SAN MATEO, CA--(Marketwire - Feb 6, 2012) - [ Franklin Templeton Investments ] ranked #1 out of 45 mutual fund families for its [ funds' ] 10-year performance in Barron's annual review of fund families.¹Barron's rankings are based on asset-weighted returns in five categories -- U.S. equity funds; world equity funds (including international and global portfolios); mixed equity funds (which invest in stocks, bonds and other securities); taxable bond funds and tax-exempt bond funds -- as calculated by Lipper.

"The top priority of our firm is to achieve long-term investment excellence," said Greg Johnson, president and CEO of Franklin Resources, Inc. "Through active portfolio management, we seek to consistently produce competitive results for our clients. Being recognized by Barron's for yet another year as the top fund family for 10-year performance is a significant affirmation that what we're doing is working."

In eight of the last 10 years, Franklin Templeton has been ranked by Barron's as one of the top three fund families, based on its funds' 10-year total return performance. Most notably, Franklin Templeton was ranked number one for the 10-year periods ending in 2008, 2009 and 2011 -- reflecting the firm's strength during very challenging times in financial markets around the globe.²

John Lusk, executive vice president of Investment Management for Franklin Templeton commented, "By remaining true to their investment disciplines through all market cycles, our specialized, independent investment management teams have produced strong long-term results for our shareholders. When combined with our integrated and comprehensive approach to investment risk management, as well as our global trading platform, we are truly able to provide investors with world-class investment management expertise."

For the one-, five- and 10-year periods ended 12/31/11, Franklin Templeton ranked 30 out of 58, 9 out of 53 and 1 out of 45 fund families, respectively. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

All investments involve risks. Investors should carefully consider a fund's investment goals, risks, charges and expenses before investing. To obtain a summary prospectus and/or 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 a prospectus before you invest or send money.

Franklin Templeton Distributors, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Franklin Resources, Inc., is the principal underwriter of Franklin Templeton's U.S. registered funds. Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE: [ BEN ]) is a global investment management organization operating as Franklin Templeton Investments. Franklin Templeton Investments provides global and domestic investment management solutions managed by its Franklin, Templeton, Mutual Series, Fiduciary Trust, Darby and Bissett investment teams. The San Mateo, CA-based company has more than 60 years of investment experience and over $670 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2011. For more information, please call 1-800/DIAL BEN^® or visit franklintempleton.com.

1. Barron's "Worth the Risk," February 4, 2012. Barron's did not include sales charges in calculating returns. Each fund's return was measured against those of all funds in its Lipper category, resulting in a percentile ranking which was then weighted by asset size, relative to the fund family's other assets in its general classification. To qualify for Barron's/Lipper's Fund Survey, a group must have had at least three funds in Lipper's general U.S.-stock category, as well as one in the world equity category, which combines global and international funds. They also must have had at least one mixed-equity fund, which holds stocks and bonds, at least two taxable-bond funds and one tax-exempt offering.

2. For the one-, five- and 10-year periods ended December 31, Franklin Templeton ranked as follows, respectively: 2009: 17 out of 61, 5 out of 54 and 1 out of 48; 2008: 26 out of 59, 16 out of 53 and 1 out of 48.