FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

 

FORM N-CSRS

 

 

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number 811-21357

 

 

Franklin Limited Duration Income Trust

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

 

One Franklin Parkway,

San Mateo, CA 94403-1906

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

 

Craig S. Tyle,

One Franklin Parkway,

San Mateo, CA 94403-1906

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (650) 312-2000

Date of fiscal year end: 3/31

Date of reporting period: 9/30/17

 

 

 

 

 


Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.


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Semiannual Report

 

September 30, 2017

 

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Franklin Templeton Investments

Gain From Our Perspective®

At Franklin Templeton Investments, we’re dedicated to one goal: delivering exceptional asset management for our clients. By bringing together multiple, world-class investment teams in a single firm, we’re able to offer specialized expertise across styles and asset classes, all supported by the strength and resources of one of the world’s largest asset managers. This has helped us to become a trusted partner to individual and institutional investors across the globe.

 

 

 

 

 

Contents

  

Semiannual Report

  

Franklin Limited Duration Income Trust

     2  

Performance Summary

     6  

Important Notice to Shareholders

     7  

Financial Highlights and Statement of Investments

     8  

Financial Statements

     23  

Notes to Financial Statements

     26  

Annual Meeting of Shareholders

     34  

Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan

     35  

Shareholder Information

     37  

 

 

Visit franklintempleton.com/investor/ products/products/closed-end-funds for fund updates, to access your account, or to find helpful financial planning tools.

 

 

    Not FDIC Insured    |  

May Lose Value    |

 

No Bank Guarantee

 

 

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1


Semiannual Report

Franklin Limited Duration Income Trust

 

Dear Shareholder:

This semiannual report for Franklin Limited Duration Income Trust covers the period ended September 30, 2017.

Your Fund’s Goal and Main Investments

The Fund seeks to provide high, current income, with a secondary objective of capital appreciation to the extent possible and consistent with the Fund’s primary objective, through a portfolio consisting primarily of high yield corporate bonds, floating rate corporate loans and mortgage- and other asset-backed securities.

Performance Overview

For the six months under review, the Fund posted cumulative total returns of +2.62% based on net asset value and +5.85% based on market price. Net asset value decreased from $12.91 per share on March 31, 2017, to $12.60 at period-end, and the market price increased from $11.97 to $12.01 over the same period. You can find the Fund’s long-term performance data in the Performance Summary on page 6.

Performance data represent past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from figures shown.

Economic and Market Overview

The US economy strengthened during the six months under review. Key growth drivers in 2017’s second and third quarters included consumer spending, business investment, exports and federal government spending. The manufacturing and services sectors expanded during the period. The unemployment rate decreased from 4.5% in March 2017 to 4.2% at period-end.1 Monthly retail sales were volatile during the period. Annual inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index, decreased from 2.4% in March 2017 to 2.2% at period-end.1

At its June meeting, the US Federal Reserve (Fed) raised its target range for the federal funds rate by 0.25% to 1.00%–1.25%, amid signs of a growing US economy,

Portfolio Composition*

Based on Total Investments as of 9/30/17

 

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*Total investments include long-term and short-term investments and exclude preferred stock issued by the Fund and other financial leverage.

**Includes collateralized loan obligations.

***Rounds to less than 0.1% of total investments.

strengthening labor market and improving business spending. At its July and September 2017 meetings, the Fed kept its target range unchanged. Furthermore in September, the Fed mentioned that it would begin implementing its balance sheet reduction in October.

The 10-year Treasury yield, which moves inversely to its price, shifted throughout the period. In June, the yield rose due to renewed optimism for improvement in economic growth, while in July, the yield rose further amid hawkish comments from key central bankers around the world. Easing concerns about Hurricane Irma’s impact, the Fed’s proposed balance sheet

 

 

1. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The dollar value, number of shares or principal amount, and names of all portfolio holdings are listed in the Fund’s Statement of Investments (SOI). The SOI begins on page 9.

 

 

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FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST

 

 

Dividend Distributions*

 

4/1/17–9/30/17

 

Month

 

Dividend per

Common Share (cents)

April

  10.79

May

  10.79

June

  10.77

July

  10.73

August

  10.67

September

  10.62

Total

 

64.37

 

*The distribution amount is the sum of all estimated tax-basis net investment income distributions for the period shown. A portion or all of the distribution may be reclassified as return of capital or short-term or long-term capital gains once final tax designations are known. All Fund distributions will vary depending upon current market conditions, and past distributions are not indicative of future trends.

normalization in October and the Republican tax reform plan pushed up yields further toward period-end. However, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the Korean Peninsula, US political concerns, and uncertainty on whether the Fed would raise rates again in 2017 resulted in a decline in the yield. Overall, the 10-year Treasury yield fell from 2.40% at the beginning of the period to 2.33% at period-end.

Investment Strategy

We invest in a diversified mix of fixed income securities, primarily high yield corporate bonds, senior secured floating rate corporate loans, and mortgage- and other asset-backed securities. Our top-down analysis of macroeconomic trends combined with a bottom-up analysis of market sectors, industries and issuers drives our investment process. We seek to maintain a limited duration, or interest-rate sensitivity, to moderate the impact that fluctuating interest rates might have on the Fund’s fixed income portfolio. Within the corporate bond and corporate loan sectors, we seek securities trading at reasonable valuations from issuers with characteristics such as strong market positions, stable cash flows, reasonable capital structures, supportive asset values, strong sponsorship and improving credit fundamentals. In the mortgage- and other asset-backed securities sector, we look to capture an attractive income stream and total return through our analysis of security prepayment assumptions, potential pricing inefficiencies and underlying collateral characteristics.

Manager’s Discussion

The six-month period under review experienced less volatility in both financial markets and interest rates, as investors became more confident with the prospects for continued global economic expansion. The 10-year US Treasury yield declined seven basis points during the period to +2.33%. However, US Treasury yields moved higher in the front end of the curve and contracted over longer dated maturities, which led to a flattening of the yield curve over the period. Bond yields and inflation expectations have largely remained within anticipated ranges and global growth expectations continued to be revised higher. Consumer confidence has improved since the US presidential election given largely absent inflationary pressures and improving global growth. Personal consumption continues to be a large driver of the US economy and improving consumer confidence has benefited riskier assets.

 

 

What is the yield curve?

 

The yield curve is a line that plots the interest rates, at a set point in time, of bonds having equal credit quality but differing maturity dates. The most frequently reported yield curve compares three-month, two-year and 30-year U.S. Treasury debt.

 

The broader stock market, as measured by the Standard & Poor’s 500® Index, rose 7.71% over the six-month period after factoring in reinvested dividends.2 Fixed income markets also generated positive returns with lower quality asset classes generally outperforming higher quality asset classes. High yield corporate bonds returned +4.01%, as measured by the Credit Suisse (CS) High Yield Index, followed by mortgage-backed securities at +1.84%, as measured by the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Mortgage-Backed Securities (MBS) Fixed Rate Index, and leveraged loans at +1.82%, as measured by the CS Leveraged Loan Index (LLI Index).2,3 Over the past six months, we increased our exposure to leveraged loans, while reducing our exposure to asset-backed securities.

High Yield Corporate Bonds

Investor appetite for risk coupled with favorable credit fundamentals led to an above-coupon return of +4.01% for high yield corporate bonds during the period. Nearly all subsectors generated positive returns and these returns demonstrated

 

 

2. Source: Morningstar.

3. Source: Credit Suisse Group.

The indexes are unmanaged and include reinvestment of any income or distributions. They do not reflect any fees, expenses or sales charges. One cannot invest directly in an index, and an index is not representative of the Fund’s portfolio.

See www.franklintempletondataresources.com for additional data provider information.

 

 

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FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST

    

 

 

limited differences from the overall sector. Gaming and leisure outperformed all other subsectors whereas food and drug was the laggard and the only subsector that had negative returns. During the period, high yield bond prices were mixed in June due to renewed interest-rate and oil-price volatility. Oil prices declined to a year-to-date low by mid-June following some inventory building. Returns were positive for each subsequent month but were lower in August, relative to July and September, given the heightened potential for conflict with North Korea and the start of the hurricane season. Although Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria caused significant damage, returns rebounded strongly in September given the upward trend in oil prices and the US president’s call for comprehensive tax reform.

Returns by rating were not directly correlated to higher or lower rated credits. During the period, split-B rated bonds generated the best returns, followed by BB-rated and split-BBB rated bonds, while split-BB rated bonds performed in line with the index and B-rated and CCC-rated bonds underperformed the market.

The yield differential above comparable US Treasury yields declined from 4.5% to 4.0%, as investor appetite for the asset class pushed prices higher. Although pressures on commodity producers remained, the broader economic and fundamental corporate credit outlook remained fundamentally supportive of high yield credits. However, with the increase in valuations, we slightly decreased our exposure to high yield corporate bonds.

Floating Rate Corporate Loans

During the six-month period, the leveraged loan asset class returned +1.82%, as measured by the CS LLI. Following robust inflows into loan retail vehicles at the beginning of 2017, flows decelerated significantly and tempered loan demand. However, increased collateralized loan obligation (CLO) volume and continued low new issuance volume provided some balance among loan technical conditions and allowed income generation to offset price declines.

As the yield curve flattened during the period, investor enthusiasm declined for loans as a potential hedge against rising interest rates. Furthermore, despite a Fed rate hike in June, expectations of further rate hikes during 2017 were uncertain. Successive waves of repricing transactions from earlier in the year had also tightened spreads in the loan market,

 

leading to muted coupon increases despite a steadily rising London InterBank Offered Rate (LIBOR), which helped to reduce investor interest in the asset class.

Although demand from retail investors was relatively weaker, CLO volume surged higher. Despite the increase in issuance, technical conditions for the CLO market remained strong as many investors found highly rated tranches attractive compared to other structured vehicles. In addition to new issuance, refinancing transactions remained active in the CLO market. Managers looked to tighten liability spreads through refinancing to offset the impacts of repriced loans.

The one-year default rate remained stable during the period and included a handful of defaults in the energy and retail sectors, while other issuers fell out of the calculation. Fundamental conditions also showed some signs of being later in the credit cycle, as public issuers of loans reported relatively softer quarterly earnings growth. Earnings reports reflected divergent results among loans in different industries, with issuers in energy, retail and media reporting weaker results.

Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities

High-quality securitized sectors performed well during the period. Agency MBS, asset-backed securities (ABS) and commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) all produced positive total returns, but underperformed high yield corporate bonds and had mixed results relative to corporate loans.

Despite tight yield differentials and being fairly valued, agency MBS delivered relatively solid performance. Lower yields and the Fed’s confirmation of its balance sheet normalization plan brought in investors searching for incremental yield. The Fed’s plan incorporates a $4 billion initial cap for reinvestments, which will be stepped up by an additional $4 billion each quarter until it reaches $20 billion. We expect prepayment speeds would remain within an expected range as a small percentage of US agency mortgage borrowers had the ability to refinance, and lending standards, while easing modestly, remained tight.

In agency MBS, the Fund’s mortgage exposure had the heaviest allocation to 3.5% and 4.0% coupon securities. We remained allocated to the CMBS sector, in securities we viewed as fundamentally sound bonds at attractive valuations.

 

 

 

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FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST

 

 

Thank you for your continued participation in Franklin Limited Duration Income Trust. We look forward to serving your future investment needs.

Sincerely,

 

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Christopher J. Molumphy, CFA

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Roger A. Bayston, CFA

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Glenn I. Voyles, CFA

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Madeline Lam

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Justin Ma, CFA

   Portfolio Management Team

The foregoing information reflects our analysis, opinions and portfolio holdings as of September 30, 2017, the end of the reporting period. The way we implement our main investment strategies and the resulting portfolio holdings may change depending on factors such as market and economic conditions. These opinions may not be relied upon as investment advice or an offer for a particular security. The information is not a complete analysis of every aspect of any market, country, industry, security or the Fund. Statements of fact are from sources considered reliable, but the investment manager makes no representation or warranty as to their completeness or accuracy. Although historical performance is no guarantee of future results, these insights may help you understand our investment management philosophy.

 

 

CFA® is a trademark owned by CFA Institute.

 

 

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FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST

    

 

Performance Summary as of September 30, 2017

Total return reflects reinvestment of the Fund’s dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, and any unrealized gains or losses. Total returns do not reflect any sales charges paid at inception or brokerage commissions paid on secondary market purchases. The performance table does not reflect any taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund dividends, capital gain distributions, if any, or any realized gains on the sale of Fund shares. Your dividend income will vary depending on dividends or interest paid by securities in the Fund’s portfolio, adjusted for operating expenses. Capital gain distributions are net profits realized from the sale of portfolio securities.

Performance1,2

 

   Cumulative Total Return3    Average Annual Total Return3
    

Based on

NAV4

 

  

Based on

market price5

  

Based on

NAV4

  

Based on

market price5

6-Month    +2.62%    +5.85%    +2.62%    +5.85%
1-Year    +5.63%    +9.75%    +5.63%    +9.75%
5-Year    +25.16%    +17.17%    +4.59%    +3.22%
10-Year    +86.93%    +111.59%    +6.46%    +7.78%

Performance data represent past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. Current performance may differ from figures shown.

Share Prices

 

Symbol: FTF

 

   9/30/17    3/31/17    Change

Net Asset Value (NAV)

   $12.60    $12.91    -$0.31

Market Price (NYSE)

   $12.01    $11.97    +$0.04

Distributions (4/1/17–9/30/17)

 

Net Investment

Income

 

  

$0.6437

 

  

All investments involve risks, including possible loss of principal. Interest rate movements and mortgage prepayments will affect the Fund’s share price and yield. Bond prices generally move in the opposite direction of interest rates. As prices of bonds in the Fund adjust to a rise in interest rates, the Fund’s share price may decline. Investments in lower rated bonds include higher risk of default and loss of principal. The Fund is actively managed but there is no guarantee that the manager’s investment decisions will produce the desired results.

1. Figures are for common shares. As of 9/30/17, the Fund had leverage in the amount of 34.16% of the Fund’s total portfolio. The Fund employs leverage through the issuance of Auction Preferred Shares and purchase of Mortgage Dollar Rolls. The use of financial leverage creates an opportunity for increased income but, at the same time, creates special risks (including the likelihood of greater volatility of net asset value and market price of common shares). The cost of leverage rises and falls with changes in short-term interest rates. Such increases/decreases in the cost of the Fund’s leverage may be offset by increased/decreased income from the Fund’s floating rate investments.

2. The Fund has a fee waiver associated with any investment it makes in a Franklin Templeton money fund and/or other Franklin Templeton fund, contractually guaranteed through 5/31/18. Fund investment results reflect the fee waiver; without this waiver, the results would have been lower.

3. Total return calculations represent the cumulative and average annual changes in value of an investment over the periods indicated. Return for less than one year, if any, has not been annualized.

4. Assumes reinvestment of distributions based on net asset value.

5. Assumes reinvestment of distributions based on the dividend reinvestment and cash purchase plan.

 

 

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FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST

 

Important Notice to Shareholders

 

Managed Distribution Plan

The Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Fund announced the adoption of a managed distribution plan (the “Plan”) on October 17, 2016 under which the Fund began, in January 2017, making monthly distributions to common shareholders at an annual minimum fixed rate of 10% based on average monthly net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund’s common shares. The primary purpose of the Plan is to provide the Fund’s shareholders with a constant, but not guaranteed, fixed minimum rate of distribution each month. The plan is intended to narrow the discount between the market price and the NAV of the Fund’s common shares, but there is no assurance that the plan will be successful in doing so.

