Franklin Templeton’s Putnam US Research Fund surpasses $1Billion in assets under management

Important milestone follows strategic initiative to introduce Putnam Investments to international investors and reflects sustained investor demand for US Equities

London and Luxembourg, 19 January 2026 – Franklin Templeton¹, a leading global asset manager, is delighted to announce that the FTGF Putnam US Research Fund², a sub-fund of the Irish-domiciled Franklin Templeton Global Funds plc range, has surpassed US $1 billion³ in assets under management . This milestone reflects strong demand and appetite for US Equities from a broad range of investors across Europe and Latin America. It also highlights the success of Franklin Templeton’s strategic initiative to introduce Putnam Investments’ flagship strategies to international investors.

Matthew Harrison, Head of Americas (ex-US) Europe & UK said: “Last year, we set out to broaden client access to Putnam Investments, a world‑class active equity manager. Launching the Putnam US Large Cap Value Fund⁴ in March and the Putnam US Research Fund in April was central to that strategy. We’re delighted by the strong demand we have seen for these funds across key markets as clients navigate today’s economic environment marked by market breadth, volatility, and differentiated company outcomes. Surpassing US $1 billion in AUM in just eight months is a testament to the combination of Putnam’s strong investment capabilities and the scale and reach of Franklin Templeton’s extensive local presence across the Americas and Europe. In 2026, we plan to further this success and introduce additional strategies from Putnam that will add value to our clients' portfolios.”

Despite a year marked by substantial volatility, demand for active US Large Cap strategies remained strong in 2025. A total of 43⁵ new funds were launched attracting $4.6 billion in net flows. Among these newly launched funds, Putnam’s offerings led the way with the US Research Fund being the top seller and the US Large Cap Value Fund coming in fifth.

The fund offers US large-cap equity exposure, focusing on stock selection as the primary driver of active return. This highly successful strategy was established in 1995 and has $3.9 billion⁶  of US client assets across pooled and segregated portfolios.

Boston-based Portfolio Managers Kate Lakin and Matt LaPlant, CFA, have an average of 22 years in the industry and co-manage the strategy. Additionally, experienced analysts are directly responsible for managing industry-specific sleeves that reflect their best ideas. The sleeve managers on the strategy have over 20 years of industry experience on average and partner with the broader Putnam research team, which includes industry veterans based in Boston, London, and Singapore.

Kate Lakin, Portfolio Manager concluded: “While 2025 was a volatile year, US equity markets continued to reach record highs throughout the second half of the year, supported by strong earnings and underlying company fundamentals. After a notable pullback in the first quarter, we witnessed one of the sharpest rebounds in 50 years beginning in April, a reminder that volatility can create opportunities for active managers.

“Throughout the year, the Putnam US Research portfolio benefited from a disciplined, bottom-up approach focused on companies with underappreciated earnings power. Headlines on topics such as tariffs introduced volatility, and throughout the year, Putnam analysts remained focused on analyzing the earnings power of businesses paired with market expectations. We exited 2025 with 80% of companies surpassing street expectations for earnings, reflecting a solid backdrop for fundamentals.”

About Putnam Investments

Backed by the scale and resources of Franklin Templeton, the Putnam team comprises over 75 investment professionals, including portfolio managers, fundamental and quantitative analysts, risk managers and traders located in Boston, London and Singapore. Putnam’s investment capabilities cover value, core and growth strategies across US large, small- and multi-caps, as well as global, non-US and dedicated sustainable investment solutions.

-ENDS-

Contacts:

Saira Khan Corporate Communications Manager Director Franklin Templeton Investments Cannon Place, 78 Cannon Street London EC4N 6HL Tel: +44 20 7073 8644 Email: [email protected]

Shelly Durrant Corporate Communications Manager Franklin Templeton Cannon Place, 78 Cannon Street London EC4N 6HL Tel: +44 20 7073 8521 Email: [email protected]

Notes to Editors:

This is a marketing communication. Please refer to the prospectus of the UCITS and to the KIID before making any final investment decisions.

1. Franklin Templeton is a trusted investment partner, delivering tailored solutions that align with clients’ strategic goals. With deep portfolio management expertise across public and private markets, we combine investment excellence with cutting-edge technology. Since our founding in 1947, we have empowered clients through strategic partnership, forward-looking insights, and continuous innovation – providing the tools and resources to navigate change and capture opportunity. To learn more, visit franklintempleton.lu and follow us on LinkedIn. Franklin Resources, Inc. [NYSE: BEN]
2. The FTGF Putnam US Research Fund is a sub-fund of the Irish domiciled Franklin Templeton Global Funds plc range. FTGF is an open-ended investment company with variable capital, organized as an undertaking for collective investment in transferable securities ('UCITS'). FTGF is authorized in Ireland by the Central Bank of Ireland. Information has been prepared from sources believed reliable. It is not guaranteed in any way by any Franklin Resources, Inc. company or affiliate (together 'Franklin Templeton'). Before investing you should read the application form Prospectus and KID. The fund documents may be obtained free of charge in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish from FTGF's registered office at Riverside Two, Sir John Rogerson's Quay, Grand Canal Dock, Dublin 2, Ireland, from FTGF's administrator, BNY Mellon Fund Services (Ireland) Limited, or can be requested via FT's European Facilities Service which is available at https://www.eifs.lu/franklintempleton, or please visit www.franklintempleton.co.uk to be directed to your local Franklin Templeton website. The sub-funds of FTGF are notified for marketing in multiple EU Member States under the UCITS Directive. FTGF can terminate such notifications for any share class and/or sub-fund at any time by using the process contained in Article 93a of the UCITS Directive.
3. Source: Franklin Templeton as of 31.12.2025
4. The FTGF Putnam US Large Cap Value Fund is a sub-fund of the Irish domiciled Franklin Templeton Global Funds plc range. FTGF is an open-ended investment company with variable capital, organised as an undertaking for collective investment in transferable securities ('UCITS'). FTGF is authorised in Ireland by the Central Bank of Ireland. Information has been prepared from sources believed reliable. It is not guaranteed in any way by any Franklin Resources, Inc. company or affiliate (together 'Franklin Templeton'). Before investing you should read the application form Prospectus and KID. The fund documents may be obtained free of charge in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish from FTGF's registered office at Riverside Two, Sir John Rogerson's Quay, Grand Canal Dock, Dublin 2, Ireland, from FTGF's administrator, BNY Mellon Fund Services (Ireland) Limited, or can be requested via FT's European Facilities Service which is available at https://www.eifs.lu/franklintempleton, or please visit www.franklintempleton.co.uk to be directed to your local Franklin Templeton website. The sub-funds of FTGF are notified for marketing in multiple EU Member States under the UCITS Directive. FTGF can terminate such notifications for any share class and/or sub-fund at any time by using the process contained in Article 93a of the UCITS Directive.
5. Source: Morningstar Direct
6. Source: Putnam Investments as of 31.12.2025

This press release is intended to be of general interest only and does not constitute professional advice. Franklin Templeton and its management groups have exercised professional care and diligence in the collection and processing of the information in this press release. Franklin Templeton makes no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy of this document. Franklin Templeton shall not be liable to any user of this report or to any other person or entity for the inaccuracy of information contained in this press release or for any errors or omissions in its contents, regardless of the cause of such inaccuracy, error or omission.

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