CUSIP NO. 880198106 Page 1 of 13
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13D
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. 2)*
TEMPLETON GLOBAL INCOME FUND
(Name of Issuer)
Shares of Beneficial Interest, Without par value
(Title of Class of Securities)
880198106
(CUSIP Number)
Lori A. Weber
Assistant Secretary
Franklin Resources, Inc.
300 Southeast 2nd Street
Fort Lauderdale, FL, US 33301
800‑632‑2350
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to
Receive Notices and Communications)
November 3, 2022
(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)
If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of §§240.13d‑1I, 240.13d‑1(f) or 240.13d‑1(g), check the following box.[ ]
Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See §240.13d‑7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.
*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the notes hereto).
CUSIP NO. 880198106 Page 2 of 13
1. NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS.
Franklin Resources, Inc.
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
(a)
(b) X
3. SEC USE ONLY
4. SOURCE OF FUNDS
WC
5. CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e)[ ]
6. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:
7. SOLE VOTING POWER
(See Item 5)
8. SHARED VOTING POWER
(See Item 5)
9. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
(See Item 5)
10. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
(See Item 5)
11. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
9,990,587
12. CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
CERTAIN SHARES [ ]
13. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
9.7%
14. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
HC, CO (See Item 5)
CUSIP NO. 880198106 Page 3 of 13
1. NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS.
Charles B. Johnson
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
(a)
(b) X
3. SEC USE ONLY
4. SOURCE OF FUNDS
PF, AF
5. CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e)[ ]
6. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
USA
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:
7. SOLE VOTING POWER
(See Item 5)
8. SHARED VOTING POWER
(See Item 5)
9. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
(See Item 5)
10. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
(See Item 5)
11. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
156,928 (See Item 5)
12. CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
CERTAIN SHARES [ ]
13. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
0.2% (See Item 5)
14. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
HC,IN (See Item 5)
CUSIP NO. 880198106 Page 4 of 13
1. NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS.
Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
(a)
(b) X
3. SEC USE ONLY
4. SOURCE OF FUNDS
AF
5. CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e)[ ]
6. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
USA
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:
7. SOLE VOTING POWER
(See Item 5)
8. SHARED VOTING POWER
(See Item 5)
9. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
(See Item 5)
10. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
(See Item 5)
11. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
(See Item 5)
12. CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
CERTAIN SHARES [ ]
13. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
(See Item 5)
14. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
HC,IN (See Item 5)
CUSIP NO. 880198106 Page 5 of 13
Item 1. Security and Issuer
This statement relates to Shares of Beneficial Interest, without par value (the "Shares"), of Templeton Global Income Fund, a Delaware Statutory Trust (the "Issuer"). The Issuer’s principal executive office is located at 300 S.E. 2nd Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301-1923.
Item 2. Identity and Background
(a), (f) This Schedule 13D is being filed by Charles B. Johnson (“C. Johnson”), Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. (“R. Johnson, Jr.”), and Franklin Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“FRI,” and together with C. Johnson and R. Johnson, Jr., the “Reporting Persons”). C. Johnson and R. Johnson, Jr. are the principal stockholders of FRI. R. Johnson, Jr. is also the Vice Chairman of FRI and serves on the Board of Directors of Franklin Advisers, Inc., a California corporation that is the investment manager of the Issuer and a wholly-owned subsidiary of FRI (“FAV”). C. Johnson is an Executive Consultant to FRI. C. Johnson and R. Johnson, Jr. are citizens of the United States.
(b) The address of the principal business office of each of the Reporting Persons is One Franklin Parkway, San Mateo, California 94403-1906. The directors and principal executive officers of FRI and FAV, their present principal occupations, citizenship and business addresses are listed on Exhibit B.
(c) The principal business of FRI is to act as a holding company for various subsidiaries engaged in the investment management and related services business. The principal business of FAV is to act as an investment adviser. The principal occupations of C. Johnson and R. Johnson, Jr. are listed on Exhibit B.
(d) During the last five years, none of the Reporting Persons, and to the best knowledge of the Reporting Persons, none of the persons listed on Exhibit B, has been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors).
(e) During the last five years, none of the Reporting Persons, and to the best knowledge of the Reporting Persons, none of the persons listed on Exhibit B, was a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.
Item 3. Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration
The Reporting Persons have invested in the Issuer as follows:
• FRI has acquired a total of 9,990,587 of the Shares for an aggregate purchase price of $44,786,929.94. FRI paid for such Shares from its working capital.
