2008-10-14 23:50:04 -

- Franklin Templeton Investments Corporate Communications: Bill Weeks, 212-632-3204 Becky Radosevich, 212-632-3207 franklintempleton.com Franklin Templeton Investments today announced that Franklin Large Cap Equity Fund, a large cap blend fund that seeks long-term growth of principal and income, will now be available to retail investors. The availability of A, C, R and Advisor share classes will allow retail investors to participate

in a fund, formerly named Fiduciary Large Capitalization Growth and Income Fund (FLCIX), that until now has been exclusive to high net worth clients of Franklin Templeton and Fiduciary Trust Company International. The fund joins Franklin International Small Cap Growth Fund and Franklin International Growth Fund as Franklin Templeton Investments' newest equity fund offerings for U.S. retail investors.

"This fund's holdings in large cap value and growth securities can make it an attractive core holding for investors looking for long-term growth of principal and income," said S. Mackintosh Pulsifer, executive vice president and chief investment officer of Fiduciary Trust Company International, the New York-based wealth management arm of Franklin Templeton Investments, and lead portfolio manager of the fund. Pulsifer, who joined Fiduciary Trust International in 1988, has 35 years of investment experience. Joining Pulsifer as portfolio managers on the fund are Kenneth J. Siegel and Linda Krouner, both senior vice presidents and portfolio managers with Fiduciary Trust Company International. Siegel and Krouner have 25 and 32 years, respectively, of investment experience.

Under normal market conditions, Franklin Large Cap Equity Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of large capitalization companies domiciled in the U.S. and other countries. The fund is permitted to hold up to 30% of its net assets in equities of non-U.S. companies. For this fund, large capitalization companies are those with market capitalizations within the top 50% of the Russell 1000 Index or companies with market capitalizations of more than $5 billion, at the time of purchase.

The fund's management team maintains its investment objective of long-term growth of principal and income by using a research-driven, fundamental investment approach pursuing a blend of large-cap growth and value securities. To help identify investment opportunities, the fund's management team employs a top-down analysis of macroeconomic trends to identify sectors that may benefit from longer-term dynamic growth. After determining sectors poised for growth, the manager uses bottom-up analysis of individual securities and looks at companies selling at a reasonable price, with a favorable intermediate or long-term outlook, leveraging the equity research of Franklin Global Advisers.

While stocks have historically outperformed other asset classes over the long term, they tend to fluctuate more dramatically over the short term. There are special risks involved with significant exposure to a particular sector, including increased susceptibility related to economic, business, or other developments affecting that sector, which may result in increased volatility. The fund's investments in foreign company stocks involve special risks including currency fluctuations and political uncertainty. These and other risks are described more fully in the fund's prospectus.

Investors interested in Franklin Large Cap Equity Fund should carefully consider the fund's investment goals, risks, charges and expenses before investing. To obtain a prospectus, which contains this and other information, talk to your financial advisor, call 1-800/DIAL BEN (1-800/342-5236) or visit franklintempleton.com. Please carefully read the prospectus before you invest or send money.

Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN), is a global investment management organization operating as Franklin Templeton Investments. Franklin Templeton Investments provides global and domestic investment management solutions managed by its Franklin, Templeton, Mutual Series, Fiduciary Trust, Darby and Bissett investment teams. The San Mateo, CA-based company has more than 60 years of investment experience and approximately $507 billion in assets under management as of September 30, 2008. For more information, please visit franklintempleton.com.

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