is
not required to take any further action;
o Any matter that the General Counsel or Deputy General Counsel believes is
a violation will be reported to the Independent Directors of
the appropriate FT Fund;
o If the Independent Directors concur that a violation has occurred, it
will inform and make a recommendation to the Board of the appropriate
FT Fund or Funds, which will consider appropriate action, which may
include review of, and appropriate modifications to, applicable policies
and procedures; notification to appropriate personnel of the investment
adviser or its board; or a recommendation to dismiss the Covered Officer;
o The Independent Directors will be responsible for granting waivers, as
appropriate; and
o Any changes to or waivers of this Code will, to the extent required, are
disclosed as provided by SEC rules./5
VI. Other Policies and Procedures
This Code shall be the sole code of ethics adopted by the FT Funds for
purposes of Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and forms
applicable to registered investment companies thereunder. Insofar as other
policies or procedures of the FT Funds, the FT Funds' advisers, principal
underwriter, or other service providers govern or purport to govern the behavior
or activities of the Covered Officers who are subject to this Code, they are
superseded by this Code to the extent that they overlap or conflict with the
provisions of this Code. The FT Code of Ethics and Policy Statement On Insider
Trading, adopted by the FT Funds, FT investment advisers and FT Fund's principal
underwriter pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act, the Code of
Ethics and Business Conduct and more detailed policies and procedures set forth
in FT's Employee Handbook are separate requirements applying to the Covered
Officers and others, and are not part of this Code.
VII. Amendments
Any amendments to this Code, other than amendments to Exhibit A, must be
approved or ratified by a majority vote of the FT Funds' Board including a
majority of independent directors.
VIII. Confidentiality
All reports and records prepared or maintained pursuant to this Code will
be considered confidential and shall be maintained and protected accordingly.
Except as otherwise required by law or this Code, such matters shall not be
disclosed to anyone other than the FT Funds' Board and their counsel.
IX. Internal Use
The Code is intended solely for the internal use by the FT Funds and does
not constitute an admission, by or on behalf of any FT Funds, as to any fact,
circumstance, or legal conclusion.
X. Disclosure on Form N-CSR
Item 2 of Form N-CSR requires a registered management investment company to
disclose annually whether, as of the end of the period covered by the report, it
has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the registrant's principal
executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or
controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these
officers are employed by the registrant or a third party. If the registrant has
not adopted such a code of ethics, it must explain why it has not done so.
The registrant must also: (1) file with the SEC a copy of the code as an
exhibit to its annual report; (2) post the text of the code on its Internet
website and disclose, in its most recent report on Form N-CSR, its Internet
address and the fact that it has posted the code on its Internet website; or (3)
undertake in its most recent report on Form N-CSR to provide to any person
without charge, upon request, a copy of the code and explain the manner in which
such request may be made. Disclosure is also required of amendments to, or
waivers (including implicit waivers) from, a provision of the code in the
registrant's annual report on Form N-CSR or on its website. If the registrant
intends to satisfy the requirement to disclose amendments and waivers by posting
such information on its website, it will be required to disclose its Internet
address and this intention.
The Legal Department shall be responsible for ensuring that:
o a copy of the Code is filed with the SEC as an exhibit to each Fund's
annual report; and
o any amendments to, or waivers (including implicit waivers) from, a
provision of the Code is disclosed in the registrant's annual report
on Form N-CSR.
In the event that the foregoing disclosure is omitted or is determined to
be incorrect, the Legal Department shall promptly file such information with the
SEC as an amendment to Form N-CSR.
In such an event, the Fund Chief Compliance Officer shall review the Code
and propose such changes to the Code as are necessary or appropriate to prevent
reoccurrences.
EXHIBIT A
Persons Covered by the Franklin Templeton Funds
Code of Ethics
March 2008
FRANKLIN GROUP OF FUNDS
Edward B. Jamieson President and Chief Executive Officer - Investment
Management
Charles B. Johnson President and Chief Executive Officer - Investment
Management
Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. President and Chief Executive Officer - Investment
Management
William J. Lippman President and Chief Executive Officer - Investment
Management
Christopher Molumphy President and Chief Executive Officer - Investment
Management
Galen G. Vetter Senior Vice President and Chief Executive Officer -
Finance and Administration
Jimmy D. Gambill Vice President
Laura Fergerson Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer
FRANKLIN MUTUAL SERIES FUNDS
Peter Langerman Chief Executive Officer-Investment Management
Galen G. Vetter Senior Vice President and Chief Executive Officer -
Finance and Administration
Jimmy D. Gambill Vice President
Laura Fergerson Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer
TEMPLETON GROUP OF FUNDS
Mark Mobius President and Chief Executive Officer - Investment
Management
Christopher J. Molumphy President and Chief Executive Officer - Investment
Management
Gary P. Motyl President and Chief Executive Officer - Investment
Management
Donald F. Reed President and Chief Executive Officer - Investment
Management
Galen G. Vetter Senior Vice President and Chief Executive Officer -
Finance and Administration
Jimmy D. Gambill Vice President
Laura Fergerson Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer
EXHIBIT B
ACKNOWLEDGMENT FORM
DECEMBER
FRANKLIN TEMPLETON FUNDS CODE OF ETHICS
FOR PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE AND SENIOR FINANCIAL OFFICERS
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Complete all sections of this form.
2. Print the completed form, sign, and date.
3. Submit completed form to FT's General Counsel c/o Maria Abbott within 10
days of becoming a Covered Officer and by January 30th of each subsequent
year.
INTER-OFFICE MAIL: Maria Abbott, Manager, Code of Ethics, Global Compliance
SM-920/2
TELEPHONE: (650) 312-5698 Fax: (650) 312-5646
E-MAIL: Abbott, Maria (internal address);
mabbott@frk.com (external address)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
COVERED OFFICER'S
NAME:
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
TITLE:
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT:
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOCATION:
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CERTIFICATION FOR
YEAR ENDING:
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
TO: Franklin Resources General Counsel, Legal Department
I hereby acknowledge receipt of a copy of Franklin Templeton Fund's code of
ethics for Principal Executive Officers and Senior Financial Officers (the
"Code") that I have read and understand. I will comply fully with all provisions
of the Code to the extent they apply to me during the period of my employment. I
further understand and acknowledge that any violation of the Code may subject me
to disciplinary action, including termination of employment.
- ---------------------------- ----------------------
Signature Date signed
- -----------------------------
1. Reporting of these affiliations or other relationships shall be made by
completing the annual Directors and Officers Questionnaire and returning the
questionnaire to Franklin Resources Inc, General Counsel or Deputy General
Counsel.
2. Any activity or relationship that would present a conflict for a Covered
Officer may also present a conflict for the Covered Officer if a member of the
Covered Officer's immediate family engages in such an activity or has such a
relationship. The Cover Person should also obtain written approval by FT's
General Counsel in such situations.
3. Franklin Resources General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel are authorized
to consult, as appropriate, with members of the Audit Committee, counsel to the
FT Funds and counsel to the Independent Directors, and are encouraged to do so.
4. Item 2 of Form N-CSR defines "waiver" as "the approval by the registrant of a
material departure from a provision of the code of ethics" and "implicit
waiver," which must also be disclosed, as "the registrant's failure to take
action within a reasonable period of time regarding a material departure from a
provision of the code of ethics that has been made known to an executive
officer" of the registrant. See Part X.
5. See Part X.