• C. Johnson has acquired a total of 156,928 of the Shares for an aggregate purchase price of $756,290.82. C. Johnson acquired 31,928 Shares for his personal account and paid for such Shares from his personal funds. The Johnson Family Trust, of which C. Johnson is a trustee, acquired 125,000 Shares and paid for such Shares from the trust’s funds.
• R. Johnson, Jr. does not own any Shares directly.
Item 4. Purpose of Transaction
C. Johnson acquired the Shares for investment and to support the re-election of certain incumbent members of the Issuer’s board of trustees (the “Incumbent Nominees”), who would be opposed by the Saba Nominees at any new shareholder meeting. C. Johnson and the Issuer filed a lawsuit against Saba Capital Management and certain other persons and are parties to a motion for a preliminary injunction seeking to enjoin the putative results of the June 6, 2022 shareholder vote of the Issuer with respect to certain persons nominated for election to its board of trustees by Saba Capital Management (the “Saba Nominees”) and requiring the defendants in the case to distribute corrective disclosures to shareholders prior to a new shareholder meeting. FRI acquired Shares for investment and to support the Incumbent Nominees, who would be opposed by the Saba Nominees at any new shareholder meeting. FRI reserves the right to contact shareholders of the Issuer in connection with any such shareholder meeting or for other reasons. FRI may purchase additional Shares of the Issuer to support the Incumbent Nominees and intends to vote all shares that it is entitled to vote in favor of the Incumbent Nominees at any such shareholder meeting.
Except as described above, none of the investment management subsidiaries of FRI, and none of any of the other reporting persons covered by this Schedule 13D, currently has any plans or proposals that relate to or would result in any of the actions described in paragraphs (a) through (j) of the instructions to Item 4 of Schedule 13D, or any present plans or intentions to acquire or dispose of any securities of the Issuer.
Item 5. Interest in Securities of the Issuer
(a-b) The investment adviser to the Issuer is FAV. FAV is a wholly-owned subsidiary of FRI. C. Johnson and the Johnson Family Trust may be deemed to beneficially own the Shares reported herein for purposes of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"), in C. Johnson's capacity as Executive Consultant to FRI and Trustee of the Johnson Family Trust. CUSIP NO. 880198106 Page 6 of 13
C. Johnson and R. Johnson, Jr. (the “Principal Shareholders”) each own in excess of 10% of FRI’s outstanding common stock and are the principal stockholders of FRI. The Principal Shareholders may be deemed to be, for purposes of Rule 13d‑3 under the Act, the beneficial owners of securities held by FRI. The Principal Shareholders disclaim any pecuniary interest in any of the Shares reported herein, except as reported herein. In addition, the filing of the Schedule 13D on behalf of the Principal Shareholders should not be construed as an admission that any of them is, and each disclaims that he is, the beneficial owner, as defined in Rule 13d-3, of any of the Shares, except as reported herein.
FRI and the Principal Shareholders believe that they are not a “group” within the meaning of Rule 13d-5 under the Act and that they are not otherwise required to attribute to each other the beneficial ownership of the Shares held by any of them. FRI did not acquire more than 5% of the Issuer’s outstanding Shares until September 2, 2022. However, the Reporting Persons reported the date of the event giving rise to the obligation to file the initial Schedule 13D as August 31, 2022, on a precautionary basis, because on that date they in the aggregate beneficially owned (for purposes of Rule 13d-3) more than 5% of the Issuer’s outstanding Shares.
The number of Shares as to which each reporting person on this Schedule 13D has:
(i)Sole power to vote or to direct the vote of the Shares:
Franklin Resources, Inc.: 9,990,587
Charles B. Johnson1: 156,928
Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.: 0
��
(ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote of the Shares: 0
(iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of the Shares:
Franklin Resources, Inc.: 9,990,587
Charles B. Johnson1: 156,928
Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.: 0
(iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of the Shares: 0
(c) Other than as listed in Exhibit C, none of the reporting persons have effected any transactions in the Shares, Warrants or Notes since the transactions reported in Amendment No. 1 to the Schedule 13D filed by the Reporting Persons on October 11, 2022.
(d) Not Applicable
(e) Not Applicable
Item 6. Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships With Respect to Securities of
the Issuer.