Under Plan, to the extent that sufficient investment income is not available on a monthly basis, the Fund will distribute long-term capital gains and/or return of capital in order to maintain its managed distribution level. No conclusions should be drawn about the Fund’s investment performance from the amount of the Fund’s distributions or from the terms of the Plan. The Board may amend the terms of the Plan or terminate the Plan at any time without prior notice to the Fund’s shareholders. The amendment or termination of the Plan could have an adverse effect on the market price of the Fund’s common shares. The Plan is subject to periodic review by the Board, including a yearly review of the annual minimum fixed rate to determine if an adjustment should be made.

The Fund calculates the average NAV from the previous month based on the number of business days in that month on which the NAV is calculated. The distribution is calculated as 10% of the previous month’s average NAV, divided by 12. Typically, distributions will be declared by press release 10 days before the last business day of each month, with the record date on the last business day of the month. The payment date for the distribution will typically be during the middle of the next month.

With each distribution that does not consist solely of net investment income, the Fund will issue a notice to shareholders and an accompanying press release that will provide detailed information regarding the amount and composition of the distribution and other related information. The amounts and sources of distributions reported in the notice to shareholders are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund’s investment

experience during its full fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send shareholders a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell them how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

The Fund may at times distribute more than its net investment income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of the distribution may result in a return of capital. A return of capital occurs when some or all of the money that shareholders invested in the Fund is paid back to them. A return of capital does not necessarily reflect the Fund’s investment performance and should not be confused with ‘yield’ or ‘income’. Any such returns of capital will decrease the Fund’s total assets and, therefore, could have the effect of increasing the Fund’s expense ratio. In addition, in order to make the level of distributions called for under its plan, the Fund may have to sell portfolio securities at a less than opportune time.

 

 

 

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FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST

    

 

Financial Highlights

 

 

 

     Six Months Ended                                
     September 30, 2017     Year Ended March 31,  
      (unaudited)     2017     2016     2015     2014     2013  

Per common share operating performance

            

(for a common share outstanding throughout the period)

 

         

Net asset value, beginning of period

                         $12.91       $12.38       $13.87       $14.36       $14.30       $13.82  
  

 

 

 

Income from investment operations:

            

Net investment incomea

     0.33       0.62       0.72       0.73       0.80       0.90  

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)

     0.05       0.85       (1.41)       (0.33)       0.20       0.62  

Dividends to preferred shareholders from net investment income

     (0.05     (0.07     (0.06     (0.06     (0.06     (0.05
  

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

  

 

 

 

0.33

 

 

    1.40       (0.75)       0.34       0.94       1.47  
  

 

 

 

Less distributions to common shareholders from:

            

Net investment income

     (0.64     (0.57     (0.74     (0.83     (0.88     (0.99

Tax return of capital

           (0.36)                          
  

 

 

 

Total distributions

  

 

 

 

(0.64

 

    (0.93     (0.74     (0.83     (0.88     (0.99
  

 

 

 

Repurchase of shares

           0.06                          
  

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

  

 

 

 

$12.60

 

 

    $12.91       $12.38       $13.87       $14.36       $14.30  
  

 

 

 

Market value, end of periodb

  

 

 

 

$12.01

 

 

    $11.97       $11.34       $12.17       $13.05       $14.82  
  

 

 

 

Total return (based on market value per share)c

     5.85%       14.07%       (0.44)%       (0.35)%       (5.85)%       13.41%  

Ratios to average net assets applicable to

common sharesd,e

            

Expenses before waiver and payments by affiliates and expense reduction

     1.18%       1.35%       1.16%       1.14%       1.12%       1.13%  

Expenses net of waiver and payments by affiliates and expense reduction

     1.16% f       1.32% f       1.16% f,g       1.14% f,g       1.12% f,g       1.13%  

Net investment income

     5.06%       4.83%       5.52%       5.14%       5.65%       6.44%  

Supplemental data

            

Net assets applicable to common shares, end of period (000’s)

     $284,814       $291,875       $332,132       $372,080       $385,388       $383,632  

Portfolio turnover rate

     98.66%       265.00%       270.16%       289.67%       318.57%       295.39%  

Portfolio turnover rate excluding mortgage dollar rollsh

     17.60%       93.00%       81.78%       92.15%       137.85%       106.42%  

Asset coverage per preferred share

     $73,177       $74,809       $75,991       $76,665       $78,686       $79,157  

Liquidation preference per preferred share

     $25,000       $25,000       $25,000       $25,000       $25,000       $25,000  

aBased on average daily common shares outstanding.

bBased on the last sale on the NYSE MKT.

cTotal return is not annualized for periods less than one year.

dBased on income and expenses applicable to both common and preferred shares.

eRatios are annualized for periods less than one year.

fBenefit of expense reduction rounds to less than 0.01%.

gBenefit of waiver and payments by affiliates rounds to less than 0.01%.

hSee Note 1(d) regarding mortgage dollar rolls.

 

 

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 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

  

 

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FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST

 

Statement of Investments, September 30, 2017 (unaudited)

 

      Country    Shares/
Warrants
     Value  

Common Stocks and Other Equity Interests 0.9%

        

Energy 0.9%

        

a CHC Group LLC

   Cayman Islands      15,520      $ 124,160  

a Energy XXI Gulf Coast Inc.

   United States      19,083        197,318  

a Energy XXI Gulf Coast Inc., wts., 12/30/21

   United States      5,004        1,501  

a Halcon Resources Corp.

   United States      67,554        459,367  

a Halcon Resources Corp., wts., 9/09/20

   United States      6,408        4,486  

a Linn Energy Inc.

   United States      17,897        646,976  

a Midstates Petroleum Co. Inc.

   United States      364        5,657  

  a,b Midstates Petroleum Co. Inc., wts., 4/21/20

   United States      2,579        289  

a,b,c Nine Point Energy LLC

   United States      18,477        221,719  

a Penn Virginia Corp.

   United States      3,117        124,618  

a Samson Resources II LLC

   United States      31,225        772,819  
        

 

 

 
               2,558,910  
        

 

 

 

Materials 0.0%

        

a Verso Corp., A

   United States      4,163        21,190  

a Verso Corp., wts., 7/25/23

   United States      438        4  
        

 

 

 
           21,194  
        

 

 

 

Transportation 0.0%

        

a CEVA Holdings LLC

   United States      112        50,463  
        

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks and Other Equity Interests

        

(Cost $6,698,897)

           2,630,567  
        

 

 

 

Convertible Preferred Stocks 0.2%

        

Energy 0.2%

        

a,b,c Nine Point Energy Holdings Inc., cvt. pfd

   United States      404        478,838  
        

 

 

 

Transportation 0.0%

        

a CEVA Holdings LLC, cvt. pfd., A-1

   United States      6        3,720  

a CEVA Holdings LLC, cvt. pfd., A-2

   United States      243        109,238  
        

 

 

 
           112,958  
        

 

 

 

Total Convertible Preferred Stocks (Cost $747,552)

           591,796  
        

 

 

 
        Principal     
        Amount   

Convertible Bonds (Cost $1,476,542) 0.5%

        

Energy 0.5%

        

CHC Group LLC/CHC Finance Ltd., cvt., zero cpn., 10/01/20

   Cayman Islands      798,131        1,225,131  
        

 

 

 

Corporate Bonds 51.1%

        

Automobiles & Components 0.9%

        

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, senior note, 4.50%, 4/15/20

   United Kingdom      1,500,000        1,571,250  

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.,

        

senior bond, 5.00%, 5/31/26

   United States      700,000        732,375  

senior note, 5.125%, 11/15/23

   United States      300,000        314,625  
        

 

 

 
           2,618,250  
        

 

 

 

 

 

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9


FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

      Country    Principal
Amount*
     Value  

Corporate Bonds (continued)

        

Banks 2.0%

        

d Bank of America Corp., junior sub. bond, M, 8.125% to 5/15/18, FRN thereafter, Perpetual

   United States      1,500,000      $ 1,548,750  

d Citigroup Inc., junior sub. bond, M, 6.30% to 5/15/24, FRN thereafter, Perpetual

   United States      1,300,000        1,412,125  

d JPMorgan Chase & Co., junior sub. bond, R, 6.00% to 8/01/23, FRN thereafter, Perpetual

   United States      1,500,000        1,629,375  

  Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC, sub. note, 6.125%, 12/15/22

   United Kingdom      1,000,000            1,105,260  
        

 

 

 
           5,695,510  
        

 

 

 

Capital Goods 2.1%

        

CNH Industrial Capital LLC, senior note, 3.875%, 10/15/21

   United States      1,200,000        1,236,150  

e H&E Equipment Services Inc., senior note, 144A, 5.625%, 9/01/25

   United States      500,000        528,750  

e HD Supply Inc., senior note, 144A, 5.75%, 4/15/24

   United States      400,000        429,000  

e Tennant Co., senior note, 144A, 5.625%, 5/01/25

   United States      800,000        834,000  

e Terex Corp., senior note, 144A, 5.625%, 2/01/25

   United States      500,000        527,500  

TransDigm Inc., senior sub. bond, 6.50%, 5/15/25

   United States      500,000        516,250  

e Vertiv Group Corp., senior note, 144A, 9.25%, 10/15/24

   United States      1,600,000        1,808,000  
        

 

 

 
           5,879,650  
        

 

 

 

Commercial & Professional Services 0.6%

        

e,f Multi-Color Corp., senior note, 144A, 4.875%, 11/01/25

   United States      900,000        913,500  

United Rentals North America Inc., senior bond, 5.875%, 9/15/26

   United States      600,000        654,000  
        

 

 

 
           1,567,500  
        

 

 

 

Consumer Durables & Apparel 1.7%

        

Beazer Homes USA Inc., senior note, 8.75%, 3/15/22

   United States      1,300,000        1,443,000  

e Hanesbrands Inc., senior note, 144A, 4.625%, 5/15/24

   United States      1,100,000        1,150,875  

KB Home, senior note, 7.00%, 12/15/21

   United States      1,100,000        1,238,875  

e Taylor Morrison Communities Inc./Taylor Morrison Holdings II Inc., senior note, 144A, 5.875%, 4/15/23

   United States      1,000,000        1,065,000  
        

 

 

 
           4,897,750  
        

 

 

 

Consumer Services 3.8%

        

e 1011778 BC ULC/New Red Finance Inc., senior secured note, first lien, 144A, 4.25%, 5/15/24

   Canada      800,000        805,000  

e 24 Hour Holdings III LLC, senior note, 144A, 8.00%, 6/01/22

   United States      1,000,000        932,500  

e Ascend Learning LLC, senior note, 144A, 6.875%, 8/01/25

   United States      500,000        528,750  

e International Game Technology PLC, senior note, 144A, 5.625%, 2/15/20

   United States      1,500,000        1,591,875  

e Jack Ohio Finance LLC/Jack Ohio Finance 1 Corp., senior secured note, first lien, 144A, 6.75%, 11/15/21

   United States      1,400,000        1,471,750  

e KFC Holding Co./Pizza Hut Holdings LLC/Taco Bell of America LLC, senior note, 144A, 5.00%, 6/01/24

   United States      1,400,000        1,478,750  

MGM Resorts International, senior note, 8.625%, 2/01/19

   United States      1,000,000        1,082,500  

e Silversea Cruise Finance Ltd., senior secured note, first lien, 144A, 7.25%, 2/01/25

   United States      600,000        645,000  

e Wynn Las Vegas LLC/Wynn Las Vegas Capital Corp., senior bond, 144A, 5.50%, 3/01/25

   United States      900,000        939,375  

e Wynn Macau Ltd., senior note, 144A, 4.875%, 10/01/24

   Macau      1,200,000        1,219,242  
        

 

 

 
           10,694,742  
        

 

 

 

Diversified Financials 1.8%

        

Aircastle Ltd., senior note, 4.125%, 5/01/24

   United States      700,000        726,250  

e FirstCash Inc., senior note, 144A, 5.375%, 6/01/24

   United States      900,000        942,750  

e Lincoln Finance Ltd., senior secured note, 144A, 7.375%, 4/15/21

   Netherlands      1,000,000        1,056,250  

 

 

10      

 

 

      Semiannual Report  

      

 

franklintempleton.com


FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

      Country    Principal
Amount*
     Value  

Corporate Bonds (continued)

        

Diversified Financials (continued)

        

Navient Corp.,

        

senior note, 5.00%, 10/26/20

   United States      300,000      $ 309,375  

senior note, 5.875%, 3/25/21

   United States      200,000        211,250  

senior note, 6.625%, 7/26/21

   United States      700,000        750,750  

senior note, 7.25%, 9/25/23

   United States      1,100,000        1,200,375  
        

 

 

 
           5,197,000  
        

 

 

 

Energy 6.2%

        

g BreitBurn Energy Partners LP/BreitBurn Finance Corp., senior bond, 7.875%, 4/15/22

   United States      500,000        23,750  

California Resources Corp.,

        

e secured note, second lien, 144A, 8.00%, 12/15/22

   United States      924,000        604,065  

senior note, 5.50%, 9/15/21

   United States      37,000        20,905  

Calumet Specialty Products Partners LP/Calumet Finance Corp.,

        

senior note, 7.75%, 4/15/23

   United States      1,000,000        980,000  

e senior note, 144A, 11.50%, 1/15/21

   United States      500,000        581,875  

Cheniere Corpus Christi Holdings LLC,

        

senior note, first lien, 7.00%, 6/30/24

   United States      700,000        798,875  

senior secured note, first lien, 5.875%, 3/31/25

   United States      600,000        648,000  

e Cheniere Energy Partners LP, senior note, 144A, 5.25%, 10/01/25

   United States      1,000,000        1,025,000  

CONSOL Energy Inc.,

        

senior note, 5.875%, 4/15/22

   United States      500,000        507,500  

senior note, 8.00%, 4/01/23

   United States      700,000        747,292  

Crestwood Midstream Partners LP/Crestwood Midstream Finance Corp., senior note, 6.25%, 4/01/23

   United States      1,500,000        1,554,375  

CSI Compressco LP/CSI Compressco Finance Inc., senior note, 7.25%, 8/15/22

   United States      400,000        372,000  

Energy Transfer Equity LP, senior note, first lien, 7.50%, 10/15/20

   United States      1,500,000        1,696,875  

e,h EnQuest PLC, senior note, 144A, PIK, 8.00%, 10/15/23

   United Kingdom      1,071,463        730,112  

Ferrellgas LP/Ferrellgas Finance Corp., senior note, 6.75%, 6/15/23

   United States      800,000        774,000  

Martin Midstream Partners LP/Martin Midstream Finance Corp., senior note, 7.25%, 2/15/21

   United States      900,000        924,750  

e Murray Energy Corp., secured note, second lien, 144A, 11.25%, 4/15/21

   United States      800,000        481,000  

QEP Resources Inc., senior bond, 5.25%, 5/01/23

   United States      500,000        488,600  

Sanchez Energy Corp.,

        

senior note, 7.75%, 6/15/21

   United States      900,000        857,250  

senior note, 6.125%, 1/15/23

   United States      300,000        259,500  

Weatherford International Ltd.,

        

senior note, 5.125%, 9/15/20

   United States      400,000        396,276  

senior note, 7.75%, 6/15/21

   United States      1,000,000        1,043,750  

senior note, 4.50%, 4/15/22

   United States      400,000        374,000  

WPX Energy Inc., senior note, 7.50%, 8/01/20

   United States      1,500,000        1,638,750  
        

 

 

 
           17,528,500  
        

 

 

 

Food, Beverage & Tobacco 1.5%

        

Constellation Brands Inc.,

        

senior note, 3.875%, 11/15/19

   United States      900,000        934,342  

senior note, 4.75%, 12/01/25

   United States      200,000        218,652  

 

 

franklintempleton.com

     

 

  Semiannual Report      

 

