Franklin Templeton launches new fund

Toronto-based Franklin Templeton Investments Corp. has launched Franklin U.S. Rising Dividends Hedged Corporate Class Fund, which seeks to achieve long-term capital appreciation by investing substantially all of its assets in units of Franklin U.S. Rising Dividends Fund, a portfolio of U.S. equities with a focus on companies that have paid consistent and increasing dividends. The corporate-class fund reduces the potential effect of exchange-rate fluctuations between the Canadian and U.S. dollars by investing in forward contracts. This fund will be managed by Don Taylor, lead manager of Franklin U.S. Rising Dividends Fund, along with co-leads William Lippman and Margaret McGee. Advisor commissions are 0%-6% for front-end sales; 5% for deferred sales; and 2.5% for the low-load option. Redemption fees begin at 6% in Year 1 and end at zero after Year 6 for the regular DSC schedule; or begin at 3% in Year 1 and end at zero after Year 3 for the low-load option. Trailing commissions are 1% for front-end sales and 0.5% for deferred and low-load sales. Management fees are 2% for A-class units and 1% for F-class units. Minimum investment is $500.

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