FRI is party to a Securities Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with ICON Advisers, Inc., a Colorado corporation (“ICON”), pursuant to which FRI purchased 1,769,865 Shares (the “ICON Shares”). Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, ICON appointed FRI as ICON’s attorney and proxy with full authorization and power to vote (or abstain from voting) the ICON Shares that ICON is or may be entitled to vote as of any record date designated, set or established as a date prior to the date the ICON Shares were delivered to FRI for the Issuer’s 2022 annual meeting of shareholders, as such meeting may be set, held, adjourned or reconvened pursuant to court order, by the Fund or otherwise.
1 Includes 125,000 Shares held by the Johnson Family Trust.
CUSIP NO. 880198106 Page 7 of 13
Item 7. Material to be Filed as Exhibits.
Exhibit A: Joint Filing Agreement
Exhibit B: Principal Executive Officers and Directors of FRI
Exhibit C: Transactions Reported Pursuant to Item 5(c)
Exhibit D: Limited Powers of Attorney for Section 13 Reporting Obligations
Exhibit E: Security Purchase and Sale Agreement entered into by and between FRI and ICON Advisers, Inc., a Colorado corporation (incorporated by reference to the Schedule 13D filed by the Reporting Persons on September 12, 2022)
Signature
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set
forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
Dated: November 10, 2022
Franklin Resources, Inc.
Charles B. Johnson
Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.
By: /s/LORI A. WEBER
‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑
Lori A. Weber
Assistant Secretary of Franklin Resources, Inc.
Attorney‑in‑Fact for Charles B. Johnson
Attorney‑in‑Fact for Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.
CUSIP NO. 880198106 Page 8 of 13
EXHIBIT A
JOINT FILING AGREEMENT
In accordance with Rule 13d‑1(k) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the undersigned hereby agree to the joint filing with each other of the attached statement on Schedule 13D and to all amendments to such statement and that such statement and all amendments to such statement are made on behalf of each of them.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this agreement on November 10, 2022.
Franklin Resources, Inc.
Charles B. Johnson
Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.
By: /s/LORI A. WEBER
‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑
Lori A. Weber
Assistant Secretary of Franklin Resources, Inc.
Attorney‑in‑Fact for Charles B. Johnson
Attorney‑in‑Fact for Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.
CUSIP NO. 880198106 Page 9 of 13
EXHIBIT B
PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS OF REPORTING PERSONS
Except where otherwise noted, each of the individuals named below is a citizen of the
United States with a principal business address as indicated below.
Name | Principal Occupation | Residence or Business Address |
Gregory E. Johnson | Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board, and a Director, FRI | Franklin Resources, Inc. One Franklin Parkway San Mateo, CA 94403-1906 |
Rupert H. Johnson, Jr | Vice Chairman, a Director and a Principal Stockholder, FRI Director, FAV | Franklin Resources, Inc. One Franklin Parkway San Mateo, CA 94403-1906 |
Jennifer M. Johnson | President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, FRI | Franklin Resources, Inc. One Franklin Parkway San Mateo, CA 94403-1906 |
Matthew Nicholls | Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Operating Officer, FRI
| Franklin Resources, Inc. One Franklin Parkway San Mateo, CA 94403-1906 |
Thomas C. Merchant | Executive Vice President and General Counsel and Secretary, FRI | Franklin Resources, Inc. One Franklin Parkway San Mateo, CA 94403-1906 |
Jed A. Plafker | Executive Vice President, FRI | Franklin Resources, Inc. One Franklin Parkway San Mateo, CA 94403-1906 |
Alok Sethi | Executive Vice President, Technology and Operations, FRI Citizen of India | Franklin Resources, Inc. One Franklin Parkway San Mateo, CA 94403-1906 |
Adam B. Spector | Executive Vice President, Global Advisory Services, FRI | Franklin Resources, Inc. One Franklin Parkway San Mateo, CA 94403-1906 |
Gwen L. Shaneyfelt | Chief Accounting Officer, FRI | Franklin Resources, Inc. One Franklin Parkway San Mateo, CA 94403-1906 |
Mark L. Constant | Vice President and Treasurer, FRI | Franklin Resources, Inc. One Franklin Parkway San Mateo, CA 94403-1906 |
Mariann Byerwalter | Director, FRI; Chairman Emeritus of the Board, SRI International; Chairman, JDN Corporate Advisory, LLC | Franklin Resources, Inc. One Franklin Parkway San Mateo, CA 94403-1906 |
Alexander S. Friedman | Director, FRI; Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Novata Inc. | Franklin Resources, Inc. One Franklin Parkway San Mateo, CA 94403-1906 |
John Y. Kim | Director, FRI; Founder and Managing Partner, Brewer Lane Ventures LLC; Director/Trustee, Eversource Energy | Franklin Resources, Inc. One Franklin Parkway San Mateo, CA 94403-1906 |
Anthony J. Noto | Director, FRI; Chief Executive Officer and Director, SoFi Technologies, Inc. | Franklin Resources, Inc. One Franklin Parkway San Mateo, CA 94403-1906 |
John W. Thiel | Director FRI; Partner and Senior Advisor, MyNextSeason | Franklin Resources, Inc. One Franklin Parkway San Mateo, CA 94403-1906 |
CUSIP NO. 880198106 Page 10 of 13
| Principal Occupation | Residence or Business Address |
Seth H. Waugh | Director, FRI; Chief Executive Officer, The PGA of America; Non-Executive Chairman, Alex Brown, a division of Raymond James; Director, Yext, Inc. | Franklin Resources, Inc. One Franklin Parkway San Mateo, CA 94403-1906 |
Geoffrey Y. Yang | Director, FRI; Managing Director and Founding Partner, Redpoint Ventures; Director, Liberty Media Acquisition Corporation and Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc | Franklin Resources, Inc. One Franklin Parkway San Mateo, CA 94403-1906 |
Charles B. Johnson | Principal Stockholder, FRI | Franklin Resources, Inc. One Franklin Parkway San Mateo, CA 94403-1906 |
| | |
FRI: Franklin Resources, Inc.