 

11


FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

      Country    Principal
Amount*
     Value  

Corporate Bonds (continued)

        

Food, Beverage & Tobacco (continued)

        

e Cott Holdings Inc., senior note, 144A, 5.50%, 4/01/25

   Canada      1,500,000      $     1,564,500  

e Lamb Weston Holdings Inc., senior note, 144A, 4.625%, 11/01/24

   United States      1,100,000        1,152,250  

e Post Holdings Inc.,

        

senior note, 144A, 6.00%, 12/15/22

   United States      100,000        105,125  

senior note, 144A, 5.50%, 3/01/25

   United States      400,000        416,000  
        

 

 

 
           4,390,869  
        

 

 

 

Health Care Equipment & Services 2.9%

        

e,f Avantor Inc., senior secured note, first lien, 144A, 6.00%, 10/01/24

   United States      600,000        615,000  

CHS/Community Health Systems Inc.,

        

senior note, 7.125%, 7/15/20

   United States      900,000        815,625  

senior secured note, first lien, 6.25%, 3/31/23

   United States      700,000        693,875  

e Envision Healthcare Corp., senior note, 144A, 6.25%, 12/01/24

   United States      500,000        538,125  

HCA Inc.,

        

senior bond, 5.875%, 5/01/23

   United States      900,000        981,000  

senior note, 7.50%, 2/15/22

   United States      500,000        574,845  

senior secured bond, first lien, 5.875%, 3/15/22

   United States      1,000,000        1,110,000  

e MPH Acquisition Holdings LLC, senior note, 144A, 7.125%, 6/01/24

   United States      1,300,000        1,400,750  

Tenet Healthcare Corp.,

        

senior note, 5.50%, 3/01/19

   United States      900,000        921,375  

senior secured note, first lien, 6.00%, 10/01/20

   United States      500,000        534,105  
        

 

 

 
           8,184,700  
        

 

 

 

Materials 8.1%

        

h ARD Finance SA, secured note, PIK, 7.125%, 9/15/23

   Luxembourg      600,000        642,750  

e Ardagh Packaging Finance PLC/Ardagh MP Holdings USA Inc.,

        

senior note, 144A, 4.25%, 9/15/22

   Luxembourg      300,000        308,250  

senior note, 144A, 6.00%, 2/15/25

   Luxembourg      500,000        530,625  

e BlueScope Steel Ltd./BlueScope Steel Finance, senior note, 144A, 6.50%, 5/15/21

   Australia      1,500,000        1,572,502  

e BWAY Holding Co., secured note, 144A, 5.50%, 4/15/24

   United States      1,500,000        1,569,375  

e Cemex SAB de CV, senior secured bond, 144A, 7.75%, 4/16/26

   Mexico      400,000        460,218  

The Chemours Co., senior note, 6.625%, 5/15/23

   United States      1,500,000        1,603,125  

e CVR Partners LP/CVR Nitrogen Finance Corp., secured note, second lien, 144A, 9.25%, 6/15/23

   United States      500,000        534,375  

e Eldorado Gold Corp., senior note, 144A, 6.125%, 12/15/20

   Canada      800,000        817,000  

e First Quantum Minerals Ltd.,

        

senior note, 144A, 7.00%, 2/15/21

   Zambia      961,000        993,434  

senior note, 144A, 7.25%, 4/01/23

   Zambia      500,000        516,250  

e FMG Resources (August 2006) Pty. Ltd., senior note, 144A, 4.75%, 5/15/22

   Australia      700,000        710,325  

e Grinding Media Inc./MC Grinding Media Canada Inc., senior secured note, 144A, 7.375%, 12/15/23

   United States      800,000        870,000  

e HudBay Minerals Inc., senior note, 144A, 7.25%, 1/15/23

   Canada      400,000        428,000  

e New Gold Inc., senior note, 144A, 6.375%, 5/15/25

   Canada      600,000        636,000  

e Novelis Corp., senior note, 144A, 6.25%, 8/15/24

   United States      1,300,000        1,358,760  

e Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.,

        

senior note, 144A, 5.00%, 1/15/22

   United States      900,000        956,250  

senior note, 144A, 5.875%, 8/15/23

   United States      400,000        442,750  

e Petra Diamonds U.S. Treasury PLC, secured note, second lien, 144A, 7.25%, 5/01/22

   South Africa      700,000        715,750  

e Platform Specialty Products Corp.,

        

senior note, 144A, 10.375%, 5/01/21

   United States      100,000        109,250  

senior note, 144A, 6.50%, 2/01/22

   United States      600,000        623,250  

 

 

12      

 

 

      Semiannual Report  

      

 

franklintempleton.com


FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

      Country    Principal
Amount*
     Value  

Corporate Bonds (continued)

        

Materials (continued)

        

e Rain CII Carbon LLC/CII Carbon Corp., secured note, second lien, 144A, 8.25%, 1/15/21

   United States      600,000      $ 623,250  

e Reynolds Group Issuer Inc./Reynolds Group Issuer LLC/Reynolds Group Issuer Luxembourg SA,

        

senior note, 144A, 7.00%, 7/15/24

   United States      100,000        106,688  

senior secured note, first lien, 144A, 5.125%, 7/15/23

   United States      400,000        417,940  

i senior secured note, first lien, 144A, FRN, 4.804%, (3-month USD LIBOR + 3.50%), 7/15/21

   United States      400,000        409,000  

e Sealed Air Corp.,

        

senior bond, 144A, 5.125%, 12/01/24

   United States      500,000        540,625  

senior bond, 144A, 5.50%, 9/15/25

   United States      600,000        661,500  

Steel Dynamics Inc., senior note, 5.125%, 10/01/21

   United States      1,500,000        1,546,875  

Summit Materials LLC/Summit Materials Finance Corp., senior note, 8.50%, 4/15/22

   United States      1,200,000        1,356,000  

e SunCoke Energy Partners LP/SunCoke Energy Partners Finance Corp.,
senior note, 144A, 7.50%, 6/15/25

   United States      1,100,000        1,141,250  
        

 

 

 
           23,201,367  
        

 

 

 

Media 4.6%

        

e Altice U.S. Finance I Corp., senior secured bond, 144A, 5.50%, 5/15/26

   United States      1,000,000        1,057,500  

AMC Networks Inc., senior note, 5.00%, 4/01/24

   United States      1,000,000        1,035,000  

CCO Holdings LLC/CCO Holdings Capital Corp.,

        

senior bond, 5.25%, 9/30/22

   United States      1,500,000        1,548,750  

e senior note, 144A, 5.125%, 5/01/23

   United States      500,000        521,875  

Clear Channel Worldwide Holdings Inc.,

        

senior note, 6.50%, 11/15/22

   United States      700,000        724,500  

senior sub. note, 7.625%, 3/15/20

   United States      800,000        793,000  

CSC Holdings LLC,

        

senior note, 6.75%, 11/15/21

   United States      1,000,000        1,107,500  

senior note, 5.25%, 6/01/24

   United States      500,000        506,875  

iHeartCommunications Inc., senior secured bond, first lien, 9.00%, 3/01/21

   United States      1,500,000        1,073,438  

e Nexstar Broadcasting Inc., senior note, 144A, 5.625%, 8/01/24

   United States      500,000        518,750  

e Radio One Inc., senior sub. note, 144A, 9.25%, 2/15/20

   United States      600,000        571,500  

e Virgin Media Secured Finance PLC,

        

senior secured bond, first lien, 144A, 5.50%, 1/15/25

   United Kingdom      1,100,000        1,153,625  

senior secured bond, first lien, 144A, 5.50%, 8/15/26

   United Kingdom      400,000        422,500  

e WMG Acquisition Corp.,

        

secured note, first lien, 144A, 5.00%, 8/01/23

   United States      100,000        103,625  

senior note, 144A, 5.625%, 4/15/22

   United States      1,806,000        1,885,012  
        

 

 

 
           13,023,450  
        

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences 2.2%

        

e Concordia International Corp.,

        

senior note, 144A, 7.00%, 4/15/23

   Canada      900,000        157,500  

senior secured note, first lien, 144A, 9.00%, 4/01/22

   Canada      500,000        392,500  

e Endo DAC/Endo Finance LLC/Endo Finco Inc.,

        

senior bond, 144A, 6.00%, 2/01/25

   United States      1,000,000        815,000  

senior note, 144A, 6.00%, 7/15/23

   United States      500,000        415,000  

Horizon Pharma Inc., senior note, 6.625%, 5/01/23

   United States      1,200,000        1,176,000  

e Jaguar Holding Co. II/Pharmaceutical Product Development LLC, senior note, 144A, 6.375%, 8/01/23

   United States      1,200,000        1,258,500  

 

 

franklintempleton.com

     

 

  Semiannual Report      

 

 

13


FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

      Country    Principal
Amount*
     Value  

 

Corporate Bonds (continued)

        

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences (continued)

        

eValeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc.,

        

first lien, 144A, 6.50%, 3/15/22

   United States      200,000      $ 211,500  

senior note, 144A, 5.375%, 3/15/20

   United States      500,000        501,250  

senior note, 144A, 5.625%, 12/01/21

   United States      500,000        470,000  

e Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, senior note, 144A, 6.375%, 10/15/20

   United States      1,000,000        1,003,440  
        

 

 

 
           6,400,690  
        

 

 

 

Real Estate 0.5%

        

Equinix Inc., senior bond, 5.875%, 1/15/26

   United States      300,000        330,375  

MPT Operating Partnership LP/MPT Finance Corp.,

        

senior bond, 5.25%, 8/01/26

   United States      300,000        311,250  

senior note, 6.375%, 3/01/24

   United States      700,000        758,625  
        

 

 

 
           1,400,250  
        

 

 

 

Retailing 1.4%

        

Dollar Tree Inc., senior note, 5.25%, 3/01/20

   United States      400,000        411,600  

Netflix Inc., senior note, 5.50%, 2/15/22

   United States      1,500,000        1,642,500  

Penske Automotive Group Inc., senior sub. note, 3.75%, 8/15/20

   United States      1,400,000        1,431,500  

e PetSmart Inc., senior note, 144A, 7.125%, 3/15/23

   United States      700,000        547,960  
        

 

 

 
           4,033,560  
        

 

 

 

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 0.4%

        

e Microsemi Corp., senior note, 144A, 9.125%, 4/15/23

   United States      313,000        358,776  

Qorvo Inc., senior note, 6.75%, 12/01/23

   United States      700,000        764,855  
        

 

 

 
           1,123,631  
        

 

 

 

Software & Services 1.8%

        

e CyrusOne LP/CyrusOne Finance Corp., senior note, 144A, 5.00%, 3/15/24

   United States      300,000        316,500  

e First Data Corp.,

        

secured note, first lien, 144A, 5.00%, 1/15/24

   United States      1,700,000        1,771,485  

senior note, 144A, 7.00%, 12/01/23

   United States      500,000        535,150  

Infor (U.S.) Inc., senior note, 6.50%, 5/15/22

   United States      1,800,000        1,875,366  

e Symantec Corp., senior note, 144A, 5.00%, 4/15/25

   United States      600,000        628,878  
        

 

 

 
           5,127,379  
        

 

 

 

Technology Hardware & Equipment 1.1%

        

e Blackboard Inc., secured note, second lien, 144A, 9.75%, 10/15/21

   United States      1,538,000        1,380,355  

e Dell International LLC/EMC Corp., senior note, 144A, 5.875%, 6/15/21

   United States      400,000        419,168  

e Tempo Acquisition LLC/Tempo Acquisition Finance Corp., senior note, 144A, 6.75%, 6/01/25

   United States      800,000        810,000  

e TTM Technologies Inc., senior note, 144A, 5.625%, 10/01/25

   United States      500,000        507,188  
        

 

 

 
               3,116,711  
        

 

 

 

Telecommunication Services 4.1%

        

e Block Communications Inc., senior note, 144A, 6.875%, 2/15/25

   United States      300,000        327,090  

CenturyLink Inc., senior bond, 5.625%, 4/01/25

   United States      400,000        384,500  

e Digicel Group Ltd., senior note, 144A, 8.25%, 9/30/20

   Bermuda      1,200,000        1,173,522  

e Digicel Ltd., senior note, 144A, 6.00%, 4/15/21

   Bermuda      700,000        685,384  

e Millicom International Cellular SA, senior note, 144A, 6.625%, 10/15/21

   Colombia      1,500,000        1,552,500  

e,f SBA Communications Corp., senior note, 144A, 4.00%, 10/01/22

   United States      1,400,000        1,407,000  

e Sprint Communications Inc.,

        

senior note, 144A, 9.00%, 11/15/18

   United States      148,000        159,100  

senior note, 144A, 7.00%, 3/01/20

   United States      600,000        657,000  

 

 

14      

 

 

      Semiannual Report  

      

 

franklintempleton.com


FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

      Country    Principal
Amount*
     Value  

 

Corporate Bonds (continued)

        

Telecommunication Services (continued)

        

Sprint Corp.,

        

senior bond, 7.125%, 6/15/24

   United States      300,000      $ 338,250  

senior note, 7.25%, 9/15/21

   United States      500,000        556,875  

T-Mobile USA Inc.,

        

senior bond, 6.50%, 1/15/24

   United States      500,000        534,000  

senior note, 6.125%, 1/15/22

   United States      1,000,000        1,042,500  

senior note, 4.00%, 4/15/22

   United States      700,000        726,614  

e Wind Acquisition Finance SA,

        

secured note, second lien, 144A, 7.375%, 4/23/21

   Italy      1,500,000        1,562,640  

senior secured note, first lien, 144A, 4.75%, 7/15/20

   Italy      500,000        508,750  
        

 

 

 
           11,615,725  
        

 

 

 

Transportation 0.8%

        

e DAE Funding LLC,

        

senior note, 144A, 4.00%, 8/01/20

   United Arab Emirates      800,000        817,000  

senior note, 144A, 4.50%, 8/01/22

   United Arab Emirates      400,000        410,152  

e Park Aerospace Holdings Ltd., senior note, 144A, 5.25%, 8/15/22

   Ireland      1,100,000        1,144,550  
        

 

 

 
           2,371,702  
        

 

 

 

Utilities 2.6%

        

Calpine Corp., senior note, 5.375%, 1/15/23

   United States      1,500,000        1,466,475  

Dynegy Inc., senior note, 6.75%, 11/01/19

   United States      1,128,000        1,170,300  

Ferrellgas Partners LP/Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp., senior note, 8.625%, 6/15/20

   United States      500,000        477,500  

e InterGen NV, secured bond, 144A, 7.00%, 6/30/23

   Netherlands      1,500,000        1,462,808  

NRG Yield Operating LLC,

        

senior bond, 5.375%, 8/15/24

   United States      500,000        527,500  

senior bond, 5.00%, 9/15/26

   United States      1,000,000        1,045,000  

Talen Energy Supply LLC, senior note, 6.50%, 6/01/25

   United States      1,500,000        1,147,500  
        

 

 

 
           7,297,083  
        

 

 

 

Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $142,096,428)

           145,366,019  
        

 

 

 

i,j Senior Floating Rate Interests 50.0%

        

Capital Goods 3.4%

        

Doncasters U.S. Finance LLC, Term B Loans, 4.833%, (LIBOR + 3.50%), 4/09/20

   United States      1,955,354        1,897,509  

Flying Fortress Inc. (ILFC), New Loan, 3.333%, (LIBOR + 2.00%), 10/30/22

   Luxembourg      1,629,859        1,641,065  

Harsco Corp., Initial Term Loan, 6.25%, (LIBOR + 5.00%), 11/02/23

   United States      444,740        453,265  

Leidos Innovations Corp., Term Loan B, 3.25%, (LIBOR + 2.00%), 8/16/23

   United States      430,758        432,804  

Mueller Water Products Inc., Loans, 3.735% - 3.833%, (LIBOR + 2.50%), 11/25/21

   United States      345,643        348,343  

Navistar Inc., Tranche B Term Loans, 5.24%, (LIBOR + 4.00%), 8/07/20

   United States      3,276,397        3,305,746  

Onsite Rental Group Operations Pty. Ltd., Term B Loan, 5.737%, (LIBOR + 4.50%), 7/31/21

