codeofethicsforprincipal1218.htm - Generated by SEC Publisher for SEC Filing


Code of Ethics for Principal Executives & Senior Financial
Officers

Procedures		Revised December 10, 2018


FRANKLIN TEMPLETON FUNDS

CODE OF ETHICS FOR PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVES AND

SENIOR FINANCIAL OFFICERS

I.	Covered Officers and Purpose of the Code

	This code of ethics (the "Code") applies to the Principal Executive Officers, Principal
Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer (the "Covered Officers," each of whom is set
forth in Exhibit A) of each investment company advised by a Franklin Resources subsidiary and
that is registered with the United States Securities & Exchange Commission (“SEC”)
(collectively, "FT Funds") for the purpose of promoting:

·	Honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical resolution of actual or apparent
	conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships;
·	Full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that
	a registrant files with, or submits to, the SEC and in other public communications made
	by or on behalf of the FT Funds;
·	Compliance with applicable laws and governmental rules and regulations;
·	The prompt internal reporting of violations of the Code to an appropriate person or
	persons identified in the Code; and
·	Accountability for adherence to the Code.

	Each Covered Officer will be expected to adhere to a high standard of business ethics
and must be sensitive to situations that may give rise to actual as well as apparent conflicts of
interest.



* Rule 38a-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“1940 Act”) and Rule 206(4)-7 under the Investment Advisers Act of
1940 (“Advisers Act”) (together the “Compliance Rule”) require registered investment companies and registered investment
advisers to, among other things, adopt and implement written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violations
of the federal securities laws (“Compliance Rule Policies and Procedures”).

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. This document is the proprietary product of Franklin Templeton Investments. It may NOT
be distributed outside the company unless it is made subject to a non-disclosure agreement and/or such release receives
authorization by an FTI Chief Compliance Officer. Any unauthorized use, reproduction or transfer of this document is strictly
prohibited. Franklin Templeton Investments © 2014. All Rights Reserved.

		For Internal Use Only - Not For External Distribution

FTI Compliance Procedures Standards of Business Conduct

II. Other Policies and Procedures

This Code shall be the sole code of ethics adopted by the Funds for purposes of Section
406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and forms applicable to registered investment
companies thereunder.

Franklin Resources, Inc. has separately adopted the Code of Ethics and Business
Conduct (“Business Conduct”), which is applicable to all officers, directors and employees of
Franklin Resources, Inc., including Covered Officers. It summarizes the values, principles and
business practices that guide the employee’s business conduct and also provides a set of basic
principles to guide officers, directors and employees regarding the minimum ethical
requirements expected of them. It supplements the values, principles and business conduct
identified in the Code and other existing employee policies.

Additionally, the Franklin Templeton Funds have separately adopted the FTI Personal
Investments and Insider Trading Policy governing personal securities trading and other related
matters. The Code for Insider Trading provides for separate requirements that apply to the
Covered Officers and others, and therefore is not part of this Code.

Insofar as other policies or procedures of Franklin Resources, Inc., the Funds, the
Funds’ adviser, principal underwriter, or other service providers govern or purport to govern the
behavior or activities of the Covered Officers who are subject to this Code, they are superceded
by this Code to the extent that they overlap or conflict with the provisions of this Code. Please
review these other documents or consult with the Legal Department if have questions regarding
the applicability of these policies to you.

III. Covered Officers Should Handle Ethically Actual and Apparent Conflicts of
Interest

Overview. A "conflict of interest" occurs when a Covered Officer's private interest
interferes with the interests of, or his or her service to, the FT Funds. For example, a conflict of
interest would arise if a Covered Officer, or a member of his family, receives improper personal
benefits as a result of apposition with the FT Funds.

Certain conflicts of interest arise out of the relationships between Covered Officers and
the FT Funds and already are subject to conflict of interest provisions in the Investment
Company Act of 1940 ("Investment Company Act") and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940
("Investment Advisers Act"). For example, Covered Officers may not individually engage in
certain transactions (such as the purchase or sale of securities or other property) with the FT
Funds because of their status as "affiliated persons" of the FT Funds. The FT Funds’ and the
investment advisers’ compliance programs and procedures are designed to prevent, or identify
and correct, violations of these provisions. This Code does not, and is not intended to, repeat or
replace these programs and procedures, and such conflicts fall outside of the parameters of this
Code.