One Franklin Parkway
San Mateo, CA 94403‑1906
FRI is primarily engaged, through various subsidiaries, in providing investment management to the open-end investment companies in the Franklin Group of Funds and the Templeton Family of Funds and to domestic and international managed and institutional accounts. FRI’s principal line of business is providing investment management, administration, distribution and related services to the Franklin Templeton Funds, managed accounts and other investment products.
CUSIP NO. 880198106 Page 11 of 13
EXHIBIT C
TRANSACTIONS REPORTED PURSUANT TO ITEM 5(C)
Franklin Resources, Inc. made the following purchases of Shares of Beneficial Interest on the dates indicated in public transactions on the NYSE.
Date of Transaction | Number of Shares | Price per Share (in U.S. Dollars) |
10/11/2022 | 56,167 | 4.2593 |
10/12/2022 | 46,244 | 4.1878 |
10/13/2022 | 59,700 | 4.1580 |
10/14/2022 | 59,500 | 4.0907 |
10/17/2022 | 51,277 | 4.1556 |
10/18/2022 | 60,150 | 4.0809 |
10/19/2022 | 61,729 | 4.0631 |
10/20/2022 | 66,413 | 4.0838 |
10/21/2022 | 37,672 | 4.0741 |
10/24/2022 | 53,800 | 4.0713 |
10/25/2022 | 70,500 | 4.1775 |
10/26/2022 | 71,000 | 4.2555 |
10/27/2022 | 55,502 | 4.2020 |
10/28/2022 | 64,406 | 4.2471 |
10/31/2022 | 65,118 | 4.2857 |
11/1/2022 | 65,500 | 4.2816 |
11/2/2022 | 55,596 | 4.1451 |
11/3/2022 | 50,786 | 4.1460 |
11/4/2022 | 40,694 | 4.1718 |
11/7/2022 | 44,574 | 4.2402 |
11/8/2022 | 10,134 | 4.2077 |
CUSIP NO. 880198106 Page 12 of 13
EXHIBIT D
LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY
FOR SECTION 13 AND 16 REPORTING OBLIGATIONS
Know all by these presents, that the undersigned hereby makes, constitutes and appoints each of Alison E. Baur, Steven J. Gray, Beth McAuley O’Malley, Thomas C. Merchant, Kimberly H. Novotny, Virginia E. Rosas, Navid J. Tofigh and Lori A. Weber each acting individually, as the undersigned’s true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority as hereinafter described on behalf of and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned to:
1. prepare, execute, acknowledge, deliver and file Forms ID, Schedules 13D and 13G, and Forms 3, 4 and 5 (including any amendments thereto and any related documentation) with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and any national securities exchanges relating to Franklin Resources, Inc. (“FRI”) and/or any registered closed-end company to which an affiliate of FRI is an investment adviser (each, a “Reporting Entity”), as considered necessary or advisable under Regulation S-T and Sections 13(d) and 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as amended from time to time (the “Exchange Act”); and
2. seek or obtain, as the undersigned’s representative and on the undersigned’s behalf, information on transactions in the securities of any Reporting Entity from any person, including brokers, employee benefit plan administrators and trustees, and the undersigned hereby authorizes any such person to release any such information to the undersigned and approves and ratifies any such release of information; and
3. perform any and all other acts which in the discretion of such attorney-in-fact are necessary or desirable for and on behalf of the undersigned in connection with the foregoing.