   Australia      1,940,000        1,581,100  
        

 

 

 
           9,659,832  
        

 

 

 

Commercial & Professional Services 0.8%

        

Conduent Business Services LLC, Delayed Draw Term A Loan, 3.485%,
(LIBOR + 2.25%), 12/07/21

   United States      1,000,000        1,001,250  

Ventia Pty. Ltd., Term B Loans (USD), 4.833%, (LIBOR + 3.50%), 5/21/22

   Australia      1,326,810        1,336,761  
        

 

 

 
           2,338,011  
        

 

 

 

 

 

franklintempleton.com

     

 

  Semiannual Report      

 

 

15


FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

      Country    Principal
Amount*
     Value  

i,j Senior Floating Rate Interests (continued)

        

Consumer Services 3.7%

        

24 Hour Fitness Worldwide Inc., Term Loan, 5.046%, (LIBOR + 3.75%), 5/28/21

   United States      1,935,000      $ 1,937,999  

Avis Budget Car Rental LLC, Tranche B Term Loan, 3.34%, (LIBOR + 2.00%), 3/15/22

   United States      2,073,215        2,066,737  

Fitness International LLC, Term A Loan, 4.485%, (LIBOR + 3.25%), 4/01/20

   United States      1,818,881        1,823,050  

Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC, Series B-2 Term Loans, 3.237%, (LIBOR + 2.00%), 10/25/23

   United States      1,985,013        1,995,144  

KFC Holding Co./Pizza Hut Holdings LLC/Taco Bell of America LLC, Term B Loans, 3.234%, (LIBOR + 2.00%), 6/16/23

   United States      1,725,315        1,735,173  

Las Vegas Sands LLC, Term B Loans, 3.235%, (LIBOR + 2.00%), 3/29/24

   United States      130,970        131,625  

Sabre GLBL Inc., 2017 Other Term A Loans, 3.485%, (LIBOR + 2.25%), 7/01/22

   United States      977,096        981,166  
        

 

 

 
               10,670,894  
        

 

 

 

Diversified Financials 1.5%

        

Avolon TLB Borrower 1 US LLC, Initial Term B-1 Loans, 3.486%, (LIBOR + 2.25%), 9/16/20

   United States      2,310,977        2,321,293  

Finco I LLC, Initial Term Loans, 2.75%, (LIBOR + 2.75%), 6/14/22

   United States      2,000,000        2,021,750  
        

 

 

 
           4,343,043  
        

 

 

 

Energy 0.9%

        

Energy Transfer Equity LP, Loans, 3.981%, (LIBOR + 2.75%), 2/02/24

   United States      501,857        504,635  

OSG Bulk Ships Inc., Initial Term Loan, 5.57%, (LIBOR + 4.25%), 8/05/19

   United States      2,035,947        1,943,057  
        

 

 

 
           2,447,692  
        

 

 

 

Food, Beverage & Tobacco 1.7%

        

JBS USA LUX SA, New Initial Term Loans, 3.804%, (LIBOR + 2.50%), 10/30/22

   Brazil      3,006,936        2,973,483  

Pinnacle Foods Finance LLC, Initial Term Loans, 3.232%, (LIBOR + 2.00%), 2/03/24

   United States      132,825        133,323  

Post Holdings Inc., Series A Incremental Term Loan, 3.49%, (LIBOR + 2.25%), 5/24/24

   United States      1,693,281        1,698,680  
        

 

 

 
           4,805,486  
        

 

 

 

Health Care Equipment & Services 2.1%

        

Envision Healthcare Corp. (Emergency Medical), Initial Term Loans, 4.24%, (LIBOR + 3.00%), 12/01/23

   United States      1,639,439        1,651,906  

Mallinckrodt International Finance SA/CB LLC, Extended Term Loan B, 4.083%,
(LIBOR + 2.75%), 9/24/24

   United States      1,990,000        1,990,000  

U.S. Renal Care Inc., Initial Term Loan, 5.583%, (LIBOR + 4.25%), 12/31/22

   United States      2,487,342        2,417,385  
        

 

 

 
           6,059,291  
        

 

 

 

Household & Personal Products 1.4%

        

FGI Operating Co. LLC, Term B Loans, 5.50%, (LIBOR + 4.25%), 4/19/19

   United States      1,981,235        1,544,125  

Spectrum Brands Inc., USD Term Loans, 3.312% - 3.314%, (LIBOR + 2.00%), 6/23/22

   United States      2,413,998        2,429,689  
        

 

 

 
           3,973,814  
        

 

 

 

 

 

16      

 

 

      Semiannual Report  

      

 

franklintempleton.com


FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

      Country    Principal
Amount*
     Value  

i,j Senior Floating Rate Interests (continued)

        

Materials 3.6%

        

Ashland LLC, Term B Loan, 3.237% - 3.319%, (LIBOR + 2.00%), 5/17/24

   United States      541,850      $ 544,559  

Axalta Coating Systems U.S. Holdings Inc., Term B-2 Dollar Loans, 3.333%, (LIBOR + 2.00%), 6/01/24

   United States      1,865,272        1,876,833  

Chemours Co., Tranche B-1 US Term Loans, 3.74%, (LIBOR + 2.50%), 5/12/22

   United States      2,141,057        2,155,777  

Cyanco Intermediate Corp., Initial Term Loan, 5.735%, (LIBOR + 4.50%), 5/01/20

   United States      1,816,120        1,830,309  

Ineos U.S. Finance LLC, 2024 Dollar Term Loan, 3.985%, (LIBOR + 2.75%), 3/31/24

   United States      1,542,260        1,552,863  

KMG Chemicals Inc., Initial Term Loan, 5.485%, (LIBOR + 4.25%), 6/15/24

   United States      448,183        456,027  

OCI Beaumont LLC, Term B-3 Loan, 8.064%, (LIBOR + 6.75%), 8/20/19

   United States      1,220,315        1,232,518  

Oxbow Carbon LLC, Tranche B Term Loan, 4.735%, (LIBOR + 3.50%), 1/19/20

   United States      628,554        634,054  
        

 

 

 
             10,282,940  
        

 

 

 

Media 7.5%

        

AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc., Incremental Term Loans, 3.484%, (LIBOR + 2.25%), 12/15/23

   United States      598,472        597,051  

CSC Holdings LLC, March 2017 Incremental Term Loans, 3.484%, (LIBOR + 2.25%), 7/17/25

   United States      2,599,138        2,585,892  

Gray Television Inc., Term B-2 Loan, 3.737%, (LIBOR + 2.50%), 2/07/24

   United States      2,749,297        2,769,059  

Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., Term A Loan, 3.235%, (LIBOR + 2.00%), 12/08/21

   United States      2,908,125        2,912,671  

Live Nation Entertainment Inc., Term B-3 Loans, 3.50%, (LIBOR + 2.25%), 10/21/23

   United States      842,632        846,739  

Mediacom Illinois LLC, Tranche K Term Loan, 3.45%, (LIBOR + 2.25%), 2/15/24

   United States      1,134,300        1,139,404  

Mission Broadcasting Inc., Term Loan B-2, 3.737%, (LIBOR + 2.50%), 7/19/24

   United States      68,501        68,752  

Nexstar Broadcasting Inc., Term Loan B-2, 3.737%, (LIBOR + 2.50%), 7/19/24

   United States      547,187        549,186  

Regal Cinemas Corp., Term Loan, 3.235%, (LIBOR + 2.00%), 4/01/22

   United States      3,018,643        3,007,532  

Sinclair Television Group Inc., Tranche B Term Loans, 3.49%, (LIBOR + 2.25%), 1/03/24

   United States      1,991,004        1,997,019  

UPC Financing Partnership, Facility AP, 3.984%, (LIBOR + 2.75%), 4/15/25

   United States      2,180,000        2,190,316  

Virgin Media Bristol LLC, I Facility, 3.984%, (LIBOR + 2.75%), 1/31/25

   United States      2,622,768        2,635,677  
        

 

 

 
           21,299,298  
        

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences 4.0%

        

Endo Luxembourg Finance Co. I S.A.R.L. and Endo LLC, Initial Term Loans, 5.50%, (LIBOR + 4.25%), 4/29/24

   United States      1,995,000        2,017,444  

Grifols Worldwide Operations USA Inc., Tranche B Term Loan, 3.447%, (LIBOR + 2.25%), 1/31/25

   United States      1,740,638        1,745,879  

Horizon Pharma Inc., Second Amendment Refinancing Term Loans, 5.00%, (LIBOR + 3.75%), 3/29/24

   United States      2,138,620        2,158,670  

INC Research Holdings Inc., Initial Term B Loans, 3.485%, (LIBOR + 2.25%), 8/01/24

   United States      1,878,538        1,886,756  

RPI Finance Trust, Term A-3 Loan, 3.083%, (LIBOR + 1.75%), 10/14/21

   United States      1,200,564        1,203,566  

 

 

franklintempleton.com

     

 

  Semiannual Report      

 

 

17


FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

      Country    Principal
Amount*
     Value  

i,j Senior Floating Rate Interests (continued)

        

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences (continued)

        

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc., Series F Tranche B Term Loan, 5.99%, (LIBOR + 4.75%), 4/01/22

   United States      2,319,012      $ 2,362,783  
        

 

 

 
           11,375,098  
        

 

 

 

Retailing 3.4%

        

Ascena Retail Group Inc., Tranche B Term Loan, 5.75%, (LIBOR + 4.50%), 8/21/22

   United States      3,643,596        2,994,580  

Dollar Tree Inc., Term A-1 Loans, 2.75%, (LIBOR + 1.50%), 7/06/20

   United States      1,567,486        1,564,038  

Evergreen AcqCo. 1 LP (Savers), Term Loan, 5.064%, (LIBOR + 3.75%), 7/09/19

   United States      2,786,119        2,610,824  

PetSmart Inc., Tranche B-2 Loans, 4.24%, (LIBOR + 3.00%), 3/11/22

   United States      2,930,442        2,495,064  
        

 

 

 
           9,664,506  
        

 

 

 

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 1.7%

        

MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings Inc., Initial Term Loans, 3.487%, (LIBOR + 2.25%), 5/07/24

   United States      2,630,671        2,627,382  

MKS Instruments Inc., Tranche B-3 Term Loans, 3.485%, (LIBOR + 2.25%), 4/29/23

   United States      339,855        343,200  

ON Semiconductor Corp., 2017 Replacement Term Loans, 3.485%, (LIBOR + 2.25%), 3/31/23

   United States      1,953,072        1,962,330  
        

 

 

 
           4,932,912  
        

 

 

 

Software & Services 1.8%

        

Global Payments Inc., Term A-2 Loan, 2.947%, (LIBOR + 1.75%), 5/02/22

   United States      1,349,834        1,350,115  

Rackspace Hosting Inc., 2017 Refinancing Term B Loans, 4.311%, (LIBOR + 3.00%), 11/03/23

   United States      2,036,613        2,036,978  

Sungard Availability Services Capital Inc., 2019 Tranche B Term Loan, 6.235%, (LIBOR + 5.00%), 3/29/19

   United States      1,740,703        1,644,964  
        

 

 

 
           5,032,057  
        

 

 

 

Technology Hardware & Equipment 3.1%

        

Ciena Corp., Refinancing Term Loan, 3.736%, (LIBOR + 2.50%), 1/28/22

   United States      2,357,809        2,369,598  

Commscope Inc., Tranche 5 Term Loans, 3.235%, (LIBOR + 2.00%), 12/29/22

   United States      2,093,107        2,106,149  

Dell International LLC, Term A-3 Loan, 3.20%, (LIBOR + 2.00%), 12/31/18

   United States      2,538,306        2,543,065  

Western Digital Corp., US Term B-2 Loan, 3.985%, (LIBOR + 2.75%), 4/29/23

   United States      1,716,821        1,731,843  
        

 

 

 
           8,750,655  
        

 

 

 

Telecommunication Services 0.2%

        

Consolidated Communications Inc., Initial Term Loan, 4.24%, (LIBOR + 3.00%), 10/05/23

   United States      527,596        515,989  
        

 

 

 

Transportation 5.2%

        

Air Canada, Term Loan, 3.568%, (LIBOR + 2.25%), 10/06/23

   Canada      3,010,393        3,032,345  

American Airlines Inc., Class B Term Loans, 3.735%, (LIBOR + 2.50%), 4/28/23

   United States      1,981,015        1,989,682  

Delos Finance SARL (ILFC), New Loan, 3.333%, (LIBOR + 2.00%), 10/06/23

   Luxembourg      2,500,000        2,518,528  

The Hertz Corp., Tranche B-1 Term Loan, 3.985%, (LIBOR + 2.75%), 6/30/23

   United States      3,008,670        2,994,568  

Pilot Travel Centers LLC, Initial Tranche B Term Loans, 3.235%, (LIBOR + 2.00%), 5/25/23

   United States      1,488,750        1,500,536  

 

 

18      

 

 

      Semiannual Report  

      

 

franklintempleton.com


FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

      Country    Principal
Amount*
            Value  

i,j Senior Floating Rate Interests (continued)

          

Transportation (continued)

          

United Air Lines Inc., Class B Term Loans, 3.561%, (LIBOR + 2.25%), 4/01/24

   United States      995,000        $ 999,851  

XPO Logistics Inc., Loans, 3.554%, (LIBOR + 2.25%), 11/01/21

   United States      1,867,306          1,874,168  
          

 

 

 
             14,909,678  
          

 

 

 

Utilities 4.0%

          

Calpine Corp., Term Loan (B5), 4.09%, (LIBOR + 2.75%), 1/15/24

   United States      2,552,448          2,550,689  

EFS Cogen Holdings I LLC (Linden), Term B Advance, 4.84%, (LIBOR + 3.50%), 6/28/23

   United States      2,408,700          2,442,824  

Lightstone Holdco LLC,

          

Initial Term B Loan, 5.735%, (LIBOR + 4.50%), 1/30/24

   United States      2,795,479          2,790,892  

Initial Term C Loan, 5.735%, (LIBOR + 4.50%), 1/30/24

   United States      174,187          173,901  

NRG Energy Inc., Term Loans, 3.583%, (LIBOR + 2.25%), 6/30/23

   United States      3,440,767          3,447,477  
          

 

 

 
             11,405,783  
          

 

 

 

Total Senior Floating Rate Interests (Cost $143,780,401)

               142,466,979  
          

 

 

 

Foreign Government and Agency Securities (Cost $1,923,108) 0.6%

          

Government of Mexico, 7.75%, 12/14/17

   Mexico      320,000 k      MXN        1,759,938  
          

 

 

 

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities 6.1%

          

Banks 2.9%

          

Banc of America Commercial Mortgage Trust, 2006-4, AJ, 5.695%, 7/10/46

   United States      147,910          149,764  

i,l Bear Stearns ARM Trust, 2004-4, A6, FRN, 3.499%, 6/25/34

   United States      555,524          566,563  

Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust,

          

2006-C5, AJ, 5.482%, 10/15/49

   United States      588,738          556,519  

2015-GC27, A5, 3.137%, 2/10/48

   United States      1,520,000          1,533,922  

i,l Commercial Mortgage Trust, 2006-GG7, AJ, FRN, 5.766%, 7/10/38

   United States      1,005,000          943,468  

CSAIL Commercial Mortgage Trust, 2015-C1, A4, 3.505%, 4/15/50

   United States      1,410,000          1,459,147  

JPMBB Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, 2015-C28, A4, 3.227%, 10/15/48

