Franklin Templeton and K2 Advisors Launch Liquid Alternative Global Macro Fund

SAN MATEO, CA--(Marketwired - Aug 3, 2016) - Franklin Templeton Investments today announced the launch of Franklin K2 Global Macro Opportunities Fund (NASDAQ: FKMZX) (Advisor Class) for US investors, a multi-manager fund that invests in a variety of global macro strategies sub-advised by institutional-quality hedge strategy managers. Global macro hedge strategies generally have the widest mandate of all hedge strategies, as managers may take positions across the asset classes of global equities, interest rates, currencies or commodities.

"Against the backdrop of increased global macroeconomic and political uncertainty, many US investors are potentially taking on more equity risk than their goals would dictate, and may be open to looking for new ways to diversify their investment portfolios," said Rob Christian, a portfolio manager and senior managing director for K2 Advisors, part of Franklin Templeton Solutions. "Global macro strategies can serve as a tool that may help provide diversification benefits in relation to equity markets, especially during periods of market stress."

The Fund invests across global macro hedge strategies with highly flexible mandates that go beyond long-only approaches, targeting opportunities presented by emerging trends and themes in global markets. With this Fund, investors can access a select group of hedge strategy manager sub-advisors in a single diversified portfolio.

Building upon Franklin Templeton's strategic acquisition of alternative solutions provider K2 Advisors in 2012, this new US-registered fund further fills out the firm's liquid alternative fund offerings, which also include the Franklin K2 Long Short Credit Fund (NASDAQ: FKLZX) (Advisor Class) launched in September 2015, and the Franklin K2 Alternative Strategies Fund (NASDAQ: FABZX) (Advisor Class) introduced in 2013.

"With the introduction of the Franklin K2 Global Macro Opportunities Fund, we can now offer retail investors access to additional potential sources of total return," said Brooks Ritchey, a portfolio manager and senior managing director for K2 Advisors. "For investors looking to complement their overall portfolios with a solution that historically has offered lower correlation to equity markets and a diversified, multi-manager approach, we believe this Fund can be an important tool. We are very excited about the potential utility of this Fund in helping equity investors seek to manage investment portfolios through volatile market periods."