The undersigned acknowledges that:
1. this Limited Power of Attorney authorizes, but does not require, each such attorney-in-fact to act in their discretion on information provided to such attorney-in-fact without independent verification of such information;
2. any documents prepared and/or executed by any such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this Limited Power of Attorney will be in such form and will contain such information and disclosure as such attorney-in-fact, in his or her discretion, deems necessary or desirable;
3. none of FRI, any Reporting Entity nor any of such attorneys-in-fact assumes (i) any liability for the undersigned’s responsibility to comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act, (ii) any liability of the undersigned for any failure to comply with such requirements, or (iii) any obligation or liability of the undersigned for profit disgorgement under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act; and
4. this Limited Power of Attorney does not relieve the undersigned from responsibility for compliance with the undersigned’s obligations under the Exchange Act, including without limitation, the reporting requirements under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
The undersigned hereby gives and grants each of the foregoing attorneys-in-fact full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary or appropriate to be done in and about the foregoing matters as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do if present, hereby ratifying all that each such attorney-in-fact of, for and on behalf of the undersigned, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this Limited Power of Attorney, and indemnifies each of the foregoing attorneys-in-fact against any loss of any nature whatsoever arising in connection therewith.
This Limited Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to each such attorney-in-fact.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Limited Power of Attorney to be executed as of this 16th day of August, 2021.
/s/CHARLES B. JOHNSON
Signature
Charles B. Johnson
Print Name CUSIP NO. 880198106 Page 13 of 13
LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY
FOR SECTION 13 AND 16 REPORTING OBLIGATIONS
Know all by these presents, that the undersigned hereby makes, constitutes and appoints each of Alison E. Baur, Steven J. Gray, Beth McAuley O’Malley, Thomas C. Merchant, Kimberly H. Novotny, Virginia E. Rosas, Navid J. Tofigh and Lori A. Weber each acting individually, as the undersigned’s true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority as hereinafter described on behalf of and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned to:
1. prepare, execute, acknowledge, deliver and file Forms ID, Schedules 13D and 13G, and Forms 3, 4 and 5 (including any amendments thereto and any related documentation) with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and any national securities exchanges relating to Franklin Resources, Inc. (“FRI”) and/or any registered closed-end company to which an affiliate of FRI is an investment adviser (each, a “Reporting Entity”), as considered necessary or advisable under Regulation S-T and Sections 13(d) and 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as amended from time to time (the “Exchange Act”); and
2. seek or obtain, as the undersigned’s representative and on the undersigned’s behalf, information on transactions in the securities of any Reporting Entity from any person, including brokers, employee benefit plan administrators and trustees, and the undersigned hereby authorizes any such person to release any such information to the undersigned and approves and ratifies any such release of information; and
3. perform any and all other acts which in the discretion of such attorney-in-fact are necessary or desirable for and on behalf of the undersigned in connection with the foregoing.
The undersigned acknowledges that:
1. this Limited Power of Attorney authorizes, but does not require, each such attorney-in-fact to act in their discretion on information provided to such attorney-in-fact without independent verification of such information;
2. any documents prepared and/or executed by any such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this Limited Power of Attorney will be in such form and will contain such information and disclosure as such attorney-in-fact, in his or her discretion, deems necessary or desirable;
3. none of FRI, any Reporting Entity nor any of such attorneys-in-fact assumes (i) any liability for the undersigned’s responsibility to comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act, (ii) any liability of the undersigned for any failure to comply with such requirements, or (iii) any obligation or liability of the undersigned for profit disgorgement under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act; and
4. this Limited Power of Attorney does not relieve the undersigned from responsibility for compliance with the undersigned’s obligations under the Exchange Act, including without limitation, the reporting requirements under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
The undersigned hereby gives and grants each of the foregoing attorneys-in-fact full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary or appropriate to be done in and about the foregoing matters as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do if present, hereby ratifying all that each such attorney-in-fact of, for and on behalf of the undersigned, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this Limited Power of Attorney, and indemnifies each of the foregoing attorneys-in-fact against any loss of any nature whatsoever arising in connection therewith.
This Limited Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to each such attorney-in-fact.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Limited Power of Attorney to be executed as of this 16th day of August, 2021.
/s/RUPERT H. JOHNSON, JR.
Signature
Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.
Print Name