   United States      1,410,000          1,433,782  

m Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors Trust,

          

n 2003-OPT1, B2, FRN, 5.362%, (1-month USD LIBOR + 4.125%), 7/25/34

   United States      33,301          8,231  

2005-A6, 2A3, FRN, 1.617%, (1-month USD LIBOR + 0.38%), 8/25/35

   United States      257,677          255,196  

m Morgan Stanley ABS Capital I Inc. Trust, 2003-NC10, B1, FRN, 6.187%, (1-month USD LIBOR + 4.95%), 10/25/33

   United States      350,442          361,620  

i,l Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, 2007-IQ16, AMA, FRN, 6.091%, 12/12/49

   United States      309,137          311,498  

Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust, 2014-LC16, A4, 3.548%, 8/15/50

   United States      550,000          572,280  
          

 

 

 
             8,151,990  
          

 

 

 

Diversified Financials 3.2%

          

m Argent Securities Inc., 2003-W5, M4, FRN, 6.862%, (1-month USD LIBOR + 5.625%), 10/25/33

   United States      220,871          223,275  

e,i,l BCAP LLC Trust, 2009-RR1, 2A2, 144A, FRN, 3.35%, 5/26/35

   United States      1,591,366          1,520,921  

m Chase Funding Trust, 2004-2, 2A2, FRN, 1.737%, (1-month USD LIBOR + 0.50%), 2/26/35

   United States      456,519          444,263  

 

 

franklintempleton.com

     

 

  Semiannual Report      

 

 

19


FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

      Country    Principal
Amount*
     Value  

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities (continued)

        

Diversified Financials (continued)

        

m FHLMC Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt Notes,

        

2014-DN1, M2, FRN, 3.437%, (1-month USD LIBOR + 2.20%), 2/25/24

   United States      2,093,904      $ 2,161,599  

2014-HQ2, M2, FRN, 3.437%, (1-month USD LIBOR + 2.20%), 9/25/24

   United States      900,000        929,680  

2015-DN1, M2, FRN, 3.637%, (1-month USD LIBOR + 2.40%), 1/25/25

   United States      230,769        231,135  

2015-HQ1, M2, FRN, 3.437%, (1-month USD LIBOR + 2.20%), 3/25/25

   United States      415,476        419,041  

m Impac Secured Assets Trust, 2007-2, FRN, 1.487%, (1-month USD LIBOR + 0.25%), 4/25/37

   United States      241,121        240,809  

e,m Invitation Homes Trust, 2015-SFR1, A, 144A, FRN, 2.684%, (1-month USD LIBOR + 1.45%), 3/17/32

   United States      854,915        861,925  

m MortgageIT Trust, 2004-1, A2, FRN, 2.137%, (1-month USD LIBOR + 0.90%), 11/25/34

   United States      325,146        320,166  

m Opteum Mortgage Acceptance Corp. Trust, 2005-4, 1APT, FRN, 1.547%, (1-month USD LIBOR + 0.31%), 11/25/35

   United States      443,638        433,564  

m,n Option One Mortgage Loan Trust, 2003-6, M5, FRN, 6.187%, (1-month USD LIBOR + 4.95%), 11/25/33

   United States      147,107        116,145  

m,n Structured Asset Investment Loan Trust, 2003-BC2, M3, FRN, 6.112%, (1-month USD LIBOR + 4.875%), 4/25/33

   United States      13,987        11,721  

m Structured Asset Securities Corp., 2005-2XS, 2A2, FRN, 2.737%, (1-month USD LIBOR + 1.50%), 2/25/35

   United States      345,175        340,837  

i,l Thornburg Mortgage Securities Trust, 2005-1, A3, FRN, 3.028%, 4/25/45

   United States      725,014        728,458  

Wells Fargo Mortgage Backed Securities Trust,

        

i,l 2004-W, A9, FRN, 3.616%, 11/25/34

   United States      226,625        231,990  

2007-3, 3A1, 5.50%, 4/25/22

   United States      68,169        69,748  
        

 

 

 
           9,285,277  
        

 

 

 

Total Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities (Cost $17,487,957)

           17,437,267  
        

 

 

 

Mortgage-Backed Securities 38.0%

        

o Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. (FHLMC) Adjustable Rate 0.0%

        

FHLMC, 3.827%, (12-month USD LIBOR +/- MBS Margin), 5/01/34

   United States      88,861        93,518  
        

 

 

 

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. (FHLMC) Fixed Rate 18.4%

        

FHLMC Gold 15 Year, 5.00%, 12/01/23

   United States      513,670        549,171  

FHLMC Gold 15 Year, 5.50%, 7/01/19

   United States      6,943        7,114  

FHLMC Gold 30 Year, 3.00%, 4/01/47

   United States      5,957,681        5,982,084  

p FHLMC Gold 30 Year, 3.00%, 10/01/47

   United States      6,450,000        6,470,156  

FHLMC Gold 30 Year, 3.50%, 3/01/45

   United States      49,285        50,875  

FHLMC Gold 30 Year, 3.50%, 3/01/47

   United States      6,050,676        6,245,918  

p FHLMC Gold 30 Year, 3.50%, 10/01/47

   United States      7,980,000        8,229,063  

FHLMC Gold 30 Year, 4.00%, 8/01/47

   United States      12,235,530        12,888,969  

p FHLMC Gold 30 Year, 4.00%, 10/01/47

   United States      9,935,000        10,458,139  

FHLMC Gold 30 Year, 6.00%, 7/01/28 - 11/01/36

   United States      613,688        695,271  

FHLMC Gold 30 Year, 6.50%, 8/01/27 - 3/01/38

   United States      352,099        391,152  

FHLMC Gold 30 Year, 7.00%, 9/01/27

   United States      106,002        115,525  

FHLMC Gold 30 Year, 8.00%, 1/01/31

   United States      8,100        8,260  

FHLMC Gold 30 Year, 8.50%, 7/01/31

   United States      309,928        370,098  
        

 

 

 
           52,461,795  
        

 

 

 

 

 

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FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

      Country    Principal
Amount*
     Value  

Mortgage-Backed Securities (continued)

        

o Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) Adjustable Rate 0.2%

        

FNMA, 2.79% - 2.975%, (6-month USD LIBOR +/- MBS Margin), 6/01/32 - 7/01/34

   United States      565,496      $ 586,516  
        

 

 

 

Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) Fixed Rate 13.6%

        

FNMA 15 Year, 3.00%, 8/01/27

  

United States

     13,046        13,420  

FNMA 15 Year, 3.50%, 1/01/21 - 1/01/26

  

United States

     43,578        45,393  

FNMA 15 Year, 5.50%, 7/01/20

  

United States

     126,178        129,579  

FNMA 15 Year, 6.50%, 7/01/20

  

United States

     197        198  

FNMA 30 Year, 3.00%, 4/01/47

  

United States

     1,455,973        1,461,445  

p FNMA 30 Year, 3.00%, 10/01/47

   United States      6,450,000        6,468,141  

FNMA 30 Year, 3.50%, 4/01/47

  

United States

     1,939,244        2,000,473  

FNMA 30 Year, 3.50%, 1/01/45 - 5/01/47

  

United States

     2,073,262        2,138,721  

p FNMA 30 Year, 3.50%, 10/01/47

   United States      6,825,000        7,033,749  

FNMA 30 Year, 3.50%, 7/01/56

  

United States

     947,857        975,144  

FNMA 30 Year, 4.00%, 11/01/44 - 1/01/45

  

United States

     1,158,572        1,221,037  

FNMA 30 Year, 4.00%, 3/01/47

  

United States

     2,298,704        2,421,408  

p FNMA 30 Year, 4.00%, 10/01/47

   United States      8,375,000        8,815,342  

FNMA 30 Year, 4.50%, 12/01/44

  

United States

     781,735        840,363  

FNMA 30 Year, 4.50%, 5/01/24 - 12/01/44

  

United States

     2,198,961        2,363,956  

p FNMA 30 Year, 4.50%, 10/01/47

   United States      675,000        724,386  

FNMA 30 Year, 5.00%, 5/01/38 - 7/01/39

  

United States

     468,420        515,720  

FNMA 30 Year, 5.50%, 6/01/37

  

United States

     367,422        407,601  

FNMA 30 Year, 6.00%, 4/01/33 - 6/01/38

  

United States

     949,692        1,077,548  

FNMA 30 Year, 6.50%, 8/01/32

  

United States

     128,095        145,442  

FNMA 30 Year, 7.00%, 9/01/18

  

United States

     5,266        5,323  

FNMA 30 Year, 8.00%, 10/01/29

  

United States

     7,910        7,932  
        

 

 

 
             38,812,321  
        

 

 

 

Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA) Fixed Rate 5.8%

        

GNMA I SF 30 Year, 6.50%, 6/15/31 - 12/15/33

  

United States

     410,436        454,046  

GNMA II SF 30 Year, 3.50%, 3/20/45 - 12/20/45

  

United States

     868,052        903,969  

GNMA II SF 30 Year, 3.50%, 3/20/47

  

United States

     5,323,873        5,542,021  

p GNMA II SF 30 Year, 3.50%, 10/01/47

   United States      8,915,000        9,266,028  

GNMA II SF 30 Year, 7.00%, 1/20/24 - 1/20/29

  

United States

     41,759        46,944  

GNMA II SF 30 Year, 8.00%, 1/20/28 - 10/20/31

  

United States

     106,817        128,204  
        

 

 

 
           16,341,212  
        

 

 

 

Total Mortgage-Backed Securities (Cost $108,220,123)

           108,295,362  
        

 

 

 
          Shares         

Escrows and Litigation Trusts 0.0%

        

a,b Midstates Petroleum Co. Inc./Midstates Petroleum Co. LLC, Litigation Trust

   United States      800,000         

a,b NewPage Corp., Litigation Trust.

   United States      1,500,000         

a Penn Virginia Corp., Litigation Trust

   United States      300,000        6,000  

a,b Vistra Energy Corp., Litigation Trust

   United States      2,000,000        23,200  
        

 

 

 

Total Escrows and Litigation Trusts (Cost $58,482)

           29,200  
        

 

 

 

Total Investments before Short Term Investments (Cost $422,489,490)

             419,802,259  
        

 

 

 

 

 

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21


FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

      Country    Shares      Value  

Short Term Investments (Cost $14,825,987) 5.2%

        

Money Market Funds 5.2%

        

q,r Institutional Fiduciary Trust Money Market Portfolio, 0.67%

   United States      14,825,987      $ 14,825,987  
        

 

 

 

Total Investments (Cost $437,315,477) 152.6%

           434,628,246  

Preferred Shares (31.6)%

           (90,000,000

Other Assets, less Liabilities (21.0)%

           (59,814,132
        

 

 

 

Net Assets 100.0%

         $ 284,814,114  
        

 

 

 

 

See Abbreviations on page 33.

Rounds to less than 0.1% of net assets.

*The principal amount is stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated.

aNon-income producing.

bFair valued using significant unobservable inputs. See Note 10 regarding fair value measurements.

cSee Note 9 regarding restricted securities.

dPerpetual security with no stated maturity date.

eSecurity was purchased pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 and may be sold in transactions exempt from registration only to qualified institutional buyers or in a public offering registered under the Securities Act of 1933. These securities have been deemed liquid under guidelines approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees. At September 30, 2017, the aggregate value of these securities was $79,119,165, representing 27.8% of net assets.

fSecurity purchased on a when-issued basis. See Note 1(c).

gSee Note 8 regarding defaulted securities.

hIncome may be received in additional securities and/or cash.

iThe coupon rate shown represents the rate at period end.

jSee Note 1(e) regarding senior floating rate interests.

kPrincipal amount is stated in 100 Mexican Peso Units.

lAdjustable rate security with an interest rate that is not based on a published reference index and spread. The rate is based on the structure of the agreement and current market conditions.

mThe coupon rate shown represents the rate inclusive of any caps or floors, if applicable, in effect at period end.

nThe bond pays interest and/or principal based upon the issuer’s ability to pay, which may be less than the stated interest rate or principal paydown.

oAdjustable Rate Mortgage-Backed Security (ARM); the rate shown is the effective rate at period end. ARM rates are not based on a published reference rate and spread, but instead pass-through weighted average interest income inclusive of any caps or floors, if applicable, from the underlying mortgage loans in which the majority of mortgages pay interest based on the index shown at their designated reset dates plus a spread, less the applicable servicing and guaranty fee (MBS margin).

pSecurity purchased on a to-be-announced (TBA) basis. See Note 1(c).

qSee Note 4(c) regarding investments in affiliated management investment companies.

rThe rate shown is the annualized seven-day yield at period end.

 

 

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FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST

 

Financial Statements

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

September 30, 2017 (unaudited)

 

Assets:

  

Investments in securities:

  

Cost - Unaffiliated issuers

       $ 422,489,490  

Cost - Non-controlled affiliates (Note 4c)

     14,825,987  
  

 

 

 

Value - Unaffiliated issuers

       $ 419,802,259  

Value - Non-controlled affiliates (Note 4c)

     14,825,987  

Cash

     530,617  

Receivables:

  

Investment securities sold

     38,742  

Interest

     3,258,159  
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     438,455,764  
  

 

 

 

Liabilities:

  

Payables:

  

Investment securities purchased

     60,764,382  

Management fees

     245,571  

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     1,598  

Distributions to common shareholders

     2,400,558  

Distributions to preferred shareholders

     65,208  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     164,333  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     63,641,650  
  

 

 

 

Preferred shares at redemption value [$25,000 liquidation preference per share (3,600 shares outstanding)](Note 3)

     90,000,000  
  

 

 

 

Net assets applicable to common shares

       $ 284,814,114  
  

 

 

 

Net assets applicable to common shares consist of:

  

Paid-in capital

       $ 318,326,409  

Distributions in excess of net investment income

     (11,329,930)  

Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     (2,687,845)  

Accumulated net realized gain (loss)

     (19,494,520)  
  

 

 

 

Net assets applicable to common shares

       $ 284,814,114  
  

 

 

 

Common shares outstanding

     22,604,126  
  

 

 

 

Net asset value per common share

     $12.60  
  

 

 

 

 

 

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23


FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Statement of Operations

for the six months ended September 30, 2017 (unaudited)

 

Investment income:

  

Dividends:

  

Non-controlled affiliates (Note 4c)

       $ 43,528  

Interest:

  

Unaffiliated issuers

     8,996,501  
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     9,040,029  
  

 

 

 

Expenses:

  

Management fees (Note 4a)

     1,534,014  

Transfer agent fees

     28,497  

Custodian fees (Note 5)

     3,016  

Reports to shareholders

     22,186  

Professional fees

     42,046  

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     9,024  

Auction agent fees and expenses

     22,002  

Other

     56,313  
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     1,717,098  

Expense reductions (Note 5)

     (1,631

Expenses waived/paid by affiliates (Note 4c)

     (29,108
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     1,686,359  
  

 

 

 

Net investment income

     7,353,670  
  

 

 

 

Realized and unrealized gains (losses):

  

Net realized gain (loss) from:

  

Investments:

  

Unaffiliated issuers

     2,351,301  

Foreign currency transactions

     5,942  
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain (loss)

     2,357,243  
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

  

Investments:

  

Unaffiliated issuers

     (990,022

Translation of other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies

     (3,467
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     (993,489
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     1,363,754  
  

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

       $ 8,717,424  
  

 

 

 

Distributions to preferred shareholders from net investment income

     (1,228,308
  

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets applicable to common shares resulting from operations

       $ 7,489,116  
  

 

 

 

 

 

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FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

      Six Months Ended
September 30, 2017
(unaudited)
    Year Ended
March 31, 2017
 

Increase (decrease) in net assets:

    

Operations:

    

Net investment income

     $    7,353,670       $    16,513,971  

Net realized gain (loss)

     2,357,243       (8,867,745

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     (993,489     32,077,052  

Distributions to preferred shareholders from net investment income

     (1,228,308     (1,856,851
  

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets applicable to common shares resulting from operations

     7,489,116       37,866,427  
  

 

 

 

Distributions to common shareholders from:

    

Net investment income

     (14,550,276     (15,071,636

Tax return of capital

           (9,335,223
  

 

 

 

Total distributions to common shareholders

     (14,550,276     (24,406,859
  

 

 

 

Capital share transactions from - repurchase of shares (Note 2)

           (53,715,818
  

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets

     (7,061,160     (40,256,250

Net assets applicable to common shares:

    

Beginning of period

     291,875,274       332,131,524  
  

 

 

 

End of period

     $284,814,114       $291,875,274  
  

 

 

 

Distributions in excess of net investment income included in net assets:

    

End of period

             $(11,329,930     $    (2,905,016
  

 

 

 

 

 

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25


FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST

    

 

Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited)

 

1. Organization and Significant Accounting Policies

Franklin Limited Duration Income Trust (Fund) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (1940 Act) as a closed-end management investment company and applies the specialized accounting and reporting guidance in U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP).