Although typically not presenting an opportunity for improper personal benefit, conflicts
arise from, or as a result of, the contractual relationship between the FT Funds, the investment
advisers and the fund administrator of which the Covered Officers are also officers or
employees. As a result, this Code recognizes that the Covered Officers will, in the normal
course of their duties (whether formally for the FT Funds, for the adviser, the administrator, or

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for all three), be involved in establishing policies and implementing decisions that will have
different effects on the adviser, administrator and the FT Funds. The participation of the
Covered Officers in such activities is inherent in the contractual relationship between the FT
Funds, the adviser, and the administrator and is consistent with the performance by the
Covered Officers of their duties as officers of the FT Funds. Thus, if performed in conformity
with the provisions of the Investment Company Act and the Investment Advisers Act, such
activities will be deemed to have been handled ethically. In addition, it is recognized by the FT
Funds' Boards of Directors ("Boards") that the Covered Officers may also be officers or
employees of one or more other investment companies covered by this or other codes.

	Other conflicts of interest are covered by the Code, even if such conflicts of interest are
not subject to provisions in the Investment Company Act and the Investment Advisers Act. The
following list provides examples of conflicts of interest under the Code, but Covered Officers
should keep in mind that these examples are not exhaustive. The overarching principle is that
the personal interest of a Covered Officer should not be placed improperly before the interest of
the FT Funds.

Each Covered Officer must:

·	Not use his or her personal influence or personal relationships improperly to influence
	investment decisions or financial reporting by the FT Funds whereby the Covered Officer
	would benefit personally to the detriment of the FT Funds;

·	Not cause the FT Funds to take action, or fail to take action, for the individual personal
	benefit of the Covered Officer rather than the benefit the FT Funds;

·	Not retaliate against any other Covered Officer or any employee of the FT Funds or their
	affiliated persons for reports of potential violations that are made in good faith;

·	Report at least annually the following affiliations or other relationships:¹
	o	all directorships for public companies and all companies that are required to file
		reports with the SEC;
	o	any direct or indirect business relationship with any independent directors of the
		FT Funds;
	o	any direct or indirect business relationship with any independent public
		accounting firm (which are not related to the routine issues related to the firm’s
		service as the Covered Persons accountant); and
	o	any direct or indirect interest in any transaction with any FT Fund that will benefit
		the officer (not including benefits derived from the advisory, sub-advisory,
		distribution or service agreements with affiliates of Franklin Resources).
	These reports will be reviewed by the Legal Department for compliance with the Code.
	There are some conflict of interest situations that should always be approved in writing
by Franklin Resources General Counsel or Deputy General Counsel, if material. Examples of
these include²:
·	Service as a director on the board of any public or private Company.


¹Reporting of these affiliations or other relationships shall be made by completing the annual Directors and Officers Questionnaire
and returning the questionnaire to Franklin Resources Inc, General Counsel or Deputy General Counsel.
²Any activity or relationship that would present a conflict for a Covered Officer may also present a conflict for the Covered Officer
if a member of the Covered Officer's immediate family engages in such an activity or has such a relationship. The Cover Person
should also obtain written approval by FT’s General Counsel in such situations.

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·	The receipt of any gifts in excess of $100 from any person, from any corporation or
	association.

·	The receipt of any entertainment from any Company with which the FT Funds has
	current or prospective business dealings unless such entertainment is business related,
	reasonable in cost, appropriate as to time and place, and not so frequent as to raise any
	question of impropriety. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Covered Officers must
	obtain prior approval from the Franklin Resources General Counsel for any
	entertainment with a value in excess of $1000.

·	Any ownership interest in, or any consulting or employment relationship with, any of the
	FT Fund’s service providers, other than an investment adviser, principal underwriter,
	administrator or any affiliated person thereof.

·	A direct or indirect financial interest in commissions, transaction charges or spreads paid
	by the FT Funds for effecting portfolio transactions or for selling or redeeming shares
	other than an interest arising from the Covered Officer's employment, such as
	compensation or equity ownership.

·	Franklin Resources General Counsel or Deputy General Counsel will provide a report to
	the FT Funds Audit Committee of any approvals granted at the next regularly scheduled
	meeting.


