Franklin Templeton Investments Corp. announced that the Bissett Income Fund will be re-opened to new investments today, May 29.

“The expanding Canadian income trust market is creating more opportunities that meet Bissett’s disciplined investment process for finding quality trusts for the fund,” said Leslie Lundquist, portfolio manager of the fund, in a news release. “Re-opening the Bissett Income Fund will provide investors with another income-based option to help diversify their portfolio.”

With $1.1 billion in assets under management as of April 30, 2006, the fund provides investors with after-tax cash flow by investing primarily in income-producing Canadian securities, with an emphasis on income trusts.

“In addition to a monthly income stream, this well-diversified fund provides investors exposure to each of the major income trust sectors in Canada,” concludes Lundquist.

Launched in June 1996, this fund was originally closed to new investors in November 2002 to preserve the integrity of the fund for its unitholders. Franklin Templeton Investments now offers three income trust focused funds: the re-opened flagship Bissett Income Fund, Bissett Income Trust Fund and the Bissett Income Trust and Dividend Fund.