As approved by the Fund’s Board of Trustees (the Board) at a meeting held on October 24, 2017, the Fund’s fiscal year-end will be changed to December 31st. This will result in the Fund having a fiscal year that is shorter than a full calendar year for the period ended December 31, 2017.

The following summarizes the Fund’s significant accounting policies.

a. Financial Instrument Valuation

The Fund’s investments in financial instruments are carried at fair value daily. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The Fund calculates the net asset value (NAV) per share as of 4 p.m. Eastern time each day the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open for trading. Under compliance policies and procedures approved by the Fund’s Board of Trustees (the Board), the Fund’s administrator has responsibility for oversight of valuation, including leading the cross-functional Valuation Committee (VC). The VC provides administration and oversight of the Fund’s valuation policies and procedures, which are approved annually by the Board. Among other things, these procedures allow the Fund to utilize independent pricing services, quotations from securities and financial instrument dealers, and other market sources to determine fair value.

Equity securities listed on an exchange or on the NASDAQ National Market System are valued at the last quoted sale price or the official closing price of the day, respectively. Foreign equity securities are valued as of the close of trading on the foreign stock exchange on which the security is primarily traded, or as of 4 p.m. Eastern time. The value is then converted into its U.S. dollar equivalent at the foreign exchange rate in effect at 4 p.m. Eastern time on the day that the value of the security is determined. Over-the-counter (OTC) securities are valued within the range of the most recent quoted bid and ask prices. Securities that trade in multiple markets or on multiple

exchanges are valued according to the broadest and most representative market. Certain equity securities are valued based upon fundamental characteristics or relationships to similar securities.

Debt securities generally trade in the OTC market rather than on a securities exchange. The Fund’s pricing services use multiple valuation techniques to determine fair value. In instances where sufficient market activity exists, the pricing services may utilize a market-based approach through which quotes from market makers are used to determine fair value. In instances where sufficient market activity may not exist or is limited, the pricing services also utilize proprietary valuation models which may consider market characteristics such as benchmark yield curves, credit spreads, estimated default rates, anticipated market interest rate volatility, coupon rates, anticipated timing of principal repayments, underlying collateral, and other unique security features in order to estimate the relevant cash flows, which are then discounted to calculate the fair value. Securities denominated in a foreign currency are converted into their U.S. dollar equivalent at the foreign exchange rate in effect at 4 p.m. Eastern time on the date that the values of the foreign debt securities are determined.

Investments in open-end mutual funds are valued at the closing NAV.

The Fund has procedures to determine the fair value of financial instruments for which market prices are not reliable or readily available. Under these procedures, the VC convenes on a regular basis to review such financial instruments and considers a number of factors, including significant unobservable valuation inputs, when arriving at fair value. The VC primarily employs a market-based approach which may use related or comparable assets or liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values, and other relevant information for the investment to determine the fair value of the investment. An income-based valuation approach may also be used in which the anticipated future cash flows of the investment are discounted to calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature or duration of any restrictions on the disposition of the investments. Due to the inherent uncertainty of valuations of such investments, the fair values may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had an active market existed. The VC employs various methods for calibrating these valuation approaches including a regular review of key inputs and assumptions, transactional back-testing or disposition analysis, and reviews of any related market activity.

 

 

 

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FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

Trading in securities on foreign securities stock exchanges and OTC markets may be completed before 4 p.m. Eastern time. In addition, trading in certain foreign markets may not take place on every Fund’s business day. Occasionally, events occur between the time at which trading in a foreign security is completed and 4 p.m. Eastern time that might call into question the reliability of the value of a portfolio security held by the Fund. As a result, differences may arise between the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities as determined at the foreign market close and the latest indications of value at 4 p.m. Eastern time. In order to minimize the potential for these differences, the VC monitors price movements following the close of trading in foreign stock markets through a series of country specific market proxies (such as baskets of American Depositary Receipts, futures contracts and exchange traded funds). These price movements are measured against established trigger thresholds for each specific market proxy to assist in determining if an event has occurred that may call into question the reliability of the values of the foreign securities held by the Fund. If such an event occurs, the securities may be valued using fair value procedures, which may include the use of independent pricing services.

When the last day of the reporting period is a non-business day, certain foreign markets may be open on those days that the Fund’s NAV is not calculated, which could result in differences between the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities on the last business day and the last calendar day of the reporting period. Any significant security valuation changes due to an open foreign market are adjusted and reflected by the Fund for financial reporting purposes.

b. Foreign Currency Translation

Portfolio securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars based on the exchange rate of such currencies against U.S. dollars on the date of valuation. The Fund may enter into foreign currency exchange contracts to facilitate transactions denominated in a foreign currency. Purchases and sales of securities, income and expense items denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate in effect on the transaction date. Portfolio securities and assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies contain risks that those currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. Occasionally, events may impact the availability or reliability of foreign exchange rates used to convert the U.S. dollar equivalent value. If such an event occurs, the foreign exchange

rate will be valued at fair value using procedures established and approved by the Board.

The Fund does not separately report the effect of changes in foreign exchange rates from changes in market prices on securities held. Such changes are included in net realized and unrealized gain or loss from investments in the Statement of Operations.

Realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from sales of foreign currencies, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions and the difference between the recorded amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in foreign exchange rates on foreign denominated assets and liabilities other than investments in securities held at the end of the reporting period.

c. Securities Purchased on a When-Issued and TBA Basis

The Fund purchases securities on a when-issued and to-be-announced (TBA) basis, with payment and delivery scheduled for a future date. These transactions are subject to market fluctuations and are subject to the risk that the value at delivery may be more or less than the trade date purchase price. Although the Fund will generally purchase these securities with the intention of holding the securities, it may sell the securities before the settlement date. Sufficient assets have been segregated for these securities.

d. Mortgage Dollar Rolls

The Fund enters into mortgage dollar rolls, typically on a TBA basis. Mortgage dollar rolls are agreements between the Fund and a financial institution where the Fund sells (or buys) mortgage-backed securities for delivery on a specified date and simultaneously contracts to repurchase (or sell) substantially similar (same type, coupon, and maturity) securities at a future date and at a predetermined price. Gains or losses are realized on the initial sale, and the difference between the repurchase price and the sale price is recorded as an unrealized gain or loss to the Fund upon entering into the mortgage dollar roll. In addition, the Fund may invest the cash proceeds that are received from the initial sale. During the period between the sale and repurchase, the Fund is not entitled to principal and interest paid on the mortgage backed securities. Transactions in

 

 

 

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FRANKLIN LIMITED DURATION INCOME TRUST

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

1. Organization and Significant Accounting

Policies (continued)

d. Mortgage Dollar Rolls (continued)

mortgage dollar rolls are accounted for as purchases and sales and may result in an increase to the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate. The risks of mortgage dollar roll transactions include the potential inability of the counterparty to fulfill its obligations.

The Fund is investing in mortgage dollar rolls as an alternate form of leverage. As a result, the mortgage dollar rolls are considered indebtedness or a “senior security” for purposes of the asset coverage requirements under the 1940 Act.

e. Senior Floating Rate Interests

The Fund invests in senior secured corporate loans that pay interest at rates which are periodically reset by reference to a base lending rate plus a spread. These base lending rates are generally the prime rate offered by a designated U.S. bank or the London InterBank Offered Rate (LIBOR). Senior secured corporate loans often require prepayment of principal from excess cash flows or at the discretion of the borrower. As a result, actual maturity may be substantially less than the stated maturity. Senior secured corporate loans in which the Fund invests are generally readily marketable, but may be subject to certain restrictions on resale.

f. Income and Deferred Taxes

It is the Fund’s policy to qualify as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code. The Fund intends to distribute to shareholders substantially all of its taxable income and net realized gains to relieve it from federal income and excise taxes. As a result, no provision for U.S. federal income taxes is required. The tax basis of the Fund’s distributions, which is likely to have a portion deemed to be a return of capital, is not determined until fiscal year end.

The Fund may be subject to foreign taxation related to income received, capital gains on the sale of securities and certain foreign currency transactions in the foreign jurisdictions in which it invests. Foreign taxes, if any, are recorded based on the tax regulations and rates that exist in the foreign markets in which the Fund invests. When a capital gain tax is determined to apply, the Fund records an estimated deferred tax liability in an amount that would be payable if the securities were disposed of on the valuation date.

The Fund may recognize an income tax liability related to its uncertain tax positions under U.S. GAAP when the uncertain tax position has a less than 50% probability that it will be sustained upon examination by the tax authorities based on its technical merits. As of September 30, 2017, the Fund has determined that no tax liability is required in its financial statements related to uncertain tax positions for any open tax years (or expected to be taken in future tax years). Open tax years are those that remain subject to examination and are based on the statute of limitations in each jurisdiction in which the Fund invests.

g. Security Transactions, Investment Income, Expenses and Distributions

Security transactions are accounted for on trade date. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined on a specific identification basis. Interest income and estimated expenses are accrued daily. Amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities are included in interest income. Paydown gains and losses are recorded as an adjustment to interest income. Facility fees are recognized as income over the expected term of the loan. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date except for certain dividends from securities where the dividend rate is not available. In such cases, the dividend is recorded as soon as the information is received by the Fund. Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Fund employs a managed distribution policy whereby the Fund will make monthly distributions to common shareholders at an annual minimum fixed rate of 10%, based on the average monthly NAV of the Fund’s common shares. Under the policy, the Fund is managed with a goal of generating as much of the distribution as possible from net investment income and short-term capital gains. The balance of the distribution will then come from long-term capital gains to the extent permitted and, if necessary, a return of capital. Distributable earnings are determined according to income tax regulations (tax basis) and may differ from earnings recorded in accordance with U.S. GAAP. These differences may be permanent or temporary. Permanent differences are reclassified among capital accounts to reflect their tax character. These reclassifications have no impact on net assets or the results of operations. Temporary differences are not reclassified, as they may reverse in subsequent periods.

 

 

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

 

h. Accounting Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

i. Guarantees and Indemnifications

Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified by the Fund against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Fund..

Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts with service providers that contain general indemnification clauses. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet occurred. Currently, the Fund expects the risk of loss to be remote.

 

 

2. Shares of Beneficial Interest

At September 30, 2017, there were an unlimited number of shares authorized (without par value). During the period ended September 30, 2017 there were no shares issued; all reinvested distributions were satisfied with previously issued shares purchased in the open market.

Under the Board approved open-market share repurchase program which commenced on June 1, 2016, the Fund may purchase, from time to time, up to 10% of the Fund’s common shares in open-market transactions, at the discretion of management. Since the inception of the program, the Fund has repurchased a total of 242,561 shares. Transactions in the Fund’s shares were as follows:

 

     Six Months Ended
September 30, 2017
    

Year Ended

March 31, 2017

 
  

 

 

 
      Shares      Amount      Shares      Amount  

Shares repurchaseda

     —          $  —          4,231,524        $53,715,818  
  

 

 

 

Weighted average discount of market price to net asset value of shares repurchased

        —%           8.14%  

aOn January 19, 2017, the Fund announced a tender offer to purchase for cash up to 15 percent of its issued and outstanding common shares (3,988,963 shares), each without par value. The tender period commenced on January 30, 2017 and expired at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Friday, March 3, 2017 at which time the tender was oversubscribed. The Fund accepted the maximum allowed by the offer of 3,988,963 shares for cash payment at a price equal to $12.73 per share. This purchase price was 98% of the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) per share of $12.99 as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange on March 6, 2017.

3. Auction Rate Preferred Shares

The Fund has outstanding 1,200 Preferred Shares Series M, 1,200 Preferred Shares Series W and 1,200 Preferred Shares Series F, each with a $25,000 liquidation preference totaling $90,000,000. Preferred Shares are senior to common shares and the Fund will not declare or pay any dividend on the common shares unless the Fund has declared or paid full cumulative dividends on the Preferred Shares through the most recent dividend date. Dividends to preferred shareholders are cumulative and are declared weekly, at rates established through an auction process. The weekly auctions for Series M, W and F have all failed during the period ended September 30, 2017; consequently, the dividend rate paid on the Preferred Shares has moved to the maximum rate as defined in the prospectus. During the period ended September 30, 2017, the dividends on Preferred Shares ranged from 2.45% to 2.71%.

The Fund is required to maintain, on a weekly basis, a specified discounted value of its portfolio in compliance with guidelines established by Fitch Ratings and Moody’s Investor Services Inc., and is required to maintain asset coverage for the Preferred Shares of at least 200%.

 

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

3. Auction Rate Preferred Shares (continued)

The Preferred Shares are redeemable by the Fund at any time and are subject to mandatory redemption if the asset coverage or discounted value requirements are not met. During the period ended September 30, 2017, all requirements were met.

4. Transactions with Affiliates

Franklin Resources, Inc. is the holding company for various subsidiaries that together are referred to as Franklin Templeton Investments. Certain officers and trustees of the Fund are also officers and/or directors of the following subsidiaries:

 

Subsidiary    Affiliation

Franklin Advisers, Inc. (Advisers)

   Investment manager

Franklin Templeton Services, LLC (FT Services)

   Administrative manager

a. Management Fees

The Fund pays an investment management fee to Advisers of 0.70% per year of the average daily managed assets. Managed assets are defined as the Fund’s gross asset value minus the sum of accrued liabilities, other than the liquidation value of the Preferred Shares and other financial leverage.

b. Administrative Fees

Under an agreement with Advisers, FT Services provides administrative services to the Fund. The fee is paid by Advisers based on the Fund’s average daily net assets, and is not an additional expense of the Fund.

c. Investments in Affiliated Management Investment Companies

The Fund invests in one or more affiliated management investment companies for purposes other than exercising a controlling influence over the management or policies. Management fees paid by the Fund are waived on assets invested in the affiliated management investment companies, as noted in the Statement of Operations, in an amount not to exceed the management and administrative fees paid directly or indirectly by each affiliate. Prior to April 1, 2013, the waiver was accounted for as a reduction to management fees. During the period ended September 30, 2017, the Fund held investments in affiliated management investment companies as follows:

 

      Number of
Shares Held
at Beginning
of Period
     Gross
Additions
     Gross
Reductions
    

Number of
Shares

Held at End
of Period

    

Value

at End

of Period

     Dividend
Income
     Realized
Gain (Loss)
    

Net Change

in

Unrealized

Appreciation

(Depreciation)

 

Non-Controlled Affiliates

                       

Institutional Fiduciary Trust Money Market Portfolio, 0.67%

     21,388,024        42,113,883        (48,675,920)        14,825,987        $14,825,987        $43,528        $  —        $  —    
              

 

 

 

5. Expense Offset Arrangement

The Fund has entered into an arrangement with its custodian whereby credits realized as a result of uninvested cash balances are used to reduce a portion of the Fund’s custodian expenses. During the period ended September 30, 2017, the custodian fees were reduced as noted in the Statement of Operations.