IV.	Disclosure and Compliance

·	Each Covered Officer should familiarize himself with the disclosure requirements
	generally applicable to the FT Funds;

·	Each Covered Officer should not knowingly misrepresent, or cause others to
	misrepresent, facts about the FT Funds to others, whether within or outside the FT
	Funds, including to the FT Funds’ directors and auditors, and to governmental regulators
	and self-regulatory organizations;

·	Each Covered Officer should, to the extent appropriate within his or her area of
	responsibility, consult with other officers and employees of the FT Funds, the FT Fund’s
	adviser and the administrator with the goal of promoting full, fair, accurate, timely and
	understandable disclosure in the reports and documents the FT Funds file with, or
	submit to, the SEC and in other public communications made by the FT Funds; and

·	It is the responsibility of each Covered Officer to promote compliance with the standards
	and restrictions imposed by applicable laws, rules and regulations.


V.	Reporting and Accountability

Each Covered Officer must:

·	Upon becoming a covered officer affirm in writing to the Board that he or she has
	received, read, and understands the Code (see Exhibit B);

·	Annually thereafter affirm to the Board that he has complied with the requirements of the
	Code; and

·	Notify Franklin Resources’ General Counsel or Deputy General Counsel promptly if he
	or she knows of any violation of this Code. Failure to do so is itself is a violation of this
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Code.

Franklin Resources’ General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel are responsible for applying this Code to specific situations in which questions are presented under it and have the authority to interpret this Code in any particular situation.³However, the Independent Directors of the respective FT Funds will consider any approvals or waivers⁴sought by any Chief Executive Officers of the Funds.

The FT Funds will follow these procedures in investigating and enforcing this Code:

Franklin Resources General Counsel or Deputy General Counsel will take all appropriate action to investigate any potential violations reported to the Legal Department;
If, after such investigation, the General Counsel or Deputy General Counsel believes that no violation has occurred, The General Counsel is not required to take any further action;
Any matter that the General Counsel or Deputy General Counsel believes is a violation will be reported to the Independent Directors of the appropriate FT Fund;
If the Independent Directors concur that a violation has occurred, it will inform and make a recommendation to the Board of the appropriate FT Fund or Funds, which will consider appropriate action, which may include review of, and appropriate modifications to, applicable policies and procedures; notification to appropriate personnel of the investment adviser or its board; or a recommendation to dismiss the Covered Officer;
The Independent Directors will be responsible for granting waivers, as appropriate; and
Any changes to or waivers of this Code will, to the extent required, are disclosed as provided by SEC rules.⁵

VI.	Other Policies and Procedures

This Code shall be the sole code of ethics adopted by the FT Funds for purposes of Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and forms applicable to registered investment companies thereunder. Insofar as other policies or procedures of the FT Funds, the FT Funds' advisers, principal underwriter, or other service providers govern or purport to govern the behavior or activities of the Covered Officers who are subject to this Code, they are superseded by this Code to the extent that they overlap or conflict with the provisions of this Code. The FTI Personal Investments and Insider Trading Policy, adopted by the FT Funds, FT investment advisers and FT Fund’s principal underwriter pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act, the Code of Ethics and Business Conduct and more detailed policies and procedures set forth in FT’s Employee Handbook are separate requirements applying to the Covered Officers and others, and are not part of this Code.

³Franklin Resources General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel are authorized to consult, as appropriate, with members of the
Audit Committee, counsel to the FT Funds and counsel to the Independent Directors, and are encouraged to do so.
⁴Item 2 of Form N-CSR defines "waiver" as "the approval by the registrant of a material departure from a provision of the code of
ethics" and "implicit waiver," which must also be disclosed, as "the registrant's failure to take action within a reasonable period of
time regarding a material departure from a provision of the code of ethics that has been made known to an executive officer" of the
registrant. See Part X.
⁵See Part X.
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VII.	Amendments

	Any amendments to this Code, other than amendments to Exhibit A, must be approved
or ratified by a majority vote of the FT Funds’ Board including a majority of independent
directors.

VIII.	Confidentiality

	All reports and records prepared or maintained pursuant to this Code will be considered
confidential and shall be maintained and protected accordingly. Except as otherwise required by
law or this Code, such matters shall not be disclosed to anyone other than the FT Funds’ Board
and their counsel.

IX.	Internal Use

	The Code is intended solely for the internal use by the FT Funds and does not constitute
an admission, by or on behalf of any FT Funds, as to any fact, circumstance, or legal
conclusion.

