Franklin Bissett unveils balanced fund

Toronto-based Franklin Templeton Investments Corp. has launched a new balanced mutual fund, Franklin Bissett Monthly Income and Growth Fund, which focuses primarily on the Canadian equities and fixed-income markets; the fund’s exposure to U.S. and global markets is limited to 30% of assets under management. The fund’s monthly income comes mainly from Canadian and U.S. dividend and interest income and options premiums. The fund is managed by four members of the Calgary-based Franklin Bissett investment management team: Garey Aitken, chief investment officer and co-lead manager of Franklin Bissett Canadian Equity Fund; Tim Caulfield, director of equities research and co-lead manager of Franklin Bissett Canadian Equity Fund; Tom O’Gorman, director of fixed-income and co-lead manager of Franklin Bissett Core Plus Bond Fund; and Darcy Briggs, co-lead manager of Franklin Bissett Core Plus Bond Fund. Advisor commissions for front-end sales are 0%-6%, 5% for deferred sales or 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 of the low-load option. Trailing commissions are 1% for front-end sales; 0.5% for the first six years of deferred sales, and 1% thereafter; and 0.5% for the first three years of low-load sales, and 1% thereafter. Management fees are 1.75% for A-class units and 0.75% for F-class units. Minimum investment is $500.

(fcollie@investmentexecutive.com).