Business & Finance
Thu, July 16, 2009
Wed, July 15, 2009Tue, July 14, 2009
Mon, July 13, 2009
Sun, July 12, 2009Fri, July 10, 2009Thu, July 9, 2009Wed, July 8, 2009
Tue, July 7, 2009Mon, July 6, 2009Sun, July 5, 2009Fri, July 3, 2009
Thu, July 2, 2009Wed, July 1, 2009Tue, June 30, 2009
Mon, June 29, 2009Sun, June 28, 2009Fri, June 26, 2009Thu, June 25, 2009
Wed, June 24, 2009Tue, June 23, 2009Franklin Templeton Mutual Series Marks 60 Yearsof Value Investing
//business-finance.news-articles.net/content/200 .. ual-series-marks-60-yearsof-value-investing.html
Published in Business and Finance on Tuesday, July 7th 2009 at 8:55 GMT, Last Modified on 2009-07-07 08:55:50 by Market Wire🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
SAN MATEO, CA--(Marketwire - July 7, 2009) - [ Franklin Templeton Investments ] (
"At Mutual Series, we are opportunistic value investors, who think and act like company owners," said Peter Langerman, president and CEO of Mutual Series and co-portfolio manager of [ Mutual Shares Fund ], which opened on July 1, 1949. "We focus on recognizing value that most other investors miss. We seek to buy intrinsic value at a discount, often with a catalyst in place that we think will unlock that value. Sometimes we see changes that can be made to increase shareholder value, and we will get involved in making those changes happen."
This approach has delivered solid long-term returns to Mutual Series investors. Over 99% of Mutual Series (Class A shares) assets were in funds ranked in the top two quartiles of their respective Lipper peer groups for total return for the one-, three-, five- and 10-year periods ended May 31, 2009.(1)
"It goes back to our bottom-up, fundamental approach," said Langerman of the team's strong relative performance record. "We try to understand the risk and downside in each specific investment. We don't know when markets will move, but we are always careful about owning companies that fit our criteria and that can sustain themselves through even a challenging economic environment, so that we can seek to deliver solid, risk-adjusted returns in the long-term."
A Rich History
Mutual Shares Corporation was established in 1949 by several men, including Max Heine, who used to say his strategy was "to buy a dollar for 50 cents." Heine Securities Corporation, former investment advisor of the Mutual Series funds, was incorporated in 1975. That year, Michael Price joined the firm and learned its distinct approach to value investing.
By the mid-1980s, Price became well-known for his aggressive shareholder activism, finding value in troubled companies and pressing management, often very publicly, to unlock that value for shareholders. Price became president, chief operating officer, chairman and sole owner of Heine Securities in 1988 and moved the firm's operations from New York City to Short Hills, New Jersey, where Mutual Series' offices remain today. In 1996, Franklin Resources acquired the firm, and the Mutual Series funds became part of the Franklin Templeton Investments fund family. Price stayed on as chairman until leaving the firm in 2001.
Langerman originally joined Heine Securities Corporation in 1986 and worked closely with Price. He served as CEO of Mutual Series beginning in 1998 before leaving in 2002 to serve as director of New Jersey's Division of Investment, overseeing employee pension funds. Langerman rejoined Mutual Series in 2005 in his current role as president and CEO.
Mutual Series Today
Mutual Series' time-tested approach of applying dedicated fundamental research to identify businesses whose true value has been missed and engaging in shareholder activism to unlock that value, while keeping an eye on below average risk, continues today. At present, the Mutual Series investment team comprises more than 25 portfolio managers, analysts and traders with an average of over 16 years of industry experience, including a dedicated distressed securities team.
Looking toward the future, Langerman said, "The silver lining in all of the recent market volatility is that stocks are at levels where we are finding some attractive opportunities, both in the U.S. and internationally. To put it simply, we're just going to keep doing what we've always done -- roll up our sleeves to do our own proprietary research and concentrate on uncovering compelling value opportunities wherever they may hide."
In addition to Mutual Shares Fund, the group's [ line-up ] includes [ Mutual Beacon Fund ], [ Mutual European Fund ], [ Mutual Financial Services Fund ], [ Mutual Global Discovery Fund ], [ Mutual Quest Fund ] and [ Mutual Recovery Fund ]. In May 2009, Mutual Series added an eighth fund to its offerings for U.S. investors, [ Mutual International Fund ], which invests primarily in Europe and developed Asia. In addition, Mutual Series also manages funds that are available to investors in many countries around the world.
Value securities may not increase in price as anticipated or may decline further in value. The fund's investments in foreign securities involve special risks including currency fluctuations, and economic and political uncertainties. The fund may also invest in companies engaged in mergers, reorganizations or liquidations, which involve special risks as pending deals may not be completed on time or on favorable terms, as well as lower-rated bonds, which entail higher credit risk.
Investors should carefully consider a fund's investment goals, risks, charges and expenses before investing. To obtain a prospectus, which contains this and other information, talk to your financial advisor, call us at (800) DIAL BEN/(800) 342-5236 or visit franklintempleton.com. Please carefully read the prospectus before you invest or send money.
Franklin Resources, Inc. (
(1) Source: Lipper® Inc., 5/31/09. Lipper calculates averages by taking all the funds and share classes in a peer group and averaging their total returns for the periods indicated. Lipper total return calculations include reinvested dividends and capital gains, but do not include sales charges or expense subsidization by the manager. Results may have been different if these or other factors had been considered. Of the eligible Mutual Series equity mutual funds tracked by Lipper, 3, 3, 3 and 5 funds ranked in the top quartile and 3, 3, 3 and 1 funds ranked in the second quartile, for the one-, three-, five- and 10-year periods, respectively, for their respective Lipper peer groups. Past performance does not guarantee future results.