X.	Disclosure on Form N-CSR

	Item 2 of Form N-CSR requires a registered management investment company to
disclose annually whether, as of the end of the period covered by the report, it has adopted a
code of ethics that applies to the registrant's principal executive officer, principal financial officer,
principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of
whether these officers are employed by the registrant or a third party. If the registrant has not
adopted such a code of ethics, it must explain why it has not done so.
	The registrant must also: (1) file with the SEC a copy of the code as an exhibit to its
annual report; (2) post the text of the code on its Internet website and disclose, in its most
recent report on Form N-CSR, its Internet address and the fact that it has posted the code on its
Internet website; or (3) undertake in its most recent report on Form N-CSR to provide to any
person without charge, upon request, a copy of the code and explain the manner in which such
request may be made. Disclosure is also required of amendments to, or waivers (including
implicit waivers) from, a provision of the code in the registrant's annual report on Form N-CSR
or on its website. If the registrant intends to satisfy the requirement to disclose amendments and
waivers by posting such information on its website, it will be required to disclose its Internet
address and this intention.
	The Legal Department shall be responsible for ensuring that:
·	a copy of the Code is filed with the SEC as an exhibit to each Fund’s annual report; and
·	any amendments to, or waivers (including implicit waivers) from, a provision of the Code
	is disclosed in the registrant's annual report on Form N-CSR.
	In the event that the foregoing disclosure is omitted or is determined to be incorrect, the
Legal Department shall promptly file such information with the SEC as an amendment to Form
N-CSR.
	In such an event, the Fund Chief Compliance Officer shall review the Code and propose
such changes to the Code as are necessary or appropriate to prevent reoccurrences.



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EXHIBIT A

Persons Covered by the Franklin Templeton Funds
Code of Ethics
December 2018



FRANKLIN GROUP OF FUNDS

Edward Perks	President and Chief Executive Officer – Investment Management
Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.	Chairman of the Board and Vice President– Investment Management
Don Taylor	President and Chief Executive Officer – Investment Management
Sonal Desai)	President and Chief Executive Officer – Investment Management
Matthew Hinkle	Chief Executive Officer – Finance and Administration
Gaston R. Gardey	Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer



FRANKLIN MUTUAL SERIES FUNDS

Peter Langerman	Chief Executive Officer – Investment Management
Matthew Hinkle	Chief Executive Officer – Finance and Administration
Robert G. Kubilis	Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer


FRANKLIN ALTERNATIVE STRATEGIES FUNDS

Mat S. Gulley	Chief Executive Officer – Investment Management
Matthew Hinkle	Chief Executive Officer – Finance and Administration
Robert G. Kubilis	Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer



TEMPLETON GROUP OF FUNDS

Manraj S. Sekhon	President and Chief Executive Officer – Investment Management
Michael Hasenstab, Ph.D.	President and Chief Executive Officer – Investment Management
Norman Boersma	President and Chief Executive Officer – Investment Management
Matthew Hinkle	Chief Executive Officer – Finance and Administration
Robert G. Kubilis	Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer




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FTI Compliance Procedures                                                                         Standards of Business Conduct

                                                            Exhibit B

                                             ACKNOWLEDGMENT FORM

                                              Franklin Templeton Funds Code of Ethics
                                    For Principal Executives and Senior Financial Officers

Instructions:
1. Complete all sections of this form.
2. Print the completed form, sign, and date.
3. Submit completed form to FT’s General Counsel c/o Code of Ethics Administration within 10
days of becoming a Covered Officer and by February 15^thof each subsequent year.

Inter-office mail: Code of Ethics Administration, Global Compliance SM-920/2
Fax: (650) 312-5646
E-mail: Code of Ethics Inquiries & Requests (internal address);
lpreclear@franklintempleton.com (external address)

Covered Officer’s Name:
Title:
Department:
Location:
Certification for Year Ending:

To: Franklin Resources General Counsel, Legal Department

I acknowledge receiving, reading and understanding the Franklin Templeton Fund’s Code of Ethics for Principal Executive Officers and Senior Financial Officers (the “Code”). I will comply fully with all provisions of the Code to the extent they apply to me during the period of my employment. I further understand and acknowledge that any violation of the Code may subject me to disciplinary action, including termination of employment. Signature Date signed 8 For Internal Use Only - Not For External Distribution

___________________________________ _____________________________________ Signature Date Signed