 

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

6. Income Taxes

For tax purposes, capital losses may be carried over to offset future capital gains. Capital loss carryforwards with no expiration, if any, must be fully utilized before those losses with expiration dates.

At March 31, 2017, the capital loss carryforwards were as follows:

 

Capital loss carryforwards subject to expiration:

  

2018

     $ 8,480,888   

Capital loss carryforwards not subject to expiration:

  

Short term

     447,668   

Long term

     12,920,343   
  

 

 

 

Total capital loss carryforwards

     $ 21,848,899   
  

 

 

 

At September 30, 2017, the cost of investments and net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) for income tax purposes were as follows:

 

Cost of investments

     $ 437,674,854   
  

 

 

 

Unrealized appreciation

     $ 9,208,721   

Unrealized depreciation

     (12,255,329)  
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     $ (3,046,608)  
  

 

 

 

Differences between income and/or capital gains as determined on a book basis and a tax basis are primarily due to differing treatments of defaulted securities, foreign currency transactions, paydown losses and bond discounts and premiums.

7. Investment Transactions

Purchases and sales of investments (excluding short term securities) for the period ended September 30, 2017, aggregated $418,822,478 and $429,576,136, respectively.

8. Credit Risk and Defaulted Securities

At September 30, 2017, the Fund had 65.0% of its portfolio invested in high yield, senior secured floating rate notes, or other securities rated below investment grade and unrated securities, if any. These securities may be more sensitive to economic conditions causing greater price volatility and are potentially subject to a greater risk of loss due to default than higher rated securities.

The Fund held a defaulted security and/or other securities for which the income has been deemed uncollectible. At September 30, 2017, the value of this security represents less than 0.1% of the Fund’s portfolio. The Fund discontinues accruing income on securities for which income has been deemed uncollectible and provides an estimate for losses on interest receivable. The security has been identified in the accompanying Statement of Investments.

9. Restricted Securities

The Fund invests in securities that are restricted under the Securities Act of 1933 (1933 Act) or which are subject to legal, contractual, or other agreed upon restrictions on resale. Restricted securities are often purchased in private placement transactions, and cannot be sold without prior registration unless the sale is pursuant to an exemption under the 1933 Act. Disposal of these securities may require greater effort and expense, and prompt sale at an acceptable price may be difficult. The Fund may have registration rights for restricted securities. The issuer generally incurs all registration costs.

 

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

9. Restricted Securities (continued)

 

At September 30, 2017, investments in restricted securities, excluding certain securities exempt from registration under the 1933 Act deemed to be liquid, were as follows:

 

Shares      Issuer    Acquisition
Date
   Cost      Value    
  404      Nine Point Energy Holdings Inc., cvt. pfd    3/24/17      $ 377,604      $ 478,838    
  18,477      Nine Point Energy LLC.    7/15/14 - 1/5/15      830,630        221,719    
        

 

 

 
     Total Restricted Securities (Value is 0.2% of Net Assets)         $ 1,208,234      $ 700,557    
        

 

 

 

10. Fair Value Measurements

The Fund follows a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between market data obtained from independent sources (observable inputs) and the Fund’s own market assumptions (unobservable inputs). These inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s financial instruments and are summarized in the following fair value hierarchy:

 

    Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical financial instruments

 

    Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar financial instruments, interest rates, prepayment speed, credit risk, etc.)

 

    Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of financial instruments)

The input levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with financial instruments at that level.

For movements between the levels within the fair value hierarchy, the Fund has adopted a policy of recognizing the transfers as of the date of the underlying event which caused the movement.

A summary of inputs used as of September 30, 2017, in valuing the Fund’s assets carried at fair value, is as follows:

 

      Level 1      Level 2      Level 3     Total  

Assets:

          

Investments in Securities:

          

Equity Investments:a

          

Energy

     $ 1,439,923      $ 896,979      $ 700,846     $ 3,037,748  

Materials

     21,194                     21,194  

Transportation

            163,421              163,421  

Convertible Bonds

            1,225,131              1,225,131  

Corporate Bonds

            145,366,019              145,366,019  

Senior Floating Rate Interests

            142,466,979              142,466,979  

Foreign Government and Agency Securities

            1,759,938              1,759,938  

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities

            17,437,267              17,437,267  

Mortgage-Backed Securities

            108,295,362              108,295,362  

Escrows and Litigation Trusts

            6,000        23,200 b       29,200  

Short Term Investments

     14,825,987                     14,825,987  
  

 

 

 

Total Investments in Securities

     $     16,287,104      $     417,617,096      $     724,046     $     434,628,246  
  

 

 

 

aIncludes common and convertible preferred stocks as well as other equity investments.

bIncludes securities determined to have no value at September 30, 2017.

 

 

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

A reconciliation of assets in which Level 3 inputs are used in determining fair value is presented when there are significant Level 3 financial instruments at the beginning and/or end of the period.

11. New Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2017-08, Receivables—Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20): Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities. The amendments in the ASU shorten the amortization period for certain callable debt securities acquired at a premium, to be amortized to the earliest call date. The ASU does not require an accounting change for securities acquired at a discount, which continues to be amortized to maturity. The ASU is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Management is currently evaluating the impact, if any, of applying this provision.

12. Subsequent Events

The Fund has evaluated subsequent events through the issuance of the financial statements and determined that no events have occurred that require disclosure other than those already disclosed in the financial statements.

Abbreviations

 

Currency    Selected Portfolio   
MXN     Mexican Peso    ARM    Adjustable Rate Mortgage   
   FHLMC    Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.   
   FNMA    Federal National Mortgage Association   
   FRN    Floating Rate Note   
   GNMA    Government National Mortgage Association   
   LIBOR    London InterBank Offered Rate   
   PIK    Payment-In-Kind   
   SF    Single Family   

 

 

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Annual Meeting of Shareholders

The Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Meeting”) of the Fund was held on October 5, 2017, and then adjourned to October 26, 2017, in order to allow shareholders additional opportunity to vote. At the Meeting, shareholders elected Terrence J. Checki, Mary C. Choksi, Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. and Larry D. Thompson as Trustees of the Fund to hold office for a three year term, set to expire at the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. These terms continue, however, until their successors are duly elected and qualified or until a Trustee’s resignation, retirement, death or removal, whichever is earlier.

The results of the voting are as follows:

 

     Common and Preferred Shares  
Trustee Nominees    For      Withheld  

Terrence J. Checki

     19,495,730        603,369  

Mary C. Choksi

     19,788,125        310,974  

Larry D. Thompson

     19,667,441        431,658  
     Preferred Shares  
Trustee Nominees    For      Withheld  

Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.

     1,294        71  

Note: Harris J. Ashton, Gregory E. Johnson, Edith E. Holiday, J. Michael Luttig, and John B. Wilson are Trustees of the Fund who are currently serving and whose terms of office continued after the meeting.

 

 

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Dividend Reinvestment Plan

 

The Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan (Plan) offers you a prompt and simple way to reinvest dividends and capital gain distributions (Distributions) in shares of the Fund. American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (Plan Agent), P.O. Box 922, Wall Street Station, New York, NY 10269-0560, acts as your Plan Agent in administering the Plan. The Agent will open an account for you under the Plan in the same name as your outstanding shares are registered.

You are automatically enrolled in the Plan unless you elect to receive Distributions in cash. If you own shares in your own name, you should notify the Agent, in writing, if you wish to receive Distributions in cash.

If the Fund declares a Distribution, you, as a participant in the Plan, will automatically receive an equivalent amount of shares of the Fund purchased on your behalf by the Agent. If on the payment date for a Distribution, the net asset value per share is equal to or less than the market price per share plus estimated brokerage commissions, the Agent shall receive newly issued shares, including fractions, from the Fund for your account. The number of additional shares to be credited shall be determined by dividing the dollar amount of the Distribution by the greater of the net asset value per share on the payment date, or 95% of the then current market price per share.

If the net asset value per share exceeds the market price plus estimated brokerage commissions on the payment date for a Distribution, the Agent (or a broker-dealer selected by the Agent) shall try, for a purchase period of 30 days, to apply the amount of such Distribution on your shares (less your pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred) to purchase shares on the open market. The weighted average price (including brokerage commissions) of all shares it purchases shall be your allocated price per share. If, before the Agent has completed its purchases, the market price plus estimated brokerage commissions exceeds the net asset value of the shares as of the payment date, the purchase price the Agent paid may exceed the net asset value of the shares, resulting in the acquisition of fewer shares than if such Distribution had been paid in shares issued by the Fund. Participants should note that they will not be able to instruct the Agent to purchase shares at a specific time or at a specific price. The Agent may make open-market purchases on any securities exchange where shares are traded, in the over-the-counter market or in negotiated transactions, and may be on such terms as to price, delivery and otherwise as the Agent shall determine.

The market price of shares on a particular date shall be the last sales price on NYSE MKT, or, if there is no sale on the exchange on that date, then the mean between the closing bid and asked quotations on the exchange on such date. The net asset value per share on a particular date shall be the amount most recently calculated by or on behalf of the Fund as required by law.

The Agent shall at all times act in good faith and agree to use its best efforts within reasonable limits to ensure the accuracy of all services performed under this agreement and to comply with applicable law, but assumes no responsibility and shall not be liable for loss or damage due to errors unless such error is caused by the Agent’s negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct or that of its employees. Your uninvested funds held by the Agent will not bear interest. The Agent shall have no responsibility for the value of shares acquired. For the purpose of cash investments, the Agent may commingle your funds with those of other participants in the same Fund.

There is no direct charge to participants for reinvesting Distributions, since the Agent’s fees are paid by the Fund. However, when shares are purchased in the open market, each participant will pay a pro rata portion of any brokerage commissions incurred. If you elect by notice to the Agent to have it sell part or all of your shares and remit the proceeds, the Agent will deduct brokerage commissions from the proceeds.

The automatic reinvestment of Distributions does not relieve you of any taxes that may be payable on Distributions. In connection with the reinvestment of Distributions, shareholders generally will be treated as having received a Distribution equal to the cash Distribution that would have been paid.

The Agent will forward to you any proxy solicitation material and will vote any shares so held for you first in accordance with the instructions set forth on proxies you return to the Fund, and then with respect to any proxies you do not return to the Fund in the same portion as the Agent votes proxies the participants return to the Fund.

As long as you participate in the Plan, the Agent will hold the shares it has acquired for you in safekeeping, in its name or in the name of its nominee. This convenience provides added protection against loss, theft or inadvertent destruction of certificates. However, you may request that a certificate representing your Plan shares be issued to you. Upon your written request, the Agent will deliver to you, without charge, a certificate or certificates for the full shares. The Agent will send you a confirmation of each acquisition made for your

 

 

 

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DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN

 

account as soon as practicable, but not later than 60 days after the acquisition date. Although from time to time you may have an undivided fractional interest in a share of the Fund, no certificates for a fractional share will be issued. Distributions on fractional shares will be credited to your account. If you terminate your account under the Plan, the Agent will adjust for any such undivided fractional interest in cash at the market value of shares at the time of termination.

You may withdraw from the Plan at any time, without penalty, by notifying the Agent in writing at the address above or by telephone at (800) 416-5585. Such termination will be effective with respect to a Distribution if the Agent receives your notice prior to the Distribution record date. The Agent or the Fund may terminate the Plan upon notice to you in writing mailed at least 30 days prior to any record date for the payment of any Distribution. Upon any termination, the Agent will issue, without charge, stock certificates for all full shares you own and will convert any fractional shares you hold at the time of termination to cash at current market price and send you a check for the proceeds.

The Fund or the Agent may amend the Plan. You will receive written notice at least 30 days before the effective date of any amendment.

 

 

 

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Shareholder Information

Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

 

The Fund’s investment manager has established Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (Policies) that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities. Shareholders may view the Fund’s complete Policies online at franklintempleton.com. Alternatively, shareholders may request copies of the Policies free of charge by calling the Proxy Group collect at (954) 527-7678 or by sending a written request to: Franklin Templeton Companies, LLC, 300 S.E. 2nd Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301, Attention: Proxy Group. Copies of the Fund’s proxy voting records are also made available online at franklintempleton.com and posted on the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at sec.gov and reflect the most recent 12-month period ended June 30.

Quarterly Statement of Investments

The Fund files a complete statement of investments with the US Securities and Exchange Commission for the first and third quarters for each fiscal year on Form N-Q. Shareholders may view the filed Form N-Q by visiting the Commission’s website at sec.gov. The filed form may also be viewed and copied at the Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information regarding the operations of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling (800) SEC-0330.

 

 

 

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LOGO   Semiannual Report  
 

Franklin Limited Duration Income Trust

 

 
  Investment Manager  
  Franklin Advisers, Inc.  
 

(800) DIAL BEN® / 342-5236

 

 
  Transfer Agent  
  American Stock Transfer & Trust Co., LLC  
  6201 15th Avenue  
  Brooklyn, NY 11219  
  www.astfinancial.com  

 

 

To help ensure we provide you with quality service, all calls to and from our service areas are monitored and/or recorded.

 

© 2017 Franklin Templeton Investments. All rights reserved.

   FTF S 11/17


Item 2. Code of Ethics.

 

(a) The Registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to its principal executive officers and principal financial and accounting officer.

 

(c) N/A

 

(d) N/A

 

(f) Pursuant to Item 12(a)(1), the Registrant is attaching as an exhibit a copy of its code of ethics that applies to its principal executive officers and principal financial and accounting officer.

 

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

(a) (1) The Registrant has an audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee.

(2) The audit committee financial expert is John B. Wilson and he is “independent” as defined under the relevant Securities and Exchange Commission Rules and Releases.

 

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services. N/A

 

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

Members of the Audit Committee are: Mary C. Choksi, Michael Luttig, Larry D. Thompson and John B. Wilson.

 

Item 6. Schedule of Investments. N/A

 

Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

The board of trustees of the Fund has delegated the authority to vote proxies related to the portfolio securities held by the Fund to the Fund’s investment manager Franklin Advisers, Inc. in accordance with the Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (Policies) adopted by the investment manager.

The investment manager has delegated its administrative duties with respect to the voting of proxies for securities to the Proxy Group within Franklin Templeton Companies, LLC (Proxy Group), an affiliate and wholly owned subsidiary of Franklin Resources, Inc. All proxies received by the Proxy Group will be voted based upon the investment manager’s instructions and/or policies. The investment manager votes proxies solely in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.

To assist it in analyzing proxies of equity securities, the investment manager subscribes to Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (ISS), an unaffiliated third-party corporate governance research service that provides in-depth analyses of shareholder meeting agendas, vote recommendations, vote execution services, ballot reconciliation services, recordkeeping and vote disclosure services. In addition, the investment manager subscribes to Glass, Lewis & Co.,


LLC (Glass Lewis), an unaffiliated third-party analytical research firm, to receive analyses and vote recommendations on the shareholder meetings of publicly held U.S. companies, as well as a limited subscription to its international research. Also, the investment manager has a supplemental subscription to Egan-Jones Proxy Services (Egan-Jones), an unaffiliated third party proxy advisory firm, to receive analyses and vote recommendations. Although analyses provided by ISS, Glass Lewis, Egan-Jones, and/or another independent third party proxy service provider (each a Proxy Service) are thoroughly reviewed and considered in making a final voting decision, the investment manager does not consider recommendations from a Proxy Service or any third party to be determinative of the investment manager’s ultimate decision. Rather, the investment manager exercises its independent judgment in making voting decisions. For most proxy proposals, the investment manager’s evaluation should result in the same position being taken for all Funds. In some cases, however, the evaluation may result in a Fund voting differently, depending upon the nature and objective of the Fund, the composition of its portfolio and other factors. As a matter of policy, the officers, directors/trustees and employees of the investment manager and the Proxy Group will not be influenced by outside sources whose interests conflict with the interests of the Fund and its shareholders. Efforts are made to resolve all conflicts in the best interests of the investment manager’s clients. Material conflicts of interest are identified by the Proxy Group based upon analyses of client, distributor, broker-dealer and vendor lists, information periodically gathered from directors and officers, and information derived from other sources, including public filings. In situations where a material conflict of interest is identified, the Proxy Group may vote consistent with the voting recommendation of a Proxy Service; or send the proxy directly to the Fund’s board or a committee of the board with the investment manager’s recommendation regarding the vote for approval.

Where a material conflict of interest has been identified, but the items on which the investment manager’s vote recommendations differ from a Proxy Service and relate specifically to (1) shareholder proposals regarding social or environmental issues, (2) “Other Business” without describing the matters that might be considered, or (3) items the investment manager wishes to vote in opposition to the recommendations of an issuer’s management, the Proxy Group may defer to the vote recommendations of the investment manager rather than sending the proxy directly to the Fund’s board or a board committee for approval.

To avoid certain potential conflicts of interest, the investment manager will employ echo voting, if possible, in the following instances: (1) when the Fund invests in an underlying fund in reliance on any one of Sections 12(d) (1) (E), (F), or (G) of the 1940 Act, the rules thereunder, or pursuant to a SEC exemptive order thereunder; (2) when the Fund invests uninvested cash in affiliated money market funds pursuant to the rules under the 1940 Act or any exemptive orders thereunder (“cash sweep arrangement”); or (3) when required pursuant to the Fund’s governing documents or applicable law. Echo voting means that the investment manager will vote the shares in the same proportion as the vote of all of the other holders of the underlying fund’s shares.

The recommendation of management on any issue is a factor that the investment manager considers in determining how proxies should be voted. However, the investment manager does not consider recommendations from management to be determinative of the investment manager’s ultimate decision. As a matter of practice, the votes with respect to most issues are cast in accordance with the position of the company’s management. Each issue, however, is considered on its


own merits, and the investment manager will not support the position of the company’s management in any situation where it deems that the ratification of management’s position would adversely affect the investment merits of owning that company’s shares.

Engagement with issuers. The investment manager believes that engagement with issuers is important to good corporate governance and to assist in making proxy voting decisions. The investment manager may engage with issuers to discuss specific ballot items to be voted on in advance of an annual or special meeting to obtain further information or clarification on the proposals. The investment manager may also engage with management on a range of environmental, social or corporate governance issues throughout the year.

Investment manager’s proxy voting policies and principles The investment manager has adopted general proxy voting guidelines, which are summarized below. These guidelines are not an exhaustive list of all the issues that may arise and the investment manager cannot anticipate all future situations. In all cases, each proxy and proposal (including both management and shareholder proposals) will be considered based on the relevant facts and circumstances on a case-by-case basis.

Board of directors. The investment manager supports an independent, diverse board of directors, and prefers that key committees such as audit, nominating, and compensation committees be comprised of independent directors. The investment manager supports boards with strong risk management oversight. The investment manager will generally vote against management efforts to classify a board and will generally support proposals to declassify the board of directors. The investment manager will consider withholding votes from directors who have attended less than 75% of meetings without a valid reason. While generally in favor of separating Chairman and CEO positions, the investment manager will review this issue as well as proposals to restore or provide for cumulative voting on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration factors such as the company’s corporate governance guidelines or provisions and performance. The investment manager generally will support non-binding shareholder proposals to require a majority vote standard for the election of directors; however, if these proposals are binding, the investment manager will give careful review on a case-by-case basis of the potential ramifications of such implementation.

In the event of a contested election, the investment manager will review a number of factors in making a decision including management’s track record, the company’s financial performance, qualifications of candidates on both slates, and the strategic plan of the dissidents and/or shareholder nominees.

Ratification of auditors of portfolio companies. The investment manager will closely scrutinize the independence, role and performance of auditors. On a case-by-case basis, the investment manager will examine proposals relating to non-audit relationships and non-audit fees. The investment manager will also consider, on a case-by-case basis, proposals to rotate auditors, and will vote against the ratification of auditors when there is clear and compelling evidence of a lack of independence, accounting irregularities or negligence. The investment manager may also consider whether the ratification of auditors has been approved by an appropriate audit committee that meets applicable composition and independence requirements.

Management and director compensation. A company’s equity-based compensation plan should be in alignment with the shareholders’ long-term interests. The


investment manager believes that executive compensation should be directly linked to the performance of the company. The investment manager evaluates plans on a case-by-case basis by considering several factors to determine whether the plan is fair and reasonable, including the ISS quantitative model utilized to assess such plans and/or the Glass Lewis evaluation of the plans. The investment manager will generally oppose plans that have the potential to be excessively dilutive, and will almost always oppose plans that are structured to allow the repricing of underwater options, or plans that have an automatic share replenishment “evergreen” feature. The investment manager will generally support employee stock option plans in which the purchase price is at least 85% of fair market value, and when potential dilution is 10% or less.

Severance compensation arrangements will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, although the investment manager will generally oppose “golden parachutes” that are considered to be excessive. The investment manager will normally support proposals that require a percentage of directors’ compensation to be in the form of common stock, as it aligns their interests with those of shareholders.

The investment manager will review non-binding say-on-pay proposals on a case-by-case basis, and will generally vote in favor of such proposals unless compensation is misaligned with performance and/or shareholders’ interests, the company has not provided reasonably clear disclosure regarding its compensation practices, or there are concerns with the company’s remuneration practices.

Anti-takeover mechanisms and related issues. The investment manager generally opposes anti-takeover measures since they tend to reduce shareholder rights. However, as with all proxy issues, the investment manager conducts an independent review of each anti-takeover proposal. On occasion, the investment manager may vote with management when the research analyst has concluded that the proposal is not onerous and would not harm the Fund or its shareholders’ interests. The investment manager generally supports proposals that require shareholder rights’ plans (“poison pills”) to be subject to a shareholder vote and will closely evaluate such plans on a case-by-case basis to determine whether or not they warrant support. In addition, the investment manager will generally vote against any proposal to issue stock that has unequal or subordinate voting rights. The investment manager generally opposes any supermajority voting requirements as well as the payment of “greenmail.” The investment manager generally supports “fair price” provisions and confidential voting. The investment manager will review a company’s proposal to reincorporate to a different state or country on a case-by-case basis taking into consideration financial benefits such as tax treatment as well as comparing corporate governance provisions and general business laws that may result from the change in domicile.

Changes to capital structure. The investment manager realizes that a company’s financing decisions have a significant impact on its shareholders, particularly when they involve the issuance of additional shares of common or preferred stock or the assumption of additional debt. The investment manager will review, on a case-by-case basis, proposals by companies to increase authorized shares and the purpose for the increase. The investment manager will generally not vote in favor of dual-class capital structures to increase the number of authorized shares where that class of stock would have superior voting rights. The investment manager will generally vote in favor of the issuance of preferred stock in cases where the company specifies the voting, dividend, conversion and other rights of such stock and the terms of the preferred stock issuance are deemed reasonable. The investment manager will review proposals seeking preemptive rights on a case-by-case basis.


Mergers and corporate restructuring. Mergers and acquisitions will be subject to careful review by the research analyst to determine whether they would be beneficial to shareholders. The investment manager will analyze various economic and strategic factors in making the final decision on a merger or acquisition. Corporate restructuring proposals are also subject to a thorough examination on a case-by-case basis.

Environmental and social issues. The investment manager considers environmental and social issues alongside traditional financial measures to provide a more comprehensive view of the value, risk and return potential of an investment. Companies may face significant financial, legal and reputational risks resulting from poor environmental and social practices, or negligent oversight of environmental or social issues. Franklin Templeton’s “Responsible Investment Principles and Policies” describes the investment manager’s approach to consideration of environmental, social and governance issues within the investment manager’s processes and ownership practices.

In the investment manager’s experience, those companies that are managed well are often effective in dealing with the relevant environmental and social issues that pertain to their business. As such, the investment manager will generally give management discretion with regard to environmental and social issues. However, in cases where management and the board have not demonstrated adequate efforts to mitigate material environmental or social risks, have engaged in inappropriate or illegal conduct, or have failed to adequately address current or emergent risks that threaten shareholder value, the investment manager may choose to support well-crafted shareholder proposals that serve to promote or protect shareholder value. This may include seeking appropriate disclosure regarding material environmental and social issues. The investment manager will review shareholder proposals on a case-by-case basis and may support those that serve to enhance value or mitigate risk, are drafted appropriately, and do not disrupt the course of business or require a disproportionate or inappropriate use of company resources.

The investment manager will consider supporting a shareholder proposal seeking disclosure and greater board oversight of lobbying and corporate political contributions if the investment manager believes that there is evidence of inadequate oversight by the company’s board, if the company’s current disclosure is significantly deficient, or if the disclosure is notably lacking in comparison to the company’s peers.

Governance matters. The investment manager generally supports the right of shareholders to call special meetings and act by written consent. However, the investment manager will review such shareholder proposals on a case-by-case basis in an effort to ensure that such proposals do not disrupt the course of business or require a disproportionate or inappropriate use of company resources.

Proxy access. In cases where the investment manager is satisfied with company performance and the responsiveness of management, it will generally vote against shareholder proxy access proposals not supported by management. In other instances, the investment manager will consider such proposals on a case-by-case basis, taking into account factors such as the size of the company, ownership thresholds and holding periods, nomination limits (e.g., number of candidates that can be nominated), the intentions of the shareholder proponent, and shareholder base.


Global corporate governance. Many of the tenets discussed above are applied to the investment manager’s proxy voting decisions for international investments. However, the investment manager must be flexible in these worldwide markets. Principles of good corporate governance may vary by country, given the constraints of a country’s laws and acceptable practices in the markets. As a result, it is on occasion difficult to apply a consistent set of governance practices to all issuers. As experienced money managers, the investment manager’s analysts are skilled in understanding the complexities of the regions in which they specialize and are trained to analyze proxy issues germane to their regions.

The investment manager will generally attempt to process every proxy it receives for all domestic and foreign securities. However, there may be situations in which the investment manager may be unable to successfully vote a proxy, or may choose not to vote a proxy, such as where: (i) a proxy ballot was not received from the custodian bank; (ii) a meeting notice was received too late; (iii) there are fees imposed upon the exercise of a vote and it is determined that such fees outweigh the benefit of voting; (iv) there are legal encumbrances to voting, including blocking restrictions in certain markets that preclude the ability to dispose of a security if the investment manager votes a proxy or where the investment manager is prohibited from voting by applicable law, economic or other sanctions, or other regulatory or market requirements, including but not limited to, effective Powers of Attorney; (v) additional documentation or the disclosure of beneficial owner details is required; (vi) the investment manager held shares on the record date but has sold them prior to the meeting date; (vii) a proxy voting service is not offered by the custodian in the market; (viii) due to either system error or human error, the investment manager’s intended vote is not correctly submitted; (ix) the investment manager believes it is not in the best interest of the Fund or its shareholders to vote the proxy for any other reason not enumerated herein; or (x) a security is subject to a securities lending or similar program that has transferred legal title to the security to another person.

In some non-U.S. jurisdictions, even if the investment manager uses reasonable efforts to vote a proxy on behalf of the Fund, such vote or proxy may be rejected because of (a) operational or procedural issues experienced by one or more third parties involved in voting proxies in such jurisdictions; (b) changes in the process or agenda for the meeting by the issuer for which the investment manager does not have sufficient notice; or (c) the exercise by the issuer of its discretion to reject the vote of the investment manager. In addition, despite the best efforts of the Proxy Group and its agents, there may be situations where the investment manager’s votes are not received, or properly tabulated, by an issuer or the issuer’s agent.

The investment manager or its affiliates may, on behalf of one or more of the proprietary registered investment companies advised by the investment manager or its affiliates, determine to use its best efforts to recall any security on loan where the investment manager or its affiliates (a) learn of a vote on a material event that may affect a security on loan and (b) determine that it is in the best interests of such proprietary registered investment companies to recall the security for voting purposes.

Procedures for meetings involving fixed income securities. From time to time, certain custodians may process events for fixed income securities through their proxy voting channels rather than corporate action channels for administrative convenience. In such cases, the Proxy Group will receive ballots for such events on the ISS voting platform. The Proxy Group will solicit voting


instructions from the investment manager for each Fund involved. If the Proxy Group does not receive voting instructions from the investment manager, the Proxy Group will take no action on the event. The investment manager may be unable to vote a proxy for a fixed income security, or may choose not to vote a proxy, for the reasons described under the section entitled “Proxy Procedures.”

The Proxy Group will monitor such meetings involving fixed income securities for conflicts of interest in accordance with these procedures for fixed income securities. If a fixed income issuer is flagged as a potential conflict of interest, the investment manager may nonetheless vote as it deems in the best interests of the Fund. The investment manager will report such decisions on an annual basis to the Fund board as may be required.

Shareholders may view the complete Policies online at franklintempleton.com. Alternatively, shareholders may request copies of the Policies free of charge by calling the Proxy Group collect at (954) 527-7678 or by sending a written request to: Franklin Templeton Companies, LLC, 300 S.E. 2nd Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301-1923, Attention: Proxy Group. Copies of the Fund’s proxy voting records are available online at franklintempleton.com and posted on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. The proxy voting records are updated each year by August 31 to reflect the most recent 12-month period ended June 30.

 

Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies. N/A

 

Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers. N/A

 

Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

There have been no changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Registrant’s Board of Trustees that would require disclosure herein.

 

Item 11. Controls and Procedures.

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Registrant maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Registrant’s filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the periods specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such information is accumulated and communicated to the Registrant’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Registrant’s management, including the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer, recognizes that any set of controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives.

Within 90 days prior to the filing date of this Shareholder Report on Form N-CSR, the Registrant had carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Registrant’s management, including the Registrant’s principal executive officer and the Registrant’s principal


financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based on such evaluation, the Registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

(b) Changes in Internal Controls. There have been no changes in the Registrant’s internal controls or in other factors that could materially affect the internal controls over financial reporting subsequent to the date of their evaluation in connection with the preparation of this Shareholder Report on Form N-CSR.

 

Item 12. Exhibits.

(a) (1) Code of Ethics

(a) (2) Certifications pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of Matthew T. Hinkle , Chief Executive Officer—Finance and Administration, and Gaston Gardey, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer

(b) Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of Matthew T. Hinkle, Chief Executive Officer—Finance and Administration, and Gaston Gardey, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Franklin Limited Duration Income Trust
By   /s/ Matthew T. Hinkle
 

Matthew T. Hinkle

Chief Executive Officer -

Finance and Administration

Date November 27, 2017

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By   /s/ Matthew T. Hinkle
 

Matthew T. Hinkle

Chief Executive Officer -

Finance and Administration

Date November 27, 2017

 

By   /s/ Gaston Gardey
 

Gaston Gardey

Chief Financial Officer and

Chief Accounting Officer

Date November 27, 2017